Finally, after what felt like the longest two minutes in the history of the Demon King's Theater, Lanqi and the Great Love Poet concluded their performance.

On the stage, everything returned to calm.

The Great Love Poet turned back to Lanqi with a mischievous smile, then contentedly returned to him.

Below the stage, however, the infernal musical nuclear fusion had been completed and seemed as if it would never stop.

Lanqi stood up from the piano and walked to the center of the stage. His silhouette under the spotlight was lonely yet transcendent, the air still seeming to retain traces of that shocking performance.

In the lingering echoes of music and song, Lanqi slowly raised his hand, then lowered his head, giving a deep bow to the audience.

It was an artist's bow, full of sincerity and gratitude.

"Thank you, fellow students and judges, for your approval."

In response, another wave of sound erupted.

...

"Stop it, Lanqi... You can still keep your human status if you turn back now..."

Huberrian covered her face with both hands, leaning back against the hard chair back, like a ship finally docking after being battered by a storm.

Her voice was extremely weary, her soul as if it had endured endless torment. The lengthy performance still left her shaken.

If she hadn't had experience and preparation in dealing with the Great Love Poet, and hadn't preemptively guarded her mind, she might have fallen into this endless cycle with no escape!

At the side of the stage.

The Music Department Head, who had been presiding over the event with his silver hair neatly combed, now looked disheveled, as if he had just walked out of a hurricane. His face was pale, having witnessed a disaster.

Below the stage, the four music mentors and demon students were either convulsing in their chairs or screaming hoarsely in piercing wails. Their faces were contorted; they had completely lost their minds, trapped in hell with no way out.

Now in this Demon King's Theater, apart from Lanqi, only the Music Department Head, with his highest rank and the academy's strongest resistance to musical magic, could remain standing.

"Teacher, are you alright?"

Seeing the state of the Music Department Head, Lanqi quickly stepped forward to offer support.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me."

The Music Department Head pushed away Lanqi's hand. Although his voice was slightly trembling, his attitude was resolute.

As the head of the Music Department, if he couldn't withstand a student's performance, he would lose face in front of the great demon nobles of the demon realm!

Lanqi seemed to perceive the Music Department Head's pride and nodded.

"So, have I gained the approval of the music mentors?"

Lanqi's gaze turned to the four music mentors below the stage, who were now in a state of delirium, then back to the Music Department Head, sincerely asking for his opinion.

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"..."

The Music Department Head gritted his teeth, his eyes darting between Lanqi's face and the four mentors below. He was speechless for a long time, his expression gradually becoming quite complex.

"According to the oath the four mentors swore to the Demon King before the public performance, you must have gained all of their approval."

The Music Department Head finally admitted, placing four credit coins in Lanqi's hand.

His voice sounded somewhat hoarse, his words carrying a tone of reluctant acknowledgment.

Regardless.

That performance, worthy of being recorded in demon realm music history, despite having some elements of a performance accident, had an unparalleled effect that would surely be well-received by the demon nobles.

It just came at the cost of students and teachers.

"Give me your student ID."

The head continued.

Since he was here presiding over a large-scale performance for the demon nobles and had made a promise, he wouldn't go back on his word.

Hearing this, Lanqi rummaged in his pocket for a moment and quickly found a black metal card, which he handed to the Music Department Head.

Subsequently.

The Music Department Head temporarily left the main theater stage, disappearing through a door at the side of the stage to an unknown destination.

After more than ten minutes.

When the Music Department Head reappeared at the theater door, in addition to Lanqi's original student ID, he was holding an exquisite small nameplate and a silver-white card.

"The nameplate signifies your status as a faculty member of the Music Department, while this teacher's card works similarly to a student ID, but it's mainly used for receiving salary. From now on, you're a teacher in our Music Department."

The head distributed these rewards to Lanqi as promised. After making Lanqi an employee of their Music Department, his tone became somewhat softer than before.

Perhaps Lanqi, this genius at creating dramatic effects, was very suitable for their Music Department.

It was even hard to say how much potential he had to become a great demon.

Lanqi accepted the teacher's card and the black metal nameplate - its outer edge was a ring of hollow musical notes, with a line of golden text embedded in the center, reading "Lanqi, Music Department Teacher."

"So, do I have any teaching assignments?"

Lanqi asked while admiring the faculty credentials in his hand.

The Music Department Head didn't speak. He looked at Lanqi, then towards the hellish scene in the theater's audience seats.

The implication was for Lanqi to figure it out himself.

"You can start teaching in the Music Department from next semester. There aren't many students left for you to torment this semester."

The Music Department Head said coldly.

"Uh..."

Lanqi couldn't help but feel regretful. He had to return to the real world by dawn tomorrow.

Like a beautiful dream, just before reaching the most enjoyable part, one has to wake up and face reality.

If he could stay at this school, he didn't want to return to Icerite Academy.

"Can I drop out now and become a full-time teacher?"

Lanqi thought for a moment and asked.

He remembered from the school rules Bachel had mentioned that students who couldn't pay 5 credit coins every morning would be directly expelled, and the consequence of being advised to withdraw was also execution.

But in some special cases, the school would allow normal withdrawal.

For instance, being recruited by an important institution or a powerful figure in the demon realm was one such case.

"You can apply to the principal, but you don't need to go find him today. He happens to be away from school these few days. Also, if you want to get a diploma from this academy and pursue better opportunities in the demon realm in the future, I suggest you continue your studies. As long as you can manage your time well, you can teach in the Music Department while studying."

"I see."

Lanqi roughly understood. His current situation was similar to that of a doctoral student, able to pursue further studies while teaching at different times.

However, he quickly noticed a key point in the Music Department Head's words -

The principal wasn't at school?

This important information, learned inadvertently.

Lanqi felt it might be related to [Mission Objective 2: Investigate the source of tonight's danger].

After all, if the principal, who held the highest authority in the academy, was absent, there might be some loopholes in this school!