Ian looked at Yiserin, who stood with her head lowered, and paused.
“Why are you saying this? What happened yesterday wasn’t your fault.”
Recalling last night’s events, Ian still felt a lingering fear. If he could overpower Serinveia now, he’d make her feel the suffocating sensation of being crushed between two walls.
But in the end, what did Serinveia’s actions have to do with Yiserin?
“If you’re still upset, you can hit me,” Yiserin said, her face slightly flushed.
“If you could turn into Iana, I’d be even more willing.”
Ian looked at Yiserin, feeling a headache coming on.
“What your sister did has nothing to do with you. You’re you—there’s no need to atone for her sins.”
Hearing this, Yiserin lifted her head, her eyes slightly red.
“But I don’t want you to hate me.”
“When did I ever say I hated you?” Ian was baffled by Yiserin’s words.
“When you pushed me away yesterday, you looked so fierce,” Yiserin muttered softly.
“That’s because you nearly strangled me, not because of your sister,” Ian said, exasperated. “Besides, I was in Iana’s form at the time, and you still laid hands on a kid.”
“I think you owe me an apology for that.”
Yiserin’s face reddened, and she stammered, “I was just… too nervous back then.”
The usually suave Yiserin, master of romance, now looked like a flustered girl experiencing her first crush.
Seeing Yiserin like this, Ian thought to himself, Is this girl seriously into Iana?
What kind of creepy lolicon is this?
I admit Iana’s form is a bit cute, but that’s no excuse for her to be such a weirdo.
“If there’s anything you need me to do, just tell me,” Yiserin said, her eyes full of expectation as she looked at Ian.
Hearing her words, Ian suddenly realized something.
My roommates aren’t exactly lacking in talent, are they?
Why not just pull all three of them into my team?
“Ahem,” Ian cleared his throat and said to Yiserin, “There is actually something I need your help with.”
“What is it?” Yiserin asked, visibly excited that Ian needed her assistance.
“Join my team. Let’s participate in the Sacred Trial together,” Ian said to Yiserin.
The continent-wide competition wasn’t just about fighting on a stage. It tested not only a team’s strength but also their coordination.
From the original story, Ian knew the first round involved scattering the teams across a Secret Realm to see which team could kill the most demons.
This tested not only individual ability but also the team’s long-distance communication skills.
If a team couldn’t regroup quickly, it was hard to rank well.
Only teams that passed the first round could proceed to the next—a test of task-completion ability.
In short, the organizers would assign different tasks of varying difficulty to each team, and teams would choose which tasks to complete within a six-month time limit, earning points based on their performance.
I need to bring Yiserin and the others into the competition.
Otherwise, with just me and Lillian, we’ll probably get eliminated in the first round.
“Join the Sacred Trial?” Yiserin thought for a moment before saying, “If I agree, will I get to see Iana?”
Ian nodded. “Every team gets one substitute slot. That slot can go to Iana.”
Yiserin’s eyes sparkled at Ian’s words, but then she flashed a sly smile. “Can I hug Iana then? Just a little?”
Hearing this, Ian’s forehead twitched with dark lines. “Absolutely not,” he said firmly.
“Stingy,” Yiserin pouted, but she quickly perked up. “Alright, it’s a deal. I’ll join your team.”
“Our goal is the championship,” Ian said resolutely to Yiserin.
Seeing Ian’s determined gaze, Yiserin nodded. “Got it. I’ll give it my all.”
“By the way, do you know where Chiye and the others are?” Ian asked Yiserin.
“Chiye got into an argument with my sister over you yesterday and quit the Student Council. She’s probably looking for a new job now,” Yiserin replied.
“As for Sephiroth, she’s been acting all secretive today, wandering around who-knows-where.”
Ian was surprised by Yiserin’s words. “Chiye argued with Serinveia because of me?”
Thinking of Serinveia, who was like a madwoman yesterday, Ian couldn’t imagine what it was like for Chiye to argue with her. It’s a miracle Chiye wasn’t killed.
“Yeah, Chiye really cares about you,” Yiserin said. “Or maybe she just doesn’t want her mother to lose you as a customer.”
Chiye’s mother? Ian recalled the nine-tailed fox who effortlessly dispelled Serinveia’s spatial magic on Flora.
With that in mind, Ian stopped worrying about Chiye’s safety. Chiye’s mother is unfathomably powerful—Serinveia’s no match for her right now.
“Do you know where Chiye’s working now?” Ian asked Yiserin. “If possible, let’s get her to join our team too.”
“I recall the Sacred Trial’s rewards are pretty generous—treasures for bloodline development, weapons, gold coins, you name it.”
“I’m sure Chiye wouldn’t say no.”
Yiserin nodded. “Pulling Chiye in is a good choice. Her strength isn’t bad either.”
“Any other candidates?” Yiserin asked Ian.
“The Saintess Family’s second daughter, Lillian, and Sephiroth,” Ian replied.
“The Saintess Family’s second daughter, Lillian? Isn’t she stuck at the first Saintess Trial?” Yiserin asked, frowning.
Hearing Yiserin’s question, Ian smiled slightly. “Of course she’s useful—extremely useful.”
Back then, Veronica was also stuck at the first Saintess Trial, but under my guidance, she passed three trials.
If I can help Veronica pass the Saintess Trials, why can’t I do the same for Lillian?
If Lillian gains the approval of a former Saintess first, she could block Veronica from becoming a Saintess.
That would cap Veronica’s bloodline development at under 10% forever, effectively neutralizing one member of Ethelrina’s team.
That’s practically a five-against-four advantage. The odds are in our favor.