"I didn't expect your side to act this quickly."
Looking at the silver-haired beauty sleeping peacefully on the bed, Elise turned her gaze toward the black-haired woman standing nearby.
Around the woman's chest hung an Orga Lux—Valda-Vaoth, the same one Sylvia's teacher once bore.
Orga Lux required a certain compatibility from its wielder—in other words, Orga Lux had their own consciousness. Valda was a particularly unusual case, capable of interfering with the mind, employing various telepathic abilities, and even replicating others' abilities once she understood them.
Moreover, she could control Genestella and influence other Orga Lux of her caliber.
She was immensely powerful.
But the cost was extreme—occupying the wielder's body. No matter who it was, anyone using Valda would have their body taken over.
Sylvia's teacher, Ursula, was no exception. Once Valda took over her body, Ursula fell into a deep sleep—until today.
"Is this new body of yours really fine? There can't be many who are compatible with you, and even fewer with a high degree of compatibility."
Elise examined Valda's current form: a completely ordinary-looking black-haired woman, plain in both looks and figure—utterly unlike Ursula.
In a crowd, this was the sort of person who would go unnoticed.
"It's fine. Madiath prepared a list long ago—people who could be compatible with me. I just had to pick one."
Valda seemed unconcerned about the original owner of the body. To her, it was probably meaningless.
"What about this body's family?" Elise pressed.
"Don't worry. Everyone on Madiath's list was carefully selected. Though few in number, they all avoid the problems you mentioned. Most are alone… orphans, as you'd say, with almost no family at all." Her tone remained flat.
"Truly a pitiful person," Elise murmured.
"Do you need me to find another?"
"No need." Elise shook her head. "But when you leave, you'd better return this body."
"Naturally. I have no intention of taking her from this world."
"Since I've handed the body back to you, I'll be leaving." Valda turned to go.
"Madiath will personally come to you with the details of the plan. Lastly…" Valda glanced back at Elise. "Shall we have a pleasant cooperation?"
It was phrased as a question—she didn't seem to fully grasp the meaning behind such human words. But since her partner was Elise, she was willing to learn. Madiath had told her as much.
"Yes. Let's work well together."
As Valda left the room, Elise turned her attention back to the sleeping woman.
"Sylvia, I've kept my promise."
...
Jie Long Seventh Institute.
A petite, gray-haired loli sat in a chair far too tall for her, watching the same video over and over.
Banyuu Tenra—Fan Xinglou.
The footage was from the very end of the Lindvolus Festa, showing Elise using the Lunar Goddess' final strike on Orphelia.
"Haha… interesting! Very interesting!"
"Even I've never seen such a thing."
"So she has this kind of power?"
Though her body was that of a child under nine, Fan Xinglou was anything but a mere child.
Many upper echelons of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation knew the truth about her.
The third generation of Banyuu Tenra?
Heh.
There was no such thing as a "third generation"—not even a second. Every Banyuu Tenra was her alone.
Why was it that only Banyuu Tenra could open Jie Long's Huangchen Hall?
Obviously—because it belonged to Fan Xinglou herself. Could anyone else open her own possession?
According to many, Fan Xinglou's true age exceeded a thousand years—truly a "Millennium Demon Immortal."
Her current nine-year-old body was merely the result of a reincarnation secret art.
And why was she repeatedly watching that video?
Because she had sensed something unusual.
As a millennium-old monster who had taken countless disciples, Fan Xinglou's insight into people was unmatched, and teaching others to wield their power was nothing new to her.
With her experience, she could clearly see that Elise was hiding something.
The power Elise wielded was indeed Prana—but not only Prana. She was merely using it as a cover.
There was some strange force mixed within.
But in her thousand years of life, Fan Xinglou had never encountered this kind of power.
Not surprising—after all, "Faith" as a power could only be sensed and used by gods or certain unique individuals.
That she, as a human, could even deduce this much spoke volumes of her extraordinary perception.
"Tsk tsk tsk… To think that such a talent would emerge in the world today? I can't wait to grow up again."
Though her child body was still immensely strong, she couldn't unleash her full might.
Due to the reincarnation technique, she had to patiently wait for her body to mature naturally to reclaim her former power.
"But…" Her tone shifted, a mischievous smile curling her lips.
"After all these years, a little indulgence should be fine, right?"
"I'll leave the cleanup to Hufeng."
Zhao Hufeng, Fan Xinglou's third direct disciple. While she was technically Jie Long's Student Council President, she hardly handled any affairs herself, leaving them to her disciples—especially Zhao Hufeng, whom she often treated as a tool. This time would be no different.
"Mhm, it's decided!"
She would hold a fun academy festival—bringing in promising students from every school. With that…
Fan Xinglou's eyes returned to Elise's image on the screen, a shadowy smile forming.
But…
"Hm?"
A strange fluctuation entered her perception. She raised her right hand, curling her fingers slightly, and space rippled.
A black-haired woman who had just entered Jie Long was pulled through space, appearing instantly in Huangchen Hall.
"You've come to see me—do you have business with me?" Fan Xinglou's voice was amused.
"Yes."
A cold, detached voice echoed through the hall.
"I'm here to discuss a partnership, Banyuu Tenra."