Baator Hell Promotion

The classroom was dead silent, and Hopper looked around and saw that the only one with her hand raised was Lati.

Professor Yuti had apparently noticed as well, for she glared at Lati sternly and said, "What's your name?"

"Lati, Lati from Avernus," Lati stood up and answered in a loud voice.

"No need to yell. A loud voice will only make you look rude," Professor Yuti said sternly. "Lati of Avernus, I commend you for volunteering, but next time, remember to listen carefully to who I want to answer the question. You may answer now."

"The ropes that Enriyes carries with her are woven from their hair." Lati answered in a lowered voice.

"Very good, it seems that you have surpassed them in some aspects. You can sit down." Professor Youti's mouth twitched, as if he was showing a half smile.

"As Lati of Avernus said, the Enreyes weave their own ropes with their hair. And this is our first lesson today - the class and identity symbols of Baator."

She turned around calmly and gracefully, pulled out a small carved wooden stick and knocked on the wall. From the point where she knocked, a golden light like a snake began to shine, crawling all over the wall, forming an exquisite tree.

"All non-Enreyes, copy the common races and symbols of Bartor on the wall." The professor ordered. "All Enreyes, cut your hair and start braiding your ropes."

"Professor" A voice sounded behind Hopper, it was Vera.

"Do I need a haircut too?" Vera asked provocatively, her short silver hair just past her earlobes.

"If I were you, Miss Vera, I would find a way to grow my hair as quickly as possible," Professor Youti said, ignoring her provocation. "Otherwise, you won't be able to graduate from here until your hair grows out. Even if your grandfather were to come and take you away, he wouldn't be able to."

For the next few days, no one dared to challenge Professor Yuti. She walked gracefully around the room, watching the sweating succubi weaving ropes and supervising others copying.

"Write neatly, Miss Lil." The professor stopped near Hopper and tapped Lil's densely written paper with a wooden stick. The paper instantly became blank and smooth, and all the words disappeared. "Copy it again."

"The rope is the most unique symbol of all Enreyes. It will also be your main pass to enter and exit Baator Hell and your weapon on the battlefield." She then began to pace. Lati, who was next to Hopper, was whispering the words on the wall and asked Lil to concentrate on copying them.

"In Baator, each type of devil has its own unique symbol. This is the most convenient way for all of you to distinguish between different devils. And differentiation is the first step to class formation."

"Now, hold the hair in your hands and channel your own magic, weaving it as the force leads."

Hopper held her dark indigo hair in her hands, feeling the power of hell surge in from all directions. She was like standing in waist-deep water, holding a straw tied to the shore, trying to keep her balance and avoid diving into the water, while also trying to keep the straw from breaking.

She quickly found the trick. Professor Yuti was right; the power of Hell wouldn't tolerate her. But following the power of Hell, she could easily harness it like a sailboat riding the wind, feeling the straw in her hand grow longer and thicker.

Until with a bang, a bunch of braided hair curls burned up, and the air was filled with the smell of burning.

"Your excessive arrogance and blind obedience have led to you becoming Barto's plaything," Professor Yuti commented, returning. "Hell demands your obedience, but blind obedience alone won't bring the greatest benefit to Hell."

Chapter 45 Blueprints

A gust of wind rustled the pointed window, rattling the glass and disrupting the background music played by the raindrops and the window. The succubus looked out from inside the book. Thunder rumbled from the dark clouds above, and the rain, like sharp gray arrows, bombarded the castle.

A chilly breeze blew past the glass walls, stirring the papers on the table and causing all the books to rebel. Hopper had no choice but to close the books spread across the table one by one and pile them aside. She then took a sip of the now-cold tea. The stimulating, icy sensation of the cardiotonic water chilled her tongue all the way to her brain, lingering throughout her mouth and nose. She was completely no longer sleepy.

Hopper was worried when she thought about the combat class in the afternoon. She had learned from Lati that this week they would be conducting severe weather air combat training, which meant that they would have to take off in heavy rain, strong winds, lightning and even worse. According to the style of the air combat professor Hu Siqi, he would probably ask for additional shooting training.

"Hey, Hopper, what are you looking at so seriously?" Lati's voice called out from behind Hopper. The Devil turned around and saw her and Lil walking towards him.

"Count how many times we might get struck by lightning this afternoon" Hopper gave them a standard smirk.

"If Hopper had flown faster he wouldn't have been struck by lightning" Lil replied in a serious tone making Lati laugh.

"Please keep quiet in the library!" The librarian of the Torch Keep was an iron golem in the shape of a fairy. Lati's laughter immediately drew its protest.

