Chapter 3:Demon Academy

Two weeks had passed, and the realization hit me like a physical weight: these demons were far more civilized than the legends suggested. There was a rhythmic grace to their movements—the way they tilted their heads in conversation, the subtle, practiced gestures of their hands, and an underlying quiet confidence that spoke of ancient lineages. Paradoxically, amidst the gothic spires and shadowed archways, I felt a sense of belonging I had never known in the human world.
“Every student to the school gym! The Princess is about to address the assembly!”The announcement boomed through the corridors. Ah, right. I had almost forgotten. The Student Body President, Alana, was the one orchestrating the chaos. She was a distant relative of the Nomoshiki Clan—information that had been ruthlessly hammered into my brain during two weeks of intensive royal history and genealogy lessons.
She had no idea who I was, and I intended to keep it that way. In this world of monsters, I would be a ghost. A shadow. I had carefully calibrated my entrance scores to be perfectly mediocre; my magic, combat, and swordsmanship were rated as utterly unremarkable.
 I was the quintessential background character.
We shuffled into the massive gymnasium, a structure of cold stone and enchanted glass. I took my seat between my two friends, Jax and Po. Both were low-ranking demons who took a strange, perverse pride in their anonymity. 
To them, being "background characters" wasn't a failure—it was a survival strategy.Then, the "parents" arrived.
“Justin!!!”
A voice pierced the air like a siren. Before I could brace myself, Alicia was a blur of movement, slamming into me and throwing her arms around my neck in a crushing embrace.
“Uhhh… Mom, you’re hurting me,” I wheezed, my face turning a slight shade of blue.
I should clarify: Alicia wasn’t my mother. She was a high-ranking servant of my late father, a woman of fierce, terrifying loyalty. At my request, she had agreed to play the role of a commoner mother to help me blend in. The problem was, she was playing the part with a little too much theatrical passion.
“Parents and students, please be seated,” Alana’s voice echoed, sharp and commanding. “The Princess is arriving.”The Sapphire PrincessThe gym fell into a vacuum of silence. All eyes gravitated toward the grand entrance as the Princess appeared. She didn't just walk; she glided, radiating an effortless regality. Her silky black hair fell like a waterfall of ink around a face of pale porcelain, and her eyes—bright blue sapphires—glinted with a sharp, cold intelligence.
A jolt of recognition sparked in my chest. She looked eerily like the reflection I saw in my mirror every morning.
“I am Calamity, First Princess to the Demon Throne,” she announced, her voice melodic yet firm. “And engaged to Volta Blackwood of the Dragon Clan.”
A ripple of murmurs washed over the crowd. It was the "Great Compromise"—demons were expected to marry dragons to maintain the fragile equilibrium of the kingdom. The sighs and envious glances from the students only reinforced the tradition I found repulsive. 
One day, I would tear down these customs and reclaim my father’s stolen glory.
“The Queen herself will observe the trials in four weeks,” Calamity continued, her radiant smile sending a wave of applause through the room. “These trials will determine the future warriors of our United Kingdom. Give your all.”
The trials. A quadrennial event of brutal strength, arcane skill, and cunning wit. Only the elite would be chosen to stand against the Angels. Lucky me, I thought sarcastically. I had to continue the act—appearing weak while sharpening the claws I kept hidden beneath the surface.The Bet and the Blow-up
“Justin, let’s move. You haven't forgotten our deal, have you?” Po nudged me with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“What deal?” I asked, feeling a sinking sensation in my gut.
“You lost the bet, man! You have to give your birthday chocolates to the President. Right now,” Po reminded me, grinning like a shark.
Ah, the bet. I had completely forgotten. In my head, this was perfect. I would approach the terrifying Alana, she would reject me with cold disdain, and my reputation as a pathetic, low-level loser would be cemented forever. A sly grin played on my lips as I followed them.
The rest of the day was a blur of monotony. Ancient Demon History was a drag; Miss Elina’s voice was a rhythmic drone as she rambled about the "Witch of Chaos" and the prison known as The Runes. My head hit the desk more than once.
Alchemy class, however, provided a literal blast. We were tasked with forging minor magical artifacts. Naturally, the "Background Trio"—Jax, Po, and myself—managed to destabilize our cauldron.
BOOM.
The explosion coated us in soot and sent the entire class into fits of hysterics. I sat there, my black hair standing on end like a startled cat, looking every bit the failure I needed to be.
The Great Rejection?At break, we huddled in the cafeteria. The air was thick with the scent of spiced meats and the roar of a thousand conversations."You know how brutal the Pres can be, right?" Jax said, shoving a handful of peas into his mouth. "Every guy she rejects ends up with his self-confidence shattered for life."
"Remember that third-year?" Po added darkly. "He dropped out of school and went into exile after she told him his face was an 'eyesore.'"
"Stop making this harder for me," I snapped, though internally, I was thrilled. This was going to be the perfect social suicide.
The moment arrived. I found Alana standing between two ancient, twisted trees in the school field. A crowd had already gathered in the bushes, whispering and peering through the leaves to witness the inevitable slaughter.
I approached her with measured, cautious steps, my heart performing a rhythmic thud against my ribs. I bowed deeply, thrusting the box of chocolates forward with trembling hands.
“Miss… Miss President Alana!” I stuttered, forcing a nervous crack into my voice while a playful, hidden grin danced in my mind. “Can… can you please accept my love?!”It was a masterpiece of bad acting. Pure perfection. I waited for the cold remark, the icy stare, the public humiliation that would keep me in the shadows for the rest of the year.
But then… the world shifted.
Alana didn't sneer. She stepped forward and gently took my hands in hers. She accepted the chocolate with a calm, practiced grace.“Of course I’ll be with you,” she said, her voice steady and chillingly clear.
My brain stalled. Huh? I stared at her, utterly bewildered. Her expression remained a mask of unreadable coldness, but as she turned to walk away, a tiny, playful smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She moved through the stunned crowd as if nothing life-altering had just occurred.
I stood there, frozen in the grass. A light flickered in the back of my mind—was this a trap? Had she seen through my disguise? Or had I accidentally triggered a sequence in the game I wasn't prepared for?
One thing was certain: my life as a background character was officially over.