Demon King’s Academy

✦ Chapter 11 ✦

「Translator – Creator」

᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃

‘At last, he noticed.’

Louis’ lips curved into a subtle smile at this curious sensation.

Terran Academy.

In this cesspool, the sole radiant being had finally sensed, however faintly, its own glimmering light.

Chris, the Unbloomed candidate.

The Unbloomed sometimes manipulated their flowering buds to conceal their true nature – those with exceptional talent might show eleven buds immediately.

While those with yet-bloomed potential were marked by a single bud.

Thus Chris was Unbloomed, thought to have unfurled but a single bud.

Of course, his placement in Class-A would always raise questions…

‘But that will be unavoidable when the time comes.’

By then, Chris’s talent would have already blossomed.

Neither Rayze nor anyone else in this academy truly comprehended Chris’s potential.

Perhaps only Kindeman and Rugeros…

None but they could properly understand the true nature of Chris’s trait.

‘Ripen well.’

He didn’t know who would eventually harvest that fruit, but he would ensure it matured into a perfect, unblemished bounty.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Rui wiped the faint smile from his lips.

“Is this the end?”

He gazed ahead coldly.

His face bore an expression far more merciless than when teaching Class-A.

“…ungh.”

Those writhing figures on the ground.

They were Terran’s third-year students.

The first-years had undergone the Hero’s Crown test, with him directly overseeing their class assignments.

But not so for the second and third years.

Their classes had been arranged before Louis’ arrival at Terran, and they had spent their years in the same formation.

His assessment of them was simple—

“Trash.”

Worthless refuse not even worth confronting.

There had been some promising saplings, but they had rotted before bearing fruit.

Such was Terran.

Where visible sprouts were trampled, and growing branches were broken.

Where excellence was not admired but crushed by mobs.

And those who showed brightness among them…

‘They know their own light.’

That light grew more turbid and dark with each passing moment in Terran.

These ones who neglected their studies, focusing only on useless tricks.

From the start, those who truly desired to become Heroes were exceedingly rare.

“All low- class.”

Such was his evaluation of the third-year students.

“What becomes of you matters nothing to me. But remember this.”

The fallen students’ gazes trembled as they met his merciless eyes.

“As long as I am headmaster of Terran, I have no intention of producing trash.”

It would only tarnish his reputation as a Demon King.

Normally, he wouldn’t spare such matters a second thought.

‘But this is a wager.’

A bet with the fallen Great Hero Kyle.

“I make this promise.”

Louis spoke.

“Should you leave this school as trash, on that day…”

*Sneer—*

“You shall die by the Demon King’s hand.”

*Shiver—*

Though he released no aura, chills ran down every student’s spine.

True, Louis had declared—

— He would not harm students.

But teachers, he would kill whenever necessary.

And on the day Terran’s third-years graduate from the academy…

*Gulp—*

They would no longer be Terran’s students.

Which meant…

“Remember this well.”

Just as he seemed ready to turn away, having said his piece…

“Ah.”

As if remembering something, he added, “You’re an exception — you belong in the advanced class.”

These words were directed at the lone student still standing amidst the fallen crowd.

☩

Those recognized by the Emperor of the Empire and the Pope of the Holy Church were eligible to take the Hero’s Trial to become recognized Heroes.

While it was rare for a hero to hunt down a Demon King, those who succeeded earned a title of great prestige.

The Master Swordsman, Kindeman.

The Archmage, Rugeros.

And those who hunted three or more Demon Kings…

— Great Hero.

Only they could earn the title of Great Hero.

Throughout continental history, merely ten Heroes had received this title.

And the people of the continent called them…

— The Ten Heroes of the Continent.

The Ten Heroes.

A title first bestowed upon the inaugural Great Hero Kyle.

And now, in this age, none yet bore the title of Great Hero.

‘I…’

Short-cropped golden hair gleamed under the light.

‘Will become a Great Hero.’

Kal was someone who dreamed of becoming a Great Hero.

A hero who had yet to emerge in this era, someone who would bring peace to the continent by defeating the Demon King.

And someday, he would transform…

‘Terran.’

The very Terran Academy that had once raised Kyle himself.

But as time flowed, he collided with reality.

He thought he knew Terran, but experiencing it firsthand revealed depths of depravity beyond description.

Students exploited their status as students, using it to their advantage.

The teachers remained indifferent, using their positions only for personal gain.

And the Headmaster? His sole role seemed to be turning a blind eye to everything.

If not for this…

‘Terran would have collapsed and vanished into history long ago.’

Even if the Kingdom of Franz, which held Terran, intervened, nothing would change.

This was due to its nature as a Hero Academy.

Though commoners occasionally enrolled depending on circumstances, most Hero Academy students were children of high nobility.

Even in a cesspool like Terran, this held true.

Moreover, Terran’s students were problem children from across the continent; the presence of high nobles, royalty, and imperial family members being discarded here was the true quandary.

Franz was a small kingdom.

Both in Kyle’s time and now.

‘They lack strength.’

Because of this weakness, Franz couldn’t hope to change Terran.

Otherwise tremendous backlash would surge forth.

If during the process of change, something were to befall the children of high nobles…

‘Though they may abandon their children, they still play at politics.’

