"Oh, Daniel, you're alive and came to class."
The black-haired teacher, with pale skin and an earthy smell, said.
"Of course I'm alive. I'm indestructible."
Danny answered the teacher, and the students in the class shot spiteful looks at this low-level demon who kept picking fights against high-levels like them and disrespected the teachers.
"Well, please be indestructible at your seat."
The cranky teacher subtly told Danny to take his seat.
"I was just explaining magic circles. Since you are late, I'm sure you are confident in knowing the material. Would you like to demonstrate?"
Mr. Hades challenged his white-haired student.
Danny's purple eyes sparkled with excitement.
To not overstate his feelings, he hated most of these students. They were just a bunch of talentless idiots who grew up in high-level clans and got into this school through money. Nothing could be more fun for him now than demonstrating his superiority by destroying their view of him as a measly low-level demon.
"I'd love to, sir."
Danny stepped over to the board and analyzed everything written on it.
He was rather impressed. This was some advanced stuff.
These were lines written by Abaros, a member of the Jinn Clan, a medium-level clan. Together with his clan, he joined hands with Satan in their rebellion against the All Creator.
As an act of rebellion, this Abaros crafted the Grimoire of Jinns. A grimoire that explains the use of magic circles. He made multiple copies and gave one to humans.
"Do you understand the material on the board?"
Mr. Hades asked him.
They both knew the answer. Of course, Danny knew this material, even more so since this Mr. Hades was the one who taught Danny this before Danny was twelve under orders from the queen.
Danny picked a piece of chalk and swiftly outlined a circle. In it, he drew the alchemic symbol of phosphorus, a triangle with a line coming under it and two lines going horizontally through the vertical line. He added a few lines of text that none of the students could understand and put the chalk back in its place.
"Thank you, Daniel. You can return to your seat now."
Hades said. Without further thought, he continued the lesson.
"Based on my prior explanation. Now that you can see this magic circle, what do you think it is for?"
Hades asked the class.
For five painful minutes, Danny sat in the back row and waited for someone to answer until a black-haired student with brown horns, whom Danny couldn't remember existed, answered the question.
"Oh, we got a brave one. So, what's your answer?"
Hades was happy that someone bothered to take part in the lesson.
"This magic circle is used to shoot some spell that would endanger everyone while making Daniel feel good about himself."
The student said, and Danny could hear the students' laughs in the class.
"I already checked the letters he wrote, so you don't need to worry about this endangering you because this is the basic light circle."
Mr. Hades said and tapped the board.
The circle started emitting a blinding light. Once it finished, the inner markings vanished as if they were never there, and only the outer circle remained.
"This circle was used by medium-level and low-level demons to imitate The All Creator's first command."
Hades started explaining the circle Danny sketched on the board, but before he could continue, the bell rang, and the first break started.
As soon as the bell was heard, Danny grabbed his bag and ran outside the classroom toward the dojo.
********
At the dojo, a black-haired demon sat in seiza position, his knees touching the ground, his back straightened, and his sword on the tatami by his side. A purple-eyed, white-haired student entered the dojo and sat parallel to him.
"I heard you were taken to the nurse's office. Is your head fine?"
Momotaro asked his prior opponent.
"My head's fine. What did you wanna talk about?"
Danny shrugged his injury off and referred their conversation to the main topic.
"Have you heard the rumors of the demon lord leaving his post?"
Momotaro asked.
"Oh, is he now?"
Danny acted as if he had no clue.
Something about his answer seemed suspicious, and Momotaro was fairly certain that Danny knew more than he led on, maybe even more than the clan elders.
"That's what the rumors say."
Momotaro answered.
"Well, what of it? How does it relate to me?"
Danny knew where the conversation was heading. Momotaro wanted to recruit him, but if he were the one to bring it up, it would be like requesting to join Momotaro.
"Hehe. If, by any chance, these rumors are true, would you be willing to join me?"
Momotaro asked as formally as possible.
"Yes."
Danny answered.
Hearing Danny's short answer, Momotaro was unsure what his formality was for.
"Well, tell me if this ever becomes a serious thin-"
Danny was cut midsentence as an image was projected in midair.
["Cough, cough."]
Satan's voice was heard through the projection.
["This is a message to notify the denizens of Hell that I will be stepping down as the king of Hell, and in my stead, I'll position one of the first-year students in S.S.S."]
Satan said, and Danny was surprised. Danny thought his father would place Marcuse as his successor and was uncertain if all this fuss was worth something, but apparently, he was wrong.
["S.S.S is the most advanced high school in Hell, and because of that, I decided to choose my successor from it. At the end of this year, I'll choose the future assigned jobs of the first years, so I thought it made sense that one of the jobs would be King of Hell."]
Satan explained his reasoning.
["Anyone can sign up and participate. It will not damage the students' chances of getting other jobs. At the end of the year, I'll evaluate the overall support of each participant and their other attributes, such as achievements, scores, magic aptitude, magic control, etc. I won't pay attention to any criticism."]
The king of Hell explained the laws of participation.
The projection finished, and Momotaro looked at Danny with an amused smile.
"Well, this has just become a serious thing."
The Oni Clan's heir looked at his newly met snow-haired companion, and an expression of understanding spread on their faces.
An understanding that things were just starting to get serious.