“...”

“...”

A heavy silence fell on the living room.

Maybe it was because of the fact that they had not met each other for quite a long time that the atmosphere was like this. But, the most likely reason was probably because they did not part ways in a good way the last time they met.

Percy Siston Levantin took a sip of her hot tea to soothe the dry feeling inside her mouth.

Seeing that, the other person followed suit, albeit hesitantly. It seemed like Percy was not the only one feeling awkward in this situation.

“...Hopefully, you didn’t have a hard time?”

Percy forced that question out, trying to sound as clear as she could.

Compared to back when they used to get along well as a ‘master’ and her ‘apprentice’ in the Magic Tower—when it was so easy for them to converse with each other—she had to put in a lot of effort just to utter a few words.

“...Thanks to you.”

The other person, Faenol, replied with a bitter smile as the restraints that were placed all over her body made clanking sounds.

Those restraints were something that the Heretic Inquisition demanded her to wear in return for them to let her roam free.

They said that it could suppress her Demonic Aura or something along that line.

“I heard you had put in a lot of effort just for me, Teacher.”

“...No, I didn’t do much.”

Teacher, huh… ?

Percy let out a bitter smile as she placed her cup down.

When was the last time she ever called me that?

“If you need someone to be thankful for, thank that guy called Dowd. He pretty much dealt with all the under-the-table dealings.”

Of course, it wasn’t like she had been idling or anything. After all, she was the only person among the Elfante staff members who sent a ‘petition’ to the Heretic Inquisition.

She was the most vocal person to ask for leniency, even though she was aware that Faenol possessed the Devil’s Fragments.

But…

It was undeniable that the one who deserved the most credits was Dowd Campbell, as he was the one who managed to suppress all kinds of rumors that could arise from the fact that she openly took a Devil’s Vessel’s side.

Well, to be exact, it was the influence of the Tribal Alliance’s Chieftain—who strangely decided to back him up—that made this outcome possible.

“...Is that so?”

Faenol asked. The glint of her eyes reflected her happiness.

But that wasn’t the only expression hidden in her slightly casted down eyes. There was a hint of gloom inside, as if she was saying, ‘That man would’ve definitely done that’.

Upon seeing that, Percy couldn’t help but doubt her own eyes.

“...Faenol?”

“Yes?”

“What’s with your expression just now?”

“...Excuse me?”

Faenol, asked back, as if saying, ‘What in the world are you talking about?’. But Percy’s question was sincere.

Because the Faenol that she knew…

Was someone who’d push everyone around her away because she didn’t want to be hurt.

Especially when it came to ‘men’. Percy always thought that she looked at them the same way she looked at pebbles on the road.

So, what’s that expression just now?

She looks like…

A girl who fell in love…?

…No, wait.

That’s too mild of a description, no?

Instead of that, it feels more like…

…She wants to devour him…?

‘That person is mine.’

‘I will never give him to anyone else.’

‘He’s mine, from the tip of his hair to his toe, everything about him is mine.’

Faenol’s expression seemed to be declaring as such. There was even a hint of arrogance in that declaration.

As Percy’s mind went blank, shocked upon seeing this side of her, Faenol suddenly called out to her.

“...So, Teacher… I know I have no right to do this, but may I ask you a favor?”

“Y-Yes? W-What is it?”

After Percy replied hastily, Faenol said her piece with a smile.

“Recently, it seems like that man is doing something again. The entire Academy becomes noisy because of it.”

“...A-Ah—”

Percy knew what Faenol was talking about.

In that instant, a bitter smile appeared on her face.

“Yes, he created a club recently. I don’t know what exactly is special about that club, but apparently, they had received so many applicants. Whatever it is that person decided to do, it never goes on quietly, it seems. Conrad was right about him, the words the eye of the storm really fits—”

“About that.”

As Percy was about to ramble on, Faenol quickly interrupted her.

It seemed like she did not wish to waste time since what she had to say was something rather urgent.

“I need to return something to that man, so I’d like to ask you for a favor.”

After saying those words, the smile on Faenol’s face grew a little bigger.

And that expression intensified the anxiety that Percy had felt earlier.

●

The applicants’ evaluation would be held inside the building that the Headmistress easily lent me with a smile.

When I asked her why she was smiling, she told me…

“Because you need to suffer too.”

“...”

“It isn’t fair that I’m the only one who has been suffering, no?”

“...But, you know that I could get into actual trouble, right? Also, the only reason I dismissed some of those people was because I could persuade them with words…”

So far, we had filtered out the ragtag and bobtail just from looking through their applications. As for the evaluation itself, we’d only do it for those who we’d need to see in person.

By the way, there was no ‘important figure’ that could get us in a difficult situation yet.

If such a person appeared… Honestly, there was nothing that we could do about it…

“Don’t worry, I’ll prevent that from happening if it comes down to it.”

Atalante then continued her words; Her smile grew wider and wider.

“But until then, I’ll be watching you suffer.”

“...”

