episode_0004

“Shieline, what on earth is his scheme…”

Upon hearing Shieline’s words, Karla grumbled and headed towards the academy garden where Ayla was expected to be.

Whenever Ayla was feeling down, she would often be found staring blankly at the sky in the academy garden. Seeing her looking a bit off this morning, Karla listened to Shieline’s words and made her way towards the academy garden.

But why was Karla muttering and heading towards the garden after hearing from Shieline?

It was probably because Shieline’s words were so absurd.

As Karla made her way to the garden, she recalled the earlier conversation.

“Ayla will come, but it’s not confirmed yet, so should I go talk to her?”

“What if it’s not confirmed that she’s coming? Then don’t go. When it’s confirmed, then speak…”

“No, it’s already confirmed.”

“You didn’t say anything?”

“Heh, Karla, go to Ayla and tell her you want to go to the social gathering. If she says she won’t go, tell her I’m going. Then she’ll definitely follow.”

“What? What kind of…”

“Hurry up. Don’t you want to meet Ayla?”

“…”

That’s how it happened.

So Karla was left dumbfounded.

Ayla, who she thought wouldn’t come even if she asked, would apparently come if Shieline did… Isn’t that just absurd?

“Unlucky… But it seems like there’s no other way…”

Nevertheless, Karla wanted to somehow have a conversation with Ayla and find out what had happened. She believed that the only place outside the limited space of the social hall, where Ayla was avoiding her, was suitable for a conversation.

It was inevitable. Shieline was smart, so everything would work out if Karla listened to him.

Karla longed for the time spent with Shieline.

Back then… she was truly happy. How did things end up like this by chance?

Knowing that regretting wouldn’t change anything, Karla erased any traces of regret from her mind.

“Even so… this is really unreliable…”

Continuing to grumble, Karla arrived at the academy garden and easily spotted Ayla lost in thought.

Ayla, with her pure white hair gazing at the sky.

Karla, upon finding Ayla, put on a bright smile and ran towards her.

“Ayla!”

“Hmm…?”

Startled by the sudden call from behind, Ayla, with a vacant look in her eyes, turned to see who it was.

Initially thinking it might be Shieline, she tried to regain some composure, but upon confirming that it was Karla calling her, the spark that had briefly returned to her eyes faded once more.

“Karla.”

“Oh! It’s me, Ayla. Let’s get straight to the point. Do you want to go to the social gathering with me? There’s an event hosted by the kingdom a week after the inter-class tournament ends. That’s the social gathering.”

Although Karla felt a bit nervous seeing Ayla’s lackluster expression, she mustered up the courage to bring up the conversation as she wanted to have a proper discussion with Ayla. However, as expected, Ayla’s response was lukewarm. If it were the Ayla who liked her, she would have eagerly accepted with hearts in her eyes, but Ayla’s heart had long been set on Shieline.

Thus, Ayla extended her hand, formed an X with two fingers, indicating her refusal.

Expecting an immediate acceptance, Karla, now slightly flustered, could only watch as Ayla turned away without a word.

“Really… Should I give it a try?”

“Right now, Karla felt that Ayla wouldn’t share any conversation with her. As if resigned to the inevitable, she promptly followed Sieline’s instructions.

‘Um… Ayla is also coming…’

Karla hesitated a bit before speaking.

‘I’ll go.’

‘Oh, okay?’

‘I’m going. In a week? Got it. I’ll get ready.’

*Tadadada-!*

Upon hearing Sieline is coming, the lifeless look in Ayla’s eyes returned, and she swiftly got up from where she was sitting on the ground and ran off somewhere.

Karla, who didn’t grasp the situation, could only watch Ayla disappearing into the distance.

‘What… is this?’

*

After seeing off Karla, I returned to the academy courtyard and lounged around.

With nothing to do and all my classes scheduled for the afternoon, I had wasted the morning. It was an unfortunate incident that made me focus on the afternoon classes.

I don’t regret it. It feels good to have the morning to relax.

For now, Karla will carry out her mission well and return.

