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Chapter 99: Mutual Concerns

A few days later, the head sorcerer of the Purple Magic Sect, Marvin Cassandra, was confirmed to be colluding with cultists.

The Purple Magic Sect faced condemnation from all sides, and all sorcerers in the city were subjected to forced inspections. News of the guild’s intent to launch a violent crusade against the Purple Magic Sect spread to every corner of Academy City.

Although Roy was speaking on behalf of Leanna and wasn’t intentionally targeting the Purple Magic Sect, he indeed led to Marvin’s embarrassment at the banquet, giving the guild an opportunity.

Roy arrived at a bulletin board by the roadside, listening to the surrounding discussions about the Purple Magic Sect, feeling a bit weird.

Why do I feel like I accidentally added fuel to the fire between the sorcerers’ guild and the Purple Magic Sect?

Next to the bulletin board, someone from the sorcerers’ guild was giving a speech, calling for volunteers to go to war, promising guild benefits and job placements for graduates.

In the academy, many students were also magic apprentices, and numerous helpless civilians, thinking of their future, certainly couldn’t refuse such a request.

Especially since this battle wasn’t expected to be too tough.

Six factions of the sorcerers’ guild versus one? How could they possibly lose?

To everyone, this seemed like an extracurricular activity; they just had to show up, grab some achievements, and add some luster to their résumés. This kind of good fortune made everyone eager to jump in.

Looking at the bunch of carefree and relaxed classmates, even Roy felt his mood lighten.

At this rate, even if I don’t intervene, Leanna should reach a good outcome without going dark, right?

From what I saw last time, Leanna seemed stable both physically and mentally.

With that thought, Roy didn’t dwell too much on it and turned to weave through the crowd.

“Welcome, everyone! Join us sorcerers in battle and eliminate the traitors colluding with humans!”

“History will remember your victory and glory—”

The somewhat familiar slogan halted Roy in his tracks.

But what truly stunned him was the glaring notification that popped up.

【Warning! Detected fate intertwining with the Royal Serpent, triggering a reverse fate mission. Every choice you make will alter destiny. Please choose wisely!】

【Current Reverse Fate Node: Royal Serpent】

【Royal Serpent Reverse Fate Progress】: 25%

History will remember your victory and glory—there was a similar description in the original story.

However, regardless of whether it was a good or bad outcome, the sorcerers’ guild’s offensive against the Purple Magic Sect was anything but smooth and suffered significant setbacks, far beyond what the public pronounced.

The reminder from the reverse fate node forced Roy to consider that this conflict might not be as simple as he thought.

In the original story, the bad outcome led to Leanna, tainted by demon blood, indiscriminately killing innocent people and being executed by the sorcerers’ guild.

In the good outcome, while Leanna didn’t completely fall, her mental state wasn’t quite normal either. After reclaiming the Cassandra family, she kidnapped and imprisoned Alice, acting quite extreme.

Either outcome gave Roy goosebumps now that he thought about it.

Originally, he believed that so many ridiculous things were happening solely because Leanna was an easily extreme yandere.

But after spending a long time together, he could confirm that Leanna wasn’t a yandere; she was just a cunning older sister who liked to sexually harass her junior.

Uh, though saying it like that is a bit bizarre.

But still, Roy found it hard to imagine that Leanna would suddenly go insane.

Unless something incredibly overwhelming happened, severely triggering her mental state.

Recalling the sorcerers’ guild’s losses, Roy couldn’t help but suspect that the Purple Magic Sect was hiding far more than the public knew.

Damn, could it be those cultists again? Is it possible that the Purple Magic Sect not only colluded with cultists but even directly meddled with the power of the dark gods?

Just thinking about those crazies gave Roy a bit of PTSD.

Now that the Lionheart Kingdom and the Verdant Council were backing him, being holed up in the academy while under the protection of the headmaster, Roy should be fine.

But the crisis of the reverse fate node was a bit like the butterfly effect; it was hard to predict the outcome from the current situation, making it hard for him not to be on guard.

Moreover, there was Leanna.

Roy thought of the vision of the girl falling alone into the abyss, as well as the girl turning into a demon, facing a future of madness and despair, and felt a heavy weight in his heart.

That girl really is a bad woman.

But even so, she shouldn’t be bad enough to end up like that.

I can’t just watch her send herself to death.

And I can’t let her go crazy and kidnap me…

With that in mind, Roy couldn’t keep calm any longer and quickly headed towards the student council.

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“The guild has gathered forces and is prepared to use forced inspections as an excuse to violently attack the Purple Magic Sect.”

“At that time, we will reclaim what is ours, heh, you’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time, haven’t you?”

In the dark abyss, a decayed old man extended a shriveled hand upward at the hypocrites, slowly clenching it, his tone revealing a rare delight.

In front of him, Leanna wore a serious expression.

“Dia Cassandra, that man is willing to collude with cultists. He must have some scheme hidden in the shadows.”

“Can the guild really succeed so easily?”

Years ago, when Dia first arrived, with little strength, he easily designed the takeover of the Cassandra family.

Hatred did not cloud Leanna’s judgment.

Leanna didn’t believe that after all these years, Dia hadn’t prepared for the present situation.

Especially since the Purple Magic Sect’s recent behavior was too unusual; it looked as if they were accumulating strength for an upcoming battle.

“Hmph, those old fossils have accumulated for so many years. If it comes to blows, a measly Purple Magic Sect won’t be able to shake them. But with their half-hearted attitude, they’ll likely suffer considerable losses,” the head of the black magic scoffed, his pleasant mood undiminished, as if it were a good thing for any side to suffer losses.

“However, caution is a good thing. A black sorcerer must make use of everything they can.”

“I heard you’ve been getting close to the False King’s blood.”

The old man’s words sounded as casual as an elder inquiring about his granddaughter’s romance, but Leanna could hear the indifference in his voice.

To him, everyone was merely tools and pawns, and he demanded that of himself as well.

Learning from past experiences, Leanna had gotten better at concealing herself.

In a tone devoid of any emotional color, she replied softly, “We are very close. However, that man is quite clever.”

“The previous collaboration was merely for his bloodline advancement; this time, he probably won’t act for trivial gains.”

The old man’s voice revealed no hint of emotion: “Perhaps you haven’t given enough.”

“Maybe, but I’m no longer interested in that level of power.”

With that, Leanna straightened up.

In the next moment, a tremendous supernatural wave erupted, and nine massive, twisted, olive-green serpents shrieked through the darkness like horrifying demons from the abyss, reappearing in the world, bringing endless terror to all.

The entire Black Magic Sect, whether the apprentices suffering inhuman torment or the fully-fledged black sorcerers, were shaken to their cores by this terrifying power, casting jealous and awed glances towards the abyss.

Leanna pretended to scoff coldly at the old man before her: “No need for the False King’s blood; I alone am enough.”

Staring into the darkness at the bottom of the girl’s eyes, the old man satisfiedly lifted the corners of his mouth.