Evan judged from Fu Hua's words and actions that the Phase 1 Repair he performed by spending 10,000 gold coins had indeed worked as he imagined. It only erased Fu Hua's pain and did not restore her memories.
The two of them quickly finished moving the things. They didn't stand around idly in the Principal's office. After confirming that they had completed the task assigned by Theresa, they went their separate ways.
Just as she said before, Fu Hua didn't ask Evan any more questions, acting as if nothing had happened. However, when saying goodbye, her tone was ultimately different. The distance that was previously barely perceptible had now become impossible to feel.
Was it worth it to spend 10,000 gold coins and bear a certain amount of risk for such a result?
Evan felt it was very worth it.
While he was in a good mood because of this and revealed a faint smile, he encountered an unexpected person.
"Hello. Could I trouble you to take me on a tour of St. Freya Academy?"
Rita, who had left with Theresa earlier, now appeared in front of Evan, asking with her usual gentle tone.
As an S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, Rita's status was extremely high. Although her attitude was very humble, using honorifics when addressing superiors and peers—even when facing Theresa, who had broken away from Schicksal to establish her own portal—Rita naturally wouldn't use honorifics when addressing Evan, who was currently just a student of St. Freya Academy.
She simply didn't use honorifics. When making the request, she lowered her head slightly. Coupled with that soft voice capable of turning tempered steel into soft silk around one's finger, there was no doubt Rita possessed a lethality that ignored gender. This was probably also the reason why Theresa's attitude toward Rita had improved without her even realizing it after meeting her.
"Sure. St. Freya Academy has a teaching area for students, a residential area where many faculty and staff live, a commercial area supplying daily necessities, and a leisure area that can meet most entertainment needs. Although there are also places like the Science Department and Medical Department, with my status, I naturally can't go there casually. So, Miss Rita, where do you plan to visit first?"
Evan had a favorable impression of Rita, but that didn't mean he would rashly expose information that needed to be hidden.
Knowing Rita's personality somewhat, Evan knew she wasn't a bad person. But the difference in beliefs and standpoints destined that the current Evan couldn't treat Rita with the same attitude he used with Raiden Mei and the others.
He displayed the restraint appropriate for a student who hadn't yet become an official combatant when facing an S-rank Valkyrie. At the same time, he paid attention to his wording, not exposing the authority Theresa had granted him.
This wasn't the first time Evan had put on such a disguise. With experience and lessons learned, his performance now was perfect. Rita couldn't detect any anomalies.
"It looks like the residential area should be nearby, right? Could you take me to visit the students' dormitories? I've long heard of the Lady Principal's training policy, which is different from Schicksal's. I'm very curious."
Evan had already guessed the reason Rita came to find him.
To establish contact with Kiana through him, and then find an opportunity to determine Kiana's condition.
As a survivor of the 3rd Eruption just like Kiana, Evan was naturally friends with her. When leading someone on a tour, if they were to step inside the student dormitories, the highest probability would be to show them his own dormitory and his good friend's dormitory.
Evan knew that even if he didn't proactively suggest visiting Kiana's dormitory, Rita would use a certain degree of guidance. As a woman wanting to visit a girls' dormitory, it wouldn't arouse suspicion in the first place.
"There's still some distance from here to my dormitory, but my friend happens to live nearby."
"Then, can we go disturb your friend for a bit? Although young men like you are rare in this world, I have heard that there are some things in boys' dormitories that are inconvenient to expose."
Inconvenient to expose?
Although Evan's bedroom would turn into a "battlefield" with Himeko Murata at night, the traces of battle were always cleaned up afterward, so it didn't matter.
That being said, trying hurriedly to prove his innocence at this moment would be completely meaningless. Evan knew clearly that Rita's true goal was never to visit his dormitory. Instead of wasting his breath, it was better to go with the flow.
Evan led Rita to Himeko Murata's residence. Himeko wasn't there; perhaps she was discussing something with Theresa. Rita's true target—Kiana—was reading manga. Hearing Evan's knock, she was the one who came to open the door.
"This is Rita Rossweisse, an envoy from Schicksal. I'm taking her on a brief tour of the St. Freya Academy dormitories."
Evan introduced Rita's identity to Kiana in a businesslike manner.
"Oh? Oh!"
Kiana scratched her head. Although she didn't quite understand why an envoy from Schicksal would come here for a tour, she didn't ask.
During this period, Kiana had mastered a high-level skill—pretending to understand when she didn't.
"Is this actually a dormitory? It clearly looks like a very cozy home."
Seeing her target, Rita didn't reveal anything unusual. She nodded to Kiana with a smile, then looked around the environment naturally, uttering an exclamation.
An exclamation capable of making people feel proud.
Kiana now had a triumphant look on her face.
Evan glanced helplessly at the white-haired girl and spoke.
"This is Teacher Himeko Murata's dormitory. Because Kiana and the others are transfer students and unfamiliar with many places just arriving at the school, the Principal assigned them here. Originally, I was supposed to live here too, but because I'm male, I can only live elsewhere."
Teacher Himeko Murata?
Kiana was slightly surprised by Evan's distant form of address. However, having learned to pretend to understand, she had also mastered the ability to remain calm and collected. She didn't show any abnormality at this moment.
Evan definitely has a reason for using this address, so there's no need to ask.
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