Hyperion's Review After Twelve Years

Night shrouded Purgatory Corridor Academy, the silence of the school grounds broken only by the occasional gust of wind. After Lanqi assumed the post of headmaster, it took him barely an hour to settle the aftermath of the upheaval. The officers of the Demon King's Army Special Investigation Unit were all sent on their way, though Lanqi did ask a favor of them: to help repair the school's damaged buildings. Although the leadership of Purgatory Corridor Academy seemed curious about this remarkably genial headmaster, the hour was too late for them to ask questions, and they went off to rest as instructed. The hands of the clock were already creeping toward four in the morning. Cheerful chatter drifted down the corridor outside the top-floor Headmaster's Office. "This school really hasn't changed a bit. The vice headmaster looks exactly the same." The heavy oak doors swung open, and the group walked in, talking and laughing. Leading them was a tall male phantom demon, a nostalgic smile lingering at the corners of his mouth. "The moment you spoke, the vice headmaster seemed to half-recognize you, though he didn't dare say so for sure. After all, last time you were a fake headmaster, but this time you're the real deal." Hyperion stayed by Lanqi's side like a secretary. Lanqi's headmaster mannerisms were simply too recognizable. Among the faculty, she had even spotted several demons she remembered from their very first Shadow World. The moment they stepped inside the Headmaster's Office, the air grew delightfully warm. Dim amber lamplight fell across the dark brown wood flooring, and Demon Realm rock coal crackled quietly in the marble fireplace. "Indeed, everything here feels so familiar and dear, as if time has wound backward to the past." Lanqi walked over to the wide brown desk, lightly brushing his fingers over its surface to savor its antique grain. "This headmaster's office is quite nice. It looks so much like what I saw in my dream." Talia, leading Xigelei into the room, walked straight over to the window. She took a liking to the small round table and armchairs beside the glass. Outside, the Demon Realm's night sky was far more brilliant and dazzling than that of the human realm, sprinkled thick with stars. Truth be told, she really wanted this room for herself. She recalled that when she and Lanqi were crafting cards in the City of Flowers, she had been affected by the burst of mana from the final stage of Caliera's Shadow-Weaving Record and drifted into a slumber. In a daze, she had glimpsed an office almost identical to this one. "Caliera, I'm not going to get lost." Xigelei, still being led by the hand, spoke up. To her, navigating Purgatory Corridor Academy without smashing straight through walls was an absolute nightmare. Earlier, while following the Holy Son through the corridors, she had somehow managed to lose sight of him out of nowhere. This time, to ensure she wouldn't wander off, Caliera had kept a firm grip on her hand all the way into the Headmaster's Office. Only then did Caliera finally relax. While Xigelei was grateful for Caliera's meticulous care, being treated like a little child left her slightly embarrassed. "Oh, all right." Talia released her hand. She had simply been terrified that Xigelei might vanish again in the labyrinthine corridors. Unlike Lanqi, who was the sort of father with zero sense of caution, she was a very responsible mother. "Wait, why is there a swimming pool in the headmaster's office? I love it." The moment she was freed, Xigelei ran toward the far side of the room, looking out over the water. To one side of the office, the pool glowed with a soft blue hue under the lights, like a pristine sapphire. "See? I told you my renovations made this office fun for all ages," Lanqi remarked smugly. "..." Talia and Xigelei looked at him at the exact same moment. Both felt the fellow thoroughly deserved a beating. Just as quiet settled over the office, a knock came at the door. "Mr. McCarthy, I've had your luggage arranged and brought to the school. Your accommodations are in the lounge area, quite close to the corridor leading to the Demon King's Bestowed Restaurant. If you need anyone to guide you later, please call for me anytime." Lysandra knocked and bowed politely to Lanqi from the doorway. "Thank you, Lysandra." Lanqi offered his thanks. Before Lanqi could step forward to take the keycards from Lysandra's hand, he stopped in his tracks. Hyperion had already rushed over, eager to speak with her. The two had become fast friends back in Naicalis, the Demon King's Castle. Lanqi decided against sitting at his executive