I Swear I'm Not a Demon Masquerading as a Human

The two continued walking up the steps, having already traversed several winding flights without even realizing it. After hearing what Hyperion had to say, Lance contemplated her advice.

He was currently saddled with debt from acquiring the Poet of Boundless Love. He didn’t mind the cost, as the card was worth every penny to him. However, Lance hadn't forgotten his original goal in coming to the capital: to make his fortune as quickly as possible.

If he could grow stronger and build a network of connections, he wouldn't have to fear any potential enemies threatening the Wilford Trading Company. After all, the invincible and absolute law would serve as the ultimate arbiter.

As for gaining the favor of powerful factions and formidable experts, becoming a renowned card maker was one path, while achieving an excellent reputation from challenging Shadow Realm dungeons was another. Right now, relying solely on card making to make some quick money would likely leave him dead from overworking.

As for selling his paintings... Lance wasn't sure if offloading them on a large scale before he was strong enough was the best idea. If his artwork became too valuable while he remained isolated and vulnerable, it could spell disaster, attracting the attention of dangerous characters. Therefore, unless he was absolutely desperate for cash, he wouldn't consider selling his paintings lightly. Even if he did, he certainly wouldn't do so under his own name.

All things considered, studying card making while striving to advance his rank, eventually becoming a high ranked card maker, was his long-term strategy for building his fortune. While high-intensity card making practice could gradually hone his Spirit and facilitate rank advancement, the process was simply too slow.

The fastest way to raise his rank was, once again, to challenge the Shadow Realm. Successfully clearing a real Shadow Realm dungeon granted a corresponding boost to the challenger’s rank! Many card makers chose to become battlefield card makers, gaining experience by venturing into Shadow Realm dungeons.

This was a support-oriented class. Since challengers assumed entirely new identities and circumstances within the Shadow Realm, they could not bring along items such as tools or potions when entering or leaving. The only things they could carry back and forth were soulbound cards.

Battlefield card makers entered the Shadow Realm equipped with a portable card making kit in the form of equipment cards. They could forge specialized cards for their teammates in real-time, tailored to the situation at hand.

Consequently, even if a battlefield card maker was essentially a "leech," contributing little else, many powerful teams were willing to bring along such a utility player to enhance the group's overall rewards. Lance certainly possessed the potential to fill this role. After all, it was never a bad thing to have more skills. However, his card making abilities were currently too unstable for him to try.

As Lance mused on this, Hyperion spoke up again from beside him. "If a candidate achieves exceptional results in the entrance exam, they might be granted an exemption from having to take the registered challenger qualification test. Barring any surprises, you should receive a notification after the semester starts. Once you complete the paperwork, you'll be able to challenge the real Shadow Realm."

The structure of the entrance exam itself was quite similar to the official registration test. If a student passed with an outstanding score, as an accredited partner of the Southern Continent Shadow Realm Management Association, Ikerite University would apply for an exemption on their behalf.

In contrast, other freshmen would have to spend a considerable amount of time preparing and taking the Association's registration test before they could attempt a real Shadow Realm challenge.

Hyperion was certain that with a performance like his, there was no reason Lance wouldn't secure that exemption. Furthermore, he didn't need to worry about teammates. Plenty of upperclassmen and teams from various departments would likely approach him on their own.

Lance quickly expressed his gratitude upon hearing this, "Oh, I see. Thank you, Hyperion."

She was truly a high-ranking noble from the capital, since she was intimately familiar with details that weren't even listed in the standard admissions information.

Hyperion simply gazed ahead at the steps and nodded slightly. "It's nothing."

Her information had lifted Lance's spirits considerably. Since there was a possibility he wouldn't need to travel to the Southern Continent Shadow Realm Management Association for the registration test, things could go smoothly. Once the paperwork was sorted, he could immediately become an Iron Licensed registered challenger.

According to what Lance had previously heard, the Southern Continent Shadow Realm Management Association categorized challengers into seven distinct licenses. Registered challengers would have their records updated or receive promotions based on their level of contribution after successfully clearing a challenge. The higher the license they attained, the greater the associated benefits, privileges, and status.

