Even the most foolish Order Keeper president understood the white-cloaked woman’s goal. She wanted to become president!

But what would she gain from that?

When someone became president, the previous president handed over two things. They were items the president had to protect at all costs.

Before the Magical Maiden Government was established, they were kept by the most prestigious and powerful Magical Maiden.

One was a token, and the other… was a Key.

“Your target is the Key!”

As one of the Order Keeper’s highest-ranking members, she vaguely knew what the Key was for. They wanted to become president so they could obtain it legally and open the door to the Fourth District!

“I won’t let you succeed… You wretches have completely overturned Order! Who can help me?”

She looked around. Only a handful answered her call.

Moon Owl was one of them.

She knew she had no choice. Hadn’t the Twelfth District resisted until now precisely to protect the Key belonging to the Twelfth District?

Moon Owl’s goal was the same as the president’s. It conflicted with that of the white-cloaked girl before them.

The president felt powerless.

Fighting was forbidden inside this Order Keeper tower. Every decision would be carried out in this great hall.

She had kept herself hidden all this time. Even during the week before the meeting, she had remained in the hall, organizing documents.

That had left these people with no chance to strike.

Perhaps that was why they had decided to remove her during the meeting and seize both her power and the Key.

【I’m counting on you from here on.】

Before the silver-haired girl left, she entrusted everything to the president.

After that, there was no word from her.

The president had sworn at the time that she would put everything in order and protect everything the girl had left behind.

After the girl’s departure, those lurking in the shadows extended their claws toward every district.

And now, they had forced the president to the edge of a cliff, trying to take away the last thing she could still protect.

“I won’t allow it!”

The president slammed her hand against the table.

She couldn’t yield any further. The final result of yielding would be losing everything.

She had already given way too many times.

Today, she would not retreat.

“Let Order hear this. The president has failed in her duties. Those in favor of impeaching her, raise your hands.”

The Guardians of the Second District, Seventh District, Thirteenth District, Sixteenth District, Twentieth District, Twenty-Second District, and Twenty-Third District raised their hands without hesitation.

The Guardian of the Eighth District hesitated for a moment, then raised her hand as well.

Only the Guardians of the Fourth, Twelfth, and Nineteenth Districts kept their hands down.

“I won’t make enemies everywhere, then. The outcome’s already decided anyway.”

The Fourth and Nineteenth Districts were considered neutral.

Their Guardians chose to abstain.

Only Moon Owl cast an opposing vote.

“With more than two-thirds of the votes, the motion passes.”

A clear, ethereal female voice echoed through the great hall.

Rules of pure silver descended upon the president.

No—she was no longer the president.

She was merely a Chapter Three.

Nothing more.

The rules of the great hall were absolute. She had to obey them.

“No… Don’t…”

She placed the Key and the token representing the presidency on the stone table.

Then she slumped helplessly into the stone chair behind her.

It was all over.

She was no longer the president of the Order Keepers.

Everything the silver-haired girl had entrusted to her had ultimately gone to waste.

“Next, we’ll choose a new president. I think the Guardian of the Seventh District is perfect for the position. What do you think?”

The Guardian of the Seventh District narrowed her eyes and opened her folding fan, hiding her cheeks brimming with laughter.

Her smiling eyes swept across the room.

Not a single objection rang out.

Everyone maintained a strange, unspoken understanding.

Moon Owl knew that her one vote couldn’t sway everyone’s decision, so she remained silent.

Anyone with eyes could see that the Guardian of the Seventh District was nothing more than a puppet of the white-cloaked woman.

The Guardian herself, however, seemed completely unaware.

She was enjoying every moment of it.

Utterly foolish.

“Since everyone thinks so highly of me, I’ll gladly accept the presidency~”

She gave a light wave of her hand.

The token symbolizing the presidency and the ancient Key fell into the Guardian of the Seventh District’s hands.

“As the new president, I’ll announce several new trial policies. For example, custom uniforms for the people of the Fourth District…”

“Of course, I’m only joking.”

“Let’s continue implementing the two policies we approved earlier. As for those rebels, we’ll handle them the old-fashioned way, shall we?”

Moon Owl had no choice but to stand and object.

She had heard of the traditional methods. They were nothing more than secretly dealing with the rebels or imprisoning them, then burying the matter beneath fabricated news.

It was a trick most Guardians used.

“You want to bring such disgraceful methods into this Hall of Honor?!”

“Disgraceful methods?”

The Guardian of the Seventh District looked at Moon Owl, who had risen in protest.

She chuckled and struck her folding fan against her palm, snapping it shut with ease.

She showed no anger. Instead, she began persuading Moon Owl.

“Guardian of the Twelfth District… You should understand that these are merely methods of maintaining Order, aren’t they?”

“Do you really intend to persuade them one by one and make them change their views of Magical Maidens?”

“Don’t delude yourself!”

