As the performance ended, the theater lights dimmed, and the stage lights slowly converged, leaving only a lingering glow swirling on the stage - mysterious, clamorous, and entrancing.
After brief contemplation, Lanqi decided to take this opportunity to inquire more from the Music Department Head. However, he couldn't directly ask about "any changes in the school" as he had done with Bachel. He didn't want to rashly arouse the Department Head's suspicion.
So he chose a more reasonable approach: "By the way, sir, when will the principal return?"
"It's hard to say. After a high-level meeting at the school a few days ago, the principal went to the Demon Realm Education Bureau. But don't worry, the school continues to function normally. Except for matters requiring the principal's signature and seal, the vice principal can handle everything," the Department Head shook his head as he answered.
"A high-level meeting? Is something happening at the school?" Lanqi mumbled, appearing merely curious rather than investigative.
"Whenever there's this kind of high-level meeting involving only the principal, vice principal, and several senior professors, there's definitely some trouble. But don't think about it - it's beyond our concern. And don't worry too much; this is a prestigious school with several Great Demon alumni. Even the Education Bureau wouldn't dare act recklessly as long as rules are followed."
Those called Great Demons in the demon realm were at least eighth-rank and above, each holding pivotal positions in the demon world. The Department Head wondered if this Radiant Demon before him might one day grow to become a Great Demon with a unique title.
"Oh, I see," Lanqi nodded quickly.
He sensed that the "tonight's danger" mentioned in Mission Objective 2 was likely connected to the content of this high-level meeting. However, to obtain more crucial clues, they would probably need to access Level 3 classrooms with higher-ranked teachers.
Moreover, the small team of just Lanqi and Huberrian wouldn't be enough; they would need to exchange information with the other four challengers to uncover the truth behind the high-difficulty Mission Objective 2 - this was the challenge of this fourth-rank Shadow World.
Of course, Lanqi seemed to have stumbled upon another possible approach - if he could infiltrate the school's upper management, he might be able to skip all the troublesome decryption steps directly. Unfortunately, he only had 10 hours left at this academy. Taking the promotion route for an unconventional solution seemed difficult.
After further conversation with the Music Department Head, Lanqi turned back to look at Huberrian in the audience. "Huberrian, it's your turn to perform!" Lanqi waved, inviting Huberrian to enter this musical sanctuary and begin her performance.
"Coming," Huberrian lowered her voice.
She slowly stood from her seat, straightened her shoulders, and strode decisively through the musical hell Lanqi had created. Although the music in the classroom remained terrifying, constantly assaulting her eardrums and tearing at her nerves, Huberrian felt she had somehow found a balance within this endless torment. She was even surprised to discover that she seemed to have developed some resistance to musical magic through Lanqi's "military training" in this classroom!
On stage, the Music Department Head began presiding over the performance assessment again. He no longer wanted to indulge Lanqi's antics and just wanted to send him away quickly. However, due to the drastic changes in the classroom situation and the increase to five music mentors, he needed to explain the new circumstances to Huberrian, who was still able to participate in the performance.
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The entire classroom had fallen into an automated cycle mode. The constantly fainting and awakening sleeping demons would approve of whatever the students performed, as they would inevitably fall asleep during the performance.
Lanqi, as a music mentor, had already informed the Music Department Head that his musical philosophy was one of great love and inclusivity, respecting all forms of art. In other words, as long as the student could make a sound on stage, Lanqi would approve.
So now, there were at least two music mentors' approvals guaranteed.
Thus, a new phase began.
Huberrian stepped onto the stage, enveloped in the hellish screams of the audience. Standing there, bearing the endless pressure from the audience, she sang through gritted teeth.
"Your singing is truly beautiful, absolutely heavenly!" After Lanqi's bout of insincere praise, Huberrian successfully passed the assessment.
"?!" Huberrian couldn't understand how Lanqi could say such things with a clear conscience.
With a deadpan expression, she returned to the audience seats and dragged Bachel onto the stage, letting him howl incoherently like an epileptic for two minutes.
"Perfect! Simply perfect!" Under the approval of Lanqi, the only conscious judge, Bachel also passed.
Bachel himself had no idea how he had qualified.
...
The long final minutes passed.
The Demon King's Theater, shrouded in hellish music, finally concluded its first lesson.
The ancient bell signaling the break between classes rang out, seeming to penetrate the walls of the entire Inferno Corridor Academy, echoing through empty hallways and every classroom.
This was the first thirty-minute break.
Uniquely, right after class, the spacious corridor was empty, without a single student in sight.
After a while, three students finally emerged from behind the large doors.
Only three students had survived the class in the [Demon King's Theater] on corridor g24.
One of them was even dragged out like a corpse.
...
Meanwhile, on corridor f13.
[Time remaining: 9 hours 59 minutes]
[Mission Objective 1: Academy exploration rate over 60%, current progress 10%]
[...]
A young man frowned at the 10% progress.
"Theoretically, entering a classroom with 1 mark on the door should increase it by 1%, and we got another 1% when we cleared it."
"So we contributed 2% to the exploration rate."
"Why is it already at 10%?"
He muttered, unable to comprehend.
Could it be that the other two teams each contributed 4%, and only they fell short?
Or... did a single team directly contribute 6%...?
"Brother, could it be that some formidable individuals have been matched with us?" The girl beside him finally raised her eyes, looking at him as if in prayer and confession.
"..."
The young man pursed his lips and shook his head,
"This kind of absurd, evil theme is among the most dangerous even in fourth-rank Shadow Worlds. Normal humans simply can't adapt to the ethics and rules of this ancient demon realm... Even among gold-rank challengers, there are hardly any who specialize in demon Shadow Worlds."
As silver-rank challengers from the Holy Research Society, it was even harder for them to accept being in league with demons - disguising themselves as demons and mimicking demonic behavior was a torture to their entire being.
As she listened, the girl took a deep breath, seeming to grow fearful,
"Could it be... that real demons have infiltrated among the challengers?"