Jin walked slowly toward the fallen body.
The forest, once shaken by violent magic, had begun to settle into an uneasy stillness. Broken branches, scorched soil, and deep fractures across the clearing stood as silent proof of the clash that had just ended.
He stopped beside the motionless vessel. For a moment, he simply looked down at it.
Then he let out a quiet breath. "…So you chose to run."
There was no mockery in his voice, only mild resignation.
He crouched, studying the lifeless form more carefully now. The traces of Jet-Black lingering around the corpse were already fading, thin and unstable, like smoke dissolving into the night air.
"…Yeah… this one's on me."
A faint sigh escaped him.
"Even though I already knew you had possession abilities…"
His gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained composed.
"I relied too much on the original story."
In the novel, Flema had retreated under pressure from the wardens. Maintaining her disguise had taken priority over continuing the fight.
But reality—
Jin clicked his tongue softly. "…Doesn't always follow the script."
He straightened a little, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"I assumed you were still using Francesca's body at this stage."
A brief pause.
"…Guess you prepared a spare instead."
There was the faintest hint of dry amusement in his tone.
"How very like you, Flema."
Jin glanced once more at the fallen vessel.
After a brief silence, Darkness rippled beneath his feet. The corpse slowly sank into his subspace, swallowed whole without a trace, leaving the fractured clearing eerily empty.
"…Evidence secured."
He straightened, rolling his shoulder lightly as though shaking off the tension of the battle.
Then he sighed.
"What a long night…"
The words slipped out with quiet exhaustion, but the heaviness did not linger for long. A faint, familiar ease returned to his posture.
"…Alright, that's enough brooding."
His tone shifted, lighter now.
"Standing around being melancholic won't get me anywhere."
A small smirk tugged at his lips beneath the hood.
"Besides… whenever you're feeling down, good food usually fixes everything~."
He took a few casual steps forward, the oppressive aura of the Shadow Monarch softening ever so slightly.
"…Seriously."
A soft chuckle followed.
"Munching on something delicious works wonders."
Jin slowed his steps, tilting his head slightly as a faint sense of unease crept into his thoughts.
"…Wait… I feel like I've forgotten something."
Silence.
Then—
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Ah."
Simon. Cami.
Of course...
In the novel's original sequence, Simon would carry Camibarez back to the dormitory. The commotion in the forest would remain unnoticed, buried beneath exhaustion and secrecy.
And there—
Jin exhaled softly.
"…Rena should already be treating her by now."
With that thought, he adjusted his direction without hesitation, boots crunching quietly against the forest floor.
Kizen Boys' Dormitory Building 1, Night Duty Room
"Fuaaahm…"
Rena, the dormitory manager, yawned loudly as she lay slumped over the desk, arms folded beneath her head.
"Night shift sucks so much…"
Cleaning, laundry, cleaning, laundry — the cycle never seemed to end. Although her official duty was managing the dormitory, no matter how much time passed, she could never quite get used to serving the noble young masters.
She let out a dry laugh while glancing at the disheveled document on her desk.
"Bringing girls into the dorm for a three-on-three… Ugh, those crazy little bastards…"
Kids these days had absolutely no innocence.
And when she tried to report it to the supervising professor, they immediately shut her down by casually name-dropping their noble houses. The memory still left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"Seriously… I just wanna quit…"
Knock knock.
A sudden sound echoed through the quiet room.
At this hour?
Rubbing her eyes, Rena called out tiredly,
"Come in."
Click!
As the door opened, a male student stepped inside, carrying a female student in his arms.
Rena's eyes widened. She shot to her feet.
"Hey! Bringing a girl into the boys' dorm again?! What do you think you're—"
The words died instantly.
Mud-stained uniform.
Blood. Wounds.
"…Ah… S-Simon?"
"Please help..."
Simon's voice was strained, tight with exhaustion.
Rena hurried over, quickly clearing the items off the bed. Simon gently laid Camibarez down.
"What happened? You should've taken her to the infirmary—!"
"It's complicated."
Simon's face hardened. "I can't explain everything, but we can't go there."
Rena fell silent.
Four years working as a dormitory manager at kizen.
She had seen enough.
Avoiding the infirmary, even while injured, was hardly unusual here. Students would do anything — truly anything — to survive.
Letting out a deep sigh, she shoved Simon lightly toward the door.
"Out."
"Huh?"
Rena pushed him again.
"I said out. I need space to treat the girl."
"W-Wait a second, Rena, I—"
"I said out!"
"…Ah."
Scratching his head awkwardly, Simon stepped back.
Rena grabbed an emergency medical kit, placed it beside the bed, and pulled the curtain closed with a sharp shraaak, blocking his view.
A moment later, the soft rustle of Camibarez's uniform being removed could be heard.
