Chapter 20: Academy Heist Eve, Part 1

Along with the message announcing the start of the second part, a new transfer student arrived from the Magic Tower.

The Magic Tower, alongside the Imperial Holy See’s seminary, was considered one of the most prestigious educational institutions, second only to the Royal Academy.

It seemed odd for the Magic Tower to transfer a student to an outside academy, but Lucia assumed there were reasons she didn’t need to know.

What mattered to Lucia was why this transfer student was the target designated by the system.

She wondered how she would approach the student if they were in different classes, but thankfully, she wouldn’t have to endure the embarrassment of seeking them out.

“Hello…”

A soft greeting reached her ears as she idly polished her sword.

Looking up, she saw a girl with green hair standing by the blackboard, her name freshly written, shrinking under the gazes of her new classmates.

The name on the board was “Ciella Magna.” Undoubtedly the transfer student mentioned in the system window.

The girl visibly cringed under the scrutiny, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. Lucia observed her intently.

She flinched with every whisper and stare, yet her eyes scanned each person in the room.

As if searching for something, or confirming something.

Her gaze swept over Lucia, her eyes momentarily sharpening, but then softening with what seemed like relief as she apparently didn’t find what she was looking for.

“Not… here…”

As her gaze reached Lucia, Ciella muttered softly, barely audible. But Lucia’s sharp ears picked it up.

What was she looking for? Was she sent from the Magic Tower to find something at the academy?

Lost in thought, Lucia continued to stare at Ciella, and their eyes met.

A strange sensation emanated from Ciella’s gaze.

Similar to the feeling of being scrutinized down to her core when she faced the peddler girl, but with a different focus.

While the peddler girl’s gaze felt like her very being was being slowly unveiled, Ciella’s felt like an observation of her inner self.

Regardless, both gazes, the peddler girl’s and Ciella’s violet eyes, were unsettling and vaguely unpleasant.

Noticing Lucia’s slight frown, Ciella quickly lowered her gaze, embarrassed.

She knew it was rude to stare so intently.

However, Ciella had her reasons.

For two years, she had been searching for a trace of that viscous, dark mana.

And emanating from Lucia was a pure, untainted mana, the complete opposite of what she’d been searching for.

While all those with divinity possessed a similar aura, Lucia was different.

Her mana was brighter, purer, an unblemished white.

Unlike other divinities, which were tinged with other colors reflecting their nature, Lucia’s was unique.

Ciella had hoped that Lucia, with her exceptional divinity, might be able to help her track down or eliminate the suspected demon.

Despite the awkward first encounter, their goals aligned.

Lucia, to fulfill the cursed quest window’s requirements and anticipate future events.

Ciella, to protect people from the suspected demon.

They needed to become closer.

Friendship required one party to make the first move.

But what would happen if both were too timid and self-conscious to approach each other?

The current situation was a perfect example.

Lucia sat on a bench within the academy grounds, staring blankly at the floating text before her. Ciella stood about ten steps away, agonizing over how to approach her.

They were aware of each other, but neither knew how to initiate a conversation, resulting in an excruciatingly awkward silence.

Despite the boisterous chatter of passing students, a thick silence hung between them, as if a silencing spell had been cast.

“…”

“Um…”

Ciella took a deep breath and stepped forward, closing the distance by five steps. Lucia, also about to speak, put down her sword and stood up.

However, their timing was off. Their simultaneous attempts to speak resulted in an overlapping jumble of words.

Who should speak first? It became a silent battle of wills.

Either of them could have spoken, but both worried that their words might interrupt the other, leading to another awkward silence.

They stood facing each other in an uncomfortable stalemate for ten minutes. Finally, Ciella, sensing the futility of the situation, spoke again.

“Um… excuse me…”

“Y-yes…”

“Y-you seem… to have a strong aura…?”

Despite her courage, the words that came out sounded undeniably strange.

Ciella had simply stated what she saw and felt.

However, Lucia, unaware of Ciella’s unique perception, interpreted it as something a religious zealot might say, leaving her flustered and unsure how to respond.

“I-is that so…?”

Silence descended once more.

Even passing students stopped to watch, some even thumping their chests in frustration at the awkwardness.

“Lucia? And… the transfer student, Ciella, was it? What are you doing here?”

If the Second Princess, who happened to be looking for Lucia, hadn’t intervened, their conversation would have likely ended with the setting sun.

Their relationship progressed slowly, painstakingly so.

Perhaps if one of them had been more outgoing, it would have been different. But without Carmel acting as a mediator, they struggled to even find opportunities to speak.

Moreover, Carmel’s royal duties often pulled her away, further hindering their progress.

The only saving grace was that nothing urgent had appeared in Lucia’s quest window.

Currently, thanks to Carmel’s arrangement, they were sitting at a café.

Located in the bustling shopping district near the academy, the café offered a clear view of the surroundings, making it a popular spot.

However, today, due to Carmel’s presence, the café was unusually empty.

While most academy students came from wealthy or noble families, even they found the presence of royalty intimidating. That was the first reason.

The second reason was the imposing royal guards stationed both inside and outside the café.

Both Ciella and Lucia preferred quiet environments, so this was a welcome change.

However…

“Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

One of Carmel’s guards approached her and whispered something. Carmel’s face fell, and she exclaimed,

“I’m so sorry, Lucia, Ciella! I have somewhere I need to be…!”

And just like that, she left.

Her guards followed, leaving only the two girls and the awkward café owner. It was a repeat of the bench incident.

They fidgeted with their cups, about to suggest meeting another time to escape the awkwardness, when…

“…!”

Ciella’s eyes widened, and she dropped her cup. Thankfully, it hadn’t fallen far and remained intact.

“W-what’s wrong…?”

Lucia asked cautiously. Ciella, still flustered, stammered,

“‘Kayleen’…!”

It was a name from two years ago, from the time of the active search. A name most people would have forgotten or only vaguely remembered.

But not Lucia.

While being dragged around by Carmel, she’d seen the wanted poster. The description had been too similar to the girl she knew.

The name on the wanted poster… it had been Kayleen.

Remembering this, Lucia followed Ciella’s gaze.

And there she was. A woman in a half-mask, her hood pulled low, clearly trying to conceal her identity.

People mostly ignored her, either uninterested or wary of getting involved with someone suspicious.

If Ciella thought someone was Kayleen, it was likely this woman. Lucia reached for the eyepatch covering her right eye.

While she disliked using Insight, feeling like she was playing into the system’s hands, it was indispensable in situations like this.

Besides revealing weak points, Insight allowed her to perceive a person’s true nature. She removed the eyepatch and focused on the woman.

And what she felt was the same immense presence, the same unknown something she’d encountered in that dungeon two years ago.

It pressed down on her, a weight twice as heavy as before.

Ciella felt it too.