Chapter 526: Dark Demon in the Name of a Parent (4k)
The conversation with Principal Altair was very pleasant.
Whether it was the idea of inserting projection cards into the model Easter eggs or the development of the duel disk, these were not difficult tasks in Principal Altair’s eyes.
Just as Dark had thought, handing this task to Professor Kazel would only take one or two days to get the template.
The craftsmanship required for making the duel disk was far less than that needed for the selection card or the identification card.
It was possible that before leaving the academy, they could have a prototype of the duel disk.
By noon, Principal Altair had called Professor Kazel over, and they discussed the details of their collaboration while having lunch.
Professor Kazel was very surprised at Dark’s arrival and participated in the dialogue with a smile throughout.
Although Dark really wanted to ask him if he had found Professor Didi after they parted ways that day, his curiosity had to be suppressed.
Their conversation lasted until evening.
Dark and Claire declined Principal Altair’s dinner invitation and quickly returned to the temporary residence in the academy town.
Next, they could focus their efforts on the admission tests for the Vampire Noble and the Phoenix Girl.
After the admission tests were over, they would continue discussing more cooperation details with the specific person in charge of external transactions at the academy, then sign a provisional contract, and finalize the matter.
Overall, this collaboration was considered a strong alliance, although Dark and Claire only had a shell backed by the Duke’s Mansion; no one would think that way.
…
The Vampire Noble and the Phoenix Girl gradually got into the rhythm of learning that day.
Three dragon riders also gathered more intelligence about the examinees.
While flipping through the information about the examinees, Dark casually answered questions from the Vampire Noble and the Phoenix Girl.
By ten o’clock at night, the two golems were forced to sleep.
The quality of sleep the night before an exam greatly affected the examinees’ state.
Many examinees would suffer from insomnia due to pre-exam anxiety, leading to a significant drop in performance during the actual test. Problems that could usually be solved ended up being blank when faced with the real exam.
Despite the Vampire Noble’s usual mischief and her bravery, and the Phoenix Girl’s cool demeanor, both of them had inner selves that needed careful nurturing.
Dark understood their true nature well.
“I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow,” Claire raised her black tea like wine and toasted to Dark.
Dark reluctantly agreed, “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just have to rely on my old face.”
Claire couldn’t help but laugh, “So your toughness today was all for show?”
Dark smiled, “I had to put on a front.”
The more he read the information, the more he felt that the chances of the Vampire Noble and the Phoenix Girl passing the test were slim.
Those who passed the first round of the “admission application” were not here to take chances.
With an average age of twelve, even if they started learning at six years old, they already had six years of study time.
The Vampire Noble had only studied for less than half a year, and the Phoenix Girl for only two months.
Although the golems’ mental foundation was higher than that of children, it was still hard to make a significant difference.
To stand out among a thousand candidates and make it to the top seventy-two was truly difficult.
But since the exam was tomorrow, worrying about it now wouldn’t change the outcome.
Dark soon set aside his thoughts and fell asleep.
There was nothing to report that night.
The next morning, a loud bell rang from the square in the academy town.
Thousands of examinees and their companions woke up, rushing to prepare.
Dark helped the Vampire Noble dress and put toothpaste in her mouth, smearing her face with “Trash Slime.”
Then Eve walked in with sandwiches and milk for breakfast.
The Vampire Noble and the Phoenix Girl ate breakfast in their rooms and were sent to the “teleportation square” dressed neatly.
For years, the admission tests had been held within the academy.
Once inside the castle, no one could cheat under the boundary.
For most examinees, this was their only chance to participate in the academy.
With a wave of two staff members, a huge elliptical “teleportation gate” opened in the center of the square.
Examinees and parents who had little contact with magic and golems couldn’t help but widen their eyes.
In the crowd, there was frequent discussion.
Professor Shylph, the vice-principal of Saint Maryann Academy responsible for admissions, stepped out of the teleportation gate, floating in the air with blue wind wings, drawing everyone’s attention.
She welcomed the examinees first, briefly explained the exam rules, and said,
“After entering the academy, examinees will follow the staff into the castle’s examination hall, while parents wait outside for a moment. We will bring you to the waiting room after the exam starts.”
Then she raised her hand and gestured for them to enter, vanishing into thin air.
The crowd gasped again, and the examinees became even more eager to join the academy.
Under the guidance of the staff, examinees, parents, and other companions entered the teleportation gate one by one.
Dark took the Vampire Noble’s hand and led her forward.
On the other side, Claire grabbed the Phoenix Girl’s hand.
Both golems visibly tensed, their fingers trembling slightly.
Dark tightened his grip on the Vampire Noble’s hand and bent down to pat her head gently, whispering, “Don’t worry, just do your best.”
“Okay!” The Vampire Noble responded, suddenly turning around to hug Dark before continuing on her way, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Her tension seemed to ease somewhat.
However, Dark’s own nerves were not any less taut.
…
Outside the castle, parents and children gradually separated. Children lined up under the staff’s guidance and entered the castle one by one.
