Theo slowly raised his head and fixed his gaze on Alice.
With a blue ribbon headband in her hair, and a blue apron dress, Alice looked at Theo with her blue eyes—
"Is, is there something on my face?"
She fidgeting uneasily.
Theo, among others in the café, had all their eyes on her, making her the center of attention.
"Sit down."
Theo replied, not as an answer, but as a command.
Alice sat down obediently.
His voice carried an undeniable authority.
Then, looking at Theo cautiously, she spoke.
"What brings you to see me... today?"
However, finding it difficult to read Theo's expression, her words faltered slightly.
He had maintained a calm demeanor from the beginning, just like the time Theo was seen at the martial arts competition, a man whose expression never changed.
'Ah, ah, ah...'
Watching him, Alice felt dizzy.
Managing facial expressions was said to be difficult, and indeed it was.
'Sigh. Don't be nervous, don't be...!'
But like trying not to think of an elephant only makes it more prominent, trying not to be nervous only made her more anxious.
Becoming more tense, Alice, fearing what ridiculous expression she might be making, instinctively lowered her head.
Then, Theo spoke.
"Are you busy?"
He uttered the words curtly.
Alice's mind raced.
Should she bluff about being busy to provoke his impatience, or be honest?
"No, no! I'm, I'm free. I mostly just sleep on weekends... Ahaha."
She chose to be honest.
She had a feeling that if she engaged in an invisible battle of nerves with the man before her, she would surely lose.
It's said that while one can know a hundred miles of water, one can't know the heart of a person.
But it seemed that this saying didn't apply to him.
Even if one knew a hundred miles of water, one might never know what's inside this man.
With an indifferent expression, Theo handed her the menu.
"This, this is...?"
"Thought we could talk over something to eat. I didn't know what you like, so I only ordered for myself. Feel free to order what you want."
"Ah, yes. Yes!"
Alice took the menu, unfolding it as if to cover her face.
Honestly, she thought the menu irrelevant under the circumstances.
It didn't matter what she ate, whether it went down her throat or her nose.
After about three minutes, while Alice was calming herself behind the menu,
"If you don't have a particular preference, I can recommend something."
Theo snatched the menu from her hands.
Caught off guard, Alice was startled. She was afraid of revealing an awkward expression.
However—
"For sweet drinks, here. I recommend the blueberry frappe. I haven't tried it myself, but my secretary, who's a gourmet, says it's quite good. If you want something milder, here. Grain latte..."
Theo didn't even glance at Alice's face.
He simply pointed out each menu item with his finger, sincerely recommending them.
Seeing this, Alice felt as if she had been struck hard on the back of her head.
'Ah... how embarrassing.'
She felt foolish.
To think she had been shadow boxing, trying to probe the thoughts and hide her true feelings from such a person.
...
"..."
His voice snapped Alice back to reality.
"Ah, ah! Sorry, my head was spinning... Could you say that again, please?"
"I wasn't aware you were not feeling well. That's my oversight."
Theo bit his lower lip and slightly bowed his head to her.
'Ah... no!'
Alice immediately snapped back to reality.
The most important thing in this situation was to appeal to Theo.
If she gave off a frail impression, she might lose points in his eyes!
"No, it's not that! Maybe I'm just hungry because I didn't have breakfast. It's strange, I feel better just talking to you. I'm fine with anything!"
"That's good to hear."
Theo continued.
"Since you're okay, I'll order something for you."
"Yes, yes! Thank you!"
Theo rose from his seat and headed to the counter to place the order.
Alice watched his retreating figure for a moment, then tilted her head in thought.
'Hmm, what's this scent...?'
A forest filled with conifers, and at the same time, a mysterious scent marked by a sense of artificial restraint.
That familiar fragrance tickled her nose.
A short while later, Theo returned to his seat.
"I ordered the blueberry parfait."
"Thank you. But Theo, may I ask you something?"
"If it's something I can answer."
Theo looked at Alice with a gentle face.
'Ugh.'
A memory flashed in Alice's mind of a past bet where she had to answer his questions, only to be utterly defeated and left with a lingering sense of fear.
"Uh... It's nothing much. Do you wear perfume, Eveol No.4?"
"That's what I put on today."
Theo nodded.
Alice blankly took in his natural demeanor.
Thoughts of managing her possibly ridiculous facial expressions, which had faintly lingered in her mind, vanished.
'Ah...'
