I am no longer human!

Chapter 7: An Unparalleled and Immense Fortune

Morning Star Manor, Hall of Stars.

Tapping.

Iro walked down the deep red velvet carpet to the foot of the throne, then slowly knelt on one knee and said:

"Lady Alicia, I have completed your task and taught Damian the magic language within three days."

"He is very talented and hardworking."

The vampire maid paused for a moment, then added.

Just that one sentence made Damian, who was standing behind him, feel that his calling her "Teacher Iro" was not in vain.

Upon hearing this, Alicia on the throne shifted her gaze and quietly stared at the black-haired boy below.

The instant his eyes met those gleaming golden eyes, Damian immediately felt a terrifying mental pressure, far more oppressive than when he was engulfed by the black flames in the principal's office.

It seemed that the awe-inspiring, mythical hall amplified the oppressive aura emanating from the other party.

Damian was like a passenger on the Titanic who was swallowed up by a raging tsunami.

I... can't breathe!

"Damian, greet Lady Alicia as I taught you." At this moment, Iro, who was kneeling on one knee in front, spoke softly, and a red light flashed again in her wine-red eyes.

Drowning victims climb grass to survive.

The voice was like a drowning man grasping at a straw, pulling Damian out of the mental pressure and making him much more sober.

"Great daughter of Lucifer, Archduke of the Devil, Headmistress of the Babylonian Academy, the strongest of the Ring of Pride, Duchess Alicia Lucifer, I, Damian, pay you the highest tribute."

After regaining his senses, the black-haired boy spoke in a clear but slow tone, placing his right hand on his left shoulder and bowing slightly.

Upon witnessing this scene, Alicia, seated on the throne, could not remain calm; a look of astonishment flashed across her exquisitely sculpted face.

It wasn't just because of the boy's authentic, old-fashioned devilish aristocratic accent, typical of the Ring of Arrogance; the most important thing was... that he could actually speak normally under his pressure, and even bow.

The Hall of Stars, a "divine structure," possesses the power to amplify the oppressive aura of the demon on the throne at its center.

Already a ninth-ranked Demon Grand Duchess, her aura after ascending the Star Throne was no less imposing than that of a tenth-ranked "Demon King".

Even if there is a premise that Iro used her Demon Eye to give Damian a mental suggestion, it is still an indisputable fact that this human, with a mortal body, directly resisted the Demon King's pressure.

This is a miracle that has never occurred in the history of Hell. Compared to this, the feat of learning the demonic language in three days is nothing.

"Well done, Damian."

After a long silence, Alicia finally spoke.

"In the name of Lucifer, I acknowledge that you are indeed a 'great man,' and I believe that you, like your great predecessors throughout history, will create a glorious legacy worthy of being etched in the stars."

"This is a reward for you completing my mission for the first time."

Snapped.

The Grand Duchess on the throne snapped her fingers lightly.

On the dome, a dazzling starry sky inlaid with countless gemstones moved in response.

Among the stars, a red light, like a shooting star, slowly fell before Damian.

He reached out and caught it, feeling a warmth in his palm. Only after the red light faded did he realize it was a ring.

The ring is made of pure silver and has a fine thorn pattern engraved on its surface. A flawless ruby ​​is set in the ring setting, shining like solidified flame.

What a beautiful ring! If I sold it to a jewelry store back in the human world, I'd be rich!

This was Damian's first thought upon seeing the ring, but he quickly dismissed it and thanked him earnestly.

"My second task for you is to attend Babylon Academy and achieve first place in the first-year 'Judgment Examination'... which is equivalent to the final exam," Alicia said.

After speaking, the Grand Duchess slowly rose from her throne, her beautiful face displaying an unprecedented solemnity, and six jet-black wings sprouted from her.

"I, Alicia Lucifer, swear in the name of my ancestor Lucifer, Damian, if you can perfectly complete this second task, then I will bestow upon you an unparalleled and immense fortune that all living beings in the world dream of!"

"And I will do everything in my power to give you another chance to return to the human world."

...

An unparalleled stroke of luck... but what could it be?!

Even after leaving the Hall of Stars, Damian, who had followed Iro through the corridor back to the quiet room, couldn't help but ponder.

"Teacher Iro, could you tell me what this great fortune that Lady Alicia spoke of is?"

Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked the vampire maid in front of him.

"The lesson is over, Damian. You no longer need to call me teacher," Iro said.

"Perhaps so, but in my heart, you will always be my mentor after I came to Hell," Damian said respectfully.

The boy would never forget the praise this beautiful and kind older sister had given him in the hall in front of Alicia.

Repaying kindness has always been his principle.

Having lacked love since childhood, he was like a traveler in the desert, dying of thirst, praying to the sky for rain. Naturally, he would cherish every bit of love and every drop of rain.

Upon hearing this, the vampire maid didn't say anything, but the expression on her beautiful face softened considerably.

"Damian, although I would love to answer your question, as Lady Alicia's most loyal servant, I cannot reveal any information to you without my lord's permission."

"You'll have to discover everything for yourself," Iro said with a slight smile.

She had already guessed the truth behind that so-called creation, which was indeed a miracle of instant enlightenment for any living being.

"I see..."

Damian was slightly disappointed, but he quickly cheered up again.

After all, it's just getting first place in the final exam, so it doesn't seem too difficult. I just don't know what the hellish exam will be like.

Mathematics, geography, history, literature... as long as it's not the kind of torture used by exam criminals to extract confessions, then he should still have hope.

"Damian, do you know what kind of ring Lady Alicia gave you?"

Iro glanced at the silver ring on the boy's finger and spoke.

"It has the function of storage space, and even in the entire seventh ring of hell, it can definitely be called a precious magical artifact."

Storage space... Damian immediately recalled the various items that Iro had taken out of the pocket of her maid's apron earlier.

Does his ring really have such magical properties?!

The black-haired boy's face immediately lit up with eager anticipation.

"Teacher Iro, how can I open it?" he asked impatiently.

"Guide the magic within you and pour it into the ring, and sense the space contained within it."