NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Dark Demon Is Not the Dark Demon
“Welcome to Saint Maryann Academy!”
In the grand hall filled with sacred hymns, the velvet-black curtains parted smoothly, revealing the most beautiful and noble lady of Saint Maryann Academy—Principal Cynthia Saint Altair!
The nine Great Elementals around the Sacred Magus transformed into flowers and fireflies, casting a dreamy and ethereal glow over the stage.
Four opulently decorated long tables were set up in the hall, with thousands of candles floating mid-air illuminating the entire space.
The candlelight reflected off the golden plates and silver goblets, casting a rainbow of shimmering light, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.
By the time Dark Demon regained his senses, he found himself standing on the stage, beside Principal Altair who was surrounded by fragrant winds.
Memories flooded back like a stream.
Dark recalled his past life memories.
“Saint Maryann Academy… Isn’t this the school from that game that was heavily criticized before release but everyone rushed to say it was amazing after release? The ultimate stitched-together Galgame?”
**”Duel! Saint Maryann Ultra-XX Academy!”**
In a Galgame industry where most studios poured all their resources into exquisite character designs while neglecting story quality, **”Duel! Saint Maryann Ultra-XX Academy”** stood out as a refreshing change.
Despite its plot framework being almost entirely copied from **Harry Potter**, its ability system borrowing heavily from **Yu-Gi-Oh!** and other card games, and its duel cards featuring characters from popular anime, the mix somehow formed an interesting game.
Even without pursuing the female characters in the game, one could still find immense enjoyment.
For a long time, **”Duel! Saint Maryann Ultra-XX Academy”** even became a “starter pack” for card games, with various harmonized versions circulating in the domestic piracy market.
However, Dark held a firm belief in justice and refused to touch this plagiarized, pirated, and lewd game, so he only heard bits and pieces about its plot and characters.
He vaguely remembered that the final boss in the game was named Dark·Demon, a noble young man.
As the sole son of a female duke, Dark·Demon played the role of Draco Malfoy in the game, serving as an early antagonist against the protagonist. Later, he was unexpectedly revealed to be a descendant of a Demon God, and after the revived Demon King was defeated, he awakened his bloodline and transformed into the ultimate Demon God, giving the protagonist the chance to defeat him and take his fiancée.
Speaking of which, Dark·Demon was truly a tragic character; even his name translated to “Dark·Demon,” destined to be a clown from the start. Emm…
Wait, why does this name sound so familiar?
Dark Demon’s expression gradually turned pale.
…
“Dark Demon, Dark Demon…”
The comforting voice like a warm breeze pulled Dark out of his shock.
He struggled to control his trembling facial muscles and turned towards Principal Altair.
Principal Altair had silvery hair as pure as moonlight, with long lashes framing her blue eyes that seemed to draw souls into them.
As a playable character in the game, she was Saint Maryann’s shining moon, the epitome of beauty. Her luxurious dress, tailored two sizes smaller than her actual measurements, made her silver moon pendant stand out even more.
Dark realized he was at the opening ceremony of Saint Maryann Academy, where he was the first new student to undergo the house sorting test.
He tried to recall his experiences since his rebirth.
After recovering his memories from his previous life, this life’s memories became somewhat hazy.
But combining the original setup of **Harry Potter**, he managed to remember.
Saint Maryann Academy was the only school in the kingdom that could rival the Secret Rite Academy of the Saints. Within the academy, there were four houses:
These four houses were: the Noble Academy, the Knight Academy, the Mana Academy, and the Fool’s Academy.
The students in the Noble Academy were all pure-blood nobles of high status.
The students in the Knight Academy were as brave and just as knights.
The students in the Mana Academy were inheritors of knowledge, learned and wise.
The students in the Fool’s Academy, though not yet possessing the bravery of knights or the wisdom of magi, were innocent and pure, with the greatest potential!
Dark did not feel overly nervous.
Before the Demon God bloodline awakened, even the house sorting card should not be able to detect it.
He was the son of a duke, the most esteemed noble bloodline below the royal family!
He would definitely be sorted into the Noble Academy.
Otherwise, this broken game wouldn’t even get off the ground…
Calm down, Dark glanced at the first-year students’ area, but among the dense crowd, it was hard to find someone resembling the original protagonist.
Thus, Dark discovered—he didn’t even know the original protagonist’s name!
But it didn’t matter. As the son of the hero who sealed the Demon King, he would soon stand out like a firefly in the night.
Dark took a deep breath and said, “I’m ready, Principal.”
“As expected of the only son of the Diemon family.” Principal Altair smiled slightly.
One of the nine elementals flying around her flew towards Dark in the shape of a griffin.
When it reached Dark, its beak, originally empty, now held a mana card with a crown, spear, mana book, and the Tarot card “Fool” on the back, and a blank front.
“Take the house sorting card in your hand, Diemon.”
Following Principal Altair’s instructions, Dark extracted the mana card from the griffin’s beak.
“Then cover this house sorting card with your right hand over your left, think about what you like and want, and the house sorting card will guide you.”
“Alright, Principal.”
Dark closed his eyes and began to imagine.
His understanding of the game was limited. He knew that as a recurring antagonist in the game, he only became self-destructive after awakening his Demon God bloodline.
The awakening of the Demon God bloodline seemed to occur on his coming-of-age day.
Before the Demon God bloodline awakened, although he clashed with the original protagonist, they were minor conflicts that didn’t reach life-or-death situations.
His fiancée—the most popular female character in the game—only lost hope in him after he transformed into a Demon God, giving the original protagonist a chance to strike.
So, if he could suppress the power of the Demon God bloodline before his coming-of-age ceremony, he would remain the son of a duke, not only holding high status but also having a fiancée who wouldn’t abandon him despite his many faults!
…
Things didn’t seem so bad after all?
…
Blinding white light overflowed from his palm, and Dark felt the house sorting card emitting heat, as if it was being imprinted.
Principal Altair’s gentle voice echoed again, “Diemon, raise the house sorting card and show the new students how to properly conduct the house sorting ritual.”
“Alright, Principal.”
Dark moved his right hand away, seeing the crown symbolizing nobility displayed on the house sorting card.
He raised the card, channeled mana, and triggered it.
“Bang!”
Like fireworks, glowing dots shot out, forming a huge golden crown in the air.
The house sorting card shouted, “Dark Diemon, Noble Academy!”
“Oh oh oh!”
On the long table where the other years’ students from the Noble Academy sat, cheers gradually rose!
“Dark Diemon, the son of the Duke known as the Valkyrie, was indeed assigned to our academy!”
“OMG!”
It seemed the young master was quite popular in the Noble Academy?
Dark’s lips curled slightly as he lowered his hand.
**[Beep! Detected Demon God bloodline entering awakening stage, triggering…]**
“Damn!”