Narrator's POV

FWOOOSH the air blew. The little creature was neither fast or slow, but the wind made it seem like it has been zooming past the mountains.

"Wow...!!! Aya! My tie!" (M/N) tried reaching to his ribbon, but to no avail. As a result to his lost ribbon, his hair flew messily in the wind.

"Uwahh~ So fast!!" Iruma felt the like he was flying

"*sigh* I liked that ribbon..." (M/N) made a sad sigh before removing the strand of hair in front of his face to enjoy the fresh air more. His hair flowed with the wind, he liked it, but he felt uneasy...

(M/N) raised a hand and out came Azrail from his shadow

"Mast-WHOAAAA" Azrail was surprised by their surroundings

"Er...sorry Azrail..." He apologised

"Master..." Azrail called

"Yes?..."

"Why are we on the Master of the Valley's child?" Azrail asked

"...what?..." The twins sat there, frozen, confused, shocked?

"Have you two read the book about demon beasts?" Azrail raised a paw

"Not yet...." The twins said

"That makes sense..." Azrail sat on (M/N)'s lap

"So...this is the child of the "Master of the Valley"?" (M/N) started to do small head-pats

"Yeeees *yawn*. The Master is very protective over its child, as any parent would be." Azrail took a loooong stretch

"But why is it out of the nest?" (M/N) asked

"Hmm, perhaps it sensed danger within the valley before you came..."

"...I...I think I know who it is..."(M/N) sweat dropped, Iruma did the same

"Master,...I believe we're going the wrong way..."Azrail had a dead expression as he looked down by the mountain's edges

"Huh?" The twins looked at the direction the tiny kitten was looking

"Danger!" was written on a wooden sign

"eh?..." Their eyes widened

"Don't enter!!" another sign appeared

"..." (M/N) closed his eyes, taking in the air before calming himself , "This won't be a walk in the park..."

"T-this way isn't safe! Le-let's turn back!!" Iruma panicked

The young bird did not turn back...

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"I made a mistake! If this continues...I'll be dead..." Sanock grunts in pain

The Master of the Shrieking Valley has cornered him by the edge of a cliff, leading to a pit filled with lava.

"The Master of the Shrieking Valley...As the suggests, it's as strong as if it was wearing gold..." He stood up and creates an axe by biting into one of the charms of his necklace.

"I cannot be defeated in a place like this! I...I have to become the demon king!" He attacks once more, hoping that the demon beast would be defeated

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Flashback

Sabro's POV

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"A scroll that predicts the demon king" I asked father.

"All...species far and wide...his subordinates" I read a portion of the scroll

Father leans down and places a hand on my head

"You were born to become the next demon king. Fulfill the wishes of this family." He told me

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It was cold and dark outside. I couldn't see my older brother, but all I could see was his cape flowing along with the blizzard.

"Farewell, Sabro. Someday, let us fight for the throne of the demon king." He said before walking away.

"Brother!" I called out to him...but he did not stop going farther away

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My little sister laid in her bed as I held her hand. She had fallen ill and needed medical attention.

"Brother...Please become the demon king...okay?" She asked me before falling asleep once more

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Present

Narrator's POV

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"Those are not the reasons to become the demon king!!" Sabnock strikes once

"My brother is gentle! My sister is healthy! The reason why,I'm aiming to become demon king is...Because he is the coolest of them all!" He admitted

"Being born a demon, reaching that peak is the coolest! " He throws the now broken axe to the ground, bites into a different charm on his necklace, and creates a large claymore. He attacks once more, but it did little to no damage towards the Master of the Valley.

The Master of the Valley catches the claymore with it's claw and Sabnock tries to get it out.

"You little-...."The Master of the Valley flicks the claymore into the air along with Sabnock. Once he stopped by the edge of the cliff, he gasps for air.

"I won't...be like that guy... I won't become like that uncool demon who won't aim to be the best!" He refers to his father.

"I have no regrets..." He gets up

"I came here to follow my ambitions...I will stick to my will till the end!" He declared.

