Danny opened the classroom door and tried sneaking into his seat without being noticed.
And why would he be caught?
Hephaestus is an old demon, and he can't see so well these d-
"Daniel! If you are late to class, notify me beforehand and apologize when you enter the class!"
Hephaestus shouted.
Danny turned to look at the teacher and noticed this old demon didn't even bother looking at him.
Did he have eyes on his back?!
"Sorry, sir."
Danny apologized and resumed his walk to the chair, but Hephaestus had other plans.
"Go to the front of the class and help me with a demonstration."
The rough-looking teacher said.
Danny sighed deeply and did as the teacher had told him.
"Today, we are studying basic summoning. I'm sure you know how to use it."
Hephaestus said, and Danny was afraid to argue.
He did know how to use it, but because summoning magic demands a lot of magical energy, he preferred not to use it.
But now, he had to comply.
Danny looked at the class from the front with an awkward smile and noticed the students' expressions.
Some were confused, and some were intrigued.
These weren't the reactions of those who spent the beginning of the lesson going over the theoretical side of the spell.
Mr. Hephaestus was using him to do an entirely different lesson than planned!
"Sir. is this what you originally planned for the class?"
Danny asked.
"No, but I thought that for a class full of high-level demons, this would be very beneficial. Also, there's that tournament between different classes toward the middle of the year... And there is a competition at summoning. I'm not losing to Hades again this year!"
The teacher answered, and Danny felt defeated.
Not because he couldn't argue his way out of the demonstration. That was a different issue, fighting Mr. Hades's class?! Whichever class it was had to be a strong one...
"Which spell do you want me to demonstrate?"
Danny asked.
"Fídi Apó Ti Gi."
Mr. Hephaestus answered.
Danny was surprised.
This spell is an underrated classic.
Depending on the user's skill and magic level, they could summon any snake they could imagine.
It was rather useless for beginners, which is why not many practiced it after learning other summoning spells.
"Fídi Apó Ti Gi."
Danny pointed at the floor, and the dust started forming into a white snake with purple eyes.
It was an average-sized snake with small horns on its head and four eyes.
Danny put a lot of concentration into this spell, which is why the snake looked exactly as he wanted it to.
And now Danny could sense exactly how his magic's movement and placement affected the type of snake and its looks.
With this knowledge, he could attempt to morph a spell as he tried to do with the fireball that morning. And this time, he might garner success.
"Okay, everyone, you saw what he did. Now, you do it."
Mr. Hephaestus instructed, and the students started practicing.
Since Danny already knew this spell, he stayed by his teacher's side, and they talked.
"So, who did you anger this time?"
The rough-looking teacher asked his student.
"What? Who said I angered anybody."
Danny deflected, but Mr. Hephaestus's expression made it clear he didn't believe him.
"Okay. Fine. I angered a teacher at the dojo who teaches third-year students. He has blonde hair, blue eyes, and small horns picking out of his long hair..."
Danny pondered what other descriptors he could think of.
"He also wears a green robe."
The white-heard student added, and Mr. Hephaestus sighed.
"You angered Lóng Lǜ Yù? Are you aware he is an eastern demon who comes from a clan of half-dragons and half-high-level demons?"
The black-haired teacher asked.
"Well, I can only hope he wouldn't try to take revenge against me. Besides, I wasn't the only one there."
Danny said.
"Not the only one? Who did you drag with you?"
Mr. Hephaestus was surprised.
Both Chaos and Marcuse have been in class since the start of the lesson.
"Ishtar Baal, Momotaro of the Oni Clan, and Hans Voltgoat."
Danny answered.
"Ishtar Baal? Did you finally fix your relationship?"
Mr. Hephaestus was even more surprised.
"No way. I just needed to test something, and she agreed to help me."
Danny said.
"Test something? What is it?"
Danny's words picked Mr. Hephaestus's curiosity.
"You'll find out when there will be a need for it."
Danny said and enjoyed seeing his teacher's annoyed expression.
"And when would that be?"
Mr. Hephaestus asked with an angry tone.
"When I'll need it."
Danny answered and didn't think of the implications.
Mr. Hephaestus grinned with a merciless smile.
"When there will be the tournament between classes, you will participate in as many competitions as I'll decide. And if you refuse, I'll stop defending you against teachers who want you kicked out."
The teacher said, and Danny swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
********
Danny had finished his conversation with Mr. Hephaestus and went to his seat.
He sat in his chair and put his legs on the table.
The snake was still following him, and he completely forgot about him...
Danny decided to try something.
He silent-casted an invisibility spell on the snake and closed his eyes.
He could see through the eyes of the snake.
He tried to have his snake go out of the classroom to check on what was happening in other classrooms.
But the moment the slithering serpent had found its way out the door, it was disintegrated.
Danny quickly opened his eyes, and feelings of shock filled his mind.
There was a spell that prevented summoned beasts from traveling outside the classroom?!
Danny never heard of a spell like that being used in a school.
This truly was the top school in Hell.
And as such, they protected a bunch of rich brats quite thoroughly.
Marcuse saw his brother jump in surprise and went to his table.
"Are you okay?"
The blond prince asked.
"Yeah, I'm good."
Danny answered.
Marcuse was about to go back to his friends, but Danny stopped him.
"W-Wait!"
The white-haired demon called to his brother.
"?"
Marcuse was confused.
What could Danny want with him?
Wasn't he too weak and not even worth his time?
What other reason was there for Danny to waste all strength in the tournament to fight someone else?
"I'm sorry. Even though I said I'll fight you, I couldn't defeat Momotaro without exhausting everything I got."
Danny apologized.
Chaos told him Marcuse was upset with how things ended, and Danny felt guilty for it.
Marcuse was surprised to hear his brother's apology.
"It's fine. You are just a low-level demon. I shouldn't have expected anything more from you."
Marcuse said.
This was a lie, and he felt guilty for acting like that, but he couldn't be honest.
He wanted to fight his brother, the brother who had already surpassed him and had been progressing even further on his own.
What good did it do to him to be the acknowledged son if their father only put the expectation of surpassing his brother on him?
Danny was angry about Marcuse's answer.
"Just a low-level demon"? This wasn't like him, and Danny was not willing to accept it.
"After class."
Danny said.
His eyes glowed brightly with anger.
"What?"
Marcuse was confused by Danny's reaction.
"After class, we are having a duel. You can only disrespect me after you beat me."
Danny said.
Marcuse looked at his brother's eyes and felt a strong sense of regret. In his bitter jealousy of his brother's capabilities, he had said something he shouldn't have.
And know Danny was not going to go easy on him.