Sealing Casket, Power Reclamation, A Drastically Opposite Prophecy, Silver-White Z-Shaped Mark

"Creak!"

As the study door was slowly pushed open, John saw Tolovsky's true appearance in reality for the first time.

What surprised John, however, was that Tolovsky was completely different from the Demon King he remembered from the game—a figure equipped with countless magecraft artifacts, each loaded with special effects and ranked at least Epic-tier, with terrifying shadows of magical power looming behind him whenever he appeared.

The Tolovsky before him looked more like a dignified old man, to the point that it was impossible to associate him with a mage.

But the instant John's eyes met his, he analyzed the astonishingly intricate magical circuits contained within them and realized that those thoughts had been nothing more than fallacies.

"John Maslow, Class of '59, pays his respects to Principal Tolovsky."

John respectfully saluted the Demon King standing at the very pinnacle of power.

"...I'm surprised you came back."

Tolovsky spoke with profound meaning, then continued before the puzzled John could say anything.

The next second, a sofa appeared out of thin air behind John. The tea set on the table floated up on its own and, under John's astonished gaze, poured him a steaming cup of black tea.

Then Tolovsky's deep voice reached John's ears.

"Sit."

"...Thank you, Principal."

John respectfully accepted the teacup and thanked him, but the confusion in his heart was not dispelled by Tolovsky's courteous treatment. Instead, it grew even more intense.

It almost made his scalp tingle.

After all, regardless of the difference in power between himself and Tolovsky or the disparity in their social status,

John should never have been treated almost as an equal by this old Demon King.

Moreover, Tolovsky's words clearly indicated that the original John had once held some sort of secret conversation—or even made an agreement—with him.

But the