Happily make preparations for the start of the holiday, then happily set off for the seaside, happily find Lovell’s master, and then happily return.
That was what Margarita originally thought—until Constance appeared in the Student Council activity room.
Margarita was no longer happy.
At that moment, Margarita was sprawled across a table drawing a topographical map of Arlan City. Lovell was beside her munching on an apple, Joshua was in the corner flipping through a mission briefing, and Irene and Erica were checking a potion inventory. Patrick, whose wounds had completely healed, sat across from Joshua with his feet propped up on another chair, only to have his knees poked by ice needles conjured by Erica.
“To what do we owe the honor, President?” Margarita put on her trademark Margarita-style professional smile once again.
Constance handed over a letter. “Professor Clara has finished deciphering the letter. She is currently at the Knight Order’s custody room checking on the status of those two Sacrosanct Circle members.”
“...What does it say?”
“The research contents of the Sacrosanct Circle from the past ten years. It concerns some forbidden knowledge.” Constance unfolded the letter. In Margarita’s eyes, the contents were still a blur of static.
“...Did the professor write it in ancient script?”
“This is the original. The professor said there is no mana or mental contamination in the content, so I took notes on her interpretation,” Constance said, tapping her temple. “The Sacrosanct Circle spent ten years finding a way to channel a certain powerful energy into a normal human body to artificially create a ‘Vessel’ capable of killing the Demon King.”
“But they don't have the power source,” Constance looked at Margarita. “Within the Sacrosanct Circle, they refer to this power source as the Star-Spun Stone.”
Joshua and Lovell both looked at Margarita simultaneously.
They naturally remembered that talkative low-tier demon they had encountered on the way to the academy.
It had said: “What is a Star-Spun Stone doing in a place like this?”
Sigh...
“And so?” Margarita continued looking down at the topographical map, the smile having vanished from her face. “Does the President think they are using Lovell to fish for Grey?”
Constance held up two fingers. “Either Grey Reed stole something related to the cultivation plan for the ‘Vessel’...”
“...Or they are using Grey Reed as a small lure to catch the big fish.” She looked at Margarita. “Consultant, do you have anything to add?”
“The Sacrosanct Circle’s target might be me.”
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Patrick’s feet slid off the chair and hit the ground with a thud. The ice needle in Erica’s hand clattered against a chair, and Irene’s hand, which was holding an alchemy bottle, froze in mid-air. Constance’s expression didn't change, but her emerald eyes narrowed slightly.
“How do you know?” Constance asked.
“Intuition.” Margarita looked up, that gentle smile back on her face. “I’ve caused so much trouble for the Sacrosanct Circle, from the anchors to their plans. Two of their people even fell by my hand.”
“Or,” Margarita waved her hand dismissively, “maybe I’m just too good-looking and they think I am the Star-Spun Stone?”
“I won’t pry too much,” Constance said as she sat at the far end of the long table and poured herself a cup of tea. “But since you suspect you are their target, do you still plan to go to Arlan?”
“Yes,” Margarita said. “Grey Reed is Lovell’s master. Even without the Star-Spun Stone issue, if the Sacrosanct Circle has their eyes on him, we can’t just ignore it.”
Lovell turned her head to look at her. Margarita didn't look back, choosing instead to keep speaking to Constance.
“Furthermore, according to your interpretation, President, the Sacrosanct Circle has researched a channeling method, but they don't have the Star-Spun Stone. I am the closest person they can find to news of it. As long as I show up in Arlan, they will definitely make a move. Instead of letting them continue to scheme in the shadows, I’ll take the initiative. I’ll place the bait right in front of them and see how they bite.”
Constance stared at her for a while.
“Do you know what you’re saying?”
“I do.” Margarita smiled. “I’m saying that I’m going to Arlan, the entire group is mobilizing, and Patrick is coming too.”
Patrick, who had been looking down pretending to read a report, suddenly snapped his head up. “Huh? I’m going too?”
“The entire group will mobilize,” Constance nodded.
“Great! My injuries are all healed up anyway!” Patrick slapped his thigh and stood up. “I’ve been lying in bed for a month; I’m practically rusting away!”
He nudged Joshua with his elbow. “What about you? Your sister is using herself as bait. Are you just going to watch?”
Joshua ignored him, his eyes fixed on Margarita.
“It’s fine, Joshua. It’s just an investigation.”
“Every time you say it’s fine, something happens.”
“...”
Patrick laughed from the side and patted Joshua’s shoulder. “Alright, your sister’s already made up her mind. You can’t stop her. You couldn’t stop her last time, or the time before that either.”
