The Lunch That Melted the Heart
Elenora tilted her head at me with a faint smile, holding out the lunchbox I had prepared.
“Hehe. You made this for me, Sophia.”
“I eat with my school friends, so I didn’t even realize Winter-sama was skipping meals.”
She reached into her pouch and pulled out a small piece of macaron, sliding it across the table toward me.
“I’m hungry too. Just one slice of sandwich would be fine, right?”
“You can eat all of it.”
I handed her the thermos.
At that moment Elenora’s voice turned slightly sharp.
“Then that’s not allowed!”
“...?”
“You can’t just take a girl’s feelings so lightly!”
Is she talking about Sophia’s heart?
“I’m not hungry.”
“But you’re thinking about her feelings, aren’t you?”
I accepted the macaron she offered.
Then she snatched a single slice of the sandwich in one quick bite.
“Today I have to eat that sandwich slice, this macaron… and the soup too! Everything!”
“What if I refuse?”
“Then I won’t cooperate with you from now on. Are you happy now?”
She turned her face away, looking like a sulky child.
It seemed like such a big deal, but I gave in.
I took a bite of the sandwich. The cheese and salami blended perfectly.
Even the edges had been neatly trimmed and buttered before grilling.
The whole thing carried a warm, thoughtful touch.
The soup had a rich, savory consomme depth.
And the macaron she gave me filled my mouth with sweet fragrance.
I don’t usually like sweets, so I brewed coffee instead.
Elenora stirred in milk and sugar while sipping.
“How are you feeling?”
She mumbled the macaron as she took small sips.
It was clearly tedious, yet strangely peaceful.
My stomach was full, and there was a chattering companion beside me.
“Tiring and drowsy.”
“I guessed you’d say something like that.”
Elenora asked seriously, “How long has it been since you last slept?”
Two days ago? Or three?
Normally I was either deep in research with Professor Prin on the Pressure Dispersion Bomb or standing watch in the Watcher’s Room observing Peter’s every move.
But I was fine.
I had received Permanent Inscription Polymorph.
My body felt tougher than anyone else’s.
Elenora moved closer to me.
“You don’t have to push yourself too hard, okay?”
A soft light seemed to bloom around her eyes.
When she took my hand, calm settled over my heart.
My vision suddenly blurred and the world swayed like a gentle tilt.
Soon sleep came, heavy and warm, and I closed my eyes.
I felt her fingers gently stroking my hair.
“Poor thing…”
Was this her magic?
Or was I simply worn out from too much recent effort?
At that moment the lab door opened and a voice snapped out, “Do you have to do romance in a quiet place?”
Senior Rin.
“It’s quiet here too.”
Elenora slipped her arm through mine and answered.
***
Rin had been researching bombs that killed people.
The explosive inside them and the metal fragments that would scatter on detonation.
Her goal wasn’t just to strengthen the bomb’s destructive power.
It was different.
She wanted the fragments to fly apart the instant the fuse exploded, slicing through flesh like razor blades.
In battle, mages used Barrier Magic and knights used Aura to counter explosions.
Most of it had evolved to protect against the flames bursting from massive explosion sites.
But if those metal fragments created hundreds or thousands of tiny deadly shards?
Their defenses would be stretched too thin.
Peter had watched her with horror.
More precisely, the Evil God inside him had felt the same chill.
While planning to destroy the academy,
she was systematically building weapons meant to kill humans.
The Evil God slipped into her mind.
“Kill people. Build stronger weapons.”
Rin answered the call by creating even deadlier devices.
From cannons that fired thousands of metal balls at once to bombs strapped onto tiny rockets.
Then, when the Evil God whispered to redirect the blasts toward the academy,
she realized she was being controlled.
She immediately thought of a way to deceive it.
“I’ll test the bomb’s power by blowing up the academy’s storage first.”
The Evil God seemed satisfied.
Rin detonated almost all her bombs at once.
A massive explosion erupted.
But it was meant for murder, not mere destruction.
No fire spread. Only countless iron shards rained down.
The Evil God was pleased and arranged for Peter and her to meet.
Even if Peter failed to collapse the academy, Rin’s weapons would follow.
That was the plan.
From Peter’s perspective, Rin had become a student soaked in hatred for nobles and mages.
He no longer believed things could return to normal.
And he hid the fact that he had seen the Evil God.
