Demon's Reign

All education takes place within the Babel Academy. Many years after the world had ended, after humans once again became at least somewhat situated, production and industry began to boom within this relatively safe space. This led to a high demand for educated workers. Being taught how to survive by your parents and grandparents, or reading scientific information from old textbooks, was no longer sufficient.

The solution to this crisis was a plan proposed by the Knights—an education system tailored to the new world. That is how the Babel Academy came to be.

Initially, the academy was structured into two segments:

The normal wing, created to accommodate the basic needs of regular students. The students who attended classes in this wing were known as "Stems." When Stem students graduated, most of them became factory technicians and engineers, while others became laborers and servers regardless of their education.

The royal wing, encompassing the education of contractors and teaching in-depth courses on demonic biology, science, and combat. The students of this course also attended regular classes and were known as "Blooms." After they graduated, these students were set to become members of the Knight organization.

Originally, the royal course was only reserved for contractors, as they were seen as more useful and efficient. However, because of popular demand, a third option arose—an in-between, the rank known as "Buds." These were students who were not contractors but were exceptional enough at their studies to take classes in the royal wing. These students were exempt from combat-based education, as their physical abilities could not match those of contractors. After graduation, most of these students would become scientists, politicians, or high-qualification specialists.

However, because of the high standards placed on those wishing to become "Buds," there were only a handful of students in the entire academy capable of this feat.

A special class accessible to both Blooms and Buds was called "demonology." The professor teaching this class was known as the father of demonology—a man who was alive before the collapse. His cunning and extensive knowledge of combating demons had become legendary among his peers. When he was young, he became known as Garen the Demon Slayer. Now, a 75-year-old man, he still contributes to the world by teaching the younger generation. This was the heritage of Garen Henry Orkal.

"Do you know what the defining difference between Dragons and Drakonians is?" Garen asked his class.

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Not one soul answered as he paced back and forth along the auditorium filled to the brim with over 150 students. Only one boy, sitting in the middle row, quivered quietly in terror.

"Come on, one of you must know!" Garen said with an enthusiasm not befitting an old man, waving his cane in the air.

"Dragons are closer to demons, and Drakonians are more closely related to animals, sir!" a boy explained anxiously.

"Ahhh, fantastic—very good. You are quite right, boy. Dragons are highly intelligent and cognitive, with the ability to understand human concepts such as mathematics, art, and language. In fact, some are much more intelligent than humans, thanks to their long lifespans. Drakonians, on the other hand, are near-mindless beasts operating mostly on instinct. They are the distant offspring of dinosaurs. Now, of these two, which do you think is harder to hunt?" Garen asked, posing a second question.

"Drakonians, sir!" another student boldly exclaimed while standing up.

"Oh? And why do you think so?" Garen prompted.

"Because Drakes who are classified as Drakonians are on average larger than dragons, and their savage, uncivilized nature makes them that much more fierce in battle," the boy explained.

"Dragons are more dangerous, sir!" the boy from before interrupted. "They're nimbler and more calculating. Some even possess the ability to use magic," the child stated anxiously.

"Excellent!" the professor exclaimed. "Keith, you were close but not quite there, I'm afraid. Ferocity and savagery are not to be undervalued, as they can be powerful weapons. However, in my experience, they always fall behind a calculating mind," he explained. Turning to the other student, he asked, "And you—what is your name?"

"Z-z-z-Zeke, sir!" the boy replied nervously.

"Well, Zeke, you have an excellent head on your shoulders. I'll be looking forward to your end-of-term report," Garen said with a smile.

Keith scoffed bitterly, casting a glance back at Zeke.

"Hey, Professor, when are you going to teach us about actual demons?" a young man slouching in the back of the auditorium shouted loudly.

"Oh? Are you not satisfied with what I'm teaching you?" Garen asked.

"I'm not. I don't have the slightest interest in dragons or minotaurs. They're not the ones who destroyed our world. They're not the enemy. The demons are," the boy explained casually.

"And, young man, I assume you're here to become a Knight and hunt demons?" Garen asked.

"Exactly. I want to know all there is to know about them—their powers, their intelligence, their weaknesses, ways of killing them." The boy lifted his feet off the desk and sat upright.

"Well, young man, all information about existing demons is classified. You'll have to obtain it on your own. And as far as weaknesses are concerned, you'll find they are all of human origin. The natural-born demons you wish to hunt so earnestly possess no such traits," the professor said. Then, turning his back to the auditorium, he added, "Class dismissed." With that, he walked back to his desk.