Chapter 89 I Refusal to Deploy War Preparedness

The dean rested his elbows on the table, his chin on his interlaced fingers, his gaze lowered as if examining a map on the table. "Gracia's founding principle is to never back down in the face of demons. From today onwards, all non-essential courses are suspended, and the curriculum will be adjusted."

His voice was beautiful and melodious, “Yesika, Maria, you two are the teachers in the academy who are skilled in healing magic. Please teach us battlefield first aid and all healing magic.”

Pastor Mary nodded. “I will do my utmost, Dean.”

Yesika became serious. "Of course."

The dean then looked at Cheryl, “Cheryl, please prioritize teaching practical defense courses. In addition to the Radiant Inscription course for high-star light-element students, provide extra tutoring for low-star light-element students to learn defensive magic and magic purification magic.”

Cheryl nodded. "Okay."

Only Merri and Ancia remained unassigned in the reception room, and the dean turned to them.

Dean: "Morley, you are the teacher of all combat courses. The course content remains the same; continue to improve the students' combat skills."

Ancia waited quietly. She didn't know why the teachers had called her in their preparations for the war, but the dean must have given her some instructions.

The dean finally looked at Ancia, who was sitting at the end of the room. His purple eyes, hidden behind the nebula, were focused on Ancia. "As for Miss Ancia, the high-star students of Gracia will be the first to participate in the war. You will lead them as their leader. Please arrange for the low-star students to prepare logistical support and command the high-star students as the reserve force. The roster will be given to you later."

Ancia nodded without hesitation, "Okay."

The dean snapped his fingers, and the academy's fairy clan leader appeared in the reception room. "Sissi, please use all the magical materials in the academy to make potions, scrolls, and defensive magical items."

Chief Sisi flapped her golden wings and replied softly, "Just give me enough gold coins."

The dean chuckled, "No problem. If I don't have enough gold coins, there's someone here who has plenty. She won't stand idly by."

Ancia frowned. Who was this being talked about...? Could it be her? But how did the dean know she had so many gold coins? Was astrology really that amazing?

The dean seemed to have only mentioned it casually and didn't continue the topic. He then addressed Ancia directly, saying, "Miss Ancia, as far as I know, you have a harmonious relationship with King Ellan of the Mist Moon Elves and the young lord Skark of the Orcs. I would like to ask you to act as an envoy to contact these two races and invite them to join the war against the Demons. Would that be alright?"

Cheryl's eyes widened slightly. She knew about her apprentice's relationship with Heligalo, but what about the Mistmoon Elves and the Orcs?

Ancia sensed her mentor's gaze and coughed awkwardly twice. "Sure, is there anything else I can do for you? I will do anything I can for this place."

The dean's tone was somewhat subtle. "That would be excellent. I believe that the next Pope, Heligalo, and the current Emperor, Verion, have already maintained real-time communication with you. If they have any ideas, please coordinate their actions."

Cheryl slowly turned her head and looked at Ancia in shock. When did the royal family's Vilian get added to the list?

Yesika: "...Wow."

Ancia thought she saw a slight smile on Mortley's lips. She squinted and looked over, but saw only a calm expression on Mortley's face. It seemed to be her imagination.

Dean: "Alright, that's all I have to say. If there's nothing else, the meeting is adjourned."

The teachers got up and left one after another. Ancia was the last to leave the meeting room. She looked back at the door and saw the dean leaning back in the chair at the head of the room, looking up at the ceiling, seemingly lost in thought.

He might not have been thinking about anything at all; the nebula in front of his hood obscured his face, making it impossible to discern his expression.

Ancia came back and sat to the right of the dean.

Dean: "Is there anything else, Miss Ancia?"

Ancia said softly, "Since you know so much, you must also understand the connection between me and the Dark Night Guild. I will organize the guild's elite into a reconnaissance team and also invest the Dark Night Guild's strength into the defensive war."

The dean showed no surprise, simply nodding and saying, "I understand."

Ancia couldn't help but ask, "What do astrologers usually think in the face of such a sudden war?"

Dean: "I didn't think about anything. This war may seem like a sudden outbreak to you, but to me, it's just a predetermined fate. It was bound to happen."

Ancia didn't understand; the astrologer's thinking was too strange. She chose to end the topic, saying, "I believe that destiny is always in people's hands, not fixed."

The dean smiled gently. "Perhaps."

Ancia carefully considered her words before slowly saying, "Dean, I have an idea. Besides the main force on the front lines, could there be a small squad that, while the demon generals are leading the demons in their attack, could sneak into the abyss and directly kill the Demon King?"

Due to the limitations of the world, the Demon King cannot stay outside the Abyss for long. Even when war breaks out, it will only appear on the battlefield when it attacks the Eternal City.

