Chapter 508: Dark Demon’s Ultimate Substitute (10,000 words)
The day in the capital city begins at dawn.
Empty streets are soon bustling with cleaners.
People in various shops are already preparing for early morning business.
Revelers who have been up all night stagger through alleyways, eventually collapsing against walls from exhaustion.
Homeless people parasitizing the city corners feel the faint light of dawn and instinctively open their eyes, rolling up their bedding to hide in darker spots.
The magnificent Holy Grand Cathedral rings its copper bell precisely at five in the morning.
Monks and nuns within the cathedral start their work after washing up, as usual.
Despite the church publicly announcing the “Demon King Execution Ritual,” those employed in the cathedral haven’t received any official work notifications.
It seems the entire ritual has no connection to them.
On the surface, they clearly lack access to the deeper aspects of the Holy Church.
And today’s ritual venue is not at the Holy Grand Cathedral.
…
St. Louis Square—the second largest area after the King’s Square in the Holy Church district.
The knights of the Holy Church surrounded this square yesterday evening, and by the next morning, towering structures had risen in the square.
Four giant pillars over fifteen meters tall stand in the center of the square.
Based on these four pillars, five-meter-high walls encircle them, with intricate frescoes and mysterious runes carved on each wall.
Only the front has steps made of massive stone blocks, while the sides are lined with slightly thinner totem poles.
On the second level, there is a white jade altar engraved with a spell circle, with a fluid resembling blood slowly flowing inside.
At the eight corners of the altar, eight gems emitting mana fluctuations are embedded.
Though the spell circle hasn’t activated yet, an unusual aura is already spreading.
It looks… exactly like it should!
…
Six o’clock…
Dressed in bronze and silver armor, holy knights and night guards completed their shift change, gradually bringing life back to St. Louis Square.
Energetic holy knights formed orderly lines around the square.
Bronze knights guarded the edges, three to a group, with three meters between each group.
Inside the inner circle centered around the altar, silver knights stood guard.
Silver knights were paired up, one meter apart, forming a square formation.
Seven o’clock…
Priests in pure white robes began entering.
They slipped through gaps in the bronze knights’ ranks and entered the inner circle guarded by silver knights.
Some priests entered the structure supported by the four giant pillars, while others remained outside, closing their eyes in prayer.
As the melodious prayer sounds like silver bells gradually filled the air, the hands of the priests glowed with a faint white light, and a dense aura of sanctity spread outward.
Residents and visitors from all over the capital also set out.
From high above, one could see tens of thousands of people moving like ants along the interconnected streets towards St. Louis Square.
Although the “Demon King Execution Ritual” was scheduled for noon when the sun was at its peak, people couldn’t wait until then.
By just before eight o’clock, the area around St. Louis Square was already packed with people.
Savvy merchants mingled among the crowd, hawking various convenient foods and souvenirs.
Some even printed “Demon King Execution Ritual Commemorative Cards” or corresponding commemorative badges, which garnered considerable interest.
Disputes frequently erupted due to racial, cultural, and temperamental differences.
But the Holy Church’s knight order turned a blind eye to these incidents.
Bronze knights standing at the edge of St. Louis Square used their armor to cover their bodies, revealing only their bright eyes.
They stood upright, full of vigor, with long swords hanging at their waists and spears in hand, exuding a stern aura.
…
Within the Duke’s Mansion.
Before six o’clock, Dark had finished his morning routine, having put away the Eevee spirit in his magic card, unlike his usual morning exercise.
He sat in the dining room with a peculiar mood.
Sure enough, not long after, Alvaraite and Claire entered the dining room.
With his target successfully spotted, Dark couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“Baby, why so early today?”
Alvaraite approached Dark and hugged him skillfully.
Dark didn’t resist, allowing her to hold him, then whispered softly, “Mom, be careful.”
Alvaraite paused momentarily before smiling and saying, “Of course I’ll be careful. Don’t wander around the house.”
“Mm.” Dark nodded.
One reason he chose to stay in the Duke’s Mansion was to avoid adding extra trouble for Alvaraite.
The Holy Church’s depth cannot be underestimated.
After the decade-long technological boom, no one knows what kind of strength they might be hiding.
