Chapter 313: The Transfer Student is a Singularity (1)

The map of Gehenna changes every hour.

The geography where the rebels had wreaked havoc had also shifted.

Steep cliffs had transformed into an open plain.

Of course, there were no vibrant landscapes like golden wheat fields. Instead, a sea of white reeds stretched out.

Watching them bend under the warm southern wind created an atmosphere unique to the Demon Realm—something impossible to feel in the human world.

Where did that wind come from?

Perhaps from a hidden well deep in the mountains, where a woodpecker tapped against the surface of the water.

Whoooosh!

The wind, traveling from the farthest reaches, passed through the reed field and climbed gently up the hill.

Following the tail of the wind, one would arrive at the top of a small mound.

There, the wind lightly stirred a lock of black hair.

It was a gathering of Valerion, Metatron, Leon, Lycan, and Kang Geom-Ma. The five most powerful beings in the world.

(The old dark elf had been carried off on a stretcher, foaming at the mouth.)

Goooooooh…

Below them, demons of all races knelt in a circle, as if in worship.

The scene radiated solemnity, like devout worshippers in a sacred temple.

“…Gruuuuuuugh…”

“Shut your mouth if you don’t want to lose a finger, you damned green pig! That squealing is breaking my eardrums!”

“I, Stugal, am offended! It’s not that my voice is loud, your ears are just absurdly long! And this is your fault for starting it all!”

“Damn pig! And now you’re speaking so eloquently? Act like a proper pig, damn it! When we give an order, you and your dull axe are to obey!”

Internal chaos stirred waves of tension. The reeds trembled at demon eye-level, swaying as if they too were complaining.

The demons, though restless, shut their mouths and watched Kang Geom-Ma in fear.

They all looked like they had swallowed a ball of fire.

“Hmm…”

Leon glanced sideways and sighed.

The young demons had lost arms, legs—or in the worst cases, all four limbs.

They were the fools who had received a brutal lesson from Kang Geom-Ma’s lightning-drenched sashimi.

It had been a self-inflicted punishment.

They hadn’t even had the chance to resist, let alone counterattack.

Leon almost felt sorry for them.

‘For having challenged Kang Geom-Ma.’

Demons healed quickly. Even if an arm was cut off, it grew back like a lizard’s tail.

High-ranking demons, like high elves, could regenerate damaged organs after just a week of rest.

But…

‘Being cut by Kang Geom-Ma’s sashimi is different.’

Leon squinted, sharpening his gaze.

An elf without ears caught his eye. She was desperately trying to heal herself, but the flesh wouldn’t regenerate, and she was sweating profusely.

“And for what…?”

Leon muttered and looked away.

In front of him stood the strongest of the five.

Kang Geom-Ma.

He stared solemnly at the field of reeds before turning his head.

Leon shivered.

That dark gaze dragged an eerie chill with it.

“My apologies, Dragon Lord.”

He bowed to Valerion.

“I should have informed you before acting, but I acted on impulse. I’ll be more cautious in the future.”

“Raise your head. Of all of us, you’re the last one who should apologize like that.”

Valerion looked uncomfortable. His facial muscles twisted awkwardly to convey his unease.

“If we’re talking about responsibility, the fault lies more with me than with Heavenly Sword. If I had stopped the rebels in time, this wouldn’t have happened. You had to come here after leaving the Demon Realm because of me. Honestly, I’m ashamed…”

Kang Geom-Ma shook his head.

“The dragon clan has always been neutral. Even if you’re currently acting as temporary leader of the Demon Realm…”

“Circumstances demand it.”

“Still, I should’ve respected that. I was carried away by rage. I’m sorry.”

“Hahaha…”

Valerion scratched his forehead with his purple nails.

Thus continued this diplomatic discussion, with both parties apologizing with equal grace.

A whirl of tension swirled between their words.

Meanwhile, Metatron smiled for no reason, Lycan yawned on Kang Geom-Ma’s shoulder, and Leon let out a hollow laugh inwardly.

‘Kang Geom-Ma. The more time I spend with you, the less I understand you.’

He was cruel and merciless toward the rebels, yet surprisingly kind to Valerion.

He was always like this.

Leon observed Kang Geom-Ma’s profile.

‘He’s harsh with demons, but clearly nervous around Abel and Ryozo…’

He responded with the same intensity he was shown. Even if he went overboard this time, it didn’t mean he was weak before the strong.

It was the opposite.

In terms of raw power, Valerion was far below Kang Geom-Ma.

Leon had crossed blades with him.

And because of that, he was sure—

There was no one in the world who could match Kang Geom-Ma right now.

Maybe he or Metatron could come close.

‘And only in a few moves.’

Moreover, Kang Geom-Ma’s growth hadn’t stopped.

Time was on his side.

The more it passed, the more unreachable he would become.

That thought left a bitter taste—but also deep respect.

‘Maybe the reason he has such a volatile temper…’

Was it because his humanity barely contained that overwhelming power?

