One day earlier.
(When Alice and Professor Catherine went to get Alice her Class.)
Alice sat in the passenger seat of a large jeep.
Her was posture stiff as the vehicle rolled down the road.
The leather seat beneath her felt fine, but the problem wasn’t the material, it was her body.
Her dragon wings, even folded tightly against her back, were still broad enough to bump awkwardly against the side and the backrest.
And her tail, pressed uncomfortably between her lower back and the seat, made it almost impossible to sit straight.
Professor Catherine was behind the wheel, calm as always.
Smoke from a half-burned cigar drifted toward the cracked-open window.
She gave Alice a quick glance before asking, "So? How’s the dress? Comfortable?"
Alice nodded. "It’s comfortable enough."
Professor Catherine chuckled. "You don’t have to spare my feelings. I can tell you’re not sitting comfortably in that seat. With wings like those, no car in the world is going to feel natural. And your tail’s probably making it worse."
Alice hesitated, then gave a small nod. It was true.
"The jeep is big," Professor Catherine continued, "but your wings are bigger. And your tail hitting the seat isn’t doing you any favors. Here."
She kept one hand on the wheel while motioning with the other.
"Curl your tail forward and rest it across your lap. It’ll take some pressure off."
Alice did as she was told.
Her tail slid from behind her and settled across her thighs.
The difference wasn’t perfect—it still felt strange—but it was a lot better than before.
She could lean back now without the constant pressure against her spine.
"It’s better," she admitted.
"That’s the way," Professor Catherine said. "You’ll need to adapt, little by little. You’re physique human anymore, and pretending otherwise will just make you miserable. So you should learn how to use what you have."
Alice gave her a faint nod. "Thank you for the advice."
Professor Catherine smirked. "It’s my job to guide you, isn’t it? I’ve been doing it since the beginning. Remember when you wanted to give up on Isaac after you saw him with Emily? Who was it that stopped you from throwing your feelings away?"
Alice remembered.
Back then, her heart had nearly broken at the sight.
Professor Catherine had been the one who told her to be patient, to think about the long road ahead rather than just the moment.
"Yes," Alice said softly. "You helped me then."
"Exactly. I’m a good teacher, if I do say so myself."
Alice shook her words at those words, but before she could answer, Professor Catherine’s tone shifted. "So, Alice. What do you think about Celia?"
The question hit harder than Alice expected.
Her body froze, and she quickly turned her head toward the window.
Her reflection on the glass was enough excuse not to answer.
Professor Catherine didn’t let it go. "Ignoring me won’t change anything. Don’t make things too hard for Isaac. You know how he is. He cares for everyone. And you’ve seen that his strength grows when he sleeps with women. Moreover, he’s a Lord now. He needs to be strong enough to carry an entire city on his backs."
Alice clenched her hands on her lap. "I can protect him, and I can protect the city in his place."
Professor Catherine laughed. The sound was light, but her eyes were sharp when Alice glanced back at her. "Protect him? Your entire dragon race was wiped out in the past, Alice. Every known species is struggling to hold back the monsters even now.
"Even the naga city was almost wiped out a few months ago, and we nearly lost to them. Do you really think you can protect Isaac from all dangers on your own?"
Alice opened her mouth but found no words.
Her teeth sank into her lip instead.
Professor Catherine sighed and reached over, patting Alice’s head once before putting her hand back on the wheel. "Isaac won’t love you any less, even if others come into his heart.
"And would you rather see him happy and alive, or would you rather watch him die one day because you couldn’t accept the help he needs? You should—"
"Let’s stop talking about this," Alice cut in quickly, her voice sharper than before.
Professor Catherine only smiled. She didn’t argue further.
The seed was planted in Alice’s heart.
The rest of the job was Isaac’s.
The rest of the drive passed in silence.
When they arrived, the jeep came to a stop near the teleporter location.
They got out, passed through the checkpoint, and arrived inside the Sanctum of Masters.
The familiar tall marble walls and polished floors greeted them, and together they made their way toward the administrative wing.
On the second floor, a counter stretched across the hall.
Behind it sat Ruby, the city’s AI Assistant, projected in a semi-physical form that looked almost human.
Her expression was a mixture of curiosity and mild amusement when she noticed them approach.
Professor Catherine leaned on the counter. "Ruby. She needs a Class."
Ruby’s gaze fell on Alice. "So this is the famous Saintess I’ve been hearing about."
Her tone carried no hostility, only curiosity. She reached out.
"Your hand, please."
Alice placed her hand in Ruby’s.
Ruby closed her eyes, focusing for several seconds before releasing her.
Without another word, Ruby turned, opened a hidden cabinet behind the counter, and shuffled through stacks of documents.
Finally, she returned with a set and handed them to Alice.
Alice unfolded the papers, and the system screen opened before her eyes at the same time.
[Class Advancement Quest Found]
[Class: Sacred Pontiff (SSS+)]
Her breath caught.
An SSS+ rank class?
She had expected something strong, but not this.
"Don’t say the rank out loud," Professor Catherine muttered. She lit her cigar again, taking a slow puff before continuing. "A Saintess with dragon blood is special. That’s why you got that class. Check the details."
Alice quickly scrolled through the Class requirements.
[1. Trial of Burden]
Lead a large-scale pilgrimage, army, or refugee group across dangerous lands to wipe out a den of monsters (minimum 100). Losses must be below a 10% threshold. Ensure safety, morale, and faith throughout. Prove you can shoulder the weight of shepherding an entire people, not just healing individuals.
[2. Trial of Blessing]
Pray to a God or Demigod and gain their acknowledgement.
[3. Trial of Doctrine (Wisdom Test)]
Spread the name of your God and gain at least 100 followers in faith.
