"A-Aren't we in trouble now? W-What should we do?" Enna's trembling voice broke through the tense air, her small fra quivering as she clasped her hands tightly together.
"Are they going to punish us? I-I can't leave the academy just yet!" Tears welled up in her wide eyes, threatening to spill over as her panic grew.
"Calm down, Junior! There's no way they'll actually do that—ahaha!" Kagami's voice ca next, trying to inject so levity into the situation, but his half-hearted laugh gave away his
own unease.
Despite his confident words, the worried glint in his eyes made it clear that he didn't entirely believe what he was saying.
Enna only trembled more in response, her anxious gaze darting around the room.
"You guys were too rash," I said, letting out a sigh as I scanned the group with a tired expression. My voice wasn't harsh-more resigned than anything.
"Though, I can't exactly bla you." My gaze shifted to Senior Alice, who stood a little apart from the others.
She was currently giving her ever-loyal familiar, Cheshire, an intense scolding.
The way she kept squeezing his head, practically shaking him as he continued grinning like an amused devil, was almost comical-if not for the fact that it was incredibly annoying to witness.
"Well, look on the bright side," Clara interjected, stepping closer with an almost cheerful bounce to her stride.
Her eyes scanned from head to toe with an exaggerated seriousness before nodding decisively.
"We got Riley alive and well, right?"
Scrutinizing from head to toe she assessed my current status as mana flared in her eyes,
"Hmm - there don't seem to be any signs of torture... Just a bit of exhaustion, perhaps even hunger?"
Well, she wasn't wrong-I am quite hungry.
I don't exactly know how many days I was out, but judging from the way they were speaking, it seems like a couple of days have passed since the incident.
Which ans... I was in an uncontrollable state during all that ti.
The thought sent a chill down my spine, but there wasn't much point dwelling on it now.
It had already been so ti since this group's sudden outburst, and now we were all making our way out of Chronos Hall-well, most of us.
A few stayed behind, their expressions unreadable, as if they had other pressing matters to attend to.
"Let's get sothing to eat, Riley. I know a place that helps reduce the weariness of fatigue..." Seo suggested, her tone soft yet insistent as her hand slipped into mine, her fingers interlocking with surprising care.
Her touch was different this ti-gentler.
Usually, Seo paid no mind to how tightly she held my hand, almost like she was afraid I'd slip
away.
But now? Her grip felt... delicate, as if she was trying to reassure without overwhelming . It was a subtle change, but one that didn't go unnoticed. I could tell she was genuinely worried.
"I appreciate the offer," I said after a pause, eting her crimson eyes briefly before glancing away. "But I think I'll take so rest first..."
"I-Is that so?" Seo's voice wavered slightly, and I could practically picture invisible, dog-like ears drooping above her head.
She seed super disheartened, her shoulders sagging ever so slightly.
As much as I wanted to spend so quiet ti with her-maybe even let her drag to that mysterious fatigue-reducing place she ntioned-I just couldn't.
Too many things were unfolding, too many unanswered questions swirling around like a storm.
I couldn't afford to let my guard down now, not when I had so little grasp of what had truly happened.
More than anything, this unsettling haze in my mind this void-was driving crazy.
My mories of that ti were blocked, as if soone or sothing had deliberately sealed them away.
I tried using [Archive], my go-to skill for recalling even the tiniest details, but... nothing. It was like staring at a locked door with no key in sight.
Despite the unexpected mystery surrounding my actions, I had these guys help piece together bits of what they knew about the situation.
Judging from what they've told ... it seems I was much worse in real life than those fragnted records indicated.
Apparently, I didn't just attack the professors-I went after Lucas and the others as well.
Ultimately, it seems I was stopped by Rose and Senior Alice, who were present at the scene, before I could do any major damage to everyone who stood in my path.
Though According to Kagami... I wasn't exactly stopped by them, more like I chose to stop when they directly got involved?
Whatever was the case.
Knowing that they had to step in to prevent further chaos made the whole ordeal feel even heavier. I owed them, and everyone else, far more than a simple apology.
