Melina had entered the Academy with two goals.
The first was the one her Demon King father had set: approach the student who had yet to formally inherit the Hero's power and find a way to crush her before she did.
The second was one she had set herself: uncover the secrets surrounding Greg Sass.
Originally, she had planned to prioritize her father's objective. After all, some of the forces and resources under his command were still useful to her, and she did indeed want to meet the Hero who existed only in legends.
But things were different now.
Ever since she had seen Greg in person at the Exchange Meeting, her attention had been irresistibly drawn to that man.
She wondered why she had felt such intense revulsion the first time she saw him, where he had obtained all the knowledge he presented at the Exchange Meeting, and why he had been so wary of her when they had clearly never met before.
To her, this man was like a forbidden book locked in an ancient secret chamber, its cover covered in riddles and seals. Turning each page demanded tremendous effort, yet it left her unable to resist reading on.
So now, she had decided to get serious.
"You're Melina Belladonna?"
Inside the Academy Head's office, Olivia reclined sideways in her spacious office chair, holding a half-full bottle of whiskey as she regarded the person across the desk with a somewhat unfocused gaze.
Melina sat upright in her chair, her hands resting neatly on her knees. She smiled and nodded. "That's me~ Is there something you need, esteemed Academy Head?"
"Esteemed... Academy Head!?"
That respectful title struck Olivia right in the heart.
She froze for a moment and blinked her alcohol-clouded eyes, suddenly overcome by an inexplicable wave of