Chapter 26“ Balck crystal” part 5
On the other side of the classroom—
Sisbell leaned closer to Alber, her voice low and tense.
“…Do you think they’re fighting again? Their… friendships are always so short.”
Alber adjusted his glasses, eyes fixed on the door where Nox and Scarlet had left.
“Lady Scarlet is acting… weird. Something’s off with her.”
Sisbell nodded quickly.
“Yes. Very weird. I have no idea what happened after she started attending the academy. She gets new experiences daily… and now she’s acting more like a normal girl.”
She crossed her arms, frowning.
“And that scares me. Sometimes it feels like she forgot why we approached him in the first place.”
Alber sighed calmly.
“I think they’re normal. You’re the same as her, after all.”
Sisbell blinked at him.
“…I’m an idiot for asking you, aren’t I?”
Alber didn’t answer.
“Probably. Finally, you can accept that you are an idiot.”
Sisbell clicked her tongue.
“Ugh. Why do calm people always say the most useless things? Do you even have a brain?”
Alber shrugged.
“I have a bigger one than you. And if they were fighting, we’d hear shouting.”
Sisbell paused.
“…That’s true.”
She glanced toward the hallway again.
“But still… Scarlet grabbing his sleeve in public?”
Alber nodded.
“That part is unusual. She normally doesn’t care about boys—or anyone. And we both know why. Lady Scarlet only shows interest in special admissions.”
Sisbell narrowed her eyes.
“I know Scarlet needs special admission for the noble faction. But it’s not like she’s interested in him—he’s just lucky to get special admission from the headmaster. And we benefit if he joins. She already told us that.”
She exhaled slowly.
“…I have a bad feeling. We still haven’t made any progress getting him on our side. And you… are also an idiot.”
Alber picked up his book.
“Relax. If something explodes, it won’t be quiet. We have plenty of time to win him over. Just follow the Scarlet plan we all agreed on. Let’s enjoy the academy.”
Sisbell stared at him.
“You’re terrifying in a different way. And she… she’s changed a lot. Are you sure about this?”
Alber smiled faintly.
‘She’s right. Normally, she was cold and untouchable. But Nox has changed her a lot. If anything goes wrong, I’ll need to act directly. If he joins, the headmaster’s protection comes with it… the noble faction benefits.’he thought
In the hallway, Scarlet stood before him, her hand still gripping his sleeve.
“You are not going anywhere today,” she said firmly.
Nox blinked.
“…What?”
Scarlet frowned, lifting her chin.
“Alber said you came back late again last night. That’s not good for your health.”
She paused, lowering her voice.
“As your friend, I have the right to say something.”
Nox stared at her.
‘Why is she suddenly acting like this…? What does she mean by “friend”? She keeps reminding me daily…’he thought
He sighed inwardly.
‘I already finished most of the black crystal analysis. Only a few tasks remain. I really need to go.’he thought
Outwardly, he stayed calm.
“I know I came back late, but I’m fine,” he said.
Then he hesitated.
‘Though… I’ve been hearing weird things lately. Is this a side effect of the black crystal?’he thought
Scarlet didn’t look convinced.
“Fine?”
She pointed at him.
“You were sleeping in the classroom.”
Nox opened his mouth, then closed it.
Scarlet pressed on, her words faster now.
“And why do you want to leave so badly?”
She inhaled lightly.
“And… we became friends.”
Her voice softened.
“After that day, you didn’t even talk to me. Is that how you treat friends? You spend time with Liora and Alber… even going out with Chris for sparring. I heard it from Alber.”
Nox froze.
The hallway seemed unusually quiet.
He looked at her properly this time. Her eyes were serious—not angry. Just… upset.
‘I see… she’s just talking nonsense for nothing…’he thought
He scratched the back of his head.
“…That’s not what I meant.”
Scarlet narrowed her eyes.
“Then what did you mean?”
Nox hesitated.
