Even though it was daytime, stepping into this space brought the evening sunset.
Beneath the reddish sky, faint lights lined up in a row.
More than anything, the fact that this entire scene was unfolding within a massive interior—and that this massive interior appeared from the outside to be only a moderately sized building—made it possible to surmise that this was a space established by magic.
It was the magic *Social Exchange and Factions*, built by Mistress, the last of the demon race and a reclusive mage.
It was an explicit yet intuitive name that announced the beginning of the autonomous academy, the Hall of Social Exchange, and grasped its essence.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
Rea answered Nerasmun’s question briefly.
Her face was filled with tension.
“It’s been over five years since the Hall of Social Exchange was abolished? Rea, how was it when you were a general?”
“It never opened once, even back then.”
“Then it’s your first time. I’ll give you a simple explanation, so listen well.”
The Viscountess rubbed Rea’s stiff shoulders and whispered.
And indeed, Rea was exhausted from baking bread all day yesterday.
“The Hall of Social Exchange has none of the rules you’d expect from an academy. It exists solely for the purpose of networking and mutual aid. That’s why there are no formal procedures like entrance ceremonies or dormitory assignments. It operates purely on the logic of power and connections.”
“I think I understand why the half-year tyrant abolished the Hall of Social Exchange.”
“Yes. The moment he gathered his sycophants as crown prince, he abolished it.”
The tyrant Orban had been wary of other royals like Seorin or Yurien building a support base at the Hall of Social Exchange.
Originally, it was meant for the legitimate eldest child to form connections there, but Orban was already notorious for his character, so the succession structure had not been solid.
That was why Seorin had been able to gather supporters during the coup, and that was why the great houses were now interfering with the succession.
“It’s the same now. There’s no formal entrance ceremony. Today’s event is nothing but a debut ceremony. After the congratulatory address by the celebrity and administrator of the Hall of Social Exchange, the party begins immediately.”
“But isn’t it too empty for a party?”
“Naturally.”
Nerasmun sighed and scratched her seaweed-like hair.
She had washed her hair for the first time in a while, but she couldn’t revive the limply drooping strands.
“The main character always arrives late, after all.”
“I see.”
The Viscountess was already fed up with Rea for accepting so easily that she was not the protagonist.
She hadn’t even said anything special, yet she was already exhausted by this person called Rea.
“The ones here already are minor families like ours, or wealthy houses without noble titles.”
Nerasmun pointed to the bread Rea had baked all day yesterday and brought along.
“The powerful families will strut in slowly and arrive late. They’ll look at the party supplies prepared by houses beneath them, take what they fancy, and then bestow their own gifts in return. That’s how they build their forces and factions. That’s the debut ceremony.”
“Ah, so that’s why some people brought weapons or precious metals and jewels despite it being a party.”
Rea had wondered about it when she saw people bringing items completely unsuited for a party and stacking them up as party supplies.
The term “party supplies” was a lowly way of putting it; they were essentially tribute goods.
Unaware of that, Rea had spent all day kneading dough, preparing tasty bread that would go well dipped in any meat or sauce.
Of course, there were other families that had prepared food, but at a glance, it was clearly their own specialties.
For Rea, who needed to join a faction quickly to stop Yurien’s rebellion, it was a deadlock.
For Nerasmun, who had attended as her guardian, it was fortunate.
“Well, to explain what comes after: basically, the first six months are mandatory education. The administrator of the Hall of Social Exchange invites peak experts from each field to serve as professors, and you receive from them comprehensive survival education, including life at the Hall, for six months. After that, each faction solves the various families’ affairs in a quest format, and once the remaining education period is completed, you graduate into society.”
“How long is the remaining education period?”
“That depends on the king’s mood. If it gets too serious, the administrator of the Hall of Social Exchange may graduate you arbitrarily.”
“Who in the world is the administrator of the Hall of Social Exchange…?”
The question did not last long.
Knights of the Order in snow-white armor opened the entrance to the banquet hall and played a fanfare.
*Pah-pa-paam! Pah-pah-pah-paam~!*
“All ye sinners, bow your heads and repent! The pure white virgin, the incarnation of the lily—the Saintess is arriving… *kuehk!*”
“You there, move your stinking rear, sinner. Did you think wearing white clothes lets you swagger in front of others?”
“S-Saintess!”
“You really are blocking me with your vulgar, childbearing hips. I said move.”
“…….”
The female Knight of the Order hurriedly stepped aside in embarrassment.
Then a young girl with silver hair down to her waist stood there with a mischievous grin.
“The Saintess?! So the Saintess is this Hall of Social Exchange’s administrator…?”
“Why is she so young? Is it magic? I heard the Saintess was so outstanding that she could listen to ten people at once while handling affairs of state….”
*Thud!*
As the people murmured, the Saintess, Jenau, struck the floor with her scepter to silence them.
And the girl who strode to the small prepared podium in a single breath struck the floor with her scepter again.
*Thud!*
“Hear me, ye sinners! This Saintess is Jenau, head of the administrators of this Hall of Social Exchange, the Saintess, and the future Saint!”