desk and instead strolled over to lean back against the sofa in the lounge area. Work hours were over. He had no official business to attend to, and Lysandra had no need to maintain a professional facade either. Right now, they were simply friends. "Lysandra, thank you!" Hyperion took Lysandra's hands, speaking with heartfelt sincerity. She could hardly imagine how much danger Lysandra had braved over the past few days to coordinate with her from the inside, or how she might have crossed paths with the Lord of Blasphemy herself tonight. Having such a dear friend almost made Hyperion want to remain in this era. "Princess, I am just glad you are safe and sound." Lysandra let out a long breath of relief. Even while hiding in the safest place in Purgatory Corridor Academy—the Headmaster's Office—she had still felt the tremors rocking the Purgatory Grounds outside. She had been terrified out of her wits. Fortunately, the one who returned was McCarthy, which meant McCarthy had won once again. However... What truly astonished Lysandra was laying eyes once more on that supreme female phantom demon who ruled the Demon Realm. "Lady Caliera..." Lysandra gazed at the hazy, breathtaking figure by the window, her mind spinning with a thousand thoughts, unsure of what to say. "Ahem... Yes, I'm back, child." Unaccustomed to being treated with such reverent awe by a demon, Talia quickly composed herself, turning around with a dignified demeanor. "..." Boss Cat poked its head out of the shadows, watching Tata. It felt that the longer Tata spent with Lanqi, the more unhinged she became. After a moment's hesitation, Talia walked over to the timid Lysandra and gently patted the headmaster's secretary on the head. "You did well, Lysandra." Talia slowly withdrew her hand. She wasn't entirely sure if the real Caliera would have done such a thing, but she felt this young demon child needed some warmth and reassurance. "Lady Caliera...?" Lysandra ducked her head in astonishment, hugging her temples as she looked up at the Lord of the Fallen. The great demon Caliera—ordinarily an aloof, untouchable figure far beyond reach—was treating her with the tender affection of a mother. "I'm no longer the Demon Realm's Regent. There's no need to be so stiff around me, and you can drop the formal titles too." Talia spoke with easy warmth. She had long grown accustomed to letting go of status and accepting reality. There was no point in clinging to yesterday's old dreams, nor any need to fret over the future. What mattered was the present. "I-is that so?" Lysandra was still overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. Her usually flawless professional composure frayed, leaving her stammering slightly. "By the way, Lysandra, could I trouble you to look after Tamisha a bit longer?" Hyperion carefully pulled the tiny gray kitten from her robes, gently stroking the slumbering creature before holding it out to Lysandra. The crisis had passed. Lysandra had a secure office and a secretary's lounge right next to the Headmaster's Office, which would be far better suited for the reclusive Tamisha to rest in peace. Hyperion had realized that she truly made a terrible mother. She had barely managed to take proper care of Tamisha throughout their journey; the clever and attentive former court protocol officer would surely ensure the kitten got the proper rest it needed. "Of course. Leave this little one to me," Lysandra assured Hyperion as she cradled the gray kitten. "Please get some rest soon. I shall take my leave now to settle Tamisha in." Not intending to linger in the office, she curtsied and departed. The door clicked shut. Only the headmaster and his companions remained. At this moment, the room was bathed in the relief that came with surviving peril. Every worry had been cast to the winds. "That really was close. If it were the old me, I might not have been able to beat Melogas, the Lord of Blasphemy." Xigelei clenched her fist, staring at the palm of her hand. Back before she was sealed during the Northern Continent era, she would have been around Level 88 by Lanqi's metrics. Ever since breaking through that fated seal, she had reached Level 89. If the fight had taken place during the day, her battle against Melogas would likely have been an even match—anyone's guess who would have won. "Xigelei!" Hyperion threw herself onto Xigelei, clinging to her tightly. "Thank you for protecting me! You're the best!" Her heart ached terribly whenever she remembered Xigelei's earlier injuries. Out in the hallway, she hadn't known what to say, but now she could finally wrap her arms around her. Even though Xigelei had grown bigger, that