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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Rather, It's Good
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Early in the morning, Gordon of the dark elf tribe woke up humming a tune.
"I can't give a bad first impression on our first meeting."
He shaved his beard and trimmed his hair. He finished setting himself up in a neat suit.
Looking in the mirror, a handsome dark elf with black hair stood there.
"Hm, good."
Today was the graduation ceremony for the 99th class of Demon King Academy cadets.
The trainee demon kings who had completed their education would officially become demon kings and be assigned to various dimensions. And he was an adjutant who would serve such demon kings.
'Top graduate of the Demon Race Training School, Gordon Dirik.'
While Demon King Academy trained demon kings, the Demon Race Training School trained demon race members to serve them.
The top performers in particular became adjutants to demon kings, and Gordon, who had graduated at the top, was slated to be the adjutant for Berge Dayas, who had also graduated top of Demon King Academy.
No, he had already been assigned and had received Berge's materials in advance.
'Of the great demon dragon tribe.'
'A genius who never once lost first place.'
'Peerless talent.'
'The greatest in Demon King Academy history.'
The materials filled only with praise made him even more satisfied.
As an adjutant serving a demon king, it was only natural to wish to serve an even greater demon king.
In that sense, the top graduate, Berge Dayas, was the perfect liege, and Gordon was the luckiest dark elf.
'With him, we can conquer any dimension.'
From the moment he graduated top, there would be plenty of benefits waiting for him, excluding himself. With their combination plus those benefits, they could do anything.
- The graduation ceremony for the 99th class of Demon King Academy will now begin.
He arrived at the auditorium in high spirits. Before he knew it, it was filled with various demon race members.
Gordon headed to the back of the stage with familiar faces.
"How was it?"
"Your demon king?"
"Not bad. Cool and charismatic, the very model of a great demon king."
Those whose futures as adjutants to demon kings were set gossiped about their lieges.
Trivial talk like who was assigned to whom or what someone's demon king seemed like.
Naturally, Gordon drew the most attention and envy.
"I saw Berge earlier. As expected of the top graduate. He stood out from the others."
"Same here. There was something untouchable about him. With him, it felt like we could do anything."
"Demon dragon tribe, huh. Definitely different."
Gordon's shoulders naturally puffed up at his peers' praise.
No adjutant would dislike praise for their liege. He felt grateful to Berge Dayas, who was graduating from the academy at the same time as him.
As they chattered, the ceremony raced toward its finale.
Finally, there was the chairman's diploma conferral, and Berge Dayas ascended the podium.
"Handsome."
190 cm tall. A sturdy build and natural intimidation. The dignity of the top graduate indeed.
'The one I'll serve from now on. The one who will write legends.'
Gordon's chest swelled with anticipation.
He imagined a future conquering countless dimensions together and etching their names in history.
- Now, the oath-taking for the new demon king graduates will begin.
- Top graduate Berge Dayas will read it on behalf of everyone.
This lasted until they were to swear to uphold the Demon King's Canon.
- Berge Dayas?
- Please promptly recite the great Demon King's Canon.
Even when he hesitated without reciting the canon for some reason, he didn't find it strange.
They said he followed the canon more faithfully than anyone, so he just assumed it was deep emotion.
He never imagined that he would.
"Impossible."
Utter such nonsense.
"I can't make that idiotic oath. Following the Demon King's Canon is no different from carrying a hatchling's corpse into a dragon's lair—it's a stupid, moronic act. That canon is trash!"
He truly never dreamed it.
"······."
Gordon's legs gave out, and he collapsed with a thud.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Is that the blockhead?"
"Daring to insult the canon. He deserves to die."
"And next to him? A moron fitting for the blockhead?"
"Word is, he's the blockhead's adjutant. Already assigned, can't be changed."
"Poor guy. How did he end up with that one···."
"Tsk, such a waste of talent rotting under a blockhead."
Gordon closed his eyes at the surrounding murmurs. Tears welled up at his pitiful situation.
On the other hand, Berge, sitting in front of him, extended his hand casually without a hint of reaction.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Berge Dayas."
"······."
Gordon just stared at the hand. He didn't want to take it. But in the end, he had no choice.
'Crazy bastard. Son of a bitch. Should rip him apart right now.'
After Berge Dayas's bombshell declaration, Gordon felt the changed reality.
The malicious gossip still audible was just the beginning.
- What? The canon set by the Founding Demon Emperor and practiced countless times is trash?
- Like carrying a hatchling's corpse into a dragon's lair?
- He was top graduate, but he's completely lost it, right?
- That guy's top graduate? What the hell does Demon King Academy teach!
The demon race was furious.
The Demon King's Canon was the Founding Demon Emperor's legacy that unified the chaotic demon realm and allowed it to project power outward.
To the demon race, the canon was faith. An inviolable sacred realm.
And Berge had touched it.
