Press Conference

The next morning.

Blinding sunlight streaming through the window tickled my eyelids, gradually rousing me from sleep.

“…So sleepy.”

I’m so tired I could die…

In my half-asleep state, I tried pulling the blanket over my head to block out the light, but the pure white fabric proved utterly ineffective against the sun’s rays.

Instead, covering myself completely made it harder to breathe, leaving me tossing and turning restlessly.

Once awakened, my consciousness refused to drift back to sleep, growing sharper by the minute.

“Ugh, I should’ve closed the curtains before sleeping.”

Eventually giving up on more sleep, I dragged my exhausted body out of bed.

“Ughhhhhh!”

Nothing to be done once awake.

I casually threw on the hotel robe and stepped out of my room.

“Ah, Teacher. You’re awake? Slept in late.”

“You must’ve been quite busy yesterday too, Teacher.”

The students gathered in the living area greeted me.

…Just yesterday, these kids looked half-dead when I arrived at the hotel.

Even Stella, who’d been so exhausted she showed an unprincely appearance, seemed completely recovered after one night’s sleep.

The resilience of youth is terrifying…

I knew it was an old-man thought, but I couldn’t help feeling that way.

Meanwhile, I still felt exhausted from yesterday’s fatigue.

“…Where’s Eileen?”

“Over here…”

“Hey, just waving at Teacher? You should get up and greet her properly.”

“Ack! D-don’t poke me! You barely greeted her yourself!”

Perhaps due to the backlash from pushing her body beyond its limits yesterday to use techniques she normally couldn’t,

Eileen still seemed completely drained.

The sight of Eileen slumped on the sofa while other students poked her with their fingers was quite memorable.

“Hey, I said stop poking!”

“I didn’t poke you.”

“Don’t lie! You totally did!”

“I really didn’t… This is so unfair.”

Seizing a moment when no one was looking, Stella stealthily poked Eileen’s neck.

Naturally assuming Orca did it, Eileen began arguing with the genuinely wronged Orca.

“Hehe.”

When my eyes met Stella’s as we both witnessed this scene, her eyes curved into happy crescents.

Her left index finger rested demurely on equally curved lips.

A clear signal to pretend I hadn’t seen anything. Despite the act, they seemed to have grown much closer.

“You’re all up early… Why gathered here?”

“Ah, the news was on. Want to watch, Teacher? Things are crazy after yesterday’s events.”

“Sure.”

Hmm, but there’s nowhere to sit. What to do…

…I had a brilliant idea.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Teacher, what are you-?!”

“Sorry. No seats left. Please forgive me?”

“…Oh, no. It’s fine.”

If there’s no seat, just make one.

I gently lifted Eileen’s head occupying the sofa and quickly slid my thigh into the space.

Then placed her head back down on my lap. Problem solved.

“Sorry. Can you bear with slight discomfort?”

“No, this might actually be nice… So soft…”

“Stop joking.”

“Not joking.”

After lightly patting Eileen’s stomach to signal her to stop the nonsense, I turned to the TV.

A familiar face appeared amidst the cacophony of camera shutters.

“Oh, it’s Anya.”

“A press conference? Seeing this makes her feel like someone from another world. Gives me strange feelings.”

“By that logic, there’s a princess sitting next to you right now. Surely you haven’t forgotten I’m royalty?”

“Ah.”

“You actually forgot? Well I never… Whatever. Best quiet down now. Anya’s about to speak.”

Right after those words, Anastasia on screen began speaking.

She’s never prepared a speech before, has she? Worrisome.

“…No need for lengthy introductions. Greetings, everyone. I’m here to address your questions, so please ask anything. I promise to answer everything within my knowledge.”

“What was that gigantic creature that appeared at the Papal Court yesterday?”

“The Pope.”

“?!”

Everyone flinched.

The absurdly straightforward answer made both the reporters on screen and us viewers involuntarily gape.

Is it really okay to disclose such sensitive information so bluntly…?

“We have nothing to hide. Investigation revealed the Pope’s body had been usurped by a demon. Meaning a demon was masquerading as the Pope.”

