I sit back down.

  Mika looks at me with slight surprise, like she expected me to already know about this. "The Church infiltration. Professor Bel had pnned to provide you with a briefing this week, but since we are already discussing strategic positioning, I thought it might be helpful to provide an overview."

  "Church infiltration," I repeat carefully. "As in, demons infiltrating the Church?"

  "Yes. It's our primary strategic gap." She pulls out a different notebook—apparently she has multiple organization systems—and opens to a page covered in diagrams. "We have influence in noble houses through General Diablo, military through connections General Bel is developing, merchant guilds through another general, and now potential access to all three Academy factions. However, it is important to acknowledge that the Church operates independently of our control, which presents a challenge."

  "Hm, why can't you just infiltrate it like you did everything else?"

  "That is because the Church has divine protection. Cardinals and the Pope have the ability to sense demonic presence, albeit not perfectly, but with sufficient accuracy to identify and destroy a demon that might attempt to enter their inner sanctum." She taps the diagram. "We've been working on this problem for decades. We recently made some progress in our efforts to conceal our auras, which could potentially allow for brief infiltrations for intelligence gathering purposes. However, it remains challenging to establish a sustained presence."

  My stomach drops as I remember what Enid told me at the café. "What about the Saintess?"

  "Ah! The Saintess is different." Mika's expression becomes more serious. "...and significantly more dangerous."

  "Wow really? How different?"

  "The Saintess is chosen directly by the Goddess, and she is granted divine power that operates outside the usual magical frameworks. In contrast to the years of training required of heroes to reach their potential, a Saintess receives her blessing and immediately becomes equal in capability to a previous Saintess."

  "Huh? Is that too convenient?"

  "It is, in fact. That's the point." She flips to another page showing what looks like historical battle reports. "During the st war, the Saintess contributed to the reduction of human casualties by approximately forty percent through the use of healing miracles, protective barriers, and tactical support. It is also said that she killed one of our generals in single combat using holy magic that bypassed all demonic defenses."

  "She killed a demon general? Alone?"

  "Yes, I believe so. General Vex was known for his expertise in a form of magic involving corruption, and he was able to exert significant control over rge regions through the use of pgue and fear. The Saintess was able to purify his corruption, shatter his defenses, and destroy him in a battle that sted less than ten minutes." Mika's voice carries respect despite the subject being an enemy. "That's the level of threat we're discussing."

  I think about Enid asking to join the resistance, and how she's going to receive that same divine blessing. And I'm apparently supposed to recruit the person who could casually kill demon generals into a these group of demons.

  Am I destined to be doomed?

  "When does the Saintess usually appear?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

  "Historically, the Saintess manifests in response to demon threats. When the Demon King rises, the Goddess chooses a Saintess to oppose them." She looks at me with that reverent expression I'm starting to hate. "This leads me to consider the possibility that the current Saintess may have already been chosen, even if she hasn't been publicly revealed yet."

  "Huh? Why would you think that?"

  Because it's true!

  "Because you're here, my lord. The Demon King has returned, even if your recollection of your past life is limited. The Goddess would respond to that by preparing her champion." She makes another note. "General Bel has intelligence networks that are monitoring potential signs of Saintess manifestation, such as sudden divine visions or miraculous healing abilities, as well as unusual interest from Church officials in specific individuals. We haven't yet identified the candidate, but we are actively looking."

  Well, duh! She's sitting across from me in a café two hours ago!

  Moreover, she's asking to join our resistance movement and trusting me with information that could get her killed if the wrong people knew.

  "O-oh, right," I say instead. "Keep watching for her. Definitely don't want to be caught off-guard by a Saintess."

  "Exactly. Early identification could give us options for neutralization before she becomes fully operational."

  "Neutralization meaning...?"

  "Elimination, if possible, would be ideal. It is possible that corruption may occur, although this is not a certainty. It is believed that divine blessings may have the capacity to resist demonic influence. If we can identify her before she receives full Church support, misdirection and strategic isotion could be viable options." Mika says this completely matter-of-fact about pnning to kill whoever the Goddess chooses. Which is Enid.