‘How do I explain research, undead slime, black crystals, and mind control without sounding insane? Even if she believes me, I’d probably die after.’he thought
“…I was busy,” he finally said.
Scarlet crossed her arms.
“That’s not an answer.”
Nox exhaled.
“Scarlet, I’m not avoiding you.”
She looked away slightly.
“…It felt like it.”
Nox paused.
‘So this is the real problem. She didn’t get attention from me… she’s like Ophelia somehow’he thought
“…I’m bad at this,” he admitted.
“Talking. Explaining. Friendship stuff.”
Scarlet glanced back at him.
“…You’re really terrible.”
Nox nodded.
“I know. You don’t need to say that to my face.”
A short silence followed.
Then Scarlet loosened her grip on his sleeve—but didn’t let go completely.
“So?”
Nox raised an eyebrow.
“So…?”
She looked him straight in the eyes.
“You’re not leaving today. You’re terrible, so I need to teach you. At this rate, you’ll become a loner.”
Nox sighed.
“…At least let me finish one thing.”
Scarlet considered for a moment.
“…One.”
She raised a finger.
“After that, you stay.”
Nox gave a small, helpless smile.
“…You’re surprisingly scary today. Did you eat something bad for breakfast?”
Scarlet turned her face away, cheeks faintly red.
“Be quiet. That’s not even funny.”
Nox took a slow breath.
‘Alright. Calm down. Convince her properly… there has to be a way’he thought
He looked at Scarlet.
“…Okay, Lady Sc—”
Before he could finish, a sharp glare pierced him.
Scarlet’s eyes turned cold.
“What did you just say?”
Nox froze.
“…Lady?”
She stepped closer.
“Say my name.”
Nox coughed lightly.
“…Scarlet.”
Her expression softened just a little.
“Again.”
“…Scarlet,” Nox repeated.
She nodded, satisfied.
Nox sighed in defeat.
“Please, help me out here.”
Scarlet crossed her arms.
“You are not going anywhere.”
He tried again.
“I really need to—”
“If you don’t listen,” she interrupted calmly,
“I’ll tell Alber to tie you up.”
Nox stared.
“…You’re joking, right?”
Scarlet smiled faintly.
“I’m not.”
‘Why do I feel like she actually would?’he thought
“…Okay, whatever,” Nox said, giving up halfway.
Scarlet lifted her chin.
“Good.”
Nox rubbed his temples.
“How about this?”
She looked at him, waiting.
“Just today, let me go,” Nox said.
“And tomorrow is the weekend.”
Scarlet narrowed her eyes.
Nox continued quickly.
“Let’s go outside tomorrow. With our group.”
“…Our group?” she repeated.
“Yeah,” Nox nodded.
“You, me, Alber, Sisbell… Liora, if she wants.”
Scarlet went silent.
Sisbell and Alber, watching from afar, leaned closer.
“…She’s thinking,” Sisbell whispered.
“That’s dangerous. But say yes,” Alber replied seriously.
After a few seconds, Scarlet spoke.
“…Tomorrow.”
Nox straightened.
“So—?”
She pointed at him.
“You go today.”
Nox relaxed slightly.
“But,” she added,
“If you disappear again, I won’t ask next time.”
Nox met her eyes.
“…Deal.”
Scarlet finally let go of his sleeve.
“Don’t forget.”
As Nox turned to leave, he muttered quietly,
“…She’s really scary.”
Scarlet heard him.
“I am.”
Nox pushed open the door to the headmaster’s office.
Before he could step inside—
“Oh?”
Velmira raised an eyebrow, clearly about to speak.
Nox lifted his hand.
“Before you say anything—”
He sighed deeply.
“Don’t say it.”
Velmira paused.
Nox walked in and closed the door behind him.
“I already know what you want to say.”
Velmira smiled slowly.
“Oh? Then enlighten me.”
Nox rubbed his forehead.
“You’re going to tease me.”
She clapped lightly.
“Correct.”
Nox groaned.
“Please don’t.”
Velmira leaned back against her desk, eyes shining with interest.
