Chapter 136
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Melissa's Shocking Return
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"Hey, are you insane?"
"I'm not."
The absurdity of the situation had her growling as she grabbed my neck and squeezed.
"Do you have any idea how far the Imperial Academy is? And you're suddenly telling me to reenroll?! You damn squid-faced freak!"
"Ah, typical nosy deer—loud as hell. Just follow me."
I promptly dragged her toward the spot where I'd set up the gate.
"What's this place? I've never seen this door before."
"Go inside."
Irritation flared at her stubborn refusal, suspicion etched on her face as she stood her ground.
I pulled a flash artifact from my pocket, and only then did she grimace sharply and fling the door open.
"Go in, close it, then open it again."
She followed my instructions without a word, staying quiet for about five minutes before bursting back out in a panic.
"Hey... hey?! What the hell is this?!"
"What else? Your new commute."
"..."
"Next semester starts—don't argue, just go."
"No, I'm busy!"
As she sputtered in confusion, I slipped in the cheat key.
"It's what Dad wanted. The family's sorted now, so live your life doing what you want."
"..."
There, she's calming down now.
I ruffled her dazed head as I brushed past her.
"Professor Rommel helped a lot. Go thank him at least. I'll prep whatever you need."
She said nothing.
After Leon dropped off the reenrollment confirmation, Melissa spent the next few days in a daze.
She knew he was up to something, but she never imagined he'd scheme all the way to the Imperial Academy in the meantime.
If Leon were the greedy type, she might've thought he was finally gunning for the family head position.
But Leon showed zero interest in that.
If it was all an act, she'd be genuinely impressed.
"Ha... how the hell did this happen...?"
Stepping through the door that twisted her sense of common logic, she was greeted by her familiar dorm room from months ago.
Truth be told, she was a little surprised—and happy.
She'd abruptly withdrawn from the academy after learning of the family's crisis.
The room was impeccably tidy, clearly maintained in her absence, and the nostalgia brought a smile to her face.
A sight she'd thought she'd never see again.
And yet, after just a few months, it felt strangely unfamiliar.
Leaving the cluttered dorm behind, she headed to the main academic building, where cadets began to appear.
It was still mid-term, so that was expected.
But something was off.
The cadets who spotted Melissa wore ambiguous expressions.
"Hey, that's that senior, right?"
"Uh... yeah, I think so?"
"Now that you mention it, even with the different vibe, she does look a bit similar."
She twitched at their whispers.
What? Why the fuss?
Puzzlement grew, but she still didn't catch on.
Then, as she walked on, a group came rushing toward her.
"Senior Melissa, right?!"
A bunch of young girls swarmed her, eyes sparkling.
"Uh... um... who might you all be?"
"Ah, we're your juniors. I'm Laxa Velpel."
"I'm Ryu Al Rascol."
Melissa struggled to hide her bewilderment as they introduced themselves in a frenzy.
She didn't have connections wide enough for strangers to approach her like this, eyes shining.
Student council work brought her into contact with plenty of cadets, but back then, more dismissed her as the girl from a minor nation.
So what was this?
"Y-yeah, juniors. What brings you to me...?"
"Um, Senior... could we maybe meet Assistant Instructor Leon Cascadia formally?"
"Huh?"
Her mind blanked for a second.
Brain freeze hit Melissa hard; she stared blankly at the juniors.
What did they just say? Leon Cascadia? That ugly deep-sea anglerfish-looking bastard?
"J-juniors? The person you're talking about... is he that ugly, violent Leon Cascadia?"
"Ugly and violent?!"
"No way! He was super cool!"
"He saved me when I was about to die and even carried me to safety in his arms."
No, what the hell did that lunatic do here in the meantime?
Why couldn't Leon Cascadia, that bald dinosaur maniac, stop causing chaos everywhere he went?
Melissa felt cosmic horror for the first time as the juniors giggled like typical girls their age, cheeks flushing pink.
Handsome?
"You're saying he's handsome?"
"Yeah? Isn't he?"
Wait, was he handsome?
"Good manners, too?"
"He was incredibly considerate. When I was a mess, he adjusted accordingly..."
"In Lady Ryu Al's case, she was crying her eyes out in fear, and Instructor Leon soothed her until she calmed down. Honestly, I should've done the same."
What the hell were they saying?
Melissa's eyes darted wildly.