Similarly, demons and evil sects daring to act during this special period are unlikely to be good characters.
Dark hadn’t forgotten the destruction he witnessed in the Star Palace Labyrinth—if that truly was a “prophecy.”
Then, the most dangerous time for him during this summer break would undoubtedly be today!
“The fire spouting from your feet foretells my entry into danger, and the flames themselves indicate this might be a disaster related to fire.”
“So the simplest way to eliminate it is to retract your foot the moment you see the flame.”
“A stubborn person might revel in temporary satisfaction, but only the cautious can go far.”
“Even if the sky falls today, I won’t step out of this Duke’s Mansion!”
Dark thought silently, lifting his head from the soft embrace and said, “Right, Mom, two groups of guests came last night.”
“I already know.” Alvaraite buried her head in her beloved son’s neck, absorbing the Daik factor.
After a while, she took a deep breath, looked up, and said with a blush, “Finished replenishing, Mom will definitely be careful. You can rest assured.”
Dark nodded, “Let’s eat first then.”
But when Alvaraite released him, Claire seized the opportunity and pulled him close, exclaiming, “My turn, my turn.”
Then, Dark found himself once again enveloped in a mountain of affection.
…
Alvaraite and Claire ate quickly.
It seemed as if they had barely sat down before they stood up again and hurriedly left the dining room.
Watching their hurried backs, Dark couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Born into such a world and becoming the son of Alvaraite Saint Diemond was indeed an excessively blissful matter.
“Master,” Olivia whispered softly.
Dark responded, “Hmm?”
Olivia’s voice carried a hint of anticipation, “Can I as well?”
Dark: “??”
In the next moment, he found himself once again surrounded by mountains.
Today’s Dark factor is also on the market with great popularity!
…
Dark simply ate a little before picking up the newspaper to read.
As expected, both the morning and yesterday’s newspapers were aggressively promoting the “Demon King Execution Ritual.”
Experts from various fields appeared one after another, vying to interpret the significance of the “Demon King Execution Ritual” from different angles.
Some people questioned the “Demon King Execution Ritual,” mocking the scholars of the Saint Church, turning the entire event into a farce.
The “Clown Daily” mocked it the most fiercely.
That newspaper even broke the norm by publishing three times in a day, clearly aiming to ride the wave of this topic to the top.
“Indeed, they really dare to say it; I wonder who backs the ‘Clown Daily’?”
Dark couldn’t bear to look at the words in the newspaper after just a glance.
After ridiculing the Saint Church scholar Abel Yeghis last time, the “Clown Daily” now directly targeted the Pope, criticizing him until he seemed utterly worthless.
The whole newspaper was filled with gossip that seemed to have been dug up from somewhere…
Especially those reports, which initially seemed absurd, but after reading them again, made one feel like there might be some truth to them.
It made one忍不住想往那方面想。
It was quite unique.
“Perhaps I should subscribe to more newspapers in the future…”
But不得不承认, Dark had been captivated by the “Clown Daily.”
After laughing happily, he put down the “Clown Daily” and picked up the most authoritative “The Wise One Daily.”
Since it was an early edition, “The Wise One Daily” generally focused on events from the previous day.
However, today’s headline was unsurprisingly about the upcoming “Demon King Execution Ritual.”
Compared to the comical writing style of the “Clown Daily,” “The Wise One Daily” appeared much more official.
Today’s headline was — “On the Necessity of the Saint Church’s Initiation of the Demon King’s Execution.”
The article ignored whether the execution ceremony was real or could succeed, focusing solely on interpreting the meaning of the Demon King Execution Ritual.
The conclusion reached was surprisingly unnecessary.
This point alone caught Dark’s attention.
He sank in to examine it carefully.
The writer’s perspective was very interesting and unique.
He believed that continuing to seal the Demon King rather than executing him on the spot would help maintain order.
As long as the Demon King was alive, the remnants of the demon race would continue to focus on rescuing him from the Saint Church.
In that case, the pressure brought by the remnants of the demon race would be mainly borne by the Saint Church.
Given the capabilities of the Saint Church, they could certainly handle it.
But if the Demon King were officially executed, the remnants of the demon race would lose their concentrated target, and the threat they posed might become dispersed.
Across the world, this could lead to a large number of serious incidents.
