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Thanks to yesterday’s events, Shione had collapsed into a deep sleep. She ended up sleeping in late. If not for my efforts to wrench her from the clutches of slumber, she wouldn’t have woken up at all at what could still be called morning.

Yet it seemed she was still half-asleep. With her hair all messy and still wandering between dreams and reality, I had no choice but to provoke her once more to rouse her fully.

“Time to get up now.”

“Can’t I sleep just a little longer…?”

“You must have slept better than I did, given the grapey odor that keeps wafting from my neck. I was hugged so tightly until I fell asleep that I must have had a proper rest.”

“…What’s wrong with marking my territory? Besides, we hardly get to hug these days.”

Shione pouted.

Even so, it seemed she still wasn’t completely awake. I could see her trying to crawl back under the blanket, so I decided to deliver a strong jab of reality.

“Do you remember saying, ‘Please only look at Shione’ when you were drunk yesterday? You fell asleep right after saying it, you know.”

It definitely struck a chord.

Her eyelids, which had been almost completely shut, suddenly flew open.

“…Did I really say that yesterday?”

Shione, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, was now interrogating herself about whether she truly had said such a thing.

Thanks to that, it seemed like she was completely awake now. I found it particularly amusing to watch her kick the blankets off or wallow in her despair, now that I had stopped answering her.

I relished that brief but delightful moment.

Once ready for a speedy exit, we immediately set out to accomplish our already predetermined agenda.

“First off, Sion.”

He had no need to stay here any longer, especially since the Academy was currently dangerous. It wouldn’t be surprising if Sion, having already been targeted once, was targeted again.

When I suggested that Shione and I return to the Count’s House, she responded.

“Since the regular classes have already ended, I think it would indeed be best to return to our family under the circumstances.”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Sion also gave his reply.

However, he wore an expression that hinted at his displeasure.

His feelings were directed towards Shione and me.

“But you and Sir Ray plan to stay at the Academy, right?”

“It seems necessary. We haven’t even finished improving our magic… and it looks like the princess expects something from us.”

“Um…”

Sion faltered for a moment, unable to find the right words, then he let out a small sigh.

“Be careful around the Knight Faculty. They’ve had the most disappearances. It can’t hurt to be cautious. And—”

At that, Sion pulled something out of his cloak.

In his hand was a familiar necklace.

“I’ve infused this necklace with divine power again.”

Shione accepted the necklace with a grateful expression.

A warm object brimming with divine power. As she hung the extra life around her neck, Sion’s face lit up with satisfaction.

After gazing at Shione for a moment, Sion soon turned towards me, who had been observing the situation from the side.

“Don’t forget that you owe your life to Sir Ray too. I’ll prepare a special gift at the Count’s House.”

“Are you also talking about mine?”

“Of course it’s only natural to repay kindness. I’ll find you a decent gift so you can look forward to it.”

Our generous brother-in-law.

A decent gift, huh?

Having already given Shione a necklace, I naturally felt an expectation to receive something similarly nice.

Come to think of it, the gift promised by the Marquis Family wasn’t in my hands yet, so I should be able to receive it along with Sion’s when we return to the Count’s House.

“I will be looking forward to it.”

With a small smile and happy imaginings, I accepted Sion’s goodwill.

*

The training with Epheana Alenarr proceeded without any hitches.

It seemed Shione had a considerable talent for ancient magic. They said she learned much quicker than the average wizards, so although there’s a difference between adopting knowledge and embodying it, they still had high expectations.

The problem arose every time she had to apply a new concept.

‘She’s staring at me again.’

It was a bit unsettling that she was locking eyes with me, but given the synergy between the driven Epheana and Shione, it seemed we could return to the Count’s House sooner than expected.

After some time passed, while they continued with Shione’s magic training and applications, an unexpected guest arrived.

‘That person is—’

Dressed sharply in formal attire.

Contrary to her neat appearance and precise movements, there was an urgency etched on her face.