“So? Friend of Lady Scarlet, why are you here this late again?”
Nox flinched.
“Shut up. Don’t act like you don’t know. You just want me to say it myself… There it is.”
He straightened his posture.
“I came to finish the black crystal work.”
Velmira tilted her head.
“You look tired.”
Nox nodded.
“I am.”
She stared at him for a moment, then sighed.
“You’re pushing yourself too hard.”
Nox looked away.
“I can’t leave it half done.”
Velmira walked past him, tapping her staff on the floor.
“Very well.”
A faint crack of light appeared in the air.
“But,” she added calmly,
“If you collapse, I will personally drag you back to your dorm.”
Nox gave a weak smile.
“…That sounds scary.”
Velmira smirked.
“It should.”
She glanced at him once more.
“Now go. Finish your work.”
Nox nodded.
“Yes, Headmaster.”
As he walked toward the sub-space entrance, he muttered softly,
“…Why does everyone scare me lately?”
Several hours later.
Nox returned from his research, moving sluggishly, heavy with fatigue.
Velmira lifted her gaze the moment he stepped inside.
“…You look positively cadaverous.”
Nox sank into a chair, exhaling slowly.
“Still preferable to what transpired earlier today.”
Velmira arched a brow.
“That is hardly comforting.”
She tapped her staff against the floor.
“Report. What did you uncover? Tell me—I’m waiting.”
Nox regarded her steadily.
“If you are hoping for good news, I suggest you abandon that expectation.”
Velmira sighed, restrained.
“I anticipated as much. Nothing good ever comes when you’re here.”
She folded her arms, expression cooling.
“The black crystal itself is an ill omen—particularly when embedded in a monster’s cerebral tissue.”
Nox nodded faintly.
“Yes. And what defies logic is how it integrated into the brain… and how the host survived the process.”
Velmira’s eyes narrowed.
“That anomaly troubles me as well.”
Nox spoke in a subdued tone.
“Meta-human.”
Velmira stiffened.
“…Explain,” she said quietly.
Nox straightened slightly.
“There are three critical issues we face regarding that crystal.”
He raised a finger.
“First, the presence of a mind-control spell. I have already briefed you on that.”
A second finger followed.
“Second, the crystal was forged using meta-human thaumaturgy.”
Velmira’s composure fractured.
“That should be impossible. The meta-human species was eradicated—we three nine-tier mages verified that.”
Her gaze darkened.
“…Unless remnants survived the massacre. And don’t forget—there were some slaves in the past, special ones like sex slaves So It’s possible.”
“That is my conclusion,” Nox replied.
He raised a third finger.
“The final issue is the most alarming.”
Velmira leaned forward.
“Speak.”
Nox met her eyes without hesitation.
“The monster’s mental manipulation spell is target-oriented.”
Velmira inhaled sharply.
“I see… Were you able to identify the intended target?”
Nox shook his head.
“Not yet.”
After a brief pause, he continued.
“The evidence suggests the crystal was implanted as part of an experimental phase.”
His jaw tightened.
“This feels less like a finished weapon and more like a prototype.”
Velmira closed her eyes momentarily.
“…How utterly inconvenient.”
She reopened them and extended her hand.
“Leave the report here. I will review it personally.”
Nox handed over the documents.
“You should mandate rest,” she added.
Nox stretched his shoulders.
“I intend to.”
He rose to his feet.
“Since I have a moment, I’ll inspect the stables.”
Velmira blinked.
“The stables? Oh, I remember—you joined the horse-riding class.”
“The instructor mentioned they are now under our jurisdiction,” Nox replied calmly.
Velmira waved him off.
“Go, then. Just refrain from collapsing midway.”
A faint smile crossed Nox’s face.
“I will endeavor to survive.”
Dark ether coiled around him.
Aether Nocturnal.
In an instant, he vanished—leaving Velmira alone, standing in silence, her gaze fixed upon the report, unease settling deep within her chest.
