Chapter 32: Lily, I’ve come to condemn you Part 1

“Now then, for today’s event, I’ve summoned about 50 people to the church, including the student council, nobles, and the top-scoring commoners.

That’s not all.

To ensure everyone at Atlerina Academy hears it, I’ve set up a magical eavesdropping device for Lily’s condemnation.

If I’m going to do this, I might as well make it big.

‘Why did Olivia call us here?’

Aslan blurted out something foolish.

He should’ve already heard from Claire by now.

Or is he doubting me again?

‘You should have already received word.’

‘Is it really about the monster problem?’

Aslan sighed, casting a suspicious look.

Let’s see if he can still sigh after this is all over.

This isn’t just about condemning Lily.

The so-called nobles of Atlerina all fell under the succubus’s charm, didn’t they?

Even the professors neglected their duties.

There were probably some who suspected Lily among the professors.

But, thinking, ‘It couldn’t be Ashtar,’ they must have turned a blind eye.

And with that nasty older sister here, the situation just wraps itself up nicely.

‘Stop with the nonsense and get on with it.’

‘We’re eager to hear what the esteemed saintess has to say.’

At the officers’ words, I smirked.

They still think I’m the same Olivia as before.

‘As I mentioned, it’s because of the monster.’

‘Are you saying there’s a monster within the imperial capital, protected by the continent’s strongest barrier?’

Ryla scoffed at my words.

If even a knight from the Ryla family reacts this way, what can I expect from the other nobles? They probably feel secure because of the barrier.

‘Yes.’

My response made not just the student council but other students laugh in disbelief.

Their expressions seemed to say, ‘Is she seriously saying that?’

‘Ha. To think you’d say something like that. It’s almost absurd.’

Aslan is also too confident in the barrier against monsters.

‘If that weren’t the case, why would I be doing this?’

I was a fool to expect those who were toyed with by a succubus to have any sense.

I clapped my hands.

‘Now that everyone’s here, let’s skip the preamble and get straight to the point. I’m not one for dragging things out.’

‘I want to end this quickly.’

The remnants of the old Olivia inside me are screaming for Lily’s end.

‘Hurry it up.’

The tone, as if indulging a child’s play, made me sneer internally.

They’ll look so ridiculous later.

‘First of all, there’s someone in Atlerina who’s made a pact with a monster.’

I scanned the student council officers.

A pact with a monster.

The nobles who understood the implications began murmuring.

‘You’re not just trying to bully someone you don’t like, are you?’

Aslan still seems to be suspecting me of being the old Olivia.

That could also be Lily’s influence.

After all, when it comes to Lily and Olivia, this guy always gets emotional.

‘Do I seem like that?’

‘Well, to be honest, yes.’

How disappointing.

It’s almost pitiful that he doesn’t realize he’s been mocked by a woman consumed by inferiority.

‘Oh my. How rude. Well then, let’s talk about the monster in question. It’s a succubus.’

‘A succubus?’

‘Yes.’

‘Who at this academy would make a pact with a succubus?’

This is the normal reaction.

Normally, making a pact with a succubus is akin to giving up your humanity.

‘It’s Lily.’

‘Sister, what kind of false accusation is this?’

At my words, Lily jumped up from her seat.

How amusing it is to see her sitting beside Aslan just because she’s his fiancée.

And the students blindly siding with such an immature girl are even more laughable.

That’s exactly why I have to condemn her here.

Immaturity doesn’t grant immunity.

Her actions led the previous Olivia to commit suicide.

Lily wasn’t the only one to react to my words.

Aslan and the student council officers scowled.

They still believe Olivia is bullying Lily, just like before.

Sigh ‘I was hoping otherwise, but as expected. You’re just using your status as a saintess to torment Lily, aren’t you?’

How pathetic.

To think they would fall prey to a succubus.

The crown prince’s dignity is about to hit rock bottom.

‘Oh dear, Your Highness, Crown Prince. If you have a brain in that head, perhaps you should try thinking. I am still Ashtar. Do you think I would tarnish my family’s name?’

For a noble to swear by their family’s name means they are prepared to accept the consequences, whatever they may be.

It seems the student council officers, mostly nobles, never expected me to invoke my family’s name.

‘Do you have proof?’

‘Lily? If you’re truly innocent, step forward.’

I beckoned Lily with my finger.

If you’re innocent, you should come forward, right?

‘Why should I, when I’m innocent?'”

“Yeah, isn’t this just slander? How about you stop now?”

The problem with those bewitched by Lily is that they can’t see the truth.

‘Wow, the brainwashing is impressive.’

It seems not all the commoners are affected, but the nobles are certainly under her spell.

‘What?’

‘Let’s bet my life on it. If Lily hasn’t made a pact, I’ll offer my head right here.’

I’ve put my life on the line.

