Humans are creatures of fleeting enthusiasm.
Under the pressure of professors' assignments and the constraints of major end-of-term projects, the craze for the secret passage had long since faded.
Besides, it was the morning after Christmas Day. Unless one had a specific purpose, no one would be idle enough to come to the secret passage for a morning workout.
Robert was currently trailing at the very back of the small group. It was only last night that he learned others would be joining them today.
To unravel the treasure's secret, Virt had specifically invited a senior male student and a senior female student!
Robert had wondered where Virt had met these upperclassmen, but the latter kept deflecting with the excuse of "it's a secret."
It wasn't until this morning at the entrance to the secret passage that he finally saw the so-called upperclassmen, and his face fell on the spot!
Even if Robert had a few extra brains, he could never have imagined that the upperclassmen Virt mentioned would be Scott from the Seafood Cult, along with another girl!
Simply unbelievable!
Virt actually wanted to be the peacemaker between him and Scott!
Did he have any idea what kind of sorrow and pain he had suffered?
Well, he probably knew a little.
But that was different!
Robert firmly believed the pain he endured far surpassed Virt's!
Even though they had both suffered the same transformation spell, their circumstances were completely different.
If Dark hadn't handled it properly back then, Robert would have likely suffered a social death!
Whenever he was jolted from a dream in the middle of the night and thought of that possibility, Robert would break out in a cold sweat.
But now, his best friend wanted him to reconcile with his most hated enemy???
Impossible!
Don't use being brainwashed as an excuse!
I, Robert, am not buying it!
...
Walking at the rear, Robert stomped on Scott's shadow with every step, his expression as dark as water.
If he wasn't worried about Virt, he'd definitely be at Traveler's Street right now, excitedly watching a Magic Chess event.
But he had also been reflecting recently. He had indeed held Virt back in many ways, so he felt a bit guilty whenever he made such decisions and would often yield to Virt.
However, could Scott really solve the puzzle left behind by Hero Bright?
He'd heard that Scott wasn't exactly a top student in the Noble House.
So, could they only rely on the other senior girl?
Betty Murray, he thought that was her name.
He'd heard she was a fourth-year senior from the Magic House and was in the same grade as Pandora, the librarian senior.
Robert's gaze shifted.
Fourth-years were already considered the backbone of the academy's strength; it was possible she could solve the puzzle.
But for Virt, perhaps her status as a "fourth-year from Magic House" was also a plus?
They seemed to be chatting quite happily.
...
Betty was walking side-by-side with Virt.
Without her moray eel costume, she had smooth, coffee-colored long hair. Though her figure was a bit flat, her features were pleasant, and her long legs were particularly eye-catching.
Ever since the members of the Seafood Cult unmasked each other in the infirmary, they still wore their costumes to every meeting, but it was more out of habit and a sense of ritual.
Compared to the pockmarked Scott beside her, she looked more like a top student with both talent and grace.
And in fact, she was.
Her ex-boyfriend, Antonio, was one of the most outstanding boys in the fourth-year Magic House. If she didn't possess a comparable level of knowledge, she wouldn't have become his girlfriend.
However, men really are superficial creatures!
Antonio ultimately chose her best friend Jenny, that brainless bimbo who was nothing but a slightly bigger chest!
Betty had been depressed about this for a long time, which was also the reason she was persuaded to join by Mr. Starfish.
But since the Moon God Incident, she had gradually gotten over it.
Because Antonio and Jenny were on the verge of breaking up!
The reason was that they hadn't been chosen as sacrifices by the Moon God.
That was just too hilarious!
Betty laughed for a whole day after learning about it.
As for why she was hanging out with Virt now?
That would require going back to the night of the Christmas ball.
...
That night.
The cult had a second gathering after the Christmas ball ended, both to deepen their bonds and to relieve stress.
Alright, the latter reason was the main one.
After all, they had all joined the cult due to varying degrees of social problems.
The Christmas ball might be an event that brought smiles to most students, but in the eyes of the cult members, it only brought sorrow!
They had no friends, no lovers. Even if their mental state was a bit better now than in the past, they were still loners outside the mainstream groups.
Even the relationships between the cult members were only to the extent of "huddling together for warmth" and "venting to each other"; they couldn't really be called friends.
And that was particularly pathetic.
But in every school, there are more or less people like this.
In any case, at the second gathering that night, Scott, codenamed "Squid," suddenly brought a new person, which made the cult members feel very surprised and resistant.
However, when Scott removed the newcomer's mask, the members were all too stunned to speak.
Because that newcomer was none other than one of the victims of the Moon God Incident, the son of the hero, Virt Gold!
...
Scott and Virt clearly had a feud between them, so why had he suddenly transformed into Virt's guide?
The cult members were shocked and confused by this.
It wasn't until Scott, in a deep and magnetic voice, recounted his own past and Virt's ordeal that the cult members came to a sudden realization and accepted the equally miserable son of the hero.
The same Christmas Eve.
The same Christmas ball.
The same ordeal.
On this very day last year, Scott had been completely crushed by his bottled-up feelings and accepted Mr. Starfish's persuasion, becoming the "Squid" he was today, all because the girl he had a long-standing crush on had accepted a senior's invitation and become someone else's dance partner at the romantic and magnificent ball.
He had paid a little attention to Dark at this year's Christmas ball and had noticed Virt, who was remarkably similar to himself back then.
The two resonated with each other's experiences and finally buried the hatchet.
They even faintly felt a sense of mutual understanding, as if they were kindred spirits.
But unlike Scott, Virt's love story wasn't over yet; he still had a theoretical chance.
Scott knew he wanted to learn more about Pandora, so he promised to introduce him to her classmate—Betty.
The cult members weren't opposed to accepting someone who had suffered a similar fate.
Besides, the identity of the hero's son was like a banner that could legitimize the long-hidden cult.
And so, Virt Gold smoothly replaced Mr. Starfish, becoming the sixteenth member of the cult.
That night.
Virt not only confessed his secret crush on Pandora but also poured out all the pressure and misfortune he had endured since the school year began.
Overcome with emotion, he almost broke down in tears.
In the somber atmosphere, the cult members empathized deeply.
Scott was even willing to become his supporter!
...
In the middle of his story, Virt inadvertently mentioned the hero's treasure. Betty showed great interest in this, which led to today's expedition.
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