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

As the light returned to his surroundings, Lance was gradually able to see again. He found himself seated in the back row of a vast classroom that resembled a theater. In the dim space, the only light came from a few oil lamps mounted on the walls, casting a faint, golden-yellow glow that felt almost tangible.

They flickered rhythmically, like a living pulse. They not only provided enough visibility to see, but also imbued the place with a mysterious, theatrical atmosphere. In the murky light, the shadows of desks and chairs were distorted and elongated, mingling with other shifting, dark shapes that rustled softly in the silence.

He was indeed in a classroom. There were rows of long tables draped in red cloths that were neatly arranged, a pristine black-and-gold chalkboard stood tall on a stage at the far end, and the window frames and carvings exuded an air of antique elegance.

Yet, the sense of space and openness one would expect from a room of this large was inexplicably absent. Instead, the air was thick with the overpowering stench of blood and an indescribable, eerie dread. For a moment, Lance wondered if he had somehow ended up in the underworld.

He looked down to see a sheet of rough, ancient parchment resting on the red tablecloth, accompanied by an inkwell and a quill. The parchment was inscribed with mysterious characters unlike any human language he knew. However, thanks to the Shadow Realm's innate translation magic, Lance gathered that it was a magical examination paper written in an apparent demonic script.

How is this a school theme too?

Lance was utterly stunned. He had thought he had finally escaped the monotony of school, only to find himself in yet another one! What was worse was that at IIkerite University, he had merely attended lectures, but here at this demonic school, he was expected to take an exam right away.

With a heavy heart that felt as though he were visiting a graveyard, Lance cautiously lifted his head to scan the room, immediately struck by a sudden, jarring sense of alienation. The students in the classroom were a motley crew, each one stranger than the last. Each one had an indescribable quality. Most possessed sharp horns, skin marked by eerie patterns, or exoskeletons. Some even sported slender black tails.

Meanwhile, two figures resembling examiners paced methodically along the classroom aisles. They were clad in formal, old-fashioned attire that were reminiscent of suits, looking neat yet somber. Yet, amid the stench of blood and the aura of malevolence, they exuded a truly sinister and terrifying vibe. It was clearly a bad situation.

Compared to the artificial Shadow Realm dimensions he had previously experienced, such as The Hidden Flame of Winter and The Canyon of Infinite Phantoms, which were relatively mild in theme, this real Shadow Realm dungeon was in a completely different league.

Soon, information regarding the challenge appeared. These were prompts visible only to a Shadow Realm challenger.

[Shadow Realm Dimension: Purgatory Corridor Academy]

[Level: 4]

[Number of Challengers: 6]

[Historical Background: This was once an era of utter darkness for humanity. Humans possessed only the daylight. At night, they were entirely enslaved by the vampires. Yet, some were willing to shatter their own dignity for humanity as a whole.]

[To reclaim the southern lands shrouded by the Blood Moon, the only possibility of creating a miracle lay in acquiring the power of demons. Thus, a crazy plan was conceived: a group of humans underwent forbidden surgeries at an Imperial testing ground to disguise themselves as demons, crossed the perilous, frozen north to enter the Demon Kingdom, and attempted to integrate into demon society to learn their magic...]

[Mission Overview: You are currently infiltrating a Demon Kingdom school to gather intelligence. It is a place completely alien to human civilization. Tonight will be the most dangerous night of all. You must strive to survive it unscathed.]

[Time Remaining: 11 hours 59 minutes]

[Mission Objective 1: Achieve over 60% exploration of the academy. (Current progress: 3%)]

[Mission Objective 2: Investigate and identify the source of tonight's danger.]

[Mission Objective 3: At least one person must survive until the time limit expires. (Current survivors: 6/6)]

[Starting Location for Challengers Lance & Hyperion: An examination hall. Exam duration: 2 hours. Subject: Demonic Runes & Theory.]

[Any form of cheating detected by the proctors grants them the authority to execute the examinee on the spot. Failure to achieve a score of at least 50 by the end of the exam results in a failing grade, and the proctors will immediately execute you.]

[Early submission is permitted. Raise your hand if you require assistance from the proctors.]

[Exam Time Remaining: 1 hour 59 minutes]

These information panels were similar to those in artificial Shadow Realm dungeons and could be hidden or displayed at will. However, after grasping the details of his first real challenge, he scowled.

Level 4... what in the fresh hell is this?

Lance set aside the problem that they were currently stuck in a nightmare exam scenario. He was currently Rank 2 and Hyperion was Rank 3. Surely, by any standard of Shadow Realm logic, they shouldn't have been matched into a Level 4 dungeon, right?

However, what concerned him more was the fact that, according to the Shadow Realm's prompts, the mechanics had temporarily disguised him as a demon. Wouldn’t this be bad for his image?

Lance glanced down at himself. Aside from the pitch-black uniform of Purgatory Corridor Academy, he also sported exoskeleton-like growths resembling white jade crystals at his joints that emitted a faint, soft glow.

He touched his head and found a pair of horns. Judging by the dim reflection in the ink bottle, his signature black hair and green eyes had remained unchanged, while the horns and the markings on his face were a stark, pure white.

***

Meanwhile, on the Ikerite University campus...

At five in the afternoon, the school grounds were steeped in a profound tranquility. The setting sun had begun its slow descent toward the western horizon, casting a final, golden-red glow over every corner of the campus.

Not far from the entrance of the university, students were unwinding after class in the Gela Memorial Plaza. Some chatted about dinner plans, while others sat on the plaza steps, watching the rolling campus news broadcast on the massive outdoor screen at the center.

This screen frequently displayed live footage of students currently challenging the Shadow Realm. Since a Shadow Realm dungeon was essentially a projection of history, the live footage of a challenge often rivaled a spectacular, one-of-a-kind movie. Students often gathered here to watch clips of these challenges. Not only were they entertained, but it was also a form of learning.

Of course, many students simply sat on the steps before the screen, chatting leisurely with friends about the classes that had just ended, or quietly reading books, lost in their own worlds.

"Huh? A new Level 4 dungeon?" A student on the steps spoke up, almost to themselves. "And it’s based on the history of the demon race, what a rare sight..."

This caused many others to look up and focus on the screen. Since few students attempted Shadow Realm challenges on the very first day of the term, any new challenge stood out immediately. Moreover, the setting featured a distinctively dark, moody aesthetic.

Soon, a student noticed the Challenger Information section beneath the live feed and exclaimed in surprise, "Wait, aren't those two freshmen?"

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