While Ludmint and Mecalia entered a bickering contest where Ludmint was losing and trying and still losing, Iris turned to the other doll, a tall, peaceful doll adorned in light dresses. Unlike the mystic Mecalia, this airy doll expressed a delicate disposition as if she were a fairy whose broken wings failed to lift her back to her land of wonder.

“I’ve been eager to meet you, Iris,” the doll said. Her soothing voice muffled, not to disturb Ludmint or Mecalia. “I am Vindette Ringron, a Condensation Phase Cloud Demoness, and the supervisor of Jenkin’s branch. Yilon Archipelago is also under my jurisdiction.”

Iris nodded. “Please allow me to visit you when I go to Pale Tempest Ocean.”

“You’re always welcome, Iris. There’s a Monster Girl pirate group waiting to serve you. Make use of them as you see fit.”

“That . . . might be too much.”

“You’re a senior member of The Court; this much power is only natural.” Vindette waved her hands. “If you feel like it’s too much, you may think of it as a trade. Help me with something, and I’ll give you a pirate ship. What do you think?”

Iris hesitated. She didn’t want to owe Vindette when they’d just met, but a pirate crew was a valuable tool for exploring Yilon Archipelago and helping Duality. Without that autonomy, she would have to pay the price of time and wealth to venture into the Pale Tempest Ocean. She couldn’t afford to be polite.

“I’ll do my best to fulfil your condition.” Iris bowed, but Vindette stopped her.

“You’re too courteous, Iris. It’s our duty to spoil you like how our predecessors did it and how you’ll be doing it.”

Iris smiled. “I’ll keep your advice in mind.”

“It’s simply a rule that you should’ve known all along. Little Ludmint is quite bad at teaching. Mecalia is like that as well.”

Mecalia’s ears twitched. She turned to Iris and Vindette. “Without me, Ludmint wouldn’t have progressed this fast. Vindette, please don’t spread misinformation and ruin Iris’s first impression of me.”

Vindette, still smiling, slightly narrowed her dull eyes. “May I ask you to tell me what faulty information I spoke?”

Ludmint and Mecalia shuddered. Mecalia lowered her head. “Vindette . . . Lady Vindette, you didn’t speak wrongly. My emotions got better of me. I was wrong.”

“We’ve been friends for a long time, Mecalia. You don’t need to be so formal. It’s me who provided you with the idea and planned the procedure for you, after all.”

Mecalia deeply inhaled. “Indeed. You’re the one who told me to use that spell and taught me the way to safely help Ludmint.”

“It’s good that you still remembered the olden time.” Vindette turned to Iris. “Back then, Mecalia was also like Ludmint, a meek Monster Girl, so curious, so innocent.”

Iris tilted her head. “Please forgive my ill manner, but how old are you?”

Ludmint looked at Iris, her eyes contracting. She stepped forwards, but Mecalia caught her and hugged her tightly. She wanted to struggle, but the profound gaze she received made her reconsider her choice.

While Iris was regretting her question, Vindette lightly clapped her hands. The noise echoed in the lounge, ringing wonderfully like a magical hymn. This faint song calmed down the three frightened Monster Girls.

“I’ve been there when Court of Indulgence was founded. There used to be four of us, including the Court Founder, but all my friends have already dissipated.” Vindette sighed. “It’s been more than a thousand years.”

“Is the breakthrough into the Solidification Phase that hard?” Iris looked around. All the senior members, except for herself, were in Condensation Phase, but only the Court Founder was in the Solidification Phase.

Even the thousand-year-old Vindette remained in Condensation Phase.

“It is hard but also easy, fast but also slow. To reach the ceiling of mortality is not hard, but to glimpse at the laws of the world is difficult.” Vindette grabbed Iris’s hands. “And most importantly, it requires a moment, the moment of epiphany, of absolute certainty and undying confidence.”

“Is there a way to find it?”

“You can only feel it. I’ve been waiting for a few hundred years now, but I am patient.” Vindette closed her eyes and leaned on her chair. “You’ll only know it when you reach the peak of the Condensation Phase. I hope you’ll enter our rank soon.”

The crystal door creaked, interrupting the conversation. Morbi, her hands holding Parmin’s, stepped inside the lounge. The two greeted everyone, especially Vindette, with respect. They winked at Iris and pulled Ludmint to their side, whispering to themselves.

The conversations tilted toward casual topics. Iris learned that there were ten senior members, including Iris, but the last four wouldn’t participate in the meeting, for the discussions wouldn’t concern their scope of operation. And without any existential threat, the Court Founder would never show herself, but she would occasionally send down her daughter, Antina.

“Why is our Court of Indulgence so powerful, yet our connection and influence seem so pale in comparison?” Iris said.

“Because connections and influences are insignificant to our goal. We might be stronger than most Evil Cults and Secret Organisations, but we are but fireflies in front of the Churches,” Vindette said. “Even if all senior members gather to assault the Cathedral of Deliverance, the Saintess of Pure Mind only needs one gesture to annihilate us.

“Our continual existence is because of the Court Founder’s Domain of Nightly Concealment and the mutual restriction of the Churches themselves.”

