It's been a week since I made this sword. It's kind of hard to get used to it but I think I'm doing good. After all, I'm used to using swords that are half as big and not nearly as heavy as this one. As so I had a need to start developing a new fighting style. I still only have an idea of what it'll be like but if it works, most of the weaknesses of using such a large blade would pretty much disappear.

At this moment I'm heading to the meeting point for the expedition. It's at the side of the school closest to the forest so it's still a bit far seeing as the school is gigantic and I'm on the opposite side of it for some reason. Meanwhile, I think I can just revise what I studied this last week.

So, classes are just the same as in the human country, with just a few major differences. The main difference is that, even though the demon society is stratified just like the human, they all attend the same school, just in different classes. Humans would never have their royalty and nobles in the same school as commoners but here they just aren't in the same class. Usually, this makes it so that the future rulers like the demon nobles and even the demon princes or princesses create strong bonds with some commoners, leading to them getting a position as perhaps a general under that noble.

I kind of like such a system. Humans would most of the time need to either be very lucky or manage to show off their abilities somehow to get invited to such positions.

The stratification is also very similar, if not the complete same. First is the king, the eldest son will succeed the previous king, once this one dies. Next, the nobles. These are the ones that in the past proved themselves as strong and loyal to the king and so, they were awarded the status. then It's the clergy. It's a little weird for me but demons do worship a god, the Demon God. The clergy is also stratified but I still don't know how. If my guess is right, it's the same as the human as well. Starts with the Pope, then the Cardinal, Archbishop, Bishop and finally the Priests. And at last, the commoners. Other than those, nobles and commoners are also in a hierarchy based on their power and riches. The top would be the king's personal guard, followed by the royal knight's leaders and warlords. Then would come the generals, then the royal knights, the merchants would be around here, even if that depends on how much money they have, and finally would come the normal warriors and footmen. Non-fighters would be the bottom of the hierarchy. Commoners can still have more power than a noble but that would mean that the noble is a non-fighter from a weak family and the commoner is at least a general. If the Demon King has a commoner personal guard, then that commoner would have more power than every noble that isn't a personal king's guard. That would all then depend on the family each one is born and their riches but this is the base of it.

(Author: The religion is based on the Catholic because it's the closest to me and the one I'm more familiar with.)

This makes me believe that they might have been altogether as one, a long, long time ago...

Oh, but there is one major difference that everyone knows. After all, it's what teachers and parents tell the next generation so they get motivated in training. The royal family in the demon country is always the strongest. As such, one can challenge the demon king for his position. If the challenger wins, then he is the new king. Power reigns the demons. No loyalty is needed if you are strong enough.

Other than that, I received the results of my exams and the results of the tournament.

On my exams, I was quite shocked for some reason but don't really know why. I got full marks on the written exam. I guess common sense is the same here as well? I kind of feels like the humans and demons are just too similar for some reason... I the practical exam, I scored 70/100, which is nice. But then... I landed on 97th place in the tournament. I got eliminated very soon so I guess they take into account the enemy that defeated you? Everyone can get a fairer score like this so it makes sense... Still, out of almost a five hundred, it's pretty damn good.

Like this, I got graded as a B Rank. Galgo and Mirim got both graded as A. When they discovered, they silently looked at each other, smiled and walked away without saying a word. If I wasn't stalking paying attention to them, I wouldn't even know their grade. Also, the handsome bastard won the tournament and is now S ranked. At least he had a tough fight with another (now also S ranked) person.

I finally arrive at the meeting point and notice that something is weird... I did arrive slightly late but... what would make everyone be so down like this? I can't even see Galgo or Mirim here so they might be going another day...

«Everyone who hasn't checked their groups should do it as soon as possible. The first group will be going out in a few minutes.»(?)

I looked for the teams and once I find them I discovered why everyone seems down. All the goups are random. So we'll have to fight along with unknown people. Luckily, it seems that the handsome bastard isn't here. I can relax a bit I guess... Or not. My team seems to be fully made out of nobles. I know it because just like humans, demon nobles have all at least three names in their name. I just hope they are at least a bit humble...

«Are you Jim?»(?)

An arrogant man in a golden armor directs his word to me, who was looking at team 13.

«Yes, that's me. Are you on my team?»(Me)

«No, YOU are on our team. And you are out of place. Get out.»(Arrogant Noble)

Well then, I guess this is going to be a hell of a time...

«You have to work with whoever it is that is on your team, that's the thing in this expedition. Let him stay.»(Kind noble)

A girl with gorgeous scarlet hair appears from out of nowhere and protects me. She might be a bit flat but she is gorgeous other than that. Especially her eyes that look like raging fire, opposing completely her kind appearance.

«Do you think that I will ever have to work with a pleb like this in the future? Because I think not!»(Arrogant Noble)

«You might so get used to it...»(Kind noble)

She says that and turns to me who was silent the whole time. The arrogant noble made clear his disdain for me by spiting next to me. What a noble character...

«Ignore him if you need to, he's been like that for as long as I can remember. Oh, I'm Stephanie by the way. Nice to meet you!»(Stephanie)

«Nice to meet you too.»(Me)

«Oh and that was...»(Stephanie)

«Don't care about his name...»(Me)

I stop her before she tells me the other noble's name. I don't intend on getting affectionate to anyone of these people.

After some teams depart, my group finally departs in direction of the forest. My team has three guys, Me the arrogant bastard and a silent guy that looks like an assassin and one girl, Stephanie. Our group is the smallest but as there were groups of four to ten persons each, I guess it was planned.

As we walk through the forest no one says a word so I'm trying to remember everything that we need. We need a species of red and blue mushrooms that grow in the darkest part of the forest, a dragon scale and to survive without the need for a rescue. They are simple yet hard for those that don't know what to do. While we walk, everything keeps getting darker so they are probably going for the mushrooms first. I'm still wondering if the dragon scale really needs to come from a dragon. Wouldn't it be too hard, if not impossible to actually defeat a dragon with just 4 people? I heard that the forest's guardian is a giant dragon but I don't think they would have us slay it. I guess his underlings will have to do.

As I plan such things, the arrogant bastard turns around.

«Plep! Go scout ahead and prove you are worth something!»(Arrogant Noble)

I look at the other members of the group and after noticing Stephanie nodding in approval, I nod and walk ahead.

After a few minutes of walking, I hear a loud noise coming from ahead. There seems to be a large battle happening a kilometer from here. I'll go back and tell the rest of the group.

Or I would... If they were still where they were before. But they are nowhere to be found. I still couldn't find them after searching for a while.

(Devouring monster)

After such words, I start walking in the direction of the large battle from before.

What I saw when I arrived at the battle site, what I saw shocked me. A small girl is lying down, unconscious in front of a giant dragon.

She has gorgeous long purple wavy hair, blood red eyes and a white smooth skin that could be seen under all her cuts and bruises. She is beautiful while still being incredibly cute. Every part of her shows incredible beauty and perfection in small proportions.

While I was mesmerized by such a person, the dragon raised his claws high and prepared to strike.

When I noticed those claws getting closer to her body, I instinctively ran and prepared to parry the attack.

(Devouring monster)

For saving someone, I'm always ready!

Strong energy goes through my body and sword. I parry every claw of his by putting my large sword horizontally above my head and then pushing the dragon away.

That's the moment I realized I was much stronger than I ever thought...