"Uwaaaah~"
Seidoukan Academy, Hokuto Cafeteria.
Roy sat down at a corner table with his meal tray and let out an enormous yawn.
"You've been leaving early and returning late every day recently. Are you sure you're okay?"
Yabuki Eishirou set his tray down across from him, looking at Roy with an expression of horror.
"It's been two whole months!"
Another two months had passed since Roy resumed his training under Fan Xinglou.
It was now late December, with only a few days remaining until the new year.
Winter break had already begun, with half the students having left campus to return home, making the school appear much emptier. The other half had chosen to celebrate the new year at school rather than going home, mostly due to various personal circumstances.
Yabuki's skills weren't lacking—if they really fought, with his mastery of the Art of Empty Tides technique, he might even be stronger than Julis. With his sharp eyes, he could clearly see that Roy left every morning full of energy, only to return to the dorm exhausted each night. Previously, he'd sometimes stay out overnight—actually staying over at Claudia's place—but recently he'd been returning to his own dorm without fail every day, each time looking completely drained as if he'd been through an unimaginable battle.
Just what was he doing out there? Every time Yabuki saw Roy return looking completely spent, it made his scalp tingle.
"I'm fine. I know my limits."
As he said this, Roy yawned again.
His tray was piled high with meat dishes, as if he was afraid of running out of energy.
"That's exactly why it's terrifying! Do you realize you're now ranked third on Óðrerir? Someone like you coming back every day looking like you've been through a major battle is seriously scary!"
Yabuki rubbed his arms with an exaggerated expression of fear, as if he'd gotten goosebumps.
Ever since the Sword of the Black Furnace had been revealed in Roy's hands, his ranking on Óðrerir had skyrocketed past Roldere, Wu Xiaofei, and Ernesta, landing him in third place—just below Ereshkigal Ophelia and Sigrdrifa Sylvia. There were even many who believed Roy's strength had surpassed Sylvia's and that he should be ranked second. At this point, there were very few in all of Asterisk who could match him.
"Enough, you're so annoying!"
Roy waved his hand dismissively, shooing Yabuki away like a fly.
"If you're not going to eat breakfast, then scram. I don't want to talk to you right now."
Yabuki quickly raised his hands in surrender.
"Roy-senpai, I knew I'd find you here!"
Before Roy could eat more than a few bites of his breakfast, a junior with silver-white hair tied into two buns at the back of her head approached the corner with her tray.
"Here, Senpai, today's drink!"
Kirin sat down beside Roy with a bright smile, pulling a thermos from her bag and placing it familiarly in front of him.
"Ugh..."
Julis appeared right after, watching Kirin's actions with an expression of defeat and frustration.
"Thanks, Kirin."
Roy's expression softened slightly as he patted Kirin's head and accepted the thermos.
The cup contained a traditional drink consumed by the disciples of the Toudou-ryu main family, said to be highly effective in restoring stamina. In reality, it had no effect on Roy—his recovery relied on his body modifications. But since Kirin took joy in preparing the drink for him every day, he didn't want to reject her kindness and accepted it readily.
"Ahem, Roy, do you have any plans for the winter break?"
At that moment, Julis also sat down beside them. This corner had practically become their group's designated spot—even during the busiest times, others would leave these seats open for them.
Julis's cheeks were slightly flushed, as if she found the question somewhat embarrassing.
"What's up?" Roy asked between mouthfuls of food.
"It's nothing major. It's just my frivolous older brother—he wants to invite you to spend the New Year in the capital of our Kingdom of Lieseltania…"
Julis adopted a deliberately nonchalant expression, speaking in an overly calm tone.
The moment the words left her mouth, the table fell silent.
"To Julis-senpai's home?"
Kirin's small face immediately turned serious.
"No! To my country!"
Julis denied it without hesitation, but a smug smile crept onto her face despite her efforts.
Going to her country and going to her home were practically the same thing.
Officially, it was an invitation from the King of Lieseltania, but since the king was her brother, it was essentially an invitation from family. She was just putting on a formal front to avoid admitting it outright.
Roy's brow twitched slightly.
If it was Julis's brother inviting him, there was no harm in going. He had been wound up tight these past two months, so taking this chance to relax might be—
"To be honest, my father also wishes to express his gratitude to Roy-senpai again. He wanted to invite you to spend the New Year with me at home. My mother and aunt share the same sentiment!"
At that moment, Kirin put on a determined expression and firmly extended her own invitation.
—Oh no.
Roy inwardly sucked in a sharp breath.
The Toudou family was inviting him too?
Didn't that mean the invitations clashed?
Julis and Kirin locked eyes instantly.
First, they stared at each other in disbelief, then an unyielding resolve flashed in their gazes before they both turned to Roy in unison.
"Roy, where do you want to spend the New Year? If you come with me, you can stay in the royal palace!"
"Roy-senpai, you've been to the Toudou family estate before, haven't you? It's no less grand than the mansions of feudal lords from the old days, and it gets really lively during the New Year!"
The two girls fixed their earnest gazes on Roy at the same time.
Yabuki silently lowered his head, trying to minimize his presence.
But his eyes sparkled with the excitement of a spectator relishing the drama, his hand clutching his aching stomach under the table as he grinned so hard his cheeks threatened to split.
Here it comes!
The showdown he'd been waiting for!
Well then, how are you going to get out of this one, my dear friend?
Roy's face stiffened like a statue.
"...Is there an option to go to one place first, then the other?"
Julis and Kirin exchanged a glance.
Then they stood up simultaneously, bowing toward Roy.
"Then let's go to my place first, then Kirin's!"
"Please come to my place first, then Julis-senpai's!"
Hey!
Isn't this still a life-or-death question? How is this any different from before!
Roy's smile nearly cracked.
"Oh my, then why not come back to London with me first?"
At that moment, Claudia approached with graceful, unhurried steps, wearing a smile that seemed to delight in stirring up trouble.
"My father said he wanted to meet you too, Roy!"
Please, don't make things worse!
Roy shot Claudia a fierce glare.
Things are chaotic enough already—don't add fuel to the fire!
"Hehe, just kidding. Actually, I never go home for the holidays, same as every year."
Covering her mouth with a laugh, Claudia finally sat down, apparently satisfied after causing enough mischief.