“They’ve never trusted us. Do you think they behave themselves in our hands because they respect us?”

“They fear our power. That’s all.”

The Guardian of the Seventh District looked toward the marching crowds on the screen.

The Magical Maidens had been far too lenient with these people. That was why the people believed their authority could be defied.

“Therefore, I believe manipulation and restraint are both necessary…”

Moon Owl sat back down.

She didn’t agree with the Guardian of the Seventh District, but she understood that struggling now was pointless.

Nearly everyone stood behind the Guardian of the Seventh District, each with their own motives.

“Return to your seat as Guardian of the Third District, Madam Former President.”

The Guardian of the Seventh District stepped onto the platform and invited the former president back to the position she belonged in.

By now, she understood that nothing could be done.

“Next is the matter of the Mud King. I’m sure Madam Former President explained everything clearly, and everyone understands the situation.”

“So let’s get moving. We’ll meet at the border of the First District in half a day.”

The Guardian of the Seventh District ended the meeting.

According to the arrangements, everyone would set out for the First District.

Moon Owl was no exception.

But she didn’t leave at once. Instead, she walked over to the Guardian of the Third District.

“Are you all right?”

The Guardian of the Third District shook her head.

She looked anything but all right.

These people had anticipated this outcome long ago. Everything had been a trap prepared for her.

Everything that the silver-haired girl had entrusted to her in the past had fallen into their hands.

“I’m grateful to you. You stood up for me, and you stood up for those people.”

“I never imagined they would do something like this for power and that Key.”

She looked down at her empty hands and grasped at the air.

There was nothing there to hold.

“Actually, the person I owe the most is you, Moon Owl…”

“Then comes the former president, my half-teacher.”

Moon Owl froze.

The Guardian of the Third District had never done anything cruel or outrageous to her.

“There are many things they did that I knew about. I saw how they dealt with the Twelfth District.”

“But I had no authority among them. I couldn’t stop them, and that brought disaster upon the Twelfth District.”

So that was how it was.

Moon Owl understood now.

When they had tried to deal with the Twelfth District, the Guardian of the Third District had attempted to stop them.

But everything she said had been dismissed and ignored.

“You’ve already done enough. It’s just that…”

Moon Owl knew that after the Twelfth District suffered disaster, a large portion of its supplies had been donated in the president’s name.

That had helped the Twelfth District survive its most difficult month.

“They were too strong. We were too weak.”

“Come on. Let’s deal with the Mud King first.”

“That’s the greatest threat right now. At least, that’s what they believe, too.”

Moon Owl looked toward the Mud King within the light screen.

The Guardian of the Third District nodded.

Indeed, the only thing they could do now was stop the monster, not waste time fighting among themselves.

The Guardian of the Seventh District didn’t hurry toward the Mud King’s location.

She stepped lightly across the marble tiles.

The heavy, magnificent clothes on her body seemed as light as air.

She clenched the Key tightly in her palm, her heart filled with incomparable joy and excitement.

She nearly felt like dancing right there.

But she held herself back.

The time wasn’t right yet.

Once she used the Key to open that door and obtained the power of the “Ultimate,” she would show the world her beauty and strength.

She descended the stairs one step at a time.

A white figure suddenly appeared beside her.

It was the white-cloaked woman who had appeared without warning in the Order Keeper’s great hall.

She slowly removed her cloak, revealing azure hair and deep, gloomy eyes.

“Congratulations… You’re about to obtain the power of the Ultimate.”

She said it like a congratulation, but her face remained utterly expressionless.

No one could tell what she was thinking at that moment.

“The power of the Ultimate…”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“You all obtained the power of the Ultimate from behind your respective doors, but I didn’t.”

“Back then, my subordinates failed to seize the Twelfth District’s Key. We couldn’t catch up with you.”

“I was jealous for a very long time~”

“But I never expected you to provide me with a lead to this power, or help me take the presidency.”

“I’m truly touched.”

She continued down the stairs, gazing into the profound darkness beneath her feet.

“I know you’re using me. But I’m willing.”

“In the end, I’m no weaker than any of you.”

Azure smiled faintly.

“That’s why I like you so much. We’re very much alike…”

“Go. Insert the Key and welcome your brand-new power.”

“Then rule over this world.”

Deep within the Order Keeper tower, the Guardian of the Seventh District held the Key and carefully placed it at the center of the Array Pattern.

Two Array Patterns reflected each other, then fused together.

The Guardian of the Seventh District could barely suppress the excitement on her face.

She slowly turned the Key.

All the Array Patterns unlocked.

Within them lay a continent so vast that its end couldn’t be seen.

“Go and welcome it. That is the power most suited to you!”

The Guardian of the Seventh District spread her arms wide.

The peaceful continent began to twist.

It passed through the garments woven from the Guardian’s Mana and clung tightly to her surface.

“Four remain.”

Azure said this.