Chapter 76 : A carnal relationship

The academy looked much the same as before.

At least, that’s how it appeared to Teferi.

Even though it was an unusual event for demons to have breached the academy grounds,

the average student didn’t seem to feel the weight of that reality.

Compared to the events that would unfold over the next year or two,

the academy was relatively peaceful in the present.

“If you trust me and give me your vote…”

Seeing others busy preparing for the election only emphasized that feeling.

In her previous life, she too had formed close ties with the student council.

‘What if I had properly prepared and run this time around?’

She didn’t have lofty ambitions,

but if she had been elected, it might have been fun.

Like making a rule where students of the same year share dormitories.

It was a tempting thought,

but unfortunately, it wasn’t something she was meant to do in this life.

She had other things to take care of now.

Teferi walked through the academy, passing students campaigning.

[“Jenny, where are you going?”]

“Ah, Teferi…!”

Jenny was a friend loved wherever she went thanks to her friendly nature and cute, small appearance.

They weren’t that close,

but even in her past life, they had always exchanged cheerful greetings when they ran into each other.

[“Something wrong? You don’t look well.”]

Even if she tried to hide it,

worry was clearly written on Jenny’s face—unusual for her.

When Teferi asked, Jenny waved her hands in denial.

“It’s nothing, I’m just… a bit tired, I guess.”

She forced her lips into a smile with her fingers,

but her shadowed expression didn’t look normal at all.

Still, Teferi reluctantly nodded.

After all, even she couldn’t perform the miracle of bringing the dead back to life.

“Well then, see you later. Bye!”

Jenny waved energetically as she tried to sound cheerful,

but her slumped shoulders a few steps later betrayed her true emotions.

The brighter someone is, the more sensitive they are to the death of those around them.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t even free to grieve properly.

That was the condition of the mystery she carried.

‘How much longer can she hold on?’

No later than this year—Jenny would end up going out of control and dying.

It wasn’t because of any special trigger,

but because of everything building up over time—making it hard to prepare in advance.

So… does that mean Teferi would have to just stand by and watch Jenny fade away?

Regrettably, she had no solution in her mind—nothing worthy of being called a real plan.

‘What would you have done?’

Rough shouts echoed from the academy’s practice room.

Normally, she’d attend class like everyone else,

but Teferi walked further into the building.

To join the delegation headed for the land of the elves.

“Why the long face?”

“What do you mean?”

“You look like death warmed over.”

“You’re doing something you swore you never would.”

It wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

From the beginning, I was the one with a normal body as a woman.

Gripping my lower stomach again from the return of my period after just a month…

That’s not weird at all.

The timing is just terribly unlucky.

No, maybe it’s actually lucky?

This had to happen while I’m stuck on this floating island.

Well, something else is the one that burst, anyway.

‘I’m dying.’

I feel like hell,

but I’m not completely incapacitated either.

We received word just a bit ago—

in a few days, we’ll be able to disembark here.

“What did they say?”

“To summarize: we wait.”

We barely managed to contact the academy.

Despite the unstable connection,

we were told to wait at the Noble’s docking point.

They said they’d join us once the Noble lands.

Unlike the uncertain destination, the docking site is fixed.

And since we’re headed in the same direction,

once they meet us, we’ll head to the land of the elves together.

“What will you do?”

“Me?”

We always go everywhere together,

so it’s easy to forget that we’re not bound to each other.

Maybe someday in the future, we might end up that way,

but not yet—not right now.

As free individuals, we could go wherever we wanted.

We could interfere in each other’s lives,

but not force one another.

“You weren’t assigned any official duty anyway. If you want to go back, you can.”

“Now? Go back alone? Nah, I’ll just stick with you.”

Thankfully, she decided to stay by my side—call it loyalty, if you will.

She’s been surprisingly reliable lately.

If only she’d stop adding unnecessary comments afterward.

“Besides, we’ve already shared bodies.”

“…Can you please stop saying things that’ll get you misunderstood?”

Sharing a cramped bed and getting tangled up while sleeping

is just what happens.

I don’t sleep peacefully,

and Amie’s warm body is perfect for cuddling.

But saying we “shared bodies”? That’s way too suggestive!

Regardless of the truth, people will definitely get the wrong idea.

She chuckled at my reaction and changed the subject.

“Who’s coming from your side?”

“Mostly people to use as decoration.”

The reason students were going to the elven lands

was to make a political statement:

“Look at how amazing our representatives are.”

It wasn’t about actual work.

The students were chosen for their status or excellent grades.

From Ruelie, whom I saved… to Teferi.

“Teferi?”

Amieter said, surprised.

Well, she is a commoner,

but still the top first-year student. Like me.

Like me.

It’s important, so I said it twice.

Amieter’s face darkened when she heard Teferi was coming.

She tapped her fingers silently.

“Good thing I said I’d come. Really, I can’t let my guard down…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’d never get it, dumbass.”

I didn’t do anything wrong,

but she still insulted me.

Was there some history between them?

Well, I’m not the only one who’s friends with her.

I guess there could be things I don’t know.

“Fox-faced b…”

“What?”

“Not you. Mind your own business.”

What is that supposed to mean?

I heard that vampires used to live in the Noble.

Thankfully, nothing weird happened during our week aboard the floating island.

Touching land again after so long…

Unlike airplanes, this thing moved much slower.

Even though we didn’t go that far,

it took a long time.

Which meant we were stuck in the room together for a week.

Just the two of us in that cramped space—

we nearly died of boredom.

“That’s the elven land.”

As we approached the docking site,

the flying island slowly lowered its altitude.

Through the clouds, a green land came into view.

People usually imagine vast forests when they think of elves,

but the place we were headed wasn’t a lush jungle.

Rather, it looked more like an ordinary city.

A city built around a single, massive tree.

“That must be it.”

“…The World Tree.”

A massive tree had taken root at the city’s center.

Even though we were still far away,

its grandeur was clearly visible.

‘Just like I heard—not a single other tree around it.’

As enormous as it was,

the World Tree’s roots went unimaginably deep.

It needed that much nutrition.

Which is why, ironically,

no other trees could grow near it.

They’d all wither and die.

So even though the elves called it the “Mother of Trees,”

in truth, it was a selfish being in disguise—

just like its children.

“This is where we’re supposed to meet.”

There was a huge tavern near the Noble’s landing point.

Perhaps because it was a busy area,

it wasn’t much to look at,

but a decent town had formed nearby.

Of course, a place with a lot of people doesn’t always mean good facilities.

It was noisy and filled with coarse people—

enough to put anyone in a bad mood.

“There they are.”

Fortunately, we quickly found the people we were looking for.

We recognized a familiar face nearby.

“Professor Heights?”

“Ah, we finally found you, Miss Treya. And beside you… hmm, it seems my advice helped after all.”

Advice?

Ah, right—

when I first met Amieter, we were in Professor Heights’ swordsmanship class.

Funny how things turned out like this.

Back then, we were practically fighting to the death.

“Don’t tell me you’re coming too, Professor?”

“To be honest, I didn’t want to. I’m just a low-ranking guy.”

Though he was a professor at the academy,

he looked to be in his mid-30s.

A swordsmanship teacher who could guarantee safety,

with experience from working in the southern royal palace—

he must’ve seemed like the perfect candidate to the academy.

Not that they cared what he thought.

“Well then, shall we go? Everyone is waiting.”

“All the students participating today are here?”

“Yes, every single one. This is an important matter.”

That means Teferi must be here too.

For some reason, Amieter growled softly under her breath.

Did they really fight…?