episode_0019

“…How elegant.”

“The pride of the Empire!”

“Do you think I’ll ever get to sit among them someday?”

“Wow… Just looking at them is a feast for the eyes.”

“If I could just sit at that table, I’d have no regrets.”

“Wake up, idiot.”

The outdoor tea table set up at the P.N.D. Academy.

It was a place where people sipped tea while engaging in light conversation or serious discussions about the future, but most students preferred the academy’s dining hall over this spot.

Even for the nobility-born students, that table was excessively luxurious.

Its sheer opulence meant those who sat there inevitably drew attention, and its location ensured that anyone passing through the academy would see it at least once.

Naturally, the tea table became a symbol of prestige—a seat reserved only for those with a certain level of dignity and power.

Unless one was truly exceptional, the flood of attention the moment they sat there would send them scrambling to leave.

But right now, the four figures conversing at that table shone so brilliantly that even the dazzling table seemed dull in comparison.

“What do you think they’re talking about?”

“Perhaps a deep discussion about the Empire’s future?”

“Oh my. Then it makes sense why Lady Elia put up a barrier.”

“What do you think, senior?”

“Hmm, maybe something about the future?”

“Boring answer.”

“Or maybe romance? Just because they’re ladies doesn’t mean they only talk about elegant things.”

“Stop spouting nonsense. You’ve been delusional since earlier.”

“Hey, I’m joking! Don’t report me!”

However, contrary to the students’ expectations, the conversation inside the barrier was far from what they imagined.

“Hand him over. He doesn’t belong to you alone.”

The Empire’s so-called “Golden Genius,” the unparalleled mage Elia, growled fiercely.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

“Though I hate to agree with Her Highness… I feel the same, Chris.”

The saint candidate Cecilia, who possessed stronger faith and divine power than anyone, spoke with a smile.

“Please don’t ruin our relationship like this, Chris.”

Though still just an honor student now, the future wielder of the Holy Sword and slayer of all evil—Lucilla—murmured quietly.

Even under the suffocating pressure that would make an ordinary person faint, Christine sipped her tea with perfect composure.

Compared to the threats Eric had once directed at her, this was nothing.

“It’s our first time meeting face-to-face, yet you’re in quite a hurry. Why not reminisce a little about the good old days?”

“Do we have any memories worth sharing?”

“Ending things like this and then laughing it off would be far stranger.”

“Fine then. What were we discussing again?”

BANG!

Elia slammed the table hard.

“Don’t mock the imperial family’s authority. No matter how influential the Grave family is, a simple investigation or house visit is well within my power. How long do you think you can keep hiding him?”

“I have no intention of hiding him.”

“Don’t lie. Eric is at the mansion, isn’t he? The Eric from this loop.”

“The fact that he ignored our attempts to contact him multiple times suggests he had his reasons.”

Christine calmly countered their relentless attacks.

“It’s true that my brother is staying at the mansion. It was his own choice, and the reason we didn’t reach out… Well, would you believe me if I said it was because I feared for his safety?”

“Bullshit.”

“My, isn’t it ironic for the princess who used to lurk around our mansion to say that?”

Christine then turned her sharp tongue on Cecilia and Lucilla.

“Stop using academy students to gather information. What did they ever do to deserve being used like this?”

“Ugh…”

“That’s…”

“Keeping him away from dangerous people like you who might harm him is only natural. Think back to the last loop. Who was it that tormented Eric?”

“Acting like you’re any different. How shameless.”

“You, Christine, and everyone here—we’re all the same kind of sinners. I don’t think you have the right to lecture anyone.”

Elia and Lucilla immediately fired back at Christine’s sarcasm.

“Ugh… This isn’t getting us anywhere. Why don’t we just send an official letter to the Grave family?”

“They won’t open it. Our family isn’t weak enough to entertain an impromptu audit without prior notice.”

“—You lowly wench.”

“And yet, this ‘lowly wench’ is in the exact same position as Her Noble Highness the Princess, no?”

“Emotional fights won’t help.”

Lucilla stepped in to mediate.

“…Fine.”

“Christine. I understand your stance. Of course, we have no choice but to doubt you—but the reverse is also true.”

