Episode 19
two days later.
Renee and I were on the way to Saitan, mingling with a crowd of people.
At the entrance of Saitan, the demons who were about to take the entrance exam were creating a noisy scene.
They were people from all over the Pandemonium, united by their hostility towards humans.
A huge crowd of over 500 people.
We stood between them and stood at the entrance of a ‘train’.
『 Applicants, please present your ID and board the train. 』
An announcement from somewhere.
Following the broadcast, I took out the ID I had received from Rene and listened.
‘I never dreamed that I would have to take a train to enter the building I saw then.’
As confirmed, the entrance to Saitan is equipped with a maze-like dimensional gate to prepare for intruders, so it is impossible to enter without taking a train.
I quite liked that.
Even if it breaks through in the end, it will become a fortress that protects my body until then.
Shuuu-.
While I was lost in thought, the train entered the station before I knew it.
It is a train that is significantly different from the modern subway, but is comparable in size to it.
When the train door opened, Rene and I presented our identification cards to the guide and went inside.
『… … Shuttle departs. 』
When all the applicants entered, the doors closed and the train moved.
The peaceful scenery seen from outside the train disappeared completely, and a dreamy space filled with purple light filled the field of view.
The speed of the train increased and the surrounding scenery began to change.
“The train will pass the entrance soon. Passengers, please be prepared for impact. 』
rattle-.
As soon as the announcement ended, the inside of the train shuddered.
Then, a larger building appeared than the one I had seen from the entrance.
I recognized the building as Saitan and opened my mouth slightly.
‘Even that huge building I saw at the entrance was only a part… … .’
Does it have to be at this level to be called the last fortress of the demon realm?
While I was admiring the exterior of Saitan for a while, the train stopped before I knew it.
Renee and I got off the train following the voice guidance and looked up together.
“You have finally arrived.”
“Yes.”
Saitan, boasting a majestic figure, appeared in front of him.
After a while, we followed the guide to the auditorium in Saitan, where the entrance exam will be held.
I opened my mouth slightly and looked around the inside of the auditorium.
‘I feel overwhelmed.’
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Numerous young demons who came to take the entrance exam.
Unusually, there were demons who radiated the unique aura of strong people around them.
Looking closely at their clothes and appearance, they don’t seem to be students… … It was most likely an instructor.
The entrance exam is important because it means that there are people among them who will teach us.
The more you leave a good impression on the instructors, the better your treatment will be in the future.
However, it was unclear whether it would leave a good impression… … .
while I was lost in thought
“Time is up.”
Rene looked at the wall clock hanging in the auditorium and murmured.
That moment.
thud.
Suddenly the auditorium door closed.
To say that it was fortunate, there seemed to be no demons who could not enter the auditorium.
Saitan gave them plenty of time, and the auditorium was large enough to accommodate all the demons.
– I thought the test was about to start?
– How are you going to pay?
Even after the door was closed, Saitan did not show any reaction, and the demons began to stir.
… … I was also nervous, so I felt like my throat was burning.
The buzzing conversations of the demons only added to the tension, so I decided to spend this time in a meaningful way.
‘Should I take a look at the children of the Seven Deadly Sins during the waiting time?’
I moved my head around and looked around.
However, no matter how much they searched, they couldn’t find the descendants of the Seven Deadly Sins because of the crowds.
I’m a little sorry.
If I had a chance, I wanted to see it at least once, but it was something that might have characters in my memory.
It was when I was regurgitating my appetite.
pop-.
The lights that had been brightly illuminating the auditorium suddenly disappeared.
A pitch-black darkness filled the entire field of vision.
The demons also started to become more agitated by this phenomenon.
I quickly turned my brain to grasp the situation.
‘Is it a blackout?’
He immediately shook his head.
It was broad daylight now.
Even if there was a power outage, it was strange that the sunlight that had been pouring in from the window until just now disappeared.
A phenomenon caused by something obviously magical.
Boo-.
And the light began to shine down on the center of the auditorium.
The surroundings were still immersed in darkness, but only there was light pouring down, reminiscent of a spotlight.
I blinked one more time and before I knew it, a girl with pink hair and a body covered in tattoos was standing in the halo of lights.
“… … .”
The girl who appeared out of nowhere was scanning the crowd with an expressionless expression.
Upon seeing the situation, the students started to get agitated.
child?
Shhh, look at that tattoo. You are the highest ranked demon.
The numerous tattoos on the girl’s body are proof that she is loved by the demons.
Among the demons, the turmoil increased even more.
The girl who had been silently watching the commotion was speechless.
“quiet.”
A voice filled with thick mana resonated inside the building.
The examinees all fell silent at the intimidation in her voice.
I just listened to that voice as if possessed.
“welcome. You foolish bastards who either enter or drop out of Saitan.”
It was a sibijyo tone, but no one in the room refuted that statement.
Hearing the girl’s voice, let alone aiming at the intimidation, it was difficult even to remain sane.
The voice continued to speak, ignoring the breathless students.