"S-Senior Riley, are you really okay now? You aren't hurt, are you? I know a spell that might help alleviate any lingering pain, so-"
Enna's voice suddenly chid in from my right as she stepped closer, her hands hovering over as if she were ready to cast her divine magic at a mont's notice, despite all the risks that ca with using it in front of others like this.
Her gaze was filled with worry, her lips trembling slightly as she spoke.
It took a mont to process her presence.
Now that I think about it, how did she even get involved in this situation?
This entire arc doesn't align with any of her scenarios in the ga.
Sure, my connection with her was established pretty early on, and we've developed a unique friendship, but I didn't think she'd go to such lengths just because she was interested in the
light within .
Could Snow have manipulated her into getting involved for my sake? That seed plausible, but it's a bit unreasonable if that's the case.
Unless Snow was already aware of Enna's hidden identity as the Saintess Emilia, as well as her significant political influence, I don't see how having a "normal" student vouch for would
make a difference.
Sothing doesn't quite add up here.
Why would Enna, of all people, put herself in such a precarious position?
Her actions hint at motivations beyond re curiosity or manipulation.
Or... was there sothing she knew that I didn't?
I glanced at her again, her hands now trembling slightly as she waited for my response.
For now, all I could do was offer a tired smile and reassure her.
Whatever her reasons were, she deserved my thanks, at the very least.
"No, I'm fine Junior just a bit tired that's all..."
"I-IS that so? T-Then it's fine then but tell if you feel any abnormalities, okay?"
"Ok..."
"May the goddess's blessing be with you!!"
'Is she even trying to hide her connection with the church at this point?'
While I had a few guesses as to why Enna was suddenly involving herself for no apparent
reason, I didn't feel like diving into it right now.
There was too much else demanding my attention, and overthinking her actions would only
create unnecessary tension between us.
For now, it was better to leave those suspicions aside.... If only possible that is...
[Note: An Evil Goddess is offering you 13 Blessings. Do you wish to accept?]
[Note: An Evil Goddess is offering you 13 Blessings. Do you wish to accept?]
[Note: An Evil Goddess warns that contracts with other goddesses may cause substantial soul
damage!]
[Note: The light-]
[System Error!]
[ssage cancelled!]
[Note: An Evil Goddess warns you to stay away from bitches at all costs!]
The system's chaotic notifications filled my vision, each one more ridiculous than the last.
As much as I wanted to dismiss them as nonsense, one thing was clear: the "light" being ntioned was obviously referring to the goddess.
If that were the case, it was safe to assu that Enna's actions today were motivated by her
influence.
Since she was the saintess having direct contact with the goddess was only natural for her...
What exactly had the goddess told her?
The curiosity gnawed at , but pondering it now wouldn't lead anywhere productive.
Besides, pressing Enna about it would only make her suspicious of my intentions, and that
was the last thing I needed.
'Getting involved with Enna right now ans I have to eventually get involved with the
main scenario'
For now, I had to focus on more imdiate priorities.
Recovering my strength was critical, especially with all the loose ends that still needed tying.
Sorting through everything that happened before and after the incident would be exhausting enough, but I also had to start preparing for my impending visit with the emperor.
The days ahead were shaping up to be far more grueling than I'd imagined.
And as if that weren't enough, there was Alice's arc.
I still had to properly plan how to navigate it, clear her scenario, and-most importantly-
find a way to save her.
"I know we're all good and all after being dismissed by the principal, but is it really alright to
leave those guys back there?" Kagami suddenly burst out, his concern clear in his tone as I glanced back briefly, sharing a similar thought.
"It'll be fine... I don't think the principal would be too hard on them, especially considering
their pure intentions," I replied, attempting to reassure him.
Kagami raised an eyebrow. "I don't think Miss Rose's intentions were pure, though. Nor were
Princess Snow's..."
'...Well, I couldn't exactly argue with that.'
Kagami had a point.
Both Rose and Snow had practically radiated bloodlust and threatening energy when they
stord in to "save" .
Rose, in particular, had locked down the entire room with her celestial magic, her golden red
mana circles restraining everyone with the precision and finality of a guillotine.