Before the Master of the Valley could strike, the twins used their arms, blocking Sabnock. The Master of the Valley still moved, it's claw mid-air near them.

"Iruma! (M/N)! What are thou?!-"Before Sabnock could finish, the claw stopped inches before impact

It's child had spoken to it before it's claw could harm the three students.

"Why are thou here?!" He asks the twins

"We saw you in a pinch, so we thought that we could help" (M/N) answered as Iruma nodded

"Could it be...the child of the Master of the Valley?..." Sabnock looks at the two beasts

"Master...?! This is the Master of the Valley?!" Iruma stood shocked at it's appearance

"So this is what it looks like" (M/N) stares in awe

"If you had read the book, you would know~". Azrail mocked, (He was laying on his master's shoulder, covered by his hair) which caused (M/N) to slightly pout

"A chance! I can use this opportunity to attack!" Sabro thought as he spotted the claymore he made earlier

"Master-san! Your child's leg is all healed up!" Iruma spoke up

"You were irritated because of your child's injury, right?" (M/N) asked

"We won't do anything! Right?" Iruma said as the twins face Sabnock

"What are you saying? Now's our chance..." He tried to argue

"Right?" Iruma asked once more

"Put it down..." (M/N) whispered

"But..." He tried to argue once more

Iruma said nothing, while (M/N) only shook his head softly. Sabnock did not argue and dropped his weapon immediately. The three boys stood still with their hands in the air, the Master of the Valley saw no hostility in them and thanked the boys.

The boys were shocked to see that such a large demon beast is bowing in thanks to them

"The Master is...bowing..." Sabnock said, eyes wide in shock

"Oh, how polite!" Iruma smiled, and both twins bowed in response

"No, no, us too!" (M/N) said to the Master

"So these are the scholarship students...Iruma and (M/N)...What demons..." The blonde haired demon looked at the twins

"Please be careful when flying!" Iruma said

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"That's enough. It should be about time that someone reaches the goal." Kalego crossed his arms, with one arm holding his cup of tea firmly

"Iruma-sama! (M/N)-sama!" Asmodeus, with Clara on his back, appeared in the distance

As they landed, they looked around the tiny island, looking for the twins

"Where are they...?" Asmodeus whispered to no one

"So, you're first." Kalego said

"Yes! Goal~ Goal~" Clara sang

"Eh...This is the second...?" Kalego said with a deadpan

"Go back to the start and fly by yourself!" Asmodeus scolded Clara

"Eh?~ They aren't here yet?~" Clara realised

"Yes... Even though I thought that they had already been here since earlier..." Asmodeus felt worried

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Timeskip

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The sun was starting to set, the sky was turning a light purple, the students were all there...except for Sabnock and the twins...

"Those three are taking so long..." Elizabetta worriedly sighed

"Iruma-chi! (M/N)-chi! Are you lost?" Clara played with the flag

"...Enough of waiting." Kalego removes the names of the twins

"Hey!~ Iruma-chi!~ (M/N)-chi!~" Clara called out once more to no one

"Silence. The lesson is finished! I'll start announcing the ranks" Kalego announces to his class

"Wait! Iruma-sama and (M/N)-sama are still not here yet!" Asmodus tried to argue

"Those who have not returned may only be forsaken." Kalego sternly declared

A sudden gust of wind approached the class, a large demon beast appeared in the distance.

"That is...the Master of the Shrieking Valley!" Kalego looked at the beast with wide eyes

"Eh? That is?" Asmodeus looked at the beast

"Why is it here...To think it would come out of the Shrieking Valley...! Lie down, you bastard!" Kalego ordered the demon beast as he readied his magic

"Hey!~ Everyone!~" Iruma waved

"Nii-san you might fall!!" (M/N) held Iruma, making sure neither of them will fall

The students were shocked when they saw the "lost" trio on the back of the Master of the Shrieking Valley.