  I feel sick.

  "Let's talk about something else," I say. "You mentioned Diablo and Duke Andras. Give me details about that situation."

  She accepts the subject change smoothly. "General Diablo has demonstrated a remarkable ability to infiltrate enemy lines, which is a noteworthy accomplishment among the five generals. It is my understanding that he killed Duke Andras approximately twenty years ago and has been operating as him ever since using advanced transformation magic. The real duke had no wife, which made the repcement process somewhat easier, as there were no close retions to notice behavioral changes or inconsistencies."

  "And nobody's figured it out in twenty years?"

  "Yes. General Diablo is extremely skilled. He devoted five years to studying the duke before the repcement, acquiring knowledge of his speech patterns, personal history, and political positions, all of which were essential for his impersonation. The transformation magic he uses appears to be more than just an illusion; it seems to involve actual physical alteration at the cellur level. He is Duke Andras in every measurable way except consciousness and loyalty."

  "Now that is terrifying."

  "Through Andras's position, General Diablo controls significant influence in the Traditionalist faction, has the King's complete trust, and can shape policy to demon benefit while appearing to be humanity's most loyal noble." She's smiling again. "It's a masterful long-term strategy."

  "And what about the son? Talese?"

  "Also Diablo's work. He created the persona of an alchemist son to expin why someone with the Andras name would engage in magical experimentation. It appears to provide cover for demonic research while maintaining the family's political position."

  "So there's no actual son?"

  "There is an actual person who presents as Talese Andras. The nature of this entity, whether it is another demon, a transformed human, or something else entirely, is information that currently exceeds my clearance level." She closes that notebook and looks at me with curiosity. "Why the interest in operational details, my lord?"

  "Uh, because everyone keeps making pns in my name and I should probably know what those pns actually are."

  "I see your point. Would you be interested in receiving comprehensive briefings on the current operations of all five generals?"

  "Maybe ter. For now I just want to understand the basics." I lean back. "You're a Keeper demon, right? What does that actually mean for your capabilities?"

  "I absorb and retain information perfectly, my lord. If I may offer my perspective, I believe that every book I read, every conversation I have, and every observation I make is stored permanently in my memory with complete accuracy. I believe I have the ability to cross-reference data, identify patterns, and make connections between seemingly unreted facts." She adjusts her gsses. "I consider myself to be a sort of living library, with what some might call perfect recall and processing capabilities."

  "Uh-uh. That sounds incredibly useful."

  "It is, in fact. While it can present challenges in social interactions, such as heightened sensitivity to nuances in communication and inconsistencies in others' statements, it also fosters a deeper understanding of interpersonal dynamics. It can be challenging to sustain casual retionships when one's memory is not fully reliable."

  "Yeah but that sounds lonely, though."

  "It has its practical uses. Loneliness is acceptable tradeoff for informational supremacy." She pauses. "Though I will say, my friendship with Enid is genuine despite its strategic value. She has been kind to me without expecting anything in return, and I am grateful for that. I also recognize that her position can benefit our cause."

  I think about Enid trusting Mika, considering her a friend, while Mika is simultaneously pnning how to use her as a political pawn.

  It's pragmatic and completely heartless.

  Suddenly, I became curious about this…

  "Hey, Mika. What do you think of the Demon King? Before died."

  She's quiet for a moment, organizing her thoughts. "I was never fortunate enough to have met His Majesty in person. I was quite young during the war—only about two hundred years old—and my role was focused on intelligence gathering rather than direct combat operations. However, based on my observations, the reports I have absorbed, and the deference other demons have shown..."

  She looks at me with that expression again, that mixture of respect and hope.

  "The Demon King was a manifestation of a vision. He didn't just command demons, He inspired us. He has given us a sense of purpose that goes beyond mere survival, has brought our fractured demon territories together under a unified leadership, and has encouraged us to believe that we can recim our pce in the world rather than hiding in the shadows." Her voice carries emotion I haven't heard before. "When He died, it was a situation where the future He had envisioned for us was becoming uncertain."

