The spacious living room grew somewhat quiet because of the unique communication wavelength between Lanqi and Hyperion.
Sigrid was still pondering what on earth quasi-bishop-level and beyond-bishop-level strength even were.
After a brief silence.
Even if Sigrid and Gloria did not understand, Lanqi roughly grasped it after hearing Hyperion's explanation.
Hyperion's mother's side belonged to the demon race, so having connections was only natural.
If Hyperion could handle Antanas of Protection, everything would be simple; the two of them could achieve a perfect division of labor.
"All right then. Leave this one to you, and the other two to me," Lanqi said with a smile.
"Huh?"
Hyperion furrowed her brow, staring at Lanqi.
Wait, what?
You plan on rescuing the other two as well?
"Wait a second! Those two great demons are completely beyond your control—they genuinely want to restore the demon nation!"
Hyperion kept firmly in mind what the Ice Snow Witch had once told her.
Releasing Sinora the Spellbreaker and Pranay of Truth should only ever be considered if there was a need to throw the Protos Empire into utter turmoil.
Under the current circumstances, with Lanqi occupying a high position in the empire, they had no need whatsoever to wreck all of Herrom. Those two great demons were best left locked beneath the prison forever!
"You said they are loyal subjects of the demon race, right?"
"Yes."
Yet a half-blood princess of merely tier five like her was far from capable of making those two great demons bow and submit.
"Then leave it to me. Rest assured."
With his calm, steady demeanor, Lanqi looked more like a demon at that moment than Hyperion did.
"...I'll do as you say."
Hyperion ultimately conceded.
As part of the Protos Empire's faction now, Lanqi should be the person who least wanted to see the empire come to harm; he surely had his reasons.
As their conversation wound down.
"By the way, Holy Son, aren't you supposed to hold back the warden at the Protos Royal Magic Academy? How are you going to enter the prison with her?" Sigrid, who had been listening from the other end of the sofa for a while, asked.
Lanqi nodded, as if acknowledging Sigrid's confusion, and decided to answer her question with practical action.
"Is the Poet of Great Love here?" Lanqi asked Hyperion. He still hadn't sensed the Poet of Great Love's presence up to now.
"Right here."
Hyperion pulled a bookmark from the inner pocket of her coat. Opening its outer casing, she revealed a magic card sealed within ice crystals, completely devoid of its orange haze and luster.
Hyperion then followed the unsealing procedure given to her by the Ice Snow Witch and broke the seal in no time.
Before the card could radiate its light again, it took on human form of its own accord.
"Waaah! I was bullied! My life has been so miserable!"
The Poet of Great Love sat in a w-sit on the living room carpet, throwing her head back and wailing loudly, ice crystals still sloughing off her hair and arms.
Her soul-stirring voice left both Gloria and Sigrid feeling deeply unsettled.
"..."
Sigrid stared at this ash-haired, blue-eyed demon of porcelain skin and breathtaking beauty, clenching her hands.
She felt this magic card was far too dangerous. Maybe it was better off sealed away; her Holy Son had no need for such a magic card.
"Stop crying. I saw you secretly checking my expression just now before launching into round two," Lanqi said, staring speechlessly at the Poet of Great Love.
"Hmph. Speak, then. What do you need my help with this time?"
The Poet of Great Love wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, let out a cold huff, and stood up, casually flicking her hair with the back of her hand.
"Poet of Great Love, change into your human form skin first."
Lanqi stepped forward and offered a tier-four spell card of Purple Rare quality.
The Poet of Great Love immediately snatched [Poet of Great Love Polymorph: Human] from his hand.
It had been a long time since she last touched her skin cards, and she had missed these outfits for quite a while.
The moment she touched the magic card and activated it, her figure transformed into an ethereal, black-haired maiden. Her emerald-green eyes rippled with a lively, limpid sheen, her fair skin was as pure as snow, and her long dress was elegant and light above delicate black leather shoes.
This transformation made Sigrid widen her eyes and turn toward Lanqi.
You used a four-cost card slot just to dress up a demon summon with zero combat capabilities? What kind of bizarre fetish do you usually have?
Lanqi met Sigrid's gaze helplessly, offering a wry smile as if to tell her that if he could truly be charmed by the Poet of Great Love, he would have suffered this card's backlash long ago.
"..."
Sigrid thought it over and let it go.
She naturally trusted Lanqi.
Getting angry at the Holy Son over a misunderstanding like this would clearly make her unworthy of victory.
"Lend me your body for a bit," Lanqi said to the Poet of Great Love.
"What's in it for me?"
The Poet of Great Love tilted her chin up without any intention of refusing, merely asking in a crisp, intrigued tone.
She was very pragmatic; whenever Lanqi wanted her to work, he had to pay up.
"I'll take you to observe several slates in one go," Lanqi replied.
"Original Slates?"
The Poet of Great Love pondered this. Wasn't observing an Original Slate supposed to be exceedingly difficult? How had two months passed only for Lanqi to act like he had already finalized viewing arrangements for several of them?
"Deal."
Listening to their exchange, Sigrid was profoundly bewildered, yet she held back from asking Lanqi what he was doing and simply watched him and the Poet of Great Love.
Next.
Following the Poet of Great Love's agreement, Lanqi sat in a chair. Gradually looking drowsy, his head drooped down.
On the other side, the Poet of Great Love's aura completely transformed.
She looked toward Sigrid, that faint half-smile in her eyes and gentle, pleasant disposition seemingly answering Sigrid's confusion—she had become the real Lanqi.
He had successfully possessed the Poet of Great Love.
When the time came, he would play two roles at once: his true body would manage the warden's movements at the academy, while the Poet of Great Love, acting as his avatar, would accompany Hyperion to Herrom Prison.
"No way... you really turned into my Saintess?"
Sigrid looked at the black-haired, green-eyed beauty. Although her facial features didn't resemble Lanqi's, having taken on Lanqi's eye color and temperament, she looked far too much like Lanqi's own sister.
Sigrid surprisingly felt that if this person were her Saintess, it would also be perfect—though she was now certain that having him as her Holy Son was better.
"The Poet of Great Love is somewhat special. This card can communicate directly with me on a spiritual level, and with my permission, she can also take control of my body in reverse," Lanqi explained to Sigrid.
Generally speaking, summons other than puppet types could rarely be possessed directly; sharing sight and hearing required additional spells.
Unless a bond akin to a natal contract existed between summon and master, a direct soul link was impossible.
Earlier, in the inner space of [Original Slate - Wind], the Poet of Great Love had borrowed his eyes.
"At any rate, I'm waiting for you to help me deal with the Extinction Branch. If you need any help from me, come find me anytime."
Sigrid nodded, having grasped the gist of it.
The meeting was practically over by now.
"Then before carrying out this mission, I still need a little time to prepare. We'll begin our operation in three days," Lanqi said with a smile, clasping his hands together in a manner that signaled the meeting's conclusion.
Next, he would have to make good use of this new face.
Talia's face, Lanqi's black hair and green eyes, plus Lanqi's soul.
This was the truly flawless, final demon princess.
And she would be the best demon princess, striving to defend world peace.
Chapter 387