After the simple loyalty ceremony concluded, Phoenix sat in her seat, gazing at the youngest girl before her - a long-haired blonde with striking features.
Though she appeared no older than a teenager, her figure defied her years. Her curves were unparalleled, her eyes carrying a peculiar intensity that drew all attention like a blooming rose.
As if noticing the New King Phoenix observing her, the young girl tensed to dodge. But then she seemed to reconsider, her eyes steadying as she met the gaze of the girl before her - not much older than herself, yet undeniably the New King.
Though envious of the New King's position, the young girl felt no jealousy. This was simply the way things were meant to be.
Observing the golden-haired young girl's gaze, Phoenix suddenly felt intrigued. As the young mistress of the Blandelli family—a prominent name in the magic world—and Godou Kusanagi's first "lover," Phoenix found her quite interesting.
Though Godou Kusanagi, as a Campione, was merely a puppet in her hands, someone like that would undoubtedly find it irritating to have their identity usurped by him.
However... from another perspective, Erica Blandelli was still a highly conscious individual.
And one couldn't deny that she was indeed quite charming.
Especially... her breasts were massive!
"You... what's your name?" Phoenix asked with an amused smile, pointing at Erica before her, deliberately feigning ignorance.
"Your Majesty, I am a Knight of the Italian Mage Association's Copper-Black Cross. My name is Erica Blandelli." The young girl responded with a bow, her voice clear and confident. Her posture was impeccable, and her attire, though modest, accentuated her striking features.
"Knight... May I ask how old you are?"
"Your Majesty, I will be fifteen in a few months."
"Fifteen... To become a Knight at fifteen is truly remarkable!" At fifteen, she was still about one or two years away from the timeline in the original story.
"Phoenix has spoken!" Erica heard Phoenix's words. Though her expression remained impassive, her heart stirred with a mix of pride and a new resolve.
"I'm still short a few assistants," Phoenix continued calmly, her gaze steady. "Prepare yourself and report to the Church of the Cross headquarters."
"This... Since it's the King's command, I understand." The golden-haired young girl's voice carried a hint of reluctance, as if forced, yet her eyes betrayed no unwillingness.
"Heh..."
Phoenix's silent chuckle echoed in her mind. How could she possibly miss the subtle manipulation? But Phoenix wasn't Godou Kusanagi to be led by such tactics.
In the original story, Erica's cunning and assertiveness had perfectly matched Godou's gullible nature, making him dance to her tune. But Phoenix considered herself far more domineering and unyielding.
Moreover, Phoenix was a peerless individual - no mere beauty could sway her. Not to mention the countless stunning women already in her friend list, none of whom Erica could possibly compare to.
In the Roman Library, Phoenix stood within a restricted section not open to the public, continuously flipping through the pages of a book in her hands.
These were no ordinary books, but secret manuals of magic cultivation.
While these magical arts might not possess overwhelming power—even at their peak, they couldn't rival Heretic Gods or Campione—this very limitation made them all the more valuable.
Campione, those divine slayers, often looked down upon such mortal knowledge. They believed that no matter how much one mastered these arts, it would never grant the power to oppose Heretic Gods. Thus, they dismissed these magical arts as worthless dregs.
Yet these very magical arts formed the backbone of this world's foundation. They constituted a complete system, fundamentally different from the half-baked powers wielded by Campione.
These magical arts could function across all realms, while a Campione's power might be limited to their own world alone.
In essence, Campione could only reign supreme within their own domain.
Even Pandora's dark ritual was merely a complex magic ceremony that delved into the essence of this world.
For Phoenix, who could traverse various worlds, this arcane knowledge proved highly useful.
After all, her true power ultimately stemmed from the collective strength of the Valkyries.
Without these Valkyries and the divine key, the young girl was nothing...
As Phoenix struggled to comprehend the material, she considered whether to have Erica transfer her knowledge through direct mouth-to-mouth contact, similar to how she had taught Godou Kusanagi.
After all, studying on her own might take hours, while this method could accomplish the same in mere minutes.
Yet the thought of such intimate contact gave her pause. It was essentially a kiss...
No, perhaps closeness between girls was perfectly normal?
"Phoenix-nee, dinner's ready!"
As Phoenix pondered whether to take a shortcut, Higokumaru - with her fox ears and tail - approached carrying a tray of exquisite dishes.
Only then did Phoenix realize it was already noon.
"Just put it over there," she said, gesturing to a nearby stool.
Phoenix looked at Higokumaru, who wore casual attire that accentuated her youthful vitality.
"Oh!"
Higokumaru set the food down and hesitated, glancing at Phoenix.
"What is it?"
Sensing Higokumaru's unspoken question, Phoenix closed her book and looked at her expectantly.
"Phoenix-nee, have you finished your business here? This place is so boring - there's no fried tofu! When are we going to East Asia?"
"Almost done. Just a few more days!"
Upon reflection, it was indeed time to move on to other locations.
With the surrender of the "Seven Sisters" mage association, Phoenix had effectively gained control over all of Italy and its numerous factions.
Naturally, this also meant the completion of the main quest.
However, since she hadn't checked in the past two days, the rewards remained unclaimed.
Phoenix set down the book in her hands, moved to Higokumaru's side to eat, and mentally accessed the quest interface.