"…Haaah…"
Rena's sigh drifted from behind the curtain.
"Be honest with me. There are scrapes and bruises, sure… but this cut on her thigh…"
Her tone turned cold.
"This looks like it was made by something sharp, doesn't it?"
Simon swallowed hard.
Behind the curtain, Rena continued examining Camibarez's wounds with practiced precision. Though her movements were steady, her voice carried a calm firmness that left little room for evasion.
"You got into a fight with other students, didn't you?" she said. "If there's a problem, it's better to deal with it while you're still under student protection. Keeping everything bottled up won't solve anything."
"I didn't fight with students."
Simon's reply came immediately.
Too quickly.
He clenched his jaw.
The truth was far worse. They had been attacked by a Priest — a traitor lurking within kizen itself. But that was not something he could reveal. The implications alone were terrifying, and if even a fragment of it spread carelessly, Rena could be dragged into something far beyond her control.
Beyond her safety.
"Then what happened?" Rena asked.
Simon hesitated.
"It's… complicated."
A brief pause followed.
"I can't explain everything. I'm sorry."
Silence settled in the room.
"…Haaah."
Rena pressed her fingers against her forehead, her expression stiff with irritation and fatigue. Through the curtain, Simon's silhouette could be seen lowering his head in apology.
Honestly…
After four years working at kizen, she already knew better than to pry too deeply. Students here carried secrets like second uniforms, and attempts to interfere rarely led to anything but trouble.
Forget it.
Her priority was obvious.
Treatment first.
Rena reached for the drawer.
But before her fingers could grasp the handle—
"Thank you for your help, Dorm Manager Rena. Please leave the rest to me."
A gentle, calm voice suddenly filled the room.
Simon froze. Rena's eyes widened.
"…Who?!"
Both of them turned toward the source.
Standing near the entrance, as though he had been there all along, was a white-haired boy wearing a faint, easy smile.
Simon's eyes widened.
"…Knox?!"
Relief washed across his exhausted face.
"Knox!"
"Hii~ What a beautiful night… well, that's what I wanted to say, but…"
Knox's voice trailed off as his gaze settled on Cami lying behind the curtain.
The faint smile on his lips softened. "…Looks like things got pretty rough here."
He let out a small sigh, though there was no real annoyance in it.
"Alright, let me handle the rest."
With unhurried steps, Knox moved toward the bed.
Rena blinked.
"…Student Knox?"
There was clear hesitation in her voice.
Knox turned slightly, offering his usual easy smile.
"Don't worry. Wounds like these aren't a problem for me."
Simon stared at him. "…Huh?"
Before either of them could ask further, Knox gently raised his hand toward Cami.
A soft, pale green light blossomed from his palm.
The glow spread smoothly, enveloping Cami's fragile form like a warm veil. The tense atmosphere of the room shifted instantly, replaced by a quiet, almost surreal calm.
Simon's eyes widened. Rena stiffened.
Before their eyes—
Cami's wounds began to close.
Cuts and bruises faded rapidly, torn skin knitting itself back together as though time itself had reversed. The signs of injury vanished one after another, leaving behind only smooth, unblemished flesh.
Silence filled the duty room.
Simon and Rena could only stare.
Eyes wide. Mouths slightly open.
They looked so stunned that, had they not been careful, one might have imagined a flying piece of white emergency food from Teyvat drifting straight into their mouths.
Knox lowered his hand casually.
"Phew, there we go~."
Rena could only stare at Cami's skin, now completely free of wounds.
The cuts, bruises, and traces of injury that had covered the girl's body moments ago had vanished without a trace, leaving behind smooth, flawless flesh as though nothing had ever happened.
Her lips parted slightly.
"Wha… how is this even possible?"
Shock rippled plainly across her face as her thoughts struggled to catch up with what she had just witnessed.
"…Holy magic?"
The possibility surfaced instinctively, only to be rejected just as quickly.
"No… that can't be right. I've never heard of a necromancer capable of using holy magic."
Behind her, Simon remained frozen in place, his widened eyes locked onto Cami.
Because the scene—
Unsettlingly—
Reminded him of someone.
His mother. Anna, a Priest and former Saintess, had wielded healing miracles that looked eerily similar to what Knox had just performed.
But Knox was neither.
He wasn't a Priest. Nor a Saintess.
And that contradiction refused to sit quietly in Simon's mind.
As if sensing the confusion thickening the air, Knox let out a soft chuckle.
"Hehe… surprised?"
He scratched the side of his cheek with a faintly sheepish smile.
"But I'm not a Priest."
Both Rena and Simon turned toward him at once.
"I could explain it," Knox continued casually, "though the details are… well… classified."
A small shrug followed.
"The short version is that what you just saw wasn't Divinity or holy magic."
Knox's smile widened slightly.
