"Find anything?"
Charl leaned against the doorframe, her expression neutral as she watched the disciplinary committee members inside the room.
Her mood wasn't exactly terrible—the committee hadn't been overly rough with her belongings—but it was still an inspection, and her displeasure was plain to see.
The committee member inside had found nothing and was now carefully returning everything to its original place.
Charl let out a sharp sigh of relief. It wasn't her Magic Circuits she was worried about being discovered...
It was the breast pads.
Sigmund, you brilliant dragon!
The small pouch containing the pads had been taken with him to the mansion last night.
She gazed softly at the exhausted young dragon on her shoulder. 'Extra treats for you tonight.'
As the last item was put back, the disciplinary committee members gradually filed out of the room.
They stood outside the doorway and bowed their heads to Charl in unison.
Lisette, the leader of the group, bent at the waist toward her. "Our apologies."
Charl accepted their apology with composure.
Even though they were just doing their jobs, raiding a student's dormitory without solid evidence was a failure on their part.
Crossing her arms, she asked casually, "So... who reported me?"
"It was an anonymous tip."
"Just based on that, you decided to turn my room upside down?"
"Your 'Cursed Sword' does bear a strong resemblance to the traces left by the Cannibal Candy. Our apologies."
Lisette bowed again.
Charl stroked Sigmund's neck absently. "I hope there won't be any rumors going around campus claiming I'm the Cannibal Candy."
Now that the enemy had made a move, she had to be cautious on all fronts.
Rumors and public opinion were, after all, the quickest way to destroy a person.
Most people only cared about the spectacle, not the truth behind it.
"We'll pay close attention to that possibility."
"I should hope so." Charl's gaze fell upon the still-bowing Lisette, her blue eyes radiating the authority of nobility.
"We will do our utmost."
Lisette slowly straightened up, meeting Charl's stare without flinching.
For a moment, the atmosphere grew still.
Just as Charl was about to 'hmph!' and turn away, a clear, girlish voice echoed down the hallway.
"If any more related rumors surface, I might start to suspect... the Cannibal Candy has ties to the disciplinary committee itself."
A girl with silvery curls lounged casually against the stairwell.
A mischievous smile played on her lips, as if she were watching a play.
"Hey!"
One of the girls who had come with Lisette stepped forward angrily, but Lisette sharply raised a hand to stop her.
After shooting an annoyed glance at the girl behind her, Lisette turned to Alice, her tone firm.
"That is absolutely impossible."
Alice's brow smoothed, and she nodded with feigned understanding.
She skipped over to Charl's side and held up a finger toward Lisette. "Then it must be that the disciplinary committee is simply incompetent."
"After all, the semester's almost over, and you still haven't found a single solid lead on the Cannibal Candy."
Her sly, grinning face made Lisette's eye twitch slightly.
She was here to pick a fight.
Since when were the 'Tyrant Rex' and the 'Elf Speeder' so chummy?
She responded bluntly, "We apologize for the misunderstanding regarding Charlotte."
She then shot a glance at Charl. "However, your magic signature remains the closest match to the Cannibal Candy's we've found. We will control any rumors, but we ask for your cooperation in future investigations."
"Of course."
Charl nodded, her strokes on Sigmund's back growing even gentler, making the little dragon narrow his eyes in comfort.
Lisette glanced at the smiling Alice beside them. Seeing the uninvited guest had nothing more to say, she turned back to Charl. "Then, we'll take our..."
Footsteps from further down the hall cut her off.
A girl with short black hair was approaching with elegant, measured steps, her light gait betraying a leisurely heart.
Another one?
She's that freshman who's been following Charlotte around... Why is she here? It's not time to return to the dorms.
Did Charl manage to send for her? Lisette wondered, shooting a puzzled look at Charl.
A happy smile spread across Charl's lips as she gave a small wave to Alice.
Her golden hair bounced vivaciously, and her slender, jade-white neck was exposed to the sunlight, the purple gemstone on her necklace glinting softly.
Alice came to a graceful stop before the two of them. After a brief sweep of her eyes over Charl's room, she addressed Lisette. "What kind of doll is Felix's automaton?"
Lisette blinked in surprise, the question catching her off guard.
Wasn't she here to cause trouble?
She tilted her head slightly, as if digging through her memory.
"I don't know the specifics, but I heard it was made during the Renaissance."
She shrugged. "Seems it's one of those dolls made with lost technology."
Alice nodded silently, offering no further questions.
That's it?
Puzzled, Lisette adjusted her glasses and once again made to leave.
This time, nothing new interrupted her.
But just as she had taken two steps, Alice's voice sounded from behind her.
"Lisette... how has your health been lately?"
Lisette turned back in astonishment. Alice's dark pupils were fixed on her.
That penetrating gaze, which seemed to see right through her, made her inexplicably nervous.
"It's... it's fine."
After giving this uncomfortable reply, she hurriedly led the others away.
Once the hallway was quiet again, Charl asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with that Lisette?"
"Her body... is rather interesting."
Committing the intricate clockwork structure she had just observed to memory, Alice turned her gaze to the other girl beside her. "What are you doing here?"
"Thanks to you, someone called me late last night looking for help." Alice lifted her head wearily, rubbing her slender shoulders like an old woman.
But in the next moment, the sly smile returned to her face. "If you want to see Felix's doll, you might try your luck at the Vault."
Alice looked over, curious. She seemed to recall that building's location on Robin's map.
"The Important Artifice Storage Facility, commonly known as the Vault."
Alice pointed toward the tall clock tower in the distance. "It's over there. Sometimes automata are stored there when their masters aren't with them."
She added, "Not that I'd ever store mine there, of course."
"Wouldn't want someone sneaking in and accidentally damaging it, after all."
With those words, Alice brushed past Alice and headed downstairs without a backward glance.
Looking down, they could see the steward named Shin standing rigidly below.
After all, this was the girls' dormitory. Even a male automaton couldn't easily enter.
Charl stared strangely in the direction Alice had left. "What did she mean?"
Sigmund, sleep-deprived, was already nestled in her hands, his steady breathing causing her voice to soften gradually.
She stroked his back softly.
"The school's Vault shouldn't be that easy to break into, right?"
"That's not what she meant."
"Huh?"
The black-haired girl glanced at the keychain in her hand, which still carried the lingering scent of the silver-haired girl, then shifted her gaze to the blue robin outside the window.
Robin had been outside the window ever since the disciplinary committee arrived.
Meeting Alice's gaze, Robin spread its wings and hovered in the air.
A feather bent, forming a rough 'OK' gesture, before it descended.
Ignoring Charl's confused look, Alice turned and headed downstairs.
"Let's go."
"Oh... okay."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.