Thinking of that, another possibility flashed like lightning through his mind.

What if, one day, he stopped holding back?

Would that be the true end of the world?

Should the world accept it if that day comes?

‘I’m not the one to worry about that.’

He was a sinner who had dragged the human world into the abyss.

Even if it was for his father, Metatron…

In the end, it had been his decision.

In the past, Leon had betrayed humanity and his friends for personal reasons.

He shook his head to clear those dark thoughts.

And refocused on the conversation between Kang Geom-Ma and Valerion.

The discussion was coming to a close.

“I suppose I need to work on my impulsiveness. I’ve heard that tensions between the Demon Realm and the human world are rising. Maybe it’s my fault. I understand why the demons are upset.”

“I can’t say it hasn’t had an impact, but it’s inevitable. We’re different by nature. That’s how we evolved. Like water and oil…”

Water and oil…

“Water and oil, huh…”

That old comparison sparked a flash of insight in Leon’s mind.

An impossible mix of two essences.

Something he had discovered days ago.

“Sorry to interrupt…”

He stepped in before that old fox could vanish.

“I recently found traces of the human world here in the Demon Realm.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

With his clear blue eyes, he looked at each of them before speaking again.

“Also, I just returned from investigating the anomaly with my father.”

Even if it was insignificant, he wanted to be of help.

To this world he had nearly destroyed.

And if necessary, he was willing to give his life for it.

***

Media, sensing a strange premonition from the Sword Master, used dimensional warp to travel to the most remote place in the world.

Whoooosh…

She cut through the slicing blizzard and stopped in front of a massive iron door.

With trembling hands, she touched the auxiliary screen fogged up by the ice.

[Access verified for Media Poison.]

Even after entering, she had to pass through several thick doors.

Finally, in a barely warm environment, a noble-looking young man greeted her with both arms raised.

“Media! What are you doing here without notice?”

“And you say that after disconnecting all external networks? Anyway, got any hot tea? If I stay like this, I might lose a few fingers to frostbite.”

“And that outfit? Looks like you’re showing more than you’re covering. At least your sister dressed decently and presentably.”

“Where’s Sashimi? Or rather, where’s the scalpel?”

“Wait a moment.”

Seeing the man dash away after hearing “sashimi,” Media let out a long sigh.

She had arrived at a base in Antarctica, where her father, Victor Poison, former president of the association, had lived in seclusion for decades, dedicated to his research.

“Use this to warm up.”

Victor returned with a steaming towel.

“Ugh… smells musty.”

“That’s how all houses smell when a man lives alone.”

“I told you to leave Antarctica already.”

Media pursed her lips slightly, pouting.

Still, she warmed her frozen hands and feet with the towel her father had brought.

“So, what brings you here, Media?”

Victor asked, dropping his warm smile.

“Am I only allowed to visit when something big happens?”

“It’s not that… but kids’ visits are usually like that. Especially in your case. You’re an ancient with a longer lifespan than most, but you live like someone terminal. I wonder who you take after. It certainly wasn’t me.”

“The comment about ancients living longer than others…”

Media said, pressing the towel to her cheek.

Her once paper-pale skin began to take on a faint blush.

“That might no longer be exclusive to us.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Before coming, I used the Poet’s blessing to peek into the future.”

And what Media said next…

“Human life expectancy is increasing.”

Was more chilling than the Antarctic wind.

“…And not like the ancients, but like demons.”

***

As soon as I heard Leon’s explanation, I set off.

Ever since I saw Yu Sein, something had been bothering me.

And right then, I received suspicious information about that enigmatic egg.

I’m not foolish enough to ignore all that.

The rebels had already been neutralized, and the demons wouldn’t bare their fangs again for a while.

They’re quick learners when it comes to survival.

And if not, well, then they’ll pay their tuition with their lives.

Ramzy Thunder, Leon, Metatron, and I—four of us—raced across the Demon Realm at top speed.

Every step we took left the ground caving in, and when we all surged forward together, the earth trembled as if it were going to split open.

By the way, Valerion didn’t join this expedition.

He said he’d catch up after dealing with the rebels.

We had long since broken the sound barrier.

Even so, we didn’t reach our destination in a matter of minutes.

After all, Gehenna’s geography had shifted again.

Still, our steps were light.

Why? Because we had an excellent guide in the group.

— Turn left from there.

“……”

— Now right. No, not there! I said not there! What’s the point of giving directions if you don’t listen?!

Lycan stirred up a fuss on my right shoulder, his fur bristling.

‘To think he was the one who insisted on being the navigator from the start…’

Now, seemingly impatient, he leaned forward and barked low commands.

The former commander of the first army of the Demon Realm.

Was he really a demon?

“Haha, this guy’s such a good guide, I kind of want to adopt him. If I give him a good bath, I bet he wouldn’t even get sick.”

— Damn angel!

“Father, seeing how that rat sticks so close to Kang Geom-Ma, it’s like he’s chosen. Hey, Kang Geom-Ma, why don’t you adopt a pet while you’re at it…?”