Through him she gathered every detail—date, location, traps.
Knowing the location didn’t mean she could disarm it.
Peter’s remaining devices were beyond her skill alone.
She trusted almost no one.
Even the academy staff were watching her warily after the warehouse explosion.
The students felt the same way.
She was labeled a bomb-obsessed freak.
She had given up hope.
The only person she could trust was Winter and Elenora.
She had spilled her extreme theories, yet they had accepted her as a research member.
Maybe they suspected the coming event.
While studying bombs they showed no interest in killing.
So was their real goal to use the explosives to lure out and stop the Black Star Society?
The memory of Peter’s first-day revenge speech against the Society flashed through her mind.
For the first time Rin wondered if her research could be used to save lives.
That was why she decided to trust just once more.
‘If I tell them everything, Peter and that being will find out…’
But she had no other choice.
Fortunately the Evil God did not seem to read her thoughts.
It only observed her actions.
‘Deceive the Evil God… and deliver this message for sure…’
After long consideration, the scene she walked into at the research lab was nothing like she expected.
Elenora was clinging to Winter’s arm, the two of them looking like they were simply enjoying a peaceful afternoon.
Rin stood frozen for a moment.
Lives were on the line.
She had not slept properly for days while gathering information.
Yet the two she trusted most were acting as if they were in love.
Irritation surged inside her.
***
I didn’t shake off Elenora’s arm.
Because she had sent me a message.
“Something feels off. Senior Rin’s mind feels overlapped.”
It was the Evil God.
“Is it looking like Peter and a mage?”
“Yes. But it feels closer to Rin.”
Rin held a bundle of papers in her hand.
I lifted Elenora into my arms and sat her on my lap.
Her light weight felt familiar.
“Ah!”
She blushed and gave a small laugh.
“You told me not to do this in front of others~!”
Rin looked ready to explode with anger.
“Any reports? Place them on the desk and leave.”
I braided Elenora’s hair while speaking.
“I’m a little busy right now.”
Get the hint.
If the Evil God noticed my condition, it might change plans.
Fortunately Rin wore a look of realization.
She quickly switched to a cold expression and said, “Are you two lovers?”
Then she dropped the documents on the desk.
“Report on the bomb’s power. Play with it a little and get to work.”
“Understood.”
I kept braiding Elenora’s hair.
And Rin left.
As I braided one beautiful black braid after another, only a few strands remained.
“Winter-sama? Can I get down now?”
“Once you start something, you finish it.”
“Other people might come… and it’s way too embarrassing…”
“Wait.”
“Fortunately your hands are incredibly soft… and fast! Hehe…”
She paused, then asked, “Do you do this for other girls too? You’re so skilled…”
“I had a little sister. Now I can’t see her anymore.”
They were from my past life.
Elenora gave me a pitying look.
I let her down only after I finished braiding her long hair.
***
“Rin has shown us the following details of Peter’s plan.”
Early morning, we gathered in the Watcher’s Room.
According to Rin’s documents, the strike would take place at one o’clock this afternoon.
The attendees included Principal Frisia, Professor Prin, Elenora, and Sophia.
The room held records of the bomb’s strength and how it would collapse the buildings.
“Most of this matches the movements Peter made last week.”
It matched what we saw in this room.
Of course we weren’t just watching while the bombs were being installed.
“Um… esteemed ones?”
I glared at Professor Prin.
The atmosphere turned awkward until she corrected herself, “Winter-sama… the bombs Peter installed include Pressure Dispersion Bombs. It should be fine.”
The Pressure Dispersion Bomb was a magic-engineering device that canceled explosions.
It created a shock wave in the opposite direction right before detonation, dispersing pressure.
Perfect cancellation was impossible, but it could reduce damage to one percent.
“Even if the explosion happens… the academy will only have holes drilled through it. Why do we have to risk this…”
“To stop the Black Star Society’s activities.”
Principal Frisia added.
“Then Professor Prin, stay in the Watcher’s Room and report on any changes.”
“Yes, Principal.”
Prin nodded.
“Sophia and Elenora, handle student evacuations inside the academy. I already briefed Professor Dane, so the student council can move too.”
Both girls nodded.
“And Winter…”
Principal Frisia gave me a dangerous smile.
“After it’s over, will you stay behind?”
Principal Frisia smiled sweetly.
“I have something to say.”