They would seize upon any pretext to strip something from the Kingdom of Franz.

Thus, as time flowed, Terran festered, rotting to the point of no return.

And so now, a choice had to be made.

‘Either cut it away.’

Or be born anew.

Neither path was easy.

Yet someone had brought forth a method.

— Rayze Arden.

She who cared for Terran as deeply as Kal.

She who had earned the qualifications of a Hero in this cesspool.

—There’s a way to regenerate Terran.

Her proposal was like poison.

A virulent toxin that could dissolve not just Terran but the entire Kingdom of Franz.

No, a lethal venom that could drive even more toward destruction.

But the academy had taught one thing.

— Even the most potent poison, if used correctly…

Those words had etched themselves deep in memory.

The single proper lesson from that worthless poison studies instructor.

— Can become medicine.

That was why.

“I heard you agreed.”

Kal, Terran’s student council president, was one of the few who had supported Rayze’s proposal. No, he had been the one to push forward and persuade Franz’s king.

“What, did you come expecting gratitude?”

Kal bit his lip at Louis’ frigid voice.

He couldn’t know what consequences this choice would bring.

But,

‘I’ve already swallowed this poison.’

And he was prepared to accept an even stronger dose.

To become a Great Hero.

For Terran.

‘For the Kingdom of Franz.’

With steeled resolve, Kal opened his mouth.

“I want to learn.”

Kal Franz.

“I want to learn properly from you. Demon King of Chaos. No!”

Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Franz.

“Headmaster.”

He bowed his head to the Demon King as he spoke.

☩

Among the third-years, the sole promising branch.

Yet one whose light had nearly faded, its wood already rotting from within.

Such was Louis’ assessment of Kal Franz.

Though he still endured, he was but a branch barely clinging to life, unable to withstand the seeping poison.

This was Kal Franz.

“I beseech you.”

Finding him marginally useful, Louis had designated him the sole advanced-class student among the third-years. Whatever he might learn, whatever he might do, the rot was inevitable — but at least isolation seemed appropriate.

“Please help me become a Hero.”

“How amusing.”

Truly, it was.

Considering his status, position, rank — everything about him — this plea carried weight. Even more so because he seemed to understand precisely what it meant to bow his head to someone like Louis.

“You’ll regret this, you know?”

Louis couldn’t help but savor the novelty of this moment.

“You know what’s bound to happen, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.”

To learn from the Demon King of Chaos.

And then become a Hero?

Perhaps impossible from the start.

Even if he became a Hero, countless others would deny his legitimacy.

Moreover, should he become King…

“The Kingdom of Franz might fall to ruin. Though whether by my hand or another’s, who can say?”

He could become a pariah, the continent’s greatest sin.

The Kingdom that once produced a Great Hero might be branded as one that consorted with the Demon King.

Terran would become infamous for inviting the Demon King, and Franz would bear the stigma of having sheltered him.

Yet.

“That’s fine.”

Kal answered with unwavering conviction.

Since the moment Rayze had brought her proposal, he had imagined this very moment.

“I will become a Hero.”

“…………”

“And I will fell Demon Kings.”

But that alone was not enough.

“I will become a Great Hero.”

“That might barely balance the scales.”

Bringing in a Demon King to defeat three others?

Even if it was the Demon King of Chaos, the scales might balance.

Kal could avoid becoming the continent’s sin, though he would lose all merit.

“That’s not all I desire.”

What Kal dreamed of…

Lay even higher.

To transform Terran, to change Franz.

And beyond that, to reshape the continent itself…

“I…”

On the day he becomes a Great Hero.

“I will challenge you.”

He would challenge Louis Shambel, the Demon Lord of Chaos.

“And I will defeat you.”

Kal spoke while clutching his trembling face.

He knew how mad his words sounded.

Knew this might lead to the worst possible outcome.

Yet it had to be done.

*Trickle—*

Tears traced their way down Kal’s cheeks.

It felt as though everything Carl had endured until now was finally erupting to the surface.

‘Perhaps this is for the better.’

This surge of emotion was the only thing keeping his sanity intact.

Without it, he feared he might collapse to the floor at any moment, utterly broken and humiliated.

‘Better tears than worse.’

With this thought in mind, Kal let his tears flow freely as he spoke.

“You said you would produce Heroes. You said your advantage as headmaster lies in knowing Demon Kings better than anyone.”

The Demon King of Chaos, whom none had ever managed to hunt down yet.

“I will learn everything about you. Learn it all…”

*Dizzy—*

“And I will defeat you. If I can do that…”

“The scales would tip dramatically indeed.”

Louis spoke with playful amusement.

“If you were to defeat me…”

*Sneer—*

Louis’ lips curled upward as if this entire situation were merely a game.

“You would become the continent’s greatest hero. Greater even than Kyle.”

“………..!”

“I keep my promises.”

Louis declared.

“I’ll teach you everything about Demon Kings. About myself too…”

As these words fell, Louis slowly approached Kal.

*Flinch—*

Kal stood frozen, as if nailed to the spot.

Leaning in close, Louis whispered in his ear.

“Go ahead and try to kill me. I look forward to it.”

A voice that sent chills down the spine, yet brimmed with unmistakable joy.

END σϝ CHAPTER

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