The dean quietly looked at Ancia, recalling his conversation with Marshal Keton during the freshman competition, and how he had responded at the time.

He said that Ancia's mission was not in war.

She was destined to fight the Demon King.

After a long silence, the dean nodded. "This plan is feasible. Who are you planning to bring along?"

Ancia breathed a sigh of relief. "Mentor, Merri, and an offensive player..." After mentioning her three teammates, she added nervously, "And you too."

The dean's voice was very soft, "Why am I still here?"

Without hesitation, Ancia replied, "Because you are the strongest being on the Miracle Continent, said to be a powerhouse comparable to the Demon King, having already surpassed the nine-star level. Moreover, you are the Dean of Gracia, an academy originally established to cultivate forces to fight against the demons. With your addition, this team is capable of fighting the Demon King in the abyss."

She no longer had the time or opportunity to level up by summoning demons, and as a priest with no offensive capabilities, she could only have a chance to kill the demon king if she teamed up with several strong opponents.

Once the Demon King dies, the Abyss will surely recall all the Demon Generals and seal the Abyss until a new Demon King is born, thus resolving the crisis facing humanity.

The dean nodded. "I see. Then..."

"I refuse."

He refused?!

Anxiya stared at him in astonishment, her brows furrowed. Why would such a top-tier expert cower before the demons? She didn't understand. If the Dean was unwilling to fight the demons, why would he have arranged the war preparations so meticulously? But if he was willing to fight the demons, why would he refuse her?

"Why?"

The dean's fingers were fair and slender, even beautiful. He brushed them across his robes, which shimmered slightly, and avoided answering Ancia's question, instead asking a completely unrelated one, "Does this robe look good?"

This is not a nine-star robe of a mage; it has no star markings on it. The material is special, made of layers of gauze, and it is beautifully dreamlike. Ancia has never seen a similar material before.

She was puzzled, but said, "It looks good."

The dean smiled with satisfaction before saying, "I will fulfill the responsibilities of a dean, but as a non-human, I am merely an observer of this world."

He's not human? No wonder he always wears a hooded cloak; he's probably trying to conceal his racial characteristics.

Anxi looked at him with deep disappointment. Without a blood feud spanning generations, he indeed had no obligation to fight for the human race. However, the fact that the legendary Dean was so cold and cowardly made her impression of him drop a bit.

Anciya said calmly, "Okay, I understand."

She turned and left, no longer asking the dean for help. Since she couldn't rely on the strongest fighter, she would think of other ways.

Ancia left the Moon Tower and stood on a lotus leaf in the lake. Feeling down, she slowly walked towards Villa No. 11.

Her gaze fell on the rippling lake surface as she slowly considered the remaining candidates.

"Ancia!"

A cheerful, clear voice rang out, and she looked over in confusion, "Skark? What are you doing here?"

Skulk ran over and stood by Moon Lake, waiting for her to come up. His eyes sparkled as he looked at her. "I ran over as soon as I smelled your scent!"

He sniffed, then hesitated before saying, "You seem a little unhappy. What happened?"

Ancia sighed, went over and hugged him. "Yeah, I'm a little worried."

Skalk recalled how his father used to coax him when he was a child, and gently ruffled Ancia's hair, "Puff, puff, don't be angry."

Ancia couldn't help but laugh out loud and slapped his hand away, saying, "You've messed up my hair."

Skalk didn't seem to care about being hit; he just looked at her smile with satisfaction. "Does smiling mean you're in a better mood?"

Ancia smiled again, took his hand and stopped at her front door, then said seriously, "Skark, I have something very formal to discuss with you."

Skalk suppressed his smile and waited quietly for what was to come.

Ancia: "The demons are about to invade, and this country is their first stop. Please ask the orcs to join the resistance and fight against the demons. I know this request may be a bit difficult for the orcs who are still burdened with the curse, but the northern snow mountains are adjacent to the Augustin Empire. If the empire falls, the next target may be the snow mountains. We need the help of the orc warriors."

Skalk knelt on one knee, the leather armor on his body making a slight clanging sound. He looked up at Ancia, a calm expression appearing on his wild face for the first time. "The orcs have never forgotten their hatred for the demons. I swear in the name of the young orc lord that the orcs will always be the best friends of the humans. For our friends, we are willing to take up our scimitars."

His voice softened as he kissed Ancia's fingertips. "Besides, I am your beastman. Wherever you go, I will go. Whatever you want to do, I will protect you and accompany you."

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Author's Note: Ancia has reached the graduation standard, and the story is almost over! It will be finished before the end of the month [cat head emoji]. Next week will be a daily single update~