Volume 1, Chapter 59 – Spiritual Flogging Club

The Spiritual Flogging Club was a club that had only appeared recently.

Compared to the other clubs, it was rather inconspicuous, even somewhat quiet.

It had neither the explosions and accidents that plagued the Potions and Alchemy Club every few days, nor could it offer the sight of indescribable creatures summoned from the Abyss like the Abyss Enthusiasts Club.

In terms of entertainment, it lagged even further behind the wildly popular Amazing Human Research Society. Because the full name was too long, everyone simply called it the Amazing Humans Society.

After all, for most succubus students who had never set foot in the Human Realm, studying those wondrous creatures known as humans was a rare form of entertainment.

But the Spiritual Flogging Club had nothing.

No explosions, no monsters, no rare monkeys.

At first, no one was particularly interested in the Spiritual Flogging Club. Perhaps it would soon be forgotten like countless other clubs.

But…

The moment a black plaque with golden lettering was hung above the door of its clubroom, everything changed.

【Spiritual Flogging Club】

【President: Stella Darkfallen】

【This Week’s Activity: Club Presentation】

A single line was enough to transform this inconspicuous classroom into the most awe-inspiring sanctuary in the entire school.

After all, this was the famous Stella Darkfallen, the legendary student who had become the talk of the entire campus within her very first week of enrollment.

Whether they were newly enrolled first-years, veteran students who had already seen all manner of things, or even several well-known club presidents…

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Everyone wanted to witness Stella Darkfallen’s abilities for themselves and see exactly why she had taken the initiative to establish the Spiritual Flogging Club, as well as what kind of presentation she intended to give.

And so, people came pouring in.

Therefore, the instant Stella was forcibly dragged to the Spiritual Flogging Club by Patolize, the first thing she saw was a scene so suffocating that she nearly stopped breathing.

The corridor of the old school building was packed so tightly with succubi that not even water could seep through. Several succubus students in bat form were even hanging upside down from the ceiling, apparently planning to secure spots near the front.

The instant Stella appeared around the corner of the corridor, every succubus turned to look at her in perfect unison. As though a saint had parted the sea, they silently stepped aside of their own accord, clearing a path toward the clubroom door.

Patolize puffed out her chest, leaned close to Stella’s ear, and whispered, “Look, President. Just as I expected, everyone’s very interested in your presentation!”

“But Patolize, you never told me there’d be this many people.” The corner of Stella’s mouth twitched. “Didn’t you say our club didn’t have many members?”

Seriously, if they changed the venue and told her everyone had gathered to witness the coronation of the Queen of Eternal Night, people would probably believe it.

“Of course our club doesn’t have many members. They all came specifically to hear your presentation. They’ll only decide whether to join after hearing you explain the club’s philosophy.”

“…E-Explain the club’s philosophy?” Stella repeated hesitantly.

“Of course. Just like the philosophy of the Potions and Alchemy Club is art and explosions, and the philosophy of the Amazing Humans Society is finding out where amazing humans are, our Spiritual Flogging Club needs a philosophy too.” Patolize winked playfully. “As for exactly what it is, that’s for you to decide, President.”

Stella froze.

Here was the problem.

What was her club’s philosophy?

What kind of club philosophy could she possibly have?

This damned club only existed because Patolize had filled out the application form for her without permission!

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“Please, President. Everyone’s waiting for you.” Patolize pushed open the door, stepped aside, and made an inviting gesture toward Stella.

Back when Stella had still been tending the Lord’s flock at the convent, she had never imagined that one day she would have to give a sermon to a group of succubi.

Life truly was unpredictable. When she had first started offering private consultations in her dorm room, it had been entirely for Mara’s after-class assignment and to earn a little pocket money. Who could have known it would eventually turn into this?

She was already riding a tiger and could not get off.

If she did not go inside and completely hoodwink these succubi, heaven knew what this might turn into. Public humiliation would be the least of her concerns. What Stella truly feared was arousing unnecessary suspicion.

After hesitating again and again, Stella finally walked inside.

Since there was no path of retreat, she could only keep walking down this road into the darkness.

After all, hoodwinking believers…

No, guiding the lost was originally part of a Saintess’ professional duties, wasn’t it?

It was just that this time, the believers looked slightly…

Unconventional.

The moment Stella entered the clubroom, she felt as though she had stepped onto an execution ground. With stiff footsteps, she walked to the front of the lectern, turned around, and faced the large crowd of succubi surrounding her.

The silence created when so many people gathered together was no ordinary quiet. It carried an immense pressure all its own.

Stella’s mind went completely blank.

‘What am I supposed to say?’

‘I haven’t prepared a speech at all!’

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Fortunately, she had excellent professional instincts. By convention, when clergy faced a group of confused believers, they would usually begin by asking a question, guiding them to open their hearts, and then offering comfort tailored to their problems.

‘Right. Ask a question first.’

Stella took a deep breath and pointed toward a succubus student in the front row who looked somewhat timid and well-behaved. Stella had noticed that she seemed to be carrying a Demon Realm history book.

‘You’ll do. You look like a good kid who’d be troubled by her studies.’

“You.”

“Tell me, what problem has troubled you the most up until now?”

‘Please. Say something I could actually handle.’

“President… Not long ago, I was reading the history of the Demon Realm, and there’s one thing that’s been troubling me.”

‘Whoa!’

‘An academic question. Praise the Lord!’

Stella breathed a sigh of relief.

As someone who had always worked herself to the bone academically, this would be easy.

“President, can you tell me why… Why did we demons lose the war against humanity a thousand years ago?” The succubus suddenly cried out.

“Why did humanity steal the sunlight that belonged to us? Why were we driven into this sunless land of eternal night, and why have we still never taken back the sunlight? It’s simply a humiliation for the Demon Realm!”

“I searched through every history book I could find, but I still couldn’t find an answer.”

“Tell me, President.”

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“Why did we lose!?”

The question had clearly struck a sore spot in the hearts of every demon present. Whispers surged from all directions like an incoming tide.

“That really is a good question… I’ve never been able to understand it either. When it comes to individual combat strength, humans are as fragile as paper, so why do they get to occupy all that fertile land?”

“Exactly. That war was simply a disgrace to the Demon Realm. Every time I bring it up, the old folks back home only sigh without being able to explain why.”

“If it’s Lady Stella… If it’s this SSS+ genius, she must have some unique insight, right?”

Stella’s expression froze.

‘…Huh?’

‘This is completely outside the scope of psychological counseling, isn’t it? How am I, a human undercover agent, supposed to answer this?’

‘Aren’t they supposed to be here to hear about the club’s philosophy? How has this suddenly turned into a postwar historical reflection conference?’

‘Are they seriously asking a failed Saintess candidate like her to join them in cursing humanity?!’

Translator Note

ahahahaha xD