Death... and me

Author's note: Golden Ticket will be implemented on the next 18th of this month. To welcome it, I'll be changing the current 13 chapters per week release rate to 21 chapters. Starting today (16th-17th), I will be posting 3 chapters a day. Depending on how I fare in the new Golden Ticket system, I will keep the 21 chapters per week rate or probably increase it even more. If you don't know what it's about, check the rules in the author's thoughts below the end of the chapter. You can also find it on the events page.

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As much as Malo was respected, his reasoning still made a lot of sense. Since more of the Freedom Sect members were women, it would be weird to have him as the sect leader. It was then that a shadow fell from the sky, right in front of everyone.

*Bang!*

Following that, a proud Demon Bird put one of his wings on his chest before suggesting, "Since Malo doesn't want to do it, let me, the great Kentucky, take charge of it! I'll be the best sect leader ever!" Well, he just wanted even more attention from the girls, that's all. However...

*Bang!*

Suddenly, a white-haired young man instantly appeared behind the idiot bird before kicking its head to the ground as he cursed, "Sect leader, your ass!" Naturally, that was none other than Rean. "You better not get in the way of everyone's decision again. Let's head back and cultivate!" Following that, Rean used his Spiritual Energy to grab Kentucky and forcefully bring him away from the scene, much to Kentucky's sadness.

Though, just before disappearing in the distance, Rean left a few words behind, telling them, "Oh! Just so you know, I like the name Freedom Sect. It's truly fitting your situation." After saying that, Rean was gone once again. Of course, everyone there knew that Rean, Roan, Kentucky, and Gola were definitely watching the event with their Spiritual Senses.

Meanwhile, everyone looked at that scene, not knowing what to do. "Well...I do love Kentucky, but I agree with Rean that he isn't exactly fit for a sect leader..." said one of the girls in the crowd. Immediately, all the other girls and few boys nodded vigorously. Nothing good would come out of that idea.

Poliana then quickly recovered from the mishap before returning back to the main topic. "Ahem...now that the issue has been dealt with, we can continue our conversation. So, Malo appointed me as a possible sect leader. Does that mean that we can appoint anyone we want?"

The girls and boys nodded in response. Malo, too, did the same thing. "Alright. The sect leader must be someone old enough, so the minimum age to be appointed shall be twelve years old. To be honest, twelve is too young for my taste, but that will be fixed in just a few years after the decision. Anyone below this age is prohibited from being appointed, but they can vote."

Falas agreed with Malo, saying, "He's right. Well then, at the moment, we have Poliana and Malo as options. Is there anyone else who wants to appoint someone? Or does anyone want to appoint themselves to take up the mantle of a sect leader?"

There were over 3000 Freedom Sect members here. Obviously, there were a few who liked the idea and appointed themselves or others to the position. In the end, there were 17 names on the board. From what it looked like, it was perhaps the most democratic election of a sect leader ever in thousands of years.

Still, Malo couldn't help but complain, asking, "Can't I take my name off? I really don't see why you would put someone who doesn't even want to be a sect leader on the list."

Glennie shrugged her shoulders, saying, "Removing one's name isn't part of the rules, so bear with it. In any case, why are you afraid? You said it yourself, our Freedom Sect is mostly filled with women, so it's only logical that a woman will win.

Malo had to admit that Glennie was right. "Well, that's true." Malo then looked at everyone before saying, "Alright, let's start the voting process. Write the name you want on a piece of paper and bring it here. We'll tally all the points once we gather everyone's choices."

The entire process lasted for two hours. Eventually, the well-awaited result was out.

1st Malo - 3158 Votes;

2nd Poliana - 120 Votes;

3rd Linda - 41 Votes;

4th...

Malo looked at the numbers on the board as his mouth twitched nonstop. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" Following that, he pointed his finger at everyone below as he shouted, "What is wrong with your heads? I'm a man! Also, I don't want to be the sect leader! For fuck's sake, can't you take it seriously?"

One of the female kids in the crowd immediately answered, "But I like Big Brother Malo."

Malo rebuked, "Then, hate me!"

One of the very few boys also said his piece, uttering, "Brother Malo is the greatest among all of us. Gender doesn't matter. We need someone who cares about all of us, and that person is you."

Malo rebuked them once more, "Then, select Poliana. She's in the Middle Stage of the Core Formation Realm, just one stage below me. She definitely cares about all of you as well!"

"But Big Sister Poliana wants Big Brother Malo to be sect leader too," said another girl in the crowd.

"And I want her to be sect leader. Shouldn't she, a woman like most of you, take priority in your decision?" Malo still didn't relent. "If she isn't enough, what about Glennie, Falas, or Wataba? Come on!"

The same Glennie, Falas, and Wataba Malo mentioned immediately shook their heads as one of them replied, "We also prefer to have Malo as the sect leader." The three then tried to avoid Malo's eyes as if they were trying to hide something.

Malo's expression became grim after hearing that. That's because he knew those four girls more than anyone else. He could totally see that although they looked serious, they were holding their laughter as well as they could. "You're doing it on purpose! Is that how you want to define the future of our Freedom Sect?"

Poliana, who was ahead, then lifted her hand and began to chant to the crowd, "Sect Leader Malo, Sect Leader Malo, Sect Leader Malo, Sect Leader Malo..."

Everyone, whether they were boys or girls, followed suit, soon chanting in unison, "Sect Leader Malo, Sect Leader Malo, Sect Leader Malo, Sect Leader Malo, Sect Leader Malo..."

Eventually, Malo felt cornered when suddenly, he dashed away, trying to escape...or so he wanted to. Unfortunately, just like how he knew the girls well, the girls also knew him just as much.

*Grab, grab, grab, grab!*

"Let go! Let go of me!" Malo shouted without a care for the world.

"No can do! Can't you hear your loyal subjects? They're asking for you." Poliana and the girls obviously didn't let him have his way.

Malo was crying already. "Since when were you my loyal subjects? First of all, would my loyal subjects restrain me like this?"

Poliana laughed while making sure to not let Malo go. "Hahaha! Just details, just details..."

"Details your ass!"

And just like that, a very 'willing' Freedom Sect leader had been selected.