‘She must be from the Academy.’

The emblem embedded on her shoulder and chest was the unmistakable mark of the Royal Academy, which stood for the pursuit of both knowledge and martial arts.

It was easy to deduce her identity.

The fact that someone associated with the Academy came all the way here surely meant there was a message for Epheana Alenarr.

‘But judging by how hastily she’s moving…’

This undoubtedly indicated that an urgent situation had arisen.

She had previously conveyed to us a letter from the Headmaster, who had requested that she intervene in the Academy’s affairs with her power in times of crisis.

‘Looks like they’ve found the cultists.’

If the Academy had successfully detected and located the group of cultists, that would explain her hurried arrival.

So, I quickly approached Epheana Alenarr, perfectly timing my arrival as Shione was fully immersed in her magic.

“Epheana Alenarr, the Headmaster requests the support of the Chief Professor.”

“The Headmaster’s request… I’m sorry to interrupt our session, Young Lady, but I think I need to hear this first. Is that alright?”

“Of course, I’m fine with it.”

With that statement, the gentle demeanor of Epheana shifted instantly.

The air around her stiffened; she was no longer just an ordinary teacher but had transformed into one of the Academy’s outstanding Battle Wizards.

Epheana, who carried an air of command, inquired, “It seems something urgent has come up since you rushed over here. Could you give me a brief explanation?”

“…Currently, the Divine Faculty’s main building and the dormitory are under simultaneous attack by the cultists and some professors who have allied with them.”

It was an absurd statement, and the first to react was not Epheana but Shione.

“You just said the Divine Faculty is under attack, right?”

How could it not be? Sion was none other than in the Divine Faculty building at that moment.

If he wasn’t there, where else could he possibly be?

‘Damn it. Of all times…’

I couldn’t fathom why they would choose to attack the Divine Faculty in broad daylight, but it was indisputably a troublesome situation.

Currently, Sion had entrusted the sacred relic to Shione. Unlike before, he didn’t have an extra life, and the fact that the cultists associated with the Demon of Devouring were attacking the Divine Faculty meant they were likely planning to use the divinely endowed individuals as sacrifices.

This outrageous act must be a deliberate ploy to obscure their true intentions.

‘Personally, I suspect it leans towards the latter.’

Whether it’s the first or second scenario, it ultimately meant that Sion was caught in a crisis.

The Divine Faculty generally taught techniques to protect and heal allies, not to attack or suppress foes. Thus, even if professors were present in the main building, effectively countering a sufficiently prepared enemy would be quite challenging.

“They’re currently in the process of trying to seize the Divine Faculty… so we need Epheana’s help immediately to thwart them.”

“…The professors in the Divine Faculty won’t just sit still. But if some of the other professors have sided with the cultists, do you know their names?”

“I just arrived right after the attack, so I don’t know much… but I’ve been informed that at least three expert-level professors and Yelin from the Magic Faculty are behind the assault on the Divine Faculty.”

“Yelin, huh… That’s why the Headmaster called for me in such a hurry. Things aren’t looking too good.”

The moment Yelin’s name was mentioned, Epheana’s expression soured.

It seemed she knew Yelin quite well and deemed her a rather troublesome opponent, clicking her tongue in dismay.

‘She primarily deals with illusions?’

Even if she weren’t up to the level of a demon of dreams and deception, a wizard like her specializing in illusions could easily disorient the opponent’s senses.

Especially if she’s a battle-hardened wizard, it becomes even more troublesome.

“Young Lady, we need to stop here for today. I feel we must hurry to the Divine Faculty.”

Epheana began to draw upon her mana and adapt to the heightened currents of magic.

Shione wasn’t one to lag behind either. Unhesitatingly showing her own displeasure toward the enemy, she said, “I also want to contribute to the fray at the Divine Faculty. Is that alright?”

She boldly expressed her desire to aid in dealing with the turmoil in the Divine Faculty.

 

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