adorable essence about her had never changed. "Hyperion..." Xigelei blinked in surprise as Hyperion embraced her. The girl's warmth, softness, and the faint fruity scent drifting from her hair were all pressed against her without reservation. She recalled Hyperion's cold attitude of disgust toward her back in the Northern Continent. Yet looking at the affection practically overflowing from Hyperion right now, Sigrid knew her suspicion had been spot-on— Hyperion's favorability toward Sigrid and Xigelei was night and day. Even though Sigrid and Xigelei were practically identical, Hyperion hadn't noticed at all, displaying a total double standard between the two. "I've grown so strong. Aren't you afraid of me?" Xigelei asked tentatively. "You're this strong now, which means I don't have to worry about you anymore. You must take good care of yourself." Hyperion hugged Xigelei a little tighter. This Shadow World would likely be the last time she ever saw Xigelei. From now on, she would never see her little sister again. As long as she knew that Xigelei lived on safely and well in the history of tens of thousands of years ago, Hyperion could bid her farewell with a heart full of joy. "...Sister... can't you just stay with me forever?" Xigelei asked with an innocent, bewildered look, letting Hyperion hold her. "I... of course I want to be with you forever, never to part..." Hyperion mumbled, at a loss for how to explain, her voice faltering. "Me too. The next time we meet, can you promise to say the same thing to me?" Xigelei murmured into Hyperion's ear like a sleepy whisper. It seemed being hugged by Hyperion brought her immense peace of mind. "I promise!" Hyperion declared firmly, her expression laden with sorrow and reluctant parting. "Then it's a promise..." Xigelei's voice sounded completely guileless. Yet a sly grin was already spreading across her face. She could barely keep a straight face, struggling to keep from trembling so hard that Hyperion noticed. "Xigelei, are you cold?" Hyperion asked, feeling her tremble. "Yes, so could you hold me a little tighter?" Xigelei figured there was no sense in turning down free affection. Once Hyperion met her in the present world later on, she would never be this intimate with her again. Back then, when she wanted Hyperion to become the Saintess, Hyperion had given her the cold shoulder. Now, with just a tiny bit of trickery, Hyperion was throwing herself into her arms willingly. "Okay." True to Xigelei's wish, Hyperion pulled her even closer. "Could you tell me you like me best, Sister?" Xigelei pleaded earnestly, whispering by her ear. "I like you best! How can you be so adorable, my Xigelei?" Hyperion squirmed like a caterpillar, treating Xigelei like an oversized body pillow, reluctant to let go. When Xigelei was small, she had rarely acted cute or spoiled like this. Now that she had grown up, she was clingier than ever. "Good grief, you two." Talia stood with her hands on her hips, watching Hyperion and Xigelei stuck together like two magnets the moment they met. Their happiness was palpable right through the air. Even blood sisters could hardly have been more loving. Yet seeing how well Hyperion and Xigelei got along brought a healing warmth to Talia's heart as well. Both Hyperion and Xigelei turned toward the voice, looking at the gray-haired phantom demoness standing by the French window. The moment they parted, both leaped toward her. "Caliera!" For Hyperion, it was purely out of overwhelming longing. For Xigelei, it was simply riding the mood, unable to suppress her playful streak. "I thought I'd never see you again! You said you wouldn't abandon me, that you'd always assist me!" Hyperion's voice choked with tears, all her pent-up grief bursting out in that instant. The moment she had heard the Lord of Blasphemy, Melogas, claim that Caliera was dead back in the Demon King's Castle, the agony had been beyond bearing. And when she saw Caliera again, her first instinct had been to wonder if she was trapped in the Gentle Land of the Fallen. Only now, having confirmed that Caliera was truly here, did Hyperion feel a grounded, profound happiness. "Hyperion, I will always stay with you." Talia stroked Hyperion's long hair, closing her eyes as a tangle of emotions swept through her. At the same time, she didn't forget to pat Xigelei on the back. With two beloved daughters like these, she felt her life as a demon was more than complete. Now her sister in the present world had been found too. If she could only cleanse the poisonous fire afflicting her sister, put an end to the calamity in the Southern Continent, and return to a peaceful life in