The day after returning to the academy, I found myself spending some time in the study—a well-equipped facility within the dormitory.

As I've mentioned before, Gallimar Academy operates on a rank-based privilege system. Students with higher rankings enjoy more privileges, which makes academy life much more comfortable. This applies to dormitory arrangements as well.

As the top student in my grade, I had been assigned the best room. It was almost mansion-like, and the spacious study I was in now was an exclusive feature of the top student’s dorm.

Whenever I had things on my mind, I would come here to think.

"Hmm."

Today was no different.

Sitting on the sofa in the center, I turned a small black case over in my hands. It was a palm-sized box I had received from Neria a few days ago, and it held something peculiar within it.

*Click.*

I opened the case, revealing a gemstone that glowed with a brilliant blue light. Tapping its surface lightly, a strange resonance filled the air, distorting it as if heat waves were rising from it.

*It really is a dangerous item.*

This gem, a dragon's heart, had been recovered from one of the chasms surrounding the hellish Bergen Belzen laboratory. Apparently, it was this gem that had warped the time axis around the lab.

---

In ancient times, long before the Empire was even founded, there had been a dragon who reigned supreme over the world—a creature of unmatched power and mystery.

*Not much was revealed about it in the game either.*

The game only mentioned the dragon in passing; detailed information was entirely absent, even after scouring every in-game document and event pamphlet. Based on the few hints provided, I could only speculate.

*The dragon that once protected the world met an untimely death, its corpse left to rest within those giant ravines.*

After a few centuries, the dragon’s existence began to fade into legend. But then, a dark mage, who had fled to the wilderness to escape the Empire, discovered the site.

Realizing the area’s time axis was warped, the dark mage decided to build a research facility there, which became the origin of Belzen as noted in the game’s setting manual.

"Quite a powerful aura, even after all these years."

Time had broken, ground, and chipped away at it, yet the heart’s aura remained potent.

If an item like this ever fell into the wrong hands, like those of Baob, it could cause a lot of trouble. So, I had claimed it myself, partly to test something. Destroying Belzen, I also managed to grab this mythical item. Now the next step was crucial.

*It’ll be interesting to see the results.*

Lost in thought, I was interrupted by a quiet knock at the study door.

"Hmm?"

The knocking was slightly unrefined, as if the person knocking wasn’t used to formalities.

"Come in, Irene."

*Cre-eak.*

With a soft groan, the door opened, revealing the girl with auburn hair, her attire neat and her gaze a bit tired. Clearly, she had stayed up late.

After quickly putting the case back in my pocket, I greeted her calmly.

"Good morning."

"Sorry… I woke up late."

"Don’t worry about it. Did you have breakfast? I left some on the table."

"Yes, it was delicious."

"I’m glad you liked it."

As I smiled faintly, Irene wandered over to the sofa, watching me closely.

"Do you have something on your mind?"

"Just…"

She hesitated, clenching her fists before finally speaking.

"I felt like I should say thank you."

"Out of nowhere?"

"I never really said it properly, did I? You saved my life, and I didn’t want to ignore that."

"I’m surprised. I thought you didn’t trust me."

"That’s… a different issue."

"Is that so?"

She avoided my gaze, seemingly conflicted. Distrusting humanity, yet struggling to truly hate them—it was an odd combination that highlighted her innate kindness.

After a brief silence, Irene mumbled, almost to herself.

"Still… you’re hard to understand."

"Me?"

"I can’t figure out what you’re thinking."

"I like to think I’m rather transparent. Where else can you find someone as clean and pure as I am?"

"…"

"That gaze feels quite disrespectful."

I raised an eyebrow at her slightly narrowed, suspicious eyes. Annoyed, I reached over and grabbed her swishing tail firmly.

"Ahhck!"

"Soft as ever."

"W-Wait! Why the tail—!"

"That’s your punishment."

"B-But for what…?"

"Think it over."

We continued our meaningless back-and-forth in the study for a while.

---

The following day, I left the dormitory to attend classes.