Without strength, everything became meaningless. Iris had to become stronger, stronger than the Court Founder, stronger than the Saintess of Pure Mind. Only then would she have the right to voice her thoughts. Only then would she have the key to open her paradise, where all her family and friends would be safe.

“My apology for my lateness!” A bright voice resounded.

Iris perked up. She glanced at the door. This carefree yet dignified voice was ever so familiar to her. Her guess was correct, after all.

Jania skipped into the room and pressed her head downward lightly. Her summer attire conflicted with her elegant aura, but it did nothing but amplify her presence. She greeted the Monster Girls one by one until her sight came to Iris, and her slight smile widened.

“I was anticipating your surprise,” she said.

“They gave it away when I was sad.” Iris shook her head. “You tricked me, Jania. There is no chance between us, only tests and deception.”

“Ludmint indeed told me about your appearance, but she didn’t tell me of your visiting the library.” Jania clasped her hands and looked coyly at Iris. “You won’t blame me, your close friend, right?”

“I could never blame you for doing what you thought the best.” Iris raised her right hand and produced a cookie bag in her palm. “Here is the promised herbal cookies. Thank you for your hint, Your Highness.”

Jania took the bag and tasted a piece. “Can I hire you as my imperial baker?”

“My pursuit is in academia, Your Highness. Bakery is only good when enjoyed with friends.” Iris produced more bags of cookies. “Please accept my gesture of appreciation, everyone.”

Under Jania’s cute protest, Iris distributed her snack and received praise from everyone. Ludmint was so proud of her fiancée that she gave Iris’s cheek a sweet, lively kiss. Iris rewarded her with an embarrassed slap which Ludmint laughed off.

After eating Iris’s cookies and drinking Morbi’s assortment of cocktails, which Parmin endlessly praised, the meeting commenced. Ludmint whispered encouragement to Iris, and Iris smiled back. She got up from her seat, adjusted her dress, and walked to the head of the table, where the Court Founder’s seat should be.

“I am Iris Goodwill, the youngest senior member of the Court of Indulgence. Despite my inexperience and inadequacy, Ludmint took me in, and the Court Founder promoted me to this position of power. They taught me how to live and love, and most importantly, they gave me security, the shade under which I could hide.

“The world might not think their decision the best for The Court, but the world is wrong. I’ll be the best investment The Court has ever done. If the world refuses to acknowledge its mistake, I’ll force it out. I’ll make sure Ludmint and the Court Founder were and will never be wrong.

“I like this place, and I hope to be an integral part of it. Do you think I’m wrong?”

Iris flashed an innocent grin and spread her arms. Her head slanted to her left. Her eyes dulled until her disposition became unsynced with the world, slightly out of the rhythm, off-putting. She swept her unhinged gaze over the other senior members, who spectated her performance with fascination, surprise, and even delight.

“If we doubt you,” Parmin said, “will you personally force us until we surrender to your demand?”

Ludmint glared at Parmin while Morbi placed her slender hands on Parmin’s lap. That delicate motion instilled terror into Parmin’s pupils, freezing her body in place, locking her mouth from running off again.

Iris didn’t answer the question, but her determined gaze revealed her response.

“But Iris,” Vindette said. “Did you forget to officiate the meeting?”

“I didn’t forget! I was about to speak my opening statement, but my emotions got better of me. Please have mercy, Lady Vindette.”

Taking a deep breath, Iris gave an ordinary statement detailing the discussion schedule. Although unable to arouse emotions, her concise, flowing speech provided a comprehensive view of the topic and its timespan. She finished her talk by thanking Ludmint, who taught her many practical lessons.

Once Iris stepped down, Parmin raised her right hand and cleared her throat. Her careless air disappeared underneath her professional look. She pulled her right hand to the meeting table and pressed her index and middle fingers on its polished surface.

Red strings sprouted from her fingertips and weaved into a simplified layout of Royal Magic Academy. At the centre, Mystic Tower proudly overlooked the Lecture Hall, the Academy Library, and the Research Laboratory. On the outer part of the academy were the three dorms for students and teachers and the Alchemy Warehouse.

“A week from now, on the Holy Resurgence Day, the Evil Cults, specifically Chained Vessel Corpse and Eye of Masolis, will attack the site of the ceremony and a few locations of interest. The detail doesn’t concern us, but the timing does,” Parmin said. “The Principal and the Vice Principals of the academy will be attending the ceremony, leaving only the Tower Guardian and the Lab Master on duty.”

“It’s a rare occasion for three out of five Grandmasters to be away from the academy,” Vindette said. “With the Tower Guardian’s responsibility, he won’t leave Mystic Tower’s fifth floor, leaving only the Lab Master to defend the academy.”

“Are we going to attack the academy?” Iris said. “Although it’s more vulnerable than usual, it still has the support of the imperial family.”

Jania chuckled. “You compliment us too much, Iris.”

“I simply voice my doubt. The Knoffvegent Imperial Family must have a robust foundation to contend against the Churches.”

“It would be a problem indeed.” Parmin nodded. “But we wouldn’t be destroying or taking over the academy. Our objective is to rescue the captive Monster Girls and slaves, both Pure and Corrupted. In addition, we’ll also be looting their Alchemy Warehouse. We learned that they’ve kept materials beneficial to us.”