Chapter 25 “ Balck crystal” part 4

Outside, Nox carefully moved through the academy corridor, Mireon hovering nervously beside him.

“Listen. If anyone sees you here, it’s going to be a huge problem,” Nox whispered sharply. “Do not mess this up.”

Mireon wobbled, looking guilty—and Nox’s patience snapped.

“Seriously! I don’t have time for your nonsense today!” he barked, drawing a black magic circle beneath the semi-transparent slime.

In an instant, Mireon vanished, transported safely back into sub-space.

Nox let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples.

“I don’t get him… he’s supposed to be one of the Seven Sins Undead, and yet he acts like this every time.”

‘Or maybe it’s because the headmaster, even though she’s human, is a witch disciple. Perhaps there are side effects from living with a witch.’he thought

Shaking his head, he muttered,

“One day, she’s going to give me a heart attack…”

With Mireon secured, Nox slowly made his way back to his room, his steps heavy but controlled. The corridor was quiet—almost too quiet.

He glanced around nervously, imagining every shadow as a potential witness.

“Alright… finally,” he murmured to himself.

“Back to my room… alone… without extra trouble for once… now, where is the bed?”

The next day, Scarlet and Sisbell were getting ready in the girls’ dormitory.

Scarlet glanced at Sisbell, tilting her head.

“Hey… do I look cute? If I change my hairstyle… I mean, straight hair looks plain.”

Sisbell blinked, caught off guard

“Ah… well… maybe… you could try a side bun like Liora?” she said cautiously.

Scarlet’s eyes narrowed.

“So… you also think Liora is cute?”

Sisbell quickly waved her hands.

“What? I… I didn’t say that! Don’t get the wrong idea!”

Scarlet huffed, crossed her arms, pouting.

“Fine. I’ll just ask Liora myself.”

Sisbell sighed, exasperated.

“Scarlet… why are you so obsessed with being cute?”

Scarlet shrugged and changed the topic, walking toward the door.

On her way out, she suddenly spotted Liora in the hallway.

Scarlet froze, her eyes fixed on her friend.

“Oh… there you are…” she muttered quietly, almost to herself.

Liora looked up and waved cheerfully, completely unaware of Scarlet’s flustered state.

Scarlet clenched her fists slightly.

“I… I need to figure out this cuteness thing… fast, for hi—I mean, for me. Absolutely for me,” she whispered, determination flashing in her eyes.

Scarlet hurried to Liora, face red.

“Liora… I need your help with something,” she said nervously.

“My help? Bah… sure, if I’m able to help you, Lady Scarlet. I mean… I’m so bad at helping and I’m weak,” Liora said, tilting her head.

“I… I want to know how to act cute. Someone asked me, and Sisbell says you’re cute, so I hope you have some advice,” Scarlet whispered, flustered.

Liora blinked, then laughed.

“Cute? You want me to teach you?”

“Just be you,” Liora teased. “That’s cute enough. I didn’t do anything special, but my sister says I’m cute because I'm Liora.”

Scarlet asked for advice, so Liora smiled warmly because for its first time someone ask her help so she try genuinely

“But Lady Scarlet, you’re already beautiful,” she said softly.

“I can give you some tips, though.”

Scarlet leaned in, curious.

“Tips?”

Liora nodded.

“Yeah. My sister says I act like a cat, and that’s why people notice me. ”

“You can try small gestures—tilting your head, using a soft voice and tiny movements. It makes people pay attention in a gentle way.”

Scarlet’s eyes widened.

“Like… a cat? You mean… really a cat? Or… say meow?”

“Yes,” Liora said, nodding seriously.

“And… Nox says he likes cats too, when we’re alone.”

Scarlet froze.

‘He doesn’t spend time alone with me… but he has time for Liora? Am I really not cute? Or is there something I lack in my femininity?’she thought

A faint twinge of jealousy crept into her chest.

“Th-Thank you, Liora,” she stammered.

“Let’s… go to class together before we’re both late.”

Liora nodded, smiling gently.

“Of course. But Lady Scarlet… I was thinking—why are you even here? I mean, this isn’t even the way to your class.”

Scarlet fidgeted with her hands.

“I was looking for you, that’s all.”

Liora tilted her head, confused but innocent.

“I see… so let’s go together.”

Scarlet adjusted her posture, trying to remember Liora’s advice, her mind buzzing with ideas on how to act cute—even if it made her nervous.

After a few minutes, Scarlet met Sisbell, and both arrived in the classroom together.

Alber was already there, quietly reading a book Nox was slumped over his desk, fast asleep. Even with the noise in the room, he didn’t move at all.

