NOVPUBOutside the window, the raindrops continued to beat against the glass, resembling the music of nature itself, reminding the people inside the dim warehouse that their time was running out, each second swiftly slipping away.
"Phoenix, what do you think will happen when your sister becomes severely mentally ill, and you, her only relative she can rely on, end up in prison? How would she live in a mental institution? And as the sister of a repeat offender of the Rebirth Church, how do you think she will be treated?"
In the room, the Great Love Poet continued to press Phoenix with his melodious voice, his teary eyes seemingly full of blood vessels.
"Stop...let... let Felice go..."
His voice was faltering.
He desperately tried not to imagine the scenarios described by the Great Love Poet, but those scenes were uncontrollably flooding his mind, driven by the devilish voice of the Love Poet, driving him nearly insane.
Finally.
"Great Love Poet, it’s about time, come back."
Not far away, Lanci sitting behind the desk called out and signaled him.
"Tsk, I was just getting started."
The Great Love Poet looked at Lanci, clicking his tongue in displeasure.
"There will be plenty of opportunities to play later."
Lanci said.
"I don’t want to."
The Great Love Poet was unhappy for being stopped by Lanci while she was doing the thing she enjoyed.
"I will make a new costume for you."
Lanci suggested.
"A new costume?"
The Great Love Poet looked at him questioningly.
"Yes, aside from not being able to alter your unique features, I might be able to completely alter your appearance. You will not need to purchase extra clothes; a magic card can directly change your outfit."
Lanci explained.
The effect of the third-order white ordinary equipment card [Cartoon Mask], which he had made during the Registered Card-making Master exam, was to equip the summon with it, harmonize the fierce image, making it cute, and change the appearance of the summon. Lanci figured that if he combined the principle of [Transformation Technique: Demon], he should be able to make a special style-change card for the Great Love Poet.
Although other than aesthetics it was not particularly useful and would take up one of Lanci’s card slots, it could lower the Great Love Poet’s recognizability. Upon arriving in the Northern Continent, even if they didn’t allow the Great Love Poet to use her Demon Sound ability openly, just having one additional mind-connected proxy would be of some use.
Lanci wasn’t sure if this new type of magic card with exclusive skin options for summons would sell or not. As each would need to be custom designed, the prices would certainly be high, and unless the buyer was particularly interested in their summons, they probably wouldn’t want to buy such a card from him.
"Quick, quick, quick, back to work!"
The Great Love Poet immediately walked in front of Lanci, slapped his table lightly, and upon his command, dissolved back into Lanci’s card.
Clearly, she was excited about this prospect of changeability that Lanci proposed, and couldn’t wait to monopolize all of Lanci’s card slots with her own exclusive cards.
"You two..."
Hyperion felt a sense of unease from the side.
If Miss Tata was to find Lanci and the Great Love Poet were using Tata’s image for a dress-up game...
After the Great Love Poet disappeared.
Phoenix finally seemed like a drowning person who had surfaced, breathing heavily with fright and palpitation.
He stared at Lanci behind the table.
Seeing Lanci commanding this inexplicably powerful and unconventional summon, Phoenix was becoming increasingly unsure of how powerful this man was and how many secrets he held.
Now, he even suspected that in that Demon Academy, Lanci might indeed be as horrifically evil as he and his sister had first perceived.
Lanci first switched on all the lights in the warehouse, and then unlocked Phoenix’s shackles, handing him a cup of hot tea. He then returned to his seat behind the desk.
"I’m sorry, Phoenix, my summoned creature might have been too aggressive."
Lanci spoke to Phoenix with a hint of apology.
Hyperion silently noted Phoenix’s testimony. She knew Lanci was indeed a conservative, who thought the radicals were too conservative.
"...."
Phoenix listened quietly, not daring to interrupt Lanci’s speech.
Although the setting at this moment had changed simply, the ambience seemed to shift from an interrogation room to a student council meeting room.
But Phoenix’s heart was still icy, with the words of the Great Love Poet echoing in his ears.
"First of all, I assure you, none of the situations mentioned by the Great Love Poet will happen."
Lanci looked at Phoenix with a gentle demeanor, contrary to the Great Love Poet, his actions were entirely virtuous and respectable.
"!"
Phoenix couldn’t tell if Lanci was being serious or speaking cryptically.
Because to him, it seemed like this sentence also carried the meaning, "If you don’t cooperate, then what the Great Love Poet said will happen."
"I believe you’re ready to change. So, have you ever thought of turning over a new leaf?"
Lanci finished his opening statement, and then asked.
In fact, by now, Lanci and Hyperion both had some realizations.
Like how each teammate they encountered in the Shadow World [Purgatory Corridor Academy] for the first time, had some element of inevitability.
And if Phoenix’s sister wasn’t a member of the Rebirth Church, he wouldn’t have taken her to the Purgatory Corridor Academy, or on this trip to the Hutton Kingdom. Clearly she is crucial to Phoenix; he could never leave her alone in Arolan Kingdom.
Phoenix’s expression alone made that clear.
"...Do I actually have a choice?"
Phoenix asked in a hoarse voice, head down.
He knew that these demons, like the Bishop of Destruction, would use not harming his sister as leverage, making him work wholeheartedly for the Church.
Back then, when faced with the Bishop of Destruction, who destroyed their small town like a god, the young Phoenix traded his soul to save his sister who was on the verge of death, sparking the Bishop of Destruction’s interest to spare them.
He was ready to sell his soul to the devil again. Even if it led to his own downfall, he would protect his sister until the last moment.
"Of course, I’m not like the Cardinal Bishops of the Rebirth Church who lost humanity and did all kinds of evil. Obviously, I’m a good lad from Ichrite, law-abiding, full of love. There is a stark difference between me and people from the Rebirth Church, so you can fully open up to me."
Lanci responded with a warm smile.
Phoenix felt a chill run through him at this.
Phoenix dared not betray his deep doubts about Lanci’s words.
Because it seemed like Lanci was not joking.
If he denied Lanci’s words, it might anger Lanci who could declare this prisoner’s "ideological awareness is not yet in place," and add a rehabilitation session for him.
"Regardless of whether you repent in the end, as long as we confirm that your sister is innocent, Ichrite Academy will ensure she’s no longer harassed by the Rebirth Church. She is she, you are you, you don’t involve each other, that’s all,"
Lanci added in a steady voice,
"I’m willing to help anyone who needs help. Even if you believe you can no longer be redeemed, as long as you genuinely repent, I will give you a chance to start anew and return to the right path."
"For your sister, you’re also important. You’re the only one she trusts, the only one she can rely on. Consider it for the sake of Felice’s happiness."
After saying this, Lanci covered his teacup and fell silent, giving Phoenix plenty of time to ponder.
"..."
Phoenix knew Lanci was hard to fathom, mysterious, and dangerous.
But at this moment.
Phoenix strangely felt that this demon, with an aura of brilliance and a pair of dazzling green eyes that seemed to see through his thoughts, was the only one who could offer him redemption.
Just like when they were in the principal’s office at Purgatory Corridor Academy, he protected both him and his sister.
Even though he’s terrifying.
But strangely enough, Phoenix began to hope that if he was on the same side as him.
He would be under his protection.
That in itself was comforting beyond anything else.
