Chapter 70
The first day of the festival fortunately ended without any major incidents.
There were no significant events during the lectures, including those of Yuria and other Academy graduates.
Of course, I only attended Yuria’s lecture, but Professor Amilion confirmed the rest.
It really seems like they’re planning to make their move on the second day, not the first.
“I’m heading out first.”
“Oh, uh, see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
That said, just because nothing major happened didn’t mean that nothing happened at all.
Emily nodded with a voice much quieter than usual, then left without looking back.
Though the bloodshed I was worried about didn’t occur, there was still an event that could be called an “incident.”
After Yuria’s lecture, Emily had suddenly asked an out-of-the-blue question.
It was common knowledge that Yuria had left the Prisis Family to work independently.
So, Emily asking why Yuria left the family wasn’t particularly strange.
Other people were probably curious about the same thing.
However, Emily’s demeanor when she asked the question was unusual.
Her voice and expression seemed like she was about to cry any second.
“Emily seemed a bit off earlier, didn’t she?”
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who noticed.
As soon as Emily left, Cynthia spoke as if reading my mind.
Elaine, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.
“Exactly.”
“Yuria’s response was also different from usual. Normally, she would brush off such questions with a joke.”
“Really?”
Elaine nodded confidently.
Earlier, Yuria had been momentarily at a loss for words in response to Emily’s question.
She then simply said in a hollow voice, “I had no choice.”
Frankly, I don’t know why Yuria left the Prisis Family.
When I first met her, she was already working alone, having left the family.
I never really thought to ask.
I just assumed she had her reasons.
However, the way Yuria responded to Emily’s question earlier was the most emotional I’ve seen her in a while.
“Hm. I should ask her about it.”
“Ask about what?”
“About what Emily asked earlier. Why she left the family to work alone, stuff like that.”
“…Who are you asking?”
“Oh.”
It was then that I realized I wasn’t talking to Addy, but Elaine.
Lost in thought, I let my guard down.
To make matters worse, Elaine and Addy’s speech patterns were too similar.
“Of course, you’d only ask if the opportunity arises, right? No way Ryu would just ask Yuria directly! Haha.”
“…Yeah, that’s right.”
Thankfully, Cynthia quickly jumped in to save me.
Elaine, being less perceptive than Cynthia, didn’t seem to find my comment suspicious.
She tilted her head slightly but didn’t press further.
That was a relief.
“Even if I asked Emily, she wouldn’t give a proper answer.”
“That’s true.”
After the lecture, Cynthia had tried asking Emily why she asked that question, but Emily didn’t answer.
Despite Cynthia’s persistent questioning, Emily simply said, “I was just curious,” before clamming up.
In the end, it was difficult to ask Emily anything more.
And so, with lingering curiosity and unease, the day came to an end.
“Sigh. Let’s call it a day. Looks like there’s nothing more for today.”
Even though I wanted to ask Yuria about it, the first priority was parting ways with the others.
Cynthia and Elaine seemed somewhat reluctant at the suggestion to leave but nodded nonetheless.
“Yeah. Tomorrow is more important.”
“By the way, Ryu, do you have party attire ready?”
“Party attire?”
“Yes. Since it’s a party within the Academy, there’s no strict dress code, but you should at least dress formally…”
“Ah, I get it. Something formal, right? I probably have something like that.”
I wasn’t entirely sure, but I figured Addy could probably prepare something for me.
A suit or something like that should suffice.
“…That’s good to hear.”
With that, we exchanged brief goodbyes and parted ways.
I watched Cynthia and Elaine leave through the Academy gates before turning around.
The surroundings were quite dark, and there was no one around.
Woom-
Normally, I would’ve walked back to the dormitory, but today I decided to take a small risk.
Instead of walking, I used Spatial Movement to teleport to my dorm room.
“I need to meet Yuria soon.”
Tonight, Yuria, Erica, and I were planning to investigate the building where tomorrow’s party would be held.
“I should ask her why she left the family while I’m at it.”
I also needed to ask if she knew Emily.
***
Huuu.
Yuria let out a deep sigh and sipped her tea.
The warm rosemary aroma filled her mouth, helping her calm down slightly.
“…She’s become quite brave.”
From the moment she entered the Academy, she had expected to meet that child.
