Chapter 121 - Who Knows? - Ding Dong Daeng Dong

"Eek."

Irina, who had been fiddling with the orb while nestled against Frey for a while, jumped up from her seat at the sound of the school bell.

"...When did it get this late?"

The Blood Oath was a ritual that demanded intense concentration and magical prowess, so Irina had lost track of time completely while performing it. And as a result, she ended up experiencing the monumental event of being late to class for the first time ever.

"Frey, wait here just a moment."

Flustered as she scrambled to stand, Irina carefully sat Frey back down and whispered to him.

"I'll come right back after class..."

With that, she gently picked up the bucket beside Frey and placed it in front of him.

Shaaaa...

Soon after, Irina cast a spell to levitate the bucket in front of Frey.

"Hm."

She narrowed her eyes and began scanning the surroundings.

"Well then, goodbye."

Whispering that, Irina leaned in toward Frey's face, her cheeks flushing red.

"Ugh..."

But midway through, she suddenly froze and let out a dazed sound.

For her—who had been utterly absorbed in magic research and war in both the previous loop and this one—kissing another person required far more courage than she'd imagined.

"...Smooch."

After a fierce internal battle, Irina finally succeeded in delicately pressing her lips to Frey's.

"Nngh..."

It wasn't a deep kiss with tongues intertwined, nor did it last long—just a fleeting moment. But for her, it was the first act of affection she'd ever initiated of her own free will in her life, carrying its own profound meaning.

"I-I'll be late for class."

With her ears now burning red, Irina cleared her throat awkwardly and hurriedly fled the room.

"...Hehe."

All while quietly rolling the slightly hazy orb blending silver and red in her palm.

Click.

As the door closed and locked itself with automatic magic, the canary—which ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had swiftly flown to a nearby tree when Irina scanned the room—returned.

"...Tweet."

It flew to the windowsill and peered inside the room. Confirming no one was there, the canary cautiously entered and landed on Frey's shoulder.

"Cheep♪"

It began softly singing into his ear.

"...?"

After singing deeply with eyes closed for a while, the canary suddenly turned its head toward the window.

"Hooo!!"

"Coo coo coo!!"

"...!"

Spotting the white owl and pigeon fiercely battling as they approached the windowsill, the canary desperately flew to a nearby pillow and hid.

Thud.

The owl and pigeon continued fighting even after entering the room, then simultaneously dropped letters on Frey's desk before flying to the windowsill.

"Hooo!"

"Coo coo!"

Still viciously pecking at each other until the end.

"...Tweet."

Watching the scene in terror as feathers scattered everywhere, the canary cautiously flew to the desk once the two birds vanished.

"...?"

There, four letters came into the canary's view.

'There were definitely only two letters dropped by the owl and pigeon... right?'

Clana, who had been sharing the canary's vision until then, pondered for a moment before—

Pop!

—carefully using the canary's beak to tear open a letter.

'Just in case there's assassination magic on it... I'm only opening it first to check.'

Thinking that, Clana opened one of the original letters on the desk, only to frown deeply upon spotting the name on the envelope.

'...Ha?'

Grinding her teeth quietly at the name she most hated hearing these days, Clana—

"Tweet."

After confirming the full contents, Clana coldly shoved the letter with her foot into the wastebasket beside the desk.

'And this one?'

Relieved, as she tore open the next letter, Clana tilted her head in confusion.

"...??"

Puzzled by the contents for a moment, Clana decided there was no assassination magic and restored the envelope.

'Is this from Serena?'

As she finished checking all letters and prepared to return, Serena's letter caught her eye. Hesitating, Clana—

Slide...

—extended the beak quietly.

Zap zap zap zap!!!

"Cheep!!"

But at that instant, the protective magic on the letter activated, electrocuting the canary under Clana's control.

'Ow...'

Fortunately, her body composed of Solar Mana suffered no major damage, but still shaken and teary-eyed, Clana gave up peeking and retreated a step from Serena's letter.

'Huh?'

Then Perloché's letter entered her view.

'Why insert the envelope into the letter?'

Flustered by Perloché's odd habit, Clana cautiously began reading the contents.

'What is this?'

Feeling an odd disconnect from the paper torn from the diary she'd gifted, Clana grimaced and muttered.

'Come to think of it, Perloché still doesn't know Frey collapsed.'

Until uncovering the truth about Frey, she couldn't confide in her once-sole friend, leaving Clana momentarily melancholic.