Scarlet stared at him.

“Is he… dead?” she whispered.

Alber coughed lightly.

“How rude. Declaring someone dead so casually,” he said.

“He’s just sleeping. He came in very late last night.”

Scarlet slowly took the seat beside Nox, lowering her voice.

“Do you know why he came so late?”

Alber shook his head.

“I don’t know for sure, but I think it’s because of money.”

Scarlet blinked.

“Money?”

Alber nodded toward Nox’s desk.

“I saw a lot of errand requests there… paid ones.”

Scarlet looked at the messy stack of papers. Her chest felt a little tight.

‘Is he really that short on money…? He said he’s struggling to find a part-time job, so he does errands and forgets to sleep because of it.’she thought

“If I lend him some—”

Her imagination immediately played out the scene.

Nox smiling politely.

“Thank you, but I’m fine.”

Nox bowing slightly.

“I can handle it myself.”

Nox walking away as if nothing happened.

Scarlet clenched her fist under the desk.

‘…Why is he so easy to imagine rejecting me? And wait… why am I even imagining about him?’she thought

Nox shifted in his sleep, letting out a small sigh Scarlet glanced at his tired face, then quickly looked away, her ears turning red.

“I’ll think about it later.”

After a few minutes, class was about to start.

Alber and Sisbell both glanced at Nox, still sleeping like a corpse.

Alber lowered his voice.

“Who’s going to wake him up?”

Sisbell looked away immediately.

“Not me.”

Scarlet sighed softly and looked at Nox.

“Do I really need to wake him up…? He looks less annoying right now.”

She gently shook his shoulder.

“Nox.”

No response. She shook him a little harder.

“…Nox.”

Still nothing.

Scarlet hesitated, then leaned closer to his ear. Her face turned red.

‘I don’t want to do this… but Liora said to act like a cat, and no one sees me right now… and he’s defenseless…’she thought

She swallowed and whispered very softly.

“Wake up… MEOW.”

Nox’s eyes snapped open.

He jolted upright, looking around wildly.

“—What?!”

Alber cleared his throat.

“Finally. You’re awake. Class is about to start.”

Nox frowned, rubbing his eyes.

“Ugh… then why wake me up for that?”

Scarlet quickly leaned back, her face stiff. She looked away and spoke coldly.

“Sir Nox, you cannot sleep during class.”

Nox stared at her.

‘…Was I imagining things? I swear I heard a meow—that’s impossible.’he thought

He sighed.

“Okay, okay. Whatever you all say.”

Scarlet kept her eyes forward, pretending to hear nothing.

Her heart was beating fast.

‘Did that… work? Seriously, my heart feels like it’s coming out of my neck. Why does he react like this now?’he thought

After a few hours, class finally ended.

Students began packing their bags and talking loudly. Chairs scraped across the floor.

Nox stood up and stretched.

“Alber, sorry. I’m busy again today.”

He turned, ready to leave.

Before he could take two steps—

Scarlet grabbed his sleeve.

“Stop.”

The word was soft, but firm.

Nox froze and slowly looked down at her hand gripping his uniform.

“…lady Scarlet?”

She stood up as well, her face serious.

“Stay. Right. Here.”

The classroom went quiet.

Nearby students paused mid-conversation.

Eyes slowly turned toward them.

“Did Lady Scarlet just—”

“Isn’t that the special admission again?”

“Wait, she grabbed him—”

“It looks like he’s going to die.”

Whispers spread like fire

Nox felt the pressure instantly.

‘Why does this always happen when I’m in a hurry…? What does she want with me right now?’he thought

Alber coughed lightly and looked away.

Sisbell covered her mouth, eyes shining.

Scarlet didn’t let go. Her grip tightened slightly.

“I have something to say,” she added.

Nox scratched his cheek.

“…Can it wait?”

“NO.”

Her answer was immediate.

At the back of the classroom, Princess Ophelia stood quietly.

She had finished packing but hadn’t left.

Her eyes were fixed on the scene.

Sharp. Calm. Unsmiling.

‘So annoying… that’s how close they are now. At this rate, it’ll be hard for me to get him to my side. But the special admission doesn’t look happy with this.’he thought

Nox finally sighed.

“…Alright.”

He stopped moving.

Scarlet released his sleeve but stepped closer instead.

“Come with me.”

Nox nodded.

“Fine. But make it quick.”

The whispers grew louder as they walked toward the door.

Ophelia watched them leave.

Her fingers slowly tightened around her book.

“…Interesting… and annoying. If she can act like this, I can too,” she murmured.

‘Why is he paying attention to her? Not me…? What’s special about her that isn’t in me?’she thought