“I see. Thank you for the clear answer. Where is that demon now?”

“No need for concern. We eliminated it immediately after confirming its true nature. The Papal Court’s collapse resulted from unforeseen accidents during the battle… Next question.”

“Th-then I’ll ask next!”

“No, hear my question first!”

“Hey, wait your turn!”

“…Quiet. I’ll address everyone’s queries satisfactorily.”

This press conference was explosive.

As if sensing this, reporters scrambled desperately to get their questions answered first, shoving cameras forward aggressively enough to risk injury.

“…Hah, they never change.”

“Have you experienced this before?”

“Yes. Whether new reporters or veterans, they’re always the same.”

The barrage of questions continued for some time.

Though initially interesting, press conferences aren’t always entertaining.

“…Getting boring. Should we change channels?”

Just as we, having grown bored faster than expected, were about to switch channels-

A new question for Anastasia made everyone freeze.

“According to eyewitness accounts, you protected people from the demon. But they say others actually defeated it. Is this true?”

“Yes. Absolutely true.”

Then came a moment of silence.

Even through the screen, her hesitation was palpable – debating whether to reveal this.

After what felt like an eternity,

Apparently deciding it was acceptable, she relaxed her stiff posture slightly and spoke in a gentle voice.

“It was made possible by the assistance of Her Imperial Highness Stella, the Second Princess of our glorious Empire. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.”

“…!”

The explosive nature of this statement needed no explanation.

***

“It was made possible by the assistance of Her Imperial Highness Stella, the Second Princess of our glorious Empire. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.”

“…”

Knights in full armor tried not to even breathe as they exchanged glances.

This seemed like serious trouble.

Their eyes naturally turned toward the man seated front and center.

“Huuu…”

A sigh filled with suppressed emotions echoed through the room, trampling over the knights’ efforts to stay silent.

Recognizing the emotion hidden within that sigh through years of service, the knights internally sighed too.

Ah, this was truly disastrous.

“Explain.”

“It’s… exactly as you saw, Your Highness. That the Pope was actually a Demon Possessor whose body had been seized…”

“That’s not what I’m asking about! Did I express interest in that damned old man?!”

“Apologies, Your Highness.”

“The Church tripping over itself is fine! Their ruined reputation is great! Positive public opinion toward the Watcher is good too, but we can crush that with force before it gains momentum!”

Unable to contain his rage, the Prince slammed his fist on the table, shattering the room’s silence.

“But what was that statement?!”

“…”

How should we know?

The knights wanted to say this but resigned themselves and closed their eyes.

They couldn’t voice such thoughts anyway – they’d just be beaten severely before being dismissed.

Their helmets hiding their expressions, they practiced selective hearing.

This would end eventually…

“Damn it…! I sent her to the Academy to eliminate her quietly, but…!”

Was this year cursed?

The Prince felt everything kept going wrong lately.

He should’ve killed his pretty sister back when she was popular with commoners.

That day when the Bright Light Society attacked the Academy!

“Damn it, damn it…!”

It was supposed to be part of political maneuvering to stabilize the chaotic situation right before becoming Emperor.

If his sister died in a terrorist attack, natural sympathy for the Imperial Family and criticism toward the Academy would strengthen their political standing.

After ascending the throne, he’d play the loving brother grieving his dear sister while declaring war on terrorism.

Divert national discontent toward the Bright Light Society, then eliminate them after using them.

But everything had gone awry.

Unexpected variables kept appearing, derailing his original plans completely.

Having eliminated most competitors, he’d been confident nothing could stop him from becoming Emperor.

But after this news, those dissatisfied with the Prince might try to push his sister as Emperor.

Fickle nobles might actually support that.

…That absolutely couldn’t be allowed.

No one could be permitted to challenge his authority.

“Knight Commander.”

“Yes. Your command, Your Highness.”

“Is visiting the Academy now feasible?”

“The Academy is currently on break, but if you insist…”

“…Problematic. Then mobilize the Imperial elite troops for the opening ceremony.”

“Understood.”

Thus, the Prince resolved to eliminate his beloved sister by force if necessary.

Justifications could be fabricated later.