Lati quickly shut up and bowed to it. Satisfied with the answer, the golem floated away, feather duster in hand.

"Is the religious studies homework really that difficult?" Lati picked up the book on top, "Running Thunder: The Prophesied Punisher," and flipped through a few pages. "We have to study the text of such a niche deity?"

"The requirements for elective courses are a bit higher," Hopper said, taking the book from her hand. "But it's not entirely coursework. I'm studying how to become a Nemeidan."

Hopper hadn't seen Ms. Harsh since the one-on-one instruction, and had no idea how to light the Black Iron Torch. Professor Beth of Religious Studies knew of the existence of Nemaeda, but she had no good advice on how to become one. She just told Hopper to read books about gods of revenge for inspiration.

"Hopper is still too shy," Lil commented. "I don't think any other students besides us know what path you've chosen. Vera has already told the whole Torchhold that she's going to become Barakina."

"Neimaed is a path that's strongly connected to the gods," the succubus took out his torch and spun it around. "Besides, not all succubus have such a powerful great-grandmother like Vera. Keeping a low profile is a good thing."

Barakina is a leader among the succubi, powerful and rare, particularly skilled at infiltration. Hopper had only encountered Professor Uti, a Barakina, in all his years in Hell, so becoming a pleasure demon wouldn't be easy. However, considering Vera's grandfather was one of the most recent children of the succubus queen, Gracia, it seemed like becoming a Barakina wouldn't be difficult either.

"By the way, what are you doing in the library? I remember Lil's art class this morning," Hopper asked curiously. Two of the freshmen had mothers of succubi serving in the choir under Marquis Aishes. Only the two of them and Lil had chosen the art class, and they would definitely be discovered if they skipped class.

"The art class has been moved to the evening because the professor said the thunder during the day disturbed the performance. Lil came to the library to study." Lil put the harp on the table, picked a chair and sat down, with her legs dangling in the air.

Lati waved perfunctorily to Lacy who was passing by not far away, and watched her disappear behind the bookshelf.

After confirming that no one else was around, the tall Cambion pulled out a parchment scroll from his pocket and spread it out flat, saying, "I'm looking for you because Lil found this blueprint."

Hopper leaned in to examine it carefully. The blueprint seemed to have been torn from an old book. The pages were brown and curled, and there were a few small holes eaten by insects. The content on it looked like the design of a building. The more she looked at it, the more familiar it seemed to her.

"This is the blueprint of the Torch Keep," Hopper turned to Lati in surprise. "Where did you find it?"

"Lil found it," said the short Cambion, who was sitting on the chair. "When Lil was looking for sheet music, she noticed that the books on the innermost shelf over there were not put away properly. She found a book hidden in the middle that was not covered in dust. This blueprint was torn from it."

"Lil is so smart," Lati praised, then turned to Hopper, "I told Lil about the intruder I encountered that night, and I didn't expect her to help me keep an eye out."

"Anyone who can enter the library is either a student or a teacher, or he has an assistant," Hopper analyzed.

The silver-gray-skinned Lati nodded and pointed to a corner of the map. "That's right. Lil and I searched for a long time and found the place the invader wanted to go."

Hopper squinted at the blueprint. The place Lati pointed to must be the lowest level of the castle. She quickly followed the instructions and found the iconic cross-shaped corridor. At the end of the corridor, behind the wooden door where the man had been that night, was a separate suite of rooms. Aside from a dotted passageway, the blueprints showed no other entrances or exits.

The lust demon followed the dotted line upwards and found that it was connected to the inner room of a large suite above.

"What does the dotted line represent? A passage that hasn't been built yet?"

"Lil and I both think it's a secret passage leading to the room above. But we don't know what the room above is used for."

Hopper held the map up to the light and examined it. The rooms on it felt familiar to her until she saw the small room next to it with the three statues marking it.

"This large room is Ms. Strict's office!" She lowered her voice and said, "That man wanted to break into Ms. Strict's secret room."

"Ms. Stern has a secret room?" Lati's interest piqued, and she asked with sparkling eyes, "How did you know?"

"I don't know if this is a secret room. But the room with the statue above is where we pray for morning prayers, and next to the prayer room is Ms. Stern's office. So this secret passage leading to her office and this room must be related to her."

"Should we tell Ms. Harsh?" Lil suggested quietly. Lati and Hopper looked at each other and nodded.

"Intruders are definitely not our business, and there's no benefit in getting involved," Hopper said with great self-awareness. "Let's go now, don't delay any longer."

Lati hurriedly rolled up the blueprints, stuffed them into her pocket, and started walking towards the exit. Hopper weighed Running Thunder: The Prophesied Punisher and decided not to take it. It was a rare book and no one would borrow it from the library.