This would be equivalent to dispersing the pressure that the Saint Church bears onto all of humanity, potentially worsening social security.
…
After reading the entire report, Dark couldn’t fully agree with its content, but he did find it somewhat reasonable. Upon reflection, however, he felt something was off.
He was in a state of confusion, but he remembered the writer’s pen name—Feather Crow.
…
At exactly seven o’clock in the morning.
After finishing all the newspapers, Dark got up from his seat, re-summoned “Eevee the Fairy,” and said to it, “Good luck,” before sending it back to its room.
Eevee stood tall and spirited, exuding an aura of “I must be the first.”
Dark couldn’t help but smile.
He waited a little longer, and the three tutors of the Duke’s Mansion arrived one after another.
Dark sat in the main seat of the dining room, propped his chin, and chatted with the three tutors about exam topics, casually mentioning the Demon King Execution Ritual.
Both “Silent Sage” Buckner Cyrus, a Magus, and Ms. Plant, a Mage, were very interested in the Demon King Execution Ritual.
Only Mrs. Cook showed no interest in it at all.
Thus, the three tutors allocated the exam supervision times based on the start time of the ritual. Cyrus and Plant were responsible for the first and fourth sessions, while Cook handled the second and third.
This way, both Cyrus and Plant could take time off to watch the event.
In fact, many people in the Duke’s Mansion were interested in this event.
Dark also invited Housekeeper Manager Jasmine, Head Maid Wige of the Virgo Maids, and Head Maid Jenise of the Pisces Maids.
After all, sharing joy is better than enjoying it alone.
Apart from Jasmine politely declining the invitation, the other two maids agreed.
When the three tutors left, seemingly avoiding them, Aurora and Pandora arrived late.
Dark finally picked up his fork and knife, joining them for breakfast.
“How was your sleep last night? Comfortable?”
“It was okay, this is the biggest bed I’ve ever slept in, but it feels a bit too spacious.”
Pandora winked at Dark and skillfully cut her steak.
“I don’t know why, but I feel safe here.”
Hephaestus sighed lightly, looking visibly more relaxed than the day before.
Clearly, after this night, she felt much more at ease with the Duke’s Mansion, or perhaps with Dark himself.
Life after escaping prison wasn’t comfortable for her.
The Saint Church never gave up on the idea of recapturing the escapees for trial, and there were pursuers everywhere.
During her initial escape, she realized she was completely out of touch with the times and thus chose not to confront them head-on.
Though she didn’t show any worry in front of her daughter, it was only to ensure her daughter could study in peace.
Before Pandora’s vacation, she hid in the Exile Forest, and her subsequent actions were extremely cautious.
When she transformed into her original form and flew to the capital city yesterday, she indeed used magic to conceal her movements, but still, she was spotted by the Imp Didi, which truly startled her.
Fortunately, recently, the Saint Church has clearly focused most of its energy on the execution ritual. She not only enjoyed a good tour around the capital but also successfully found the Duke’s Mansion.
Especially fortunate was that the eldest son of the Duke’s Mansion matched her daughter’s description perfectly.
Initially, she thought her daughter had exaggerated.
The junior male student in the academy was a product of “filtered perception,” but after personally interacting with him, she realized that her daughter indeed had good judgment when it came to people.
This junior male student of her daughter’s wasn’t bad!
Just a bit young.
…
Aurora also said to Pandora, “Senior, if there’s anything you’re uncomfortable saying, you can tell me.”
Pandora, who quite liked this future underclassman, began to speak to her in hushed tones.
Afterwards, the mana golems lined up and entered one by one. After finishing breakfast, they were taken to the examination hall.
Dark and the others then left together, coming to a living room already prepared with various seeds, fruits, pastries, and beverages.
“Evie.”
After sitting on the sofa, Dark looked towards the corner of the wall.
Evie stepped out from the shadows, her expression focused.
Dark asked, “Has Irina arrived?”
Evie nodded and replied, “She arrived at the periphery of St. Louis Square half an hour ago and is now awaiting orders in the shadows.”
“In the shadows?” Dark thought for a moment and said, “Let her move freely. I also want to look around.”
Immediately, Evie responded, “Yes, Master. Today, I and Irina will be your eyes.”