"It's simply a spell I developed myself. Just normal magic, hehe~"
The relaxed tone of his voice only deepened their disbelief.
Rena narrowed her eyes, clearly filled with questions, yet the mention of classified information left her with little room to press further.
After several seconds of silence, she exhaled tiredly.
"…Honestly, what a day."
She rubbed her temple before shifting her gaze toward Simon.
"Fine. I won't ask."
"But Student Knox, if possible, could you use that healing spell on Student Simon as well?"
Her eyes scanned Simon's mud-stained uniform.
"I highly doubt he escaped without injuries."
Knox nodded without hesitation. "Sure, no problem."
He turned toward Simon, his expression carrying playful seriousness.
"Alright then, Patient Simon. Try not to move."
"…Simon."
Rena's voice cut in sharply.
Both boys paused.
She crossed her arms.
"Take off your clothes."
Simon froze, his pupils quivering.
"…P-Pardon?"
From beside him, Knox let out a low whistle.
Rena remained completely expressionless.
"I need to check your injuries."
A brief pause.
"Take off your top."
Mentally exhausted and far beyond arguing, Simon hurriedly removed his jacket and shirt, then rolled his pants above his knees.
"I'll disinfect first," Rena said as she knelt.
She reached for the cotton swab—
Then glanced up.
And instantly regretted it.
Why does this student have such a ridiculously good body?
Her professional composure wavered as defined muscles and firm abs entered her full view.
At that age?!
Heat rushed uncontrollably to her face.
…Oh no.
Rena's thoughts spiraled despite her best efforts.
Get it together. You are a grown adult. Act like one.
Taking a steadying breath, she forced her expression back into rigid professionalism and resumed her work.
Simon twitched violently. "Ugh— it stings!"
"Just bear with it." Rena lightly smacked his leg.
"Stop being dramatic."
Simon winced.
Such a crybaby. Definitely still a kid.
Meanwhile, Knox waited patiently nearby, watching the scene with mild curiosity.
As he observed Rena's noticeably flushed face, he tilted his head slightly.
…Hmm?
Why is her face suddenly red?
After an undeniably awkward sequence of disinfecting, flinching, and Simon's exaggerated complaints, Rena finally finished cleaning his wounds. Only then did Knox step forward, raising his hand with the same calm ease as before.
A soft green glow spread from his palm.
Within seconds, the remaining cuts and bruises on Simon's body faded, his skin restoring itself as though the injuries had never existed.
Simon blinked. Then flexed his arm slightly.
"…It doesn't hurt anymore."
Relief flooded his face almost instantly.
"Thank you! Dorm Manager Rena… and Knox!"
He bowed deeply, his earlier embarrassment replaced by genuine gratitude.
Rena barely had time to respond before Knox also inclined his head politely.
"I should also thank you, Dorm Manager Rena. If it weren't for your quick treatment, Cami's condition might have worsened before I arrived."
Rena froze. Two students. Bowing to her. And not just any students.
Both of them were special-entry rankers — the elite of elites.
Momentarily flustered, Rena stepped back slightly before clearing her throat with an awkward cough.
"I don't know what kind of trouble you got into tonight," she said, regaining her usual composure, "but your health comes first. If you want to survive at kizen, you can't afford to neglect your condition. You understand what I'm saying, right?"
"Yes!"
Simon answered immediately, posture straightening.
Rena nodded, then turned toward Knox.
"And the girl's safe. I'll contact a few reliable staff from the girls' dormitory and have her transferred back quietly."
Knox smiled warmly. "Thank you very much. I truly appreciate it."
Both boys bowed once more before finally leaving the duty room.
The door clicked shut. Silence returned.
"…Haaah…"
Rena exhaled as the tension drained from her body, her shoulders slumping as she collapsed into a nearby chair.
"…What a night…"
Her gaze drifted toward the closed door.
…Will I get to see students like them for long?
Simon, despite his status, carried a rare warmth — an oddly human charm that felt almost out of place in kizen's ruthless environment.
And Knox…
Rena shook her head faintly.
Someone clearly famous, yet unexpectedly polite, grounded, and easy to talk to.
Honestly, it was unfair.
That face was anything but "down to earth."
More like absurdly high above the clouds.
A strange, lingering emotion stirred quietly in her chest.
"…How unusual."
————————————
Character Voicelines · Lorain: About her "Knoxy Sense" Tingling - Part 1
Rena (daydreaming): Not only young and handsome, but also strong… and rich. Hehe… maybe if I just... („ಡ⩊ಡ„)
Lorain (rolling on the bed while reading a novel): !!! (⊙_⊙!)
Lorain (suddenly sitting upright): My Knoxy Sense is tingling!
Lorain: Someone… somewhere… is thinking strange things about Knox! (; ･`д･´)