Chapter 64: A Black Hole Where Even Light Cannot Escape
[You have received Black Jeanne's contact information.]
[You feel the trust and goodwill of the Dragon Witch toward you. You have received an Encouragement Dice.]
[If you complete events related to Black Jeanne, you may increase her affection level—or even invite her on a date?]
[After bidding farewell to Black Jeanne, you return alone to the student dormitory of Chaldea Academy. To avoid possibly running into Sesshouin while alone, you even deliberately called a car to leave immediately.]
[Upon returning to the dorms, Tristan and Gawain were utterly shocked to see you still alive. If you hadn't shown up soon, they were already planning to chip in for your funeral.]
[You nearly crossed to the other side; your affection level with the two Knights of the Round Table has increased.]
[Your skill "Dreamlike Charisma B" has been upgraded to "Dreamlike Charisma A."]
[In front of the two Knights of the Round Table, you temporarily concealed the truth about Berserker Lancelot. There's only one day left before the monthly exam. Maybe you can still do something for Black Jeanne in the meantime.]
[Lying on your bed, you feel a wave of intense exhaustion wash over you. Clearly, you went to the hot spring to relieve stress, but it somehow just made you even more tired.]
[The schedule is piling up more and more, and it's full of unpredictable variables that could throw your plans into chaos at any moment.]
[Right after that, you suddenly realize…]
Eikou's eyes suddenly flew open.
He just realized a blind spot.
If the monthly exam had been postponed, then the "two-day-one-night date" he had scheduled with Morgan would have to be shortened—there would only be one day off left.
He had to message her right away.
"Morgan-san, we should probably reschedule our date. The monthly exam got pushed back by a day, and our planned break has been split."
And Morgan quickly replied:
"So, in your eyes, the exam is more important than me?"
As expected of the Lostbelt's King, she opened with a line as heavy as gravity!
Eikou thought to himself: I'm just a student—what else am I supposed to do? Skip the exam to go on a date with you? If I lose all my credits, I'll get expelled! Then my whole life will be 'Game Over'!
He hurriedly replied:
"Sorry, but there will be plenty of breaks in the future. We can still spend lots of time together."
"Fine then. But I'm not wearing the Dangerous Beast outfit for you this time."
From her message alone, Eikou could already feel the resentment and grievance—he could practically imagine her typing with a cold face while a terrifying aura of dark miasma swirled around her.
I never even said I wanted to see that!
Eikou screamed internally.
Though… if he were being honest, he kinda did want to see it.
If this was truly the punishment meant for him, then Eikou had no choice but to accept it.
He quietly set his phone aside to charge, then turned over, pulled the blanket over himself, and prepared to sleep.
[9:00 PM. Lights out at the dormitory. You close your eyes and quickly fall asleep.]
[Please perform a Luck Check.]
A die was rolled — result: B.
[Luck Check: Success.]
[Nothing happened tonight. You heard nothing in your dreams, and passed another night in peace.]
The calendar turned to a new day — April 28.
[Today is a holiday due to the postponement of the monthly exam. You are free to plan your schedule.]
[You woke up early, feeling refreshed, and enjoyed a hearty breakfast. While eating with Gawain and the others, you devoured ten juicy soup dumplings in one go.]
[Because of what happened with Black Jeanne, you began looking into the monthly exam.]
At the Chaldea Academy dining hall.
"Gawain."
Eikou asked while drinking milk:
"Since I'm a transfer student who just arrived this year, I don't really know how the monthly exams for Servants usually go. Could you explain it in more detail?"
"That's rare. Sir Eikou is actually showing interest in the monthly exam? Looks like after experiencing life and death in the hot spring, you've started living more positively."
Gawain looked genuinely surprised.
"Don't ever bring that up again," Eikou warned seriously. "Let that memory be buried forever. Now then, what do your monthly exams usually cover?"
"It depends on the situation. Normally, they're tough simulated battles between classes. But combat alone doesn't fully reflect the value of a Heroic Spirit, so the school also assigns other kinds of challenges like talent contests, games, sports competitions, things like that."
"So what's the theme for this exam?"
Gawain hesitated, then shook his head. "It was originally supposed to be a class-versus-class battle… but now it's hard to say. The school's plans have been thrown into chaos."
"So we'll just have to improvise…"
Eikou looked pensive.
How could he help Black Jeanne?
"Something wrong, Sir Eikou? Worried you won't do well on the exam?" Gawain asked.
"No, it's nothing…"
At that moment, Tristan beside them put down his knife and fork, pushed away his now-empty plate, and suddenly said:
"Finished eating. We can head out now!"
"Tristan, where are you going this early in the morning?"
"That's not it, Sir Eikou," Tristan opened his eyes, "I'm not the only one heading out. We're all going."
"All… of us…?"
Eikou looked at Gawain, confused, and the other nodded slightly.
"That's right. While you were away last night, my little sister — Gareth — messaged me. She was worried she wasn't doing well academically and asked me to tutor her a bit. And since your and Mordred's scores are also kind of on the edge, I decided to host a study group at my house."
Gawain smiled brightly.
"At your house?!"
A terrible premonition suddenly hit Eikou.
"Why didn't you ask me first before organizing this study group?"
"You were still at the hot spring then. We weren't sure if you'd even make it back… And even if we didn't ask, we already knew you'd definitely join us. Isn't that right?"
"..."
That was… indeed true.
Eikou had always enjoyed lively atmospheres, and because of the threat that was Sesshouin Kiara, he avoided acting alone.
Where the Round Table Knights went, he followed. And vice versa.
But this time was different. He really didn't want to go…
Because this wasn't just the home of Gawain and Gareth — it was also Morgan's house!
Normally, even just being outside, Morgan already showed an overwhelming sense of possessiveness, like she wanted to kidnap him and marry him on the spot.
If he now actually stepped into her house… would there even be a way out?!
It was a place where not even light could escape — a true black hole!