Flipping to the most recent page with writing, the very first line inscribed was the name "Durandal."
She had written that while staying at Connie's estate.
Right after that came Connie's name.
And now, Elysia had written "Miyako," "Kevyn," "Mei," and others after them.
After finishing writing down the names of the teachers and classmates she'd noted today, Elysia's mind remained unsettled, recalling the events that had just happened after school.
Her pen, almost of its own accord, drifted back to a blank spot on the page.
"..."
When she finally snapped out of it, Elysia looked at the blank space on the page—now completely filled with the name 'Durandal,' scrawled over and over with a mix of anger and complicated feelings.
The corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
She felt the urge to tear this page out and neatly transcribe the names again on a fresh one. But as her fingers touched the paper, she hesitated.
Elysia closed her eyes and simply shut the notebook. "Forget it, it's fine like this."
Then, she stuffed it back into the drawer.
Dinner that evening passed in an eerily silent atmosphere.
Durandal, for her part, thought this was just fine, even good.
'No talking during meals or in bed'—as the saying goes. Such good habits ought to be maintained.
So, once she finished eating, she simply returned to her room.
Elysia ate a little slower. Connie, seeing the dazed look on her face as she finished and made to go upstairs, quickly called out to stop her.
"Miss Elysia, please wait a moment."
Connie called.
"What is it?"
Elysia looked at Connie, slightly puzzled.
"Miss Elysia, you seem... preoccupied with something today?"
Connie had been consciously keeping a certain distance from Elysia until now, so she felt a bit nervous bringing this up.
As for why she kept her distance...
Well, wasn't it because during her first meeting with Durandal, she'd tried to use her... charms to tempt the other woman?
She was afraid this one here might hold a grudge against her for it.
That's right... even now, Connie still believed that Durandal and Elysia were a couple.
And Elysia's strange behavior today? Most likely a lovers' spat.
But the other party involved seemed completely oblivious. With no other way in, Connie could only ask the other 'party' involved.
"Preoccupied?"
Elysia tilted her head.
She wanted to say no, because she'd never really been one for 'preoccupations.'
If she was happy, she showed it plainly.
If she was sad—a rare occurrence, but thinking back, she probably showed that too—she always managed to adjust quickly and become happy again.
Right now, though, she didn't feel happy, but she couldn't say she was sad either.
Because she wasn't happy, she wasn't her usual bubbly, smiling self. Because she wasn't sad, there was no sorrow.
But precisely because of that, she couldn't use her usual emotional self-regulation to return to a state of happiness.
"So... this is what it feels like to have something on your mind?"
Elysia mused inwardly, clearly accepting Connie's assessment.
Since the other woman could detect her current state, perhaps she could also help her return to normal.
Thinking this, Elysia halted her steps on the stairs and walked over to sit on the sofa in the living room area.
"Connie, come sit over here. There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
Hearing this, Connie secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed Elysia didn't harbor any resentment towards her. She hurried over and sat down somewhat stiffly on the shorter sofa next to Elysia.
"Miss Elysia, you can tell me anything. After all, my duty is to serve you, the Flame-Chasers."
Connie said this.
Elysia, however, waved a hand dismissively.
"This matter has nothing to do with the Flame-Chasers or anything like that. Speaking of which... I recall in ancient Shenzhou, there was even a tyrant named 'Jie.'"
"Although the character 'Jie' didn't originally mean tyranny—it shared the meaning of 'outstanding,' like the character for 'Jie' in 'hero'—later people in Shenzhou came to associate it that way."
"Hey~ Connie, don't you think it's a bit... uncultured of Durandal to pick that character for our organization's name?"
As she spoke of Durandal's fault, Elysia felt her whole spirit lifting.
She felt that if she could just properly vent to Connie about Durandal, she could reclaim her happy self.
Connie: "..."
Wasn't this supposed to be about discussing what was on her mind?
How did it turn into a critique of the organization's name?
And now she's gossiping behind Durandal's back about her being uncultured...
Connie thought to herself that Elysia could get away with bad-mouthing Durandal behind her back because their relationship was special.
But she herself was just a humble employee—even if, currently, all the assets of the Flame-Chaser organization had been contributed by her.
In short, she didn't dare speak ill of the organization's leader behind her back.
"Miss Elysia, perhaps we could discuss what's been weighing on you today?"
Connie offered an awkward yet polite smile, trying to steer the conversation back on track.
However, Elysia, having found an outlet, how could she let Connie or this topic go so easily?
So, Elysia continued, "The character 'Jie,' I think Durandal's original intention wasn't simply to mean 'outstanding hero,' nor was it to mean 'tyranny.' 'Jie' was also the name of the last ruler of a very ancient dynasty in Shenzhou history."
"So, what she probably wanted to express was 'the last outstanding hero,' right? Who would have thought she could be so arrogant! But it could also be interpreted as the 'end' of the heroes. It's such an inauspicious meaning, don't you think, Connie?"
Connie: "..."
She couldn't say anything. She just prayed Elysia would rein in her 'divine wit.'
But Elysia now felt more energized the more she vented.
After letting out that inexplicable resentment, even her tone became cheerful again, and her usual smile returned to her lips.
"Let me tell you, this Durandal, she's just utterly unreasonable, you know? That day, I was clearly wearing a Fire Moth soldier's uniform."
"I was planning to use that chance to successfully infiltrate the Fire Moth organization."
"I'd planned it for a long time, even specifically asked Mobius for the badge with the number '1' on it."
A somewhat mysterious smile appeared on Elysia's face.
"You know Mobius, right? That famous scientist~ The outside world thinks she's dead, but actually she joined the Fire Moth. I went through a lot of trouble to find that out, you know?"
Her expression then turned indignant. "And then, out of nowhere, she shows up."
"She made quick work of the Herrscher I had my eye on, and then suddenly appeared right in front of me, telling me to join some 'Flame-Chaser' organization."
"I ask you, who does that? I didn't know her before, had never even heard of this Flame-Chaser group. But I had no choice! She had leverage over me. What kind of leverage? I can't tell you that just yet~?"
Connie indicated inwardly that she hadn't even wanted to ask, thank you very much.
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