And Snow? Her icy resolve could've frozen the entire academy if she'd deed it necessary. Right now, as we were finally leaving, Rose, Snow, Lucas, and even Janica were being forced
to stay behind to answer for the damage they caused.
Their actions had far exceeded what could be considered "heroic interference," causing quite the scene with their outburst. It was no surprise they were being held accountable.
Janica's case, though, was another story. She hadn't done much in the chaos-barely anything, in fact.
She shouldn't have needed to stay, but knowing her, she was likely sticking around out of
worry for Lucas.
Her loyalty to him was as unshakable as ever.
'As expected of the OG main heroine I guess...'
"Miss Rose and Princess Snow will be just fine. I doubt the principal-or even the academy as
a whole-has enough justification to properly punish them,"
Clara explained with a confident lilt, her tone almost teasing.
"Even with the sudden outburst, they didn't exactly hurt anyone, and the sponsors behind
those two are too powerful to just casually ignore. Though..."
She paused, her eyes glinting with mischief, "...I'm not so sure about the other two. Lucas
might seem a bit special, but compared to other geniuses, he's pretty... normal? And the sa goes for Miss Janica as well. But considering their connection to Snow, maybe even they'll get their own little bypasses. A slap on the wrist is probably all that awaits them~."
Kagami clicked his tongue, clearly irritated.
Scratching the back of his head, he muttered, "Tsk. I was the one who actually punched a hole
through the hidden door, though. Should I have stayed behind too?" "Hmm, maybe..." Clara humd, her lips curling into a sly smile. "But breaking a magical
door doesn't seem all that serious when you put it up against what they did, don't you
think~?"
Kagami groaned, running his hand through his hair. "You've got a point, but it still feels wrong. I an, we all caused trouble, but now it's like they're taking the brunt of it while we're just walking away."
"Well, think of it this way," Clara chid in, her voice light and playful as always. "They're
the big players, the ones everyone's eyes are on. People like Rose and Snow? They'll always draw attention, whether for their strength or their connections. You, on the other hand..." She shot him a quick wink. "...can still fly under the radar. For now~."
Kagami rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small smirk. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.
Still feels like I should've done more to help."
"What are you guys talking about?"
A cheerful voice suddenly chid in, breaking the conversation as I felt warmth settle on my
right arm.
"S-Senior?"
It was Alice, tightly pressing her body against my arm, her golden eyes gleaming with a
familiar mix of playfulness and affection.
"Hehe~ I made you wait, didn't I?" she said, slightly embarrassed, a faint blush dusting her
cheeks. "It took a bit of ti properly punishing my beloved familiar, you see~."
"I see..."
My gaze shifted down to her hands, where the head of a cat was compressed into a small,
trembling ball encased in a shimring red do. Cheshire, her mischievous familiar, looked like he'd been turned into a ping-pong ball.
"...Is that cat even still alive at this point?" I muttered.
Alice giggled, entirely unbothered. "Oh, don't worry about him. Cheshire is tougher than he
looks! Besides, he deserved it for causing so much trouble- he's basically the reason we
rushed in you see~ you can punch him if you like~"
"Right..."
Ignoring the absurd sight, she gave a soft, reassuring smile and continued.
"Anyway, it seems you're really fine now, Junior. I was so worried about you, you know?
Fufu-"
She reached up and began patting my head lightly, mixing her genuine concern with her usual teasing nature.
As her gentle hand tousled my hair, she added, "I'm sure everyone here has a lot of questions for you and I have a few of my own-but for now, you deserve so much-needed rest~." Before I could respond, she leaned in closer, her breath brushing warmly against my ear. Her whisper was soft, almost conspiratorial.
"We can talk about that kiss after you're well-rested, okay?"
"' .....'
11
"Huh?"
My brain short-circuited as her words registered, leaving in a dazed, confused state.
What kiss?
When-????
But like a child comforting soone dear, Alice ignored my bewildernt entirely, her smile
radiant as she continued to pat my head.
"Just focus on getting better, Junior-," she said sweetly, her deanor warm and comforting.
Yet, that mischievous glint in her eyes told she was enjoying every second of my confusion.
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