Chapter 87: Chapter 13 - The Kidnapping Incident (6)

Observing my feigned ignorance, Shredica shot me a penetrating glare before exhaling audibly and rising from the bed. With determined strides, she closed the distance between us and seized me by the collar, her grip tight and unyielding. There was an intensity in her gaze, as though she was on the verge of unleashing fury upon me. Yet, I remained unperturbed, maintaining a neutral facade.

"What's your game?" I inquired coolly. "Could you release your grip, please?"

"Just experimenting," she retorted curtly, her tone edged with impatience. "No need to be so defensive."

"If it's merely an experiment, might I suggest toning down the death glare?" I countered wryly.

Ignoring my comment, Shredica brought her face closer to mine, our noses almost touching. I felt her hot breath on my face, mingling with the scent of soap. She must have showered before coming here.

"I heard you went head-to-head with the second top student in the gold class," she began, her voice low and probing. "You claim mediocrity in every facet and downplay your abilities. So, care to explain how you managed to spar with her and hold your own?"

Her purple eyes bore on me, like she wasn't going to let me get away with this.

"I'm just trying to make an impression. Remember how I confessed to her last time, only to receive a cold response, with her bluntly stating she wasn't interested?" I explained. "You might not grasp it, but us men often strive to impress those we desire by pushing beyond our limits. And sometimes, we do it for those who rejected us, to show we're not the person they think we are. Is that sinking in?

Well, I don't expect you to fully comprehend, being a woman yourself."

Her gaze bore into me, skeptical yet contemplative. While my words may have resonated with some truth, she remained unconvinced.

"Sure, perhaps that's part of it, but it doesn't quite explain how you managed to hold your own against her," she pressed, her skepticism evident.

Despite my explanations, she remained wary. I knew mere words wouldn't suffice to dispel her doubts.

"We weren't precisely on equal footing," I clarified. "She was holding back, which allowed me to keep up. She wasn't going all out. Whoever told you otherwise must have misunderstood. You only got a second-hand account, but I can tell when someone's taking it easy on me. Miss Zeruel was doing just that because she knows I'm not as strong.

That's the whole story."

She still seemed doubtful of my words. "Don't feed me lies, Mr. Leon," she retorted sternly. "If you possess such power, ascending the rankings would be much easier for me."

"I'm not lying. And why assume I'm strong when you haven't witnessed it yourself?" I countered.

A heavy silence enveloped us. Her grip on my collar tightened, her glare intensifying. Then, after a tense moment, she released her hold and walked past me.

"...Heading back to your room now? I suggest you avoid giving others the impression you just left mine," I advised, wary of potential rumors.

"Don't worry, Mr. Leon," she replied, opening the door. "I share your sentiment," she added before exiting, leaving the door ajar without a backward glance.

I sighed heavily, turning to walk towards the door. With a click, I locked it securely before returning to the bed.

"Is that so? Thank goodness," I exclaimed.

"Yeah," he confirmed, his expression easing. "I'm starting to wonder if repairing the magic circle was even worth it, though."

"Well, it's not entirely useless if it can be used for situations like this, is it?" I pointed out, my voice tinged with optimism.

"You're right," he conceded, nodding in agreement. "Well then, I should go grab some food for us," he said, turning to leave the cabin with a determined stride.

As soon as he closed the door, my smile faded from my lips.

With swift fingers, I tapped out a message to the target, signaling that it was safe to leave. Almost immediately, the area where the target was stationed came to life, feet moving purposefully until they disappeared from the bluish screen. That meant she was now outside the confines of the magic circle. A triumphant smirk played on my lips as I witnessed the success of my plan.

When the staff returned with food and two cups of coffee, I shook my head dismissively. "I don't think I'll be needing that anymore. Turns out, I've got some pressing matters to attend to in my room," I announced firmly.

"Huh?" the staff exclaimed, clearly surprised by my sudden change of plans.

Without sparing him another glance, I strode past him and out of the cabin, a sense of accomplishment swelling within me.

***

Charlotte's POV

Night had fallen over the green plains where we were gathered for joint training. With the staff and faculty finished with their tasks, they retreated to their cabins, likely exhausted from a long day's work. Sensing the opportune moment, I slipped out of my cabin once I was sure my cabin-mates were fast asleep.

As I stepped out, I caught sight of someone else leaving our cabin as well. I quickly hid, not wanting to be seen. Peeking out from my hiding spot, I recognized the woman with purple hair. Did she have the same agenda as me? Was she also sneaking off to meet someone, perhaps her lover? Frankly, I couldn't be bothered to care.

My sole focus was on meeting with the Professor.

After waiting for her to disappear from view, I ventured out as well, disappearing into the forest. The dense foliage threatened to disorient me, but I navigated confidently. The Professor had instructed me to follow the slashes on the trees, guiding me until I reached the outskirts of the village where he would meet me.

I flashed my light on the trees, following the slashes until I finally found my way out of the village. Just as I emerged...

"Hello, young lady..." a voice, unfamiliar and not that of the professor, echoed from behind me. Before I could react, before I could even turn around, someone clamped my mouth and nose with something. Struggling to breathe, I attempted to exhale but was met with nausea.

Despite my efforts to fend off my attacker and fight the rising nausea, consciousness slipped away from me. My eyes fluttered closed as the assailant released their grip, producing something to hold close to their ear.

"It's done, Mori——" they spoke into the device.

A chilling, emotionless voice responded from the other end, sending shivers down my spine. "Good w—, N——man. Now with this, Se——an will agree to w—k with ——."

My consciousness waned, some of the words slipping past me as darkness enveloped my senses. Eventually, consciousness faded entirely.