The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy

"So this is the Demon Capital, huh...?"

I blinked a few times, looking around.

For some reason, I had expected fire, brimstone, and rivers of blood. Maybe skulls piled in the streets, too.

But instead…

It looked like a human city.

Only… different.

The streets were wide, paved in black stone that shimmered faintly with crimson veins.

The buildings stretched high, pointed like spears, with glass windows shaped like crosses and circles. Dark arches curved over every street, carved with glowing runes.

Torches burned on the corners, but their flames were purple, casting long shadows on the walls.

Statues stood in the plazas, tall figures with wings, horns, and spears... probably some ancient demons.

People filled the streets, just like any human capital.

Some were merchants shouting about their goods. Some were kids running with small horns and tiny wings.

Some were armored soldiers, standing at the gates of towers, watching with sharp eyes.

But everyone wore darker clothes.

Coats, dresses, armor... almost all in shades of black, crimson, or silver. The whole city had this heavy, gothic feeling, like a human capital during nighttime.

"…Huh." I scratched the back of my head, staring at a bakery that smelled like normal bread but had a glowing black crust.

"I didn't expect this."

"Hehe~" Lilith giggled, her tail tightening around my arm.

"What did you think, Master~? That we live in caves, drinking blood all day?"

"…Kinda," I admitted honestly.

She laughed again, her voice smooth and teasing.

"Demons love luxury more than humans. That's why our kingdom looks like this. Gothic beauty, wealth, and strength. All under the King's rule."

I nodded slightly, my eyes scanning the street as we walked.

A group of demons bowed their heads when they saw Lilith, whispering among themselves. Others glanced at me, curious but wary.

As we passed a fountain, I noticed the water wasn't water at all. It shimmered like liquid obsidian, reflecting the moon even though it was daytime.

"…Not bad," I muttered.

"Mm~ you'll love the palace then," Lilith purred, brushing her shoulder against mine. "It's ten times more beautiful than this city."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Palace, huh? And the Demon King?"

Her smile widened.

"Waiting for you, Master~. But don't worry, he won't dare show hostility. Not to you, he wouldn't dare~"

She leaned a little closer as we walked, her eyes glinting.

"You should know, this city isn't just any place. This is the Demon Capital, our pride."

I glanced around again. Black stone roads, gothic towers, glowing torches… It did feel alive, more than most human cities I'd seen.

Lilith tilted her chin up proudly.

"Long ago, this place had another name. The City of Hope."

That made me blink.

"City of Hope? For demons?"

She giggled softly, like she was amused at my surprise.

"Not just for demons, Master. A long time ago, humans and demons lived here together. Traded in the same streets. Drank in the same taverns. Fought side by side in the same wars. Hope was real then."

"…You're telling me demons and humans got along?" I muttered, doubtful.

"Yes~," she purred, twirling a strand of her hair with her finger.

"The world was not always split by hatred. For a time, there was peace. This city was proof of it. Beautiful and strong, built by both hands—human and demon."

I stayed quiet, my eyes trailing over a tall building shaped like a cathedral, its spire cutting into the clouds.

The thought of demons and humans walking side by side through this same street… it felt almost unreal.

"What happened?" I finally asked.

Her smile dimmed, but only for a second.

"The gods, of course. They couldn't allow such unity. So they poisoned both sides with lies, fear, and endless wars. Humans forgot the warmth of demons, and demons forgot the trust of humans. All that remained was blood."

She spread her arms wide, showing me the streets as if displaying a trophy.

"And yet, the city still stands. We demons kept it alive. Stronger. Darker. Gothic, yes~… but never dead."

Her eyes softened as they slid back to me.

"Now you walk here, Master. The humans abandoned this place, but perhaps…" she tilted her head with a sly grin, "hope might return in another form."

"Mhm..."

I let out a quiet hum, staring down the wide road that led deeper toward the palace.

The City of Hope turned Demon Capital.

"…Interesting," I muttered.

After walking for a while, with Lilith explaining quite a few things about the Demon Capital on the way, we finally reached the Demon Palace.

