The dark night had long passed the twilight hours, and while most people had gone to sleep to prepare for the next day, the lights at the academy remained on.

Groan...

How much time had passed?

Veronica glanced out the window and noticed the pitch-black sky, prompting her to check the clock. She gasped in surprise.

It was already 3 a.m. How had it gotten so late?

No wonder her body felt stiff—she’d been sitting for too long.

Sigh. "Time sure flies when you get older—"

She abruptly clamped her hand over her mouth, silencing herself.

Saying such things aloud was practically admitting to aging, something she refused to accept.

She wasn’t old yet. Unlike those who hadn’t mastered the peak of magic and were slowly aging, she had fixed her body's coordinates in time, ensuring she wouldn’t grow old.

Most who reached that level of magic mastery had already become wrinkled old men and women by then, but this was a secret art she alone could perform.

Still, that irritating brat kept calling her "old" and "granny," and it was starting to get under her skin.

Hmph. That kid was older than her anyway.

Crack. "Ow, my back... I should take a break..."

Yet, Veronica remained oblivious to one simple fact: Stella’s teasing wasn’t about her appearance—it was about her actions.

And that was something Veronica would likely never realize.

"I could really use a drink..."

Veronica lay down on the mattress in the corner of her office, muttering to herself.

She had somehow managed to deal with the academy's recent attack.

Of course, there had been plenty of criticism due to the academy allowing another attack, especially considering the past incident. But, fortunately, there had been no casualties, which made it easier to control the narrative.

What the public knew was a story designed to reassure them: the academy hadn’t been attacked; rather, the academy had laid a trap, and the attackers had fallen for it.

A few buildings had been slightly damaged, but they could be rebuilt quickly. There were no casualties, and they had captured all the remnants of the Lightbringers and killed their leader. It was an easy lie to sell.

Still, just because it was easy to manipulate the public didn’t mean the aftermath was easy to deal with, hence why Veronica was still working this late.

"Hmm, maybe I’ll drop by the counseling office for a drink—oh."

Veronica’s movements halted as she remembered something.

...The counselor was gone.

She hadn’t taken anything with her, so the alcohol she’d hidden there would still be in place, but drinking alone wasn’t exactly appealing.

Sigh. "Really, did she have to leave?"

Veronica didn’t know the full details, but she had some suspicions about why Ophelia had suddenly disappeared.

That madman who had been spewing strange nonsense before his death... He had mentioned her, after all.

Something about "the great Ophelia’s orders" or whatever. Veronica hadn’t heard the rest since she’d sliced his head off, but there was no way the leader of a criminal organization would talk about her unless there had been some connection.

She didn’t know the specifics, but it clearly wasn’t a positive relationship.

Even in the face of death, that man had kept running his mouth, seemingly determined to make things difficult for Ophelia.

Something about hypnosis too, if she recalled correctly.

Ophelia probably left because of him.

If she had stuck around, Veronica could have easily handled the situation, cleaning up the rumors that man had spread. But Ophelia had jumped to conclusions and vanished.

Sigh. "I should go see her."

Veronica stood up with a sigh.

With most of the work wrapped up, she could afford a brief break. It had been a while since she’d visited that place anyway.

Sob... sob...

"Please don’t cry too much. Here you go."

"What’s this...?"

"On the house. The best way to forget bad things is to drink and move on, right? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?"

I smiled at the crying customer clutching their glass at one corner of the bar.

"You’ll find better things ahead. Think of this as a little gift to help you forget the bad and find the good."

"...Thank you."

"It’s nothing."

Bars are places where people come carrying all sorts of burdens.

Whether they want to forget something or celebrate something, they come for the drinks.

...Of course, there are regulars who just genuinely love drinking, but still.

I don’t usually initiate conversations with customers. Most of the time, they start talking on their own, letting the alcohol loosen their tongues.

I just sit back, wipe down glasses, and listen to their stories. Sometimes, I offer them a little extra, like now.

Though, it’s not entirely without ulterior motives.

"...Could I get another one, the same, please?"

"Of course."

People nursing a heartbreak are easy to charm with a bit of kindness.

