Hate me, Miss Witch!

Shiayar stood up and donned his jet-black overcoat. "It's good that I can help lessen Your Highness's worries."

During the final battle in the Azure Garden Dukedom, Isadella had provided a two-way teleportation array. This, along with the 'Judgment Warrant' containing the Black King's magic word, had been of significant assistance to Shiayar.

Although Shiayar didn't fall for grandiose promises, he also disliked being indebted to someone.

If there was a chance to repay this debt, then naturally, there was nothing better.

He straightened his collar and called out, "Let's go, Ennie, we have work to do."

The golden-haired young girl at his side nodded and obediently followed Shiayar out the door.

But soon, Enola's steps halted.

She looked with her azure-blue eyes toward the nearby Military Department passageway, her face, usually as cold as an iceberg, showing a hint of hostility.

Following Enola's gaze, Shiayar immediately understood the cause of the girl's animosity.

A graceful, slender figure appeared at the corner of the passage, dressed in a pristine white gown, her pretty face exuding innocence.

Most importantly, her presence was commanding.

She walked with a sprightly step and quickly approached Shiayar and Enola.

"This is the Secret Intelligence Division of the Military Department. It doesn't seem like a place for a good girl like the St. Roland Student Council President," Enola said, uncharacteristically speaking before Shiayar did.

"That's rather hurtful coming from you, Enola," Dyres said, her innocent face showing a wounded expression. If Shiayar hadn't seen her reveal her true succubus form, he might have actually been fooled by that pitiful and endearing facade.

"The role of Student Council President is just a cover," Dyres continued, moving closer to Enola. "I'm also a member of the Swordbearers, so of course I can be in the Military Department."

Then, she whispered at a volume only the two of them could hear, "Don't worry, Enola, I'm actually not a threat to you.

"Having experienced Shiayar's dreams myself, I am very aware of your position in his heart...

"You are too important to him, and I cannot shake your place in his heart.

"Perhaps, there aren't many in this world who could..."

Enola's cold expression remained unchanged, but the silver light shimmering in her azure-blue eyes faded slightly.

COUGH.

Shiayar coughed lightly, breaking the tense Shura Field atmosphere. "President Dyres, you just mentioned that you are also a member of the Swordbearers? What do you mean by that?"

"The Swordbearers are, in fact, the collective name for an entire organization, just like the Jurisdiction Bureau and the Military Department. Where there are superiors, there are naturally subordinates as well," Dyres explained.

"Otherwise, they would be relying solely on the energy of a few individuals, no matter how powerful. How then could they become the Sword of Damocles, overseeing the entire realm and looming above all who disrupt order?"

Dyres took a step back and looked at Shiayar, a sweet and innocent smile on her lips.

She leaned close to Shiayar's ear, ignoring the murderous aura that momentarily burst from Enola, and whispered, her breath like perfume, "According to Her Highness's instructions, from now on, I am your subordinate within the Swordbearers.

"In other words, those unwritten rules about superiors and their female secretaries, such as doing certain things within the Secret Intelligence Division, or for example, letting me go under your desk, I wouldn't refuse."

The warm breath tickled Shiayar's earlobe, carrying a teasing intimacy.

Dyres continued, her voice a silken murmur, "Or, if my appearance doesn't appeal to you, I could use my Succubus Royal Family abilities to help you fantasize about Her Highness, or perhaps your Golden Elf Instructor from the Black Tower...

"Even making Enola's currently board-flat figure more curvaceous would be completely within my capabilities..."

"I say, Dyres," Shiayar said, interrupting her.

Feeling Enola's gaze from behind him—ice-cold, penetrating to the bone, as if she could kill at any moment—Shiayar sighed deeply.

"President Dyres, you're just deliberately teasing me, aren't you? Otherwise, shouldn't some things be discussed in private?"

"Is that so?" Dyres blinked her soft, innocent eyes. "But I thought you'd prefer the thrill of sneaking around like this in front of your official girlfriend."

"Alright, enough said."

Shiayar had to admit, some of Dyres's suggestions just now had indeed tempted him.

The only problem was, he feared that if things were exposed, he would end up with a fate akin to being chopped by a firewood cleaver.

Dyres truly lived up to her Succubus Royal Family name. Even though she was once so inexperienced she was a disgrace to succubi, with just a little contact with Shiayar, she had learned her professional duties remarkably quickly, becoming a veteran in mere days.

"Since the Swordsman is an organization," Shiayar mused, "that means the subordinates Her Highness arranged for me should be more than just you."

"As expected of Student Shiayar, deducing all this without me needing to explain." Dyres's eyes showed unconcealed admiration, causing Enola's gaze, at her side, to turn a few degrees colder.

"The original Swordbearers were formed by several legendary knights who followed the founding Emperor.

"So, those true Swordbearers also have another name—'Knights of the Round Table.'

"Several legendary knights, along with the King, would convene at a round table to decide the Empire's future.

"Later, with the gradual decline of the Royal Family's control over the Empire, the Swordbearers and the Round Table eventually faded into history.

"However, some descendants of those original Knights of the Round Table still exist today. They continue to maintain their loyalty to the Royal Family. Two such descendants are currently within the Military Department in the Empire Capital."

Shiayar frowned. Descendants of legends? "You're not talking about those immature kids, are you? The kind who constantly boast of their ancestors' glory, prattle on about the seven knightly virtues and the golden spirit? They're always blustering, but when trouble actually hits, they become a frightened mess and are nothing but a burden."

"Of course not." Dyres smiled. "If such people truly existed in the past, the nobles would have turned them to dust during that dark era. How could they possibly have survived until now? And if that were the case, Her Highness certainly wouldn't have chosen them. She definitely wouldn't have entrusted them with important tasks as her close subordinates."

"That makes sense." Shiayar nodded.

Not to mention anything else, Shiayar still recognized the Second Princess's eye for selecting subordinates; she didn't pick any dead weight.

Of course, the most important reason Shiayar appreciated the Princess was that she had chosen him to be a Swordbearer.

In the realm of discerning talent, I, Shiayar, acknowledge you as the strongest.

"Then take me to meet them."

「In the Military Department's lounge.」

Two slender figures were there, blending impassively with the couch and the shadows behind it. Their appearances were remarkably similar, yet they exuded two entirely different auras.

Time passed, tick by tick, yet the lounge remained silent; not a word was spoken.

Until a certain moment.

The lounge door burst open suddenly.

A young man entered the lounge. He wore a long black coat, and the top half of his face was covered by a white metal mask, revealing only a pair of black eyes.

Two girls followed him, one on either side. The first had golden hair cascading over her shoulders and exuded an icy, solemn aura. The other, with an innocent face and dressed in a pure white long gown, had a somewhat timid air.

The lower halves of both girls' faces were also covered by similar metal masks, revealing only their swan-like white necks and delicate jawlines.

"Ladies."

Shiayar surveyed the entire lounge.

"From now on, you may refer to me as—"

"'Joker'."