Chapter 112: Academy of Turmoil Part 2

The Croissant from Logran didn’t hate me because of Lily.

It was purely because we got into a quarrel.

So, there was no need to keep tying ourselves together as enemies.

It was just that I found it annoying.

“Not my problem, is it?”

“P-please. I really need your help.”

Seeing that croissant begging so earnestly, it must be really urgent.

This was the kind of situation where I should play hard to get.

That way, I could gain more from it.

“What do I get out of this?”

“Whatever you ask for, as long as I can help, I will.”

The daughter of the Logran family was willing to help as much as she could, huh?

Then, I might as well have some fun with this.

“Logran is a family well-versed in magic, correct?”

‘She had mentioned that last time, hadn’t she? Though, it hadn’t been particularly useful.’

“Yes, Saintess.”

“Well, from now on, just go by the name Croissant.”

“I have a name of my own! Why should I—”

When the Saintess tells you to do something, you do it.

“Do you dislike it? I thought we were close enough for nicknames.”

“Grrr…”

Names weren’t important.

Just looking at her, she was nothing more than a croissant.

Anyway, I could at least put on a bit of an act.

“First, what resources come from the Logran territory? I mean, your specialties.”

“We produce high-quality coffee beans.”

I had heard that the Logran family had strong ties to baking and coffee, making their dessert culture quite advanced.

That was something I could respect.

“So, the coffee there must be delicious. Bread and coffee—an excellent combination.”

“Then… if I give you some coffee beans, will you at least pretend to be on friendly terms with me?”

‘Oh, come on. What did she take me for?’

I wasn’t that cheap.

“Before that, lend me the oldest book from Logran’s archives.”

“Understood. And… anything else?”

“Lick the top of my foot.”

I crossed my legs and gently swung my right foot.

Smiling mockingly.

Croissant’s face twisted in a rather satisfying way.

“Lick… your foot? That’s a bit—”

“Oh my, do you think a fallen noble family like yours can stand on equal footing with me? I am the daughter of House Ashtar, a Saintess, a Grand Preceptor, and a war hero. Do you really believe you can compare?”

‘Could an insignificant student from Atlerina Academy ever hope to match me? No, of course not.’

“Still… isn’t that a bit much—”

“A bit much? From my perspective, the daughter of House Logran is nothing more than something beneath my feet. Nothing about you is worthy of standing beside me.”

Time to act the part of a villainous noblewoman.

And a Saintess.

A bit of power-wielding wouldn’t hurt.

Besides, I was a Grand Preceptor, even if just in title.

That meant I had the authority of the Emperor’s teacher.

In other words, I could wield power as I pleased.

“No, it’s just that… haah.”

“Lick it.”

I wiggled my foot seductively.

Teasingly.

Provocatively, as if to taunt her.

Go on, lick it, Croissant.

“Do I look that easy to you?”

“Yes.”

A magic family that took ages to chant a single spell could only be seen as weak.

‘Right?’

‘If she wanted to talk to me, she should know how to grovel properly.’

“Grrr… You’re infuriating!”

“If you hate it, you know what to do. Otherwise, I’d have to go all the way to your territory myself. And a foot should know how to lick itself, shouldn’t it?”

In the end, the Croissant from the Logran family licked my foot.

Miserably.

Pathetically.

Trembling all the while as she threw away her dignity as a noblewoman.

It was hilarious.

“Then, I’ll consider visiting sometime.”

“Thank you.”

Of course, I only said sometime.

I never said when.

And if it became too much of a hassle, I might not go at all.

“By the way, I didn’t expect Croissant to be so dedicated to etiquette classes.”

“Well, at my age, it’s about time to prepare for an engagement.”

“Ah, I see.”

Right.

At this age, most noble ladies were getting engaged and preparing for marriage.

My case was just special.

“And also, noble ladies are expected to serve as role models for commoners.”

“Noble ladies?”

“Yes. The daughters of distinguished families must personally guide the girls from the commoners’ division.”

‘Bringing commoner students into this? Was this another measure to weed out anti-imperialists?’

It seemed like Croissant might end up playing an important role.

“You’re going to have a tough time, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“No, I just think you’re in for a rather rough life ahead.”

After all, noble daughters had to guide the commoners.

And since Croissant came from a family of mages, she’d have to put in quite a bit of effort.

“The way you say that… it’s kind of scary.”

That was the point.

But it wasn’t the time to tell her yet.

Giving the anti-imperialists time to react wouldn’t be ideal.

“Who knows? Maybe we’ll actually become close someday.”

If she ended up involved in all this, cooperation would be necessary.

***

Imperial Church

Atlerina’s classes had ended.

Bernoa, dressed in Olivia’s Saintess robes, stepped into the church.

It had been a long time since Bernoa had been in a church.

“Damn it. That wretched woman.”

She had abandoned the Goddess ages ago.

Even if this was just the Empire’s version of the church, sending a demon here—

That granddaughter of His was truly ruthless.