The Devil glanced out the window. The heavy rain had not stopped yet, but the lunch bell had not rung yet, so he should be able to find Ms. Yan before the afternoon class.

Lati and Lil were waiting for her in front. When they were about to reach the exit, they met Professor Millennium Intestine. The three of them hurriedly stood aside and lifted their skirts to salute.

The witch seemed to be busy with something and didn't particularly care who she met. She limped past them.

However, before they could leave the library, the voice of Professor Qianniangu was heard from behind.

"Stop, you three. What's in your pocket?"

Hopper turned around and saw the witch squinting her eyes and pointing at a piece of design drawing sticking out of Lati's pocket.

Chapter 46 Clues

The parchment scroll flew out of his pocket by itself. Hopper saw Lati's fingers flex as if she wanted to grab it, but she finally restrained herself.

The witch took the paper scroll that fell from the sky, shook it open, glanced at it, and suddenly became furious.

"Do you know what it is!" she yelled, waving the paper in her hand at Campion, every wrinkle on her face filled with cold anger and hatred.

Hopper felt her heart pounding as her mind raced for a suitable excuse, but she couldn't come up with a good one for a moment.

Finally, Lati made up her mind, took a brave step, and took the initiative to admit, "I'm sorry, professor, but this is..."

Professor Millennium Gut interrupted her with a wave of his hand, angrily whispering, "Do you know the value of this blueprint? It's an antique, a testament to the construction of Torch Keep from ancient times. Do you know how few things can be preserved so intact over countless centuries?"

"And such a symbol of knowledge and history, a relic of antiquity, a priceless treasure, was torn like a rag."

Professor Qiannianchang was so angry that her face was distorted. She walked over quickly and twisted Lati's ear with her hand.

Lati begged for mercy hurriedly. The dispute at the door had attracted several librarian golems. Many students who were still in the library poked their heads out from behind the bookshelves. Among them were several succubi that Hopper was familiar with, such as Lacy. This made her face start to burn.

"Put you in solitary confinement! Put you on forced labor! For three weeks!" Professor Millennium Gut roared. "You won't be allowed to sleep every night!"

"And you two! Are you involved too?" The old witch let go of her hands, turned around and roared angrily, her fingers almost poking Hopper's nose, scaring Hopper and Lil so much that they quickly shook their heads.

"Even if you didn't participate, you're still an accomplice! Each of you must write an essay on the destruction of cultural relics. It must be no shorter than twenty feet! You must fully reflect on your mistakes and correct them until I'm satisfied!"

"What's that in your hand?" The old hag noticed the torch in Hopper's hand. Hopper quickly raised the torch to show her.

Professor Millennium Gut folded the paper and carefully put it back in his pocket before taking the torch and examining it carefully. He tilted his head to look at Hopper and said, "Are you studying Nemeaed?"

After receiving a positive answer, she glanced at Hopper and snorted from her hooked nose, not sure whether it was ridicule or disdain.

"Ms. Strict is truly relentless. Every session, she encourages others to participate in your ancient ways of Enreyes, but she herself expects others to understand them. The possibility of her success is truly a miracle."

She tossed the torch back to Hopper, her anger over the paper seeming to subside a little.

"A word of advice, little blue jay. Nemaed is the daughter of vengeance, the bearer of divine retribution. The torch will guide your path, and you must light it. Consider this: what is the fuel of vengeance, and what ignites it?"

"I am the ghost of vengeance, I am the blade of divine retribution, I am an empty shell, pure rage feeds on my soul and flesh, sustaining me until justice is served." Hopper recited. This was the first sentence of the canon of Nemesis, the goddess of vengeance. Professor Millennium Gut's words just now awakened her and made her recall this passage all at once.

"Very good, it seems you have done some research." The hag smiled sinisterly, her praise sounding more like a mockery of Hopper's efforts. "Second piece of advice, you don't think you can find fuel in the Torchhold, do you?"

Professor Millennium Gut's words were difficult to hear, but she certainly didn't speak in riddles. Hopper quickly asked her further, "I don't understand, Professor."

"Think about it, where are the emotions strong enough to allow you to obtain fuel? It's not difficult." The witch turned away, not intending to be a good teacher who answered questions in detail. "If you go, I suggest you take these two idiots with you. At least they can be cannon fodder for you."

After giving her lecture, Professor Millennium Intestine threw back her hood and walked away angrily, leaning on her short staff.

Lati watched her walk away, patting her chest with lingering fear, and said, "Fortunately, she didn't dwell on the blueprint. I can't afford to pay for an antique from ancient times."