Dark nodded and pointed to the chair in front, saying, “Sit down as well. Don’t be too stiff.”
“Alright, Master,” Evie smiled sweetly and sat down obediently.
Then she reached out and a high-definition image appeared on the snow-white wall.
Irina seemed to be hiding at the angle between the eaves and the wall of a second-floor room. Her view was excellent; with one glance, she could take in the entire St. Louis Square.
Towering pillars, mysterious altars, orderly rows of holy knights, and white-robed priests with their eyes closed in prayer created a scene as sacred as a fantasy.
But in the next instant,
Irina changed positions.
The image on the wall quickly shifted to a cramped small room.
Irina emerged from the corner of the small room, smoothed her bangs, and pushed open the door.
In that instant, the noisy sounds immediately filled her ears, and the extremely lively scene before her eyes unfolded.
“This is the second floor of a teahouse on the south side of St. Louis Square,” Evie explained, as if providing commentary from outside the arena.
“St. Louis Square is within the jurisdiction of the Church of the Saints, so no taverns are allowed nearby. But merchants always find opportunities. The Church did not say that selling alcohol in a teahouse is prohibited.”
“(⊙o⊙) Ah!”
Dark blinked and looked at the projection on the wall.
Sure enough, this place openly sold alcohol.
A refined beastman held a wine glass, observing the crowd outside the window.
An irritable elemental pointed at a timid dwarf and ranted.
A goblin riding a construct carefully tidied up three strands of hair in a small mirror held by the construct.
After Irina left the small room, she sat down at a window-side seat.
Positions like this would normally not be left empty, but she had paid a hefty deposit in advance.
Naturally, the teahouse owner wouldn’t refuse money, so this position was kept reserved.
Irina maintained the “Spirit Sympathy Spell,” took out a small bottle, and put a “candy bean” in her mouth.
Feeling the accelerated recovery of mana and the sweetness of the bean, a rare smile appeared on her stern face, causing flowers to bloom instantly.
She didn’t have a particularly strong feeling about being “Master’s eyes,” but tasks like today where she could move freely weren’t common.
Carefully calculating, she was still just a fourteen-year-old girl, full of enthusiasm for going out.
Irina propped her chin on the windowsill, warm wind blowing through, lifting her bangs.
With four hours until noon, St. Louis Square was already bustling with people.
If she hadn’t come two hours early, she wouldn’t have secured such a great viewing spot.
And through her perspective, Dark and the others saw the surging crowds.
Even through a screen, it felt like waves of heat were rushing towards them.
Dark curiously observed each person in the projection, his gaze naturally drifting towards those of mixed races.
As the capital city of the kingdom, with the presence of the Church of the Saints, it had never been friendly towards mixed races.
Thus, Dark Demon, who grew up in the capital, rarely had the chance to see so many mixed races.
Even after entering Saint Maryann Academy, Saint Maryann Academy was primarily for humans, so there were virtually no pure-blooded mixed races, and even those with mixed blood were mostly half-breeds.
On such a special day, how could one not enjoy the scene if they didn’t watch?
“Click!”
Dark cracked open a sunflower seed, his eyes suddenly brightening.
“Stop!”
Hearing Dark’s instruction through Evie’s ears, Irina immediately stopped moving her gaze.
Then on the wall, a beastman with long ears appeared in the projection.
Apart from the long, upright ears, the beastwoman’s appearance was indistinguishable from a human’s.
Due to wearing a knee-length dress, her tail couldn’t be seen.
But it should be…
“That’s a rabbit person, right?” Dark said with some surprise.
“It’s a donkey,” Pandora immediately interjected.
Dark turned his head in shock, and Pandora couldn’t help but laugh.
Seeing him looking, Pandora quickly added, “Donkey ears are also quite long, so it’s normal to get confused.”
Dark continued to look at the projection with a dark expression.
Irina’s gaze also moved accordingly.
Soon after, Dark’s eyes lit up again, pointing at a fat-eared beastman and saying, “Isn’t this always a pig person?”
Pandora placed a peeled orange into the fruit dish in front of him and smiled, “That’s an elephant person.”
Dark examined it closely and confidently said, “Do you think I’m that easy to fool? This pig person doesn’t have an elephant trunk.”