It was practically a fortress made of black stone and crimson glass. It looked just as impressive as I had imagined, maybe even more.

We walked straight through the massive gates without anyone stopping us. Instead, the soldiers standing guard froze the moment their eyes landed on me.

"Lord Aestrea!" they shouted, surprisingly bowing their heads to me

I blinked, a little surprised.

"Haha, why are you so shocked~" Lilith giggled beside me, her tail brushing against my hand.

"You should know, Master~ Everyone already knows who you are. Our King himself ordered us to treat you as a living god… even if you truly are one~"

I raised an eyebrow but only nodded slightly.

We kept walking, our steps echoing through long, torch-lit corridors until we reached a pair of enormous doors carved with runes.

With a push, Lilith swung them open.

Creack...

The grand hall stretched before me—huge pillars, black marble floors, and red light shining down from tall stained-glass windows.

At the far end stood the throne.

The Demon King sat upon it.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, with curved black horns and sharp eyes that glowed like embers. His presence alone made the hall feel heavier.

Next to him stood five figures, the Demon Generals. I instantly recognized Envy and Greed among them.

So Lucas hadn't killed them after all.

The moment their eyes met mine, the five of them bent one knee and lowered their heads.

"…Lord Aestrea," they said in unison.

...This... I can't get used to this.

I lifted my hand and gave it a casual wave.

"Stand," I said simply.

The five generals rose at once, their heads still slightly lowered in respect. My eyes moved past them, straight to the throne.

The Demon King sat there, his massive frame draped in black and crimson robes. His horns gleamed faintly in the torchlight, and his ember-like eyes burned into mine.

And then, he smiled.

Not the cruel grin I expected from a demon ruler. Not the mocking smirk of someone who thought he was above me.

No… it was calm, even welcoming.

"Lord Aestrea," his voice rumbled, deep and steady.

"You've finally come to my hall."

I narrowed my eyes slightly, unsure of what to make of that smile.

A Demon King, smiling at me?

That was… unexpected.

The Demon King didn't waste a second with pleasantries. His burning eyes fixed on me as he leaned forward on the throne.

"The reason I called you here, Lord Aestrea… is because I need your help."

I narrowed my gaze.

"Help? With what?"

He didn't answer right away.

Instead, he turned his head toward the five Demon Generals. They exchanged a quick glance, then nodded in unison before vanishing in flashes of dark light.

The King rose from his throne, his steps heavy as he muttered only two words.

"Follow me."

I did.

He walked behind the throne, his hand pressing against a hidden mark etched into the stone.

A deep rumble echoed through the chamber, and the floor split open to reveal a staircase leading below.

Without hesitation, he descended.

I followed closely, Lilith right at my side.

We entered a chamber unlike anything I had ever seen.

A vast underground hall, walls covered in glowing runes, the air heavy with power.

Countless sigils burned across the floor, layered and tangled together, forming an intricate web of magic.

My eyes narrowed in surprise.

"…Sealing magic?"

The King gave a short nod.

"Tenth-level sealing magic."

That made me pause. Tenth-level? To maintain something like this… it was beyond rare. Beyond terrifying.

My gaze drifted forward, and then I saw her.

A woman stood in the center of the chamber—or rather, she was bound there.

Her appearance was strikingly close to the King's, the same sharp horns and ember-like eyes, but her beauty was weighed down by the countless chains that pierced and wrapped her body.

Sigils rippled constantly along those chains, locking her down, holding her breathless yet alive.

My eyes widened slightly.

"…This…"

I turned to the Demon King, demanding an answer.

But before I could speak further, he dropped to his knees.

The ground shook faintly as his heavy frame bowed low. His hands pressed against the marble floor, his forehead striking it with a loud crack.

"Please…" his voice trembled, rough yet broken.

"Please save my daughter."

The mighty Demon King, the one demon feared by everyone, didn't hesitate at all.

"I beg of you."

His words echoed through the chamber, desperate, raw, stripped of pride.

Even Lilith froze beside me, her tail curling tightly as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

And I… I simply stared.

The Demon King, begging at my feet.