"What is that John doing now?"
On a forest path within Skoll Academy, Hel was taking a walk to digest her meal while communicating with Niv through the soul network.
"It looks like he's holding talks with representatives sent by various countries. But this time their defenses are extremely tight. Not only have they set up all kinds of barriers inside and outside the room, that Special Envoy John has even directly unfolded his own mental world inside it. So the bugs can't probe anything at all—we have no idea what they're discussing."
"I see."
Hel nodded, then comforted Niv.
"Don't worry too much about it. If they want to carry out a plan, they'll inevitably reveal some flaws. So we'll just quietly observe their actions. If we can secretly interfere and seize the Healing Witch, that would be best. If not, I'll think of another way to steal traits from the Healing Witch."
"All right, Master. Niv will continue investigating."
"I just wonder—if the Healing Witch really is taken by us, will that Special Envoy John still have other ways to stop this plague?"
Hel felt somewhat worried. After all, the other party had come specifically to deal with the plague. If John's plan were sabotaged, the Church might very well allow the plague to continue unchecked. In that case, if she wanted to quell it, she would likely have to expose part of her own abilities.
After thinking for a moment, however, Niv asked with some confusion:
"Master, doesn't your authority over death include authority over plague as well? Then couldn't you use that authority to control this plague?"
Hearing Niv's suggestion, Hel thought for a while, then shook her head.
"I can't. This is Pestis's apotheosis ritual. Unless I had interfered with her or the ritual process beforehand, I have no way to control these plagues at all. More importantly, my strength is far inferior to hers. If I were stronger than her, there would be ways to suppress her through authority and seize control over the plague. Even then, it would only be control—I still wouldn't be able to stop the apotheosis ritual itself by controlling the plague."
"Is that so? Then, Master, could you use your understanding of the plague to create some medicines to cure it?"
Niv asked again in Hel's mind. This time, Hel pondered much longer. After quite a while, she finally replied, somewhat uncertainly:
"In theory, yes. But that's only theory. In reality, I don't have knowledge of pharmacology. Even if I know exactly how this plague is composed and how to counter it, I still lack the expertise to refine medicines. On the other hand, researching an alchemical item that can dispel the plague would actually be easier for me. But just like the argument at yesterday's assembly, the nobles of the various nations are unwilling to spend too much gold for the sake of commoners. And to create enough alchemical arrays to counter this plague, my financial resources are nowhere near sufficient."
"So that's why Master joined Special Envoy John's alchemy department as an intern."
"Exactly." Hel didn't hide anything and admitted it readily.
"Using the forbidden spell he casts, stealing the energy released by that forbidden spell, and then using it to deploy the array I want—just like what we did back in the Mandrake Territory, only much more complex this time. But the premise is that I can grasp forbidden spells of the life attribute, and that the forbidden spell John casts really is of the life attribute."
"Didn't Master check his information yesterday?"
"I did, but I have a strong feeling that the magic he has mastered is all about accelerating plant growth. Magic like that has basically no chance of countering a plague."
"What do you mean?"
"His holy relic comes from the Abundance Witch."
"The Abundance Witch?"
Niv's cat-like face showed a very human look of surprise.
If Hel were to obtain the authority of the Abundance Witch, then the three authorities of flowers, harvest, and growth would no longer need to be collected at all. And with healing and recovery already having confirmed targets, it might not take long for Hel to complete her authority over reincarnation.
But for a special envoy from the Holy See to possess a holy relic of the Abundance Witch—
Could it be that…
"That's right. The Abundance Witch is very likely imprisoned within the Holy See. Not to mention how far the Holy See is from the three great empires—even if we went there, we might not be able to find where the Abundance Witch is being held."
"Then, Master, could you search related memories from the souls of those two envoys?"
Hearing this, Hel thought for a moment, but still shook her head helplessly.
"Forget it. A Saint-tier eight-star powerhouse is only a professor at the academy—so what kind of strength would those in higher positions have? There must be at least a dozen experts like John. It's even possible that there are demigod-level powerhouses. So yeah, the waters of the Holy See run too deep. We'd better behave ourselves within the three great empires. When I reach demigodhood one day, then I'll go test those waters."
"Uh… Master, you really are as cautious as ever."
The catgirl Niv scratched her cheek helplessly. She was already used to Hel's prudence.
Just as the two of them were about to continue discussing how to interfere with John's plan, three figures approached from not far ahead.
Hel knew all three of them. They were her so-called cousin Xixi, the Radiant Knight Irina, whom she had met once before, and—
The last person surprised Hel somewhat.
It was the daughter from that strange father–daughter pair who had once visited her territory.
And judging by her dazed expression, it was clearly even worse than when Hel had first met her.
This time, however, it wasn't because external reasons had caused a lack of emotions, but because she had lost her emotional anchor and subconsciously sealed off her own feelings.
"If I remember correctly, this girl's name is Zephyra."
As Hel was thinking this, Xixi on the opposite side waved at her in greeting.
"Good afternoon, little cousin. I've come to introduce a new classmate to you."
"New classmate?"
Looking at the girl who was half a head shorter than herself, Hel turned to Xixi with some confusion.
"So… this girl is already old enough to attend school?"
The thought flashed through Hel's mind, and her surprise only showed for an instant. By the time she reached the three of them, she greeted them politely.
"Good afternoon, Cousin Xixi. Hello, Ms. Irina. We meet again."
"Hello, Hel."
Irina greeted Hel just as politely.
"Since you're a successor acknowledged by my uncle, you can be more casual with how you address me. You could call me Sister Irina, just like little Zephyra does."
"All right, Sister Irina."
Hel didn't stand on ceremony and directly called her that.
After greeting the two older sisters, Hel finally turned her gaze to the last person and gave her a polite smile.
"Hello. If I remember correctly, your name is Zephyra, right?"