I took a sip from the hot coffee, poured for by Alicia.
She sat in front of , restlessness visible on her face.
There was no one else in this room.
She is an important piece in this conquest too.
So, it would be in my interest to be on her good side.
Should I tell her about the Valen Family technique, that I used?
Being too mysterious in front of soone possessing intelligence that of the level of Alicia would be quite dangerous too.
She might look unstable now, but she is capable enough to be the student council president of an Academy, which is going through such a transition phase.
Thus, I explained her how I used my family's technique, except it was not my family anymore.
Well, the na of the technique doesn't matter much.
What matters is the chanism of the technique itself.
She must have known about how the Crimson Pact Arts works, because that fact is not a secret matter anyway.
It is available in all the books regarding descriptions of the Noble Families.
Moreover, the techniques of each family are public knowledge, to maintain transparency in front of common people.
The problem in front of was what to tell her about the sacrifice.
As I stayed silent for soti, looking down my legs, as if understanding sothing, Alicia's expression turned grim.
She looked at with such pitiful eyes, that I was compelled to ask what the hell was she thinking, looking at my crotch.
She must have misunderstood sothing.
"I understand Dorian....Your sacrifice....will not be in vain.....When all of this is over, everyone in the Kingdom Sylvanna shall know what you had to lose to save this city...", she turned away, as if trying to hold back her tears.
This is pretty awkward.
She must be thinking that I sent everyone away from this room, to tell her this.
To not feel embarrassed.
Do I need to rectify her at this point?
Well, it does benefit , so I don't need to, but....
After much thinking, I decided that it was better if she was kept in her misunderstanding.
Although, it hurt my pride as a man, I have to swallow this embarrassnt, and enact the rest of my plan.
Alicia must be feeling indebted to now, so she might do things I ask her to, in a reasonable way.
"Ms. Alicia, there is a thod to convert the thralls back to humans.", I said.
"...The only thod I can think of is the Saintess's tears, or the holy water.", she replied, wiping off her tears, "But, due to the absence of the post of Saintess, for almost 10 years now, there is not a drop of holy water in the church. So I discarded that thod, and currently the other students from the Research Club are trying to find out a different thod for it. If you have any suggestions, I would like to hear it."
As expected of Alicia, she had already taken care of everything.
Having her as an ally would truly be beneficial in such difficult tis.
"Well, the thod is the sa", I spoke up, starting to reveal that information, "What if there was a Saintess Candidate among us?"
"What? That's impossible, because every child of all the noble families are checked for holy power, soon after they are born. There is no way for a potential Saintess candidate to bypass the scanning of the church.", she said firmly.
"Yet, there was a bypass. I can't tell you now how I found out about her, and I don't have any proof to show you right now either. But if you promise to keep her identity an absolute secret, I can show you the magic of Saintess's tears.", I stood upon my statent.
"....But why would anyone want to keep their identity as a potential Saintess candidate a secret? They can get anything as long as it's within the Church's rules. They can lead a peaceful life, without worrying much about the future too. So ....why?", she asked in confusion.
Of course, it was strange.
The Saintess is not sothing ordinary person after all.
The responsibility you bear is great, but so is the hospitality you receive.
The respect and love, the Saintess gets in this kingdom is equivalent to that of an IDOL IN MY WORLD.
.....What did I say?
....Idol in my world?
It seems like among the mories I sacrificed, there was this part.
Well, it would recover soon enough, so no need to worry much.
"I insist you believe in my words for now, President Alicia, and bring her here. I will try to convince her to the best of my abilities.", I said, my words filled with a little bit of deception and determination.
She thought for a bit, but her response was really fast.
Maybe because there was no risk in trying it.
"Alright then. Tell who is it. I will send soone to find her out right now.", Alicia reassured .
As I said the na of the Saintess Candidate, Alicia wore the eyes of disbelief for so seconds, and looked at , as if asking if I were sure about this.
As I nodded, she agreed and sent so second year to find out the Saintess Candidate and bringe her here.
"President....there is one more thing I want.", I said.
It was only natural to get sothing in return, as I have helped them this much.
Let's talk about business now.
"...What is it?", Alicia asked.
This Academy itself is sort of a relic, if I had to say.
The one who built this over the years, and the legendary teachers, students, who erged from this institution, have had their weapons or ntos stores in a separate museum, not accessible to normal students.
But the students council have that access.
The Sacred Museum.
There are many things there, which have their value equivalent to that of a legendary relic, but gets unnoticed due to their hidden potential.