His use of 'what I put on today' suggested he used multiple perfumes.
Moreover, it was the same perfume used by the only adult she truly respected, who also used various perfumes.
Alice found herself feeling unexpectedly comforted by this man who had kept her on edge.
'It can't be just a coincidence.'
Eveol No.4 was a high-end perfume produced in very limited quantities each year, named after the legendary designer 'Eveol' who had made a name across the entire continent.
The adult she respected was named Henry Henderson, a professor in the Exploration Department known for his long mustache and impeccably tailored suits.
He had also been a judge at the [Beauty Contest] held during last week's Academy Festival.
Perhaps due to her admiration and aspiration for Henderson, Alice became an expert in perfumes, a subject she barely knew before entering the academy.
'...My instincts are right on! This is what exploration is all about!'
She was glad she had applied to assist Theo—
Glad she had dressed up—
As Alice indulged in self-praise, Theo stared at her intently.
Feeling his gaze, Alice blinked several times before meeting his eyes.
"Why are you staring at me like that...?"
Alice asked with an innocent expression.
Theo tilted his head and replied.
"Didn't you hear the staff? Your order is ready."
"...Oh, right."
Feeling her face heat up, Alice headed to the counter to pick up her drink.
In front of [Ford Company]'s main gate.
The principal stood confidently, accompanied by six high-level spirits and a large Iron Golem.
'Hmm~ There are so many communication crystals. Odius used to love these things!'
Having discovered traces of what seemed like an old colleague, the principal had followed them, leading here.
Immediately after reading Rok's report, the principal had rushed to the site of the recent forceful intrusion.
The intruders might have thought they escaped without leaving a trace, but to the principal, the continent's greatest mage and spirit master, traces were visible.
There was also a familiar presence nearby.
It was a high-level wind spirit nicknamed 'Swoosh-swoosh' by Siena.
Although it roamed the continent due to its wanderlust, it was, for some reason, present at the academy.
-Long time no see~ How many years has it been? Almost 100? Ah, you're called Swoosh-swoosh now? What a quaint name. Anyway, help me out! It's an adventure after a long time!
With Swoosh-swoosh's help, things became much easier.
[Mass Teleport] using scrolls has a mana limit, allowing for travel only up to about 100km.
The principal, with Swoosh-swoosh and numerous other wind spirits, searched within a 100km radius of the academy, successfully tracking down the intruders.
That led to the current situation.
The principal looked at the communication crystal and muttered.
'Come. Out. Now.'
About five minutes later, the main gate opened, and a person emerged.
He was a human male, appearing to be in his late twenties to early thirties.
Approaching the principal, the man bowed his head at a 90-degree angle.
"Greetings, Lunaplora. I am Thomas, the acting head of [Ford Company]."
"What? You're not Odius! Not Ryuk either! Who are you?!"
"..."
Thomas, taken aback, didn't reply but quickly racked his brain.
'She's not planning to listen.'
Despite introducing himself immediately, the principal made incomprehensible remarks.
However, Thomas couldn’t reveal his true thoughts in front of this unpredictable disaster.
"I apologize. Let me introduce myself again. I am Thomas, a scientist overseeing various research projects. Recently, I created a robot, a machine that moves according to the user's intentions."
"Ah, I don't know, don't care! Whether it's a robot or whatever, what does it have to do with me! Promised to stay with me till the end but disappeared leaving me alone! I can't wait any longer! Bring Odius now! Or I'll smash everything here!"
"..."
Thomas felt dizzy facing the principal's incomprehensible tantrum.
...Odius.
The last archmage who vanished over 200 years ago.
He should be long dead, and yet this unreasonable demand to bring him back was beyond any tantrum.
Thomas sneakily lifted his head to examine the principal's face.
In her clear eyes flickered a deep madness.
This fairy seemed to have finally lost her mind.
'...Calming her down is the priority.'
Her threat to smash everything here was no bluff.
Those who have lost their senses tend to try to fulfill their words in any way possible.
And she, the continent's greatest spirit master and mage, could turn this area into ruins in less than 10 minutes if she wished.
With this in mind, Thomas spoke.
"Firstly, you must be tired from your long journey. May I invite you inside? I will thoroughly search for such a person. Due to the nature of the magic city, most here have hidden their identities."
"Alright, alright. But I can't wait too long!"
"...Of course, I understand."
With that, Thomas led the principal inside [Ford Company].
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