Karma

There’s a saying that bad deeds always come back to you. It might be a heartfelt wish born from the desire for evildoers to eventually be punished for their misdeeds. However, today was the day I could see the effects of that saying immediately, instead of postponing it to ‘someday’.

It was a shower to wash away the uneasiness, but instead, the fact that Ellie was deceiving me left an even bigger sense of unease in my heart.

For the record, I don’t know what Ellie’s goal is. Maybe she’s just trying to get my attention, or maybe it’s because of a selfish desire not to suffer any losses, I can only speculate.

Subconsciously aware of Ellie, who naturally occupied the seat next to me, I watched the seniors’ matches in the waiting room.

Thanks to my arrogant and rude behavior in the first match, I had given the other academies a reason to gang up on Transcendence Academy.

It seemed Eunice had some kind of scheme planned for the next match, but it was useless in the face of Roel and Ilia’s overwhelming power.

She wasn’t really trying to defeat Roel with all her heart either. She was simply trying to gauge Roel and Ilia’s strength. I guess figuring out the enemy’s strength is an important matter for a strategist.

However, from the 3rd-year matches onwards, schemes blatantly targeting Transcendence Academy unfolded.

From the start, Cassius and Marie-senpai were under concentrated harassment from Elassium Academy. They didn’t even farm, they just followed Transcendence around and deliberately shared the farming items.

If the number of items is already small, and they have to share even that, then naturally there will be problems with the acquired equipment.

The senpai tried to shake them off when they noticed, but because they persistently followed and interfered with farming, they eventually discovered the signal flare used by Elassium late and were eliminated by another academy team that joined them.

At least, 4th-year Edward and Ophelia-senpai eliminated Muzeion Academy, which was hindering their farming, adding to their score. However, because they forced the elimination, they were immediately eliminated afterward.

That’s how the first day of the triathlon ended. Thanks to winning the first and second matches perfectly, Transcendence Academy earned 60 points each, adding 20 points from the 4th-year seniors, for a total of 140 points.

The other academies fairly divided the points: Elassium Academy 40 points, Muzeion Academy 30 points, and Arcadia Academy 30 points.

Looking at it this way, the 100-point difference feels big, but the points that can be earned increase as the competition progresses, so it’s not something to be complacent about. The bonus points that can be earned in the second match are 50 points.

Since the competition ended around the time we started thinking about dinner, we all headed to the academy’s cafeteria together. They sell delicious things outside, but a banquet was also being held in the cafeteria.

Moreover, today’s chef’s special was whole roasted pig. It was a special day that happened a few times a year. Moving our feet to the cafeteria was, in a way, a very natural thing to do. When we arrived at the banquet hall, students wearing various designs of school uniforms were gathered together, filling the tables.

Except for the participants of the triathlon, everyone is in a festive mood, naturally joining tables with other academies. Our appearance is like slave gladiators who have appeared at a noble’s party. Exhausted and tired, we are far removed from the lively atmosphere of a party enjoying interaction. As if agreeing with my thoughts, we all sighed.

Overwhelmed by the students’ energy, we ate at a corner table, exchanging conversations about the competition tomorrow. We also went through the process of reconfirming the artifacts we had prioritized to acquire so we wouldn’t forget.

However, I couldn’t concentrate on the conversation at all. Ellie, who was sitting across from me, was looking at me with blatant eyes, and because she stretched her legs under the table to nudge me or stroke my legs, my attention was inevitably diverted elsewhere.

Everyone seemed to have reached their limit with the pressure and fatigue of the competition, so after finishing their meals appropriately, they returned to their respective dormitories. I ran away from Ellie, who was trying to say something to me, and headed to the clubroom, of course.

I expected no one to be there, but seeing the empty clubroom made me feel even more tired for some reason. Could it be that I had some slight expectations without realizing it? I yawned long to shake off the strange disappointment and headed to the closet, where I discovered someone sitting at a corner desk.

My lovely lover with the same blonde hair, Luna, was occupying the desk for some reason, not enjoying the festival. Looking at the books spread out on the desk, she looks like a model student herself.

With a sense of déjà vu, as if I had seen this scene before, I carefully took steps and approached her side.

With slightly pouting lips, I silently watched Luna’s profile as she diligently moved the God’s fountain pen to draw a spell.

Luna’s hand, which had been writing the spell without hesitation, paused, and she began to tilt her head this way and that as if lost in thought. I couldn’t help but smile at the cute sight, and Luna slightly turned her head to look at me with her eyes covered by her bangs.