“Alright, keep up the good work~”

She got up from her seat while yawning lightly. I sent her a fierce glare, but she didn’t even bat an eyelid at me.

Her intention was clear. She wanted me to die from overwork, just like her, so whatever it was that I’d try to do to appeal to her would be pointless.

So, I looked outside the window while stroking my chin.

To be exact, toward the horizon where the sun was setting. Above the sea of people that seemed as if they were touching the horizon itself…

“...Ahem.”

I cleared my throat.

That was the best alternative to cursing that I had found. I mean, there was no way I’d just start spouting out curses and swears while the Academy Staff and Iliya were around…

“...So, those are the remaining people…?”

“...”

Iliya, who was standing next to me, nodded. Her face was pale.

Her exhaustion was clear since she had been dealing with people all day.

Seriously…

Dealing with people who’d only come over to bring us down was more stressful than expected.

Since I had to dismiss them while telling them off politely without offending them, the stress I had to deal with easily quadrupled.

That was why we changed our method from evaluating those punks one by one to four to five people at a time. There was no way we’d finish evaluating them all otherwise.

“...Next.”

I said, sweeping my hair as a wave of dizziness struck me.

Normally, I should’ve read the document to identify who’d come in next, but this evaluation process had been going on for half a day. I was way too tired to even do that.

That was why…

“...”

The moment I saw the people coming in, I could feel that my head was about to explode.

Fuck.

I should’ve identified these punks in advance and singled them out before letting them in…

“My name is Victoria Evatrice.”

“...Faenol Lipek.”

Hearing such names came out in succession, I could see Iliya’s jaw dropped from the corner of my eye.

It was strange enough that Victoria applied to join the club after what happened the other day…

But, the fact that the other woman was here was way more strange than that.

“...Miss Faenol?”

“...It’s been a long time, Miss Iliya.”

When Iliya called her out with a dumbfounded voice, Faenol replied with a bitter smile.

“What brings you here…?”

‘You’re not supposed to be here,’ that was what Iliya was trying to say.

Of course, there was no way that she would have any positive feelings towards Faenol, who harbored the ‘Red Devil’ inside her.

But, even if we were to ignore that detail, it was still understandable that she asked such a question to Faenol.

Only a few people knew this, but this punk was the one who caused the incident where a Devil went berserk just a while ago. Her threat level was several levels higher than other Devil’s Vessels.

I mean, just look at how she had all those Control Catalyst restraining her whole body.

…Compared to others, she’s a little different…

She was a Vessel who possessed all the Fragments. It meant that as long as she ‘had the motive’, she was more than capable of starting another Crimson Night Incident.

That was why, them placing all those restrictions on her body was only natural.

As I thought so, Faenol calmly continued,

“...Originally, I’m unable to stay as a student, but there’s someone who volunteered to be my guarantee.”

“...”

So this was Percy’s work, huh?

Well, this much was obvious since she was the only person Faenol could go to.

But, the problem here was…

“...The Dean guaranteed you, but the very first thing you do after coming here is to apply to join this club…?”

I asked dumbfoundedly.

“...Because I wanted to see you.”

And…

The answer I received made me hold my breath.

I stared at her, who said such words while looking straight at me, without changing her pose at all.

“...Come to think of it, I haven’t said hello to you properly yet, Mr. Dowd.”

Seeing how I became speechless, she suddenly said as such.

Her red hair slightly swayed. I could see her throat moved as she swallowed dryly from where I was.

“Thank you for saving me. I, Faenol Lipek, owe you a debt that I can never pay.”

“...”

“To match the kindness that you had bestowed me, I’m going to do my best, both physically and morally, from now on. Even though I’m lacking as a person, I’m looking forward to working with you…”

She muttered as such, her face was red, her head was down, and her voice was quivering. It was clear that she was embarrassed.

But, her voice was clear, even until the end.

“...I swear, I’ll do whatever it is that you ask me. Sincerely. With all my heart.”

“...”

“Even if it’s something so beastly that other people would get angry at you if you ask them to do it, I—”

“-Next candidates, please come in!”

I hurriedly cut her off before she said something even more dangerous than that. Since we were evaluating four to five people at one time, not all of them have entered the room yet.

Woman…!

What the fuck are you yapping about when everyone’s watching?!

“...Haa…”

Holding my head, I let out a deep sigh.

Well…

I had expected that I’d need to deal with punks who were hard to deal with like this from now on. But, I never expected that I’d need to deal with two of those punks at once.

Hell, I didn’t even know what the fuck was Victoria doing here. Of course, it was the same with Faenol as well.

I hope the remaining two people are easy to deal with…

“...”

As I thought so…

My eyes met the eyes of the two people who had entered the room.

“...”

“...”

“...”

One of them was Eleanor.

And the other one was Her Imperial Majesty the Empress.

“...”

I took a deep breath.

…What? Wait, what the fuck..?!

[Stop cursing. It only makes you look weak.]

Oh, shut the fuck up.