It was unexpected to engage in such a public “conversation.”
Especially to be asked why she left her family with such a resentful expression.
“Have you been sighing a lot since earlier?”
“…Haha, it seems so.”
“…”
Erica, lying on the sofa with her legs crossed, spoke up.
Yuria snapped out of her thoughts at Erica’s voice, resolving not to let her emotions resurface.
After all, as long as she was inside the Academy, she was on a mission.
And not just any mission, but a very important one.
One that might lead to capturing a key figure in the organization she’d been chasing for years.
So far, they’d only managed to catch low-level operatives, achieving no significant results.
But this time felt different.
She wasn’t moving alone, and she had the reliable Black Shadow Corps’ Commander and Erica with her.
“Are you worried about the mission?”
“Haha, of course. It’s an important mission.”
“…You’re not being honest.”
“Pardon?”
“Do you realize you’ve been acting strange ever since that student asked you that question?”
“…”
Yuria couldn’t respond to Erica’s pointed remark.
She thought she had been controlling her emotions, but it must have been noticeable.
“…I didn’t expect you to care about me.”
“How could I not when you’re being so obvious about it?”
Yuria let out a small laugh and sipped her tea again.
“…What is it? What’s bothering you?”
“Haha, nothing. I just remembered something from the past.”
“About leaving your family? I was curious too, but the Commander never said anything, so I stayed quiet.”
“Really?”
Yuria looked at Erica, surprised.
She knew Erica usually found her uncomfortable.
She had assumed Erica wouldn’t care about her at all.
“Well, we’re colleagues. If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s fine.”
“No, it’s not that I don’t want to talk, but…”
Woong—
Yuria stopped mid-sentence as she sensed a shift in the air in the middle of the room.
Erica also focused her gaze on the center of the room, sensing the same thing.
There was only ever one person who appeared with such a presence.
“Okay, this is the right place.”
“You’re here?”
“Took you long enough.”
Ryu Yeong, Commander of the Black Shadow Corps.
The moment he arrived, Ryu Yeong scanned his surroundings before visibly relaxing.
“Good work today, everyone.”
“It wasn’t hard. Meeting the students actually gave me energy.”
“Oh, please. You were sulking until now because of that difficult question.”
“What? Really?”
Erica interjected, getting up from her reclined position on the sofa.
Yuria smiled and didn’t bother defending herself against Erica’s teasing.
“Haha. Shall we get going?”
“By the way, I was curious about something too.”
“What is it?”
“The question Emily asked earlier? Thinking about it, I’ve never asked why you left your family, Yuria.”
“…Are you close with Emily?”
“Pretty much. We’re in the same class, and she’s smart. A bit introverted, though.”
Yuria diverted the conversation by asking Ryu Yeong about Emily.
Her deflection was so natural that neither Ryu Yeong nor Erica noticed anything strange.
The topic naturally shifted to Emily.
“She solved the entire written test alone during the competition. Thanks to her, we got first place.”
“Haha, sounds like a very smart student. And close with the Commander too.”
“Yeah… Anyway, let’s get going. Let’s finish up before it gets too late and get some rest.”
“That’s a great idea.”
Erica sprang up from the sofa, ready to move immediately.
At some point, she had already changed into her black uniform.
With her hair dyed black, she looked completely shrouded in darkness.
“You two are so quick. Give me a moment. It’s been ages since I’ve worn this outfit.”
Ryu Yeong was already dressed in his uniform when he arrived, leaving only Yuria to prepare.
Yuria glanced at the two before grabbing the black outfit hanging nearby.
“I’ll just get changed quickly, okay?”
“Ah, we’ll wait outside. Erica.”
Woong—
When Ryu Yeong extended his hand, Erica naturally took it.
The next moment, the two of them disappeared from the room.
“…Haha.”
Left alone, Yuria let out a bittersweet and lonely smile.
It didn’t last long. She quickly composed herself and hardened her expression.
At least for today and tomorrow, she couldn’t afford to get lost in emotions.
Srrk—
Yuria deliberately changed into her uniform slowly, focusing on controlling her thoughts.
From now on, she needed to stay sharp for the important task ahead.
‘For that child’s sake, too.’
Yuria’s eyes gleamed with determination.
—
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