The Demon Academy.
An elite academy in the Demonic Realm, built specifically to train demons to fight humans; having produced countless war heros and agents of destruction throughout history. The academy is easily the most prestigious institution that was ever built in the Demon Empire, traditionally governed by the Demon Emperor in every generation.
In the academy, talents from all around the Demonic Realm gather, both half-demons and full-blooded demons, regardless of title. It could also be said to be the highest ambition of all young demons seeking to make a name for themselves in the empire, albeit while ignoring the steep price of such a feat.
Tak- Tak- Tak-
However, the Demon Academy is, likewise, known to be an incredibly harsh and strict place, as what is necessary to shape unruly demons into combat machines. It's not unheard of to find cadets going missing or dying regularly inside of the academy.
"Not to mention the entrance exams, where most demons with low potential are weeded out..."
Tak- Tak- I tossed a white badge in my hand in the air and caught it repeatedly, idly playing with it as I walked through the town streets.
I'll have to prepare thoroughly.
I had successfully applied to take part in the entrance exams to get into the Demon Academy, and got this badge with two demon horns on it.
Since I didn't fill in a last name, I should have to abide by my story as an orphan demon now.
Tak- Tak-
Now, I'm wandering the streets to look for a place to stay- and also a change of clothes. It's getting awfully cold, and I wouldn't want to get sick at the day of the exam.
Even the demons around are giving me weird looks at my wet clothing, there must not have been rain for the past few days.
Most importantly, the streets at night of a demon town are ruthless. If I don't get a place to stay before night falls, I'll almost certainly fall prey to the lurking criminals and thugs hiding as beggars, especially since my clothing makes me look like the son of a wealthy family. Demon civilizations naturally don't have shelters or food banks either.
Once night falls, best case scenario is that I get robbed and discarded once discovered I didn't have anything on me. Worst case scenario is that I get robbed and killed once discovered I didn't have anything on me.
However, at the same time, I didn't have any money in my pocket.
What can I do, what can I do...beg?...
Going quiet, I looked around at the passerby. Some looked ragged, some like ordinary citizens, and others with overflowing bags of valuables.
Chatter chatter! Several conversed with each other boisterously.
"..."
Shifting my gaze into my peripheral view, I focused on one of the open purses I saw, inadvertently activating one of Cael's traits.
[Immersion] - Enter a state of intense concentration, ignoring all distractions
A winged demon with an overflowing purse of jewelry headed this way, and I continued walking unsuspectingly.
The moment the winged demon passed by me, I reached my hand and-
Pak!
"Hey! What are you doing?!", a hand slapped mine away.
My eyes went wide, but I fixed my expression shortly afterwards. I clicked my tongue silently, and breathed out. I attempted to pickpocket, but looks like I'll need to obtain the trait first. A bitter taste settled itself on my tongue, my heart feeling like it's being constricted from shame and guilt.
I flew my hands up and smiled, accusing the demon back, "Woah woah. I'm not doing anything, what are you trying to say?"
The winged demon looked at me in scorn, but didn't want to create unnecessary drama and huffed, "Huh! Nothing. Watch where you put your hands next time!"
The winged demon then walked away and closed their purse. I stood still, staring at their disappearing back in silence.
What I have at my disposal currently...
I opened my status screen.
{Name: Cael Seryth}
Age: 17
Race: Half-Demon
Alignment: Cruel (Apathetic)
Talent: [Killer's Instinct]
Traits: [Killing Intent] [???] [Visualization] [Immersion] [Elemental Embodiment]
Let's take a look at my abilities again. I'm in a little bit of a rush now.
I made my way over to a dark alley to ponder without interruption.
I noticed just a second ago that I used [Immersion], although I'm not sure why it activated subconsciously. That means that I've already used two traits along with [Killing Intent].
I cupped my chin. I could try to use [Killing Intent] to threaten a beggar to give me money...it only works effectively against those weaker than me, after all. That Lully demon was just an exception.
"...", but after giving it some thought, I shook my head. No, I still have my dignity as someone from Earth. I should try to preserve my morals as much as I can. I shouldn't fall as low as Cael did.
I was also quite shocked that I resorted to pickpocketing, a crime, so fast... I'm really getting desperate. I massaged my temples with a frown. There's too much to worry about at the moment.
However, the other abilities I have are not particularly useful at the moment in comparison. [Elemental Embodiment] helps with magic, but I'm not that proficient in magic, and there's not much I can do even if I've mastered the basics otherwise. [Visualization] is just an ability I gave Cael that helps with visualizing things in his head in vivid detail, and that could also be why I have this system screen here, but that's not exactly going to be helpful right now.