“Patrick,” Irene hissed, giving him a sharp glare.
“I’m just telling the truth,” Patrick shrugged. He hooked his arm around Joshua’s neck and leaned in closer. “But Joshua, going to Arlan this time is a great opportunity. It’s by the coast, it’s summer, and the four girls all brought swimsuits. You have no idea how Erica looked in her swimsuit that day. All those guys in the Advanced Class were kicking themselves for not coming along...”
Margarita heard it all.
It was true; summer, the seaside... she understood what guys liked to see at the beach. Girls like Erica and Lovell would be the most popular, while she...
Her chest felt suddenly tight with frustration.
“Patrick.” Her mood had soured to the point where she didn't want to fake a smile anymore. “When I get back, I’ll speak with the professor about increasing your extra practice to 400 laps.”
“400?! On what grounds?!”
“On the grounds that you talk too much. Any more complaints?”
Patrick looked at her, then at Joshua, and finally at Constance. None of them seemed to have any intention of saving him.
“...No.” Patrick slumped, dejected.
Lovell was laughing so hard she was slapping her thigh. Irene lowered her head, pretending to organize the potion list, unable to suppress the curl of her lips. Erica remained expressionless, but her finger was lightly tapping the table—a little habit she had when she was trying to hold back a laugh.
Joshua glanced at Margarita. His ears were a bit red, but his gaze was earnest.
“I won’t look,” he said.
Margarita blanked for a moment before realizing he was answering Patrick’s previous comment.
“What does that have to do with me? Your eyes are in your own head.” She turned back and spread the topographical map on the table, her tone flat. “Let’s discuss the route to Arlan. Taking the official road from Himlabacken will take about seven days. We can stop for a night at Bilk Town, and then—”
“Margarita,” Joshua said again.
“Yeah?”
“I really won’t look.”
“...Fine, I get it.” Margarita’s grip on the map slipped, causing a corner to fold. She looked down to smooth out the crease, her face turning a little red as well.
Lovell was tsk-ing on the side, shaking her head incessantly.
Margarita looked up and gave her a gentle, narrowing smile. Lovell immediately shut her mouth.
Constance put down her teacup, stood up, and tucked the letter away.
“The departure date is set for three days from now. Irene is in charge of potion supplies, Erica will handle route scouting, Patrick is responsible for coordinating commissions along the way, and Lovell will handle the intelligence network within Arlan City.” She looked at Margarita. “What will you be responsible for?”
I’ll be responsible for stirring up the mud.
“Being the bait.”
“You are in charge of Tactical Planning.” Constance placed a stack of documents in front of her. “As for the bait, we’ll talk about that once you reach Arlan.”
She turned to walk toward the door, pausing halfway. “Also, I approve of Patrick’s extra training. But 400 is too many. Make it 350.”
Patrick let out a wail of despair.
Constance left. The activity room was quiet for a moment before Lovell stood up and stretched. “Alright, I’ll head over to the Adventurer’s Association to see if there are any commissions in Arlan we can pick up along the way.”
“I’ll go with you.” Irene gathered the potion inventory.
Erica closed her guidebook and looked at Margarita. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just nodded and followed Irene out.
Patrick walked out with a series of sighs, patting Joshua’s shoulder as he passed. “Brother, good luck. Your sister is even harder to deal with than the President.”
Joshua ignored him.
Only the two of them were left in the activity room. Margarita focused on organizing the map while Joshua stood by the table in silence for a long time.
“Margarita.”
“Yeah.”
“I will protect you.”
Margarita rolled up the map, tied it with a leather cord, and placed it inside a document bag. Then she looked up.
“I know.” She looked at Joshua with a grin. “ You’ve always been protecting me.”
Joshua’s ears turned red again. He reached out and touched the blue stone pendant on his chest.
“But,” Margarita stood up, clutching the document bag to her chest as she walked over to him, looking up into his eyes. “Going to Arlan this time isn't about me going to my death. I’m going there to fish out the Sacrosanct Circle, so don't be too nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
“Really?”
“...”
Margarita chuckled. She reached out and lifted the pendant around his neck to take a look. The blue stone gave off a gentle glow in the afternoon light, its mica flakes shimmering.
“You’re still wearing this.”
“You gave it to me,” Joshua said, his voice very soft.
Margarita released the pendant and took a step back, averting her eyes.
Tsk... seriously, stop doing that... aren't you embarrassed...?
Rate on N.U.
