When the plot-skips players into the game world

The moment Ligeia's voice came through, David shuddered violently, his face betraying a clear sense of panic.

It was like when he was playing games at home in secret, suddenly hearing the sound of his parents unlocking the door. He was in such a flurry that he nearly fell off his chair as it was too high—almost tumbling down.

Clearly, David had subconsciously treated "Miss Aleister's" words as a secret that nobody else should know.

Not until he turned around and saw that the person entering was indeed Ligeia did his anxious expression begin to settle.

Seeing David shrink back in fear, Ligeia's eyes narrowed and she scolded, "What the hell are you cringing for when you see me! Are you here stealing or hitting on someone? Committing a crime?"

"No, I haven't..."

Ligeia's words had scared David so much that his eyes widened as he hastily tried to explain.

But before he could finish, Ligeia cut him off, "If nothing's wrong, stand up straight! What's with all the fuss? Do you call that acting like a man?"

"...Yes."

David opened his mouth wanting to explain further, but then he meekly hung his head, having given up. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire

"Louder, I can't hear you!"

"YES!" David stood to attention and responded loudly.

"Go stand outside."

Ligeia said, flicking her long skirt, "Or are you saying you want to stay and watch someone change clothes?"

"...No, I haven't..."

David's brief surge of assertiveness deflated once more.

He wanted to leave, yet didn't quite want to. It was rare to see Ligeia, so he hesitated, beating around the bush, "Your Excellency Ligeia, I am... Miss Aleister referred me..."

Ligeia burst out laughing, "First, get out of here!"

"...Eh?"

David made a helpless and puzzled sound.

He knew it might not be good to ask here, but wasn't it the perfect coincidence?

Since there was no one else around, what difference would it make to ask here rather than somewhere else? And by asking here, he could corroborate that it was indeed Miss Aleister who had referred him... after all, Miss Aleister didn't offer any explanation or denial upon hearing this.

Since his parents had never taught him about such matters, David didn't understand them well. But he could still comprehend simple obedience, so he politely saluted the two before leaving.

Once David had left, Ligeia hopped onto the seat David had occupied earlier. She waved her hand to dissolve the bindings on Aleister, then tossed her clothes onto the table.

She said irritably, "What an idiot, exactly like his father when he was young... Do you find it amusing to tease him?"

"It is rather amusing."

Aleister chuckled, moving her wrists that had stiffened from being bound for too long, "He might be a bit dense, but he's still a very upright person."

"Do you think highly of him?"

Ligeia countered, "Teaching him the Sevenfold Sacrifice already?"

"I just feel he has the talent, and he's very suitable for the path of an Ascension Sorcerer. But when exactly he should take this path, I can't really say. However, I've already introduced you to him, so when the time comes, please help him out."

With David and the Guardian present, Aleister's demeanor changed completely.

At this moment, "Aleister" had dropped all pretense, conversing with Ligeia in Aiwass's tone.

—Because Ligeia was one of the very few who knew the true identity of "Aleister."

After all, Aiwass's plan could only proceed smoothly and without issues if Ligeia was informed.

In front of the reporters, Ligeia had thrown a Silence on the Minister of the Navy, leaving him unable to say a word—this step was necessary for the plan to go forward without hitches.

Aiwass could not possibly place all hope of the plan's success on the enemy's stupidity and the unexpected.

To completely seal the possibility of a counterattack from the enemy, it was essential to have the judge on his side.

However, Aiwass didn't use any honorifics—even though he knew Ligeia was Meg, in the Sevenfold Sacrifice, Ligeia had wholly sacrificed her old self that represented Meg. Since Ligeia herself had abandoned the past, Aiwass would not deliberately bring it up.

"Can you put on a dress? Want me to help you?"

Ligeia swung her legs, her dragon tail flicking back and forth, asking casually.

"Not really, but it's no big issue. Although I've never dressed someone in a skirt before..."

Aleister laughed lightly in response, "But Miss Ligeia, with that height of yours... let's just leave it be."

"Hey, you... "

Ligeia replied somewhat helplessly, "Next time I Shed Skin, I've got to figure out a way to get a bit taller."

While studying how to wear the extremely complicated noblewoman's dress provided by the Gemini Mirror after transforming into "Miss Beyard," Aiwass joked casually, "I remember you were quite happy when you first switched to this body, weren't you?"

"That's because I had survived, of course I was happy. Idiot," retorted Ligeia candidly, "But now it feels a bit tiresome. It's really too small; it makes all sorts of actions very inconvenient."

"How long until your next Shedding Skin?"

asked Aiwass.

Once an Ascension Sorcerer begins Shedding Skin, it cannot be halted.

As Contractors of the Serpent Celestial Marshal, they must continuously transform their lives and forms throughout their lives.

"I can start the next evolution in three to four months time, at the latest six months. If I haven't evolved by then, my physical functions will start to weaken."