  "And now you think I'm that person reincarnated."

  "I know you're that person. Your power, your presence, and the way other demons instinctively submit to you... these are not mere coincidences. You carry the King's essence, even if the memories are lost."

  "What if I'm not? What if I'm just someone powerful who happens to be a demon?"

  "Then you could still be what we need. The memories may carry less significance than the collective capability and the collective will to lead us." She leans forward. "My lord, I have had the opportunity to observe demons surviving in seclusion for long. We've done our best to preserve knowledge, maintain networks, and prepare infrastructure. However, it seems we have not had the benefit of a clearly defined direction or a unified purpose. You could give us that. You have the potential to be the catalyst that transforms survival into restoration."

  I don't know what to say to that. She's looking at me like I'm hope incarnate, and I'm just a graphic designer / gamer who got dropped into this situation without a manual.

  Alright I gotta go now.

  "By the way," I say. "There was an assassin targeting me. But I already took care of it."

  Mika's demeanor shifts instantly.

  Her aura—which I hadn't even noticed she was suppressing—fres for a second before she wrestles it back under control. The air around us feels heavy, temperature dropping, and other students in the library shift uncomfortably without understanding why.

  "Someone tried to kill you?" Her voice is perfectly level but underneath it I hear fury. "Who? When? Why wasn't I informed immediately?"

  "Ugh, restrain yourself, Mika. You're leaking killing intent."

  She takes a breath and forces her aura back down completely. "My lord, please accept my humble apologies. The thought of someone attacking you before we could establish proper security protocols is... concerning."

  "I handled it. They're not a problem anymore."

  "Handled meaning...?"

  "Handled meaning they're dead and stored in my shadow inventory where nobody will find them."

  She's quiet for a moment, processing.

  "Well, they tried to kill me first. Self-defense."

  "...and you disposed of the body in a satisfactory manner."

  "Is that a problem?"

  "No, my lord. That's excellent operational security." She pulls out yet another notebook—how many does she have?—and starts writing. "I'll look into who sent them and establish some counter-intelligence protocols to try to prevent future attempts. Do you have any information about their identity or employer?"

  "He looked like a professional, white-haired guy who dressed like a butler. He said he was hired by Penelope, but he didn't confirm that directly."

  "Ah, Lady Ashworth is said to have enlisted the services of assassins to target her political opponents. It is bold, but perhaps not unexpected, given her family's resources and her apparent desire to address potential challenges to her engagement." More notes. "I'll do my best to work with General Diablo to try to prevent this from escating into broader faction conflict. It would be best if you could avoid getting involved in an open conflict with the Traditionalists until we are prepared."

  "I'm not pnning on warfare with anyone."

  "Of course not. You're just defending yourself against aggressors." That slight smile again. "Which happens to eliminate obstacles to our strategic positioning."

  "That's not—I'm not—" I give up. Again. "Whatever. Just make sure Penelope doesn't send more assassins."

  "I'll handle it personally. No one threatens the Demon King and lives to tell about it."

  "Don't kill people just because they threatened me!"

  "I won't kill unnecessarily. However, I will make sure that anyone who targets you will face the appropriate consequences." She closes her notebook. "Is there anything else you need, my lord?"

  "Just... try to keep the conspiracy from exploding for a few more weeks. I'd like to at least finish my first term before everything goes catastrophic."

  "I'll do my best. Given your talent for 'accidentally' acquiring strategic advantages, it seems we might be able to achieve more than just avoiding catastrophe."

  I stand up to leave for real this time, mind spinning with everything I just learned.

  I need to talk to Celine, Vivienne, and Mara about the assassination attempt. They should know someone's actively trying to kill me now, even if I can't expin how I dealt with it.

  Though expining that I murdered an assassin and stored the body in dimensional shadow storage is probably not the conversation opener they're expecting.

  This world keeps getting more complicated, and I keep getting pulled deeper into politics I don't want any part of.