Chapter 15: The Official Announcement of the True Saintess

“So… I truly must thank you, little white-haired one. Without a plaything like you to toy with, I would surely perish from boredom~”

****

Luo Jia immediately drew in a sharp breath. ‘Tsk… apologies!’ The Demon Lord felt profoundly apologetic for that fleeting moment when he’d found Allyrose somewhat pitiable.

Ignoring the embarrassed flush on the little white-haired one beside her, Allyrose merely gazed dispassionately towards Vivian and Jason.

Moments later, the fervent discussions abruptly ceased. Students began donning their coats, moving in clusters towards the exit.

Luo Jia blinked in utter confusion, unable to grasp what the students were doing. After a beat, Allyrose finally rose to her feet.

She patted his shoulder and spoke.

“Let’s go, to the auditorium~”

“To the auditorium?”

Luo Jia tilted his head. ‘Is that so? It sounds like some kind of event.’

“That’s right, to the world’s highest peak… ah, no~”

Allyrose offered a wry smile, then waved a dismissive hand. She leaned closer to Luo Jia, her voice a soft murmur.

“We’re going… to the official announcement ceremony for the new Saintess, Miss Vivian, as she assumes the role of Student Council President~”

“Hm?”

****

Trailing Allyrose, Luo Jia found himself in the school auditorium, now teeming with people. The sight struck him as utterly unbelievable.

Yet, just as the girl had foretold, it was indeed true. Within the lavishly decorated and meticulously adorned auditorium, Vivian already stood upon the main stage.

She was clad in the new Saintess’s ceremonial robes. Beside her stood the academy’s Principal and Bishop Kitav, a figure rarely seen within the school’s grounds.

This tableau clearly indicated an imminent major announcement.

And Allyrose…

Luo Jia turned his head to observe her. The black-haired girl beside him narrowed her eyes, watching the unfolding spectacle on stage with an air of detached interest.

It was a drama of her own replacement, yet Allyrose appeared truly unconcerned, as if she were a mere bystander.

‘Isn’t she a little *too* calm?’

The bustling crowd’s murmurs seemed entirely irrelevant to her. Allyrose simply stood there, utterly still, and even let out a soft yawn.

The reason, however, was quite simple.

In the girl’s heart, at this very moment, there was indeed not a single ripple. Her thoughts had become remarkably clear.

‘The more one clung to the empty title of Saintess, the more easily one would fall into a passive trap. After all, Vivian was the true Saintess; I am merely an imposter. A counterfeit can never triumph over the genuine article.’

‘Whether through a hysterical struggle for the position or a seemingly magnanimous act of leading the accolades, the essence remained the same: an inability to relinquish this superficial honor.’

‘What I needed to do, then, was to make myself not care, and to make my opponent… care deeply!’

With that thought, Allyrose smiled. Just then, from the main stage, Bishop Kitav let out a low, deliberate cough, clearing his throat with authority.

The previously boisterous students instantly fell into a profound silence.

Following this, the Principal, Gugro—also a core member of the Holy See—who stood beside Kitav, swept his gaze across the assembled hall. He was the first to speak.

“Students, today, during our monthly assembly here in the school auditorium, both the school and the Holy See have an important declaration to make. I trust many of you are already aware that two months ago, the Holy See finally located the true Saintess. She… is this golden-haired maiden standing beside me—Miss Vivian!”

No sooner had Gugro’s words concluded than a green-haired figure burst forth from the audience. From the floor below, he vehemently led the cheers and applause.

“Long live the Saintess—!”

“Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—!”

A thunderous ovation immediately erupted from the students below.

Allyrose watched the green-haired man at the forefront, applauding with the most fervent zeal, and felt a bead of exasperation trickle down her back. ‘Mr. Tok, the sycophant who had brazenly followed Vivian into my home just yesterday… was such ostentatious display truly necessary?’

“Cough, cough… silence!”

After allowing ample time for the audience’s thunderous applause to subside, the Principal finally quieted his voice. He then resumed his address.

“Students of the Magic Academy, I must impress upon you the immense honor it is to have the opportunity to be classmates with the *true* Saintess. As the Saintess, Miss Vivian will, for the foreseeable future, serve as our academy’s Student Council President. She will be a guiding example for all of you, leading until your graduation!”

“Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—!”

Once again, a wave of thunderous applause swept through the student body. Luo Jia, however, found the words rather jarring. ‘Saintess is Saintess,’ he mused. ‘Why insist on adding “true Saintess,” as if being classmates with Allyrose before was some kind of humiliation?’

As for the so-called ‘fake Saintess,’ Allyrose remained impassive. Her arms crossed over her chest, she watched the performance on stage with a cool, detached gaze.

Once the Principal concluded his address, it was Vivian’s turn to speak. The blonde loli gracefully approached the magical microphone.

The moment she began, she deliberately modulated her voice, making it sound adorably sweet and soft.

“Hello everyone, I’m Vivian, and I’m truly delighted to become your new Student Council President… Honestly, it still feels quite unreal to me. Becoming the Saintess so suddenly, and bearing such significant responsibilities, has put a tremendous amount of pressure on me… After all, there’s so much I didn’t understand before.”

As Vivian spoke, her head slowly bowed. After a moment, she suddenly clenched her fists, then lifted her gaze, fixing it firmly upon the students below the stage.

“However, I promise to dedicate myself wholeheartedly, never to betray the expectations of the Holy See and all of you! I will rectify past errors, diligently embrace my mission as the Saintess, and devote every ounce of my strength to safeguarding your lives! Please, believe in me!”

“Such a serious and adorable loli~ I’m fired up!”

“Saintess, I’m your fan~!”

“I believe in Lady Vivian! She’ll definitely do better than that Allyrose!”

“Eh… aren’t you all changing your tune a little too quickly? Before, you were saying Lady Allyrose was perfect in every way… except for having a fiancé…”

Amidst the throng… Allyrose seemed to catch some rather amusing remarks. The black-haired girl smiled faintly, then slowly lifted her head. Her gaze locked directly with that of Bishop Kitav, who was observing her from the stage.

‘Well, well, is it time?’

Allyrose narrowed her eyes at the Bishop. Kitav, in turn, let out a chilling sneer. Then… he suddenly stepped forward, moving to Vivian’s side.

He gently patted her shoulder, then addressed the entire student body in a grave tone.

“The Saintess is far too modest,” Kitav declared. “In truth, Vivian is now entirely capable of fulfilling all the duties and missions of a Saintess! We, the Holy See, place our unconditional trust in Miss Vivian. Furthermore, our absolute certainty that she is the *true* Saintess stems from a very simple reason…”

“Why don’t we prove it to all of you students with a test? Gugro, bring forth the Testing Stone!”