Now, what will you wager, Lily?

I glanced at Lily’s face.

She hadn’t expected this turn of events.

Her face twisted in a way that made her already unattractive features even worse.

‘Why such extremes?’

It was the first time I’d seen Yuria genuinely surprised.

‘Yes, that’s the normal reaction.’

I’m staking my life! How difficult do you think that is?

‘I’m that confident.’

My words divided the crowd between those who doubted Lily and those who supported her.

The doubters were mostly noblewomen, the same ones Lily had secretly undermined using Ashtar’s name.

‘Fine. So how are you going to prove it?’

Proving it is not hard.

‘The proof of a pact with a succubus is a mark found on the back of the hand or the lower abdomen. A magician can detect it.’

‘You’re not going to say you’ll perform the magic yourself, are you?’

‘Oh, come on, that’s why I prepared in advance. Professor, please come out!’

I had arranged for a professor to attend Lily’s trial.

He’s a magician, after all.

‘Did you really have to drag me into this?’

The magician who would verify the pact was Adran, a professor of magical engineering and a somewhat respected figure.

No one would accuse him of making a biased judgment.

‘Yes.’

‘You’re such a bother.’

A professor neglecting his duty like this.

Isn’t it the right thing to guide your student if they’ve been conspiring with monsters?

“Professor, please verify Lily.”

“Isn’t this a bit too much? Accusing your own sister of conspiring with monsters. You know, if you’re wrong, even as a saintess, it’ll be tough to recover.”

“If I’m wrong, even as a saintess, I’ll be torn apart.”

But Lily is guilty.

Nora, her pact partner, is already lurking in the background.

If she denies it to the end, I’ll bring out Nora and force her to break the contract.

Even the nobles who favor Lily won’t be able to deny the truth when the pact is severed right before their eyes.

So, ‘Hurry up.’

I was genuinely excited.

I could feel Olivia inside me rejoicing.

‘Fine, fine. There’s no way she made a pact with a succubus, right? Lily, step forward.’

As Adran beckoned, Lily shook her head.

At that moment, Adran’s expression darkened as if he had sensed something.

‘N-no. I don’t want to.’

Her hesitant steps backward screamed, ‘I’m hiding something!’

Did she really think she wouldn’t be caught?

If she’s been deceiving everyone for this long, she should’ve prepared better, shouldn’t she?

“Why don’t you want to?”

“What’s making you nervous?”

“No, nothing! Stop accusing me of things I didn’t do!”

“At least act the part convincingly.”

No one shakes like that, even when thrown out into the cold, naked.

It’s unfortunate, but Lily, this is where you have to exit.

You’re too troublesome a person.

Then, at that moment, Lily’s eyes glowed red.

That’s a succubus ability.

“Why are you doing this to Lily?”

“What did my sister ever do to deserve this?”

The noble students began defending Lily.

This complicates things.

Not for me, though—it’s their problem.

They’re going to feel so embarrassed later.

Should I take care of them afterward?

But right now, Lily’s the priority.

Having used the succubus’s powers for so long, she can use them without needing to awaken.

“So, she can control the succubus’s abilities freely?”

She’s practically a succubus in all but name.

The succubus’s name was Nora, right?

Poor thing. It annoys me that her name is similar to my old one, but she must be frustrated that the human she made a pact with isn’t becoming a succubus, just stealing her powers.

She couldn’t brainwash the commoners because she lacked the magical power, but the noble students have disgraced themselves.

Now, what about the professor?

Glancing at Adran, I noticed his once-bored expression had turned serious.

“Professor, did you see that?”

As a professor, he can’t overlook this.

This is Lily’s true nature.

“Everyone, stay still.”

What are you doing? That’s clearly sexual harassment!

Ignoring the students’ protests, Adran approached Lily.

As expected, Lily continued to back away.

‘D-don’t come near me! Eek!’

Lily’s red eyes flared as she glared at Adran.

“Did you think that would work on me?”

Of course, it wouldn’t work on a court magician.

In other words, Lily is doomed.

“Why isn’t it working? This… this is a scam!”

“Scam? You should be proud that you even managed to brainwash the students here.”

It seems the level of Atlerina Academy is lower than I thought.

Even though the curriculum changed, they should still have had private tutoring, yet they’re utterly unprepared for dealing with monsters.

‘So, the succubus mark is on her lower abdomen, then.’

Adran immediately understood.

Since Adran, a court magician, knows, there’s no escape for Lily.

I wonder if this was all necessary, but this is my way of repaying the first Olivia, who, in a way, gave me her life.

“Indeed.”

‘Wait, what are you trying to do?’

Lily’s voice was beginning to tremble.

If she’s asking what’s happening, it’s only polite to answer.

In short, ‘Lily, your game is over.’

Let’s end this now.

You just picked the wrong opponent, Lily.