Someone who planned to leave after a couple of drinks could end up staying until morning.

It’s a little trick of the trade.

"You’re quite the skilled newbie."

"You know I’m not a newbie, boss."

"Ah, but even experienced newbies are still newbies."

The boss, who had been watching me from the side, started teasing me.

She’d probably seen right through my little strategy.

...Well, it’s only natural. After all, she’s the one who taught me these tricks.

She always said that in a bar like ours, where regulars make up most of the clientele, we had to reel in the first-timers like this.

"Uh, one more drink, please..."

"I think you’ve had enough for tonight. Any more and it could be dangerous. How about calling it a night?"

"...Really?"

"Yes. Drinking is great, but too much of anything is harmful."

If someone drank to the point of blacking out, they wouldn’t even remember the kindness I’d shown them.

It was best to let them enjoy just enough to get tipsy, ensuring they’d want to come back next time and eventually become regulars.

"Thanks... for listening."

"I’m not sure how much help I was, though. I’ve never been in a relationship myself."

"...What?"

"Wait, you’ve never dated anyone?"

"...?"

What’s with these reactions?

The heartbroken customer, the boss sipping on a drink while watching me, and even the customers sitting farther away all turned to stare at me in shock.

"With that body? Really?"

"...What do you mean, 'with that body'?"

"Oh, well, uh..."

I knew where this conversation was headed and shot a glare at the boss.

It would be about my chest again, obviously. She brought it up sometimes.

Honestly. Did she think I wanted them to be this big?

They were uncomfortable, heavy, and they hurt when I ran.

Sure, they might look nice, but having a tall, slender body would’ve been my personal preference... It would’ve made a fitted suit look so much better.

"Being big isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s painful and heavy. I’m actually envious of your figure, boss. You’re in great shape."

"...Really?"

"Yes."

The boss gave a bashful smile, likely interpreting my words as flattery.

But I was being sincere.

Her neat, well-groomed appearance was surely one of the reasons she had so many regulars at the bar, though she might not have realized it herself.

"Well, thanks for the compliment. In that case, I’ll—"

"There she is!"

Suddenly, the boss and I were startled by a familiar voice.

At the same moment, the chime at the entrance rang, signaling the arrival of a customer.

Without thinking, I instinctively ducked out of sight, moving to a spot where I wouldn’t be seen from the entrance.

"...Bartender?"

"Shh...!"

Why was the principal here?

I wracked my brain, and then it hit me—oh right, the boss was friends with the principal.

I had forgotten about that, despite having anticipated her visit when I first started working here.

But after so long without seeing her, it had completely slipped my mind.

"Why are you drinking alone?"

"Oh, well... there aren’t any customers, so I figured I’d have a drink."

"And those people?"

"They said they were finishing up and leaving soon. It’s not like it’s a big deal to have a drink while standing around, right?"

"Hmm..."

My heart pounded in my chest, the thought that the principal might have spotted me making me incredibly nervous.

Did she notice? She probably didn’t, right?

"You should come by more often."

"Sorry about that. I’ve been busy with the academy attack."

"I heard about that. It was a big deal, wasn’t it?"

"It was. But things have settled down now. Most of the work is done."

"That’s good."

"By the way, has Ophelia stopped by here?"

Hiiiiiiii!

Why was she looking for me? Was she planning to kill me for being the suspect behind the incident?!

The fact that someone who could literally tear me limb from limb was hunting me down sent a shiver through me, as if I had stepped out into the cold in nothing but thin clothes.

Hypnosis wouldn’t work on her like it did with others—unless I got her drunk, it wouldn’t have any effect at all...

"Why do you ask? Did something happen?"

"...No, forget it. If you don’t know, then that’s that."

"You’re so cryptic."

"I feel like drinking something strong tonight. Can you manage that?"

"Sure, give me a minute."

As I watched the boss move naturally, preparing a drink, I thought to myself.

...I guess I can’t stay here anymore.

I’d have to find a new place.

I crouched in the corner, hiding, waiting for the principal to leave, as she downed drink after drink.

I could barely make out the conversation between her and the boss. But whatever they were discussing, I knew one thing for sure: I needed to relocate fast.