“Let’s see… … It’s around five hundred. Are there so many people who want to die this year too?”
spurt.
The air flow has changed.
A mountain-like pressure began to weigh down the surroundings, and a midwinter-like chill came over me.
“Well, leave the gossip behind.”
and with the following words.
“Let’s start the entrance exam right away.”
A breath of fresh air came over me.
* * *
Saitan’s entrance examination was divided into two stages.
Like the imperial academy, it is basically a practical test.
However, there was no written exam.
Saitan’s cadets are the forces that will be immediately put into the battlefield.
Saitan only takes tests of mental strength and testing of talent.
Among them, the first stage test, the mental test.
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No matter how talented you are, if you have a weak mentality, you cannot enter Saitan.
The reason was simple.
If you were caught as a human prisoner, you shouldn’t have been tortured and leaked confidential information of the demon realm.
Therefore, most of the demons captured by humans either resist to the end or choose to commit suicide.
“The test of mental strength is more difficult than the test of talent.”
Saitan’s instructor, Ares, muttered as he watched the situation from the stands.
Applicants were trembling under the pressure of a girl.
A few applicants collapsed, and in the end, only less than half of the applicants remained in their seats.
In less than a minute, half of the people were filtered out.
“It’s such a bad taste. Isn’t it?”
“well… … Isn’t that better than dying while being tortured by humans?”
“That’s right.”
When another instructor, Edea, spoke from the side, Ares responded calmly.
As Ares said, it might be better to drop out here.
Human cruelty was enough to make even the demons who had been on the battlefield for decades tremble.
… … Still, it was a bit on the harsh side.
“I think it would be nice to do something like this.”
Ares muttered as he looked at the girl standing in the center of the crowd.
The identity of the girl was Lujian, the headmaster of Saitan and the highest level demon.
A monster-like figure that even Saitan’s instructors can’t carelessly fathom his skills.
If Lujian released his momentum with sincerity, the instructors wouldn’t be able to stand still either.
However, Lujian was taking care of the cadets as much as possible.
In a word, it’s just a basic test.
If you can’t pass even this, it means that you are not qualified to enter Saitan.
But even that seemed daunting to the applicants, who were like chicks just hatched from eggs.
Ten minutes passed like that.
“It is annihilation.”
Instructor Edea sighed and muttered.
As Edea said, there were only 8 applicants standing in their seats.
“Still, around 40, it was over 5 minutes. That’s a lot compared to the last jockey.”
“That is fortunate.”
Applicants who received the principal’s momentum and exceeded 5 minutes passed.
So far, the remaining children have been holding on for 10 minutes beyond 5 minutes.
“I heard that there are many descendants of the Seven Deadly Sins in this season, but it seems to be real, right?”
“Looking at it now, it’s clear.”
Seven out of eight applicants had a heterozygous morphology.
It was clear evidence of the lineage of the Seven Deadly Sins.
but… … .
“That kid doesn’t seem to be a member of the Seven Deadly Sins, but he manages to keep his sanity.”
“Oh, really.”
The eyes of the two instructors turned to a male applicant.
Red hair and twisted eyes, it didn’t feel particularly strong.
As evidence, the disciples of the Seven Deadly Sins were maintaining their posture despite staggering, but the man was on one knee as if he was about to collapse at any moment.
“I will pass out soon.”
Edea looked at the applicant with a pitiful gaze and said.
At those words, Ares shook his head from side to side.
“no… … stand up.”
“yes?”
The applicant, who seemed about to collapse at any moment, suddenly stood up.
Is it the last outburst, or is it to show something?
The two instructors did not know.
tall.
Applicants who raised their bodies.
That moment.
Boo.
The applicant’s mood changed.
and.
“… … !!”
The eyes of the two instructors widened at the enormous life force emitted from the applicant’s body.
Ares was surprised at the moment his body instinctively became alert.
Edea and Ares were reaching for the swords hanging from their waists due to the murderous spirit emitted by the volunteers.
“what… … .”
Ares felt an incomprehensible emotion choke his throat.
It was different from the primordial killing spirit possessed by beasts and monsters.
It is also different from the death penalty that knights and soldiers who roll on the battlefield possess.
Like plucking flowers in the garden.
Like stepping on small bugs to kill them.
‘Living without emotion.’
It’s the kind of thing that only the worst killers can radiate.
All eyes of the instructors turned to the applicant.
This kind of momentum was so foreign that the volunteers did not look at the staggering child.
However, the instructors who had experienced numerous battles had the same idea.
‘That child is dangerous.’
It would be a great blessing for Saitan if strong applicants were admitted.
Will he be able to control that child who seems to have the gift of murder?
“If you do, you will have to kill me.”
Ares muttered as he stood up from his seat.
Maybe the enemy inside is more dangerous than the enemy outside.
Amid the mixed reactions of the applicants and instructors, the boy smiled.
A smile that doesn’t suit a situation that makes goose bumps run down your spine.
Looking at it, Ares noticed that his hands were wet with sweat.
demon academy
narrow-eyed villain