[4. Trial of Authority (Recognition)]
Appoint High Priests, Archbishops, or equivalent figures to serve under your God and establish your authority as Pontiff.
[5. Trial of Sacrifice (Final Act)]
Offer something of immense personal value to your God. This could be your strength, your voice, your possessions, or even the bond with someone you love.
Alice’s eyes stayed locked on the lines for a long moment. Her grip on the document tightened slightly.
She didn’t speak. The faint crinkle of paper the only sound she made.
Professor Catherine leaned back on the counter, exhaling smoke from the cigar still resting between her fingers.
"Come," she said evenly, "let’s talk about this in my office."
Alice gave a small nod, folding the document against her chest as she followed.
The walk through the Sanctum of Masters’ administrative hall drew attention.
Quite a lot of students were staring.
Whispers followed them, quiet enough not to be overheard clearly but loud enough to feel their weight.
It wasn’t just because both Alice and Professor Catherine were beautiful. That much was obvious to anyone. Their figures, their flawless skin, and their refined bearing drew eyes.
Alice’s aura carried a natural domineering authority that pressed down on people without her trying, while Professor Catherine’s presence had an allure that made others breathless.
But what drew the most attention wasn’t beauty.
It was Alice’s horns, the folded dragon wings pressing behind her back, and the tail shifting against her legs.
The academy students had seen many races before. Demihumans weren’t a rare sight. But this was different. This was the first time they’d seen someone who truly looked like a dragon walking through the hall.
Professor Catherine didn’t pay the stares any mind.
Alice, lips pressed thin, ignored them as well.
They kept walking until they reached a distant office and stepped inside.
The door closed.
Professor Catherine walked to her desk, pulled a sheet of paper from a stack, and slid it toward Alice.
"Write down the requirements of your class quest."
Alice lowered herself into a chair and began writing.
When she was done, she handed it back.
Professor Catherine scanned through the lines, eyes moving steadily.
She set the paper down after a moment.
"These are more or less what Master told me to expect," she said. "They shouldn’t take long. A few monsters from the Mourning Frost Mountains have wandered into the wilderness and started herding other beasts, creating monster dens. We were planning to wipe them out anyway. You can join the expedition, it’ll help complete the quest requirements."
Alice didn’t answer.
Her hands tightened into fists in her lap.
Professor Catherine noticed her reactions.
She set her cigar down in the ashtray and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Alice hesitated before finally speaking. "I need to choose a god, or a demigod to pray to."
Professor Catherine gave a small nod. "That’s not very hard. Gods can’t interfere in the mortal world freely. They need channels. The birth of a Saintess is good news to them, because if they can bring you under their faith, they’ll be able to influence the world more directly. It’s likely any god you pray to would accept you. That said, we still need to be careful. There are evil gods, politics to consider—"
"No." Alice’s voice cut through, sharper than before.
Professor Catherine’s brows lifted. "What do you mean, no?"
"I won’t pray to any god."
For a moment the room went quiet.
Professor Catherine leaned back slowly, staring at her.
"Is this because of your pride, Alice? I know you’re a dragon, but think about this logically. You could settle for weaker classes, sure. They might not force you into a god’s faith, but they won’t give you the strength you’ll need. Don’t you want to roam the wilderness? Don’t you want to slay legendary monsters? You can’t do that if you stay weak."
"I won’t lower my head to anyone," Alice said with firmness. "I... I’ll find another way to get stronger."
Professor Catherine let out a long sigh, tapping the desk with her fingers.
Finally, she said, "Fine. Then go back to Ruby and request another class. Make sure she gives you one at a lower rank."
Alice nodded once, stood, and left the room.
When the door closed, Professor Catherine leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing slightly.
Stubborn girl. In the end, only Isaac can change her mind. Only he can push her to accept the Sacred Pontiff class.
It was a thought, nothing more, but she knew it was true.
Not long after, the door opened again. Alice came back in, holding a fresh set of papers.
Her steps were heavier this time, and her expression was tight with anger.
The air around her distorted with intense heat.
Professor Catherine tilted her head. "Back already?"
Alice set the papers down but didn’t sit. "What’s happening out there?"
Professor Catherine frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Students," Alice said, her voice sharp with frustration. "They’re talking bad about Isaac. Like how he’s colluding with some foreign race to take over humans. Why would they say that?"
"Oh, that."
Professor Catherine leaned back, eyes half-lidded as if the question didn’t surprise her.
She tapped her cigar against the ashtray before lighting it again.
"That’s the governor’s doing. He’s trying to cut off Isaac’s momentum by dragging his reputation through the mud."
Alice’s jaw clenched. "He’s lying."
"Of course he is," Professor Catherine said calmly, smoke curling around her words. "But politics doesn’t care about truth. The governor doesn’t need proof. All he needs is doubt. Doubt spreads faster than facts, especially in an academy filled with young students who look up to Isaac but don’t really know him."
Alice’s fists trembled at her sides. "How can they just believe it?"
Professor Catherine met her gaze, calm but sharp. "Because it’s easier to believe whispers than to think for themselves. And because Isaac is climbing too quickly. People fear what they don’t understand, and the governor knows how to use that fear."
Alice didn’t sit.
Her anger continued to simmer.
Professor Catherine sighed and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "You can’t fight this by glaring at every student who repeats the gossip. If you want to help Isaac, you’ll need to do more than get angry. You’ll need to make him strong enough that no rumor can touch him."
Alice didn’t respond right away.
She knew Professor Catherine was talking about Celia and Isaac.
Her shoulders rose and fell with her breathing.
She couldn’t say anything.
After a while, Professor Catherine decided to spare her the internal conflict.
"We are already moving to take care of the governor."
A smile appeared on Professor Catherine’s face.
"What do you mean?" Alice asked.
Professor Catherine took out her device, opened a document, and gave it to Alice.