"I offer my greetings to our benefactor, Lord The Masked One."
After Ravena left the Student Council room, Lysandra, who was left alone with me, suddenly stood up and bowed deeply. If anyone else were to witness this, various strange rumors about me would surely spread even further.
'Just thinking about it already gives me a headache.'
"Please stand up, President."
"Understood."
Lysandra finally straightened her posture.
'Alright, where should I even begin explaining this...'
As I was contemplating how to address her, Lysandra spoke first.
"Is something the matter?"
"It's nothing."
"But you seem to be thinking about something quite seriously."
"It's fine, I just remembered something," I replied, waving it off. "More importantly... President."
"Please, just call me Lysandra."
"..."
"President—"
"Lysandra."
Haaah...
"Lysandra."
"Yes?"
"Since you already know who I am, please keep my identity a secret."
"I will certainly do so, however..." She hesitated, as if weighing her next words.
"What is it?"
"...If I may ask, what business do you have by enrolling here?"
'Hmm, should I tell her?'
Honestly, there are many advantages to having Lysandra as an ally. With her position as the Student Council President, she holds significant influence in managing the council members. However, revealing my entire plan also carries its own risks, especially since I don't know who else might be disguised as enemies within this academy. It's better to act cautiously. Moreover, she only has one year left before she retires from her position.
"I can't tell you everything but... do you remember the enemies that emerged from the portal yesterday?"
"Yes, I remember."
"One of my goals here is to deal with them."
"But why at the academy..."
!!
Judging by her reaction, it seemed she understood exactly what I implied.
"Are they... infiltrating the academy?"
"Yes."
"But how could you know?"
"I have my own ways of finding out."
"I see."
As if deciding not to pry any deeper, Lysandra simply stared at my face.
"...Is there something on my face?"
"Ah, no. It's just..." A soft smile appeared on her lips. "I'm just surprised that you are actually so young."
"Then, how did you imagine me to be?"
"I thought you were older, perhaps a middle-aged man, considering your immense power. I assumed you had been working as an adventurer for a very long time."
'Well, she's not wrong about that part.'
Seven years is not a short time, considering I became an adventurer at the age of ten. And this power...
"..."
No, never mind. Since I'm already here, I might as well ask for her help.
"Lysandra, I have a request."
"Yes, please ask anything of me."
'Anything, huh?'
"I want you to look for members of the Evil God worshipers who are hiding here."
"Search for them?"
"Yes. But as much as possible, do not tell anyone. They can change their faces at will. Don't be too conspicuous; just keep an eye on anyone with suspicious behavior."
"Understood."
With that, I finally left the Student Council room.
...
It was nearing dusk as I stepped out. The once crowded school corridors were now silent and empty. The evening sun cast a warm light that slipped through the corridor windows, creating golden streaks across the marble floor. However, as I turned my head forward, my footsteps halted. There, leaning casually against a large pillar, stood a figure I hadn't expected to see at all.
The twilight light seemed to adore her, reflecting off her fine, shimmering silver hair. A breeze that seemed to come from nowhere played with the strands of her hair, carrying a fresh and calming forest scent. A pair of long, pointed ears peeked through her hair, marking her identity as an Elf, while her clear emerald eyes stared at me with an overwhelming calmness.
'Elise?'
The daughter of the Divine Archer stood there as if waiting for someone. I looked behind me to see if there was anyone else, but it seemed there was only her and me in this hallway.
'Ah, maybe she has business with Lysandra?'
At that moment, her eyes suddenly turned toward me, and our gazes met.
"You've finally arrived."
She spoke first.
"Do you have any business after this? If not, I wish to speak with you."
It was truly unusual for Elise to wait for someone. In the original story, she was the heroine who was the hardest to approach because she despised humans. Seeing her approach me like this meant she had something important to discuss.
"...Alright."
"Good. Then let us move to another place first."
I followed her from behind. During the walk, not a single word was exchanged.
"We've arrived."
"..."
'Why this place again?'
The place Elise chose was the courtyard where the fountain was located.
'For some reason, I feel like I come to this place far too often lately.'
Elise, seemingly indifferent to the awkward atmosphere, sat on the bench.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
I initiated the conversation, but...
"..."
Only silence greeted me.
"Hey."
"Yesterday... what happened after I fainted?"
'Yesterday?'
"Didn't Instructor Selene already tell you what happened?"
"What the instructor told us was merely a lie." Elise's eyes shifted sharply to me. "So tell me, what really happened yesterday after I lost consciousness?"
"..."
Her eyes felt as though they could pierce through the very existence of my soul. It was incredibly rude.
"Fairy Eyes, huh?"
!!
Elise flinched in surprise.
"How do you know!?"
Her tone turned cold, almost threatening.
"How I know isn't important. But isn't it rude to look into another person's soul without permission?"
Wuuush—!
I lowered my voice. The atmosphere changed instantly; the wind blew cold. Elise, who seemingly saw 'something' within me, immediately closed her eyes in fear.
"..."
I suppressed the pressure I was emitting after seeing her so terrified.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you that much."
Hah... hah... hah...
Elise slowly opened her eyes, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Pain still lingered in her eyes, but she had calmed down slightly.
"N-no... I should also apologize for being so disrespectful."
The cold expression from before was gone, replaced by tears welling up in her eyes. It seemed that I had accidentally triggered a trauma she held.
Huuuu... Haah...
I took off my cloak and draped it over her trembling body.
"I didn't see anything."
Hiks... uuu... hiks...
The sound of sobbing could be heard in the silent courtyard.
...
"Forgive me... you had to see such a pathetic side of me."
"It's fine. I also apologize for overreacting."
