Chapter 1 Classroom of the Shadow World's Demon Academy

Inside the classroom of the Shadow World's Demon Academy.

This unique, dim atmosphere seemed to slow down time, each second like an eternity frozen in amber.

The red tablecloth stood out strikingly in the faint light, a deep, rich red, absurd yet full of artistic sense.

In this classroom, light and shadow, brightness and darkness, stillness and movement, changed regularly and methodically.

Clearly, the exam had already begun.

Ranchi knew that after coming to the Shadow World, the most important thing was to observe and understand the situation and current state.

The Shadow World often had its own rationality.

Unless the challenger made an operational error or failed, there would be no inescapable or unsolvable situations.

Ranchi's emerald green eyes keenly swept across the classroom, the dim light dancing in his pupils.

Although he tried to minimize the amplitude of his movements, he quickly noticed several students' undisciplined behavior.

Their flickering eyes and occasional slight turns of their heads all indicated their intent to cheat.

Suddenly, a hoarse voice cut through the silent and oppressive space.

"There will only be one warning. Anyone caught whispering will be considered cheating."

It was the voice of the proctor patrolling the examination hall, like the low roar of a lion, exploding in the classroom.

The demon examinees, who had been trying to peek, were immediately frightened out of their wits by this cold warning.

Those demon examinees, who had almost been caught, quickly lowered their heads, temporarily focusing all their attention on their papers, their faces full of fear and tension, the sweat on their foreheads like dewdrops on leaves, trembling as if about to fall at any moment.

Even though they themselves looked quite hideous and terrifying, the proctor's deterrence made it clear who was stronger and who was weaker.

Afterward.

The proctor resumed his orderly and methodical patrol.

But when the demon proctor turned his head, an undisguised, ferocious smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, like a wild beast that had been imprisoned for a long time, yearning for slaughter, staring at the cage, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

"..."

Ranchi silently took it all in.

The strength of the demon students was actually easy to judge.

Their magic power wasn't exaggerated; most were second- or third-tier, similar to Ranchi Hyperion.

The demon proctor, who could scare them like this, was probably more than fourth-tier.

Most likely fifth-tier.

So there were two terrifying fifth-tier demons. To pass this initial demon exam and go to other places, brute force was definitely out of the question.

However, Ranchi also discovered good news—

Hyperion was sitting to his left.

There was only one empty seat between them.

The feeling was even similar to when they skipped class and sat in the back row of the Sage's Institute.

They felt almost as if they had been pulled back to the school classroom from beyond the fear of death.

Hyperion's appearance hadn't changed, except for a few more demonic features.

This made Ranchi certain that his own appearance hadn't changed much either, because Hyperion had recognized him during their brief eye contact.

However, Ranchi didn't know why, but the usually calm and rational Hyperion looked terrible at the moment.

Moreover, in their brief eye contact, Hyperion's evasive gaze seemed to be afraid of him seeing her demonic appearance.

"..."

So Ranchi temporarily lowered his head and looked at the things on the table in front of him.

The parchment exam paper with the school emblem on top looked like it was imprinted with a ferocious demon head, its two eyes burning like flames, looking at him from another world.

And the ink bottle made of magic crystal next to it, with a mithril-inlaid mouth, was filled with ink as black as night, still and unmoving, as if containing heavy magic power that had been fixed in place.

The feather quill's feather part was black, the sharp, knife-like tip gleaming with metallic luster, and unknown patterns were engraved on the shaft, reflecting a cold, deep red.

It looked like a set of retro-style magic scroll making tools.

As expected, it was an exam on [Demon Magic Script]. The examinee's answer was both writing and engraving, like making a magic scroll.

He went straight to the last, climactic question.

Because he couldn't answer any of the previous ones.

[Question 10 (12 points): Please write down the magic formulas that can be used when processing precious materials, which can achieve the following effects respectively:]

[1. Allow magical beasts to quickly shed their sharp fur]

[2. Allow the color of magical beast fur to change]

[3. Allow magical beast fur to harden or soften slightly]

After quickly browsing the entire exam paper, Ranchi couldn't help but take a deep breath.

He really couldn't write a single sub-question.

Ranchi found that although demon magic was strange, it really had something to it, because it involved some formula principles that human magic script couldn't achieve.

For example, these three types of life magic simply didn't exist in the human magic of the current world.

He was finally convinced that these questions weren't meant for humans to answer. Even Talia wouldn't necessarily know the ancient demon clan spells on this paper. The era difference was too long, and many civilizations of various races would experience fragmentation and disappearance.

However, Ranchi wouldn't just not know them.

He seemed to have discovered a new continent, gradually gripping the parchment exam paper tightly, a hint of excitement barely concealed in his eyes.

He really wanted to learn the three types of magic written on the last page of the exam!

Since the exam questions contained this type of magic, it meant that there must be somewhere in the school that taught this type of magic.

These ancient demon clan spells could be used on livestock. If a magic engineering master proficient in both demon magic and human magic used the latest modern technology to improve them.

Was it possible to create a version that could also be used on people?

Ranchi fell into deep thought.

His heart also became thirsty for knowledge!

Ranchi's mind was already beginning to imagine holding a fall new product launch conference—

In daily life, we often see that other people's hairstyles are not very good-looking, and even have the urge to help others change their hairstyles.

Obviously, this is a friendly sentiment of helping others, and also a lofty pursuit of the subjective and objective unity of aesthetics.

Then, the "magic to modify other people's hairstyles" becomes very practical.

As an artist, Ranchi felt that it was very necessary to master this theoretically possible magic.

He also had to consider whether this was his only chance in this life—to steal the ancient demon clan magic written on the exam paper, bring it back to the current world, and study practical new magic with Talia!

Then, he must pass the current exam as soon as possible!

For the time being, Ranchi took advantage of the moment when both proctors were in a blind spot of vision and glanced at Hyperion again.

For some unknown reason, Hyperion was in surprisingly bad condition right now, as if she was barely holding on.

He didn't have much of an opportunity to communicate with her for the time being.

He thought that he could only ask Hyperion if she was alright after they passed this examination hall together.

Since that was the case, he would have to rely on his own skills this time!