Please show me something to identity yourselves.”
The staff members who are wearing stiff costumes approach us asking for identification. If I remember correctly I have to show the seal with the Gremory symbol on it and also the recommendation paper. We showed them our seals and recommendation papers. This seal is made from the bone of a certain creature and it is ground into a palm sized circular shape. It’s a crimson colour and it has a mark engraved into it. The staff confirm our recommendation papers and seals and say “This way please”, and then guide us. We walk into a corridor made from rocks. It does not seem like a gorgeous interior, but is made very simply and accurately. “This is the promotion test centre for mid-class Devils located in the territory of Glasya-Labolas.”
Kiba tells me quietly while we are walking. Hee, so this is the territory of Glasya-Labolas. I was so concerned about the test that I didn’t bother checking where the location of the test was. If it’s the territory of Glasya-Labolas, then it’s the territory of the household where that Maou who said “working is losing”, Asmodeus-sama, belongs to. It’s also the homeland of that yankee who got beaten to a pulp by Sairaorg-san. “It seems like they built the mid-class promotion test centre here because of the influence of the strategist, Falbium Asmodeus.”
Akeno-san also says that. I only have that Maou-sama who seems like he doesn’t want to do anything in my mind, so it’s hard to imagine. “It seems like there is also a test centre in the territory of Astaroth, which is the household from which Ajuka Beelzebub-sama came from.”
“There are test centres in various places throughout the Underworld, but the one with the most authority is the one held in the territory of Astaroth. After all there are also noble schools for the noble Devils located there. Buchou also had trouble choosing between the school in the territory of Astaroth and the one in the area of Maou. But she ended up going to the school in the area of Maou.”
Kiba answered like that. Oh, is that so? Then why are we at the Glasya-Labolas territory today? “Because of the earlier incident, the house of Astaroth lost authority…….”
Kiba said it quietly so the staff walking ahead of us couldn’t hear. I see…… That incident involving Diodora Astaroth caused this then….. I heard that the house of Astaroth went into a dangerous situation because of him. It seems like they avoided the worst case scenario because of the influence of Ajuka-sama who is the chief advisor for the Technical Equation Programme. But it’s certain that they are being looked at with strict eyes from the civilians living in the other territories as well as the other nobles. They also lost their right to send out a candidate to be the next Maou as well. The place where we arrived at after being led by the staff is a place that seemed like a reception area. There were a couple of windows, and test participants were talking to the receptionists. ……There are less Devils here than I thought. A reception area, which is quite spacious, looks dead because there aren’t many people in it. Then the staff explains to us. “At the reception area over there, please take the compulsory documents along with the admission ticket for the test. After you are done with that, please go to the floor upstairs where the written test will be held. The first part of the test will be the written section and the second part will be practical.”
So written test first huh. I studied a lot for it, but I want to get a lot of points on the practical test. “Please hand your report to the examiners who are standing in front of the room for the written section of the test.”
So I have to hand my report to the person in front of the test room. I wrote my report on the theme Grayfia-san told me…. I’m still not used to writing with devil letters so I desperately wrote it while holding the dictionary in my other hand. “Then I will pardon myself. I hope you do well.”
The staff left after saying that. “I will go and bring the documents you must fill out.”
After saying that, Ravel goes away quickly. Wow, that girl really is thoughtful. “…..Looks like there aren’t that many people taking the test.”
“Yeah. In the current Underworld, there aren’t that many devils who can take the promotion test. The promotion test centre for High-class devils might even have less devils taking it.”
Kiba answers like that. Yeah. Since there aren’t any Wars in the Underworld right now, you can only get a promotion by attaining something magnificent from the pact for Devil’s jobs or by excellent performance in the Rating Game. Though the first option is very hard to get promotion with, so it became the mainstream way to get a promotion test through the Rating Game. Even so, it looks like we are special cases. “Ise-kun. There’s one thing I want to tell you before the test.”
Kiba stood next to me and wore a serious expression. “……What is it?”
“I’m glad that I met you.”
……
…….Here, I was wondering what he was about to say…..
“…….You really became a natural at saying creepy things.”
When I said that with a disgusted face, Kiba laughed. “Hahaha. But if you weren’t here, I would probably never have got a promotion test.”
“Are you sure? You are strong enough. You would have got a promotion sooner or later.”
“No. I’m here because I witnessed how you live your life and your battles. You showed me things that I didn’t have. I wouldn’t have been here if I didn’t know about it.”
Is it something like that? I was also influenced by him a lot as well. There were a majority of things where I worked harder because he was someone near whom I aimed for. I sighed while scratching my cheek. “I’m not quite sure. What good-looking guys think is something that I can’t possibly understand. But…..Let’s pass the test together. Since we are boys of the Gremory team. Right? Dachikou.”
“Of course. If we've come this far, then let's aim to become Ultimate-devils. I've also got a dream now. To become the “Ultimate Knight”. I want to become an existence that can stand side by side with you.”
Kiba seeks for a handshake. I answered him with a laugh. “That sounds good. That’s simple to understand. I won’t know for how many thousands of years I will be with you, but let’s become men who will be famous throughout the Underworld.”
Akeno-san also puts her hand on our handshake. “Ufufu. Such a passionate friendship. Let's pass the test together.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
Both Kiba and I replied at the same time! Yeah! Lets become mid-class devils together. “Everyone! I have brought the documents! Let's fill them out over there!”
With Ravel’s instruction we filled out the documents……
So the test is about to begin! “Please do your best! I will be waiting here.”
We split up from Ravel at the staircase leading to the second floor, and us three headed up to the third floor. We saw a sign written in devil-letters written as “Mid-class promotion test – Written test room”.