One had to admit that these past few days had indeed been the most comfortable time Greg had experienced since returning to the surface.
Although minor accidents occurred occasionally, as long as they weren't particularly severe, they posed little threat to Greg—who had reached LV 31 after defeating the Silent Penitent and possessed various life-saving means—so long as he exercised a bit of caution, unlike the events that would have originally killed Greg Sass.
Additionally, it was worth mentioning that Greg had seen Vivian in the Student Council office on Monday.
However, her attitude was no different than before.
Her ice-blue eyes calmly swept over the bandages and faint scars on his body, asking only a single question: “Will your injuries affect your daily duties as a Disciplinary Committee member?”
Upon receiving Greg's affirmative response that they wouldn't, she simply nodded, paid him no further attention, and returned her focus to the stack of documents in front of her.
This calm attitude, consistent with her usual self, allowed Greg to breathe a sigh of relief instead.
Because she seemed completely unbothered by what had happened that morning, Greg didn't need to waste energy trying to explain anything to her.
With this matter settled, it had also brought to light for Vivian the fact that her younger sister was a total tsundere.
To Greg, the current situation was practically perfect!
Sure enough, he hadn't made any mistakes earlier—that had been the absolute correct solution!
“Ahm—”
Greg obediently opened his mouth, swallowing the spoonful of cooled Energy-Boosting Tonic Soup that Chloe fed him.
The flavor... was a bit strange, but a warm stream truly seemed to slide down his throat, dissipating some of his exhaustion.
Just then, Yelena, sitting beside him, seemed to suddenly recall something important and abruptly stood up from her chair!
“Right! Today the academy is posting a large-scale Undead Subjugation Mission! According to the schedule, the Student Council needs to send people to the Mission Distribution Hall to help maintain order and guide students taking on missions through registration!”
As she hurriedly cleared the meal plates in front of herself and Greg, she spoke rapidly to him:
“Junior! You're injured right now, so keep resting well! I'll handle your share of the work for you! Don't push yourself under any circumstances!”
After stacking the plates, Yelena flashed an encouraging smile at Greg, then turned hastily on her heel and trotted out of the cafeteria, hurrying toward the Mission Distribution Hall.
“Thanks, Senior Yelena.”
Greg pondered as he watched Yelena's retreating figure.
Don't I remember this event not happening until Friday?
Why has it been moved up now?
Is it also due to the butterfly effect?
Regardless, since the event was already unfolding, he had to get ready to act as well.
“Finally gone, that annoying small fry.”
Chloe curled her lip as she watched Yelena disappear. Then a joyful smile burst onto her face, and she turned her gaze entirely toward Greg, her eyes shining:
“Now I can finally—huh? Big Brother?”
Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Greg rise from his seat as well.
“Sorry, Chloe.”
Greg rolled his shoulders. “I suddenly remembered something very important I have to deal with right away.”
“What? You're leaving too, Big Brother?”
The delight on Chloe's face instantly collapsed into undisguised disappointment and reluctance. She instinctively reached out, as if trying to grab Greg's hem, but stopped midair.
Greg nodded, his tone gentle yet carrying firm resolve. “Yeah, it's urgent, so I have to go.”
Seeing the rare look of solemnity in Greg's eyes, Chloe opened her mouth, but ultimately chose not to make a willful scene.
She set down the bowl of soup and stood up as well, looking up slightly at Greg.
Her pretty face, which usually bore an arrogant or playful expression, was now filled with pure earnestness and... total trust.
“Although... I don't know what you're doing right now, Big Brother, what you're planning, or what you have to face...”
Her voice was soft, yet every word seemed to carry weight:
“But I want you to know...”
She took a deep breath, as though summoning every ounce of her courage, and looked straight into Greg's eyes, uttering each word deliberately:
“No matter what, just like Sister Allie, I will always, always stand by Big Brother's side! No matter what happens or what decision you make, I will always be on your side!”
This was no childish banter, nor was it blind worship.
This was a solemn vow and declaration made by a genius alchemist girl who had vaguely sensed that Greg bore secret burdens and was engaged in dangerous actions.
She might not understand everything, but she chose to trust him unconditionally and stand firmly behind him.
Greg was stunned.
He looked at the unmistakable fire of determination in the girl's eyes before him and felt the heavy weight behind her words.
In a corner of his heart, he—who had always considered himself a scumbag—felt as though something had softly tapped against it.
So that's how it is...
Without realizing it, the load resting on my shoulders seems to have grown a little heavier.
It's true for Allie, it's true for Chloe... and there's Victoria, Silvia...
Good grief... If that's the case, doesn't it mean I have to try even harder to survive with everything I've got?
Not for some grand goal, nor for meaningless glory.
Merely to avoid letting down the people who had placed their trust and reliance on him.
He gave Chloe a deep nod.
The usual cynical smirk was absent from his face, as was any calculated gentleness, leaving only clear, genuine solemnity.
“Yeah.”
“I got it.”
“Thank you, Chloe.”
With that, he lingered no longer. He turned and walked out of the cafeteria with steady, resolute steps.
Chloe stood in place, watching Greg's back until he disappeared past the entrance.
Only when he was completely out of sight did she sink weakly back into her chair, as if all strength had suddenly been drained from her.
Then, she abruptly covered her flushed cheeks with both hands, letting out a stifled, trembling squeal through her fingers:
“I—I said it! I actually said it!”
“Ugh...”
She buried her face even lower, leaving only the bright red tips of her ears exposed, her dainty shoulders trembling slightly—the absolute image of a young girl completely submerged in immense bashfulness and joy.
Inside the cafeteria, the other students who had been secretly enjoying the drama were now all completely stunned.
Did Chloe Ivy—the girl with such an overwhelming aura that even the weirdos in the Department of Alchemy respectfully called her the Destroyer Witch—really just make a face like that?!
The gap personality was way too huge!
Countless boys screamed in their hearts:
The Destroyer Witch of the Department of Alchemy can't possibly be this cute!
They must have opened the cafeteria door wrong today!
Rate on N.U.
