Chapter 1 Corridors

In the flickering light of the corridors, three figures stood silently, their bodies shrouded in light and shadow, making their images appear even more eerie and sinister.

"Difficulty 3 classrooms are usually not something normal students can challenge. They're only open during limited times, often for special courses or high-difficulty assessments."

"But legend has it that there's a hidden Difficulty 4 classroom in one of the corridors, but I've never heard of any living student who's actually experienced it..."

After listening to Bachelor for a while longer, Lan Qi handed him the credit coin in his hand.

Bachelor immediately took it, as if he had received a death-exemption token.

Lan Qi once again brought up the Shadow World task information in front of him.

[Time Remaining: 11 hours 42 minutes]

[Task Objective 1: Academy Exploration Exceeds 60%, Current Progress: 4%]

[Task Objective 2: Investigate the Source of Tonight's Danger]

[Task Objective 3: At Least 1 Person Survives Until the Time Limit Expires, Current Survival: 6/6]

[Challengers Lan Qi & Hyperion are in Corridor G21, Not Participating in Any Classroom]

He saw that the initial "Progress 3%" in [Task Objective 1] had changed to "Progress 4%."

This meant that passing the Demon Exam Hall just now had increased the progress by 1%.

According to the discussion Lan Qi and Hyperion had on the way here, the six challengers shown by the Shadow World were likely divided into three groups of two.

So the data change indicated that entering a Difficulty 1 Demon Classroom should give 1% exploration, and clearing it should also increase the exploration by 1%.

By analogy, Difficulty 2 and Difficulty 3 classrooms would likely grant even higher exploration.

If there were three teams, each clearing five Difficulty 1 classrooms within 12 hours, they could only obtain a maximum exploration of 2% x 5 x 3 = 30%.

Therefore, they had to consider splitting up into individuals to challenge more Difficulty 1 classrooms simultaneously, or try to challenge Difficulty 2 and 3 classrooms, in order to achieve the 60% exploration required by [Task Objective 1] within the 12-hour task time limit.

Lan Qi looked at Hyperion, and Hyperion nodded.

Her arithmetic was excellent, and she had obviously figured out the Shadow World's mechanics as well.

So the strategy for the following was very clear. They had to try to challenge classrooms of higher difficulty, and in the process, investigate what the "potential threat in the Demon Academy tonight" referred to in [Task Objective 2] was.

"Bachelor, do you know of any recent anomalies in the academy? Or are there any dangerous factors tonight that you're afraid of?"

"..."

Bachelor looked at Lan Qi, and remained silent for a long time without saying a word.

He didn't understand what Lan Qi meant, and didn't know if there was anything more dangerous tonight than Lan Qi.

"Okay."

Lan Qi nodded helplessly. It seemed that students like Bachelor had limited information, and obviously weren't aware of any secret inside information about the school. Regarding [Task Objective 2], he still had to ask teachers or even higher-level staff like the director.

Unfortunately, he couldn't ask the two examiners in the exam hall.

But no matter what, Lan Qi was certain that his progress was ahead of schedule.

Because if he took the normal exam, he would have to wait more than an hour before he could learn about these rules and information, and he might not even meet a good classmate as friendly and sincere as Bachelor, who was willing to tell him all the information in detail.

Next, he had to study hard; he couldn't survive without studying!

Compared to the courses at the Ikryte Academy that only made him want to escape, Lan Qi honestly didn't hate studying at this extraordinary fantasy demon academy, and even had a little expectation!

Hyperion: "..."

She felt that Lan Qi seemed eager to go to the next classroom already.

The Lan Qi she saw in the Sage Institute's classroom during the day was completely different from this knowledge-thirsty appearance...

Hyperion was very worried that after Lan Qi finished his studies at this school, he would awaken some irreversible qualities... and become even less human...

But she couldn't say anything, since she wasn't exactly a person either.

Just as Hyperion was thinking this.

"Classmate Bachelor, there's an old saying in my hometown: 'A wise man submits to circumstances.' I believe you certainly won't refuse to cooperate with us, right?"

As Lan Qi spoke, he patted Bachelor on the shoulder.

"T, that's natural."

"If you do a good job, we won't mistreat you. Please take me to an arts classroom."

Lan Qi needed a sincere and clever demon to guide him, so he could save a lot of time.

"This way, please."

Bachelor hurriedly extended his left hand in a gesture of elegant aristocratic etiquette, like a waiter, and began to lead the way for the two of them.

Although the school's complex and ever-changing corridor structure meant that there was no fixed map, Bachelor, with his survival instincts maxed out, naturally knew what most of the classrooms on the corridors were.

Lan Qi and Hyperion followed Bachelor and moved quickly through the corridors.

Their steps were steady and swift.

A few minutes later, a wide door stood in front of them, like a silent giant blocking the secrets within.

Bachelor stopped and turned to face Lan Qi.

"It is said that behind this door is a music classroom, which is currently the closest arts classroom. If you're not satisfied, I'll take you to find others."

Lan Qi's gaze followed Bachelor's gesture, looking at the artistic door, which had two strange demon marks on it, obviously indicating Difficulty 2.

Then, Lan Qi nodded, seemingly very satisfied with this classroom.

He reached out and placed his palm on the ancient and solid door. "This one it is."

He didn't know how much time he would waste if he kept searching.

"R, really going to challenge a Difficulty 2 classroom?"

Bachelor, who had obviously never been to this kind of classroom, asked Lan Qi with some concern.

"It's okay, there's no art topic that I'm afraid of."

With that, Lan Qi confidently pushed open the door.

The moment he stepped into the classroom in the next second, the interior scene flooded into his eyes. Compared to a giant lecture hall, this place was more like a spacious grand theater! Ornate lighting, red velvet seats, and a solemn stage, all revealed luxury and nobility.

On the stage, a student was intently playing music, his movements coordinated and full of passion, constantly stirring up echoes like waves in the large classroom.

And at the edge of the stage, a formally dressed teacher could be vaguely seen, like the manager of the entire classroom. He stood by the curtain and saw the appearance of Lan Qi and the other two at a glance, then raised his hand to signal them to go to the back row seats, his gestures containing only unquestionable instructions.

Lan Qi and the others nodded and slowly moved up the stairs to the highest point of the classroom, finally gaining a better view of the entire theater classroom—

In addition to the demon students watching the performance like an audience on the back row of stepped seats, four demon teachers were sitting on four large chairs facing the stage, listening to the student's music performance like judges.

Lan Qi stared at this extremely bizarre structure. Although he didn't know the rules of this classroom yet, a strong sense of déjà vu inexplicably rose in his heart.

"Huh? Demon Good Voice?!"

Lan Qi felt that this classroom was a bit outrageous!