Chapter 188 - Agent Zero (7) (1/2)
Beel hasn't returned even once during the night. He was now hanging out at the cafeteria and Zero glanced at the box of carrot cake. It was still on the same spot. There was a pang of hurt in Zero's chest but the teenager decided to push that aside for now. He had another agenda on his list today. First, he was going to take a shower then report to Lucifer about his findings last night.
On his way to the dean's office, he overheard several students gossiping about Beel. Zero couldn't help but be curious and eavesdropped.
”Really? Someone dared make a move against a Demon Lord?”
”I don't think he would be this seriously wounded out of carelessness. It's definitely an attempt at his life. He is the weakest among all the Demon Lords after all... I think his days are numbered.”
Zero felt as if someone poured ice water over him without any warning. The tips of his fingers turned ice cold and Zero swallowed with difficulty. His legs took him to Lucifer's office numbly.
”You're early,” Lucifer mused. he was about to tease Zero but held back when he saw the pale expression.
”What's wrong?”
Zero shook his head. ”Sorry, it's nothing. I came to give you my report with the evidence I gathered last night. Kruz and Koblaq are not our targets. This is what they were up to...”
Lucifer accepted the magic stone and pulsed his magic through it. Zero's memories appeared in a hologram and Lucifer watched it silently.
When the memory ended, the Demon Lord nodded in satisfaction. ”Very well, I will inform Beel about your findings. When will you get in contact with Rayneld?”
Zero hummed. ”I'm going to the library today, there is a high chance I will get to add him to my map. He shows up at the library frequently after all.”
The dean nodded and dismissed Zero after another round of caution about Olaf. The brunet took his leave swiftly, not bothering to look back. All he wanted to do was run to the cafeteria and check up on Beelzebub.
He found the Demon Lord in the cafeteria fairly easily. Skipping the line for food, Zero zoomed in straight to the Demon Lord nonchalantly munching on what looked like the hardest bread in history while chugging down a jug of milk.
Zero skipped the pleasantries and examined the Demon Lord with a trained eye. Beelzebub didn't appreciate the scrutiny. He had a rough night after his cover was almost blown. If not for his knowledge of several secret shortcuts in the Academy, he would've been exposed. Whoever the collaborator was, they definitely had impressive combat skills. Thankfully, magic was not allowed on the campus. That gave Beelzebub the chance to slip away even if he didn't manage to escape unscathed. Ranged weapons definitely lived up to their reputation. He knew that Zero's mission last night went smoothly and he didn't need the doctor rubbing his failure into his face. It was worse when Zero was genuinely concerned about him. That made whatever shredded pride he had remaining disintegrate into ashes.
Zero chose not to make any comments. He knew that there were many pairs of eyes on him in the cafeteria. Beelzebub always attracted attention. Unknown to Zero, he was also gaining a reputation of his own. Apparently, someone had witnessed Zero casting healing magic on Kruz and Mr Spiff after gym class. The rumour started spreading after that. Some said that Zero was secretly an angel spy sent from the heavens while others thought that Zero was a demi-god apprenticing under the God of Medicine. It made things worse when someone claimed to have seen Zero hanging out with Lord Baal and Hua Tuo at the recent Trials.
Soon, the Academy had given the young doctor a nickname that would be written into the history of Morning Star Academy. Zero the Miracle-maker was his name.
”What's the Miracle-maker doing? Does he want to get smitten by the Lord of Gluttony?”
”Bets are on the Miracle-maker winning the Lord of Gluttony, any contenders?”
”Is he trying to recruit the Lord of Gluttony? I heard that he's charmed that loser Kruz last night.”
Zero filtered out all the background noises and focussed solely on his roommate.
”Let's go back,” he spoke calmly.
Naturally, Beelzebub bristled. He slapped Zero's hand away with scorn on his face. The young doctor didn't take offence to it, he expected just as much. Calmly, he took hold of Beelzebub's wrist and pulled him out of his seat. The Demon Lord resisted at first but knew that he would be making a scene if he resisted any further.
With the most reluctant look on his face, he allowed himself to be dragged out of the cafeteria with the tray of unfinished food in his other hand. Zero was silently happy that despite his unwillingness, Beelzebub wasn't outrightly kicking him away. Then another thought crossed his mind that sent Zero into a semi-panicked mode. What if his roommate was too injured to fight him?
They returned to their room very quickly and Zero all but ordered the disgruntled Demon Lord to remove his shirt.
”And why would I do that?”
Zero smiled. ”I could use other means to examine your injuries but it may feel more invasive.”
Beelzebub studied that angelic smile for a while. That was definitely a threat that Zero would be very willing to see through if he refused to cooperate. If there was one thing Beelzebub had learnt about Zero, it was the brunet's sheer stubbornness that rivalled Lord Baal's and his own. Zero was a doctor through and through. There was no use trying to deny a doctor his natural instinct to want and save others. Sometimes Beel wondered if doctors were worse than heroes.
Hesitatingly, the Demon Lord shrugged his blazer off followed by his shirt. Zero observed his movements carefully and noted if there were any movements that caused Beel discomfort. From what he saw, there were several bruises darkening on Beelzebub's arms and torso. They looked very much like whip marks and Zero felt the anger brewing in him.
Beelzebub noticed Zero's silence and was slightly surprised to see such a look of concentration with slight killing intent leaking from the teenager's control.
”Zero!”