The lowest licensure was Iron, followed by Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Crystal, and Legend. Setting aside the novice Iron and Copper licensures, anyone who reached the third level, Silver, was already considered a seasoned veteran and a pillar of strength for tackling Shadow Realm challenges.

Reaching the fourth rank, Gold, guaranteed a prominent social status, no matter where one went. People at Platinum and above gained recognition from relevant associations even on other continents. These individuals were true powerhouses who were famous throughout the world.

Through the two practical tests during the entrance exam, Lance realized he might actually possess some genuine potential as a Shadow Realm challenger. He couldn't wait to kickstart his career.

Lance curiously asked, "Do you know what level students at this school can reach?"

Hyperion thought for a moment before answering with a hint of wistfulness in her voice, "If an Ikerite student reaches Gold, they’re already considered impressive. As for Platinum... Well, you only find those among the fourth year students and those in the scheduled program. People at that level really don’t need to stay at the university anymore. They could leave whenever they wanted."

If she could reach Platinum, she wouldn’t fear the people who were plotting against her even without her father's protection or her status as a duke's daughter. Unfortunately, she didn't believe her own talent was enough to reach that pinnacle like those "monsters" at the top of the university.

Lance tilted his head, looking at Hyperion in confusion. "Scheduled program?"

He understood the concept of a fourth year, but he hadn't known the university had students in a "scheduled program."

"Generally, students can apply to graduate in their third year. Upon doing so, they’re awarded a significant amount of Challenger Points or are recommended for employment at major associations," explained Hyperion. "Every year, a few exceptional students choose to stay on for additional years of study under a senior professor they admire. They might remain at the school for several years without leaving. These students are collectively known as fourth years."

Hyperion patiently continued, "The scheduled program is for challengers who already have significant experience tackling high level Shadow Realm dungeons. They study here on a flexible schedule. We, on the other hand, are essentially full-time students."

Before they knew it, their conversation had brought them to the very last step of the long staircase. Lance smiled at Hyperion, who had answered all his questions so readily. "I see! Thanks for the explanation."

They walked just a few more paces forward, and a massive, open-work glass wall came into view, offering a panoramic vista of the entire campus. There were flowering trees, stunning architecture, and luscious lawns, making for a beautiful sight.

At the same time, the suspended rotating platform they were standing on branched off into different paths. Lance stopped, pointed toward the terrace, and bade Hyperion farewell. "See you at the start of the term! I’m going over there to meet a friend."

He was heading to the terrace area connected to this level to meet Talia, the demon mentor who was waiting for him. Compared to Talia, whose sentences rarely exceeded ten words, having a normal conversation with Hyperion felt far more comfortable. This clearly showed that a woman who hadn't managed to get married even after centuries likely had some issues of her own.

"Goodbye." Hyperion nodded in response. With that, she and Lance parted ways, walking off in opposite directions.

***

Three days later, early morning.

The Krati Empire was located to the south of the Kingdom of Hutton. Because the two nations were separated by a continuous mountain range, transporting large quantities of goods from the Hutton southern border to the Krati northern border was actually more convenient via a sea route that looped around to the east.

Many of the Krati Empire's northern cities and towns were built upon mountainous terrain. They were towering architectural complexes that blended seamlessly with the undulating landscape. The vast majority of them offered grand vistas where classical structures were framed by blue skies and white clouds.

Glenwaverly was a major city in the Krati Empire's northern border, and it was one of the most prosperous cities in the north. It was set against cloud-piercing mountain ridges to the north and faced the sea to the east, with a bustling harbor that saw constant activity year-round.

The upper level of Glenwaverly was constructed across the gaps between several intersecting peaks. The buildings mostly featured a classical style in shades of dark gray or off-white. The climate was warm and bright, and the air was filled with the scent of flowers and snippets of deep, melodious music. The streets were wide and immaculate, populated by merchants, knights, and clerics clad in fine attire.

