Chapter 3

The arena has been split into various sections .

An owl is perched on one of the bronze statues of knights that are lined up nearby and speaks .

“Please line up by the letter that was printed on your invitation card . ”

Looking at my invitation I could see the letter F printed on it .

“Misha’s is?”

“…… . E…… . ” she says while showing me the invitation .

An owl flies to the end of each line carrying a piece of parchment with a letter on it .

“Well then . My best regards on entering this school . ”

“……Nn…… . ”

Separating from Misha I line up in the F row . It’s a long line but I peer ahead using my demon eye .

It looks like we enter a waiting room one at a time .

It looks like my turn will take some time . At a rough count, there are about 100 people ahead of me .

All 7 lines are the same though so there’s about 700 people here .

I know it’s been 2000 years but my decedents have increased well .

It seems my worry about my bloodline dying out was unnecessary .

While idly thinking such things I wait for time to pa.s.s .

After a while, I’m finally at the front of the line looking at the waiting room .

Entering inside there’s another owl waiting again .

Who’s familiar is this?

I can’t feel any traces of magic power so I can’t see who it’s master is . They have hidden themselves well .

It seems there are some decent magic users in this age after all .

“Welcome, please come in . I’ll explain the contents of this practical exam . ”

Inviting me and examining me . I can’t judge if the admission for this school is right or wrong though their first purpose is to find the reincarnated demon king .

This is the first time I reincarnated but reincarnating with your memories intact is supposed to be quite rare . How aware are they that they are the reincarnation of the demon king Arnos . The mazoku of now probably have no idea .

If I stepped forward and introduced myself I could finish it . Saying that, it was arranged for me to come here so it’s only common courtesy that I hear them out first .

“In this practical test, we have students duel each other in the arena . After beating 5 people your magic power is measured, we examine you and if you pa.s.s you are admitted into Deruzogedo . If you lose you will be unable to gain admission . ”

I am the first demon king . There’s no chance of me losing .

Also, by watching the magic that a person uses it is possible to tell if someone is the founder .

I think that the test is a bit simple but it might be right for this time and place .

“All weapons, armour and spells are allowed . Any questions?”

“Not really . ”

“Well then, I wish you the blessing of the founder . ”

I opened the door at the back of the waiting room and proceeded down a dim and long pa.s.sageway .

Even though it’s my castle this is the first time I’ve used this corridor . The arena was originally a place where people fought to show off their skills for combat .

A light appeared as I neared the end of the corridor and I exited out into a round stadium with high walls .

Above the wall was the spectator seats filled here and there with mazoku .

Looking closer I can see that they are all wearing the same uniform . Are they students at this school?

“Yo! We meet again . ”

A man with swarthy skin was standing at the opposite end .

It was Zepes who I easily dealt with last time .

Fumu . My partner is a small fry . It will be difficult to prove I’m the founder fighting him . What should I do?

“You . Oi! Are you listening . ”

Without answering I walk forward 3 steps and the pa.s.sage behind me closes with a magic barrier .

“Oops . You retreat has been blocked . Are you nervous?” Zepes said in a proud tone of voice .

“You thought I was thinking of running away? Don’t worry, I won’t kill you so feel at ease . ”

Zepes clicks his tongue .

Yare yare . I was being polite but this guy has no manners .

Is he really a fool who can’t tell the difference in our power?

“Let me tell you I won’t go easy on you . I’ll change your proud face into a soggy, tearful face full of horror then I’ll kill you . ”

I couldn’t help it . I burst out into laughter .

“Kukuku, Haahaahaahaa . Nonono . Kill me? Who? This me?”

I glare at Zepes .

“Know your place you buffoon . ”

Power can be put into words but it didn’t effect Zepes this time .

The dull coloured armour he was wearing flashed anti-magic formations across its surface .

“Hou, I won’t eat from that hand anymore . This armour contains the power to block any magic cast at it . ”

I see . Because he relies on that armour his own personal anti-magic power is weak .

Despite being my descendent he’s a completely pitiable man .

