Erin looked at the person who had blocked the punch.
The man possessed a delicate build for a man.
Anyone would joke that if you just tapped him, he’d break.
However, despite his appearance, the man's hand easily stopped the servant, who was aiming for Erin.
"I'll have to ask the employer later if there's a way to detect these things. I can't sense anything at all."
Despite the calmness in the man's voice, the expression on the servant, who had his hand caught, was not good.
The servant, desperately trying to break free from the man's grasp, had his veins bulging, revealing the immense strength contained in the man's delicate hand.
"Being called an incompetent woman is frustrating, but..."
"You little brat!"
Unable to hold back, the servant drew a dagger from his chest.
The dark energy radiating from the blade was enough to send a chill even to Erin, who was a step away.
Still, the man remained calm, even in the face of the dagger.
"You should keep that hidden. That way, at least you'll have an excuse if you get caught."
The man grumbled as if bothered by the poor quality of the servant’s attack, twisting his neck to dodge the blade.
Then, with a swift kick to the servant's calf, he knocked him off balance and followed up with an upward kick to the servant's chin, shaking his brain.
No matter how one wields strange powers, in the end, they’re still human. The servant collapsed to the ground, his consciousness lost.
The man casually placed his foot on the servant's neck but, remembering Erin was nearby, instead kicked him in the head.
"Hello. Long time no see."
"...Do I know you?"
"We met last time, remember? In the Arlen family mansion. Oh right, I'm in disguise right now, haha."
The man, who had momentarily forgotten, tapped his neck, and his voice shifted to that of a woman.
Upon hearing that, Erin immediately recognized who the voice belonged to.
It was definitely the person Lucy had referred to as "Ajumma."
The name...
Erin struggled to recall the name, since Lucy always referred to her as “Ajumma,” and Erin had never heard her actual name.
"Aya, Karia. You're someone who works for the employer, right?"
Erin, though she hadn't spoken a word, was taken aback by the response and involuntarily flinched.
Did my expression give me away? My face probably looked the same as always.
Despite her confusion, Erin bowed her head.
"Thank you, Karia, for saving me."
"No need to thank me. This happened because I failed to do my job properly."
Karia waved her hand dismissively and then pulled out an ornament from her pocket.
It was something Erin recognized.
Just a while ago, she had seen Lina stacking similar items.
A piece of jewelry with Lucy's image. Why would she bring this out now?
As Erin wondered, Karia placed the necklace on the servant lying on the ground.
The flesh that had once made up the servant’s face began to melt away, revealing their true form.
"This..."
"A follower of the Void. A master of disguise."
"...Are there followers of the evil god in the academy?"
"The academy folks are incompetent! I’d like to explain it that way, but it’s not easy to spot the followers of the Void. Even I have trouble identifying them."
"...I see."
"I had my suspicions, but without proof, I had to follow them around and eventually discovered it."
Erin, realizing the seriousness of the situation, nodded in understanding.
"Then what should we do? Should we bring the professors?"
"No, that would just cause more chaos. I'll handle it. You just tell the employer when they return to find me."
Karia, hoisting the follower of the Void over his shoulder, spoke with finality.
"And tell that inferior one to come find me too. It seems like he needs more 'training.'"
"Inferior one?"
"Don’t you know the employer's maid? You must have heard of them in the Arlen family."
"Ah, are you talking about the young master of the Burrow family?"
"Yes, him."
After Karia nodded with a smile and left, Erin, left alone, realized her heart was pounding.
Only now did she understand that she had nearly died.
Her legs trembling, Erin collapsed to the floor and wrapped her arms around herself.
It was a relief that her lady wasn’t here.
If Lucy had seen her in this state, she would have been very worried.
Wanting to help Lucy, but not hinder her, Erin desperately tried to control her fear.
After the issue with the nickname, the attention of the others naturally shifted toward me.
The reason Joy had caused such a scene was that I had called her by her name.
My response to that was simple.
