Renny returned to his post, ushering demons into the venue as they arrived in a steady stream. Eventually, the ceremony began, all attendees present.
Like his own initiation, this one started with the new association president, Thyrosan Korav. Unlike the former president, Yurokane, who carried swagger and charisma, Thyrosan was gentler, precise, and focused. Not even a smile tugged at his lips; he made no effort to lighten the mood. He welcomed the new Grade 1 demons in his usual high vocabulary, a speech so formal it likely lost some listeners, though he seemed not to care.
He covered the basics of being a demon, but what caught attention was his mention of the new demon classes. According to him, in recent years, there had been a surge of repeating demons, and the association sought to reduce it. Hell benefits little if demons fail to progress to higher grades; the more demons who are resurrected, the more souls are claimed by Hell.
To aid them, compulsory classes would now be offered for every grade from 1 to 4. Each grade had its own course, held on the 5th of every month, for a total of six classes per year—from January to July. The first half of the year would provide essential knowledge, which could then be applied in full for the remainder of the year to ensure contract success.
Renny's stomach sank. Did this mean he'd have to attend the Grade 1 classes now that he was repeating? The thought was mortifying. He sighed. Well, he didn't plan to stay in Grade 1 for long anyway. Once he dealt with Druvash, he'd finish his contract and sign another for Grade 2. Fingers crossed.
After the final briefings, the ceremony drew to a close. Most demons began leaving the venue, but those assigned special duties, including Renny, were made to wait. The hall needed to be cleaned, and there was no escaping it.
Seraphine wasted no time, putting Renny to work immediately. She had him running left and right: picking up chairs, bottles, litter, taking down curtains, removing decorations. Renny couldn't help but feel like he was truly in hell. If this was the first method the royals had devised to punish him for what he had done to Leila, he could only imagine what they had planned next.
By the time he was done, it was almost midnight. One by one, the other demons finished their tasks and prepared to leave, but none could go without Seraphine's inspection and final approval.
He made his way to the back room. The space had been partitioned, dividing it into smaller sections, with a separate door leading directly to the podium. Stepping in through one of the partitions, he saw Seraphine arranging a few things.
"I'm done with my duties," he said.
"Is that so?" she replied.
"Yes," he answered, a hint of frustration in his tone. "Aren't you going to check?"
Seraphine shook her head. "Not yet. I need to tell you something important first."
"Important?" Renny asked warily.
"Uh-huh," she said, slowly rising to her feet. She cracked her neck sideways, stretched, then turned to Renny with a low, unblinking gaze that felt dead inside. Something clicked in his mind. He immediately tried to back away... but she was there in an instant. She grabbed him from behind and slammed him back into the room.
Renny scrambled up, trying to escape, but she blocked him, shocking him back. "Why are you trying to run?" she asked, her tone deceptively calm. "I just want to talk."
Renny knew better. Whatever she had to say wasn't going to be a casual chat. He feared this was the royal act in motion.... the very reason they had made him usher tonight. He needed to get out, now. His eyes scanned the room for an exit.
He attempted to break one of the partitions, but she grabbed him again, pulling him back. He slapped at her hand, trying to free himself, but she held tightly, shoving him back. Renny recovered quickly and shoved against her in return. She slapped him across the face, sending him stumbling, blood spilling from his mouth.
She stomped forward, but Renny rolled aside, evading the strike. He sprang to his feet and swung at her from the right, but she blocked his arm, twisting his elbow in a 360-degree turn before slamming him through the partition he had tried to escape from.
Renny pushed himself up and tried to run again, but she intercepted him. "You cannot leave without hearing what I have to say," she warned.
"Not a chance," Renny growled.
He activated his demon eyes and drew his fracture dagger.
"Would you look at that," she said, a faint smirk forming. "The Ezraphor has leveled up."
"You have no idea," Renny muttered to himself. He already saw a fracture potential on her, an opening he intended to exploit.