Pandora smiled, “You didn’t notice the scab on its nose? That’s where the elephant trunk was cut off.”
Dark: “…”
Seeing him truly believing it.
Aurora tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “Senior is just teasing you. It really is a pig person.”
Dark blinked and laughed, “Isn’t this what I’m doing to cooperate with her?”
Pandora couldn’t help laughing again.
Hephaestus, sitting on the other sofa, shook his head at the sight of his daughter’s happy demeanor, thinking, girls grow up so fast.
Just as he was pondering, his expression turned serious, and he spoke, “Stop!”
But the image on the wall flashed by, and when it returned, the person she noticed was gone.
“Hephaestus Aunt, did you see someone?” Dark asked seriously.
Hephaestus said with a heavy expression, “My attention wasn’t on the wall just now…”
Dark: “Could you describe what the figure looked like? I’ll have Irina find it.”
“See.”
Hephaestus’s eyes flickered, then he shook his head and said, “No need. Whether that person is here or not doesn’t concern me. Continue with what you’re doing.”
Dark slightly frowned but then instructed Eve, “Let Irina pay more attention.”
“I heard you…” Irina’s voice came through.
Immediately after, she began searching for any unusual aura among the crowd below.
…
But right above her, on the rooftop of the teahouse, stood an elderly man with a kind face.
This elderly man wore a priest robe with yellow edges, his hair was gray, and his face was full of wrinkles. He wore a monocle over his left eye and held a thick religious text in his hand.
The sunlight reflected off the monocle, casting white light.
He looked down at the ground as if he could see through the roof to the Irina below.
“It’s the ‘Spirit Synergy Technique,’ I thought it was the ‘True Dragon’s Eye.'”
After confirming, he slightly shook his head and continued walking.
…
The number of powerful individuals arriving from all directions far exceeded surface-level statistics.
Although Irina paid attention afterward, she never saw the old man again.
Yet, Dark still recognized many well-known figures through her perspective.
Among them were many non-humans, but there were also numerous human magi.
Amidst the laughter and conversation, half an hour quickly passed.
The maid captain of the “Virgo Maids,” Vigo, and the maid captain of the “Pisces Maids,” Janice, arrived one after another.
Both maid captains were still wearing matching maid uniforms, but their chest badges were distinctly different.
“Virgo” Vigo still had a standardized smile, which didn’t leave a good impression.
Dark had once ordered her to remove that standardized smile when he was a small master, but after she stopped smiling, her face became extremely stern and rigid.
She was very strict, even more so than Professor Shylph when she deliberately put on a serious face.
Dark would never forget the painful times when she taught him noble etiquette with a ruler.
In stark contrast, “Pisces” Janice had a natural and bright smile, and her personality was relatively relaxed.
She had applied a delicate makeup this morning that looked like “light makeup,” and her long red hair, usually tied up high, fell loosely, making her appear several years younger, looking no more than in her early twenties.
It’s unlikely anyone would guess that she was skilled in fishing.
…
Vigo and Janice’s arrival made the living room even livelier.
Shortly after, Olivia also sat down.
Today, most of the regular audience members were present.
Vigo wasn’t talkative, but Janice was eloquent, and soon she became familiar with Hephaestus.
With these two “peers,” Hephaestus finally wasn’t lonely anymore.
The entire living room was divided into two groups based on the superficial “age.”
…
Time flew by quickly. After seeing many non-humans, Dark prepared for Irina to stand up and move around.
But just as Irina was about to rise, someone approached.
She turned her head slightly, and the walls projected the image of the approaching figures.
There were three of them: a swordsman, a shield warrior, and a magus.
A popular adventurer combination recently.
With the protection of the swordsman and shield warrior, the magus could freely summon magic cards into battle, making their efficiency significantly higher than that of a mage or archer.
Upon noticing their approach, Irina frowned.
However, watching from afar, Dark’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed excitedly, “They finally appeared? Is this the one?”
“Which one?” Pandora asked curiously.
Aurora whispered, “He might be referring to those unnamed supporting characters often seen in story collections.”
“Unnamed supporting characters…” Pandora suddenly realized, then smiled bitterly, “But that’s just fiction.”
