Chapter 207: Praise The Lord (3)

After finishing our meal, we decided to go watch the special performance.

As we headed towards the venue, Piel and I strolled leisurely.

Alphs approached me with a worried look.

"Uh, will there be seats, Theo? I heard Aisha is also performing... Of course, it's fine to watch!"

"No need to worry,"

Piel responded sharply as she walked beside me.

Startled by her tone, Alphs shuddered.

"May I ask why, Piel?"

"Top students from the Hero Department have reserved seats. Up to four friends can sit with them in the front rows."

"Ah, I see... That's a relief."

Alphs nodded, visibly relieved.

In contrast, I walked with determination, focusing straight ahead.

'This is typical of Elinia Academy.'

The top students of the Hero Department draw a lot of attention.

By assigning them front row seats, the Academy not only encourages their attendance but also attracts outsiders who come to see them.

This system has been in place since the past.

'But I can't shake off this uneasy feeling.'

So far, no incidents or accidents have occurred, and that bothers me.

In every path of the game, some incident or accident happened during the Academy Festival.

Though I'm not feeling well and hope for a quiet event, things rarely go as I wish.

'Let's not let our guard down.'

Soon after, we arrived at the stadium.

Alphs's eyes widened at the sight of thousands of spectators filling the seats.

"Wow... So many people, and the performance hasn't even started yet."

"Let's head to the front,"

Piel said confidently, and Alphs and I followed her.

Just as Piel had mentioned, there were a few empty seats at the front.

After we found a good spot and sat down, a man and a woman approached me.

"It's been a while, Theo."

"...Pleased to see you."

It was Senior Professor Rok and his exclusive instructor Natasha.

Rok wore a necklace marked [Head of Security].

I greeted them with a light smile.UppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

"Good to see you, Professor Rok, Instructor Natasha. How have you been?"

"I've been busy grading midterms. I had to check the answer sheets so many times, I thought I was under a spell,"

Rok replied, smiling faintly.

"May I ask what happened?"

"The grades of the orc students shot up. The assistant professors said it's a complete turnaround from last semester. So, I had to review each one myself."

"Oh... I see."

...Phew, that's a relief.

The study sessions I conducted with Aisha for the orcs last midterm must have paid off.

Rok then gestured to me.

"Theo, if you're free this weekend, could you stop by my office? There's something urgent I want to discuss."

"Of course, Professor."

'Can I... become like Theo?'

Her heart pounded, though she kept these thoughts to herself.

...And so, time passed.

Before long, it was time for the final act with Aisha and Siena.

In the performers' waiting room near the special performance stage, inside Aisha and Siena's room.

Aisha's expression was somber.

Noticing this, Siena said,

"Hehe, Aisha, what's with your expression? Are you nervous?"

"Of course not."

In truth, Aisha wasn't nervous at all.

Being in front of a large crowd was as natural to her as breathing.

Her unease stemmed from the image of Theo, lying with closed eyes in a cold hospital room, which kept haunting her mind.

'The healer said it was due to fatigue...'

But who collapses in the arena and has to be carried out due to only fatigue?

'I must find Theo right after the performance. It'll be harder over the weekend.'

Thinking this, Aisha spoke to Siena.

"Siena, can you track Theo?"

"Hehe, don’t worry, Swoosh-swoosh just returned."

"Good. You always helpful when it counts, Siena."

Was it their shared thoughts?

Aisha smiled at Siena, and Siena smiled back.

It was their first perfect sync of the season.

Then,

─Aisha, Siena. Please move to the staging area. It's almost your turn to perform.

A staff member knocked on the door of the waiting room.

"“Yes~”"

Aisha and Siena replied in unison.

It was their second perfect sync in a short time.

Near the special performance venue, there are numerous dark back alleys.

In one such alley, about thirty people dressed in black were gathered.

Among them, a man with long, slit-like eyes and a large scar on his cheek stood at the forefront.

"······32 members in total. Everyone's here,"

he said, smirking on one side of his mouth.

"We've received word that the special performance will soon end. We'll move in 10 minutes, so get ready."

In response to his words, the group, instead of replying, checked their armaments with the sounds of metal clinking.

Just then.

"Hold on a moment."

Two men, wearing necklaces labeled [Security Chief], approached the group.

Noting the group's unusual aura, one of the security chiefs immediately addressed the scarred man.

"What are you all doing gathered here? Sorry, but could you please show your IDs?"

"Ah, we're just a group doing cosplay. Let me get my ID. It's in my wallet─"

The men in the group casually reached into their clothing.

As the security chiefs relaxed their guard,

Chuk Chuk Chuk─!

The necks of the security chiefs snapped at unnatural angles.