The demons filed into the hall in order of grade.
Holding his crystal orb, Royan looked around as he entered. He saw many senior students he rarely encountered.
Judging by their presence alone, they exuded an aura far different from the novice demons of first, second, and third years.
They were not just stronger, fiercer, and craftier they burned with a different intensity altogether.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, a succubus senior wearing even less than a swimsuit suddenly turned her head. She lifted her chin slightly, her cold eyes sweeping over him.
It was the kind of look one reserves for an insect.
Before he could even process what kind of aura she carried, Royan quickly averted his eyes and hastily turned off the crystal orb in his hands.
Two minutes of footage should be enough.
Any longer and his mana would have been completely drained.
While he was distracted, the students from all grades had already taken their places.
Professors like Lady Lilith and Mr. Ernos also took their seats, filling the hall with a mix of authority and energy. The vast auditorium was crowded, buzzing like a living inferno.
"Silence."
A solemn voice echoed above the heads of the demons, immediately quieting the once noisy hall.
Every pair of eyes turned toward the stage.
Amid countless gazes, Headmaster Evan Kruger slowly ascended the podium to begin the graduation ceremony speech.
He thanked the professors for their dedication, praised the students' accomplishments, and spoke of their potential to achieve greatness in society or on the battlefield.
Though over a thousand years old, his voice carried warmth, without the usual half-godly arrogance.
Yet it also radiated power, as if he were commanding on a warfront rather than standing in a school hall.
"You are the pride of Hell, and the pride of the Demon King himself!"
"May you take the knowledge gained in the classroom to the battlefield, spreading fear and despair to our enemies!"
"One day, we shall return to the surface, bringing judgment and fire to cleanse the old grudges and restore the glory of the underworld!"
The headmaster's excitement seemed more suited for a warrior than an academic, and the demons in the hall had caught the energy immediately.
Next to speak was Vice Chancellor Madame Dorine Weber.
The noblewoman radiated frost and sorrow, like a living air conditioner.
The moment she entered the hall, the temperature dropped several degrees, causing a few fire demons to shrink in size.
She was a Sorrow Demon, said to have come from the far north.
A thousand years ago, they had retreated underground with the underworld forces. How they had survived in this scorching place was a mystery.
Her voice was delicate and light, carrying a melodic sadness, like a nocturne.
By her presence alone, the fiery enthusiasm ignited by Headmaster Evan was dampened.
"My dear children, especially the third-year students, I apologize for not being able to give you a complete school life…"
Rumor had it that Madame Dorine disagreed with the headmaster about whether third-year students should respond to the war mobilization.
Well… for the Underworld Academy to participate in a war mobilization alongside second-rate schools was a performance in itself, considering most students would never actually go to the front lines.
Royan noticed that his classmate Mia had already begun yawning out of boredom her family had likely already arranged her post-graduation path.
The same went for Lumi.
The dim-witted terror demon was busy fiddling with his uniquely shaped nail clipper again.
McKinley kept blowing air at the fire demon, not for himself this time, but simply because he was frozen by the "Frost Lady."
Finally, the fire demon, who resembled an oversized rugby player, could bear it no longer and retaliated with a solid punch.
While Royan was lost in these distractions, a soft, sneaky voice whispered into his ear.
"Hey, darling… you don't want to go to the front lines, right?"
The warm breath startled him. Turning, he met Mia's mischievous smile.
"…"
Seeing him react like a cautious warrior, Mia's smile widened, fueled by a desire for a challenge.
"Heh, I looked at your records. You live in a temple? Really? Your parents are clergy?"
"…"
"Underworld Academy may train future Demon Lords, but surely you know how short-lived most Demon Lords are. Every year, a few unlucky ones get assigned to dangerous posts. Who will it be this year? Hm?"
"…"
"Let me be honest. Someone like you wouldn't survive two days on the front lines. But me? I have some skills. I could get you transferred from the battlefield to the Internal Affairs Department~"
"…"
"You could even share an office with your big sister~"
"…"
Seeing Royan remain unmoved, Mia's brow twitched, and her bright smile faltered.
"Are you insane?! Front lines?! And you want to be the most hated Demon Lord?! Do you know what humans do to demons? If they catch you, they'll "
Royan almost gagged at the thought but forced a calm smile.
During his three years at the Academy, the only skill he had mastered besides knowledge was the art of staying composed.
"So, are you scared?" he asked, stepping closer, meeting her heart-shaped pupils for the first time without flinching.
Professor Ernos once said, fear is also a form of faith. So, if you truly worship the Demon King, what are you afraid of? Or whom do you offer your faith to?
Mia turned pale instantly.
But just as quickly, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she lowered her head in shame.
Not only her Lumi, McKinley, and others also looked somewhat unsettled.
These privileged second-generation demons were naturally concerned about appearances.
With his three years of experience among them, Royan understood them well.
He didn't press the succubus too hard. Stepping back, he calmly turned his attention to the podium.
"My faith lies only with the Demon King. Not even the Knights of Sanctis, and certainly not Sanctis himself, can intimidate me!"
He had wanted to sound heroic, but decided modesty was better at least half of what he said was true.
Who would fear the holy light when they dared to buy property in Sanctis?
Yet in the crowd, Ig, usually timid and delicate, looked up at him with admiration, secretly giving a thumbs-up.
A true senior!
Royan considered reciting some verse but remembered he had done so yesterday. Instead, he simply looked away.
Mia, however, refused to let him off easily. Her stunned expression seemed as if she had swallowed an entire messenger bat.
"You you're insane! Front lines! And as the most hated Demon Lord! Do you know how cruel humans are?!"
The thought of it almost made Royan gag, but he maintained his composure.
Ig, still by his side, announced, "Senior, I've thought it through. I rewrote a letter to my family… Though they haven't approved me becoming a Demon Lord, they allowed me to join the War Department. One day, I hope to bring reinforcements to your Demon Lord territory and fight alongside you!"
Royan smiled faintly, unsure how to respond.
"Good spirit!" he said, patting Ig's shoulder, "But if possible… avoid getting caught by female knights."
Mia's warning about the surface world was heavy, indeed.
"I won't be captured! And even if I am… I will never surrender!" Ig protested proudly.
Royan smiled, patting the unwavering shoulder with satisfaction. This courage could save lives someday.
After sending Ig off, Royan bid farewell to his classmates and approached the Internal Affairs officer, a goblin wearing glasses.
Unlike common goblins, this one was a rare species, considered highly useful in the Underworld.
"Mr. Royan, according to the Cabinet's decision… we appoint you to well, since the Demon Lord territory was destroyed, you will oversee reestablishing the Demon Lord Core and renaming the territory."
The goblin was polite and deferential, perhaps unsure why a Bronze-tier necromancer was tasked with such a volatile position.
Royan didn't hesitate. He picked up a pen.
"Call it… The Great Graveyard."
He wasn't good at naming things and preferred something low-key.
Though the name ignored heraldic norms, the officer stamped it without objection.
What did it matter? Perhaps the Demon King didn't care about this land. Maybe it would be erased in time.
After all, it was once part of the Ryne Kingdom, the knights' homeland of the Teda Continent.
Even Diamond-tier Fear Demons had fallen there. Royan could not imagine anyone surviving easily in that land.