I crossed my arms. I'm definitely not threatening a beggar. I'm adamant in not becoming one as well. Do I just have to hope I can successfully pickpocket someone by today, then?
But gaining a trait is not an easy thing to do. If I just progress normally by practicing, I can get it in a week at the earliest. If I don't have a particular talent in pickpocketing, it could take years instead. That was how I designed this system. I contemplated. I don't know of many tricks to get the pickpocketing trait quickly; it's a type of trait that can only be obtained after it's been done once successfully... Demons aren't so easy to fool either- !
Suddenly, my thinking process was interrupted, and I jumped backwards.
Shaded by the dark alley, a hand rapidly reached out to me, the look of a decaying man screaming in twisted hope.
"HELP ME!! HELP, I NEED, I-I N-NEEE-"
Then, a large wooden club came swinging in and smashed the man's head in, exploding it to pieces, before the man's body fell limp.
I stepped back, my whole body stiff.
Step, step, step
Coming out of the darkness, another man with a large body and two demon horns sprouting from his head revealed himself. He was smiling.
"Oh? And who is this kid?", he said to himself. His clothes had blood splattered all over them.
A wave of dread washed over me. Knowing I didn't have time to chat, I hurriedly turned around to rush back into the still bright streets.
"Hey, come back here!", the large demon reached out to grab me, "Did I say you could-"
He was faster than me and nearly grabbed my arm before I used [Killing Intent] to threaten him, making him flinch slightly.
That small gap allowed me to step back onto the streets and out of the alley, but the demon exited as well and tried grabbing me again--until he saw one of the demon town guards patrolling the area heading this way.
He paused, looked at me and sneered, "You're lucky this time. Visit again, I'll see you at night."
The demon then retreated back into the alley, with the town guard walking past in the next moment.
I quickly made my way over to an area on the street, beside a shop, where I was not near an alleyway.
"That was close.", I exhaled and laughed airily, looking at the town guard to my left that was patrolling the area.
It seems I'm just hopping from one dangerous situation to another, huh? I don't recognize that large demon being in the novel. He must be a thug.
I leaned on the shop's exterior wall, breathing heavily. That was the first time I...saw someone die in front of me.
I recalled how the thin and decaying man exploded into bits. Some of his blood had also stained some of my clothing as well.
I waited for my reaction towards the disgusting sight, expecting for the realization to sink in and throw up.
...But even after a few minutes, no feeling came.
Only indifference.
"...Huh?", I stood up straight in confusion and examined my body. There it was, blood splatters on my clothes, "Why..?"
...I shook my head. In the end, there's no use dilly-dallying and immersing myself in thought. If I don't feel anything, that's fine. If I feel something, that's fine too. At most, I just have to be grateful that I don't have to experience the transititioning of getting used to death in this world.
I should take it as a good thing.
Resolving my mind, I looked back at the street and pedestrians, pressing my lips together.
I hope that some of Cael's talent for mischievous tricks got left in this body when I possessed it. If I don't obtain that pickpocketing trait before sundown, I'll get hunted down by that thug.
Quickly, I made a decision, disregarding the other far more immoral option. Attempt to pickpocket as much as I can.
In the end, I only need one success to get it, right?
I looked up at the sky.
Several hours later, it had already turned orange, and I was an hour or two away from complete and pitch black night.
I balled up my fists, using too much strength. Is it impossible after all?
I lowered my head down, opening my hands up and seeing my nails that had dug in and drew blood. This much isn't a cause for worry, given a demon's enhanced constitution and regeneration.
Wincing, I let the pain distract me from becoming too panicked. I had spent all of this time attempting to pickpocket unsuspecting demons walking around the streets, but even the ones that were the most careless seemed like they had eyes on the back of their heads. Thus, all of the attempts were duds.
I crossed my arms. Is there anything else I can do? It seems almost like I'll have to end up threatening someone out of their cash...
"#@(#&*$(!))~"
Just then, before I could finish my thought, a loud and inexplicably enraged shout entered my ears.
Piquing my curiosity, I decided to move closer to hear what the commotion was about. Soon, it came into view.
Crack! A whip striked at someone.
Along with a yelp, the voice of another demon boomed, "And who are you to get in my way?! Do you know who I am?! Answer me!"
There, a young woman was cowering on the ground, while a particularly fat man with a moustache was aiming a whip at her, donning a fancy blazer and a furious expression.
Several other civilians had stopped to watch the scene as well, shocked and frightened from the sudden burst of violence. The town guard being nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, I watched along with them in shock, with widened eyes, albeit with a slightly different reason than the demons around me.
Instantly, my gaze locked onto the dramatic scene.
Truly, a godsend.
I stepped closer.