Inside the city, on the fourth floor of the building housing the Wilford Trading Company, was an office with "Chairman" on the door. The middle-aged man in there was sitting in a comfortable high-backed chair behind the desk, and he put on his glasses and began to leaf through an issue of TheHutton Times from two days prior. He was none other than Lance’s father, Noel Wilford.

Since the Wilford Trading Company maintained vital trade routes between the two nations, newspapers published across the Kingdom of Hutton were easily obtainable. However, delivery could sometimes be delayed by a couple days. Occasionally, when there wasn’t a merchant ship passing through, a delay of around a week wasn’t uncommon.

"Let's see what the latest news is." Noel leisurely browsed through the newspaper he had just received. He didn't read this paper every day. When he finished his official duties and found a spare moment, he would have his staff bring him the latest one to catch up on current events.

A young member of the Holy Order Research Academy, having been kicked out of his team by his companions, transformed into a "ladies' man" out of spite and seduced all of his former teammates' mothers. Just as the companions were filled with regret and prepared to line up to apologize, he turned the tables and had their mothers sent to prison, on the grounds that he was a minor...

In the city of South Vantina, a man harbored a grudge against his boss over overtime work. Knowing that his boss was allergic to healing potions, he beat the man with hands slathered in the stuff. Surprisingly, the attack didn't trigger an allergic reaction, but instead left the boss severely injured. After spending a month in detention, the man sued the potion manufacturer for producing a counterfeit, substandard product. He has since received 650 pounds in compensation...

Noel shook his head as he turned the page, pursing his lips to suppress a smile. The Kingdom of Hutton was truly a land of extraordinary characters. Amendments and additions to the law were frequent occurrences there. Since many of these bizarre crimes had no existing legal precedents, new statutes had to be drafted to address them. At times, TheHutton Times was even more entertaining than an actual comedy show.

Noel leafed through the paper, savoring a rare moment of leisure. His office was adorned with exquisite oil paintings and tapestries, and the floor was covered in a plush carpet. Outside the window lay a breathtaking view of a sea of clouds. It was a sight that made Noel’s stolen moment of relaxation feel all the more delightful.

Before long, he spotted a report concerning the royal capital, Ikerite.

A serious accident occurred during the annual entrance exams for Ikerite University’s Sages’ College. Viscount Ferrat Chavenson, an examiner, had emergency treatment after falling into a critical condition. It is evident that artificial Shadow Realm dungeons still require significant safety improvements.

Noel chuckled with a touch of schadenfreude. "I wonder which unlucky student managed to leave an examiner critically injured? Whoever raised a kid like that must have committed some terrible sin."

There is something to be said for mediocrity. At least a kid like Lance won’t cause an accident of that magnitude.

Communication magic was prohibitively expensive, and cross-border transmission required special permits and a network of relay stations. Unless it was an emergency, Noel rarely contacted his estate in South Vantina.

He didn't even need to ask whether Lance had passed the exam. He naturally believed that his son would have botched the College of Alchemy’s entrance exam and had come crawling back home.

Noel had already instructed Hans to cut off Lance’s allowance the moment he returned in disgrace, letting that good-for-nothing fool get a taste of real hardship. He was looking forward to seeing if Lance had matured even the slightest bit by the time he came back to South Vantina.

He continued reading. The news story wasn't over yet.

During the exam, the activation terminal for the artificial Shadow Realm suffered from a malfunction. Rumors say that it was due to a candidate's unorthodox operation. According to Professor Boralo of Ikerite University's College of Magical Engineering, the emergency repairs have already cost the school at least eight thousand pounds.

-Signed, Reporter Luviselle

The accompanying photograph showed a handsome, older magical engineer gritting his teeth in fury. Although he was clearly trying to suppress his anger for the camera, the murderous look in his eyes was impossible to hide.

With that, the segment concluded. Noel shook his head and folded up the newspaper. "Heh, what a character, managing to break an exam terminal like that. If the College of Magical Engineering comes knocking for compensation, his family is going to be in serious trouble."

Having enjoyed the day's dose of Hutton-style entertainment, Noel felt thoroughly satisfied. He looked forward to seeing even more sensational news next time.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!