Someone is going to be in trouble

In front of the massive teleportation gate prepared as the examination site, three people were locked in a dramatic tug-of-war.

Cohen, trapped in the middle, was in genuine distress.

There were many people around them.

All of them were looking in Cohen’s direction, whispering rumors that might circulate for years.

The kind that could cause instant social death just by reaching the subject’s ears.

Yet the two people beside Cohen felt absolutely nothing about it.

Their attention was focused solely on the prey in front of them.

Caught between pulling and yanking, Cohen not only had to endure the physical pain of his body being stretched from both sides, but also the looming psychological damage of being pointed at and talked about afterward.

This couldn’t go on.

He had to convince these two to get away from him, now.

Cohen turned to Remiande first and spoke.

“An-jie, the exam is about to start.

Missing it wouldn’t be good, right?

You must still have something important to take care of.”

Remiande tilted her head, as if thinking it over.

The strength in her grip gradually loosened.

Seizing the opportunity, Cohen pulled his hand free from that place, then immediately turned on the charm.

“Neh~ An-jie~

Can’t you accept a little concern from your family member?”

While Remiande was momentarily flustered, Cohen suddenly bit down hard on his own tongue, forcing tears to well up in his eyes.

In an instant, a pitiful-looking Cohen was born.

“Oh my goodness, how could I make you worry like that~

Now that you mention it, I just remembered some important matters I need to handle.

You must stay safe, Cohen!”

Seeing Cohen like this, Remiande couldn’t help covering her mouth with both hands, deeply moved as if she were witnessing a priceless treasure.

After comforting him a few more times, she finally left.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to shoot a fierce glare at Viola standing nearby.

‘I’ll be watching you the whole time…’

‘Just you wait.’

“Phew… and now, Your Highness—”

Before Cohen could finish, Viola had already let go of him.

She placed her hands behind her back, returning to her usual demeanor.

Eyes narrowed, smiling softly.

“Do you have any other questions?”

“You… sigh.

Please, have some self-respect, okay?

You’re an important figure, after all.”

Viola leaned forward slightly, tilting her body as she teased him.

“If I just like doing this, what are you going to do about it?”

What an infuriating thing to say!

But— but—

He had no way to deal with her.

Damn it!

Seeing Cohen’s face twisted like he’d just swallowed bitter herbs, Viola’s mood improved considerably.

He really was special.

“All right, I’ll stop teasing you. I have things to take care of too. Good luck.”

With that, Viola flicked her bangs aside and left with effortless flair.

Some things Cohen could only complain about silently in his heart.

If you had something to deal with, couldn’t you just go handle it directly?
Why mess with me instead?!

***

A short distance away from the teleportation gate, two particularly eye-catching figures were preparing the items needed for the exam.

The foot traffic here wasn’t heavy, making one of them shine even more brightly.

Especially her fiery red hair, lifting in the wind, looking like the protagonist of the world itself.

“Titi, are you not ready yet?”

“Hey!

That’s you being careless, Yenika darling.

These are all things we’ll need during the exam!”

“But… you don’t need to bring this much food, do you?”

Charlotte had prepared an excessive amount for the exam.

In reality, only one bag’s worth could be used inside the exam grounds.

More than enough for two people.

Yet Charlotte still brought far more food than necessary.

“It’s fine, Yenika.

I’ll just put the food into my storage ring.

It won’t slow us down at all.”

“But isn’t this still too much food?”

“That’s where you’re not thinking ahead.

Once we enter the teleportation secret realm, there won’t be delicacies like this to enjoy!

People are made of iron, food is steel.

Skip one meal and you’ll starve!”

The more Charlotte talked, the more excited she became.

As if having all this food meant having the entire world.

“Okay…”

Yenika conceded.

“This exam is a team-based one.

The two of us together are perfect.

Won’t this be easy?”

Just as Charlotte was chatting with Yenika, a set of light footsteps approached.

“Looks like I found you.”

Charlotte noticed someone approaching and turned to look.

Once again, she saw the person who had made her heart race a few days ago.

That captivating pink hair again.

“Long time no see, Charlotte.”

Remiande waved at her, carrying a black box slightly larger than her own body on her back.

“You’re the classmate from the other day!
I remember you!”

“Yes.

My name is Remiande. I’m also from the Magic Department.

What a coincidence!”

Remiande?

Isn’t that our department’s president?

So she really is Remiande herself?!

Seeing Remiande come looking for her, Charlotte’s self-awareness began to spiral.

She must be here to ask for help.

To think she’d be lucky enough for this!

“By the way, Remiande, you’re here for the exam too, right?

Are you missing a teammate by any chance?”

Remiande smiled faintly at Charlotte, her expression turning shy.

“Yes, Charlotte.

Um… there’s something I’d like to talk to you about alone.

Could we go over there?”

Remiande pointed to a place with very few people.

The Physical Combat Department’s training grounds.

Charlotte’s heart leapt.

The chance had come.

Just as she thought, this pink-haired little angel had feelings for her!

Tsundere, huh?
Let’s see how I tame you.

“Yenika, I’ll go with her for a bit.
Wait here for me!”

“But—”

Yenika hesitated.

She wasn’t good at dealing with the massive crowd behind them.

“It’s fine. I’ll be right back.”

Yenika watched Charlotte’s bouncing figure as she followed Remiande toward the empty training ground.

“All right, Remiande dear, there’s no one else here now.

Whatever you want to say, I’ll accept it.

No need to be shy~”

I’m so cool right now.

As she spoke, Charlotte casually brushed her hair back, convinced she’d already completely charmed Remiande.

“I do have something I want to talk to you about.”

Remiande looked at Charlotte.

The gentle expression from earlier was gone.

In its place was a cold indifference that kept others at arm’s length.

She set the box down from her back and opened it, taking out a delicate, model-like object.

“That is—?!”

Charlotte froze when she saw what Remiande was holding.

“That thing… it’s a gun, right?

I remember only the military can legally own those.

How did you get it?”

Remiande was holding a sniper-type firearm.

As for why she’d use something like this indoors instead of another weapon
perhaps she simply enjoyed the thrill of precision kills.

“Strictly speaking, it’s a magic staff with a strange design.

But if you want to call it a gun, that’s fine too.”

Charlotte could clearly feel the temperature in the air drop to freezing.

A strong sense of unease rose within her.

“So… why did you take it out?”

“Nothing much.
I just want to have a little chat~”

Remiande’s tone remained icy.

Charlotte couldn’t understand what she’d done to anger her.

Remiande smoothly raised the gun, aiming the barrel directly at Charlotte’s head.

“As the Student Council President of the Magic Department,

I am now carrying out academic disciplinary action against you,
a problematic student, on the grounds of bullying fellow students in violation of academy rules.”