The Sponsored Heroines Are Coming for Me

Chapter 248

The place where Ian was undergoing secluded training.

A woman sat leaning against the door.

“Haa—.”

Her chest rose and fell.

With each breath, hot air escaped between her lips.

Her breathing was filled with excitement.

It was the Blood Witch.

Her eyes, glowing intensely through her black hair.

Leaning against the stone door, she could feel what was happening inside.

“You are truly radiant, Ian.”

The walls here were unimaginably thick.

Even the most skilled master would struggle to sense what was happening inside.

But she was none other than the Blood Witch.

She could feel everything vividly.

Even though she had erased her own magical presence and energy to avoid disturbing Ian’s training, she could still perceive it.

‘You feel so alive, Ian.’

The Blood Witch smiled softly.

The moment Ian first entered seclusion, she had been on the verge of madness, desperate to see him.

Secluded training meant complete isolation from the outside world.

It meant that the Ian she had brought with her could no longer be seen.

The Blood Witch was not one to let go of what was in her grasp.

Letting go of Ian, whom she had just managed to obtain, was too painful, too sorrowful.

There was nothing she could do.

She leaned against the wall.

She felt the faint presence of Ian from inside.

‘I cannot bear to not see you. I will remember every single thing about you.’

And so, she pictured Ian in her mind.

From the tips of his toes to the top of his head.

She reconstructed Ian in her thoughts.

It wasn’t difficult.

She had embraced him countless times.

She had run her fingers through his hair, feeling each strand.

And so, she could create him perfectly.

Even down to the exact number of strands of his hair.

Even his mana circuits, and every other detail.

Now, in her mind, Ian appeared vividly.

Each time a ripple of energy traveled through the wall, the Ian in her mind moved as well.

He breathed, stepped forward, and smiled at her.

“Ah...”

It felt as if Ian was truly right in front of her.

She reached out to caress him.

“...My Ian.”

This was why she spent hours every day leaning against this place.

But soon, the illusion in her mind faded.

The Ian she had imagined took a step back.

Her eyes wavered with disappointment.

Yet at the same time, she could see it.

Ian, seated in a meditative posture in the distance.

And the moment he began to take deep breaths.

The flow of mana around him suddenly reversed.

Was he learning how to control mana?

Each time Ian inhaled, it felt as if the earth trembled.

“Ahh...”

Without realizing it, the Blood Witch began circulating her own energy in response.

Her body shuddered.

His mana control was nothing short of genius.

And in just a few days, Ian was already transforming and mastering it.

“...A perfect execution of inner techniques.”

She felt joy.

No—ecstasy.

In less than a month, he was already grasping the core essence of the Bloodstone Cult’s secret arts.

A question that seemed to pierce through everything.

Four, who knew much, also had deep fear of the Cult Leader.

In his mind, the Cult Leader was stronger than anyone.

Stronger than anyone else on the continent.

That was why he always felt slightly subdued in front of him.

The person before him was simply too overwhelming to confront.

“That is always your problem.”

“...Pardon?”

“When one perceives a wall too high to overcome, they abandon the will to ascend. Stop looking at me. Then you will be able to reach your full potential.”

“No, it is enough for me to serve you, Cult Leader.”

Four bowed deeply.

No matter what, he could never surpass the Cult Leader.

Even if he absorbed everything else in the world, that fact would remain unchanged.

Thus, he would submit.

That was Four’s strategy.

A life dedicated to following the Cult Leader’s commands.

That was the best path.

He spoke again.

“We must send someone to the academy in place of the Blood Witch.”

The Cult Leader nodded.

“I have already considered that. More importantly, what of the Empire and Constantine? How are they moving?”

Once again, he asked a question as if he had already foreseen everything.

Even though no report had been given yet, Four could feel his admiration and fear toward the Cult Leader growing.

“Both the Empire and the Vatican are making their moves. The Vatican is gathering forces around the Saint, while the Empire’s leadership is keeping things confidential, though we have observed significant activity.”

“They both intend to provoke our Cult, it seems.”

“...That appears to be the case.”

The Cult Leader nodded silently.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he spoke.

“There is no need to start an outright war. Their soldiers could one day become our disciples. Life is valuable, after all. It would be better to throw them into disarray first.”

“By disarray, do you mean...?”

“Assassinate the Emperor.”

“...”

Four fell silent for a moment before replying.

“If the Empire descends into chaos over succession, and Constantine is forced to focus on them, then we can check both powers at once. It is a sound strategy.”

“Do it.”

The Cult Leader gave a simple nod.

For someone who had just ordered the assassination of a nation’s ruler, he was astonishingly calm.

Four knew the source of his confidence.

The Cult Leader’s ascension.

He was close.

Close to reaching the realm of the Demon God.

With a satisfied smile, the Cult Leader spoke again.

“It was truly worthwhile to bring in Ian.”

“Is he aiding in your ascension?”

“Yes. More than I expected. It seems he is mastering all three scriptures at once. The stronger he becomes, the stronger I become.”

A satisfied chuckle.

Four bowed his head.

At the same time, a sudden curiosity arose.

Once the Cult Leader reached the Demon God’s Realm, what would happen to him?

Would he continue serving beneath him, or would he simply become another sacrifice?

It was impossible to know.

For now, he decided to focus on the task at hand and remain in his favor.

“Cult Leader.”

“Do you still have more to say?”

“Who should we send to Lichten Academy in place of the Blood Witch?”

“Hmm.”

The Cult Leader stroked his chin for a moment before answering.

“I suppose I should go myself.”

“...Huh?”

Four blinked blankly.