After telling Karla about me, which implied that Ayla would come, I sent Karla to Ayla.

Initially, Karla might be surprised, but the current Ayla distances herself from all men except me, so Karla, realizing that communication won’t work, will inevitably tell Ayla about me.

If that happens, Ayla would excitedly head to the market to prepare her dress.

Or maybe not, but it’s highly likely. That’s just how Ayla is. She’s devoted, sacrificing everything—body, mind, everything—to one person.

So, if Ayla and Karla’s matter is settled, then I just need to go to Lulu and persuade her to join the social club.

Karla will definitely come as the club president to meet Ayla, and if Karla isn’t there, Lulu, who was expected not to come without Karla, will also show up as the club president.

It’s not a lie; everything is true. Now that everything is smoothly falling into place, feeling good about it, I stood up in the courtyard to persuade Lulu to become the club president…

‘Hello?’

‘Oh, damn, you scared me!!!’

‘Wow, I got startled too. Why are you so jumpy, Sieline?’

‘Hu… huh… Lulu?’

‘Yeah, what about it?’

Suddenly, Lulu appeared in front of me, offering her face, and I was so surprised that I tumbled in the courtyard.

Wow, that was really surprising. It’s natural to be startled when someone’s face is so close.

Still, it worked out well. I saved myself the trouble of finding Lulu.

But why did Lulu come back here? I thought Karla would have gone somewhere since she was alone at the training ground, but she suddenly appeared in the courtyard without Karla.

What kind of unpredictable person is this? Just a moment ago, it was the courtyard. Then Karla. Now back to the courtyard… Moreover, she disappeared and suddenly reappeared, making it even more surprising.

It seemed like she wanted to talk to me after playing with her friends.

The reason Karla was alone… must have been because her head was still confused, making her unwilling to talk to anyone. Otherwise, stubborn Lulu wouldn’t have been absent from the training ground.

Thanks to Karla’s annoyance, I easily found Lulu, and while brushing off the dirt from my pants and shirt, I stood up.

‘Lulu, you came at the right time. I have something to say.’

‘Something to say?’

‘Yes, would you like to go to the social club together as the club president?’

‘…Are you asking me out on a date?’

Lulu misunderstood my invitation to go to the social club as a date.”

Hmm, I’m a little upset. I’ve never once shown any signs of liking you, yet you jump to such ridiculous misunderstandings. It really makes me think Lulu is incredibly foolish.

Every aspect of me is a facade, and even if I act kindly towards you, I have no interest in you whatsoever.

My only concern is your well-being.

I tried to dispel the misunderstanding by maintaining a smile as much as possible because I knew Lulu would freak out and run away if I were to reveal these feelings outwardly.

“I don’t ask out women who are taken. It’s not about asking you out on a date, just suggesting we enjoy the social gathering together.”

“Oh… Not asking me out on a date? Right, I guess I am taken~ But can you suggest enjoying a social gathering to someone like that? Isn’t that too forward?”

“…I’m not sure how you know that word, but Carla will also join us…”

-Sigh!

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, let’s.”

Upon hearing that Carla was coming, with a fiery look in her eyes, she grabbed my hand firmly and said we should go together.

As expected, it’s all about Carla. If Carla goes, it feels like we’re heading to hell together. No, it’s not a feeling; it seems like it will actually happen. In the game, Lulu was truly willing to follow Carla to the land of death.

That’s both Lulu’s strength and weakness. Her popularity among readers is due to this, but it also causes them to worry.

While main characters rarely die in media, heroines dying is occasional, or rather, quite common.

So, readers used to be quite anxious, but as expected, the author didn’t like gloomy atmospheres and kept everyone alive.

Excluding the heroines at risk.

Anyway, having successfully recruited Lulu, after chatting with her for a while, I headed back to the dormitory to prepare for afternoon classes.

There was still plenty of time until the class competition, and there wasn’t much left to prepare. Just waiting for the time to pass.

During this time, I need to worsen my relationship with Rachel.

To get Rachel into danger, I need to distance myself from her.

Unlike Lulu, Rachel is not a woman who refrains from violence.

