Conquering The Novel

After appointing leaders for the respective years, I returned to my dorm room to change into something more casual before leaving the academy.

Ring! Ring! (Phone ringing)

when I read the caller's name, I was surprised for a moment before lifting up the phone.

[Hello?]

[Don't you think it was a bad idea to appoint her as the first-year student leader?] Ivica immediately questioned as soon as I lifted the phone.

"...."

[Which Ivica am I speaking to?] I inquired since even their voices are identical.

[...The one who is dying!] She responded subtly.

[O-Oh. How are you feeling Ivica?] With trepidation, I inquired about her condition.

[Well, My condition is the same as it has always been. But forget about me and answer my earlier question, because I am concerned that you are being exploited in her machinations as well. Which will cost us the tournament.] Ivica stated, her voice wavering.

Cough! Cough!

Her coughing could be heard.

[Don't worry, she won't be doing anything inappropriate for now. After careful thought and discussion with her yesterday, I decided to appoint her as the first-year student leader. And I'm holding something she doesn't want Lucas to see.] I responded.

'At the very least, she believes I have a recording of her and will not behave carelessly,' I reasoned myself.

[...I see. I'm puzzled as to why you didn't go with Livia. She should be returning to the academy soon.] Ivica stated.

[My initial choice was indeed Livia, but when I called her, she informed me that she would not be able to fulfill the role at the moment as she is dealing with personal matters and won't be at the academy until the tournament.] I stated.

[This implies you'll be meeting Livia directly during the tournament's opening ceremony now. Huh!] Ivica muttered.

[I believe so as well. In any case, given the circumstances, Ayla was the most suitable candidate for the position. Her appointment as a leader has been met with little to no objection, which saved me some headache, as her brother Lucas, as well as Claude, acknowledged her contributions in saving Erina's faction.] I stated.

Ivica took a breather before speaking.

[Hmm, picking Lucas is the same as selecting Ayla. And Claude would have protested if you had chosen Lucas over him. If you selected Claude over Lucas, you would face hostility from both Lucas and Ayla.

...Everything now makes sense!] Ivica commented.

'She is not entirely wrong, but the primary reason Ayla wanted to be the leader was that she was concerned about what would happen if Lucas was chosen as the first-year student leader.

Because the obligations of a leader would necessitate regular collaboration between the respective leaders, which would result in more time spent together between Lucas and Erina, which Ayla wanted to avoid.

[Yeah, and I'm guessing you already know why I didn't go with Ziona.] I inquired once I had gathered my thoughts.

Ivica replied with a chuckle.

[There would be no first-year students in the tournament if Ziona was the leader because she would have beaten them to a pulp in the name of training.]

Cough! Cough!

"Oh, she's still alive?" Irethiel remarked when she heard Ivica coughing, having just returned from Rose's mansion, carrying some sort of shopping bags.

"...."

I was left speechless when I heard her, as she sometimes has no filter with her words.

[Was that Irethiel?] Ivica inquired.

[...Yeah.] I replied.

[Hehe, she's as blunt as my sister.] While uncomfortably chuckling, Ivica stated.

[No, I am not a slave. So we'll never be the same!] In the background, Ivica's sister's voice could be heard.

'Yup, they are indeed similar in some aspects,' I thought to myself when I heard that comment.

"...."

Irethiel remained frozen as she heard her, unable to react.

[T-That was my sister! A-Anyway, I heard you're leaving the academy for training again. When are you planning on departing?] Ivica was curious.

[I'll be leaving when we finish our call.] I responded.

[Oh, am I wasting your time?] Ivica mumbled uncomfortably.

[Irethiel just arrived, so I still have time.] I answered.

[Can't you just tell him that you wanted to talk to someone other than me, so you called him after you found an excuse to do so?] Her sister's voice could be heard again in the background, but I decided to disregard it.

"...."

...

...

And we continued talking for a few minutes longer.

[Goodbye, and ...take care, Ares!] Ivica said, sounding as if she is certain that this is our final farewell.

