Volume 2, Chapter 26-1 – Dragon Girl Guardian

Stella lay limply across her desk, feeling as though her head had swollen two sizes larger.

If she had known this book was actually this intelligent, she never would have scribbled all those outrageous, treasonous things across its pages in the first place.

She had absolutely no intention of unifying the Abyss and launching some grand counterattack all the way back to her old home, so why did this book insist on clinging to that lofty ambition of marching against the Holy City?

And now look what had happened. Not only could she no longer explain herself, the Primordial Doctrine had even started planning how to pull off something huge. It was honestly even harder to deal with than the twelve people in the Lionheart Society.

Stella had originally intended to argue a few more points, but after staring at line after line of impassioned text on the page, she finally gave up.

‘Forget it.’

‘Trying to reason with a book is a complete waste of time.’

‘As long as I don’t actually do it, surely this stupid book could not grow arms and legs and force me to attack the Holy City, right?’

And seriously, this book was a master at pretending not to understand. She had already made herself perfectly clear just now, yet the stupid thing refused to listen no matter what, single-mindedly determined to start a war.

“Phew…”

Stella let out a long sigh.

Although this book’s train of thought was rather bizarre, it did call itself the Primordial Doctrine, and it really had taught her several useful Holy Arts before.

‘In that case…’

‘Could I simply use it as an encyclopedia?’

After all, Professor Katerina had specifically warned her before leaving not to casually use the Pale Sacred Remains.

The Pale Lord’s name was still far too conspicuous among demons. If anyone else witnessed it, it really would cause an enormous incident, so she could only keep it as a life-saving trump card.

With that thought, Stella picked up her pen and wrote a line on the blank page.

【Since we’re going to counterattack… ahem, counterattack the Holy City, knowing both ourselves and our enemy is the key to victory. I need information about the Girl in the Mirror.】

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【And while you’re at it, teach me a few more high-level Holy Arts.】

【This is also… for the sake of our great campaign against the rebels.】

After writing the final sentence, Stella felt her cheeks grow hot.

Saying things she did not mean for personal gain really was not something she was good at.

The ink on the page quickly faded away.

A moment later, new words surfaced, every line practically overflowing with gratification.

「I am deeply honored to witness your resolve. None in this world possesses a light more radiant than yours. I shall bow my head and bend my knee as I await the day you mature and are crowned monarch.」

「Your intelligence request has been accepted.」

「Searching the sacred scripture catalogue…」

「The road is glass, the walls are blades, and every step draws blood.」

「She is a lost lamb, and also a furious hunting hound. She is an ownerless weapon lodged within the Realm of Mithril. A soulless one resting before a freshly cracked mirror, a nonexistent person who walks between the worlds of reality and illusion.」

「However, she cannot wield her blades in the material world alone. The world within the mirror is the reflection of reality, and also the prison of the soul. Only through the eyes of one who is reflected can the two interfere with one another.」

「Only by taking the commands of one from this world as her guide can the Girl in the Mirror be called forth. Her fingernails are as sharp as glass, her wrath burns as fiercely as sacred flame, and she was born expressly to punish the heretics who have forsaken the light.」

Stella frowned slightly.

Although this book spoke in an utterly cryptic manner, it had at least provided plenty of useful information.

From the sound of it, this was nothing like an ordinary ghost. It sounded more like some kind of ancient weapon of the Holy See.

So why was it inside a succubus school?

‘Forget it. If a stupid book constantly clamoring to march against the Holy City could be found in the library, then a Holy See weapon appearing here is hardly anything new.’

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“The Realm of Mithril…”

Stella muttered under her breath.

She had never heard of such a sacred relic before.

‘In any case, that so-called ghost is actually being controlled by someone?’

‘Someone inside the school is acting as an anchor, guiding the Girl in the Mirror to attack specific students?’

If that was the case, then everything that had happened before made sense. Unfortunately, the blame for the attacks had already been firmly pinned on Lainia.

「The Realm of Mithril is known to have been lost during the Era of Apostasy…」

‘The Era of Apostasy?’

Never heard of that either.

Just as Stella was pondering this, several new lines of text appeared on the page once again.

「Regarding the holder’s request to unlock high-level defensive Holy Arts…」

「Denied.」

“What?” Stella’s eyes widened.

‘Denied?’

‘On what grounds?’

「Your forces are far too weak.」

「Only a true monarch is worthy of wielding the highest authority. If you wish to unlock a higher-level library of Holy Arts, you must prove your ability to command. Expand your influence, recruit more believers, and occupy more territory. When greater numbers gather beneath your banner, the sacred arsenal shall open its doors to you.」

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“…”

Stella was speechless.

Every line was inciting her to go cause trouble.

“What Primordial Doctrine? This is obviously a Guide to Rebellion…”

“This is… such a pain.”

Stella closed the book and stuffed it back inside her clothes.

Although she had failed to learn any new skills, she had at least figured out what the ghost actually was.

But who exactly was acting as its anchor?

Why were they targeting students?

And how could someone capable of controlling a sacred soul have blended into a school filled entirely with demons?

Strangest of all… if the Girl in the Mirror hated demons that intensely, then why had she not attacked Stella that day in the washroom, even after appearing right in front of her while Stella was outwardly a succubus?

She had not even shown the slightest intention of attacking her.

Was it because of that pitiful amount of Holy Light inside her?

Or… had the person acting as the anchor deliberately excluded her?

Dong—— Dong——

Before Stella could sort out her thoughts, the school bell tower rang once again.

Stella instinctively glanced at the clock on the wall.

The First Valentine Watch had already passed. It was now the Second Faust Watch, the Watch of wisdom and spellcraft.

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“The Second Watch… right!”

Stella had almost forgotten. Remedios had deliberately left her a note earlier, asking her to meet at the abandoned cellar during the next Faust Watch.

The ever-mysterious Miss Book Demon was probably planning to discuss something important with her.

Stella turned around and glanced at Lainia, who was sleeping soundly on the bed.

Although she had already arranged for Lainia to receive the Heart of Holy Light, giving her at least some ability to protect herself, suspicion had yet to be cleared from Lainia’s name.

If Stella could not uncover the true culprit as soon as possible, sooner or later the Succubus Disciplinary Committee would still drag Lainia away as a scapegoat and execute her.

“I can’t exactly stand by and watch my slave get her head chopped off.”

Stella sighed.

Sleep?

Not happening.

In a damned place like the Abyss, being able to sleep peacefully was practically a luxury. Besides, demons did not actually need much sleep in the first place.

Stella draped a robe over herself, pushed open the door, and quietly slipped away…

Translator Note

Ngl the book name Primordial Doctrine looks like it would really become a primordial doctrine for Stella’s fanatics lol