"Hehe, how pathetic."
Beatrice mocked me. Across the dozen white feathers covering her face, more than ten crimson eyes set against black irises stared at me simultaneously, making me feel nauseated.
Then, after noticing the situation around us, her voice sank.
"Hm? Where did that Gehenna Prefect Team leader go?"
Saori lowered her head.
"Sorasaki Hina escaped on her own while we were speaking with Sensei."
Out of fear toward Beatrice, since the Arius Squad had already been coerced by me into letting Hina go, it was only natural that they would spontaneously help cover it up to avoid punishment.
In other words, there was no need for me to entertain any other thoughts regarding Saori's actions.
"...Useless trash."
As though out of habit, Beatrice berated them once before lightly waving her folding fan.
"Forget it. Now that we possess immortal soldiers like the Justina Council, it hardly matters if that stray dog is dealt with later. More importantly, I never expected such a delightful surprise. Sensei, surely you have already recognized the situation by now, haven't you?"
At this point, she looked toward me again and declared in an unquestionable tone:
"This game has already been decided as your defeat. Therefore, your only choice now is to join us in Gematria, and then share with me the technology that allows you to use the Mystery of Kivotos's students for yourself in order to elevate one's own existence."
So she really thought she had me cornered.
I smiled faintly and agreed readily.
"Sure."
Beatrice froze for a moment, then was overcome by an unexpected burst of ecstasy. Although she still pretended to maintain composure, neither her words nor tone could suppress her delight.
"Hehe, Sensei, you truly understand your circumstances. No, since you are willing to cooperate with me, I will naturally treat you as an honored guest from now on. I will also freely share my own technology with you. If there are Arius students you favor, you may choose them as you like. The same will apply to students Arius captures in the future as well..."
After making many promises, or more accurately, painting a mountain of fantasies, she finally realized she had become too excited and politely added:
"In that case, Sensei, since this matter is of great importance, let us discuss the specific terms of our transaction in detail after Squad escorts you to Arius Academy as our guest. What do you think?"
"Of course. However, before that."
I spoke sincerely.
"I first need to tell you the prerequisite necessary to learn my technology."
Beatrice immediately became interested.
"Oh? Please, elaborate."
Yet instead of answering directly, I asked:
"Beatrice, how much do you actually understand about this technology?"
"How embarrassing. I only know a little. But according to Black Suit..."
At that moment, I seemed to glimpse an unfathomable greed within her eyes.
"It is enough to allow its user to reach the state of [Ascension] that we seek, obtaining power capable of effortlessly destroying Kivotos. That is correct, isn't it?"
Was that Black Suit's misunderstanding, or was the Credit Card really that powerful?
Could it be that I, as its owner, was simply too lazy, and therefore never managed to draw out the true power of this theoretically perfect cheat, whose outward and inward qualities were so perfectly suited to attracting the students' attention at all times...?
Unfortunately, even if that were true, I had no interest in excessively going against my genuine feelings.
"It is far more than the shallow things you described."
I deliberately put on an air of profundity.
"It is more profound than you imagine, and what it can accomplish goes far beyond ugly destruction devoid of beauty. However, its prerequisites are rather special. There is no guarantee you can satisfy them, so you should prepare yourself mentally first."
Hearing this, Beatrice seemed dissatisfied, yet still said:
"As long as you do not conceal anything from me, then naturally I can accept reality. Besides, even if I cannot fulfill it, I am not some fool incapable of learning through imitation. So stop speaking in riddles already. What exactly is required?"
The vague nonsense I had been spouting could probably only buy time up to this point.
I took a deep breath. Under Beatrice's eager gaze, I decisively pointed at my own face.
"First, you need a sufficiently beautiful face."
"...Hm?"
The red-skinned woman, whose appearance was far too bizarre by ordinary standards, let out a puzzled sound.
"Sorry, I tend to speak bluntly, so this might hit a sore spot for you. But for an ugly aberration like you, there's obviously no way you could satisfy such a necessary condition."
I shook my head regretfully, then politely asked:
"So, have you considered getting plastic surgery? Though I doubt it would help much, at least it might offer you some psychological comfort and give you the courage to keep trying. Of course, if it fails, don't blame me. You'll still need to learn how to accept reality."
The moment those words fell, silence swallowed the scene.
Through the projection, Beatrice's many eyes stared fixedly at me, the fury within them growing increasingly violent.
Every member of the Arius Squad remained silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to provoke Beatrice further.
As for me, I simply wore a faintly mocking smile and waited for her next reaction.
Finally, Beatrice spoke again, her voice cold to the bone.
"Hehe... good. Very good. Sensei, I never expected you would still have the leisure to indulge in verbal bravado. Hehe, I sincerely hope that when we meet in Arius, you can maintain the same composure you have now. Believe me, I will absolutely give you a very warm 'welcome.'"
"Oh? Really?"
I answered casually.
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Beatrice let out another cold snort and issued her command.
"Saori, you know what to do."
Saori, who still seemed not entirely recovered from her shock, responded a beat too slowly.
"Yes, Madam."
"...Do not make me wait too long. Otherwise, you know what will happen."
With that, Beatrice directly cut off the communication.
The Arius Squad left at the scene exchanged looks once more.
Hiyori quietly muttered:
"Madam is really scary..."
"Sensei. Sorasaki Hina went to bring reinforcements, didn't she?"
Saori's words carried obvious anger. After all, I had first given them the impression that I intended to seriously negotiate with Beatrice, only to spend the actual conversation insulting her instead. My intention to stall for time had become painfully obvious.
"Please do not make things difficult for us."
She asked coldly:
"Are you planning to come willingly, or would you prefer that we help you along?"
"So impatient?"
I shook my head and sighed.
After dragging things out for several minutes, still no one had come...
Well, that too was unavoidable.
"If you want me that badly, then come take me. However..."
I pulled out the handgun Rin had given me for self-defense.
"I'll still struggle until the bitter end..."
Bang!