[...Yeah, you take care of yourself as well, Ivica.] I said before we hung up the phone.

Tic!— (Call ends)

"What was that all about?" As soon as I hung up the phone, Irethiel asked with a perplexed expression.

"Oh, you mean her sister? I forgot to tell you that she has an identical twin," I said casually.

!?

"WHAT!" Irethiel exclaimed

***

"It's about time we leave. Aren't you ready yet, demon?" I inquired, irritated by Irethiel's deliberate selection of objects to bring with us.

"Snacks? Check. Video game? Check. Novel books? Check...," Irethiel said as she continued to stuff goods into her little backpack.

"Where did you even get all of this from? Do you think we're going on vacation?" I inquired, staring at her blankly.

"Oh, I went shopping with Rose yesterday to be ready for our trip to the abandoned kingdom," Irethiel answered, packing more items into her backpack.

"...."

'Why is she preparing things as if we're going on a holiday?' I pondered confused seeing her behavior.

"...How are you planning on carrying that backpack anyway?" I asked, curious.

"Carry it? No, I'm going to place it in my new storage ring," Irethiel explained.

"Where are you going to wear that storage ring in your crow form? Around your neck like a pet you are?" I made a sarcastic remark.

"...."

Irethiel came to a halt in her packing and turned to face me, staring at me without saying anything.

"What?" I inquired, perplexed by her reaction.

"T-The thing is, I-I forgot that my human form can only be used for an hour or two due to my lack of mana," Irethiel admitted, disheartened.

"How could you have forgotten something so important to you?" I asked keeping a blank face.

"Can you... can you carry this for me?" Irethiel asked, hesitantly.

"I can't hear you, and I'm leaving; if you're not out of the academy building in a minute, you'll be disciplined," I said, turning away and beginning to walk away.

"P-Please?" Iretheil yelled.

"Hmm? Have you said anything? "I didn't hear you correctly," I smugly questioned.

"P-Please, C-Can you help me carry this?" Irethiel said again.

I smiled at her and used telekinesis to get her backpack near to me before putting it in my inventory.

Swish!—

"If one of my slaves requests something, I will do my best to accommodate them. Don't you think I'd make a good master?" With a smile, I said.

"...."

When Irethiel heard me, she just stood there dumbfounded.

"All right, let's get out of here," I remarked as I stepped out of our dorm room. Irethiel stood there for a while, frowning, before shaking her head and following me out.

We left the dorm and went straight to the warp gate.

I was dressed in a full white t-shirt and jeans, white sneakers, and a white facemask to cover my face.

As I've gotten too renowned to move around without covering my face.

I entered the warp station quickly and made my way to the VIP area, having paid a considerable sum of money to avoid waiting in line.

If I had used the public warp gate, it would have taken several hours for my turn to arrive.

Money was no longer an issue for me; in fact, I had lost track of how much I had in my bank account.

When one of the workers noticed me, he promptly appeared, and as soon as I showed him my badge-like ticket, he escorted me to the private warp gate.

"It's good to be rich!" I muttered as I followed behind him.

"Sir, you're ready to enter," the gatekeeper said after making arrangements, and without wasting any time, I entered the warp gate.

My destination was already recorded on my ticket, so I didn't have to mention it to him.

Swish!

And I was instantly teleported to the warp station of the Kingdom of Kaldor, which was nearby the abandoned kingdom.

Swish!

As soon as I arrived in the Kingdom of Kaldor, I could hear announcements in the background.

[Welcome to the Kingdom Of Kaldor! We hope you have a pleasant stay!]

"Aghh, I hate these warp gates!" Irethiel grumbled.

"You should be grateful that you can travel for free,"

I remarked, ignoring her whining. And exited the warp station, as I needed to proceed to the Kingdom of Kaldor's Adventurer Guild, where Silvia had already made the necessary arrangements for me, in order to accept the quest and obtain my new adventurer's license.

***