"So then..."
"Roy-senpai...?"
The moment Claudia appeared, Julis and Kirin immediately heightened their guard. They knew all too well that Claudia was currently the closest to Roy—if she intervened, this silent battle would have no victor!
Fortunately, she was just teasing them as usual. Seeing that she had no serious intention of interfering, the two girls relaxed slightly before turning their hopeful gazes back to Roy.
Ahem!
Roy cleared his throat, putting on an expression of feigned difficulty.
"I really appreciate your feelings, but I've been incredibly busy lately. I probably won't even have time during the year-end holidays. As you know, I haven't even been attending classes..."
There was no other choice.
Though he felt bad for Julis and Kirin, the only option now was to make a quick escape!
"Then... is there really no other way?"
Julis blinked, her face twisting with reluctant disappointment as she pressed further.
"Do you have to go?"
"Yeah, I do."
"...I see. Then never mind."
Julis slumped back into her chair, an inexplicable tightness in her chest.
Kirin, equally dejected, also sat back down.
The atmosphere at the table froze over instantly.
Yabuki held his breath, not daring to make a sound, afraid of angering any of the young ladies present.
Only Claudia looked thoroughly amused, clearly enjoying the sight of Julis and Kirin being shot down.
"If there's a chance later, I'll definitely go with you both."
"It's fine. Senpai's matters are more important."
"Yeah, that's true..."
Roy tried to console them. Kirin, having already experienced going home with him once before, was more understanding. Julis, however, remained visibly sullen, though she still nodded in reluctant agreement.
Roy sighed in relief, hoping this kind of battlefield wouldn't happen again.
As the tension at the table eased, everyone finally began eating breakfast.
"Oh, there's one more thing—what about the Gryps Festa?"
Amid the meal, Claudia raised a question that couldn't be ignored.
"Do any of you plan to participate?"
"My wish has already been fulfilled..."
"Same here..."
"Roy is planning to join, but he's short on teammates."
"If Senpai needs me, I'll gladly join!"
"Well, if you're lacking people, I suppose I could help out too!"
Watching the two instantly change their tune, Claudia smirked, her expression brimming with satisfaction.
But even with Julis and Kirin on board, and even if Claudia used her last participation slot, they'd still only have four members—still not enough.
"It's not an issue that needs solving right away, is it? The Gryps Festa isn't until next autumn anyway."
"True."
The Gryps Festa was scheduled for the following fall, leaving at least ten months of preparation time. Even accounting for team coordination and training, there was still plenty of time to find more members.
After breakfast, everyone went their separate ways.
Yabuki left first—the newspaper club was short-staffed with the year-end approaching.
Roy also planned to leave Seidoukan Academy to train at Jie Long.
"By the way, there's something I forgot to tell you."
At that moment, Claudia suddenly remembered something and called the group to a halt.
"Recently, Ginga and Akatsuki seem to have caused quite a stir. It might affect Seidoukan Academy, so you'd better be careful."
Ginga and Akatsuki caused a stir?
Roy paused mid-step.
"What exactly happened?"
"I'm not too sure either. My mother didn't go into details—it's probably classified at a very high level."
Claudia shook her head. This information had come from her mother. Even as the most selfless top executive of the conglomerate, her mother wouldn't refuse to share the bare minimum of danger warnings with her daughter, provided it didn't conflict with the conglomerate's interests.
"However, it's certain that the conglomerate will be making a series of major moves soon."
"...You're all carrying the things I gave you, right?"
Roy turned around, his gaze serious as it landed on Claudia, Julis, and Kirin.
"Of course."
"Me too."
"But what exactly is this for?"
The three girls each pulled out a slip of paper inscribed with runes from their personal pockets. Julis stared at the rune paper, her face full of confusion.
"Just remember to keep it on you at all times, and don't show it to others casually."
Roy didn't elaborate further, only sternly reminding them once more before turning to leave with some relief.
There was a high chance Akatsuki would appear in Asterisk City.
After all, not only were Sylvia and Okita Souji—whom he saw as thorns in his side—here, but even Stella, who came from the same world as him.
If Akatsuki came to Asterisk City and freely used his puppet-like control abilities, it would be hard to find a safe place anywhere in the city. The best Roy could do was prepare early by giving the three girls defensive runes as a precaution.
...
After parting ways with the girls, Roy disguised himself and set off again for the redevelopment zone.
"Can't seem to stay away from the pleasure district, huh?"
Roy grumbled inwardly as he stepped into the bustling streets.
His destination this time was a building on the other side of the pleasure district, requiring him to cut straight through. Taking a detour would waste too much time.
Truthfully, he could understand Fan Xinglou's reasoning. The school crests contained tracking systems, and if Roy kept heading to the redevelopment zone every day—especially to deserted areas—it would raise suspicions. But if he went to the pleasure district daily instead, it would seem far more reasonable—or so the logic went.
What a load of nonsense. If someone secretly tracked his movements, wouldn't his hard-earned reputation be ruined?
Him—the Festa champion, governor of Miyagi Prefecture, CEO of TYPE-MOON Security—a debauched playboy who visited the red-light district every day? How could he face anyone if that got out?
"Hmm?"
Roy suddenly stopped in his tracks, glancing subtly behind him.
No one was there.
But a strand of chestnut-brown hair had just flashed past the corner.
...Her again?
Had she really been searching for him here for four months?
Roy quickened his pace, even employing a shukuchi footwork technique, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Behind him, Sylvia—who had also disguised herself—was just about to give chase when she realized she'd already lost him. Clicking her tongue in frustration, she stomped her foot and trudged away dejectedly.
Roy left the pleasure district and swiftly made his way to the abandoned building Fan Xinglou had designated.
"Kid, you're quite popular!"
Within the dark barrier, Fan Xinglou gave Roy a strange, scrutinizing look.
"You didn't notice the girl who was following me just now, did you?"
Roy's brow twitched, startled by Fan Xinglou's perceptiveness.
"A girl... Hmph, you think it was just that songstress tailing you?"
In response, Fan Xinglou revealed an inscrutable smile.
"...What do you mean by that?"
Roy's expression instantly turned cold.
He had only sensed Sylvia following him earlier.
But judging by Fan Xinglou's tone, was there someone else tracking him as well?
The scope of his Perception was limited to a certain range around him—the farther the distance, the weaker his perception. Moreover, it had to be activated manually and couldn't function as a passive skill.
"There were two people following you. That songstress was decent at concealing her presence, but she wasn't professional enough."
Fan Xinglou grinned. "The other one, though... Now that one's something else. If you're not careful, even you could end up dead without a grave!"