After a few minutes, Elise finally felt calm. Her face was now tinted with a blush on her cheeks.
"Since it's getting dark, we should part ways here," I said while standing up.
Elise followed me and stood up.
"Yes, I'm sorry for taking up your time. In that case, I will take my leave."
Elise turned and walked away.
"Ah, wait. About yesterday's incident..."
Elise turned back as I spoke.
"This is just my advice, but it's better if you don't dig any deeper." My voice and expression turned serious. "The academy has handled it, so you shouldn't worry about it anymore."
"...Alright."
And with that, she turned again and walked away. I watched her until she disappeared around the corner.
'Hmm, wait. I think I forgot something.'
And indeed, my cloak was still being worn by Elise.
"..."
'Should I just stop by her room later?'
...
In the night, a woman with pointed ears could be seen looking out the window. Her silver hair looked even more beautiful under the moonlight. With a calm face, she gazed at the moon illuminating the sky. Beside her, a girl just as beautiful with pointed ears and green hair approached and called her name.
[Elise.]
"Hmm, what is it?"
Elise and Sylph.
[What are you thinking about?]
"...Nothing."
[Hmm, you can't fool me, you know~]
Elise turned to Sylph, who was teasing her.
[So, what is it? Oh, are you thinking about what happened earlier?]
When Sylph mentioned that, Elise's cheeks suddenly turned red.
"It's not like that!"
[Wahh, so I was right~]
"Sylph!"
Hahaha! Hahaha!
Sylph burst out laughing at Elise's cute reaction.
[So what is it, dear Elise~]
"...It's really nothing, it's just..."
[It's just?]
"...For some reason, the aura he possesses feels familiar."
[Familiar?]
"Yes. You know, before I formed a contract with you, I was once kidnapped by humans."
[I've heard.]
"Back then, I was taken underground and imprisoned for days after being handed over to slave traders. There, the slaves were tortured, even whipped. Fortunately, because I am of Elf royal blood, they didn't dare touch me physically."
[..]
"I don't know exactly how long I was there, but when I was almost molested by one of the slave trader's subordinates, the screams of humans were suddenly heard loudly from the upper floor."
"And at that moment, the door to the basement was split open, letting in light from the outside. Standing there was someone wearing a black cloak with a sword in his right hand and a pistol in his left. But what stood out the most was the black mask with two horns he wore."
"In an instant, he killed the person who almost touched me with a single slash. After that, he released everyone who was held hostage until he finally saw me."
"I was weak then because I hadn't slept for days. Finally, I lost consciousness. As my eyes were almost closing, I heard a voice: 'You have endured well.' After that, I passed out. When I woke up, I had arrived at the entrance of Nilfheim and was found by the forest guards."
[I see. So what makes you think so deeply about it?]
"...Shion's aura somehow resembles that person's."
[So you mean...]
"Yes. Yesterday when we fought Cassius, as I was losing consciousness... even if only for a moment, I felt the aura he emitted. And today served as confirmation; their auras are very similar."
[But even so, that alone doesn't prove he's the same person, right?]
"Yes. That's why... I want to observe him more closely."
[Hmm, I see~]
"...Why are you smiling like that?"
[Oh, it's nothing~]
"..."
[Really, it's nothing~]
That night was the first time the famously cold Elf princess smiled, though she didn't realize it herself.
...
Four days had passed since I went to the Student Council office. Finally, the day arrived... or so I thought.
"Hey, isn't that him? The one who supposedly spoke with the Elf Princess?"
"Yeah, I saw it myself; the Elf Princess even returned his cloak."
"Whoa, what exactly were they doing?"
"..."
After the day I met Elise, the next morning I waited in the common room very early hoping to meet her, but she never appeared. When I asked the dormitory guard...
"Miss Elise left a long time ago."
And so I headed to my class, only to be greeted by Elise carrying my cloak. What was even stranger...
"The Elf Princess is smiling!?"
Yep, she was smiling. Even if it wasn't a wide smile, it was enough to spark dangerous rumors. Especially when...
Uhuk! Kehhk!
"What is this!"
"I can't breathe!"
A killing intent radiated strongly from the back seat. A figure with dark purple hair whose eyes—usually bright—were now clouded, and her smile was somehow terrifying.
"Shion~!"
Hufft...
For that entire day, I spent my time clearing up the misunderstanding in Elle's mind.
'Better not provoke Elle's anger from now on.'
Before I realized it, I had reached my destination. The duel arena that was previously destroyed had now been restored to its original state. Students were already gathered in the spectator seats.
"Shion! Over here!"
I saw Smith calling out to me. I walked over and saw that my previous party members had already gathered.
"Yo!"
"Hello."
"Hello, Shion."
They greeted me as soon as I arrived. During these four days, we had conducted training that we couldn't do before, and we had grown closer. I took a seat next to Elizabeth. After I sat down, Elizabeth spoke.
"Hey, Shion."
"What is it?"
"Uhm... are you free this weekend?"
"This weekend?"
"Well... I want to discuss the continuation regarding my curse. Is that possible?"
'Hmm, I'm meeting Elle on Saturday, so...'
"Yes, I can."
!!
"Yes!" Her eyes sparkled brightly.
'Why is she so happy?'
At that moment—
"Students, lend me your ears!"
Ragna's voice boomed, echoing through the entire arena. After not appearing since the incident with Cassius, it seemed he had now fully recovered.
"Finally, this day has arrived."
"Due to an incident, we were forced to postpone the exam, but..."
"The time is finally here!"
"I hereby declare the first Combat Exam has begun!"
Finally, with this, the first chapter of various major incidents begins.