A few minutes after Rania announced my win, I didn't return to the waiting room but stayed with Oliver to wait for the award ceremony.
It was different from the awarding party after the end of all tournaments, so the Pope and the Royal Family didn't personally hand over the congratulations. Instead, the 6 headmasters would offer congratulations on the podium that Alesia made in the middle of the arena.
I stood on the highest podium with number one. Oliver stood on my right on the podium number two, and Ralph stood on my left on the podium number three.
"Good job."
Alesia was the first one to give congratulations. She spoke to me with a soft smile before giving me a trophy made from pure gold. It was only a bit bigger than my fist, but this was my first award in this world, and it somehow made me a bit happy.
The other headmasters stood behind her. John, the Temperantia Academy's headmaster, grinned widely as he congratulated Ralph.
"Hahaha, good job, my boy! But it's not enough! I will double your training menu after the academy starts again in 3 days!"
"Yes!" Ralph replied with high energy without any sign of being discouraged.
"Good! That's the spirit. Hahahaha!"
The atmosphere was great, and the award ceremony ended soon after all headmasters congratulated us, the winner. Unexpectedly, Earl Lawrence also congratulated me without any sign of enmity. Instead, he had a big business smile. As expected, he still wanted to forge a good relationship with me.
Earl Isaac Lawrence was the man who fit the most with the noble image in my mind. Not only did he suck up to people with higher positions, but he was also willing to sacrifice something to get close to him. Truly, the perfect example of a noble.
While I stood on the podium, I noticed Eliza, Karin, and Vivian hurrying to leave the arena hall. Near the exit stood a minotaur girl wearing a white crop top and black leggings. She was Cecil, and she was waiting for them.
When they met, they whispered something in a low voice before exiting together. Tristan also followed them from behind. She already knew about Eliza's relationship with me, and my childhood friend also talked to my former comrade at the party yesterday. They had become friends.
Looking at them trying to do something in secret, the corner of my lips curled up slightly.
'What are they planning? Are they trying to hold a party for me?'
After the award ceremony, I didn't immediately return home after knowing they were planning something. Instead, I contacted Beatrice and asked her to meet me after she followed the Queen to their lodging.
There was still the Pope's request to meet the primordial Succubus. I didn't know what she wanted, but I was sure Juriel had no bad intentions. And I could always return to my mansion after that to give the others time to prepare for their surprise.
I asked Beatrice to meet me in the café where we first met. It was where I had my first date with Eliza and was disturbed by Adam. Surely she remembered where it was.
This café was devoid of people as many students went to restaurants with their families or ate together in their homes for those who lived in the Academy city.
Sitting in the inconspicuous corner while wearing my Royal Academy uniform, I sipped the iced tea I ordered.
Actually, Alesia wanted to talk to me and Oliver and wanted to give us a reward, but I refused her invitation and let Karin's fiance go alone. I also didn't need that reward, so I just told her that she owed me one.
'Sorry, headmistress. But I am quite busy right now.'
I didn't need to wait for a long time before I noticed the door of the café open from outside, and a young girl with ponytailed purple hair entered. Her wings, tail, and horns were gone, and she appeared like a normal human.
None of the employees noticed her entering the café. A big smile appeared on her face as she approached me while skipping happily.
"Master~ I am here."
ραΠdαsΝοvεl ƈοm Beatrice wanted to hug me when she got close, but I stopped her with my hand. Then I quickly retracted it so the employees didn't notice something wrong.
Looking at the primordial Succubus, who pouted forcefully after I stopped her advance, I stood up and said.
"Let's go. We will move to our destination."
"Where?" She asked while tilting her head cutely.
"The church."
As I answered, Beatrice's body froze a little as her expression dropped. She looked at me in disbelief.
"Are you trying to hand me over to the church, Master?! No, anything but that! I did pretty well to follow your order!"