"Ah! Iruma-chi! (M/N)-chi! Flashy-kun!" Clara waved back

"I-iruma-sama?! (M/N)-sama?!" Asmodeus looked up in awe

Everyone looked at the large beings as they approached in amazement, they could not believe that they were seeing a being as strong as this.

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" "I'm reflecting", "I won't break my promises anymore", and another "I'm reflecting" "Azrail softly giggled, though no one could hear him except (M/N)

"Azrail, please...." (M/N) begged, his cheeks were slightly puffed where it seemed like he was pouting...or trying not to laugh(?), no one could tell

" And now, I'll start announcing the ranks." Kalego takes out a clipboard with each of the student's names on it

"Hoot!" An owl appears out from the sky, and lands on his arm

"This is the Rank Owl." Kalego introduces. "It has been observing the actions of you bastards."

"Today has been full of birds~" Lied sighed

"Bird day?~" Elizabetta smiled

"Oh yeah! That's a bird too, right?" Jazz smirked, clearly referring to the fluffy fami-!!! Kalego-sensei...

"Continuing!" Kalego cut their conversation short

"If you put your hand into the pocket on it's chest, you'll be given a "rank badge" similar to this one" He takes out a small golden badge, possibly the size of an average coin

"The last group of trash over there will be the last!" He glares at the "late trio"

The twins sweatdrop as Sabnock grits his teeth

"Yay~ yay~" Clara (gently and playfully) throws small pebbles towards the three boys

"This is an example. Feel free to be laughed at and be rained with tiny pebbles." Kalego smirks. Soft giggles were heard from the class

"How wicked!" Sabnock thought

"Alright! Line up facing the owl!" Kalego ordered the rest of the students present

"What humiliation...!" Sabnock shivered

"There there...Thanks to Master for bringing us back, we're not expelled." (M/N) calmed the student beside him

"That's right" Iruma agreed

"Well...everyone's faces were a funny sight to see." Sabro sat up straight, proudly, as the twins nodded

"...Iruma, (M/N),...This incident today...I wouldn't have been able to handle on my own." He faces the twins

"Once again, I thank you for your help. I've lost." Sabro bows his head towards the twins in a grateful manner

"I apologise for my rudeness before." He raises his head and faces specifically Iruma

"Thou are an amazing man...And,from today, my rival!" Sabro gives Iruma a reassuring smile

"R-rival?!" Iruma was caught off guard as (M/N) frowned

"Shall we fight for the throne of the "Demon King"?" Sabro raises his hand

"Hey! The trash over there!" Kalego cuts their conversation "Hurry up and line up at the back!"

"Yes!" The three students get up and lines up with the rest

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At the front of the line, Asmodeus reaches out and takes a small golden badge from the Ranking Owl's pocket

"Wow! A Daleth!" "As expected of the top student!" "Even though freshmen are normally Alef or Bet!"

"Well, it is appropriate...However, the rest are not bad as well, surprisingly" Kalego mumbled as he wrote on his clipboard

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"Eh? Sabnock is bet?" Gaap looked at the badge in confusion

"I thought he would be higher..?" Elizabetta tilted her head

"Even though he fought with the teachers like that" Jazz snickered

"But, since he was last in the race..." Lied sighed

"Bet, huh? Well, so be it. I've pretty much died once, but this isn't enough to discourage me." Sabro calmed himself

"Master." Azrail called to which (M/N) hummed in response

"I don't think it is wise to directly use your hands" The tiny familiar hushed

"Why is that?" (M/N) raised an eyebrow-though...no one could see it

"Master...you do realise that you are human, yes?" Azrail whispered, putting emphasis on 'human'

"That's-...Oh no what do we do..." (M/N) slightly twitched

"I have a slight idea..." Azrail said as he slid his tail under (M/N)'s jacket and wrapped it around his hand taking form of a glove for both of (M/N)'s hands to avoid suspicions

"...Isn't this uncomfortable for you?" (M/N) felt concerned for the tiny familiar's comfortability. Because Azrail was almost the same size as (M/N)'s hand, he could hide in his hair since (M/N)'s ribbon is gone...