“……”

— Aaaaaaaahhhh!

Lycan’s scream pierced my eardrums.

When I asked why he didn’t undo his transformation, he said he’d simply missed the right moment to reveal his true form.

‘Well, whatever.’

— Kang Geom-Ma! You too…!!

……

‘Your choice, Ramzy Thunder. Just endure it with pure malice and guts.’

— Are you even a demon?!

‘The owner of this body is.’

In any case, the important thing was reaching our destination, no matter the route.

Despite a few minor setbacks, it didn’t take us long to reach a massive crater yawning before us.

I nodded.

We each jumped in our own way.

After landing, we proceeded cautiously for several minutes.

And then, I encountered the strange, mysterious egg.

“Was this… like this before?”

Only now, it was broken.

Leon, clearly puzzled, carefully inspected the uneven crack and the interior.

The conclusion.

“…Looks like it broke while we were away.”

“What a convenient coincidence. No fresh tracks?”

“None… I don’t see any. Not even anything with perception.”

“Should we rush out and look for it?”

“Hold on. No point rushing in blindly. We need a strategy before we act.”

“…When you put it like that…”

As I scratched my chin, Lycan muttered.

— This isn’t normal.

‘You feel it too?’

— I didn’t mention it, but near the special building at the academy, something similar happened.

‘Was there an egg there too?’

Lycan frowned.

— Not exactly an egg, but there were traces of demonic energy, just like that wannabe hero said. And also a strange egg. Something’s definitely coming.

‘Hmm…’

‘You should go back to the human world. This is a rare break, right? If you keep working in these conditions, you’ll destroy yourself.’

What is this, an emotional surprise now?

‘You’re the only one who cares about my health.’

— That body’s mine, you idiot!
Insensitive demon.

— I’ll stay in Gehenna for a while to investigate the egg, just in case. Those inscriptions I saw before are still bothering me.

“Excuse me, Heavenly Sword.”

At that moment, Metatron approached and asked,

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to conduct this investigation with just me and this squirrel. Do we have your permission?”

— Change of plans. I’m going back to the human world too.

I ignored him.

“The representative of the Angels will come personally?”

— Hey!

If humanity launched a large-scale investigation over a simple omen like this, it would cause too many problems.

It wouldn’t just raise public anxiety—it would also stir resentment among the demons.

‘It’d be a bad move all around.’

Besides, staying in the Demon Realm for too long wasn’t easy.

And I had enough issues waiting for me back in the human world.

The nobles were probably dying to see me disappear.

So I said,

“Well, that puts my mind at ease.”

“It’s not quite a replacement, but…”

Metatron, with a hand the size of a pot lid, grabbed Leon in one swift motion.

“Could you show this young man around the academy?”

“Me…? Just like that?”

“You there, boy! You haven’t even smelled the human world in over three years.”

“I’m really not that interested…”

Just as Metatron said, Leon von Reinhardt avoided stepping foot in the human world.

Guilt chained him to the Demon Realm like shackles around his ankles.

“Alright.”

Leon stared into my eyes.

“H-Heavenly Sword, you too? I’m not just anyone, I don’t have the right to enter Joaquin Academy.”

“That’s not up to you. That’s the director’s call.

And as long as there’s a valid reason, she’ll let you in.”

“I… have one?”

“Of course you do.”

As I smiled, the aspiring hero stepped back.

Even though I’d made sure to smile warmly.

— Classic rookie. More scared of the Demon King than Lycan.

Lycan commented with a sarcastic snort.

***

The next morning, the Heavenly Sword’s listeners gathered in confusion at the training coliseum.

But this time, it wasn’t on the usual battlefield—it was in the coliseum stands.

It was the Heavenly Sword’s final class.

With mixed feelings of nostalgia and excitement, the students sat curiously in their seats.

The coliseum, designed like an ancient gladiator arena, was normally where students were tossed around on the ground. But from this height, it looked like a true combat arena.

“This… this can’t be…!”

A student turned sharply to the classmate beside him, shocked.

His eyes sparkled like stars, widening and shrinking.

“Is he going to show us a dimensional space battle…?”

“God… how naïve can you be.”

The girl, arms crossed, let out a sarcastic laugh.

“For there to be a battle, both sides need to be at the same level. But right now, is there anyone who can even hold a sword in front of the Heavenly Sword? Or even breathe around him?”

“Maybe… five people.”

“And they’re all in Gehenna.”

“But what if…?”

The girl didn’t even answer. She just turned her gaze away.

Even though her heart pounded with excitement at seeing the Heavenly Sword, the uncertainty about the class content was inescapable.

What could it be? What was he going to do?

The atmosphere was tense like a string about to snap.

Then, with a heavy sound, a stone gate rose from the coliseum wall.

Two figures began walking toward the center of the arena.

Dozens of eyes widened like lit lanterns.

“Huh, eh? Huhh! Ehhh!”

Cries of astonishment, each with their own flavor, began to fill the coliseum.