,Ross… Un, when did you get here!

Thinking that she had shown me an embarrassing side, Luna slyly covered her face with her hair. I smiled and reached out to fix her hair, then gently kissed her lips. A soft greeting filled with love.

Looking straight into Luna’s beautiful eyes, I asked.

,I just got here. But what were you doing alone?

At my question, Luna slyly covered the desk with her body. Her face slightly flushed as if she was embarrassed to show me, which further stimulated my curiosity.

,Ah, it’s not something I can show Ross yet….

,You mean you’ll show me later?

When I asked that with expectant eyes, Luna pursed her lips and slightly nodded. As if she had something to say, she moistened her lips with her pink tongue and slyly reached out to boldly grab my hand.

,You worked hard competing. You were really cool today too….

I tilted my head at her trailing words. I scratched my forehead at her restless appearance.

,Isn’t there something else you want to say?

Luna, whose face was somehow flushed, stammered in a voice full of embarrassment.

,I, I always have a lot to say to Ross! There are a lot of things I want to say, a lot of things I want to tell you, and… I, I want to tell you what I feel too….

Unable to bear Luna’s continued roundabout way of speaking, I pressed my finger against Luna’s cheek.

,If you’re curious about something, you can just ask. I won’t think it’s weird.

As if relieved by those words, Luna tickled the palm of my hand she was holding with her fingertips and opened her mouth.

,I, I just think Ross looked too attractive in today’s competition…. Should I say that the way people around me look at Ross has changed a little…? I’m not, not jealous! It’s just, should I say I feel strange…?

Unable to hold back, I burst out laughing at her restless appearance as she slyly read my expression. The joy this lovely lover gives me always makes me laugh.

With a playful smile, I leaned down and deliberately whispered mischievous words in Luna’s ear.

,I understand what you mean. You’re worried about someone taking me away, aren’t you?

,N, no, that’s not it! R, Ross is mine, of course… I’m not w, worried about anything….

Luna, who flinched so much that the chair she was sitting on almost lifted as if she had been burned, desperately made excuses. Without a word, I pulled the hand I was holding and kissed the back of her hand.

Luna pursed her lips as if embarrassed by my actions, but her eyes were full of undisguised joy.

,Even if you worry, I can only love Luna now?

,Really…?

To Luna, who narrowed her eyes slightly as if doubting, I nodded greatly.

,You might not believe it, but the only person I can love is Luna.

If my love for Luna changes, I will lose my life according to the Geass’s restriction. My first and last love will naturally be Luna. It wasn’t something forced, it was what I wanted.

,Unless you leave me, I’ll be by your side.

At the sight of Luna’s blue eyes filling with tears for some reason, I playfully added.

,But if you still don’t believe me, there’s a way to confirm my love right now.

With a lewd smile, I gently kissed Luna’s neck, and Luna, who shrugged her shoulders, gently kissed me.

The fact that her face was full of happiness as she looked at me made me very satisfied.

,Ross, pervert.

,That’s right, you’re the one who receives the only love of that pervert.

At my smooth-talking voice, Luna suddenly gave a playful smile.

,If it weren’t for the triathlon, I would have shown Ross what I learned from Flavia-unni.

Caught off guard, I couldn’t help but let out a ,Heok- sound. Luna, realizing that I was flustered, gave a satisfied expression and a devilish smile.

,Wait until the weekend.

With a sigh, I raised both arms. I lost this time. As I admitted defeat, Luna picked up the fountain pen she had placed on the desk again with a bright smile.

,There’s still a little left, so I’ll finish just this. After watching today’s competition, I had a magical inspiration.

If I didn’t write down the inspiration that came to mind, I mostly wouldn’t remember it at all. Because I was once a writer, it was a situation I could very much empathize with, so I decided not to disturb her.

,Okay, but did you eat?

As if she had just remembered, Luna widened her eyes.

,Ah… I forgot. But I don’t think I need to eat….

She seemed to want to focus on what she was doing now. I answered that I understood and slyly got up from my seat. Luna was once again focused on inspecting the spell she had drawn.

I was thinking of buying something Luna could eat, even if it was late. If I put it in the space warehouse, she could eat it as deliciously as if it had just been made, so it didn’t matter if she didn’t eat it right away.

Carefully closing the door of the clubroom so as not to make any noise, my steps to buy something for Luna to eat were much lighter than before.

Before seeing Luna, I felt like my whole body was weighed down by fatigue, but it’s a very strange magic.

Without realizing it, I smiled naturally and moved my steps vigorously.