"Next one! Hurry up and draw!" Kalego called

"Er- Yes!" (M/N) walked towards the owl, hands in front so they won't be seen

(M/N) used his right hand to reach out and place in the pocket of the owl. The owl tilted it's head in confusion and did a small "hoot?".

"Tch!-" (M/N) felt a pinch on his wrist and carefully took his hand out of the pocket, just so that he won't hurt the owl. Just as he removed his hand, Azrail quickly retracted his tail and hid in (M/N)'s hair once more

"Hm?" "What happened?" "(M/N)-chi?" "What's that?" His classmates looked at (M/N)'s wrist

"What?"

(M/N)'s POV

"That hurt..." I hissed rubbing the pain when I felt something hugging my wrist "Huh?" It was a black bracelet with a rank badge, Aleph. It was tight on my wrist, but bearable. The gold clamp lock looks like the ones for watches.

"Azrail...what is this..." I slowly returned to where I last stood still rubbing the pain away

"Well Master, If I hadn't done that, you would've been caught as being a human here in the demon world." Azrail huffed, and returned to my shadow discreetly

"That's...right" I stopped beside Nii-san

"A bracelet?...But a badge is...embedded...?" Sensei walked towards me and examined it. "I sense no danger from it." He declared

"(M/N)-chi gets a bracelet???" Clara took my wrist and examined the bracelet

"Hmm, to get a different form of badge...as expected from (M/N)-sama!" Azz-kun clapped his hands

"...But the rank is too low! It is unacceptable!!" Azz-kun complained

"N-no, it is alright, Azz-kun..." I tried to calm him down

"A bracelet?" "Ooh that's different" "He is one of the principal's grandsons after all" I heard the others say

"Sensei, how come mine is er-...different?" I asked as I faced him

"......That I do not know, maybe for practicality. After all, there IS a badge to determine your rank... Can you see if it is possible to take out the badge?" He pointed

"Uhm- Let's see" I fidget with the badge on the bracelet and- *Click* *plop*

"Oh would you look at that..." I pick up the badge off the floor that surprisingly dropped out of it's place on the bracelet. The place where the badge stayed had a shell to hold the badge properly without letting it fall out unless taken out. But...

"Hmm? What's that?" I stared at the marking in the shell..."A marking of a diamond?..." Before anyone could see it, I quickly placed the badge back in the shell.

I walked towards Nii-san, but before I could speak to him

"Last person, hurry up and draw!" Sensei took a quick glance of his clipboard before calling

"Y-yes" He answered, walking towards the owl.

"..." Nii-san stood in front of the owl. Reaching his right hand towards the owl, who blinks

"Maybe he'll pull out something weird as well!" Andro-kun chuckled

"Like a sensei familiar?" Shax-kun added

"Silence. The rank owl is strict and just. It won't just simply faze. In fact, it has never cried even once in these few hundred year-" Before Sensei could finish speaking,

"HYAAAAAAAAAAAA" The ranking owl cried

"It cried!" Sensei yelled in confusion

"This isn't good..." I looked at the crying owl

"E-eh? W-wait!" Nii-san stood there confused

The owl continued to cry as it flew away going somewhere far away

"H-hey... I haven't drawn a...badge?" Nii-san looked at us, confused why everyone looked towards his raised hand, until he himself looked at it.

A shiny golden ring sat upon his middle finger

"Iruma-sama?" Azz-kun looked at Nii-san in awe

"Th-that is?!-" Sabnock-kun then got lost in his thoughts

"I-it can't be!" He mumbled, as I looked at him confused

"The golden sign of the Demon King, the Ring of Solomon?!" He blurted out his thoughts

" "Ring of Solomon"?...What is that..." Of course, it is natural that I wouldn't know...

"Eh?" Nii-san lowered his arm and tried to remove the ring.

Keyword : "tried"

"I-i can't remove it!" He tried shaking it off

"Erm, this is-" Nii-san tried walking towards us but the others backed away while I stayed still

"Ah, umm..." Nii-san started to get scared