At the castle entrance, their exam proof would be exchanged for a badge with a number.
The number on the badge was their exam number.
Based on the number, examinees were assigned to different exam halls.
Dark glanced at the rapidly growing line and hurriedly handed the Vampire Noble a cup of water, saying forcefully, “Good luck!”
“Wait for me to come back victorious!” The Vampire Noble straightened her chest, patted it, and pulled the Phoenix Girl toward the queue.
Only then did Dark exhale softly, his eyes still fixed on them.
“Are you nervous?” Claire approached, breathing out.
Dark felt a tingling sensation and said, “How could I not be nervous?”
Claire smiled, “Now that you’re this nervous, won’t you be too nervous to sleep when you have your own child?”
Dark quickly replied, “My child has a ninety-nine point nine percent chance of receiving an admission invitation from the academy.”
Claire paused, shaking her head, “True.”
Then the two of them moved to the side, watching all the examinees enter the exam halls, and followed the flow into the waiting room inside the castle.
Parents and other companions, after分流 (diverting), entered multiple waiting rooms.
Dark’s group arrived at a tiered classroom.
As he was about to sit down, an elderly man sitting in front of him asked with concern, “Child, are you lost? This is the parent waiting room.”
Dark was taken aback, then embarrassedly replied, “No, I am a parent.”
The elderly man couldn’t help but look him up and down, hesitating, “Sir, you look so young.”
“Pfft.” Claire stifled a laugh.
Dark sighed, “Sir, I’m here to send my sister for the test.”
“Oh oh oh.” The elderly man realized, “I’m here to send my sister for the test too.”
Dark: “Huh??”
Even Claire was so surprised that she dropped her jaw.
Eve and Irina, who were behind her, couldn’t help but stop.
The elderly man seemed quite pleased with their surprise, feeling vindicated.
Dark rolled his eyes, “Sir, you look so old.”
The elderly man’s expression froze, then he laughed heartily, “Let me introduce myself. I am Oscar Oude, once a border count, now a lazy old man.”
“Border count?” Dark raised an eyebrow, hearing Claire exclaim in surprise.
“Oscar Oude, could you be the lord of the Black Earth region adjacent to the demon territory?”
Upon hearing this, the elderly man turned to Claire, sizing her up, “Miss, have we met somewhere before?”
“Mr. Oude, your chat-up lines are a bit outdated,” Claire smiled faintly, “Though I’ve been there, it was after that territory turned into scorched earth.”
A hint of sadness flashed in the elderly man’s eyes, but his face remained kind, “Times change. It’s inevitable. I hope our sacrifices can bring lasting peace to the kingdom. Miss, young sir, why don’t you introduce yourselves?”
Claire extended her hand, “Claire Kate, the Sage of Beasts.”
The elderly man’s eyes widened in surprise, then delight, “Ah, the Golden Hero! My apologies, I didn’t recognize you. And this young man, are you perhaps the hero’s son… brother?”
“Probably meant son?” Claire didn’t hesitate to pull Dark closer, proudly saying, “My friend’s son.”
Dark shook hands with Oscar Oude, “Dark Demon, nice to meet you…”
The elderly man pondered for a moment, “The friend of a Golden Hero must also be a Golden Hero. The son of a Golden Hero, surnamed Demon… Oh oh oh, could this be Alvaraite’s son!”
“Do you know my mother?” Dark asked curiously.
Oscar Oude immediately beamed, “Of course, though I look like this, I used to hold her when she was young. Back then, I never imagined that such a gentle little girl would become a Valkyrie.”
He continued, sighing, “Alvaraite, how is she doing now?”
Dark replied seriously, “As long as I’m fine, she’s fine.”
Oscar Oude paused, then said, “Indeed. Wait, you came here to send your sister for the test, right? Who is your sister…”
Dark smiled, “Not a blood relative. Mr. Oude, where is your sister?”
Upon mentioning the sister, Oscar Oude’s eyes softened, “My sister… Ah…”
“BOOM!”
Just as they were talking, a sudden explosion erupted from somewhere in the castle.
When the waiting room became chaotic, voices entered the classroom, explaining the cause.
“It was a mana explosion.”
Dark’s pupils dilated, involuntarily thinking of Princess Anna.
Human mana increases continuously with age until reaching its peak.
Children born with exceptionally high mana talents experience rapid mana growth.
If the amount of mana exceeds a certain threshold before mastering control, it can lead to loss of mana control and result in a mana explosion phenomenon.
This phenomenon was once known as the “omen of a demon’s birth” in ancient times. Children experiencing this were marked as “demons’ offspring” and faced execution!
Back when Dark was young, the relationship between him and Princess Anna deteriorated due to her mana explosion.
Dark refocused his gaze from the direction of the mana explosion, sighing, “It seems there are many dark horses among this year’s examinees.”
Then he quickly returned to the topic, asking the elderly man, “Mr. Oude, what happened to your sister?”
But Oscar Oude’s face stiffened, blurting out, “My sister exploded.”
Dark: “Huh?”
