Black Solstice-Chapter 19: Research [1]

A day passed.

Since my injuries were mostly minor, I was discharged early and allowed to leave the infirmary.

Remi was quite interesting.

Despite being an artificial being, she seemed to possess a genuine personality, though I still had no idea how her inner systems truly worked.

How exactly had she been created?

If I learned enough about this world’s machinery and technology, would I be able to build a L’Isle-Angelus of my own someday?

Come to think of it, I still hadn’t submitted my courses of study. This seemed like the perfect time to register the subjects I was interested in. The only problem is that I have no idea what courses the school offered. It should be similar to a normal college, right? If so, then I could...

I halted mid-thought as I stepped into the main hallway.

Students were moving in every direction, some chatting loudly, others moving quietly.

A large holographic board flickered to life at the center, displaying a list of available programs and departments in rotating panels of light.

Curious, I walked closer and scanned the display.

Mystical Engineering, Arcane Computation, Etheric Biology, Combat Arts, Tactical Strategy, Rune Architecture, Holy Studies, Applied Shadow Theory, Quantum Sorcery. The list kept going, each one sounding more absurd and fascinating.

So this was the curriculum of an academy that trained Devils.

I narrowed my eyes, deep in thought.

Hm. It’s not that different from what I imagined. And there are even human courses like Computer Science, Accounting, Business Management, Psychology, and Environmental Science. Are they trying mimic human behavior for the purpose of coexistence? Not only that, it seems they also have to manage their society too.

What was the difference between a demon and human society?

Both societies shared similar structures, values, and systems, yet the way they operated felt fundamentally different. Demon society embraced power, hierarchy, and mystical advancement as naturally as humans pursued technology, knowledge, and ambition. Where humans relied on logic and innovation, demons intertwined the supernatural with everyday life, turning magic into a common tool rather than a rare phenomenon.

Despite these contrasts, the two worlds mirrored each other more closely than I first realized.

Perhaps true coexistence was not a fleeting dream.

But,

The problem is not the concept but the progress of said coexistence.

The human race weren’t aware about the existence of Devils apart from so-called Priests while the Devils themselves were an arrogant bunch that didn’t see the essence of coexistence with a race weaker than them. Some of them even saw humans as nothing but food especially the Demon Nobles.

Not to mention, the bad blood between the two races can’t easily be washed away. I wonder if it’s possible to gain coexistence in such conditions.

Human were fearful of what they did not know or understand including those who were different from them.

A good example was the young intellectual type who possessed more intelligence and mental processing power than his peers. Instead of being praised, he was often feared, avoided, or quietly resented. People whispered behind his back, calling him unnatural or unsettling simply because he thought differently and faster than they could, including an intricate understanding about the hierarchy of things. His abilities became a wall that separated him from those around him.

He never asked for it nor had he ever flaunted it.

Yet others still felt threatened by what they couldn’t understand. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Fear did not require a reason. It only needed an excuse.

If even a single gifted human could be treated like an anomaly by his own kind, then what chance did an entire race of Devils have? A race born with supernatural abilities, strange powers, and a history soaked in conflict.

Of course, they didn’t.

The government would most certainly see them as a threat and do everything in their power until the demon race were completely eradicated.

For instance, there was a time where Nigeria continuously increased in power. Compared to other countries, despite their vast amount of natural and mineral resources, they were still considered a developing country instead of a developed country despite being a top power in Africa. This was due to the country being plagued by corrupt leaders who constantly took advantage of the system, siphoning wealth while showing no regard for the innocent citizens who suffered from their greed.

At some point, after a mixed-blood who went by the name Thomas Sani became the president following the 2025 election, everything drastically changed. Not only did he order for the execution of all the corrupt politicians by making use of the Armed Forces, he also completely overhauled the government system.

Some hailed him as a visionary reformer who had restored order and fairness, while others condemned him as a ruthless authoritarian who disregarded due process. Still, the citizens themselves overwhelmingly supported him while others didn’t.

However, he soon grew too ambitious.

Thomas wanted to expand his level of influence by asserting Nigeria’s dominance on a global scale. At first, his ambition appeared noble at face value, but countless lives were lost indiscriminately in pursuit of his goals.

In short, he became a tyrant.

The other Great Powers took notice and grew wary. Long story short, Thomas Sani had supposedly died from an "incurable illness."

You can already see where this is going, right?

On the other hand, Devils could not be called saints. They were unhinged creatures who followed their demonic instincts and looked down on others.

Let us take the Devil who had aimed to make Seraphis his property as an example.

Dagon.

He was a noble demon from the House of Sitri, which bore the rank of Prince according to what Remi had told me. Needless to say, he possessed far more power than other demons beneath him and gradually grew arrogant, deluded by his status as a Great Devil.

From the other details she had shared, it seemed his habit of molesting girls and corrupting maidens was far more atrocious. His actions eventually drew the attention of the Priests, and as a result, Dagon barely escaped with his life.

Due to his recklessness, he was banned from entering the Human Realm until he completed his years at Solstice Academy. He must have grown resentful, for he began bullying lesser demons and eventually turned his focus to female devils. Some were ravished mercilessly, while others were left ruined for life.

He eventually set his sights on Seraphis and attempted to take her by force too.

Of course, he was promptly defeated in a humiliating manner after she unleashed her demonic transformation.

She struck with a single blow, and that was all it took to put him to sleep.

All things considered, the path to coexistence was neither straight nor uniform. There were countless factors that could easily shatter the fragile peace, such as a perverted devil who had no sense of restraint or a lack of understanding between the two races.

Even small incidents could ignite fear and mistrust, unraveling years of careful diplomacy.

A single act of cruelty, whether by human or Devil, had the potential to undo what countless efforts had tried to build.

I, Cassius Cain, knew this all too well.

I needed a way to navigate these factors.

After all, I had chosen to remain in this school.

Upon contemplating the matter more deeply, I concluded that this was the best-case scenario for someone like me. It would certainly be a shame to leave the entire Demon Realm empty-handed. It would be beneficial to learn a few tricks while keeping my identity hidden.

So far, only one person knew I was human, and she was currently resting in her dormitory.

A conversation between us had long been due.

But that was not the most pressing matter right now.

’Which course should I study?’

It was definitely an important matter.