Volunteer Work?
I furrowed my brow and repeated her words.
"Volunteer work?"
"What the hell does that mean? You want me to clean the academy or something?"
"Clean? No. Did you really think we'd settle for something as simple as manual labor?"
Adrian propped her chin on her hand and spoke dryly.
"Your job is to fill in the administrative gaps at the school and assist key personnel. It's essentially special aide work."
"Special aide?"
Nothing with 'special' attached had ever turned out normal in my experience.
"Pretty words for aide—it's just odd jobs. Sorting documents, cleaning, errands. Whatever they tell you to do."
Adrian tapped a section of the document with her finger.
"You'll report to designated locations at set times each day, complete the assigned tasks, and get a confirmation stamp to count it as attendance."
"Ha."
It was ridiculous.
They weren't letting me attend classes and planned to work me to the bone all day instead. The intent was crystal clear.
"So, where am I going? The library? Admin office?"
It didn't matter where.
Given my status, they wouldn't assign me anything too grueling.
"No."
Adrian's lips curled into a sly smirk.
"You've been assigned to exactly two places."
She flipped to the next page of the document.
"First is here—my office."
"...What?"
"Assist with my work. I've got mountains of paperwork piling up and could use an extra pair of hands. Be my arms and legs."
"Your office?"
I let out a disbelieving laugh.
"So you want me to play secretary for you?"
"Secretary? That's too generous a term. It's just menial tasks."
Adrian replied shamelessly.
"If you don't like it, feel free to refuse. Though you won't avoid the grade retention that way."
She looked utterly relaxed.
"Choose. Protect your pride and waste a year, or behave and dodge retention."
Sly bastard.
She had me pinned perfectly.
If I got retained here, I'd have nowhere to go, and forget demon lord subjugation or anything else—it'd all be over.
The main scenario would grind to a halt too.
Above all, to keep my promise to Charlotte to return as her cool big sister, I had to graduate on time.
—S-Sis, why are you back already...? What? Retained...?
I could picture Charlotte staring at me with eyes full of contempt.
'I can't let that happen...!'
"Sigh... Fine. I get it. I'll do it."
I gritted my teeth and answered.
"Good. I like that attitude. And the second location."
Her gaze shifted oddly—a mix of bafflement and faint displeasure.
"There's more? Besides the office?"
"Yes. One day here, the next there."
She turned to the next page and showed it to me.
The moment I saw the name in the 'In Charge' field, my eyes widened.
In Charge: Lilliana
"...Lilliana?"
Come to think of it, had I even properly said goodbye to Lilliana before leaving this place?
I'd planned to meet her eventually, but not like this.
"Yes. Assist her. Your second duty is tending the flower beds in the greenhouse where she stays and carrying out her instructions."
"Hold on."
I asked urgently.
"Why Lilliana of all people? There are plenty of other spots."
"I don't fully understand it myself. I'd prefer not to put you two together if possible, but..."
"Right, so just send me somewhere else..."
"Lilliana specifically requested you."
"...What?"
"She wants to give you a chance to atone for tormenting her. By keeping you close and watching over you."
A chill ran down my spine at those words.
"Atonement."
The word triggered blaring alarms in my head.
Lilliana's empty eyes staring at me from the prison.
The feel of her arms crushing me in the hospital room just before she knocked me out.
And the rumors she'd tried to take over my room.
'That's atonement? More like imprisonment or breeding.'
'Keeping me close' didn't sound pure no matter how I spun it.
Lilliana either held a grudge against me, was obsessed, or—most likely—both.
'Still, I'd have to face her eventually.'
I couldn't just leave things with her unresolved.
Clear the misunderstanding, apologize—whatever it took.
Running wouldn't solve it.
Stepping into her watch might even reassure her.
"I'll do it."
I answered curtly.
"Good. Wise choice."
Adrian stamped the document with satisfaction.
"Starts today. My office today, greenhouse tomorrow. Alternate days."
"Today?"
"Yes. See that stack over there? Get to work."
Adrian shoved half the towering pile from her desk toward me.
Thud!
A heavy thump, and dust billowed up.
"What the hell is all this?"
"Student council minutes and budgets from the past month. Sort and summarize by lunch."
"All this? Before lunch?"
"Can't handle it? Then no credit for today."
Adrian tapped her watch.
"Time's short. Better hurry."
"You demonic bastard..."
This crazy bitch Adrian.
How much did she hate me?
Ha.
A sigh escaped me.
"Fine. I'll do it."
I rolled up my sleeves and sat before the pile.
And so my special rehabilitation began.
///
The first day's work was boredom incarnate.
Adrian treated me like a total errand girl.
"Sort these documents by year."
"Coffee's cold. Brew more."
"Dust on the floor. Wipe it."
She barked orders nonstop, and I obeyed without complaint.
Physically, it wasn't taxing.
Mindless tasks made time fly.
"That's enough for today."
Adrian glanced at her watch.
"Greenhouse tomorrow. Lilliana's waiting—don't be late."
"Got it."
I rubbed my stiff back and left the office.
Esilla, waiting outside, escorted me back to the dorm.
"Good work."
At my door, Esilla gave a curt nod.
"You too."
I reached for the handle but paused.
Esilla had grabbed my wrist.
"Tomorrow... be careful."
She whispered low.
"Of what?"
"The Saintess."
Esilla's eyes darkened.
"Her mood's been off lately. Even the priests are walking on eggshells around her."
"..."
"If anything happens... scream. I'll be nearby."
She squeezed my wrist once, then released it.
Worry? Warning? Unclear.
But the weight in her words was unmistakable.
"Got it. Thanks."
I thanked her and entered my room.
Aria was already there.
"W-Welcome back...?"
She'd been studying in bed but bolted upright, fidgeting and glancing at me nervously.
"Relax. Make yourself comfy."
It was weird saying that to a roommate, but otherwise she'd stay perched awkwardly.
"O-Okay then..."
She slowly lay back down at my words.
"Yeah. I'm beat."
I collapsed onto my bed.
Tomorrow, I'd meet Lilliana.
What face would she make?
Angry? Blank?
Couldn't picture it.
'Whatever. It'll work out.'
I pulled the covers over my head and slept.
///
Next morning.
I woke a bit earlier than usual.
"I-I'm sure they said just for yesterday..."
"It's too hard. Help me one more time."
With Aria's help, I dressed neatly in my uniform and stood before the mirror.
The restraint collar around my neck gleamed obnoxiously.
"Let's go."
The greenhouse was behind the academy's main building, tucked in a quiet spot bordering the woods.
A massive glass structure.
Thump, thump.
My heart raced.
'Gotta go in.'
My hand hesitated on the doorknob. No avoiding it.
I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Creeeak.
Hot, humid air rushed out, laced with a vibrating floral scent.
The interior brimmed with vibrant flowers of every color.
And in the center of the bloom...
Lilliana stood with her back to me, tending something.
"Lilliana?"
I called cautiously. Her shoulders twitched.
She turned slowly.
Red liquid dripped from the cold blade of her shears to the floor.
"Ah..."
Backlit in shadow, she saw me and smiled brightly.
"You've come, Lady Elise?"