Chapter 17: Playing Hostage

[Constellation of Fate send you an emergency quest]

[Condition 1: Prevent the Heavenly Rebel, the Demon God of Necromancy, from descending into the mortal world][Reward: SP+20K]

[Condition 2: Kill the Heavenly Rebel, the Demon God of Necromancy][Reward: HP +25K, CON +50, SP +200K, MP +2M, Demon God's fragment core]

"Hmm? Woah..." Ely was looking through Lily-Mae's research magic circle, but a screen suddenly popped out before her vision.

'The mission is now sent to me directly?' Ely was stunned for a second because it was the first time a quest had come to her by itself. She instantly realized how fucked up her current situation was. 'Heavenly Rebel, the Demon God will descend around here!?'

Ely looked at the overcast sky beyond the window, which looked much darker. The dark clouds above the city formed a massive vortex, indicating a catastrophe would soon occur.

She did feel a bit uneasy before, but she just thought she was feeling a bit nervous because it would be the first time she would purify someone in the public eye.

Someone suspected as a descendant of a cursed hero, a black magic practitioner, or perhaps, a demon in disguise didn't bring anything good.

It was no longer the act of saving the bloodline of a hero like what she had been doing in the last three years. The plot suddenly became the summoning ritual for the descent of a Demon God!

'I purged the bad evil demons yesterday without any reward... Blame me for not checking my grimoire before coming down the mountain. I may be the nemesis of any creature with evil-related power, but can I withstand the power of God with my holy artifacts?' Ely asked in wonder and summoned her Lost Prayer grimoire. She let the new quest hang before her vision because the two choices were too difficult without careful consideration.

Lily-Mae had just taken a magic scroll from the shelf, but she was surprised to find what was in the holy saintess' hand. "Lady Miko? What are you- Is, is it perhaps a high-level grimoire!? You also embarked on the magic path? My apologies. I thought you were a cultivator."

"Do you know about grimoire, Miss Lily?" Ely opened her grimoire to check Aher's current status screen and the mission list.

"Of course! A grimoire can only be used by an Elite Mage or above, and the high-level one... Err, Lady Miko, you've made a contractual bond with your grimoire!?" Lily-Mae's voice grew weaker as she discovered that someone who came to her as a curious student was an expert beyond her level.

'If so, did Lady Miko just test me all along? She was definitely a high-level mage beyond 5th Rank! Uh, it's not. She came to share thoughts and understand more deeply about profound magic, not to learn basic magic, silly me. She's so young but already achieved the dream of every mage to hold their own grimoire.' Lily-Mae's confidence received a critical hit. She felt stupid for feeling proud that a holy saintess even came to her to learn about magic.

'High-level one? Lost Prayer is an SS Rank, Mythical-tier grimoire.' Ely put aside the magic concept of scrolling sideways, then focused on her priority.

(read more)...

[Slaying 4th Rank demon | SP +80]

[Slaying 2nd Rank demon | SP +40]

[Slaying 4th Rank demon | MP +800]

[Slaying 3rd Rank demon | MP +600]

[The agent of the Dark Realm is satisfied with your cruelty]

Ely discovered a new feature, the log list next to her status page. Her stats increased without her realizing it until now, and it was clearly because of her actions yesterday. Although it was somewhat unintentional, she killed over a hundred evil demons. And the most marvelous thing was the first on the list.

[Slaying 10th Rank Deity embryo | MP +8,000 | SP +4,000]

'It's truly a Devil Deity embryo... It was thanks to Celestia for killing him. Yet, the most mysterious and terrifying artifact within my inner space had already awakened. Never mind, My MP and SP increased, so I guess I can get it by exterminating enemies? However, how do I increase my HP and other stats? Wait, the new quest offers something interesting.' Ely double-checked the quest from the Constellation of Fate.

She would receive amazing bonuses if she could kill the Demon God, but would she be able to do it? That was what came to her mind, but she would try it, considering she held many Super-tier and Mythical-tier artifacts.