"I need two items from The Sacred Museum.", I said, her expression stable now, as if expecting sothing of this calibre.
"If it's within my power, I would do my best. So, what is these things you want?", she asked, words filled with skepticism.
As I was going to answer, soone rushed into this room, the sa second year, whom Alicia had sent to find out Ariana.
He whispered sothing in her ears, and her exprtturned grim again.
"What is it, President?", I asked.
".....Ariana, the Saintess Candidate you ntioned, is nowhere to be found.", Alicia told , with suspicious eyes, as if I had done sothing.
But, now that I rember, I had already sent Monica and that girl to find out Ariana.
Shit!
I totally forgot about them.
They must be waiting by the entrance for , and Ariana must be with them right now.
Now what should I do?
As if luck was ready to fuck up, the mont I made a mistake, a loud sound could be heard outside.
All of us got outside, only to witness the chaos incarnate itself.
The barrier had been breached.
Thousands of thralls, entered the Academy, destroying everything in their way.
The City Guards, who were stationed there, ran with all their might, but couldn't survive the stampede, and were crushed to their skulls.
I looked at the flying figure above the large gates of the Academy.
A dark figure, covered in cloak, only her pale white face radiating through out the night sky.
"....No way this is happening.....", I muttered, as I realised things were not that simple as I had thought.
The gate had shattered like fragile glass, and with it, all semblance of order broke down completely.
The thralls stord in.
Leaping over the academy's periter fences—enchanted, tall, and reinforced—they crossed them like they were stepping over puddles.
Their movents were jerky yet swift, inhumanly erratic, like puppets being yanked around by invisible strings.
The city guards, though stationed in full gear, barely had ti to raise their weapons.
Their defensive lines crumbled in seconds.
Crushed bones, mangled bodies, torn screams.
The air turned thick with the scent of iron and death.
The second-years, who had been placed just beyond the inner courtyard, panicked.
So tried to fight, others simply ran—fear overriding training.
Their magic fizzled.
Their formations collapsed.
The protected civilians, mostly non-combatant students, and support staff, had been moved to a supposedly secure wing earlier.
But as the enemy poured in, panic spread like wildfire.
They spilled into the courtyards, trampling each other in desperation.
Screams filled the air—pleas, sobs, warnings.
A complete breakdown of coordination.
A few senior students tried to maintain order.
"Move in lines! Don't scatter!"
"This way! Use the west tunnel!"
But no one listened.
No one even heard.
Every voice was just another shout in the sea of chaos.
And then—
"STOP!!"
A single scream ripped through the madness.
A voice filled with raw force, pain, and fury.
Alicia.
She stood at the top of the stairs leading to the central tower.
Her bloodied clothes flapped in the wind. Her hands were clenched.
Her body trembled—but her voice carried.
No. It didn't just carry—it pierced.
It echoed.
As if amplified by ancient runes, or magic older than the Academy itself. It bood across the entire courtyard, cutting through the noise like a blade through silk.
Everything halted.
Civilians froze mid-run.
The stampede ceased. Second-years stopped in place. Even the other students, confused and breathing heavily, turned toward her.
Even the thralls—those wretched creatures, once human—seed montarily stunned. Heads tilted. Movents paused.
Alicia took one step forward.
"No one move until I give the command."
Her voice didn't sound like a request.
It was absolute.
A royal decree wrapped in mana. A spell woven into tone and will.
I blinked.
Skill: Absolute Command.
That was it. I'd heard rumors—whispers about Alicia's rare affinity for domination-based enchantnt magic. But seeing it now, firsthand, was different. It was overwhelming.
But not perfect.
Not for long.
The thralls shook their heads violently, twitching, then snarled—viciously.
The pause was over. One of them leapt forward with a guttural cry, followed by dozens more.
The spell couldn't control monsters.
Not yet.
Alicia didn't flinch. Her eyes didn't waver.
She reached up, tied her ssy black hair into a high ponytail, her expression calm like a seasoned knight before a battlefield.
Then she turned to , the fire in her eyes matching the bloodied battlefield behind her.
"You do your work," she said. "And let handle this."
She drew her sword.
One ant not for ceremony or flair, but for cutting down enemies without hesitation.
She descended the stairs like a storm, magic crackling around her.
I watched her charge in alone, knowing I had to move too.
My task was waiting—and it had just beco even more urgent.
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Author's Note:
Please comnt down your thoughts on this chapter, and the story so far.
If anyone's reading this, please comnt, as it gives motivation to write further.
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