Kassie had a phenomenal expression on her face.

Shock and pleasure warred across her features at the same time, to the point that a subtle blush seemed to bloom on her pale skin. It was almost endearing — the way this ancient terror of a woman could still be caught off guard.

Then it all twisted into a fierce frown the next second.

"You want me. To. Train you. To fight like me."

She sounded like she was in denial.

I nodded, suppressing my amusement at her reaction. "Yes, Kassie. Is it possible?"

Her frown broke into a maniacal smile. For a moment, my heart skipped a beat — not because of her terrifying beauty, certainly not — but rather because it suddenly looked like I was about to sign a deal with the devil.

The kind of deal where you read the fine print afterward and realize you've signed away your soul, your sanity, and possibly your kneecaps.

Her grin persisted.

"It'll be difficult."

My heart thumped almost audibly.

"And it'll take a long time." She gestured to herself with an elegant sweep of her hand. "This right here is the effort of thirty-five years. You won't get it in a year or two."

I gulped. "I've steeled myself… I want to not have to depend on you anytime I'm in trouble. To be honest, it's been too annoying as of late. I know I said you're my summon and I'm supposed to depend on you. But the entire situation has changed now. I need to be a devastation myself, a calamity — and not because of my villainesses but because of me. I want to be able to fight shoulder to shoulder with all of you."

I looked down, slightly irritated. "All of these… I'm sick of it."

My gaze rose back and held hers. Determination burned in my eyes with a dark and cold flame.

"I don't care how long it takes, Kassie. I won't stop trying."

The corner of her lips curled up, and then she reached out and gently patted my hair. Her touch was surprisingly warm, almost maternal — though I suspected she'd gut me if I ever said that out loud.

"Good. Good. I see the fire in your eyes." Her voice softened, carrying an unfamiliar weight. "I accept you as my first ever student."

[Congratulations]

'Huh…'

[Tyrant Empress's Fortitude has increased by 0.1]

My eyes widened for a moment.

'Wait, what… even when we had sex, her fortitude did not increase. How come…?'

I looked at Kassie. Her eyes were contentedly closed as she continued to pat my head, her expression radiating genuine pleasure. Although on her face I could also read a dark glee — and somewhere behind those delicate features, I could see a storm cloud gathering over my future.

'She's already planning how to break me, isn't she? That look has "suffering" written all over it.'

But there was no doubt about it. They did explain in the academy that the key to raising attributes was affection. However, I had just assumed that my villainesses' fortitude would increase as I fucked them and made them enjoy peak sex.

I was looking at it the wrong direction the whole time.

It was affection, but apparently not that kind of affection. It seemed the way to increase their fortitude would be to make them accept me. Somehow. To build something genuine — trust, respect, connection — and grow from there?

I wasn't entirely sure, but I knew that I was on the right track.

'This is certainly an unexpected boon!'

My eyes practically radiated with hopefulness and happiness. The realization opened up possibilities I hadn't even considered before.

"Ah, right. What about Pyre Saint — where is she?"

Kassie opened her eyes, her expression straightening into something more neutral.

"Outside."

"Right. Does she bother you?"

Kassie shook her head, her gaze clear and unbothered.

"Not at all."

"So… she's just always silent?"

"Sitting and sleeping at the stairs, yes." Kassie's tone was matter-of-fact. "None of us can come in or go out without your permission."

I sighed. That was a relief, considering Magdalene's nature. I was almost worried that she would constitute a nuisance and disturb Kassie.

'I can't even summon her because of how unpredictable she is…'

But I had to resolve this issue. I was her summoner, and she was my summon. Although there was a serious question of whether she would be willing to fight against the church with me.

She seemed deluded into thinking she mattered to them — or I could be reading her wrong entirely. Her first encounter was all I had to work with, after all. First impressions weren't always accurate, especially with someone who'd been dead for eight millennia.

I tapped the headrest of the pew where my hand rested and exhaled slowly.

"I'll be back. I need to address her."

Kassie nodded and gently laid back against the pew. It was hard to miss the almost rippling movements of her large breasts as she settled into place.

'Focus. You're about to negotiate with a psychotic ancient saint. Not the time.'

I walked toward the entrance, and two massive white oak doors naturally opened, revealing the outside to me.

The outside could be considered the borders of my soul plane — vast and seemingly endless. But it was just a white plain, an empty expanse that lacked the real feel of The Nave. No warmth, no texture. Just… space.

As I stepped outside, Magdalene was leaning on one of the colossal white pillars holding up the building, with one hand resting on her raised knee while her other leg stretched downward along the stairs. She opened her eyes at my approach but did not move.

"You're not going to try to burn me if I sit next to you, right?"

Her expression was vicious. Too vicious. I didn't even know if I could consider her a beauty — not with those blood-red eyes that held the look of a corpse willing to burn down the world. There was nothing soft in that gaze. Nothing human.

'Should I just undo her summon and summon another villainess? She's so scary.'

I didn't even know if that was possible.

She did not respond, so I settled on the first step, keeping a reasonable and safe distance between us. Close enough to talk. Far enough that I might survive if she decided to incinerate me.

"I need your help."

She closed her eyes.

I inhaled and exhaled heavily.

'This will be long.'

"Maggy."

Her eyes flared open with fierce red light, burning like embers caught in a sudden wind.

'Now, that's more like it.'

I regarded her with a stern expression.

"The church took everything away from me. Like they did to you."

Her voice rang out with indignation, sharp as cracking ice.

"Do not speak about me, miscreant. You know nothing about me."

"You used to be an Inquisitor yourself, didn't you? And you slaughtered many with your flames on the orders of the church?" I pressed forward, not giving her room to retreat into silence. "How did you die? Did you even know how you died? Aren't you curious what the church said about you afterward? The same church you lived every day of your life for."

I sighed deeply.

"Listen. I probably have no right to say anything — you existed at least eight thousand years before now, and I suspect even more. Which is all the more reason why I believe you should be wiser and stop deluding yourself." I met her blazing gaze without flinching. "You wanted this chance for this reason. Look past me… and satisfy your curiosities. All the same, you are bound to me, and must pay rent. If you won't be useful, I'll give you an eviction notice."

I looked at her with finality.

"I've said my piece. I hope you make the right decision."

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