episode_0090

Someone gently stroked my hair, bringing me back to my senses, allowing me to slowly awaken.

“Ugh….”

“It’s okay. You can sleep a little longer if you’re tired.”

Whispering quietly to me, as if urging me to rest, she turned her body slightly to the side and patted my back.

Although I felt like surrendering and sinking back into slumber, I managed to lift my heavy eyelids with great effort.

Blurry vision greeted me as I regained consciousness, revealing Claire with widened eyes.

“Yura, are you awake?! Can you recognize me?”

“How could I not recognize you, Claire?”

Sensing that I shouldn’t sleep any longer, I tried to sit up but stumbled due to dizziness.

Since gaining heightened senses, this was the first time I couldn’t get up and fell into a deep sleep until someone touched me like this.

“Don’t push yourself. Even now, it seems tough.”

I held Claire’s hand, rejecting her attempt to make me lie down again, while using my other hand to wipe my eyes, feeling clearer and more aware of my surroundings.

Checking my current attire, I noticed that just like in the outer forest of the academy, I was covered in black from undergarments to a blanket provided by Laika.

“Did Laika bring me here and cover me with a blanket?”

Despite being taken aback by the unexpected kindness, I was grateful as it prevented me from falling victim to Adam’s schemes, allowing me to resolve issues smoothly.

While feeling relieved to be out of potential enemy hands, I also felt pathetic for losing consciousness.

When negotiating with Syneria, the promise of safety only applied to those within the Ardent Academy at that time.

If Laika had ill intentions, I could have been dragged to Hyeokwol for interrogation or faced other problems by now.

“Moreover, she was watching over me.”

Though my physical condition wasn’t significantly different from the initial stats, I thought no one was around when I fled from Adam, yet Laika intervened, considering it a dangerous situation and providing special protection.

Even though I roamed around the academy erasing graffiti-like patterns several times, there was no questioning or investigation, which I should probably be thankful for.

“From Hyeokwol’s perspective, I mustn’t reveal myself recklessly, and I don’t understand why she intervened as special security.”

As my gaze fell on the clock on the wall, I shuddered at the thought of the buff maintenance, realizing its importance.

It must still be active given my heavy body, but I needed to know how Laika had applied the buff.

“Is it okay to ask how the buff you cast on me works, Claire?”

I hurriedly inquired about the crucial matter, noticing Claire’s angry expression, but she eventually responded.

“… Is that what you want to ask? You mean the one I always cast first? Since your body isn’t naturally strong, I promised to help, so there’s no issue. You can relax.”

“I’m relieved. It seems the buff has never been interrupted.”

Worried that Laika might have been trapped in the building with the academic support team, I was relieved to learn that she arrived promptly, either opening it herself or receiving assistance, and cast the buff on me immediately.

“Is there anything else you want to tell me, Yura?”

“Anything to say…?”

Glancing at me with suspicion, I felt incredibly frustrated as Claire grabbed my shoulders and raised her voice, not in her usual manner.

“How did your attire change? Before we parted ways, you were neatly dressed in your school uniform, but now you’re only covered in undergarments with a strange black outfit.”

“Um… I took off the uniform briefly because it was hot. It’s nothing to worry about-”

“Stop talking nonsense!!”

With that, Claire forcefully yanked away the blanket I was holding.

Despite my bewildered reaction to her aggressive behavior, Claire continued without pause.

“Let’s say you took off the uniform because it was hot. Then where is that outfit now?”

“It’s in the closet over there…”

“Don’t lie. I had already checked the number of uniforms before you woke up. The one you wore today is nowhere to be found in this room.”

“….”

“Furthermore, the black garment you are currently using to cover yourself wasn’t brought by you, nor was it originally in my room. How can you expect me to believe that nothing happened?”

I couldn’t refute any of Claire’s words, as she had already confirmed everything and left no room for excuses.

“If you trust me, tell me the truth. What really happened?”

Unable to offer any rebuttal, I eventually had to open up under Claire’s relentless questioning.

While Claire went to the academic support team regarding scholarship benefits, leaving me alone, I wandered around Ardente Academy out of curiosity and ended up in the northern forest on the outskirts of the academy. Unaware at the time, in the delusion of that trash, I was judged for rejecting a confession, which could lead to a troublesome encounter with someone named Adam.

Although it seemed empty upon a brief check with my senses, top members of the Black Moon 4th Division, including Laika, might be monitoring me without my detection, so I decided to exclude any content related to the main scenario involving the Dark Sorcerer until tomorrow.

Upon hearing my account, Claire became so furious that she suggested immediately convening the disciplinary committee against Laika, even though I insisted there was no evidence to support my claims.

“So how did you manage to escape from him? You’re not hiding anything from me out of concern, right?”

I admitted to having lied before about an incident related to Claire, where she tried to remove my panties herself but I managed to stop her by firmly holding her hand when she attempted to uncover more details.

“I received help from the special security disguised as Laika. They heard my plea for rescue while passing by. Even the clothes I’m wearing now were provided by that person.”

My escape from the dangerous situation was thanks to Laika disguised as special security, and I explained that my uniform was damaged by Adam’s actions but later burned by Laika.

Finally realizing that I hadn’t gone through with such acts, Claire agreed to use Laika, whom I deceived with the disguise, as a witness to ensure appropriate punishment.

“That matter is fine. I will handle it later.”

Though still not entirely convinced, Claire seemed somewhat reassured by my resolute gaze.

“More importantly, Claire, you weren’t involved in any of this, right?”

“Yeah, I followed a student’s guidance and ended up waiting in the lounge, where I got locked in. Someone eventually opened the door, allowing me to leave immediately.”

“Laika must have opened it for me, looking down on me.”

Seeing that I received help from someone whose identity remains undisclosed.

After calming down the urge to tell everything to Claire and preparing for the next task, I opened my mouth, relieved that Claire hadn’t experienced anything bad.

“I’m really fine, so don’t worry. Besides, haven’t you had dinner yet? I think I’ll be fine not eating dinner tonight, so go ahead and eat alone. I’ll be quiet in my room resting.”

“Alright. But I’ll pack some soup that’s easy to heat up, so make sure to eat it later if you get hungry, okay?”

With that, Claire casually left the dormitory.

In a situation where the Black Mage’s intrusion was imminent the next day, she gave the signal as promised to Claire beforehand.

Confirming that no one was around before casting the buffs, I had told Claire that it was okay for me to skip dinner among the few things promised, so she would pass it on to Rachel and Helena.

“Victor will definitely relay the signal at the Swordsmanship Training Hall when Rachel receives it.”

Since hearing about the enemy coming while Claire was guiding her around Ardent Academy, she had focused solely on training, excluding classes. At this time, she would have finished her meal and be at the training hall.

Rising with effort, as I looked out through Claire’s dormitory window, the park outside was now dimly lit with magical lamps illuminating the path.

“If we defeat the Black Mage there tomorrow and clear the main scenario, we might be able to reveal some details about the scenario’s difficulty assessment.”

Whether it was because I was worried, hurriedly finishing the call, or packing without having dinner, as I looked down below the window, Claire, who quickly sat me down in surprise, creating a commotion by feeding me soup like a mother bird to its chick, insisting that we should stick together and sleep close tonight to avoid bad thoughts—there were ways to handle these disturbances well.

“Honestly, thanks to Claire, I think I slept better than usual.”

Finally, the day of reckoning has dawned.