A moment later, Erika and Emil decided to leave the confessional in shifts. If they were caught leaving together, it would be extremely troublesome.
“My underwear is completely soaked. You should have known better than to put them so close.”
“Lady Emil, you were the one who stripped the clothes off both of us, weren’t you?”
“Hmph!”
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Fine. Also, don’t let this happen again next time, do you understand?”
Emil seemed quite annoyed that Erika had used a debilitating binding play on her and made her clean her fingers. Erika really wanted to retort that Emil had clearly been excited, but she ultimately decided to swallow those words. She simply nodded and silently pulled on her complex gown.
‘But how can I promise not to use my tail’s power next time? How else would I ever beat you?’
Thus, the veteran award-winning actress began her sweet-talking once more. “My apologies. Whenever I see you, Lady Emil, I just can’t help myself…”
“C-can’t help yourself? Why are you talking like some low-ranking soldier? Fine, I suppose my body is quite tempting.” Emil let out a soft hmph, a smug smile playing on her lips as she put on her dress.
“When will we meet again?”
“I don’t know. I’m a bit annoyed right now. Anyway, just hurry up and go.”
Leaving Emil behind, the young girl walked out of the prayer room alone. The moonlight was bright, and a cool breeze blew by, but her body was exhausted. However, she felt she would recover after a good night’s sleep. After all, using the tail consumed physical stamina, rather than mental energy or something similar.
**[Another successful bonding session with a beautiful girl!]**
**[Alluring Enchantress has earned Job Experience Points. +50]**
She went straight back to the dormitory and fell into a deep sleep. She didn’t even bother to bathe; beautiful girls didn’t have body odors anyway.
She had been a little afraid when she asked Emil when they would meet again… No, no, she was the one in absolute control now! She couldn’t possibly be bullied by that villainess!
***
Because both she and Emil were busy with preparations for the start of the term, they were unable to meet for the next few days. Time flowed by, and the day of the opening ceremony arrived.
Erika eventually entered the Academy Ark as the secretary and maid assisting Queen Evelyn. This was a high-level training institution for cultivating Heroes. At this moment, the training grounds were filled with Hero candidates and all sorts of future prospects who had flocked from all over the continent.
Regtaya had been a noisy and vibrant city before the term started, but compared to now, that prosperity seemed insignificant. The place was currently swarming with crowds, a scene of utter chaos.
Passerby A: “Watch where you’re going! You looking for a fight?”
Passerby B: “Like hell I am!”
Passerby C: “Brute!”
Passerby A: “Forget it, I’m not dealing with you.”
Passerby B: “Run, then, you coward!”
Passerby C: “Weakling!”
‘Good! Very good!’
The posturing matches unique to a new semester were already breaking out everywhere. Everyone was certainly full of energy.
‘Did I walk into an IRL player-killing arena?’ Erika was peeking around curiously when Evelyn walked over.
“This is such a mess. Erika, where are we supposed to go?”
“Today is the first day, and I heard there will be many tests. If it were ordinary commoners, they might have to wait in a long line with everyone else. However, since you are a special honorary student, Miss Evelyn, you can go directly to the counter over there.”
“Good. Lead the way.”
Erika led Evelyn toward the measurement area where the tests required for various arrangements and distributions were conducted. Many students were lined up in a long queue, heading toward an interior space that resembled a lecture hall, waiting for their turn.
“Look over there. Is that Queen Evelyn of Noelle?”
“Must be nice. We have to wait all day, while some people can just use the back door easily.”
Erika and Evelyn walked through an entrance that resembled a business-class fast-track lane. Only those who had invested heavily in the Church or made significant contributions could enter.
As expected, power was a wonderful thing.
The interior of the building was actually a spacious and magnificent hall. Several tables were set up, with a few people sitting behind them, signing their names on stacks of paper that looked like checklists.
“Her Majesty Queen Evelyn of Noelle, I am Bella, a staff member of the Church. It is a great honor to receive you today.” A woman with a blue hair ribbon stood up from her chair to greet them. She pushed up her glittering, silver-framed glasses and bowed slightly to Evelyn.
“I presume you already know what needs to be done on this first day?”
“Yes. Erika, tell her.”
“…”
‘Why does she make her maid convey it when she’s standing right there?’ Hearing this, Bella’s expression gradually became confused. She turned to look at Erika, who was following behind, and her eyes filled with a hint of admiration for the girl’s beauty.
“Hurry up, Erika.”
“Ahem. Her Majesty already knows today’s schedule…”
Once the girl finished conveying the message, Bella pushed her glasses up and handed a chart to the two of them. “Based on the results of the tests conducted today, your rankings will be decided, and dormitories will be assigned accordingly.”
“Dormitories?”
Evelyn clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction, clearly finding the idea beneath her. “Erika, ask if there are single rooms. As the Queen of a nation, it is impossible for me to share a bedroom with others.”
“Her Majesty the Queen of Noelle sharing a room with commoners is simply absurd. May I ask if there are single rooms available?”
“There are indeed private rooms, but those are only available to members of the Church’s Paladin Order… Ah, as you may know, the Paladin Order is a title granted to the top ten Heroes.”
The Paladin Order. Erika had read about those guys in the novel, though they were characters who appeared in the later stages. Every single one of them was a monster-like existence that surpassed human limits.
However, with the strength of people like Emil or Evelyn, they should be able to enter the top ten easily.
In reality, the testing items today were very simple, not much different from a middle school physical education exam: lateral jumps, long jumps, running speed, a simple test of magic aptitude, and using a sword to split a wooden stake.
It was likely a simple aptitude test designed to categorize their natural talent.
“But Queen Evelyn is already a 7th Tier Archmage, although it is currently unofficial… Moreover, she has been certified as a Sword Master by the Noel Swordsmanship Association. In that case, the swordsmanship test should be unnecessary, right?”
“Then please proceed to the counter over there—” Bella pointed toward a corner.
Evelyn always received all sorts of special treatment. Just as Erika turned to follow Evelyn toward the special window, a hurried voice suddenly came from behind her.
“Wait a moment. You are Erika Noel, correct?”
The topic suddenly shifting to her caused the girl to raise an eyebrow. “Yes, that’s right. Is there a problem?”
“You need to wait in the line over there and undergo the testing. The Order only allows special admission for the Queen of Noelle and Lady Liones.” Bella’s voice held a hint of regret. She was as respectful as possible, but she had to maintain a professional attitude.
“…Is my name not on the list? I am a secretary of the Noelle Court and Queen Evelyn’s personal attendant.”
“This isn’t Noelle, after all; it’s Regtaya. Here, only strength is recognized. If you want special treatment, you must first prove yourself.”
‘Are you sure you aren’t just making things difficult for me because I’m cuter than you?’
Erika sighed.
As Erika was looking for her name on the special admission document list, Evelyn’s soft laughter came from behind her. “Hoho, my Erika. It seems the people here don’t know how amazing you are yet. Go and show them!”
“It seems I have no choice then.”
It appeared she had to reveal her long-hidden power now. She would show them the true form of an enchantress whose strength bordered on the demonic.
Erika Noel—she was supposed to be the Empress of all of them!
With her dress fluttering and a resolute stride, the girl stepped onto the trial grounds.