The relationship between the elves and the Holy Church was extremely poor. Saint Marian Academy's relationship with the Holy Church was not much better.
As for the Academy's relationship with the elves, it could only be said that they had dealt with each other before. If not for the gravity of this matter and their shared interests, it would have been absolutely impossible for them to gather so peacefully around the same table.
There was no unnecessary extravagance or excessive decoration. As the person in charge of preparing the venue, Emily Grantham had merely placed a round table in the pristine, tidy room. Then she set a chair in one corner, where a holy knight skilled in music would play the harp during the meeting.
There would be no meal during the meeting, nor any entertainment meant to ease the atmosphere. Everyone attending tonight's meeting had a clear purpose and would not be swayed by outside factors.
The group from Saint Marian Academy had entered at around six o'clock, but they had all gathered in the lounge next to the conference room, where the mood was entirely different—bright and cheerful.
Servants of the Holy Church had filled the lounge with fruit, pastries, and tea. Dark and the others sipped black tea, ate pastries, and chatted amid laughter.
Everyone who had departed from Saint Marian Academy together a few days ago was here.
However, among them, only those who had signed contracts with Hermes in the "Heavenly Court" were qualified to participate in tonight's meeting.
Namely, Cynthia Saint Arte, Sarah Sylph, Dark Dimon, Oli Dimon, and Aurora Montilfali.
In another adjacent lounge, the elves had also all arrived.
The elves had brought attendants with them, so their numbers were even greater than those on Saint Marian Academy's side.
Yet among them,