God and Demon Academy’s high school division seemed calm on the surface, but in reality, undercurrents surged beneath.
Lately, more and more people had stopped coming to school, especially in the once-renowned Class 2, Grade 1, where the only main character who still came to class regularly was Ten-Step Hall.
The seat in front of her was empty.
The seat behind her was empty.
Even the seat next to the one behind her was empty.
Feini had been captured, Xueyuedai Emma no longer came to school—she now squatted in the Tea Ceremony Society working full-time as their accountant.
Bai Yuge · Rose and Qingshamu·Ailuma were nowhere to be seen, and especially Qingshamu hadn’t even returned to the dormitory. Her bond with Feini ran deep, and she absolutely refused to accept betraying Feini.
Now, even in the dormitory, Ten-Step Hall found it hard to find anyone willing to go to class with her.
Yeqi and Lianjian slept in until midday every day, practically becoming ghostly apprentices.
This left Ten-Step Hall with a sense of cold abandonment, as if the warmth had gone with the people, but it didn’t really matter.
After all, she had already promised to form a deep partnership with Orange Sea Dream. Together, they would build a true [Double Tea Party].
But now they both knew that in truth, it was a “Double Dragon Society.”
Ten-Step Hall needed to regain the support of the Tea Party, because the Tea Party held the key to a magic Library, within which was recorded a vast trove of magical knowledge.
It had been said before: the Human Hidden Mage Families monopolized magic knowledge, passing down magical research from generation to generation.
A mage from one of these families was born with the accumulated efforts of dozens of generations, while a self-taught wild mage could spend a lifetime and still only grasp what those born in mage families learned from a single shelf of books.
This was the same for the Magic Beasts; if they wished to learn advanced magical knowledge, they could only join the Tea Party to gain access to the magic Library.
There was no other way—Red Dragon could only ally with Red Dragon, secretly strengthening the cooperation between the Dragon Tribe.
For Orange Sea Dream, the moment she learned Ten-Step Hall’s true lineage, she no longer intended to keep fighting her to the bitter end.
Her opponent was the famously violent melee berserker among the ancient Dragon Tribe.
Although Simon was a mutant Red Dragon, such things weren’t rare among the Dragon Tribe. Strange mutations appeared all the time.
Her Dragon Breath Magic was nothing more than an enhanced special effect; it couldn’t be called profound, and she wasn’t at all worried that Simon’s study of magic would let her surpass her own abilities.
While Red Dragon’s magic was a pile of crap, Red Dragon’s fists really could beat her to death.
Dragon girls didn’t use their brains; they’d always be little black-hearted things.
Surviving in this world wasn’t all about fighting and killing, but about personal connections and social finesse.
Fulfilling the grand dreams of the Demon Tribe together—adventurer teams, dormitory friendships, half-dragon servants—these were all things she could toss aside.
Moreover, Orange Sea Dream’s condition was that Ten-Step Hall must expel Feini from the Lost Beast squad, and no longer associate with that devious weapon, Mini Demon.
At the same time, Ten-Step Hall had her own condition: Orange Sea Dream must exile Black Dragon and never again shelter that Half-Dragon.
After a brief moment of thought, both dragons agreed to each other’s demands; neither seemed like a big deal.
There was a tinge of sentiment attached for them both, but only a tinge.
Kicking someone away was just kicking someone away—it was nothing that couldn’t be done.
In short, it was a dual Council President system.
You’re the Council President, I’m the Council President—no need for endless quarreling.
But in the future, both dragons would deeply regret what seemed today like such an inconsequential decision.
……
One afternoon, Xueyuedai Emma sought out Bai Yuge · Rose and Qingshamu·Ailuma, handing each of them three envelopes.
“When does the hearing start?” Qingshamu·Ailuma opened the envelope and looked inside. It contained an Invitation Letter.
“It’s written there—tomorrow night at eight, Peacock Huiyishi.” Xueyuedai Emma replied.
“You’ll be held accountable by Ten-Step Hall for helping us like this,” Qingshamu·Ailuma said.
“My status is no lower than hers. How is she going to settle scores with me? At most, she can kick me out of the club, but without me, how is she supposed to keep that shoddy club running?” Xueyuedai Emma chuckled. “Everyone can see that Ten-Step Hall’s just a capable general, not a grand commander.”
“In any case, take care. Whatever happens tomorrow, it’s best if you don’t get involved,” Qingshamu·Ailuma advised.
“I know when my abilities are most useful, and when they’re the most useless.” Xueyuedai Emma replied helplessly.
All that could be said was that this galgame was still the Warrior Version—the skills of Magicians were clearly a notch below, unless you were some Magic Warrior Dual Cultivation cheat. In the end, melee was still stronger.
“I’ve also heard that Orange Sea Dream might be planning something against Feini. Whether Feini says anything or not, she intends to take Feini down—she won’t let her off that easily. And Ten-Step Hall has already allied with Orange Sea Dream—she won’t just stand by and watch you all start a fight,” Xueyuedai Emma cautioned.
“Why is Red Dragon targeting Feini? Have they met many times?” Ten-Step Hall asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s got something to do with that half-dragon girl.” Xueyuedai Emma said. “Oh, and this too.”
As she spoke, she suddenly pulled three odd packets from her coat and handed them to Ten-Step Hall.
“What’s this?” Ten-Step Hall took them for a look; inside seemed to be three pieces of dried meat.
“These are the rewards for our last project—[God-Demon Meat Chunk]. The witches finally issued them,” Xueyuedai Emma explained.
“So this is God-Demon Meat Chunk?” Qingshamu·Ailuma exclaimed.
“Eating it can strengthen us, but I suggest you settle down for a while before consuming it, because refining it takes time, and you shouldn’t be fighting during that period,” Xueyuedai Emma explained.
“Do you know what kind of meat this is, exactly?” Qingshamu·Ailuma asked.
“No idea. That’s all I have to say—I’ve got paperwork to deal with, so I’ll go on ahead.” Xueyuedai Emma replied perfunctorily.
With that, Fox Fox stood up and left the training field.
Qingshamu·Ailuma handed the two Invitation Letters to Bai Yuge · Rose and added, “Dress up nicely tomorrow, and remember to bring your Adventurer badge—including Feini’s.”
“Understood.” Bai Yuge · Rose took the Invitation Letter and got up to leave as well.
“……” Qingshamu·Ailuma sat a while longer, staring fixedly at the Witch Building.
She picked up the bag containing the God-Demon Meat Chunk and looked at it.
The quest item she’d longed for had suddenly landed in her hands; she’d almost forgotten about it.
Its function was to boost a magic beast’s combat power—a mysterious item. If its true nature could be figured out, it would be of great significance to humanity.
Now, her Undercover Mission was essentially complete, so she had even less reason to stay here.
With nothing holding her back, she could withdraw from God and Demon Academy flawlessly.
Since the mission was complete and she’d earned a good haul, Qingshamu·Ailuma quickly got up to prepare for her retreat from the academy.
For the first time, Hero felt her mind was this clear.
Only after every quest was completed did the fog in her heart finally disperse.
Everything was ready—only East Wind was missing.