Ikerite, she would truly have nothing left to ask for. The only pity was that in the present world, she had only Hyperion, not Xigelei. Yet Talia made peace with it. Even if "imperfection" remained a constant throughout a demon's life, accepting that imperfection and recognizing that every gain required a sacrifice was the only way to keep one's heart broad. That, in itself, was a form of fulfillment. "Wonderful. Simply wonderful." Lanqi leaned back on the sofa, clapping his hands enthusiastically. Nothing could be more heartwarming than this scene. Even he was moved. Even the portrait of the Goddess of Fate hanging on the wall seemed to curve into a smile. "Lanqi, stop smiling like that. You're scaring me, meow." Boss Cat poked its head out, tugging at his trouser leg. It felt something was creepy, though it couldn't put a finger on what, and Lanqi clearly hadn't noticed at all. They said a boy who loved to smile wouldn't have bad luck. It supposed trusting Lanqi was the only option. The clock ticked away. Hyperion, Talia, and Xigelei chatted by the window for quite a while before reluctantly realizing it was time to part. "Yaaawn... I'm going to sleep." Xigelei rubbed her bleary eyes. She sensed Lanqi probably wanted to talk to Hyperion about matters concerning the Shadow World. Everyone else still regarded her as a native projection of the Shadow World. If she stayed, they wouldn't be able to discuss Shadow World business. In any case, her job in this Shadow World was pretty much done. The strongest opponent had been vanquished; all that was left was hanging out, having fun, and enjoying good food with Hyperion and Caliera at Purgatory Corridor Academy. "I'm going to rest as well." Talia also glanced toward the office door. To spare Hyperion sorrow and give her a satisfying, joyful memory of this Shadow World, Talia had disguised herself as Caliera. Caliera was certainly not a challenger, so she too should avoid the topic of the Shadow World. "Together?" The drowsiness in Xigelei's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a bright sparkle. Along their journey, she and Caliera had shared the sled to keep each other warm. But once they reached the city-state, Xigelei had rested alone while Caliera spent her energy cooking in the kitchen—or occasionally vanished into thin air. These were the last few days she had to spend with Caliera. "Uh..." Talia had originally intended to find a quiet spot to dispel her summoned state. Yet Xigelei looked so eager to have her mother accompany her. Besides, Xigelei genuinely needed someone to guide her back to their quarters; otherwise, she would surely get lost in the corridors again. Even though they could have Lysandra escort Xigelei around Purgatory Corridor Academy, it felt improper to keep troubling Miss Lysandra. She had mountains of work on her plate and was easily the busiest demon around aside from the headmaster. *What should I do, Lanqi? Do you have enough mana left?* Talia asked Lanqi mentally. *As long as you don't do anything drastic, I can just barely maintain your summon,* Lanqi replied. As long as Xigelei was happy, so be it. She had carried the team as MVP in tonight's decisive battle. If she wanted an eight-hundred-year-aged vintage to keep her company, how could he possibly refuse? She deserved the reward. *Hmph, then I'll go look after Xigelei. You take good care of Hyperion!* Talia relayed her thoughts. Too pleased to bother getting annoyed with Lanqi, she happily opened the office door and nodded to Xigelei. "Xigelei, want a late-night snack? Let's grab a bite before sleeping," Talia suggested. She had just heard Lysandra mention that the Demon King's Bestowed Restaurant was very close to their assigned lodgings. Ever since she had seen the Demon King's Bestowed Restaurant in the recordings of Lanqi's first Shadow World, Talia had longed for it for ages. She had thought she would never have the chance in this lifetime to see an authentic Demon King's Bestowed Restaurant, yet here in this Shadow World, she finally had the opportunity to taste it. "Perfect! You really know how to enjoy life, Caliera." Xigelei couldn't wait to follow, catching up to the gray-haired demoness. "See you tomorrow~" Before vanishing past the office door, she didn't forget to blow Lanqi and Hyperion a kiss. "See you tomorrow..." Hyperion raised her hand hesitantly, watching the office doors slide shut automatically. She couldn't shake the feeling that something about Caliera had changed. Strictly speaking, Caliera was still Caliera—the core of who she was remained the same. And yet, there was an unmistakable touch of something entirely new about her.