A wave of inexplicable chaos made her nauseous.
"I haven't heard anything, so... what happened?"
"Well, actually..."
After hearing the exam incident from her juniors, Melissa sighed heavily.
That was when it happened.
"Countess Melissa Cascadia."
She turned at the calm, elegant voice.
Her eyes widened at the silver-haired girl.
"Princess Elena. It's been ages since we met face-to-face."
"It has. I thought I'd never see you again, Countess, but it looks like you're reenrolling."
The juniors glanced around nervously and slipped away at Princess Elena's appearance.
"Yeah, something like that. I probably will."
"I see. Um... it's not much, but..."
Then it happened.
The silver-haired girl rolled her eyes nervously, cheeks tinged pink.
"If it's not too rude... there's something I'd like to ask."
"Oh, sure. Go ahead, Princess."
"Um... do you know what Assistant Instructor Leon Cascadia likes?"
Melissa wasn't fool enough to miss what the princess's behavior meant.
Twisting in place, flustered beyond words... it was just like...
Whoa, how did this happen...?
Melissa's vision went dark!
Melissa sat frozen in silence in her office.
The day's events at the academy had been too shocking.
Royalty lived up to their reputation.
Princess Elena, in particular, was known for her cold pragmatism in choosing aides.
Not just her—royals and imperial kin had to be cautious about those around them.
Frankly, the Elena Melissa knew seemed unlikely to ever fall for anyone.
What the hell did he do in the Black Forest to turn her into a smitten girl?
"No, seriously, how did things end up like this?"
She let out a hollow laugh and clicked her tongue.
Leon already had a fiancée, to begin with.
A fake engagement that could end anytime, sure—but for an imperial princess to show interest in a betrothed man was no light matter.
Whether the palace approved or it was one-sided didn't matter much.
Maybe feelings had blossomed amid crisis.
Or perhaps it was that innocent first love of a girl her age—something fresh and unknown.
Of course, from her vantage point watching Luna and Leon up close, the princess's fate was obvious.
"Ah... aaaah. My head hurts."
She shook her head vigorously and sorted her papers.
If Leon were still at the estate, she'd have shaken him down for answers—but he wasn't here.
Truth be told, it felt a bit lonely. The mansion without Luna or Leon seemed eerily quiet.
Maybe that's why she half-wished for some excuse to drag him back.
Then a letter caught on her hand.
"Huh? What's this? Never seen it before."
The seal marked it from the Holy Kingdom, no doubt.
She tore open the envelope silently and scanned the contents. Her eyes widened, pupils contracting.
"..."
In suffocating silence, she finished reading and shot to her feet.
"Butler!"
"You called, Young Lady?"
"Summon Leon and Luna here right now. It's urgent."
Late hour—they were probably asleep—but that didn't matter.
"At... this time?"
"Yes. Tell them High Priest Navel contacted us—they'll understand."
Melissa's voice was firm, but her hands trembled.
That was what the letter said.
Permission granted to borrow an artifact allowing entry into the sea's interior, designated a sanctuary. They were en route here on gryphons with it.
Melissa wasn't foolish enough to miss the implications.
Like at the estate, I was currently sleeping with Luna under the guise of insomnia treatment.
Just having her nearby neutralized my severe insomnia.
So I'd grown so accustomed that falling asleep now felt natural with her beside me.
One might expect embarrassment from such an intimate setup by now, but it had become effortless.
In her sleep, Luna burrowed deeper into my arms like she was drunk.
"Ha."
Watching her smack her lips with pink hair splayed and face unguarded sparked a sadistic urge; I poked her cheek hard.
She just frowned slightly, eyes staying shut.
Come to think of it, Luna never hid her halo or wings when sleeping with me.
More precisely, they emerged when she fell into deep sleep.
Of course, trying to touch those wings just passed through empty air.
Last time I tried when they were visible, she kicked my shin so hard.
I slowly sat up and gazed down at her silently.
"Mmm... give me more..."
"Looks like another eating dream."
I still couldn't sleep properly without her nearby.
What exactly was she?
No point dwelling— no clear answers came.
One certainty: she wasn't some ordinary angel.
The peculiarities of her sealed location. Her healing powers. And that absurd strength.
If asked whether angels were truly that powerful, I'd shake my head firmly.
There had to have been angels among those I met in Labyrinthos.