Chapter 3

“Meline, are you ready?”

“I was born ready.”

It was a calm morning in the city of Nordeux, the largest city in Hoj, the easternmost province of the kingdom. Kade Ezenboro stood in front of the mirror, tidying up his brown hair. His bright yellow eyes observed the movement of his comb. It was his first day of university. He wanted to be in his prime for the day ahead.

“You’re taking way too long! Too long, I tell you!” Standing behind him was Meline Hikaruth, his childhood friend, familiar, and former demon lord. Well, she’s technically still the demon lord, but her head aches every time she goes far from Kade; thus, she left the Demon Lands behind with her trusty subordinates to live with Kade.

“Are you not nervous?”

“Hah! Why should I, the great demon lord, be nervous of a mere human university?”

“You were twisting and turning on the bed last night.”

“You were not supposed to know that! You were not supposed to know!”

They slept in separate beds, in separate rooms, but thanks to the magical link linking her to him, he could sense a bit of her feelings. Her anxiety last night was so strong that he could feel it clearly, something not common for him.

She's adorable when she's flustered.

Luckily, his thoughts weren't communicated. She wouldn't be happy hearing that.

“Forget about it. I’m not scared. I’m not scared at all,” she murmured as she disappeared into the kitchen. She brought out two lunchboxes, then thrust one of them at him. “Here.”

“Thanks. Your cooking is always delicious.”

“I’ve said it and I’ll say it again, flattery won’t get you anywhere.” She pouted, then turned away. This back and forth had been their routine for ten years now. Kade made sure that everything was ready before heading out, Meline following behind him. The university they attended had its own dormitories, but the distance between the boys’ section and the girls’ section was too far. If the two were separated that far, some bad effects might happen to Meline, so they decided to buy a house instead. The house itself wasn’t too far from the university, only a short five-minute trip.

“You look stunning in uniform,” Kade said while they walked. Universities don't typically have uniforms, but his university had a unique history, and uniforms were a tradition it carried from the past.

“Hmph, it is expected for someone like me, but thanks.”

The university building was already visible in the distance. Nordeux City Magic University, one of the oldest institutions in the country. Many said that its traditions, not exactly natural for a university, originated from the time when the term ‘university’ didn't even exist. Kade recalled hearing about it back when he just arrived in this world. It has been years since they, and it didn't seem like anything had changed.

Despite its rather uninteresting name, it had become the best, most prestigious university in the Hoj province. Its prestige rivaled even the universities for nobles in the capital.

The complex was large, and walking from the gates to the meeting hall took ten minutes. It was a particularly hot day, and Kade would have been wet with sweat had it not been for Meline’s ice magic. Just before they entered the meeting hall, Meline stopped and turned, looking at a faraway building. She squinted her eyes.

“Is something the matter?”

“I feel something…” She pointed toward the building in the distance. To John, it seemed like a regular building. Just a part of the university complex.

“There’s a kind of mysterious power over there… Remind me to check it out.”

“Alright.” Kade nodded.

The meeting hall was already filled with students. Murmurs filled the air. Some were excited for their new life at university, while others were already thinking of the pains of homework and tests. The two took up seats in the furthest row back they could find. The girl who was the last part of the heroes' party kept what she saw that night a secret, and thus, not even the kingdom knew that the demon lord was among them. She did make some excuses to explain Meline being around Kade, thus the university was somewhat aware of their circumstances.

As for what the public knew, the demon lord just went up and vanished one day, thus restoring the dignity of the kingdom while bringing disappointment to the general public.

For Meline herself, she couldn't care less what the public thought of her. What's important is finding a way to undo the link between them, either that or a way to get to that fateful battle with the hero. Ten years had passed, though, so who knows what the hero is up to now.

“This is taking a while. Maybe we've departed too early.” Meline folded her hands and began tapping her feet.

Kade checked the clock on his arm. It showed seven fifty-five, five minutes before the ceremony began.

“Don't worry, it won't be too long now.”

As the clock continued ticking, more and more people filled the room.

“It's exciting, isn't it? Finally going to university.”

“Hmph, I fail to understand what's so exciting about this. It's just homework and tests and tasks and more homework. It's a pain, I tell you.”

“Have you been to university before?”

“Of course.” Meline puffed her chest. “I only went to the best of the best. I'm so great that the land's best tutors came to my castle to teach me.”

“That isn't exactly a university…” Kade smiled wryly.

The ceremony soon began. Like any other ceremony, it started with the headmaster's speech. While Kade paid attention, Meline was barely awake. Considering how little sleep she managed the night before, it's unsurprising that she's struggling now.

“Are you alright?” Kade asked.

“Do I look fine?”

“No.”

After fifteen painful, long minutes, the president's speech finally ended. After him, it was the student council president’s turn. Luckily for them, the speech didn’t last longer than five minutes, and they moved on to the next thing on their agenda. On the first day of university, they wouldn't be jumping into classes immediately. Instead, they'd start with the introductions.

The professors announced the classes. For their first year of university, everyone would be put in an introductory course, meaning everything would be the same for everyone. Once they finish their first-year courses, they’ll be able to choose their electives. Since the university is aware of the fact that Meline couldn't be parted from Kade, they had been put in the same class. The students then moved to the classroom, where the next event took place.

They took their seats in their class, waiting patiently for their homeroom professor, or first-year guidance professor, to come.

“What kind of person do you think they are?”

“I just hope they’re not too strict.”

As their classmates discussed their new homeroom professor, Kade couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. Considering the circumstances these last few years, he could guess who would be their homeroom professor.

“There is simply no way, is there?” Meline said, as if reading his mind. “Surely she will not transfer here just for us.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she did.”

The door creaked open. A charming young woman entered the room, her red hair tied in a bun. Despite her gentle figure, she had no trouble carrying the large box in front of her. She put the box down with a huff, her light green eyes scanning the room. A small smile appeared on her lips when her eyes landed on Kade and Meline.

“Dammit,” Meline whispered, her voice barely audible.

Kade had expected it, somewhat.

“Is everyone here?” She asked, looking around the room once more. “Alright, let's begin. My name is Linda. You can call me Miss Linda.”