After the recent midterm incident, Selena had been so rattled that she gave the students involved a week’s break to calm their nerves. Thanks to that, I was able to leave the academy without worry and return just in time for classes to resume.

*Clip-clop.*

I was walking down the path toward the carriage stop when I heard someone call out.

"Young Master…?"

"He’s over there!"

It was none other than the infamous villainess and the protagonist. Seeing me approach, they both offered greetings, and I replied with a smile.

"It’s been a week since we last met. I hope you both have been well."

"I suppose so… things have been fine."

"I think it’s been the first real break I’ve had in a while."

"That’s good to hear."

As we waited for the carriage, we exchanged stories about what we had been up to over the past week, laughing and chatting. Then Emilia, who had been walking ahead, suddenly brought something up.

"Come to think of it, the field trip is coming up soon."

"Yes… time is passing by so quickly."

"A lot has happened, after all."

I chuckled. The past two months had been like a whirlwind, with unexpected incidents adding to the usual academy schedule.

The field trip was scheduled for two weeks from now. Hopefully, things would stay peaceful until then.

"I need to finish my backlog of assignments before the field trip, though…"

"Falling behind, are you?"

"Y-Yes… I tried to manage on my own, but it’s just so difficult."

"Quite substandard. You really are a commoner."

"S-Sorry… Someone like me doesn’t belong here, right?"

"I… didn’t mean it that harshly."

The villainess and the protagonist exchanged remarks, their relationship visibly closer since the incident during the exam.

Despite her prickly tone, Emilia seemed genuinely worried, especially when the protagonist looked sullen. Their banter was surprisingly endearing.

"I thought the Young Master was tutoring you?"

"He is… but I didn’t want to rely on him too much and be a burden."

"So, you were struggling alone?"

"I’m sorry…"

"Well, I could help, too. You can ask me if you get stuck on something."

"You, my Lady…?"

"Hmph! I am a generous person, after all."

I smiled, watching their awkward, growing bond. Sensing the opportunity, I decided to tease them a bit.

"Trying to go elsewhere for tutoring when you already have an excellent teacher at your side?"

"And what are you doing here, anyway?"

I shrugged, grinning as I watched Emilia’s pout.

"You two seemed to be getting along so well; I just couldn’t resist joining in."

"We are not getting along…!"

"Deny it if you like. Weren’t you the one holding Regia’s hand tightly in the infirmary…?"

"T-There’s no need to bring that up!"

Flustered, Emilia grew red, her blue eyes flashing with embarrassment. I felt an urge to continue teasing her, so I reached out and patted her head as if soothing a hissing cat.

"Now, now, calm down."

"…"

"Keeping a peaceful mind is important, you know."

"This is all because of you."

Emilia bit her lip, trying to stifle her irritation, and spoke in a softer voice.

"I only respond that way because you’re always provoking me."

"Then I suppose I’ll just have to keep it up."

"What?"

"I happen to like it."

"I-I beg your pardon?"

Her eyes widened at the unexpected compliment, and I continued, enjoying the moment.

"Yes, I like seeing that side of you."

Her face flushed even redder, and for a while, she was too stunned to speak, her head drooping under the intensity of my teasing.

"Y-You’re so forward lately…"

"Well, I like you."

As she trembled, clearly overwhelmed, I knew that today’s little torment had been a success.

---

While we were joking around, I noticed that Regia, who had been standing quietly beside us, seemed lost in thought, gazing off into the distance.

"Regia?"

"…Ah."

Startled, she blinked a few times, then smiled awkwardly.

"S-Sorry. I didn’t get much sleep, so…"

"It’s fine. We weren’t discussing anything important."

"Oh, good…"

I glanced at her closely. She looked even more tired than usual.

Noticing her drooping shoulders, I murmured to myself.

*Is it because of that?*

Regia’s melancholy seemed serious this time. As I pondered, I decided it was time to put a plan into motion.

*Maybe a little event would cheer her up.* 

For our protagonist’s mental well-being, it was time to take action.