<General POV>


    Returning to the capital city of Elysium, the Pope was on his way to a full recovery, finally able to execute his n. After the fight with ina and Freja, he sustained a lot of injuries, especially after allowing his body to be taken over by Katarina, his mistress.


    It had left him bedridden several months, but he was now back in shape and eager to make some preparations. Unfortunately, he had still lost about half of hismanders as a result of attacking the demonnds.


    He had hoped that more woulde back, but it seemed several were unwilling to follow us anymore, leaving only the ones who were blindly loyal to him.


    *


    <us POV>


    "Are the summoning circles finished?" I was deep underground, where I held all of the cult activities. I stood on a tform, looking down at the magic circle that I''ve been making over thest few years.


    It was a work in progress and has changed in form many times, but I was finally getting closer to resurrecting the dead, or at least opening up a way to hell to retrieve souls.


    "Everything isplete, we are just waiting on confirmation that the circles in the rest of the territory are ready to be activated. However, it will still take us at least a year to umte enough mana to go through with it." A hooded servant kneeled behind me, reporting on the status of the project.


    It annoyed me to hear I had to wait another year, but there was no way around it. If someone had an infinite amount of mana, then it would only take a couple months, but that person doesn''t exist.


    "Is there a report from Freja? She is part of the reason I was able to escape the demonnds." Freja… an annoying woman who doesn''t know whose side to be on. If I could, I would have murdered her, but she has proven herself useful.


    On the one hand, she disrupted my ns for the demonnds, on the other, she supplied Katarina with mana through her attacks, allowing her to teleport us away. Freja also sealed the Fox realm royal family except for their pesky daughter Shaman, another pain in my ass.


    Despite being so much weaker than me, I can tell she is an otherworlder like me with a system, so there is no doubt she will try to stop me.


    "She has not reported anything other than that the stasis barrier is stable."


    ''I really should just kill her, she is bing more useless by the day.'' Now that I was getting into thete stages of my n, I needed to remove all variables that could ruin the process. If there is even the slightest chance of betrayal, then I have to eliminate its source.


    "Sir! This is an urgent report! One of the mana circles has been destroyed." Another hooded figure appeared from the darkness in a rush.


    "Which one?" Damn it! Right as I thought things could not get more stressful, one of my power sources is gone.


    "We believe Alice Dahlia, the vampire you sealed, has been released or murdered." Those words rang rmingly in my head. There could not possibly be a worse mana supplying magic circle to lose.


    "Give me the details. NOW!" I clenched my fist, preparing to leave at any moment and kill whoever was responsible.


    "Y-yes sir Pope. Our scouts stationed in the Dahlia underground city have reported that the granddaughter of Teivel has returned. We are unsure of her involvement, but it seems like things have changed ever since she arrived.


    "I''m going there rig-."


    ''No us.'' Right as I was about to use my light magic to teleport outside, Katarina''s voice echoed through my head.


    ''You should not worry over a small hurdle. You need to preserve your strength and focus on the summoning.'' It took all my resolve to stop myself, but to me, Katarina''s words are absolute.


    If she deems it not worthy, then I consider it not worthy either.


    ''But why? If I don''t fix it, then it could dy your revival.'' I knew I shouldn''t be questioning her judgement, but I wanted a reason.


    ''You are not fit to fight and I can tell you that Alice was killed rather than released. I felt the connection be severed much more suddenly than any orderly release. So there''s no point in wasting your time on nothing. Even if it were this girl, I doubt she knows about your ns.'' Katarina filled me in on her reasoning, leaving me little space to argue.


    ''I understand.'' If Alice was indeed dead, then there is no salvaging it.


    ''Good boy~.'' Katarina whispered in my ear while her voice faded away.


    "Keep me updated on what is happening in that city and just proceed as normal." Following the words of my mistress, I stayed put and ordered the underling that rushed here to return.


    "Understood." The hooded figure then vanished into the darkness.


    "How long are the estimates now?" I turned to the hooded figure that gave me a rough time frame. If one of our main mana sources is gone, then that would greatly affect the schedule.


    "T-that will roughly add s-six months." I saw them panic as they calcted the time in their head, cowering in fear as they mumbled their conclusion. I couldn''t deny I wanted to kill them right then and there, as hearing the dy only pissed me off further.


    "Leave if you value your life." Given the chance to leave, they instantly vanished from my sight. Now that I was alone, I teleported to above ground and into my room. It was situated at the top of the skyscraper, giving me a view of the whole capital.


    It was a view I could never get enough of. It was only a shame that the capital wasn''t any bigger. Alongside reviving my true love, I also wanted to take over this entire continent.


    ''One day.'' Sitting down on the edge of my bed, it gave me some time to think about what I could do. If all I had to do was wait, then I might as well try to find a recement for Alice.


    ''Maybe I should use the Shiroi family as a substitute.'' It urred to me that I still had some powerful people right under my thumb. I could also take this chance to kill Freja, who is currently observing them.


    ''Hmm, this doesn''t sound like a bad idea. I will also be able to crush those little fox girls'' hopes.'' Originally, my ns were to convert them into my underlings through dark magic, but using them as mana pigs would do.


    Plus, if I can destroy their daughter''s will by making them ves to me, then that''s one less problem to worry about.


    ''us, what did I say about resting? I know you are eager, but give it a few months before you even try to take on this mission. You may have the Shiroi family sealed, but as soon as you enter that seal time will resume and that means they can fight back.'' Katarina''s voice echoed in my head once again, warning me.


    "Yes I know. I will wait a few more months before going." It was irritating, but she was right. I was still in a weakened state. If I were to fightsomeone like Freja, then I will definitely end up dead.


    ''Good, if I sense you are trying to leave, I won''t hesitate to take over your body. You are mine after all~.'' I could feel the sinister energying from Katarina and it made me want to test fate and go against her. However, possession would mean another couple months of being unable to move.


    "Your words are absolute, my dear." Complying with Katarina again, she giggled before disappearing into nothingness.


    ***


    <8 months of training since Elysia left>


    <Shaman POV>


    After grinding for what felt like an eternity, for some reason everyone was called to the throne room to see ina. It was rare for everyone in the party to be called upon at once so it must be important.


    ''Even after living here for so long, it still feels like a maze.'' I knew the generalyout of the castle by this point, but I still found myself lost sometimes as all the hallways looked almost the same. However, the fear of beingte made sure I paid attention to where I was going so I didn''t get lost.


    Reaching the massive double doors that lead to the throne room, I pushed on the doors, entering the room.


    Inside was ra, talking with ina. As for Silver and nor, they were yet to arrive.


    "Oh, hey Shaman~." ra turned around to see who came in, a bright smile appearing on her face upon noticing me.


    "Hey~ ra." Walking up to ra, she was quick to jump into my arms and give me a tight hug.


    "Enough lovey, dovey crap." ina rolled her eyes at our public disy of affection.


    "Haha sorry, anyway, howe you''re calling us here?" It didn''t have to be a detailed exnation since not everyone is here yet, but I was very curious about what it could be about.


    "Don''t you think it''s time we freed your parents?"