— Hello, I am Allende, and I am the general evaluator of the CNTD admission test.
Igris glanced at the man. He bore a mark resembling a lion's canine, a characteristic sign of a warrior-type slayer.
The man continued, still with a serious expression:
— So, before we begin, I must explain why the test is conducted only on the first day, as well as the roles of each mark, even though some of you may already know their purpose...
— First, the claw-shaped mark: this belongs to the tanks. By nature, tanks are highly resistant; when they reinforce this resistance with their mana, they become even more powerful. Their role is to protect the team at all costs.
— The X-shaped mark designates assassins. They are stealthy and capable of eliminating a demon with deadly efficiency. Simply put, an assassin is like a ninja—fighting with speed, agility, and precision, while also possessing some magical abilities.
— Next, we have the mage. Mages excel in long-range attacks thanks to their immense magical power, though they are not very effective in close combat. Their mark appears in the shape of a star.
— Warriors, on the other hand, combine the strength of tanks with the dexterity of assassins. They stand out due to their physical power and close-combat efficiency, supporting both tanks and assassins.
— Finally, healers are essential members of any demon-slaying team. They ensure the team stays alive and in top condition, which is crucial for the success of missions and battles. If a healer fails in their career, they can always be recruited into a hospital.
— Oh, and I almost forgot about elves! An elf somewhat fulfills the role of a mage, an assassin, and a healer all at once. Without them, we would have certainly lost the First Demon War.
— One last thing: marks can evolve and change color, determining the different ranks. There are six ranks: E, D, C, B, A, and S. Rank E is represented by the color black; the others will be listed on an information sheet.
— Any questions?
The room was silent—no one spoke.
The man then added:
— Well, we have the rest of the day planned, as a demon slayer must always be ready to intervene at any moment, especially in the event of another demon war. That is why I must evaluate all of you today. If you fail, it's over for you. Only those who pass will be named slayers and, a few days later, will undergo training.
Suddenly, the side walls of the door began to lower. Everyone was surprised—once fully lowered, they revealed a vast assortment of combat weapons: daggers, swords, bows, and more. The man gestured toward the two areas where the weapons were displayed and said:
— Each of you knows your own abilities. Therefore, you must choose the weapon that best suits your mark.
Without hesitation, everyone moved to select their equipment. The tanks headed for shields or opted for axes, while healers chose armor to maximize their defense.
Approaching the weapon stand, Nasser stared at the display and thought:
— Alright, what should I take? The sword is too heavy, and besides, I've never used one. Daggers are useful, sure, but some are so sharp I might accidentally injure myself and die over something stupid...
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Swiss knife that had helped him kill the demon that took his senpai's life. Looking at it, he thought:
— The only weapon that really suits me is this Swiss knife.
As he scanned the display, he spotted a kunai and a rope next to the knife. He picked up the kunai, tied it to his knife, spun it around, and with a smile, said:
— Ah, now this is a weapon for long-range attacks!
Meanwhile, Igris glanced at Erica, the elf he had helped earlier. She seemed lost. She had spotted a staff capable of channeling magic, but as she looked around, she realized that everyone had already formed their teams. She started asking if anyone could take her in, but she received only one response:
— Sorry, we're already full.
A bit panicked, she thought:
— Oh no… Who am I going to team up with? Everyone is taken… What should I do?
That's when Igris approached her and said:
— You can team up with me!
He turned around, looked at her directly, and added:
— I'm alone anyway, so we'd be three.
Hearing this offer, Erica's face lit up with a bright smile. She tried to say his name but struggled:
— Thank you, Mister… Agras… Egris… Irgo…
Scratching her head, she added:
— Sorry, sir, I can't pronounce your name properly—it's too difficult.
Igris smiled and replied:
— Huh, you're the first person to tell me that.
After a moment of thought, he remembered the nickname the demons had given him before they died: "Boubou."
He looked at Erica and said:
— Just call me Boubou.
Erica shuddered upon hearing the name and replied, shocked:
— But "Boubou" in demon language means "psychopath"! Why would you choose a name like that? Are you a psychopath?
Igris waved his hands dismissively, then, adopting a more serious and thoughtful tone, explained:
— Let's just say an acquaintance gave me that nickname a while ago, so if you call me that, I don't mind.
Erica smiled and replied:
— Alright, sir.
Shortly after, a young man wearing gray armor, with white hair and a sword in hand, approached and said:
— Hello, dear friend. I don't have a team. May I join you?
Igris looked at him and replied with a wide smile:
— Hey, buddy. Yeah, you can join us, no problem—we're missing a member anyway.
The young man, grinning cheerfully, said:
— Ah, finally, someone reasonable! My name is Jean Takamishi. And you, what's your name?
— I'm Igris Luzolo, — Igris replied with a smile.
Then, glancing over his shoulder, he noticed Erica still watching him. Using a charming tone, he addressed her:
— Hello, miss…
Kneeling slightly, he added:
— I just saw you a few seconds ago, but I couldn't resist telling you…
I've fallen madly in love with you. Will you be my girlfriend?
Erica, staring at him, squinted suspiciously and said:
— You're really weird, dude… You're kinda creeping me out.
While Jean was bothering Erica, Igris had a flash in his mind:
"Oh no… I don't know how to fight! I completely forgot! If I managed to defeat the shadow demon, it was only because of the projector… How am I supposed to fight here?"
He then remembered a technique he had read about in a book:
"According to what I read, shadow demons have the ability to copy techniques they have just seen. If that demon had the same ability, I just need to wait for someone to use a technique…"
At that moment, the man in charge of the admission test spoke in a loud voice:
— Alright! I'm sure each of you has already formed your team. Now, I'm going to call someone at random, and that person will enter the battlefield, okay?
He took out a sheet with the participants' names and read aloud:
— Isaac!
A man immediately stepped forward, followed by two others. The evaluator asked for their names, then said:
— Enter the battlefield.
The three fighters stepped into the arena.
Suddenly, three crates appeared at the far end of the field. The man announced:
— For this trial, you will simply have to fight.
A glass wall rose, separating the fighters from the rest of the participants, including Igris and the others.
The three crates suddenly exploded, releasing three creatures. These monsters looked like black greyhounds, but without eyes.
The evaluator then said in a serious tone:
— These are Chiméranes, the hunting hounds of demons.