"What do you mean? The Empire was vast; isn't it normal for its composition to be complex?" Sonaya frowned, clearly not grasping the subtext of Alistair's remark.
"No, it's perfectly normal. So, as the next Emperor mentioned in the prophecy, I assume I get to choose my own name?" Alistair shook his head, deftly changing the subject.
"You certainly can," Sonaya replied, not dwelling on it. If Alistair didn't want to explain, she had no reason to pry.
"Ascension rituals, Ascended warriors, and an Imperial Disc... tsk, tsk. Such a strangely familiar setup. In that case, how about we call it the Shurima Empire?" Back when Alistair played games, he had quite liked the voice lines of a certain desert emperor; they had left a deep impression on him.
However, because that champion required high mechanical skill and had been repeatedly nerfed due to competitive performance, Alistair hadn't played him much. The "Emperor of the Sands" had essentially become the "Pauper of the Sands," with fans mocking his lines—changing 'Your Emperor has returned' to 'Your Emperor is out of mana' or 'Your Emperor has kicked the bucket.'
"'Shurima'? Does that name hold a special significance?" Sonaya asked, her tone betraying a rare hint of curiosity.
"Nah, I just think it'll sound badass when I shout it later," Alistair chuckled, offering no further explanation.
"Very well. Is there anything else you wish to know?" Sonaya asked, moving on.
"That's all for now. Anything on your end?" Alistair shrugged.
"I manifested this body using their mana, and I've already consumed more than half of it. If there's nothing else, I shall retreat. My dagger has a sound-dampening enchantment. If you need me, have them call out to me mentally; I'll be right inside."
As soon as Sonaya finished speaking, her entire body shattered into countless motes of light that dissipated into the air, flowing back into Arisa Kurusu and Seira Kannonzaka.
Ugh, my head feels like it's going to explode. Alistair scratched his hair and looked at Seira and Arisa, who had remained silent for quite a while. He didn't speak first. Both girls were grappling with how to address him given his newly revealed background. For a moment, the Student Council President's office fell into an eerie silence.
Gulp... slurp... mmm... phew—
As the wet, rhythmic swallowing sounds ceased, Arisa Kurusu gulped down the thick white fluid in her mouth and exhaled a heavy, musky breath.
"That hit the spot. Say, Seira, sure you don't want to try some?" Alistair ruffled Arisa's hair as she knelt before him, looking thoroughly satisfied.
"No," Seira Kannonzaka declined. Her heart was in total turmoil. Originally, she had viewed Alistair as merely a talented boy, but the preceding conversation had made it clear: the tables had turned.
The power of their 'Evil Holy Grail' was formidable, but it paled in comparison to being a direct vassal of Sonaya. The quality of mana Sonaya granted was only slightly inferior to her own, and her control over her vassals was absolute. Meanwhile, Alistair's status was now effectively on par with Sonaya herself, as she had basically designated him the Emperor-in-waiting.
This put the girls at least one rank below Alistair. If he truly wanted them, Sonaya likely wouldn't refuse; they wouldn't even be able to resist. Even if Sonaya didn't act, Alistair could simply threaten them into submission.
Fortunately, Alistair didn't seem to take it too seriously, so they could continue to interact as before—though a subtle shift in dynamic was inevitable.
This is getting complicated. Seira kept her head down, lost in thought. Because of Sonaya's awakening, both she and Arisa had absorbed all the raw negative energy and lust-filled mana stored in the 'Evil Holy Grail' in a very short time. They looked normal on the surface, but their 'Lust'—the only vent they had chosen for this energy—was on the verge of a total explosion.
Even though she had visited the church for purification, her desires remained ravenous. Compounded by the fact that they were at an age where physical urges naturally intensify, seeing Arisa shamelessly indulge her cravings made Seira feel a stinging sense of envy.
To be honest, Seira was simply finding it hard to accept such a massive status shift. Having been raised to prioritize profit and hierarchy, she might have been the first to jump on Alistair and worship his 'big brother' if this power gap had existed from the start. But the sudden reversal left her reeling.
In contrast, someone like Arisa Kurusu—who avoided thinking whenever possible—found it much easier to accept reality. In a way, her lack of overthinking made her remarkably free-spirited.
"Alright, I'm not done yet! For the past few days, while Lady Sonaya was recovering, we absorbed all that raw lust mana from the Grail. I'm absolutely burning up inside. Seira has great self-control, but I'm at my limit. Hurry up and help me out."
