Alastor could not be more bored, and disappointed, and frustrated, and let down. Almost every negative emotion is linked to disappointment. He thought the test was going to be over advanced tactical methods, or even this new-fangled quantum physics. Is it the best hero school in the world? No, it was basic college material with high school material sprinkled into the mix. They had been given FOUR hours to complete this test. It had taken Alastor one hour to complete the fifty-page paper. And then he had to just sit there!
No phone, no paper, no pencil, nothing. Was he expected to just sit here for another three hours? It was absurd.
Alastor sat there for a gurgling two hours listening to other students break down, crying, snapping pencils, cursing, and getting caught cheating. All in all, Alastor felt like a cannibal who hadn't had human flesh in years. That actually reminded him to get some venison for dinner tonight. Deer stew was on the horizon, and it was the only thing keeping Alastor sane. There was a quiet rumble somewhere in the distance, and Alastor looked around bored. The Hero Practical exams were happening right about now.
'I wonder what that person would be like? Aragont like Bakugo? Scheming like me? Or a bubbly mess like Charlie?'
There were too many possibilities; it actually made him excited despite the immense boredom. He was so bored, in fact that nobody noticed the vague egg-shaped shadow that waddled its way out of the hall and disappeared.
The rest of the hour passed quickly as Alastor focused on what his Egg Henchman might discover in the mysterious UA. The online forms said all the normal prattle that made it a prestigious school. But there were rumors, and all rumors come from something. And no matter how small something is always something. And something could be used.
And with finally being done with the exam, he stood up, then stretched, then promptly twisted his neck 180 degrees and grinned at the horrified student. Who promptly fell backward, and Alastor poked them in the side with his foot, a vaguely worried expression on his face. Give the demon a break; he is still working on caring for others.
"Are… Are you ok?"
Alastor asked, confused, in a world of quirks, this kid hadn't seen a twisting head? Leaving the hall, Alastor passed heroes posted at halls where students were not allowed to enter. LunchRush was a notable one. He would probably make an exquisite venison stake. People passing outside were as diverse as they were many. Unless there was a twin or a clone, there were no two people who were the same. Tom was a good example; there would never be another like him, and he was a once-in-a-lifetime find.
Kicking a broken stone out of the walkway way Alastor made his way off into an alley near the gates of UA and leaned up against the wall waiting. It only took a moment, but a shadowy egg with a small top hat and bowtie emerged and saluted.
"Mission accomplished, sir! Interesting places interviewed and Powerful people explored!"
As earnest as the eggs were, they were sometimes unreliable when retelling information given to them, but information they found on their own was their real strength.
"Good, what did you find?"
Alastor asked, inspecting the glittering windows of UA.
"There is a new support student that the head support class teacher believes is too chaotic for the class, but a rat said she was a once-in-a-lifetime genius!"
"Interesting, Nezu himself believes she has potential… What did she look like?"
"Unknown, sir! I never made contact with the "Pink Chaos Gremlin," but I have made the assumption that she has pink hair."
"Very well, what else?"
"A dead tired looking Hobo was aggravated about a certain student who filed the hero exam because the student did not have a physical quirk. He expressed his displeasure but was ignored due to the opportunity of transfer in the Sports festival."
"Eraserhead? He's interested in a student as well. I didn't know the man could get invested in something other than sleep."
"Yes, sir, the lady with giant bazongas also expressed the same opinion."
Alastor paused and stared at the egg for a moment, and the egg misunderstood.
"They were quite big, sir! She was the R18 hero! Her suit made her Bazon-"
"Stop saying bazongas."
Alastor cut in, and the egg quieted. As he sighed.
"What of the student's quirk?"
"The student is named Hitoshi Shinso and has a brainwashing quirk! If an opponent answers a question of his, he is able to control them mentally, but physical damage of any sort scales breaks the brainwashed opponent out."
Memories of Vox and Val, both with various degrees of mind control, flashed behind Alasotrs' eyes. A power he had once craved, but so diverse and useful was here at UA. And the boy had failed the hero exam? Another valuable asset will be in play soon. And all Alastor had to do was wait.
"There was also apparently a student who destroyed something called the zero pointer, then nearly puked out a lung!"
"What is a zero pointer?"
"No idea, sir! It seemed to be some kind of robot!"
"Why would it be a robot?"
"Robots and pidgiuons are the spies of the shadow government, sir!"
Alastor just dismissed the shadow egg and stepped out of the shadows and into the light. Turning once more to UA, Alastor summoned his steel radio staff and twirled it.
"Two more weeks made. And then I'll conq-"
Alastor stopped and paused. He was going to be a hero. Why had he taken the general exam? His whole purpose was to live how Emily and the boy wanted. So why had he thrown the chance away?
Because he was still a demon. Cursing, Alastor clawed at his head in annoyance. He had fallen back into laying out his chess pieces so he could win a decisive victory. What victory could he win at a school? More pawns? Owning the school. It was the pathetic, sadistic side of him that craved for his memory to live on longer than he would.
Sighing in frustration, he turned back to UA and raised his cane toward it.
"Two more weeks. Then I'll grace your halls to become something better than I once was. I am nothing but stubborn. So I'll try."
'Acceptable, now I just have to actually hold to my own word. Change is not easy. But it's a fun challenge.'
——
Is a demon a demon because they are born or because they are made?
Is a hero made? Is a Villain made?
Can a demon be reforged like steel to protect rather than conquer?