Demon King Has Returned

Imagine a grand castle standing proudly atop a hill, with towering spires that seem to pierce the heavens. Add a massive gate made of gleaming metal, adorned with intricate carvings depicting legendary heroes.

And here I am, standing right in front of it, staring up at the Great Hero Academy of Eldoria, thinking to myself.

"Seriously? This place is way too flashy."

This academy isn't just any regular school. According to the books I begrudgingly studied at home or more accurately, the books my mom slammed onto the table while yelling, "Study this!" this place was established about 80 years ago.

Apparently, after the Great War against the Demon King (which, in case you missed it, was me in my past life), the world decided to unite to prevent the return of darkness.

This academy is supposed to be a symbol of that unity, a place where talented kids from all races and regions are trained to become true heroes.

But I know the real purpose. This academy isn't about "unity" or "peace." It's about creating living weapons capable of stopping threats like the Demon King ironically, now standing in front of their gates with a bored expression.

The massive gate slowly creaks open, accompanied by a dramatic groan. I step inside, and my eyes are greeted by a vast courtyard with a pathway made of pristine white marble.

On either side are gardens adorned with statues of legendary heroes. One of them happens to be a statue of my great-great-grandfather, Reinhard. He's standing tall with his sword raised high, as if he'd just triumphed in a great battle.

"You know, Reinhard," I mutter, glancing at the statue, "if you hadn't killed me back then, I'd probably be retired and chilling on a beach with a cocktail in hand." Letting out a deep sigh, I move along.

The academy's main building looms ahead. With architecture that could make any architect weep tears of joy, the place practically screams high class.

Stained-glass windows in vibrant colors reflect sunlight, casting rainbow patterns on the marble floor. The grand front doors, made of oak, are carved with images of dragons and phoenixes that seem almost alive.

As I step inside, the main hall welcomes me with the same level of extravagance. The ceiling is impossibly high, adorned with murals depicting an epic battle between light and darkness.

The marble floors are so polished they're practically mirrors, and in the center of the hall stands a reception desk, where a few staff members are busy scribbling notes.

"Welcome to the Great Hero Academy of Eldoria," a young woman at the desk greets me with a friendly smile.

Her smile is warm, but her eyes look a little tired. She's probably been welcoming hundreds of new students today.

"Your name?"

"Adrian Reinhard Azazel," I reply, attempting a polite smile.

She nods and checks a list in front of her.

"Ah, Mr. Adrian. You've been assigned to Class A. That's the special class for exceptionally talented students. Congratulations," she says, handing me a small medal engraved with the academy's emblem.

"This is your identification. Please don't lose it."

I take the medal, feeling slightly confused. Exceptionally talented? I haven't even done anything yet. But hey, who cares?

"Your classes will begin tomorrow morning. For today, you can rest and explore the academy grounds. Your dormitory is in the east wing, room number 207."

"Thanks," I say curtly before turning and walking away.

I can feel the stares of some other students in line behind me. Maybe they're curious about me, or maybe they're just bored. Either way, I don't care.

This academy is massive. On my way to the dormitory, I pass by a few classrooms with open doors. Inside, I see neatly arranged wooden desks, large blackboards, and some futuristic-looking training equipment.

There's a room filled with shelves of thick books probably the library. Outside, I spot several training fields, complete with dueling arenas.

As I walk, I also encounter students from all walks of life. Humans, elves, dwarves, even a few beastmen. They all seem busy with their own affairs, though some glance at me as I pass. I respond with a polite smile just enough to make them stop staring.

Finally, I arrive at the dormitory. The building is just as grand as the main hall. After finding room 207, I open the door and step inside.

The room is spacious for one person, with a comfy bed, a study desk, and a wardrobe. There's also a large window overlooking the garden.

I toss my suitcase into a corner and sit on the edge of the bed.

"Well, here it is," I mutter, staring at the ceiling. "The start of my new life. Let's hope it's not too much of a hassle."

Of course, I know that's a pipe dream. This world never lets me have peace. But at least, for now, I can enjoy a moment of calm before the chaos begins.

That calm, unsurprisingly, lasts about five minutes. A loud noise from outside my room forces me to get up from the bed.

Opening the door, I find a young man with blue hair standing in the hallway. He's arguing with someone who appears to be an academy staff member.

"I told you, I don't want to share a room with anyone!" the blue-haired guy yells, waving his arms dramatically. "I need personal space to maintain my aura!"

The staff member lets out a long sigh.

"Mr. Leon, this is academy policy. All students must share rooms unless there's a clear medical reason."

Leon scoffs, then glances in my direction.

"Oh, look! There's an empty room right here. How about I just stay here?"

I raise an eyebrow and stare at him.

"Sorry, but I'd rather not share a room with a walking drama factory."

Leon looks taken aback, then smirks.

"Drama? I'm a future legendary hero, you know. My name will go down in history!"

I sigh.

"Then start by finding another room."

