Chapter 3

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 pass .
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 pass 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 passageway .
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 passage 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 passed 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 . ”
“Bastard!”
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 passed 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 gods . Demon sword Zefried!”
………This is a demon sword?
If I had to compare it to the time of the gods 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 gods 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 .
“Bastard . 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 passed 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 . ”