Ch.70Chapter 70. First Day of the Festival (3)

The first day of the festival ended without any major incidents.

There were no significant events during any of the lectures given by Academy graduates, including Yuria.

Of course, I only attended Yuria’s lecture, but Professor Amillion told me about the others.

It seems they’re planning to make their move on the second day rather than the first.

“I’ll go ahead.”

“Oh, okay. See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

Though I say nothing happened, that wasn’t entirely true.

Emily nodded with a much more subdued voice than usual and left without looking back.

While the bloodshed I was worried about didn’t occur, there was definitely something that could be called an “incident.”

Emily had asked an unexpected question after Yuria’s lecture.

Most people already knew that Yuria had left the Phrysis Family and was working independently.

So I understood why Emily would ask Yuria why she left her family. Others probably had been curious about it too.

But Emily’s attitude when asking the question was concerning.

To put it mildly, she looked and sounded like she might burst into tears at any moment.

“Don’t you think Emily was acting strange earlier?”

I wasn’t the only one who thought Emily was behaving oddly.

As soon as Emily left, Cynthia spoke up as if reading my mind.

Elaine, who was standing beside us, nodded in agreement.

“Exactly.”

“Yuria’s response was different from usual too. Normally, she would just brush off such questions with a joke.”

“Really?”

Elaine nodded with certainty.

When Emily asked her question earlier, Yuria was momentarily speechless.

Then she replied in a dejected voice that she “had no choice.”

Actually, I didn’t know why Yuria had left her family.

When I met Yuria, she had already left the Phrysis Family and was working independently.

I never particularly wondered about it, assuming she had her reasons.

But Yuria’s response to Emily’s question was the most emotional I’d seen her recently.

“Hmm. I should ask about it.”

“Ask about what, sir?”

“What Emily asked earlier? Why she left her family and works alone, that sort of thing.”

“…Who are you planning to ask, sir?”

“Oh.”

I suddenly realized I was talking to Elaine, not Addy.

I let my guard down while lost in thought.

It didn’t help that Addy and Elaine had very similar speech patterns.

“I-I meant if the opportunity arises! How could Ryu possibly ask Yuria directly! Hahaha.”

“…Right, yes.”

Thankfully, Cynthia jumped in to help, clearly startled.

Fortunately, Elaine, who was considerably less perceptive than Cynthia, seemed to accept this without suspicion.

She tilted her head but didn’t say anything more.

That was a relief.

“Emily wouldn’t even give a proper answer when asked.”

“That’s true.”

After the lecture, Cynthia asked Emily why she had asked such a question, but Emily didn’t answer.

When Cynthia persisted, Emily simply said “just curious” and then kept her mouth shut.

It became difficult to ask Emily anything more after that.

And so the day ended, leaving us with nothing but curiosity and uneasiness.

“Sigh. Let’s go now. I don’t think there’s anything else happening today.”

Even though I wanted to ask Yuria something, I needed to part ways with the others first.

Cynthia and Elaine looked somewhat disappointed at my suggestion to leave, but they both nodded.

“Right. Tomorrow is more important anyway.”

“By the way, Ryuyeong, do you have proper attire for the party?”

“Party attire?”

“Yes. Although there’s no specific dress code since the party is being held within the Academy, you should still observe basic etiquette…”

“Ah, I get what you mean. I probably have something suitable.”

In truth, I wasn’t sure, but I figured I could ask Addy to find something for me.

I assumed she meant I should wear something like formal attire.

“…That’s good to hear.”

With Elaine’s final words, we exchanged brief goodbyes and parted ways.

After confirming that Cynthia and Elaine had left through the Academy’s main gate, I immediately turned around.

It was conveniently dark now, and no one was around.

Woong-

Normally I would have walked to the dormitory, but today I decided to take a small risk.

Instead of walking, I teleported directly to my dorm room.

‘I need to meet with Yuria quickly.’

Tonight, Yuria, Erika, and I planned to investigate the building where tomorrow’s party would be held.

‘I should also ask her why she left her family.’

And I needed to ask if she knew Emily as well.

**

“Sigh…”

Yuria took a deep breath and sipped her tea.

The warm scent of rosemary filled her mouth, helping to calm her mind a little.

‘She’s become quite brave.’

She had expected to meet that girl when she came to the Academy.