The staff member finally manages to drag Leon away, and I return to my room feeling both annoyed and amused.

It seems my days at this academy are going to be more interesting than I anticipated.

The first morning at the academy began with the loud blare of a bell echoing throughout the dormitory. I opened my eyes with a groan, feeling as though I had just been thrown onto a battlefield.

Of course, this wasn't exactly new to me. Even in my previous life, loud noises often disrupted my sleep.

The difference? Back then, it was usually soldiers screaming, "Demon King, help!" as they tried to flee from me. Thinking about it, I almost laughed.

Now? Just the academy bell.

I got up reluctantly, rubbing my eyes and muttering curses under my breath.

"Why does morning always come too damn early?" I glanced at the clock on the bedside table. Six in the morning. Absolutely inhumane.

After freshening up and putting on the academy uniform which, honestly, was a bit too formal for my taste I headed to the communal dining hall.

The dining hall was massive, filled with long wooden tables and benches. The smell of toasted bread and soup filled the air, making my empty stomach growl.

Grabbing a tray, I loaded it with whatever looked edible. Bread, a bit of cheese, and a glass of milk. I sat at a corner table, eating quietly while observing the lively scene around me.

Students of various races were chatting and laughing. Some looked as energetic as if they were about to charge into battle instead of heading to class.

None of it really caught my attention until an elf girl approached me.

"Hey, you're new here, aren't you?" A cheerful voice greeted me.

I looked up to see an elf girl standing in front of me. She had long silver hair and eyes as green as spring leaves. Her tray was piled high with food, and she was smiling brightly.

"Yeah, I'm Adrian," I replied curtly, continuing to eat.

"I'm Lilliana," she said, plopping down across from me without asking. "You're in Class A too, right?"

I nodded. This girl seemed way too perky for this time of day, but I decided not to comment on it.

"That's great! I'm in Class A as well," she said, starting to eat. "You must be really talented to get into that class. What's your specialty?"

I paused for a moment, thinking. Specialty? If I said, "Destroying worlds with a snap of my fingers," that might be too suspicious. So I just shrugged.

"Dunno yet," I said.

She let out a small laugh. "You're funny. I like that."

Before the conversation could go any further, the second bell rang. Time for the first class.

Classroom A was located on the second floor of the academy's main building. By the time I arrived, the room was already half full. Polished wooden desks were neatly arranged, and a large blackboard stood at the front.

On the wall, there was a detailed map of Eldora, complete with markings for significant locations like human kingdoms, elf territories, and, of course, the Demon Kingdom.

I chose a seat near the window, which offered a view of the academy gardens. Not long after, Lilliana entered and sat beside me.

"We're sitting together!" she said with a wide grin.

I just nodded. Before I could say anything, a man walked into the room.

He was tall and imposing, wearing a long black robe that made him look like the protagonist of some epic drama. His sharp eyes were like a hawk's, and his dark hair was streaked with gray in places.

"Good morning, students," he said in a deep voice that resonated through the room. "I am your head instructor, Professor Maximilian. Welcome to Class A, where only the best of the best are admitted."

He paused, scanning each of us one by one. I stifled a yawn. He seemed like the type to give long-winded speeches, I thought, glancing at the map on the wall.

"But don't be mistaken," he continued. "Being in Class A doesn't mean you can relax. Here, we demand excellence. If you can't keep up, you'll be moved to another class."

Some students looked nervous at that. Me? I was just trying not to laugh. If he knew who I really was, he might faint on the spot.

The first class was on the history of Eldora. Professor Maximilian started explaining the great war against the Demon King a hundred years ago. He described how the legendary hero Reinhard led the forces of light to defeat the darkness.

I listened with my chin resting on my hand, trying not to burst out laughing. Their version of events was hilariously exaggerated, I thought.

Reinhard didn't "lead the army with extraordinary courage." He mostly screamed in fear while running away, only finding an opening to attack me by sheer dumb luck.

"And that's why we must always remain vigilant against the darkness," Professor Maximilian concluded his lecture. "The Demon King may be gone, but the threat of his return always lingers."

When class ended, Lilliana turned to me.

"You're so quiet. Aren't you interested in history?"

I smirked.

"Oh, I'm very interested. I just have a slightly different version of it."

She raised an eyebrow, but before she could ask further, a blue-haired guy burst into the room with dramatic flair.

"Sorry I'm late!"

It was Leon, the guy who caused a scene in the dorms yesterday. He strutted confidently to an empty desk at the front as if he had just won an award. Professor Maximilian sighed deeply.

"Leon," he said tiredly. "Tardiness in Class A will not be tolerated. This is your first and final warning."

Leon just flashed a carefree smile.

"Of course, sir. It won't happen again."

I could almost feel Professor Maximilian's frustration, but he chose to move on with the next lesson.

I leaned back in my chair, quietly enjoying the minor chaos. It seemed my days at the academy were going to be anything but boring.