‘Maybe she should just run away right now.’

But for some reason, opposing Olivia wasn’t so simple.

“O-Oh… S-Saintess… You have… finally arrived.”

“Eek! W-what?! Are you… the High Priest?”

A man who looked like some kind of undead had appeared.

“Yes, I am the High Priest. Why do you look so surprised?”

It really was my first time seeing him.

But since I had to pretend to be Olivia, I had to act as if I knew him.

Not that it mattered much.

Apparently, they weren’t close, nor had they interacted much.

“So, Saintess… I am thinking of abandoning the Goddess and creating a new religion.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? There is only one true Goddess!”

Even though I had betrayed the Goddess myself, there was one thing I knew for certain.

There was only one true Goddess in this world.

There were only two gods: the slain god who was killed by the Godslayers and the goddess who created the world.

The identity of the slain god varied by region, but in some places, he was regarded as a demon god.

That was why, in most cases, only the goddess was worshipped.

“Didn’t you say to create a new one before?”

‘Create a new one? What in the world was Olivia thinking?’

Then again, considering she locked one of the Four Heavenly Kings in this place, she clearly wasn’t in her right mind.

“Ah, ah… Yes, I did say that. But circumstances have changed.”

“No, this time, it’s clear as day.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lately, every time I dream, a goddess appears to put me through trials.”

‘A goddess who delivers trials?’

‘A man who looked the least likely to possess divine power or faith in a god was saying that?’

“A goddess who gives you trials?”

“Yes.”

“And what kind of goddess is she?”

‘What kind of goddess was this supposed to be?’

“She strips me naked and whips me. I’ve never experienced a trial like that before.”

“??”

That… didn’t sound like something a goddess would do.

Even the deities of heretical cults wouldn’t behave like that.

In fact, if something like this really existed, it would be closer to a demon than a god.

“She told me to only look at her. If I don’t, she said even greater trials will await me.”

‘Only look at her, or suffer greater trials?’

That didn’t sound like any god she had ever heard of.

“Did she say that as long as you believe only in her, you’ll be fine?”

“Yes. She said the poor would be saved, and that only happiness and pleasure would remain.”

‘Wait a minute. That sounds an awful lot like a succubus… doesn’t it?’

She could already tell.

Something was lurking behind the priest, subtly sucking away his essence.

“Hiiik?”

Just look at that nun’s reaction.

The one who just flinched upon seeing her.

That wasn’t a nun—it was a succubus.

That wretched granddaughter of the lord had really done it this time.

She had actually placed a succubus inside the church.

She had suspected it, but to think it was true.

Unbelievable.

There was no one else in this entire world who would commit such madness except Olivia.

“Priest… that nun over there.”

She pointed at the woman standing behind him.

“Ah, my personal nun. Didn’t you assign her to me?”

She had held onto the slightest hope, but…

Olivia really had done it.

There was no need to ask anything further.

“I see. Then, please step aside. I have something to discuss with her.”

“Oh… a-alright.”

“Haa… I had a feeling, but to think there’s really a succubus here.”

Seriously, Olivia… for a Saintess, she was exceptionally good at blasphemy.

And this succubus hadn’t even repented.

She was outright tormenting the priest in his dreams.

So Bernoa dragged the succubus out to the church’s back courtyard.

“B-Bernoa?”

Well, at least someone recognized her.

“Oh, so you do recognize me?”

Even though she was disguised as Olivia, this one still figured it out.

After all, all of her subordinates had died back in the Demon Lord’s domain, and now she was stranded in a foreign land.

It was nice to see a familiar face.

“My corps commander served under you, after all.”

“Right. Olivia did mention you, but I didn’t expect there to actually be a succubus here.”

“But… how did you end up here? Did you come to rescue me?”

‘Rescue? Was that a joke?’

“No, I got caught too.”

“Oh.”

‘What had she expected?’

This fool.

“I didn’t even know you were here, and even if I did, would I have gone out of my way to rescue you?”

“That’s… fair.”

“Besides, Olivia is ridiculously strong.”

“Now that I think about it… Bernoa, you do look quite similar to the Saintess.”

Hearing that made her feel a bit strange.

“Anyway, what was that nonsense earlier? If this keeps up, the Imperial Church is going to turn into some bizarre religion that worships a succubus as a goddess.”

“Hmm… That doesn’t sound so bad?”

What a lunatic.

Well, if it meant sticking it to the Empire, it wasn’t the worst idea.

But that was only if Olivia wasn’t around.

“And what if Olivia gets angry later? Can you handle that?”

“Ah… that’s true.”

“Anyway, tone it down from now on. Got it? As for the goddess, I’ll take care of it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Good.

This was how it should have been from the start.

Maybe it was a small relief that Olivia had brought her here.

At least now she had a chance to set things back to how they were supposed to be.

But then again…

‘Would it even matter if a fallen being like herself tried to restore the Imperial Church?’

‘Oh, whatever. Anything’s better than letting them worship a succubus as their god.’