- Reveal if there was manipulation in the academy's grading!
- That trash insulting the canon can't possibly be a demon king!
- Strip him of his demon king qualifications and send him to the Goran mines!
Protests erupted. As radical demon race members, violence and terrorism naturally followed.
It was a school for now, but who knew when that fury would turn to Berge and himself, who had to serve Berge.
"···Why on earth did you do that?"
Thus, Gordon's tone sharpened inevitably.
"What do you mean?"
"The canon! The canon!"
He growled fiercely.
"If you'd just quietly taken the oath, everything would have been perfect! The achievements and reputation you'd built would have let you enjoy everything at the highest level!"
He couldn't understand it. Throwing away destined glory with his own mouth. What an idiotic act. Why would the top graduate do this?
No, why disparage the great canon? How could he spout such nonsense in his right mind? Was he even demon race?
Faint disgust mixed with anger surfaced.
But Berge changed the subject instead of answering.
"You went to the training school, right?"
"······."
Right after the ceremony ended, Gordon went to the chairman of the Demon Race Training School.
And begged. Please cancel the assignment. He didn't want to be Berge Dayas's adjutant.
'I heard. I was looking forward to the top graduate in Demon King Academy history, but to think it was such a blockhead. Makes me wonder if the professors there all went mad.'
'Regrettable, but can't cancel. Once assigned, the bond lasts to the end. That's the rule from the Founding Demon Emperor.'
'Can't become the same kind as that blockhead ignoring the canon, can I?'
The chairman's tsking and shoulder-patting still lingered in his eyes.
'Why did I have to be top? If only I'd slipped a bit to second···.'
But regret was too late, no matter how quick.
"···The benefits."
"Huh?"
"Do the benefits still come?"
The things granted for being top. If at least those were there, it might console him a bit.
"Unfortunately, all canceled. For insulting the canon."
Damn it!
Yes, it was natural. Couldn't let a canon-insulter go free.
Stopping at revoking benefits for a grave crime deserving dismemberment was probably because expectations for him remained.
Since he's top, let's use him.
Better to grind him for the demon realm's atonement than just kill him.
'But why me of all people···.'
He was one of the benefits granted to Berge, too.
Unaware of his thoughts, Berge extended his hand again.
"Anyway, now that it's like this, let's get along."
"······."
Gordon couldn't bring himself to take that hand.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Archduke of the Demon Realm, Alkain Blamif's office.
I rushed over at his summons.
"Come in."
As I settled into the plush sofa, Alkain personally poured blood-red wine. A faint bloody scent wrapped around my tongue.
"I don't like you much either. Whether by birth or arrogance from being top graduate. I don't want to let live someone who dares insult the canon."
He calmly spat dangerous words.
"Is that so?"
I casually sipped the wine. I knew his temperament well—if he truly meant to kill me, he wouldn't do a private audience like this.
"But, you are the academy's top graduate, even if a rebel blockhead. The demon race questions the evaluation, but I know the chairman well. He never takes bribes or skews grades for personal reasons."
That's why he'd been academy chairman for centuries.
"Your talent is real. Even a blockhead, wasting such talent would be a shame. Other archdukes might differ."
"······."
"Repent your foolishness and apologize now."
Clink—
Alkain set down his glass.
"Kneel before the Founding Demon Emperor's statue and swear to uphold the canon. Atone and beg forgiveness from all."
Then, with my authority, I'll minimize the harm coming to you as much as possible.
He whispered sweetly.
"But if you stubbornly persist, I plan to send you to Arein under my jurisdiction."
Arein. Among the five dimensions under development in the demon realm, it boasted the worst difficulty.
Number one assignment all demon kings avoided.
The place where the most demon kings in history had lost their lives.
"You know what it means to go to Arein with just one measly adjutant."
I knew. Even demon kings bringing hordes of subordinates failed one after another, so going with just an adjutant was suicide.
"What say you? Opportunity still remains."
He smiled chillingly. Confidence that I'd beg forgiveness was palpable.
It was so funny, I smiled back.
A normal demon king probably would have bowed here.
But I'm not normal.
"I'll go."
"Good, ···what?"
"My stance hasn't changed. I respect the Founding Demon Emperor, but the canon is trash. I don't know about the past, but now it's a stupid mess where means overpower the goal."
"You arrogant···!"
Rumble—
"···You really need to die to come to your senses. Top graduate and you can't tell front from back, rampaging like this."
The air trembled with viscous killing intent. But I didn't flinch an eye.
"Maybe."
Since I'm already dead, dying again won't clear my mind. No, my first death actually cleared it.
"So rather than apologize, just send me to Arein."
Avoided like the plague number one?
Where most demon kings got eaten?
Rather, it's good.
Because that's where those vermin who mocked and toyed with me are.
My old assignment zone.
'Wait, you hero bastards.'
This time, I'll definitely tear your throats out with my own nails.