episode_0071

“So what you’re saying is that from the very beginning, you—”

“To think you’d resort to such nonsense. Not even worth listening to.”

“Did you really gather us all here just to spout this drivel? How dull. I’m leaving.”

“I won’t stop you if you wish to leave. But do let go of Eric’s hand first.”

“Tch.”

I was mistaken.

I thought I’d feel better once I escaped that uncomfortable situation with Cecilia.

But now, my mood had gone beyond “worst” and reached the stage of resignation.

——

“Oppa?”

Chris, who had just entered the student council room, glanced around nervously, as if sensing the tension between Cecilia and me.

“No need to check my expression, Chris. It’s already over.”

“Wait, Eric! I still have things to—!”

“I don’t.”

I’d already heard everything I needed from Cecilia. Selfish as it was, if this conversation continued, I’d inevitably get dragged into her interrogation. Chris’s timely arrival was a perfect escape.

“You came to call us because it’s about time, right?”

“Ah, yeah. Everyone else is already here, but two were missing.”

“They’re already here?”

I hastily checked the time.

“There’s still 30 minutes left! And they’re all gathered already?”

“That’s how important this meeting is to us. I hope you understand.”

“Hah. After ignoring me all first semester, this is just absurd.”

As I spoke, I subtly gestured toward Cecilia with my eyes.

Chris knew I retained most of my memories from previous loops, but the other three still saw me as nothing more than a pitiful student drunk on newfound prophetic power. That’s why, in the upcoming meeting, Chris would have to balance things between me and them.

“I do regret ignoring you back then. But we’re different now.”

“Different? So you’ll blindly believe whatever I say now?”

“Not blindly. No matter how certain your prophecies are, the future can still change based on our actions. And honestly? First-semester you wouldn’t have been trusted by anyone, let alone us. At least now we can somewhat communicate.”

“Hmm.”

Her jab at me was irritating, but her excuse made sense. This way, during the upcoming discussion, the entire hero party could naturally express concern for me without raising suspicion. I had to hide the fact that they, like me, remembered the previous loops.

There was no point in revealing that my future was predetermined—or that I’d died without ever being acknowledged. We were all wearing masks anyway.

The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous this meeting seemed.

We all knew the truth. We all knew saving the world required this. Yet no one dared to say it outright. What a comedy.

“Anyway, are you two done? I’d like to get this over with as soon as possible.”

“Is there a reason we have to hurry?”

“You might not realize it, Oppa, but none of us have time to waste. Especially some of us more than others.”

She must mean Elia. Honestly, even two bodies wouldn’t be enough for Elia right now.

Shrugging, I followed Chris out.

“We’ll finish this later, Cecilia. Though I doubt you’ll be so bold in front of the others.”

“Hmph.”

Cecilia seemed offended by how abruptly I ended the conversation, but she didn’t make a big deal of it.

Thud—

The student council door closed softly, and Cecilia and I began walking down the academy hallway behind Chris.

“It’s quieter than I expected. Classes shouldn’t be over yet, right?”

“We asked the students and professors using the nearby lecture halls to vacate. Told them we had important matters to discuss. Luckily, there weren’t many, so persuasion wasn’t too hard.”

“You say that so casually.”

Then again, even academy professors would find it hard to refuse requests from them. After all, these were the very people who held the empire in their grasp.

“Don’t make us sound like tyrants. We offered them better classrooms and ample support in exchange for their cooperation.”

“Elia must’ve spent a fortune again.”

“Nope. This time, it was Lucy unnie.”

“Lucilla? Where’d she get that kind of money?”

After being chosen as a hero, Lucilla received support and wealth from various nations that would make even kings envious. Before the war with the demon army escalated, even Elia had jokingly asked her for financial aid. But that was after she pulled the holy sword, wasn’t it?

“She’s been taking on a lot of requests.”

“Haah… I thought only the president was the problem, but her too?”

“They took requests together, apparently?”

I’d have to grill the president properly when she got back.

“Is it really something to worry about that much? If Eric’s prophecies are correct, we need to grow stronger.”

“So you’re just going to—never mind, forget it.”

I didn’t have a valid reason to stop them anyway. I just didn’t want them drawing attention before I could act.

The more unexpected variables arose, the harder they’d struggle to solve things without involving me—until everything spiraled beyond repair.

“……By the way, Oppa.”

Chris, who had been walking quietly, suddenly spoke up.

“About the lunchbox… If you finished it, you could’ve just returned it to me. I’d have taken care of the rest.”

“Ah, that.”

No wonder it felt suspiciously luxurious. Seems Chris’s goodwill wasn’t a one-time thing.

“I threw it away.”

“Huh?”

Chris’s eyes widened as if she’d misheard. I deliberately kept my tone indifferent.

“Who’d eat something like that? Tossed it the moment I got it. By now, the janitors have probably incinerated it with the rest of the trash…”

“You threw it away? That?”

Not just Chris—even Cecilia looked genuinely shocked, staring at me in disbelief.

I put on my best clueless expression before feigning realization.

“Ah! Right. Sorry, Chris.”

“Oppa…”

“That lunchbox must’ve cost a lot, huh? Didn’t even think before tossing it. Now that I think about it, the container looked pretty high-end too…”

I pretended not to know her intentions, though they were obvious.

“Really, I’m sorry. I’ve got no excuse. Even as a noble, wasting money like that is unacceptable. I’ll pay you back somehow. At least the container can be replaced, right?”

I glanced at Chris, hoping she’d be disappointed and keep her distance. Instead, she just smiled bitterly.

“Yeah… Thanks, Oppa.”

“You’re not mad?”

Cecilia, however, looked incredulous as she confronted Chris.

“I’ll overlook the fact that you secretly approached Eric alone, but you’re not even angry?”

“Who am I to be angry? I’m fine, unnie.”

“But—”

“Ah, we’re here. Come on, Oppa.”

“This is…”

“Don’t look so surprised. For a group like ours, anything less would be inadequate.”

I’d expected a simple borrowed classroom, but the “conference room” before me was far beyond that.

“Are all the barriers set up?”

“Of course. Soundproofing, anti-magic, anti-divine, anti-physical, every eavesdropping and detection spell, even perception interference.”

“Impressive.”

I had to admit it. I’d seen places with this level of security before, but I hadn’t realized they already had this much influence.

“Even if someone gets close, they won’t even notice this building exists. And even if they do, unless they walk right in, eavesdropping is impossible. Though at that point, it’s hardly ‘eavesdropping’ anymore.”

Thank goodness. If word of this meeting got out, most of us here wouldn’t make it out unscathed.

A round table stood in the center of the spacious room, where, as Chris had said, several people were already waiting.

“You’re late.”

“Late? There’s still 10 minutes left.”

“You said to meet as early as possible, Chris. I have paperwork piling up even as we speak.”

“If you’re so eager to work, why not return to the palace ahead of us? I won’t stop you.”

“That’s not a joke I’d take lightly. And Elia, you agreed this meeting was necessary—that’s why you’re here.”

Lucilla shot Elia a sharp look.

“At least act like it.”

“Hmph. No fun at all.”

“I doubt anyone here would want your approval.”

Ah, I want to go home already.