'No choice. Can't let Frey get hurt again.'

With that thought, she flew up again.

"Tweet!"

Returning to Frey's side, Clana—

'When I ascend as emperor, I performed the Blood Oath to the Sun and Empire... for you.'

—burrowed into his embrace, murmuring inwardly.

'I'm truly unfit to be emperor.'

A thought that would have horrified her past self, who staked her life on the throne. Yet murmuring it inwardly, Clana—

'Still...'

—wore a sad yet gentle smile.

'I'm satisfied with this.'

Finishing her murmur, Clana lay on her bed, pulled the covers over, and closed her eyes quietly.

"Mmm..."

Thus fully linked with the canary, she drifted into sleep nestled in Frey's arms, eyes gently shut. Though the space was dark, Clana smiled happier than ever.

......

"Hmm hmm hum~ ♪ That evening."

"Alright, let's check off today's tasks!"

Perloché Astellade hummed cheerfully, busily marking her checklist.

"First... dawn prayer! Done! Class attendance! Obviously!"

Beaming as she checked items off for a while, she suddenly frowned and muttered.

"Monitor Frey...? Missed that..."

Frowning at the unchecked item amid her brisk progress, Perloché stood up.

"Right! Frey was nowhere all day! And I sent a letter, but he didn't come!"

Fuming as she said it, she headed for the door.

"Prepare yourself, Frey! I already warned you!"

Exiting the room, she huffed through her nose and strode down the hall.

"Saintess, where to?"

"Something anger you?"

"I'm off to catch Frey—busy!"

"Pardon?"

Responding ambitiously to the puzzled onlookers, Perloché exited the dorm with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a calm expression.

"...Hm?"

But soon, she tilted her head.

"Where's the Noble Dormitory again?"

"Over there."

"Ah! Thanks!"

Asking a maid for directions, she thanked her and hurried to the Noble Dormitory.

"...Saintess? What brings you to the Noble Dorm?"

"Gotta catch Frey! Need your cooperation!"

Arriving, she boldly declared to the guarding maids.

"Ah... Understood. Please enter."

"Thanks!"

Of course, the maids had no choice but to grant entry. Though Perloché was a commoner by academy rules, her public status rivaled dukes and the imperial family.

"...Huh?"

Grinning at what she saw as mere courtesy, Perloché tilted her head upon spotting two people chatting in the hall.

"Why are they here?"

The pair were Kania and Serena.

"Something about Perloché?"

"Yes, so even telling unreliable you..."

"Hello!!"

Staring blankly for a moment, Perloché beamed and inserted herself into the conversation.

".........!"

"What were you talking about!?"

"Ah, well. You see."

Caught off-guard, Kania stammered, while Serena calmly replied.

"We were arguing."

"Arguing?"

"Yes, one of us has to nurse Frey."

As Perloché looked puzzled, Serena continued, fan over her mouth.

"Frey collapsed from illness yesterday. His butler Kania and fiancée me were assigned."

"F-Frey was sick!"

"Yes, but we both hate him, right? So we've been shoving responsibility."

Finishing, Serena smiled slyly at Kania.

"Well, if you hate it that much, no choice. As his fiancée, I'll nurse him."

"Y-Yes?"

Kania panicked—it was her shift now.

"Why the fuss? You hated nursing him moments ago."

"Th-That..."

"Rest then. I'll take till dawn..."

"No, I'll do it!"

"Pardon?"

Smiling at Kania as she headed to Frey's room, Serena spotted—

"Everyone, wait..."

—Perloché peeking from the open door.

"Hold on."

Grabbing her arm urgently.

"That thing I mentioned before—you must know..."

"Jeez!"

Shaking off Serena's arm, cheeks puffed, Perloché huffed.

"I don't know any DLC!"

"...Pardon?"

"Rest up, everyone!"

With that, Perloché entered Frey's room.

"M-My turn..."

Kania extended her arm blankly.

"What?"

Serena muttered coldly.

"Did she just say 'DLC'?"

By now, the sun had set, moon and stars risen.

"As expected..."

In that twilight, Serena smirked confidently.

"...My guess was right."

"N-Not faking—really sick?!"

"...?"

—Until the next words.

"I wanted that nude massage from before again!"

"Ha?"

Serena's expression twisted slightly.

"Such a shame!"

In stark contrast to Perloché, who coldly scribbled something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inside the room.