Mao released the straps holding Almaz to the table, glasses opaque and cooing sounds of scientific delight. Almaz nearly shuddered as he sat up and returned to the ground, feeling exhausted and the need to huddle in a corner. He'd given up on screaming after the first hour, so his throat wasn't as sore as he expected.

Turning to Mao, he rubbed at his chaffing wrists, "Have I just forgotten what it was like, or was this time a little more... extreme?" Being prodded and poked at (and violated) he remembered, but being attached to a table, then scanned and sampled was something new.

Mao took in a breath, "Aah... A partial demon is easy to disturb, you know, with radiation and chemicals, even simple machinery." He drew back and grinned, "But now that you're an Overlord, I can do any experiment I want to you and not have to worry about any life-alte-- life-destroying effects!"

Almaz instantly froze, "You mean there could be life-altering effects?!"

Mao shrugged, "You can never be... sure. Science is always a gamble. But the great thing is, you won't die from my petty experiments-- ah, unless one is meant to kill you, I suppose-- but aside from that, it's perfect." His excitement was not shared as he put a hand to his heart and sighed, "Haaa... Is this what love feels like?"

Almaz sobered immediately, shaking his head, "No, no, it's nothing like that." He put back on his scarf and coat while Mao wrote down some.. observations or something. Whatever it was made him cackle evilly to himself a number of times, almost discouraging him from raising his voice, "... Mao-sama. That was one examination, wasn't it? So I get a lesson in return, right?"

Mao paused in his movements and glared at him over the top of his book, "If you don't quit the 'Mao-sama' routine, your 'lesson' will only be a review." And if that look said anything, it said that by review, he meant something torturous.

He gulped. "S-sorry. Mao. It's just kind of odd calling you Mao." After a moment though, he smiled at him, "Although, you saying that is kind of like finally admitting that we're fri--

Before he could finish the word, Mao's book slammed to the ground, "LESSON NUMBER TWO: You will refer to your teacher as Mao-sensei from now on and all slips of tongue will be punishable by dissection. Also, the Overlord is responsible for encouraging acts of proper demonic behavior. This also means that, as Dean, you will preside directly over the PTA and mend delinquents of their sickening ways."

Almaz waited patiently for him to continue.

Mao picked up his book and began to scribble in it once more.

After a minute had passed and it was obvious that Mao wasn't planning to add anything, Almaz cried, "Ma-Mao-seenseiii! How cruel can you get?! That can't be the whole lesson! I already knew most of that!"

He didn't receive even a passing glance when Mao shook his head, an evil smirk coming over his face, "So sorry, my dear student. There's just so much things to test on you that I can't cut corners."

Almaz grabbed at his shoulder, nearly hysterical with distress, "But-but won't people try to kill me? Doesn't everyone come here for the purpose of killing the Overlord?! What if they arrive before I'm ready, Mao-sa-nsei?!"

Mao sighed, closing his book, "Well, obviously I'll protect you until you are, you dolt."

Almaz let go of Mao's jacket and looked at him, in disbelief, "Eh?"

"I said," he started, and raised his head to look at Almaz, instead finding the boy tearing up. He was at a loss for words before saying, "Wh-what? What the hell are you doing? You want a bonus lesson that badly? Fine, Lesson Two Addendum: Overlords must never show tears, no matter what."

Almaz laughed, wiping at his eyes, "Sorry, Mao-sensei. I was just surprised. I never thought you'd honestly say anything that nice to me."

Mao almost felt sick to his stomach as he stood and turned away from the ex-human. "You're already making me regret it," he scoffed, but Almaz just laughed-- as though knowing he wasn't serious.