Chapter 1304 Hot Spring
Ouroboros Academy. Aside from being an academy, it's also a newly recognized major faction that holds the rights and is the only manufacturer of the most sought-after Soul Gears.
The one handling the mass production of the Soul Gears previously was the Belial House of the Underworld. But when Cleria Belial received an early tip that the Underworld government was going to move to control these highly dangerous weapons, she immediately transferred everything to the just recently established Ouroboros Academy.
The Underworld tried to veto this but Cleria had already prepared various fail-safes since she knew this was already an inevitability.
However, for this to happen smoothly, some sacrifices were needed and those sacrifices include disowments. As of right now, although Sona still uses the name Sitri, she was already officially stricken off the Sitri House's records. There was a lot of drama before this was officiated but Sona remained firm on her decision, much to her parents' disappointment.
Naturally, it wasn't just Sona but also the other core members of the Ouroboros Academy that had to cut ties with the organizations or factions they were previously in, essentially becoming traitors in the eyes of those groups.
While the Ouroboros Academy has thousands of students and hundreds of staff and instructors, only the core members, which are composed of the women very close to Kisuke, including his mother and a few select Deities from the Dungeon world, are considered part of the "major faction".
There are some concerns about the core members utilizing the students and instructors as part of their faction, but after using the contract spell that is similar to what the Devils use and ensuring that they won't be allowed to participate in any of its activities as a faction.
Because the academy also accepts students and hires staff regardless of their origin, applications flooded in and even those who were still opposed to letting the academy have this much autonomy and freedom couldn't do anything. After all, this faction, especially the core members, were still a black box that's capable of mass destruction of an unknown degree and many others would rather send their own people to investigate than pressure the group to only have them move in the shadows, silently, and most importantly, deadly.
Another important point is that only the Ouroboros Academy has the pathway towards the Dungeon world. While they can't control it completely because of the contract they handed out to various factions to gain influence, they are still the ones who are maintaining it and the specifics of their gate technology are still locked behind their doors.
Thanks to these cards they hold and the fact that they don't really hold back on what they teach people, Ouroboros Academy managed to exponentially grow within just a few years. So much so that a few big players didn't like the trajectory they were taking. The trajectory of not listening to anyone.
It only took a few hours for the whole building to be completed but Tenjirou needed an entire day to properly concoct his two special hot springs.
The ryokan immediately became a center of attention to the personnel of the academy but since it's a highly restricted area, only the core members are authorized to get near it or if you're accompanied by one. The sudden ryokan sure made everyone curious because it seemed out of place, however, it was the strange aura emanating from it that alarmed various eyes stuck on it.
"Understood. Please wait here."
.
.
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Sona returned to her office and soon made a call for his request. She wasn't really sure how her call was going to be received since it was about being a test subject so she sent a message to quite a few that she thinks are free and trustworthy. However, Sona should have known that being a test subject in an unknown experiment would be ignored by 'those who are confident with their bodies'.
As such, she could only give those in attendance a fed-up face, "Seriously? Do you guys want to prove it that much?"
"Nooo! I shouldn't be here!" The first one to react was someone who was dragged involuntarily by the other men in the room and the most scrawny one.
"If you want to be a real man, you can't back down from these challenges! You already failed the moment you let that comment pass by!" Sairaorg, who was holding the struggling Gasper by the collar, reprimanded the latter with a wide smile on his face.
Sona looked around once more to confirm those who arrived for the call. From left to right, they were Gasper Vladi, Sairaorg Bael, Vali Lucifer, Crom Cruach, Yuuto Kiba, and finally Sirzechs Lucifer.
"Even you, Sirzechs-sama?" Sona only tried because she's worried that no one would turn up because being a test subject essentially means being played around and usually, it's not worth it, 'I guess he already received the information about the newcomers' arrival.'
All smiles, Sirzechs replied, "Why not? Sounds fun."