After arguing for a while, the two of them abruptly stopped fighting and began talking in an amicable manner.
“Syrah, that’s…”
“Yes. it can’t be helped.”
As I continued to eat, Stella and Syrah, exchanging glances, signaled something to each other.
Then Stella lightly opened her mouth.
“…Ian, eat this.”
Saying so, Stella took the food placed in front of her with a fork and offered it to me. However, since the menu was the same and I had already tasted it, I decided to refuse.
“It’s fine.”
“Do you know who you’re refusing!? I’m full, so I’m giving you a chance to clean it up for me!”
“If you don’t want to eat it, you can throw it away.”
“But… it’s a waste to throw it away.”
“A waste?”
Honestly, the clothes she bought without bargaining were more precious. I could have saved the cost of this course meal if we had just gone to a cheaper clothing store—or haggled a bit…
As I hesitated at her inconsistent behavior, Noah, who was scraping the bottom of her bowl beside me, raised her hand.
“Then I’ll eat it!”
“What? Wait…”
“Yes, Noah can have it.”
I took the fork from Stella and handed it to Noah.
Blushing slightly, Noah looked at the fork, then cautiously opened her mouth and leaned in.
“Ah… ah…”
Putting the fork into her carefully opened mouth, she shut it tightly and began chewing the food.
Her appearance, like a small hamster nibbling away, made me smile without realizing it.
“Oh, Noah, there’s sauce on your cheek.”
“Huh?”
“Stay still.”
When I noticed the sauce on her cheek, I used a napkin to wipe it away.
Noah closed her eyes tightly and puckered her lips slightly to make it easier for me to clean it off. Even with such a silly expression, her beauty didn’t fade.
After wiping her lips, I glanced at Stella.
“Oh, Stella, here you—”
“…What?”
“You seem upset.”
“I’m not angry.”
But when I looked back at her, Stella’s expression was cold—eerily cold.
For a moment, it felt like I was looking at a demon behind her.
Syrah, on the other hand, kept staring at Noah, exclaiming for some reason.
Frankly, I couldn’t understand their behavior at all.
***
[Syrah’s POV]
Syrah looked at Noah and recalled one word: “Natural.”
Noah embodied that word perfectly.
‘If it’s her personality, she’s a genius. If it’s acting, she’s a genius too.’
Watching her innocent demeanor as she flirted with Cadet Ian made Syrah’s stomach churn.
It was unsettling to see Ian gradually falling for Noah’s natural charm. Although Syrah wanted to fulfill her duty as a member of the Acacia family, this situation was different.
‘This won’t do.’
The Acacia family had a duty: to eliminate nobles who endangered humanity’s future. However, Noah wasn’t someone to be eliminated.
In addition to being a 3-star Summoner, she had summoned two creatures on her own.
She was like the rising sun—a figure reminiscent of the first emperor.
‘If anything, she must be protected.’
Some fools saw her existence as a threat to the empire’s security, but her family had identified such individuals and taken care of them quietly.
Compared to the future of humanity, the safety of the empire was a trivial matter.
‘I still don’t understand why the Duchess Selene went back to Eritz territory, but…’
It didn’t matter. Even if Syrah couldn’t figure it out, the family’s agents would uncover the truth soon enough.
That didn’t mean she came back empty-handed. She had discovered something during Ian and Stella’s visit to the Eritz estate.
After writing down the information, Syrah opened the window and whistled a familiar tune in a steady rhythm.
Moments later, a black crow flew into the room, gliding silently through the night sky.
“Ah, there you are.”
She reached out and removed a note tied to the crow’s ankle. After attaching the new message, she patted the bird lightly. With a soft flutter, the crow disappeared into the darkness.
‘Did the spy send something?’
She opened the note, skimming through the newly delivered information.
[Selene Rudolf Eritz received an urgent message about the Eritz family crisis.]
[High-level demons had invaded the Eritz estate.]
[Duke Eritz had embarked on an expedition.]
[There was no one within the estate capable of resisting the demons.]
[Someone in the party who went to the territory with Stella Eritz is charged with the “second-class betrayal” against humanity.]
“…What is this?”
Syrah read the note again, but the contents remained unchanged.
“…Ian, is the traitor?”
***
[Ian’s POV]
Canopus Academy had numerous facilities to accommodate its cadets.
There was a student cafeteria that provided free meals, a spacious training ground for regular practice, and a library filled with every kind of book imaginable.
Of course, the academy also had leisure facilities.
‘…What am I doing?’
I was standing at the pool.
“Squirtle! Water Cannon!”
[Pwooosh!]
“I won’t lose! Whirlpool!”
[Whooosh!]
From across the pool, the summons were spraying water at each other. Their attacks sent waves splashing through the air as the wind stirred the surface.
Sponsor Chapters at the Patreon Shop: Along with BuymeaCoffee where you can now make payments in your local currency.
The Shop section on Patreon can be used as a way to make a one-time-payment. I will be creating products in the Shop section with the title of the webnovels. It will only have an image as the product, but it will count as the payment for the Sponsored Chapters.
For example: You will buy the product with the title “Flower Stealing Master” to sponsor a chapter for the novel. As far as I know, you can buy the same product multiple times, so you should be able to sponsor as many chapters you want. I hope it was easy to understand.
Introducing KN WN Bundle ($15) for those who prefer to read only KR webnovels. This bundle gives you access to all the advance chapters of the Korean Webnovels on Goblinslate immediately, and will stay ahead of the regular release for the month! Get it on Patreon!
That means, you get:
PTTV – Four Advance Chapters! ($10)
IPUAW – Two Advance Chapters! ($5)
MSAS – Two Advance Chapters! ($5)
MWD – Two Advance Chapters! ($5)