“All weapons, armour and spells are allowed . Victory or defeat leads to death for someone but you can give up and I’ll determine the winner . ”

The voice of the owl flying above fills the arena .

“Practical exam, start!”

Zepes immediately whips out the sword that was hanging from his waist . The blade was burning brightly .

“Are you surprised? demon sword Zefried . A sword born from an ancient fire that’s been pa.s.sed down through the Endou family . It will amplify my magic power tenfold . You seem to be good at anti-magic but the flame of this sword cannot be erased . ”

“Fumu . Are you perhaps bad at maths?”

Zepes openly shows his anger while cutting down the distance between us .

“What are you trying to say?”

“One multiplied tenfold will still only be ten . ”

“b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

Zepes kicks the ground and in the next moment appears in front of me putting me in range of Zefried .

“Die . ”

Fuwaa . I suppress a yawn .

He’s extremely slow .

If I had a sword I’d have done 100 slashes by now . Well, adults should pay attention to children when they are playing .

Oh, it came .

The weapon aside, he’s no sword master so I have no real need to avoid it .

The demon sword Zefried was swung in a horizontal flash and was about to connect with my neck when I absentmindedly looked properly at the sword for the first time .

This is bad! I quickly dodge out of the way .

“Hou . You did well to avoid it . ”

That was dangerous . Several more millimetres and it would have connected with the weak anti-magic field I always have active on myself . It would have snapped the sword in half .

It’s the Endou family’s treasure that’s been pa.s.sed down through the generations . Even though its blunt I don’t want to break such an important item of theirs . Truly a pang of conscience .

However .

“Is that a demon sword?”

“Indeed . Is this the first time you’ve seen one? It’s different from modern magic . It’s true magic . It’s an old sword from the time of the G.o.ds . Demon sword Zefried!”

………This is a demon sword?

If I had to compare it to the time of the G.o.ds just pick up any old stick from the ground and it would have more magic power than this .

If you were told that this is a product from the time of the G.o.ds you got a fake .

A true demon sword has its own will and such vast power that even it’s user would be ruined eventually .

The words demon sword are being used too carelessly as well .

“Fuu . ”

I blow and the fire from the demon sword Zefried goes out .

“Geh, Geeeeeeeeh!?”

A wordless scream comes from Zepes and a surprised voice leaks out from the spectators .

“I can’t believe it . That person erased the flame from Zefried!”

“That old flame is said to not disappear until the end of the world . Also, I didn’t see the activation of any magic!!”

Zepes grits his teeth .

“b.a.s.t.a.r.d . Possibly… . . sealing magic!?”

“What? I just blew it out . With the amount of power hidden in that sword, it should reignite itself in a couple of years . ”

Zepes has a bitter expression .

“……Sealing magic, compulsion magic, you certainly seem to have acquired magic power at a terrible level . The magic that you use is not suitable for battle however, so how are you going to break through my anti-magic armour?”

Fumu . That armour will break if I simply pat it though that would be a bit childish on my part .

“I don’t think I can feel proud if I break it though . ”

“Hmm . Have you lost your nerve?”

“No, but I do have an interesting proposal . In the first place, it’s wrong that we are fighting over the same viewpoint . ”

Zepes stares at me cautiously .

“I’ll give you a handicap . I will not move a single step from here . I won’t use magic and I won’t empower my words or breath with magic . I won’t move my limbs and I won’t even use my eyes or hair . I’ll defeat you without even blinking . ”

“Ha! There should be a limit to bluffing . Is that your excuse for when you lose? Apparently, your magic really isn’t suited for battle . Ha… . . ”

Zepes vomits out blood .

“…Imposs……ible……this is… . . ”

“Can you hear it?”

Dokun . A sound echoes .

“It’s a heartbeat . ”

Magic power was infused in the beating and the sound shook Zepes violently . Even though its an anti-demon armour its not a particularly good item . There are a number of gaps in the anti-magic formations . My heartbeat pa.s.sed through them .

“Ka… . . ha…… . . ”

With blood seeping out from his whole body Zepes fell to his knees and then fell forward .

“Fumu . I give up . So weak . If I get excited my heartbeat will kill everyone . ”