"Do you really want me to call you by your name? Is it that important to be called by my cute voice? Ha ha, what should I do? How should I address you? You look like a pet desperately looking at treats. It's funny. I won’t do it. You all can stay pathetic and drool forever. That suits you better."
If they had a problem with it, they could do something about it.
What could they possibly do to me with their powerless selves?
These fools don’t get to teach me anything.
Having effortlessly silenced my friends, I kicked Cal once more, who looked totally defeated, and headed back to the academy.
The streets of the academy had the usual hustle and bustle, just like any other day.
The semester had just begun, and the midterms were still some time away, so most of the students were enjoying the start of the new term.
Most of the people out on the streets were first-year students.
The second-year students were busy trying to gain access to external dungeons, while the third-year students were buried under piles of assignments.
As I talked with my friends, I also kept an eye out to see if there were any familiar faces in the crowd.
There were a few people I would be happy to run into.
Unfortunately, my observations yielded no results.
Everyone I saw was a stranger.
Could this be the influence of stepping into this world?
Pondering that question, I made my way to the administrative office with my friends.
"Lady Arlen, welcome back," greeted Luka. I was surprised to see him, given that he was always too busy with his work as a combat professor.
"You chose a secluded place, huh? I thought someone like you would go for a bigger dungeon."
"That's why you're a pathetic perverted professor. How did you even become one with such a small mind?"
"Ha ha, you're right."
Just then, a familiar aura caught my attention from afar.
It was the person chosen by the God of Beauty and Art to observe me.
A person who, without knowing it, had absorbed the unique energy of the Art Church.
Erin's aura.
"Erin... why do you look like that? You look even more miserable than usual?"
At first, I wanted to greet her warmly, but upon seeing her face, my thoughts changed.
Erin’s face was marked by deep fatigue and fear. Something had clearly happened.
"Ah. That..."
"Tell me the truth. Erin. You think I won’t realize just because you’re keeping it hidden?"
Erin mumbled and glanced around, seemingly unsure whether to speak.
Did she feel like she couldn’t talk in front of others? Sensing that, Luka took the papers from her.
"Perverted professor. Handle it yourself. This should be something even a beast like you can manage, right?"
"Of course. Leave it to me."
After Luka received the papers with his hands marked by the oath, he nodded with a smile.
As I left the administrative office, Erin began telling me what had happened.
The attack by the followers of the Void. And how Karia had helped her during that critical moment.
Hearing that the followers had infiltrated the academy again made me frown, but it also felt somewhat inevitable.
If they were persistent, there would certainly be limitations on the academy's side.
Karia had probably called me to discuss countermeasures.
I understood the situation and was about to rush toward Karia when I noticed Erin’s trembling hands.
She was still shaken from the fear she experienced during the attack.
"...Lady?"
I held her hand tightly. Although my hand was small compared to hers, I gripped it as hard as I could.
"Shut up, Erin."
"...But."
"Then what? You can't stand the feel of my hand? Heh. I guess you only get this clingy when I give you attention."
"No! It’s just... an honor!"
"Then shut up and follow me."
Feeling that I couldn’t leave her alone, I walked with Erin, and before I knew it, the Perpetual Fox stepped forward, using its powers to calm Erin.
Seeing Erin’s trembling ease, I breathed a sigh of relief inside, though I still didn’t let go of her hand.
"You incompetent fool. I told you to keep working while I’m studying. Was that really so hard?"
"No!"
"Then why did something happen when I came in?"
"I'm sorry!"
"Is that all you can say?"
And so, as I arrived at a back alley near the academy, I witnessed a scene that triggered my long-standing PTSD.
The young master of one of the five Duke families of the kingdom was being scolded by Karia.
Seeing that, I was stunned and blinked, but Karia turned to us.
"Back already, employer?"
"Auntie. Is this how you release your pent-up hysteria as a spinster?"
"It’s not like that! I’m educating him. Educating."
"Education? He looks like he has a lot to say though."
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"By the way, employer. I have a proposal."
"Yeah?"
"How about we distribute your portrait-engraved jewelry across the academy?"
"...Huh?"