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.
"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."
I nodded softly.
It's probably about [Turning White].
I'll have to find time for this discussion.
"Alright, I'll be waiting. Enjoy the show,"
Rok said, turning his attention back to the stage.
Natasha, next to him, spoke in a low voice.
"...Theo, I enjoyed the tea you gave last time."
...Ah, she's referring to the lemon black tea I gifted her before.
A rare delicacy of the kingdom, but not to my taste.
"Instructor, I'm glad you liked it."
"Next time you're free, Theo, I'll treat you to a meal."
A faint smile appeared on Natasha's usually calm face.
That's fine by me.
Natasha is a prominent character, having secured a position as Rok's exclusive instructor at a young age.
It's beneficial to be on good terms with her.
I should take this chance to strengthen our acquaintance.
I smiled back at her.
"If you're treating, Instructor, I'll make time."
"I didn't expect Theo to say something like that. It's quite unexpected,"
Natasha chuckled softly.
...And so, as Natasha and I chatted about various topics...
─Welcome, everyone~! Have you been waiting long? The special performance that will gloriously conclude the Elinia Academy Festival is finally starting!
And with that, the special performance began.
The special performance was in full swing, featuring a joint stand-up comedy by the Knight and Hero Departments.
Three students were performing – two from the Knight Department and one from the Hero Department.
The topic was 'Which is the toughest sport: baseball, basketball, or football?'
"Why is basketball hard? The game lasts only an hour... Plus, it's played indoors with air conditioning magic, right?"
"No, you football freak. Basketball is different in terms of intensity. In football, you don't run non-stop for 90 minutes. Defenders only defend, attackers only attack. In basketball, all five players have to constantly move."
"Football and basketball are the same, you narrow-minded guys. Hey, those sports are only physically demanding. Do you realize how mentally taxing baseball is? Imagine it's the bottom of the 9th inning, two outs, and if the opposing batter hits just one, it's a game reversal─"
"“Eating during a game, and you call that a sport! A so-called Hero Department student without a clue!”"
The comedy mainly revolved around football and basketball squabbling, with baseball occasionally chiming in, only to be ridiculed.
The actors' performances were excellent, and the audience reacted well to the ironic situation of the Hero Department student being mock-attacked by Knight Department students.
"..."
However, Piel wore a serious expression.
Forget about fun; she couldn’t focus on the performance at all because of Theo.
'Doesn't he usually play hard to get?'
She glanced at Theo, who was sitting next to her, continuously talking with Instructor Natasha.
She wished he would act a bit more reserved, like he used to...
"..."
Alphs was in the same boat as Piel, unable to concentrate on the performance.
Not only was she unable to relate to the comedy act, she also couldn't focus because of Theo.
'Wow... Theo is really well-connected. I had no idea he was close with the senior professor and the instructor...'
Alphs was well aware that along with strength, connections were equally important.
Suddenly, Theo's words to her came to mind.
─I am certain, Alphs, that you possess shining wings incomparable to someone like me.
'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.
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