Dark laughed and said, “Art imitates life.”
Pandora shook his head and said, “My point is, they usually introduce themselves by name.”
Dark: “?”
…
“Miss, may we join you at your table?”
The magus, dressed in a black robe, politely removed his hat, revealing a refined and amiable face.
Behind him, the swordsman and shield warrior did not appear threatening.
Irina only glanced at them and coldly replied, “No.”
The magus, after being rejected, did not get angry. He simply put his hat back on and stood straight again.
But behind him, the swordsman sneered and said, “Miss, a table can seat four people. Adding us three more isn’t much. If it’s about money, we can split the cost.”
The shield warrior added, “Don’t use the excuse that someone is already sitting there. We’ve been observing you for quite some time, and you’re alone, right?”
But no matter how much they spoke, Irina only responded with two words: “No.”
And after saying that, she shifted her gaze to the window, ignoring them.
The three adventurers exchanged glances. The magus, as the central figure, tried to persuade her again, “Miss, you might not go out much. My brothers and I are somewhat known among adventurers. I am ‘Bloodblade Magus’ Sami. This swordsmen brother is ‘Storm Sword’ Avy, and this shield warrior brother is ‘Unyielding Fortress’ Ebi.”
When Magus Sami announced their names, “Storm Sword” Avy and “Unyielding Fortress” Ebi puffed up their chests proudly, clearly very satisfied with their titles.
…
“Did they really announce their names?” Dark couldn’t help but bite into an apple, then asked with slight confusion, “Are these three adventurers really famous?”
But everyone in the living room just shook their heads, creating an eerie atmosphere.
After a while, Eve said, “I know a bit about adventurers… but I haven’t heard of these three names before.”
“Is that so?” Dark estimated, “What are Irina’s chances?”
“A bunch of useless people.”
Irina’s voice rang out directly.
Dark couldn’t help but widen his eyes. Sure enough, he saw the three adventurers who heard the word “useless” starting to show signs of anger.
“Outsiders should prioritize harmony. We’re not here to fight today,” Dark hurriedly warned.
Irina’s face showed reluctance, but she forced out, “Women’s mouth.”
But Dark didn’t stop and continued, “So let’s end this quickly.”
Irina’s eyes lit up, and almost immediately after Dark’s words, she acted.
Her movements were incredibly fast. With just a slight movement of her fingers, a black light instantly emerged, transforming into a snake-like shape in mid-air, which bit into the neck of “Bloodblade Magus” Sami!
That wasn’t magic; it was also a magic card.
Each of Irina’s fingers was adorned with fake nails, which were part of a set of magical tools. Each fake nail had
Special Utility
This black snake formed by the beam of light had venomous teeth that could instantly bring down even the strongest beastmen, let alone the frail magi.
“The best way to deal with a magus is to make them fall before they can summon their magic cards.”
Irina stood up calmly.
Since the troublesome magus had lost his fighting ability, the remaining two warriors were nothing more than lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
To be honest, she had been cooped up for quite some time.
Ever since Dark returned home on vacation, Lady Chris had inexplicably not given them any new tasks. Her hands were practically idle.
“Are we going to fight?”
Irina pulled out her dagger and waved it at the swordsman.
She realized that the young master might want to see a martial arts show.
The swordsman was also quite resolute. After the magus fell, he did not flee like a stray dog but instead protected the magus with the shield warrior and drew his sword at Irina.
That faint sound of the sword being drawn was clear and melodious.
Almost all the guests on the second floor of the teahouse turned to look, but they showed great interest and had no intention of stopping.
Even the waiters in the teahouse retreated inside, peeking out with half their faces exposed.
In this special period when outstanding individuals often suffered, everyone knew what was happening.
Even the swordsman hesitated after drawing his sword.
But Irina’s eyes flashed, and her dagger stabbed out like a snake—she feared that if she acted too slowly, “Storm Sword” Avy would truly retreat, which would ruin the young master’s mood.
When Irina attacked again, Storm Sword Avy already knew it wouldn’t end well.
He no longer hesitated and violently shook his wrist, causing the sword to tremble wildly.
Then, intense ripples burst from the blade, forming a terrifying storm in an instant!
This was actually a magic sword!
