Night passed, and when Rezen returned to his residence, it was almost morning already. With the help of magic and some effort, he finally shook off the alcohol's effects on his system.

Partying, having fun, and getting drunk were indeed enjoyable, but Rezen cannot afford to be drunk for long

First of all, being drunk dulls one's senses. With the crimson portal that the magic beasts could create even inside the core walls, danger is always present. Rezen must be in his top condition at all times in case of an emergency.

Another reason was that Rezen is eager to continue cultivating. It took him three years just to barely reach the Senior Rank, and that is with the full support of Elder Priss and even the City of Hope.

If he takes that much time to reach the Senior Rank, what more for the Great Mage Rank and beyond?

Perhaps, even after a hundred years, he still wouldn't be able to revive his parents. As such, time is essential.

Just as Rezen was about to return to his cultivation room, he saw Elder Priss waiting for him.

"Elder" Rezen greeted with respect. Even after years of knowing each other, the two actually didn't grow any closer.

Elder Priss felt like the type of person who could not feel any emotion. She was merely moving based on her high intelligence.

As such, it was really hard to be close to her, even if you want to, as she is mostly indifferent.

"You spent the night with Treen?" Elder Priss questioned, but it was more of opening a topic.

Since Rezen is now a valuable asset to humanity and even to Elder Priss, even if he were to go outside of his residence, there would definitely be mages that protect him from the dark.

Rezen might not have sensed them, but he was sure that if danger or magic beasts threatened his life while he was outside, his hidden guards would show themselves to protect him.

Since that was the case, Elder Priss is naturally aware of how Rezen spent the night. There is no need to lie, nor does Rezen intend to.

"Yes, we had a celebration for my advancement. It was all thanks to Elder Priss's support" Rezen said honestly.

Many things are handled by Elder Priss. Without her, the council might have forced Rezen already to simply be a slave who produces the modified ghost berries that are now called Corrupted Skulls.

It was thanks to her that many nuisances were avoided, and Rezen experienced peace for the last three years.

"Good. Continue making Treen happy" The Elder replied, and at this point, Rezen had already passed the point of being shocked for such an important and powerful Elder showing care for his good-for-nothing friend.

While he was still curious about the reason, it did not faze him anymore, as it was something he had already seen multiple times over the past few years.

"I have some good news for you" Elder Priss continued, and Rezen's ears perked up.

He knew that the Elder would not wait for him if she did not need to say something or have him do something.

As such, he already anticipated that she would say something important. He just didn't expect that it would be something considered good news for him.

"I'm all ears, Elder Priss" Rezen said, intending to listen.

"Unlike three years ago, where the consequences of me utilizing power at the Great Mage Rank were too high for me to permit it, things are different now."

"Right now, if I were to use power at the Great Mage Rank, the consequences would still be immense, but at the very least, it is salvageable. But of course, I still wouldn't make a move if there are other choices."

The Elder started, and Rezen was quite relieved. What he feared the most for the past three years was the complete defeat of humanity.

After all, Elder Priss supported him for the past three years so that humanity would not fall. She intended to use his so-called Innate Magic to prevent humanity from being defeated easily.

Now that he hears that if the situation really forces her, Elder Priss can use power at the Great Mage Rank, it is indeed good news.

At the very least, the complete annihilation of humanity, including Rezen, could be avoided.

"The situation is currently more stable now. At the very least, unless the magic beasts are prepared to accept a pyrrhic victory, the war would be prolonged for a longer time with your help."

"Aside from helping humanity continue the stalemate. I have another task for you."

Hearing that Elder Priss has another task for him, Rezen braced himself.

The first task given to him was to help humanity and prevent its annihilation. It can be said that he was already halfway done with that.

Since the first task was so hard and significant, Rezen felt that the second task might be even harder and special.

He only hopes that his meager power is enough to do it.

"I will do my best" Rezen replied honestly. He didn't say that he would and could do the task, as he doesn't know what the task would be, and he really doesn't dare deceive this woman.

"I want you to help Treen make Tryst fall even harder for him" the Elder stated, and Rezen blinked his eyes rapidly.

For a moment, he thought that the alcohol he had drunk earlier might still be affecting his senses. He even circulated mana inside his body to expel any lingering side effects of the alcohol.

"P-pardon?" Rezen stammered, not believing that the important task that Elder Priss provided to him was something as ridiculous as plotting against Headmaster Tryst for her to fall even harder than she already does.

Let's forget the fact that such a ridiculous task came from such a serious and indifferent Elder.

Even if it does not come from Elder Priss, just how hard is it to accomplish this task?

After all, everyone who knew Treen and Headmaster Trysts knows that the latter was the very epitome of being love-sick.

It's like her mood all depends on Treen's mood. As if the universe itself created her simply for the task of loving Treen.

If the Headmaster claimed to be someone with the second deepest love, none definitely would dare claim to be first!

That was how hardcore her love for Treen was. If she were to love Treen a bit more, she might as well just combine their bodies and souls.

Impossible! This is simply an impossible task! You can't perfect an already perfect thing, and you can't make a woman that deeply in love even more in love!

"This is related to how much power I could use. The more Tryst loves Treen, the more stable my power is. If she were to love him enough, I wouldn't need to hold back. I can massacre all the magic beasts in this realm with a single swipe of my hand."

"Of course, I wouldn't make you do this for free, considering the close relationship you have with Treen."

"If things become stable enough that I can use the power of a Great Mage with no consequence, I will give you two choices."

Regardless of how ridiculous the task was, Rezen's interest was piqued by the two choices. At the very least, the rewards should be more normal, right?

"The crimson portal… the magic beasts are actually using a spatial artifact. That artifact is at least a Noblesse Artifact. But considering how the magic beasts didn't use the artifact to destroy humanity, it should be damaged and can only teleport them."

"If my power becomes stable enough, I could kill the so-called Sage of the magic beast."

Rezen doesn't know why, but he feels that the Elder disdains the Sage of the magic beasts for using the term 'Sage' in his title.

As for whether that is indeed the case and the reason for it, Rezen doesn't know, and he just continues to listen.

"With that beast dead, I could take that artifact and use it. The two choices are these: once I save humanity, you can stay in the Savage Beast Realm, and I assure you that all the resources of this realm will be used to nurture you. With your talent, after hundreds of years, you should be able to become a Great Mage, powerful enough to rule the entire realm."

"The second choice… I can sense your ambition and thirst for power. If you want, I can sacrifice the artifact I will take from the magic beasts to send you to a completely different realm."

"This choice is a gamble, as I cannot control what realm you will end up in. If it were any other Great Mage, they definitely wouldn't be able to send you to a different realm. And even if I can use the power of a Great Mage, the most I could do is to send you to a different realm, but I cannot choose where"