There was also no quest penalty or coercion. Regardless, countless people would surely die if the Demon God managed to descend into this mortal world.

Therefore, Ely would try to accomplish the second option's objective. However, she had to ensure precautions in case she overestimated her abilities. That way, it would not be too late to prevent the Demon God from descending to fulfill the first-choice condition.

[Expose the Lumina Marquess Family's dark secret and demolish their hidden agenda][Reward: Rafaela's 100% unshakable loyalty, Imperial Family's generous gift]

[Stop the Holy Church's inhumane experimentations (0/3)][Reward: Archangel]

[Create anything with high artistic value recognized by heaven (79/1000)][Reward: Mastery of a divine prowess]

...(read more)

Ely flipped to the next page, and another one replaced the screen. Many astonishing quests were on the mission list for Ely to accept at face value.

However, since all of that only appeared on that page screen as mere information, the urgency couldn't be compared to the quest sent directly by the Constellation of Fate.

Ely closed her grimoire and returned it to her subspace with a poof. She then took out a protective talisman and handed it over to Lily-Mae. "Miss Lily, thank you for your time. I broadened my horizons about profound magic, thanks to you. However, it seems things are getting a bit chaotic out there. Please be safe and follow your secret protectors' instructions, okay? We need to leave to somewhere safe."

"Eh-huh? Why do you say that all of a sudden, Lady Miko? I-" Lily-Mae was confused by the sudden change in intonation. It was as if the holy saintess was concerned about her safety?

*Bam!*

The wall was blasted open outside, and the door was smashed from the other side. Several people in ninja-like outfits surrounded the two girls and sealed any possible escape path.

"Don't move. You are not going anywhere, ladies. Please don't fight and come with us; you will give us no choice but to take you by force." The ninja leader rushed to take the pink-haired petite girl hostage, then showed his bloodstained sword for intimidation.

"N-no... My magic research it's ruined! Ugh, who, who are you all? How dare you cause trouble at Luponia Magic Academy!?" Lily-Mae broke out her hand with a feeling of loss. Her research projects had been crushed under the pile of concrete debris. She tried to cast her magic, but nothing happened. "You think we- wait, why can't I use my magic?"

"You are surprised, aren't you? Hehe, this academy is already locked up in the anti-mana domain. No mage will come out of here unscratched. The so-called secret protectors are just a bunch of weaklings. You have no chance of escaping. What do you think, holy saintess?" The leader-like ninja took out several bloodied cloth sacks and threw them near the holy saintess' feet.

"A meaningless massacre without a shred of grace. The sinners and evildoers shall receive the punishment of heaven. I will come with you as a hostage, but don't kill more or injure Miss Lily. I'm warning you." Ely sighed.

"We are not here to hear your lecture. You cannot bargain with us, let alone buy time for reinforcements. Your secret protectors were just so-so within this anti-mana domain. We accidentally slaughtered them to the ground." The muscular ninja contemptuously sneered.

Ely remained calm because she understood her people's real power very well. This group of evil ninjas would never defeat her core disciples or Guardian of Dream's members.

"Do as I say, or do you want me to struggle desperately? You know very well what a holy saintess is capable of, right?" Ely threw a petty threat and intimidation. She had another idea and chose a plan of a mouse deer tricking the tiger.

"..." The evil ninjas looked at each other. They felt capturing the holy saintess was too easy than expected, but the meat was served on the table without a fight.

"If they don't fight back, we don't need to kill them that soon." The ninja leader handcuffed the holy saintess' wrists with a sea stone sealing artifact. In this way, their primary target couldn't exert any spiritual power even though she wished to do so.

"Lady Miko, sorry... I'm useless." Lily-Mae was also handcuffed without power or resistance. Without magic, she was as good as an ordinary mortal. She dragged the holy saintess back because those bad guys threatened her life.

"Let's see what they have planned." Ely left the room, following the ninja leader.