But Irina only curled her lips, and her dagger pierced through the storm, hitting Avy’s wrist.
“Sss—”
The artery in his wrist was cut, and blood gushed out.
Irina leaned back and quickly returned her dagger to block, then lightly tapped the sword, causing it to drop to the ground with a clatter.
Storm Sword Avy, his face pale, held his wrist tightly and took three quick steps back, turning to run away.
“Don’t forget your sword,” Irina said as she kicked the magic sword with her toe, aiming straight for Avy’s buttocks.
“Clang!”
The shield warrior holding the magic sword suddenly planted his feet and blocked the sword with his round shield on his arm.
Then, he grabbed the falling magic sword and carried the magic user down the stairs with one hand.
Swordsman Avy immediately followed, fleeing in panic.
Irina heard praise coming from her sister and couldn’t help but smile.
This was exactly what she wanted.
…
This small incident didn’t cause much disturbance.
Dark, feeling pleased after watching the fight, praised Irina for several minutes, making Eve blush.
Meanwhile, Irina sat back in her seat, sipping tea with a masterful air.
Afterwards, the surrounding guests knew that the girl who had occupied the entire table was no ordinary person.
Without anyone provoking her, Irina observed for a while from the window, then prepared to go out as suggested by Dark.
Naturally, there were other teahouses around St. Louis Square for rest.
Irina wandered outside for half an hour, bought some snacks like an ordinary girl, picked out some souvenirs, and returned to the teahouse.
It was now 9:30, leaving only two and a half hours until the scheduled Demon King execution ritual at 12:00.
With a hint of anticipation, Irina walked up to the second floor, only to find that her seat had not been taken.
She couldn’t help but shake her head in disappointment and continued to observe.
The view here was indeed good; just a slight turn could reveal St. Louis Square.
However, since morning, nothing else had changed inside. Neither the people who should come nor those who shouldn’t had appeared.
“Is it not yet time?”
Dark looked at the “Gluttony +1” floating quietly and put down the fruit in his hand.
But the moment he placed the fruit down, Pandora seemed to notice him controlling his diet and cheerfully peeled a grape, lifting it to his mouth.
Dark’s face darkened, but the grape was already in his mouth.
Fortunately, “Gluttony” did not increase further.
He immediately frowned and said, “Senior, it’s not good to feed others indiscriminately.”
“Is it not allowed?” Pandora blinked at him.
Dark shook his head and said, “No.”
Pandora opened her mouth and said, “Alright, then you feed me.”
Dark: “…”
Pandora: “Ah—”
Reluctantly, Dark peeled the grape and fed it to her.
On the other side, Aurora involuntarily opened her mouth, pretending to move.
But immediately afterward, Dark put another grape in her mouth.
She instantly smiled.
Dark sighed, wondering what kind of food these girls were raised on.
How could they be so adorable?
“Clang Clang Clang—”
Just as he was thinking, he suddenly perked up his ears, thinking he heard an illusion.
But on the wall projection, Little Lily’s figure appeared clearly.
The trio of Professors Kazel, Shylph, and Lily, who had just come up from the first floor, scanned the area. Professor Kazel slightly shook his head and said, “It seems there is no room here.”
Professor Shylph sighed and said, “I told you to come earlier.”
Lily turned her face, indicating she wasn’t the one holding them back.
But just as they were about to go downstairs, Little Lily suddenly brightened her eyes and exclaimed, “Look, aren’t those children waving at us over there?”
Professor Kazel turned his head and said, “It seems so.”
Professor Shylph frowned and said, “Unsolicited kindness is usually either deceit or mischief. Be careful.”
But before she finished speaking, Lily had already flown over.
“(????) Hello!”
“Good morning, Professor Lily.”
After learning their identities, Irina showed great respect.
“Do you know me?” Lily carefully examined Irina’s face and asked in confusion, “But I haven’t seen you in the academy.”
“I’m not a student of Saint Maryann Academy,” Irina’s eyes flickered as she shook her head, “I took the entrance exam two years ago but failed.”
“That’s a shame,” Lily sat down next to Irina without hesitation.
Seeing this, Professors Kazel and Shylph also sat down at the table.
Eve smiled at the two professors and said, “Professors Shylph and Kazel, my young master sends his greetings.”