“Thanks for understanding, Lu.”

“So let’s end things here for today.”

“Wait, Lu! Who said you could decide that?!”

“Then do you plan to keep pointlessly arguing? And don’t worry.”

Lucilla glared at Christine.

“If by any chance you’re planning to lock him away or monopolize him… I won’t stand by idly.”

Click—

The hilt of Lucilla’s sword peeked slightly from her waist.

Christine nodded. Picking a fight with Lucilla here would bring her no benefit.

In the first loop, Lucilla had already been obsessed with swordsmanship to the point of rivaling the continent’s strongest fighters—far beyond the academy’s level.

Now, having regressed with all that knowledge and skill, she was undoubtedly even stronger.

Christine herself had grown much stronger than before, but Lucilla’s prowess was on an entirely different level.

However, Cecilia, unsatisfied with this lukewarm conclusion, spoke up.

“No. I can’t accept this. I need a proper answer.”

“Cecilia… Please.”

“You fools. Stop this. Do you intend to break the barrier?”

“If it breaks, I’ll just finish this in an instant.”

“…I’m not weak enough to be knocked out in one hit by you, you know?”

Though they were the academy’s top talents, the conversation between them was anything but refined or intellectual.

“Oh? Are we dropping formalities now?”

“It’s nice to hear you drop the act and speak normally, unnie. Brings back memories. Right? All that forced politeness in the hero party made me cringe so hard.”

“You…!”

“Enough.”

At Elia’s command, the two froze.

Tap. Tap.

She lightly knocked on her own barrier.

“Fools. Fighting here benefits no one. The vermin would just crawl out of the woodwork.”

As she said, the students outside the barrier were staring intently.

“Elia is right. Remember—we’re not the hero party yet. We’d only be playing into the hands of those who want to use us.”

“I know—no, we know—we have no right to see him. But at the very least… tell us if Eric is safe.”

Elia bowed her head deeply. Watching her, Christine scratched her head.

“Lift your head, unnie. I’m not someone worthy of such a request. I just happened to be lucky enough to share a home with him.”

“Then give us an answer.”

“Hehe, that much is certain. Brother is safe. He’s not dead or hurt, and he can speak and think just fine. Just… not in the way we hoped.”

“What… does that mean?”

“I’ll explain the details later in private. There are too many eyes here. We’ve already drawn too much attention.”

“And whose fault is that?”

“If Cecilia-unnie hadn’t lost her temper, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“You little…!”

“Shh. Cecilia, let’s hear Chris out first.”

“Hmph…”

Cecilia shook off the radiant divine power glowing in her palm.

“All I can say here is that my brother is safe and will return to the academy soon. The reason I kept him from contacting anyone despite having him with me…”

Christine shrugged.

“Well, hiding it from you all would be pointless, so I’ll be honest—it was possessiveness. After finally reuniting with Eric, I didn’t want to let go of this chance to be alone with him.”

“You really…!”

“Like you wouldn’t have done the same?”

“…Fair.”

Cecilia had no choice but to concede. The other two also nodded slightly in agreement.

“Anyway, I won’t keep him from you forever, so don’t worry.”

“What a relief.”

Seeing their relieved expressions, Christine couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

They were all excited at the thought of meeting Eric to apologize. Little did they know how much worse the truth would be.

“Then let’s discuss Eric’s return to the academy. First—”

“CHRIS!!!”

Just as Elia spoke, a booming voice echoed from the main gate.

“Huh?”

“That voice…?”

“No way.”

“Eric?”

There wasn’t a single person present who didn’t recognize that voice.

“I’M HERE!!! GIVE ME THE PAPERS!!!”

The four exchanged uneasy glances. The first to rise was Lucilla.

“Excuse me. Something urgent just came up.”

“What a coincidence. I just remembered something urgent too.”

“Shall we call it a day, then?”

“Fine. We’ll talk about Eric later—”

POP!

The moment the barrier vanished, Lucilla kicked off the ground like a shot.

“I won’t let him get away!”

“What the hell is he doing?!”

And so began the mad dash that would go down in academy history—starting with Lucilla.