But she does like kind people, so since I behave well at the academy, she wouldn’t bother me.

Therefore, I needed to create some distance between us.

To do that, I must always oppose Rachel’s opinions unconditionally.

Rachel is straightforward, has her beliefs, and is a stubborn heroine, so she wouldn’t like someone who actively opposes and contradicts her opinions.

I just need to make her view me a bit negatively.

Right now, Lulu is a priority. There’s no rush to distance myself from Rachel to put her in danger. Slowly, very slowly, proceed with putting her in danger.

That’s how it went with Ayla. It took over 10 months to put Ayla in danger. I did a lot for her parents during those 10 months.

Just one month might not be enough for Ayla to be in danger, so I set it for at least 10 months to show that I provided the incurable disease treatment and support for a long time.

It can’t be 12 months because it overlaps with the Red Moon season.

I’m currently a second-year student at the academy. Essentially, most of my first year was spent putting Ayla in danger.

With those thoughts in mind, I entered the academy classroom.

“What should I wear…? This one…? Or this one…? They’re all so pretty, it’s driving me crazy…”

Ayla, she’s currently at a famous clothing store in one of the shopping districts, choosing a dress.

Carla’s words and the news that Sieline is coming to the social gathering got her excited, prompting her to come straight to the clothing store to pick out a dress that wasn’t even there.

– Sigh.

Ayla, who was choosing a pretty dress, paused in her selection.

“Shieline… She hasn’t even accepted my apology… If I wear this outfit and flaunt it… Would she dislike it?”

She was caught up in worries about Shieline.

Initially only concerned about Karla, Ayla shifted her affection towards Shieline upon seeing Shieline’s feelings. Despite tormenting her, hitting her, and doing many wrongs, Shieline never abandoned her, always stood by her side, and confessed her love every day.

Disliking this, Ayla continued to torment Shieline. However, after reading her mother’s letter, Ayla hardened. It was because Shieline, whom she had tormented, had helped her remember her forgotten parents.

At that moment, she expressed denial and dissatisfaction.

Despite tormenting her so much, why did she help her?

Ayla immediately regretted saying those words.

“I told you, Ayla. I love you. More than anyone else. Even if you love Karla, I love only you. Wholeheartedly. I love only you.”

“A being like her… So kind… Have I been tormenting her all this time? Without losing the emotion of love… Continuously… Continuously helping me…”

Recalling Shieline’s confession of love, tears welled up in Ayla’s eyes out of regret.

Wiping away the tears with her fingers, Ayla touched the dress, thinking:

“If only I had known this fact sooner. If only I had treated Shieline better. If only I had loved Shieline instead of Karla. There would be no need for this regret…”

“Lulu.”

The mention of Lulu by Shieline flooded Ayla’s mind.

The woman who took Shieline away. Lulu.

Although not taken away, the reason Shieline rejected her was because she had fallen in love with Lulu.

If Ayla had tried harder, Shieline’s heart might have remained hers. A Shieline who always looked at her, loved only her…

But such a Shieline was no longer there.

Instead of the bright smiling Shieline, there was now an expressionless Shieline.

“Lulu…!”

Though Lulu had done nothing wrong, Ayla instinctively resented her.

If Lulu hadn’t been at the academy, Ayla could have reconciled with Shieline, becoming close, maybe even lovers.

Lulu’s presence blocked that possibility.

No matter how friendly Ayla was with Lulu, there was no room for friendship in love.

As thoughts of Lulu made her teeth chatter, Ayla hurried out of the clothing store.

Staying longer would only fill her with guilt, remorse for Shieline, anger towards Lulu, and resentment.

Exiting the store, Ayla slammed the door, gripping her arm, and headed back to the academy where Shieline was expected to be.

To apologize once again.

Even if she doesn’t receive forgiveness… To keep trying.

Now, Ayla can’t live without Shieline.

She has become unable to like anyone but Shieline.

That’s why she heads towards Shieline.

Even if her whole body is injured, as long as she can apologize to Shieline… She will go wherever Shieline is.

Truly, even if it means going to hell.