Curious about the world, after leaving the city of Lust, where I had my first romance and breakup, I set out to visit the other major cities of Pandemonium. Because after experiencing what the city of Asmodeus was like, I was curious about what the cities of the other true demons who ruled the major cities of Pandemonium would be like.

I looked at the map and decided that my next destination would be the city of Lord Belphegor, also known as Belphegor of Gluttony...

••••

As classes at the academy continued, weeks passed, and weeks turned into months.

Mart devoted his afternoons and part of his evenings to finishing the book, while in the mornings he continued training with Meleic and Moraf, who were making steady progress.

Meleic, for his part, was not yet taking the regenerative pill, having decided to take it after graduating, once he was back in the Duchy of Asfent.

Mart praised Meleic's wise decision, which was actually made by Meleic on the advice of Zara Veniac, who had become his girlfriend and fiancée.

Moraf, on the other hand, continued to disagree with his family, as they still would not allow him to become engaged to Mereida Sebidarial.

Mart had been keeping an eye on the demon Mereida and had Selenia get him a report on the Sebidarial family, as he wanted to make sure Moraf was not in danger, partly because he cared for him and partly because he wanted Moraf to be the one to defeat Arian.

...

On the other hand, the war on the borders had come to an end after the demons lost a significant portion of land.

The turning point that guaranteed the end of the war was when the five commanders of the Baratrense army faced off against the sub-commanders of the imperial paladins, after which two Baratrense commanders and two paladin sub-commanders died in close and impressive combat.

When the humans witnessed the display of power by the Republican Council, they decided to end the war and reap the resources they had obtained.

The decision to end the war was partly due to Emperor Richard and his minister of state, Gerad Retriev. Between them, they considered that the appearance of the forces of the demonic Republican Council was the best moment to end the war. It was a tactical decision. With their spies and the Cudernic remnants reporting on the situation in the Demon Republic, it was easy to conclude that there was opposition between the noble demons and the Republican Council. By giving the Republican Council credit for the victory, the humans hoped that the conflict between the two allied but parallel demonic forces would become increasingly noticeable until it culminated in a crisis that would lead to the fall of the Demon Republic during a future war.

••••

Mart walked through the corridors of the Academy, accompanied by the beautiful Selenia. The two were heading to the garden of blood roses in the Danteriar Gardens.

"Although the war is over, many have lost relatives or even entire families," Mart thought as he saw that the gloomy atmosphere continued to prevail in the Academy.

"What did you choose? The exam or the essay?" Selenia asked Mart.

"The exam, since it's in a week, I'll have a month to stay in seclusion," Mart replied, not worrying that they would be overheard because that was partly his goal in case they were being watched.

When the two arrived in front of the Danteriar gardens, a minotaur in an elegant suit came out to greet them and led them to the garden where Mart and Selenia sometimes spent time.

...

On a tablecloth, Mart read a report on the war that Selenia had given him.

"Your family's marquisate lost half of its lands, and your father is in a coma due to his injuries, which is why your grandfather took back the title of marquis."

"Yes, but the Sevec marquisate wasn't the most affected; the Ertrael duchy was reduced to a tenth of what it was." Mart pointed this out without showing any distress at what he was reading, because he considered it a necessary evil.

"Will you go to the marquisate once you graduate?" Selenia asked.

Mart looked at her, shook his head, and then showed her a beautiful, almost transparent crystal heart. She couldn't hide her surprise.

"What's that? Where did you get it?" she asked curiously.

"A book I was reading in the restricted library gave me this opportunity. It's still inactive; it needs a high concentration of demonic energy to start beating again. That's why after I graduate, I'll go to the cursed canyon, but I'll wear the mask to hide my identity. Mart paused as he stored the crystal heart in his demonic ring. I want you to go to the Sevec marquisate. A week ago, I wrote a letter to Balac Sevec. He will send some soldiers and deputy commanders to protect you.

Selenia was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Will you also send the group of students you made me recruit to the marquisate?"

"Yes, I already told my grandfather to keep an eye on them. I don't think there's any risk, but it's better to be careful." Even so, I need them for my future plans," Mart said as he lay down on the tablecloth.

The two continued talking for a while about the exam, rehearsals, and some other plans after graduation.

••••

At the Academy, the date of the graduation exam had arrived. Only a few students chose the exam that tested all the knowledge acquired through four years of study at the Academy; most students chose the essays because they were given a longer period of time to develop the topics that were of each student's choice.

As Mart walked toward the classroom where the tests would be held, many students were surprised by Mart's indifference to his family's situation. Even his brother, who never failed to show off his talents, which were second only to Moraf's, now seemed mentally exhausted.

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