However, she hadn’t anticipated having such a public “conversation,” especially with the girl asking why she left her family with such a resentful expression.

“You’ve been sighing a lot.”

“…Hehe. I suppose so.”

“…”

Erika, who was lying on the sofa with her legs crossed, spoke up.

Yuria collected herself at the sound of Erika’s voice, reminding herself not to get caught up in her emotions.

After all, as long as she was at the Academy, she was on a mission.

And it was a very important mission at that.

A mission where they might capture a key figure from the organization they had been chasing for years.

Until now, they had only managed to catch low-level members, which hadn’t led to significant results.

But this time felt different.

She wasn’t working alone; she had the reliable Black Shadow Corps leader and Erika lying over there.

“Are you worried about the mission?”

“Hehe. Of course I am. It’s an important mission.”

“…Wow, you’re so dishonest.”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve been noticeably different since that student asked you that question, you know?”

“…”

Yuria couldn’t respond to Erika’s direct observation.

She had been trying not to show her emotions, but apparently, she hadn’t been successful.

“…That’s surprising. I thought you wouldn’t pay attention to me.”

“How could I not notice when you’re being so obvious?”

Yuria let out a small laugh and took another sip of tea.

“…So, what is it?”

“Hehe. It’s nothing. Just some old memories coming back.”

“About you leaving your family? I’ve been curious too, but since the leader never mentioned it, I just kept quiet.”

“Really?”

Yuria looked at Erika with surprise.

She knew that Erika was usually uncomfortable around her.

So she had assumed Erika wouldn’t have any interest in her personal matters.

“Well, we’re colleagues working together. If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine.”

“No, it’s not that I don’t want to talk about it…”

Woong-

Yuria stopped mid-sentence as she felt a shift in the air in the middle of the room.

Erika seemed to sense it too, as she focused her gaze on the same spot.

There was only one person who always appeared with this particular presence.

“Okay. This is the right place.”

“You’re here?”

“Took you long enough.”

Black Shadow Corps leader Ryuyeong.

Upon appearing, Ryuyeong quickly scanned the surroundings before relaxing.

“Good work today, everyone.”

“It was nothing. If anything, meeting the students gave me energy.”

“Oh please. Getting energy? You’ve been sulking this whole time because of that difficult question.”

“What? Really?”

Erika sat up from her lying position as she challenged Yuria’s statement.

Yuria just smiled faintly, not bothering to defend herself against Erika’s comment.

“Hehe. Shall we go now?”

“But I’ve been curious too.”

“About what?”

“The question Emily asked earlier? I realized I’ve never asked why you left your family.”

“…You seem close with Miss Emily.”

“I guess so? We’re in the same class, and she’s smart. A bit introverted, though.”

Yuria shifted the topic to Emily as she responded to Ryuyeong.

She did it so naturally that neither Ryuyeong nor Erika noticed anything unusual.

The conversation smoothly transitioned to being about Emily.

“She solved the entire written test by herself during the competition. That’s basically why we won first place.”

“Hehehe. She sounds like a smart student. And close to you as well.”

“Yeah… Oh, but should we get going? Let’s finish up and get some rest before it gets too late.”

“That’s an excellent idea.”

Erika jumped up from the sofa, immediately ready to move.

Somehow she had already changed her clothes, and was now wearing a black uniform.

Unlike usual, even her hair was black, making her look completely dark.

“You’re both so quick. Just a moment, please. It’s been a while since I’ve worn this outfit.”

Ryuyeong was already in uniform when he arrived, so Yuria was the only one left.

Yuria looked back and forth between the two before picking up the black clothes hanging nearby.

“I’ll just change my clothes quickly, okay?”

“Oh, we’ll wait outside. Erika.”

Woong-

When Ryuyeong extended his hand to Erika, she naturally took it, and the next moment, both of them were gone from the room.

“…Hehe.”

Left alone in the room, a bitter, lonely smile crossed Yuria’s face.

But only for a moment. Yuria quickly composed herself and hardened her expression.

At least today and tomorrow were not the time to be caught up in emotions.

Swish-

Yuria deliberately changed her clothes slowly, practicing mind control.

After all, she was about to do important work, and she didn’t want to ruin it with personal feelings.

‘For that child’s sake too.’

Yuria’s eyes shone with determination.