Beatrice raised her voice and clung to my hand, begging me. She was still rational enough to use <Illusion Magic> to fool the employees into thinking that nothing was wrong. But she didn't stop.
"P-Please, do anything to me but don't hand me over to the church. That place is hell for me! I won't be able to orgasm anymore!"
"It's not that." I shook my head and tried to calm her down. "The Pope just wants to meet and talk to you. You're my slave, and I won't hand you over to anyone. Besides, the church higher-ups already know that I have dominated you, so they won't touch you unless you try to betray me."
The primordial Succubus immediately calmed down after I explained why we would visit the church. I had told her about this matter, but it seemed like the primordial Succubus had forgotten about this matter because she was too focused on my word about going to the church.
"R-Right. I almost forgot about it." She stepped away from me with a wry smile. "But why does the Pope want to talk to me/ I am a primordial Succubus, their biggest enemy who spreads and governs over lust. I even tried to take over this kingdom before you dominated me."
"You will know when we arrive," I replied and walked away. "Come."
Beatrice was still puzzled, but she followed me by my side because of my order.
I didn't tell her why Juriel wanted to meet her because I also didn't know anything. I was also curious, but it seemed related to the matter of Beatrice being a primordial Succubus and her being an Angel.
It could also be that she received the Goddess' oracle, but that was probably not it. If she did receive it, I would be informed about it.
'Maybe she just wants to meet and greet her?' I thought as we walked toward the church.
On our way, Beatrice kept asking questions about whether it would be okay if she entered the church. She was a bit afraid to burn in pain when she entered the holy residence of Goddess Teri because she was a Succubus.
I chuckled at that and assured her that a Succubus would be fine even if they entered the church. I never thought Beatrice didn't know about it. Her knowledge seemed to be lacking in a matter of Castitas Church.
While it was Juriel who wanted to meet Beatrice in the Holy Room because she couldn't leave casually, I was still cautious and asked the primordial Succubus to hide from the other nuns and church knights using <Illusion Magic>. I knew it would work because no one could see through Garcia's illusion too.
We went to the third floor, where the Holy Room was. There, the cute Archbishop Sana was waiting for us with a soft smile.
"She has been waiting inside, Sir Arthur."
"Alright."
I nodded at Sana and gestured for Beatrice to lift off her illusion. Her figure went blurry for a second at that moment, and the Archbishop's gaze shifted to the Succubus.
Without saying anything, Sana nodded slightly and bowed at me. The Pope must've told her about this meeting.
Sana's behavior was a bit strange and stiff. Maybe it was because she had seen Beatrice, whose Race was equivalent to that of an Angel, directly for the first time, so I didn't think much of it. As an Archbishop, she surely heard about the Race of the Luxuria Church's Pope and the Sin Kingdom Queen.
An Archbishop wasn't yet qualified enough to know about the Goddess' real situation. They weren't informed that Goddess Teri and Goddess Tera were the same people, the Goddess of Lust, Lilith. Not even the Cardinals knew about this, as proved by Alesia, who was oblivious to the situation.
'They really keep this a secret. Probably only Angels and Primordial Succubi knew about this. And unfortunately, Beatrice's existence is a bit strange, and she has no knowledge about the Goddess. That's why she's afraid of coming close to the church earlier.' I thought.
Then, Sana's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"I will be in my office if you need something. Please excuse me."
Once again, I nodded and went to the Holy Room.
"Somehow, being near that room made me a little restless," Beatrice spoke to me and got closer, holding my right arm and pushing it between her modest breasts. "Master… You will not abandon me, right?"
I wasn't sure about it, but that restlessness might come from her instinct as a primordial Succubus when facing an Angel.
"As long as you're still useful to me, I won't abandon you," I replied and walked forward toward the door.
"You're the best, Master~" She said in a sultry voice.
Ignoring her, I was about to knock on the door. However, a voice from inside stopped me.
[You can enter directly, my beloved Paladin.]
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