episode_0053

How long had I faced a dagger at my throat? Despite the sudden situation, I started to calmly think things through.

“At least she won’t slit my throat because of what I just said.”

While Cineria did mention the contract, considering how easily Iris backed off, it’s clear that some sort of agreement was made during our last meeting.

Still, my words just now were indeed a mistake.

I had intended to seize on Cineria’s confusion and divulge more information about her, but it seemed the sensitive nature of the information backfired instead.

Taking control of her emotions, Cineria sheathed her dagger with a short sigh and held me in her arms.

“Yukal, you know my slip of the tongue was a mistake, right? You can’t casually reveal such sensitive information to a woman.”

“Sorry, sis. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Only then did she smile faintly, applying some kind of soothing substance to the wound on my neck and wrapping it with bandages.

“It’s good medicine; it won’t leave a scar. The treatment here is much better than what you’d get in the infirmary.”

“She probably said that to avoid unnecessary suspicion by sending me to the infirmary for a minor injury.”

With all events concluded, receiving unwarranted suspicion due to a sudden injury is something we both want to avoid.

Nodding lightly as if understanding, Cineria praised me for listening well and patted my head.

“Not good. Stay calm unlike before.”

I should have unsettled her by revealing more information and at least posed one or two additional questions, but I failed to do so.

Cineria has already regained her composure, and it’s likely that I won’t need to spend more time probing how well I know her.

Feeling slightly frustrated with my complex thoughts, Cineria spoke up.

“I’ve asked two questions so far, so you have three left.”

As she pondered with a smile, I hoped she would suspect the former Guild Master’s faction like she muttered to herself earlier and waste at least one question.

Smiling, she looked at me and calmly made a proposal.

“I’ll use up one of your remaining questions if Yukal promises me something.”

“If it’s a promise within my capabilities. Can I hear it first and then decide, sis?”

“You won’t disclose anything about me or Black Moon to others. No conversations, writings, or any direct or indirect actions using magic that could make the other party aware. Especially to the little principal who cherishes students.”

“Accepting this might be beneficial since I had no intention of revealing anything about Cineria and Black Moon anyway.”

It’s better to accept her offer and reduce the chance of revealing any disadvantageous information within the remaining questions.

If she were to inquire about why I, despite having such a talent, was weak in certain aspects or ask about people around me, I might have to expose the penalty of my unique ability “Balance” or the fact that I know about Sung Yong-ah through Seong Yong-a, potentially to enemies.

Accepting Cineria’s proposal and minimizing such risks seems to be the best course of action.

“Got it. I’ll make sure not to mention any relevant details, sis. However, due to my recent exposure, please allow me to at least mention its existence to the principal. I won’t disclose the guild name.”

“Hmm, okay. In return, keep my real name and the name I told you a secret.”

In the latter case, it’s only a matter of time before Claire and Helena find out since she already revealed her identity as Ria during their last meeting. I don’t know the intention behind it.

“The fourth question sounds good. Do you remember the general store you visited in Borea Territory before entering the academy?”

Are you talking about the witch’s antique shop?

“Did you notice that I used a trick with the wooden sword to get into the Ardent Academy back then?”

Asking about the wooden sword could lead to a chain of questions about how you know about it, so it’s not ideal.

Trying to maintain composure, I looked directly at Cineria and waited, but I couldn’t help but feel tense with her question.

“If it was the wooden sword you bought from that store, I used it for the Ardent Academy entrance exam.”

“No, I’m talking about something other than the wooden sword.”

“Huh? The only thing I bought there was the wooden sword.”

Thinking back slowly, it seemed like the old man had thrown some kind of pouch at me.

“I only bought the wooden sword myself. He threw some pouch he called a ‘bonus,’ but I thought it would be trash anyway, so I didn’t bother to check.”

Cineria smiled broadly as if reassured by my words.

“Luckily. If you have it, Yucal, could you give it to me when we leave the cafe?”

“Um… Okay. Let’s do that, sis.”

“Was there anything else at that store that Cineria would be concerned about besides the wooden sword?”

No matter how much I pondered, there didn’t seem to be any such item.

It seemed like a suspicious place to anyone, so I spent a considerable amount of time meticulously checking every item, but ultimately, apart from the wooden sword, everything seemed to be trash.

Setting aside the unsolved riddle, I looked at Cineria and spoke.

“So, how will you handle the last question, sis?”

I thought she would ask something about the wooden sword to find out something from me, but suddenly asking something strange caught me off guard for the last question.

Looking at me like that, Cineria smirked.

“It seems like Yucal wants to solve everything here, so I’d like to help, but I won’t ask now, okay?”

“Huh?”

Wait, she said she wouldn’t ask everything here—

It was as if she could see my thoughts as she spoke.

“You didn’t say you would ask everything here. Can’t I ask whenever I want? Yucal is smart but subtly foolish, after all.”

That’s not… wrong.

My mistake was assuming that I would exhaust all questions given this opportunity to find out everything.

“Let’s get up from here. I’d love to see Yucal more, but the visit will end soon, and it’s almost time. You also promised to bring me something from the dorm, right?”

“Still, I’m relieved that the most worrying information hasn’t been exposed yet.”

Taking comfort in that, I accompanied Cineria to the boys’ dormitory.

Leaving her outside for a moment, I quickly went into the room, grabbed the pouch, and came out.

“It’s definitely strange. Why is Cineria so concerned about this?”

Although I had a strong desire to open the pouch and check, I couldn’t do so due to the additional promise I made with her just before leaving the cafe.

“Right, if you hadn’t opened the pouch when you brought it from the dorm, I think sis would appreciate it.”

“I guess I don’t need to worry about it too much.”

If it’s Cinerea, she can easily tell if I’ve opened my pocket or not, and I don’t want to take unnecessary risks out of mere curiosity.

As I came out with my pockets in hand, Cinerea, who was looking at me, waved her hand.

The problem seems to be that many students are watching her awkwardly as they unnecessarily wander around their rooms or nearby areas, staring at her because of her appearance.

Even the students from the swordsmanship department, who usually sweat a lot while training, seemed like they might lose their minds suddenly when they ran or exercised with their tops off.

It was truly a brief moment, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I had to go through this much trouble to save them.

“Sis, I brought this.”

Taking the pocket I handed over, she firmly told me, “You shouldn’t use this on girls, especially Yukari. Be careful from now on.”

“Why are you saying that all of a sudden without even telling me what it is?”

“Anyway, thanks to you, today was good after a long time. But don’t be so rough next time, okay? Other girls wouldn’t like it.”

Just as I was about to speak—

Cinerea lightly punched me at a speed I couldn’t react to.

“Even if you miss me, focus on your academy life. I’ll come back soon!”

Blushing, she ran off quickly, looking like she had fallen in love to anyone who saw her.

It’s probably all an act, though.

Swallowing a sigh at the inexplicable behavior, I heard students around me shouting.

“Traitor! How dare you start dating at the sacred Ardent Academy first.”

“And she’s such a beautiful lady!!”

“What’s going on, you bastard Yukari. Explain yourself!”

Seeing Victor among those students made me feel like crying.

“You shouldn’t be like that, Shuba…”

Yukari seemed like he was about to collapse under the aftermath of Cinerea’s sudden attack.