episode_0032

There was almost no difference from the first time I saw her.

Even at night, her waist-length subtle purple hair flowed vividly.

Similarly, her violet eyes that seemed to hold flowers, her sturdy nose, and long eyelashes on blood-red lips.

The only difference might be that she was dressed plainly this time, unlike when we met in the mountain village.

In the past, she wore a bodysuit that accentuated her body, emphasizing her chest and hips.

“I wondered who came to visit, could it be Cineria?”

Cineria was smiling at me, but with an intense warning sensation, I found myself instinctively moving back to protect Helena, trying to draw my sword from my waist, but my rationality barely stopped me.

Drawing the sword recklessly here would undoubtedly lead to irreversible consequences.

“It’s been a while, our Yukal. Have you been well?”

Considering her attire and the fact that she followed the visitation procedure to find me, it is clear that despite discovering the Black Moon organization’s severe losses or equivalent damages, she has put aside her plan to sweep through the Ardent Academy and has come to investigate.

If she had come to sweep through the Ardent Academy, she would have gathered the Black Moon organization under her command, clad in the bodysuit from back then, and the academy would still be standing even after being partially destroyed.

“…Yes. Thanks to you, I was able to reach the Ardent Academy.”

It was due to her mercy in not dealing with me immediately that I was able to reach the Ardent Academy.

Cineria, who was carefully observing me, gently opened her mouth.

“You look much healthier than last time. Did something good happen?”

“….”

She seems to be mistaken about my improved health in relation to overcoming my unique ability penalty, but I have nothing special to say to her about this matter.

As Cineria, who will play a central role in attacking the academy later on, learns about my unique ability and penalty, I must somehow prevent it from happening.

“But why are you being so formal? Let’s be comfortable like last time-”

“Hello, I’m Helena Clark! Nice to meet you. Could you be Yukal’s mother?”

Interrupting Cineria, Helena stepped forward to greet me, nearly causing me to lose my composure at her appearance.

“Oh no, I’m not Yukal’s mother. Maybe I should be his favorite older sister.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I assumed you were Yukal’s mother because there seems to be a significant age difference…”

Despite her apologetic expression, it’s clear that Helena deliberately said that to provoke Cineria.

While I thought she could maintain her concept even in front of Cineria, I didn’t expect her to go this far.

‘You’re pushing it too far.’

From Helena’s perspective, she may not know Cineria’s true identity, allowing her to act this way. However, if Cineria decides to act, dealing with both of us and escaping the academy would be effortless for her.

Although Cineria is quietly smiling, considering the intensifying warning signals from my intuition, it’s evident that she is not pleased.

To ensure that Helena isn’t dealt with without my knowledge, I quickly turned to Cineria and spoke.

“Lia, don’t be mad. She’s a bit lively and may have said something disrespectful to you. If she’s a sister I know, she’ll forgive you, right?”

With my urgent words, it seems that the warning from Cineria has slightly subsided, indicating that the imminent danger has been averted, but the unease remains.

Helena could face serious consequences if she continues to speak carelessly.

“Unnie, it was nice to see you after a long time. But I have the next class soon, so I think I should go.”

Feeling that staying with Cynerea like this wouldn’t be good, she tried to find a way to escape somehow, but…

“Hmm~ I made an effort to meet you, but if Yukal leaves me alone, I’ll be upset and don’t know what to do.”

Due to her subtle yet threatening pressure, they ended up having to stay together.

If she’s not with me, it means she might cause trouble at any moment.

“Hey Yukal, I heard there’s a dessert cafe opened inside the academy, let’s go there!”

At Helena’s suggestion, the three of us uncomfortably headed to the cafe from the annex reception room.

As we drifted further away from Principal Iris and the professors who could help in case of emergency, it was getting risky, but I couldn’t show it.

Taking a deep breath, I sat down and tried to order, but the staff taking the order seemed too familiar to me.

‘Why is Claire here again?’

Before the entrance ceremony, when Helena, Claire, and I had a meal together at the restaurant, I deliberately gave up my seat. If it was the Helena I knew, she would have made a sponsorship offer.

It was a good opportunity where I could focus solely on my studies at Ardent Academy without worrying about financial matters.

I don’t know what to do in this embarrassing situation.

The fact that she is working here means she didn’t get sponsorship and is doing it to earn tuition fees.

I thought Claire had received sponsorship to avoid suffering like Seong Yong-a before the entrance ceremony, but I was completely wrong.

I couldn’t just let her go like this, so I took Claire’s arm without thinking and said, “Claire, give me a moment. It’s important. It’ll only take a moment, so please.”

After seeking permission from Cynerea and Helena, I took Claire to the back of the cafe.

Carefully, I spoke to Claire, who still avoided looking directly at me.

“Do you remember when you, Helena, and I had a meal together before the entrance ceremony? Did Helena make any suggestions while I was away? Like sponsorship?”

“…Helena Youngae-nim had offered to sponsor me.”

“Why didn’t you accept that offer? If you had accepted, you could have focused only on the studies you wanted at Ardent Academy.”

Stopping her gaze avoidance and speaking softly, Claire replied, “So you think I should have accepted Helena Youngae-nim’s offer.”

“Is there a reason not to accept? I just want you to focus on your studies.”

“Yukal, you… know nothing. You fool.”

Leaving those words behind, she went back into the dessert cafe.

I simply wished for Claire to have a happy life at the academy, but where did things go wrong?

Unable to hide my complicated feelings, as I entered the store, I saw Cynerea and Helena elegantly sipping tea together.

“Did you two have a good conversation?”

I couldn’t help but look at Helena, who asked as if she knew nothing.

Considering that Helena mentioned Claire received a sponsorship offer, it seemed Helena had set conditions that Claire couldn’t agree to reject the sponsorship.

‘Do such conditions exist…?’

No matter how much I think about it, I don’t know right now. Since Helena must also understand Claire’s value, it seems unlikely that she would resort to extreme measures like a lifelong contract after graduation.

“It didn’t go well. It seems like something is wrong with Claire, but do you have any idea, Lady Helena?”

“Well, I’m not close to Claire, so I don’t really know. If you don’t know, maybe no one does? You’re the closest to Claire.”

While that may be true, there’s a nagging feeling that this situation is related to her.

As I continued to watch Claire from a distance, it seemed like nothing was happening, even more so.

Cineria was smiling in our direction, but she didn’t seem inclined to speak, and Helena quietly sipped her tea, prolonging the silence.

Especially Cineria seemed preoccupied with something other than us while at the cafe.

I wonder how long we waited when Claire appeared from inside with dessert in hand.

“Enjoy your meal.”

Claire tried to carefully place the dessert on the table and leave, but it didn’t turn out that way.

– Clang

“Oh my, I’m sorry. I should have been more careful, but I accidentally dropped the teacup. I’m sorry, but could I ask for some cleaning assistance?”

With the teacup shattered, Claire’s shoes and socks got wet, and glass shards splattered around.