Arisa pulled Alistair's face toward her, then hiked up her skirt to reveal her pale blue panties. Without hesitation, she shoved them aside and sat directly down onto him.
"Ah~ much better~" Arisa leaned against Alistair, her face flushed with a deep crimson. Her soft breasts were crushed flat against his chest, exerting immense 'pressure' on him.
Alistair felt Arisa's tight embrace and the greedy way she pulled at him. His abilities were exceptionally sensitive to such intense desires, allowing him to clearly feel the sheer depth of Arisa's hunger.
Meanwhile, the 'Lust' radiating from Seira Kannonzaka had become incredibly dense. It no longer felt like a gas, but more like a pool of liquid or even a solid mass. By Alistair's estimate, absorbing Seira's current desire would increase his progress by at least 8% to 10%.
Of course, Alistair wasn't in a hurry. Desire only intensified with suppression; the longer it was bottled up, the greater the eventual yield. It was entirely possible she could reach 15% or more before the exchange period ended. That would be the most efficient way to handle it, so Alistair didn't demand that Seira join them for a 'co-op' session just yet.
"I feel like your tits got a bit bigger. Did your body get a further physical boost?" Alistair squeezed Arisa's generous mounds. He felt a slight change, though it was subtle.
"Eh? You can actually feel a difference?" Arisa, who was busy performing repeated deep squats on him, was surprised. Being turned into a vassal by Sonaya did indeed come with a strengthening effect. For Sonaya's power to work through them, she couldn't leave them weak. However, the boost was primarily to their mana; the physical changes were so minor they hadn't even noticed them. She hadn't expected Alistair to pick up on it.
"Don't you feel like your bra is a bit tighter? Usually, you girls would be the first to notice that kind of change." Alistair grabbed her and flipped her over, pinning her down onto the sofa.
"Ah! Be gentle~" The blush on Arisa's face deepened. When Alistair pinned her down with such force, his massive 'cannon' slammed straight into her softest flesh. The power of it nearly drove the 'muzzle' right into the 'Cradle of Life.' That exquisite stimulation sent her soaring straight to the clouds.
"You didn't last very long this time. Was it because it's been too long? Couldn't hold back?" Alistair teased.
Knock, knock, knock!
"President? There are some urgent documents that require your attention. May I come in?" A girl's voice sounded from outside the door, followed by a polite knock.
Oof. Alistair suddenly felt the suction and tightness below him jump up several notches. Caught off guard, he nearly 'surrendered' right then and there.
"Hehe~" Alistair looked at Arisa's panicked expression and let out a meaningful chuckle.
"Don't laugh! Seira always prioritizes urgent matters. There's a shelf over there with an empty space behind it—move, let's go over there!" Arisa whispered urgently.
Yet, the more panicked Arisa became, the more Alistair took his sweet time. Under the pressure of nearly being caught, Arisa's interior felt unexpectedly tight and firm.
"One moment. Alright, I'm ready. You may enter," Seira called out once Alistair and Arisa had moved behind the shelf.
Click.
"President Kannonzaka, these are the documents from the Chairperson. They said these should be your top priority." The girl placed a stack of files on the desk.
"Understood. I'll look over them now," Seira replied with a perfectly composed face.
Sniff... sniff...
"Is there something else?" Seira frowned as she watched the girl looking around, appearing to sniff the air.
"No, it's nothing. I just thought I smelled something... a bit strange." The girl shook her head quickly and bowed before retreating. While the President was kind to her own people, she was still an authority figure not to be crossed. They weren't like Arisa Kurusu, the President's close friend and Secretary, who often acted according to her whims.
Wait... that's right. Secretary Kurusu should be in here too. Why didn't I see her? Could it be that smell... I didn't think the Secretary was so bold as to do 'that' in the President's office. And the President didn't even seem to mind...
"So intense!" Arisa hugged Alistair tightly. They had almost been caught. This shelf was full of open cubby holes for storage; if the girl had looked a bit closer, they would have been exposed.
In her excitement, Arisa peaked again. Alistair, unable to hold back any longer, pressed right against the entrance of the 'Cradle of Life' and unloaded his warm 'Seeds of Life' completely, letting every drop spray inside.
"Mmm~~" Arisa's body shivered, but she had no intention of pushing him away. Instead, she hooked her legs around Alistair's waist, helping him finish his explosive release deep inside her.