“Woooaaaaaah—!!!!”
The Knights of the Order applauded enthusiastically.
Jenau put on a satisfied expression.
“Good! This Saintess loses the will to do what must be done without fervent cheers, so you sinners too shall follow those steeped in hollow formalities and cheer This Saintess’s every move.”
“Woooaaah…!”
“Silence! Is This Saintess not in the middle of speaking?! You tactless fool!”
The Knight of the Order who had been scolded for her childbearing hips contorted her face into a tearful grimace.
*Tap-tap-tap.* Jenau rapped her fingers on the podium, scanned the rows of faces, and grinned even wider, the corners of her mouth tearing upward.
Beautiful as she was, her broad grin made some flinch.
“Hello, swine. I see you’ve already gobbled up your titles yet remain unsatisfied, coming here in search of masters or servants. Truly, you are all equally revolting.”
“You…!”
One noble couldn’t endure the insult and tried to step forward, but another beside him grabbed his shoulder in alarm.
Jenau licked her lips at the sight.
“Hee~? Cheers for This Saintess need not be applause alone. A bit of blood and flesh every now and then lets us expect better cheers next time.”
All the Knights of the Order looked his way, their swords half-drawn.
Some might think the brat was acting up because she had knights to rely on, but Rea thought differently.
Jenau, the Saintess and future Saint.
She was the one true master of the Order and a powerhouse who rivaled the mage Mistress for the title of strongest.
People called her past self the greatest prodigy and a demon, but that was only because they had never seen Jenau take to the field personally.
*You haven’t changed.*
A brief memory of having served as her guard surfaced, and Rea shuddered.
Compared to then, Jenau’s patience had grown considerably.
“Now, let us get to the main point.”
At Jenau’s dismissive wave, the Knights of the Order all sheathed their swords again.
“I have heard that the Hall of Social Exchange originally involves you lot clinging to one another and solving your families’ requests. Therefore, This Saintess shall also issue a request from the Order to you.”
A formal request from the Order.
And to nobles, at that.
“It is revolting to assign a request to piglets, but what can be done? It is a matter within the pigsty.”
Jenau sighed dramatically.
But when she opened her eyes again, they held a natural, divine sacred power.
“However, if you carry it out properly, the Order shall officially acknowledge its debt to that pig and grant a suitable reward.”
*Thud!*
At Jenau’s tap of the scepter, one Knight of the Order brought out a chest and opened it.
Inside was a spherical crystal emitting a radiant light.
Everyone gulped and stared.
“This is the Morning Dew, forged by This Saintess’s sacred power! Whoever possesses it may come to the Order at any time and point to one they wish condemned as a heretic, or one they wish saved from heretic designation, and This Saintess and the Order shall make it so.”
The people’s faces were painted with shock.
She had openly presented proof that she would accept bribes.
The absolute right to have the Order—which held more power than the kingdom itself—eliminate an enemy or rescue an ally.
“The request is no great matter.”
Jenau’s gaze grew more intense.
“Our Order’s Paladin! Find Earei Birensya and bring her before This Saintess!”
This time, even Rea was bewildered.
“The greatest knight of our Order who protected This Saintess was rented away without permission by the Queen of the Kingdom of Revantort, then locked away so tightly that now she cannot be seen even at official events. The Order has demanded her return numerous times, yet the Queen could not even offer a straight excuse and refused to hand her over to the end. Ah, speaking of which, is the Queen here?”
Jenau paused and asked a Knight of the Order standing beside her.
“Do you mean Queen Seorin?”
“Yeah, did she come or not?”
“I heard a short while ago that she is absent due to personal circumstances.”
“Hee~?”
Her mouth smiled, but her eyes turned cold.
Jenau, glancing sideways, happened to meet eyes with Rea.
The Saintess recognized Rea’s torn soul and tilted her head.
What kind of soul was so ragged?
She was still merely a girl of nine, and a torn soul was such a rare case that even mages seldom saw one, so Jenau could not discern exactly what state Rea was in.
Still, she took note of the girl in her mind—possessed of beautiful looks yet a soul so wretchedly torn.
“The deadline is until you graduate.”
Jenau spoke coldly.
“Find her. Find her and bring her, and the Order shall repay you greatly. If you wish, This Saintess shall even replace that Queen. Though she does not seem very different from Orban, does she?”
“Ha.”
Nerasmun the Viscountess gave a small laugh.
“How about it? You truly are the eye of the storm itself.”
Rea quietly bit her lip.
Then, someone stepped forth boldly before Jenau, the Saintess and future Saint.
“It would be difficult to accept you driving out my sister, Saintess.”
“Hee?”
The Saintess answered that courage with a smile.
“When did This Saintess say she would drive her out? This Saintess merely said she would do so if someone desired it. Ah! There happens to be a suitable spare for the Queen right here? Though he is a feeble bookworm.”
“Please do not speak so, even in jest, Saintess.”
In contrast, Yurien’s face hardened.
“I would truly die.”
“Find This Saintess’s Paladin, Earei.”
Even at the Prince’s grim expression, Jenau did not bat an eye.
“Then the Order shall save you.”