"By the way, what did that passage you read mean? I didn't understand what fuel was. Where did she ask you to get the fuel?" Lati asked questions rapidly after she came to her senses.

Hopper's thoughts were interrupted by her rapid question, and he came back to his senses and answered, "That passage is the teaching of the goddess of vengeance. What is the fuel of revenge? It is emotion. A creature without emotion cannot have the feeling of revenge. And what ignites emotion? It is anger."

"As for where to find intense emotions? Where in all of Baator is the emotion most intense than on the Blood Front?"

"She asked you to go directly to the bloody front?" Lati lowered her voice and said, "You haven't graduated yet. It's too dangerous to go there."

Hopper beckoned them to go outside, saying as they walked, "Let's talk about it later. There's something else I just remembered. Let's find a quiet place to talk about it."

"Aren't we going to see the principal?" Lil asked, a little confused.

"Everything has been taken away. There's nothing more to say." Hopper spread her hands. Leti looked at her with some confusion. She was obviously not convinced by this reason, but she remained silent obediently.

A quarter of an hour later, the three of them found a small classroom next to the auditorium. Lati took a quick look and found that no one was there, so she carefully closed the door.

Hopper was silent for a while. She didn't know whether to tell this speculation, but Lati was also one of the parties involved. It would be better to tell her and let her think about it than to keep her doubts to herself.

"Do you remember, the intruder that night was a man?" Hopper said carefully.

"Remember, I even went to ask Lady Silver Eyes, and there are no males in Emberhold," Lati replied. "Didn't we all agree that it might be an outsider?"

"I've always wondered how an outsider could have bypassed the numerous defenses of Torch Keep and walked so openly into the teacher's area. So, is it possible that he's a teacher at Torch Keep himself and doesn't need to bypass the magical guards at all, because his authority is enough to reach that door?"

The tall Kambion frowned in thought, then revealed a look of sudden realization: "You mean, someone turned into a man?"

Hopper looked directly at Lati, the eyes of the succubus gleaming in the darkness. "I mean, Professor Millennium Intestine turned into a man."

Lati didn't refute. She just pondered for a moment and asked, "Why don't you doubt Professor Youdi? She was there that day, so it's more likely she is the one."

The Devil shook his head and said, "I also suspected Professor Youti at first, but Professor Millennium Intestine's behavior today makes me doubt her. If the blueprint was really that important, why did Lil find it so easily? She obviously just found an excuse to take it."

"Also, my desire to become Nemaede is probably unknown to the students. But Professor Millennium Gut is the teacher. Does she need to know through my torch?" Hopper analyzed. "Not to mention that she advised us not to stay in the castle. As long as everyone who knew about it was gone, she could act without any scruples. And no one would connect these things and report them to the principal afterwards."

"Can't we report it to the principal in advance?" Lil asked worriedly.

"I can't" was what Lati answered her, "It's one thing to tell the president about what happened to me, but it's another to make an empty accusation against a professor."

"And in the end, it has nothing to do with us," Hopper said. "I don't know if Professor Millennium Gut's conversation just now was a hint for us to stay out of her business. All I know is that even if we three were tied together, we couldn't beat her."

The lunch bell interrupted Lati's words, and she finally shook her head and said:

"Let's eat first. We'll discuss how to tell Ms. Harsh later today."

Chapter 47: Quarrel

The afternoon's aerial combat class was just as Hopper had expected. Professor Hu Siqi had no intention of letting them go.

Hu Siqi was a bone demon. Unlike succubi and kambions, who needed wings, he could use magic to float lightly in the air. In the rain with visibility less than ten meters, using magic to fly was much more labor-saving than relying on two wings.

Hopper spun awkwardly in the air, dodging the arrows while trying to shake off the heavy rain on her wings. Perhaps demons could see in the dark, but she had never heard of any demon being able to see through the rain. Through the torrential downpour, she could only see blurry figures flapping in the strong wind. Dodging the arrows fired by others, she had to rely on pure intuition and inspiration.

The training method of the aerial combat course is very simple - all freshmen fight in a melee, and the one who hits the most people when the professor calls for stop wins. The only two requirements are that they are not allowed to cast spells or land.

Honestly, this calculation method usually gives succubi an advantage. Baator's basic requirements for succubi include archery, and every combat instructor will provide additional shooting training. When the only requirement is hit count, succubi can simply aim for Cambions whose shooting skills are far inferior to their own.

This is how Vera came out on top in her first few aerial training sessions. Although there was no substantial reward, Vera's personality seemed to not allow any creature to surpass her.