'Is it 30 minutes from now?'

A dark space with only a bed placed in it.Milia had been there for 11 hours and 30 minutes.

Eight hours since sleeping, twelve hours since the crisis.

This was the promise between Milia and Isella.

'Is Isella okay?'

This space was completely cut off from the outside. Even Milia could not know what was happening outside.

'Hoo... If only I could use the Dimension Core a bit better, could I know what's going on outside?'

She still couldn't handle the Dimension Core perfectly.

There was no book like 〈How to Handle the Dimension Core〉, nor did she have a master to teach her.

Fortunately, thanks to the strongest instinct, which could be called her survival instinct, she managed to learn 'Distortion', which sent attacks aimed at her into another space, and 'Closure,' which created a space completely isolated from the outside.

However, as these were skills relying on instinct, she couldn't handle them perfectly.

'If I could use the power of the Dimension Core well, I could help Isella.'

She was always tormented by such distracting thoughts whenever she was alone in this space.

So, she always tried to escape her thoughts by focusing on studying magic and strengthening her magic power circuits.

Thanks to that, she had reached a level not lacking for S-Class, but it was still not enough to help Isella.

'Hoo, there isn't much time left.'

Even as such thoughts ran through her mind, time kept flowing.

When the promised time arrived, Milia took a deep breath.

It was something she experienced often, but it made her tense every time.

'What if Isella isn't there when I go out from here?'

She could never get rid of that thought.

However, as if to blow away that anxiety, Isella was always there before her.

Milia tried hard to smile.

Because she believed in Isella.

Because she believed Isella would protect her.

Paaat

"...... Isella?"

But this time, Isella was not there.

No, not only Isella, but everything that had existed before she entered the closed space was gone.

No cliff, no lake, no mountain.

Thud

"What on earth... what happened...!"

Milia's legs gave out. Collapsing on the spot, she began to tremble violently.

"Ise... Isella... s-sorry... this is my fault... please, don't joke around, come out... Isella... you're okay, right? You're alive, right? Protect me... I'm scared... I can't do it alone... please......."

It was a sight unimaginable for her usual self.

She sat collapsed, trembling all over, endlessly calling Isella's name; tears wet her eyes, her breath came short and ragged.

"Milady!"

"!"

At that moment, Isella's voice sounded, and Milia's eyes snapped open.

"You're here, milady!"

"Milia...?"

"I'm sorry! Because the cliff collapsed, I couldn't find where you entered the hideout! So I waited at a high place for you to come out!"

Isella ran over and anxiously checked Milia's condition.

She explained the situation as best she could, so Milia could be relieved.

"Don't make such a fuss. Milia isn't a child, and do you think she'd cry just because she couldn't see you for a moment?"

"Lu, Luca... I don't think that's something you should say."

"Luca? Ottbo?"

At that moment, Luca and Ottbo appeared together.

Luca nonchalantly berated Isella, while Ottbo, seeing Milia's tearful eyes, hurriedly stopped him.

Seeing Milia's embarrassment at their arrival, Isella gave a faint smile.

"These two helped me. If not for them, I might not have been able to protect you, milady."

"...... Isella?"

At Isella saying words of weakness she would never normally let slip, Milia opened her eyes wide.

It showed just how dangerous last night had been.

Luca clicked his tongue.

"Tsk, it's tough having such a troublesome person as a friend."

"Exactly. I really thought we were going to die."

"Normally, I wouldn't let you two off the hook, but this time the fault mostly lies with you, milady, so there's nothing to say."

The three worked together seamlessly.

Milia wore a bewildered expression.

"When did the three of you get so close?"

"If you must know, it's thanks to you. Because of your foolish actions, we had quite a hard time. Isn't it said that people become close after suffering together?"

"Luca Traverse. If you insult milady any further, I won't forgive you. Admittedly, the fault is hers this time, but still."

"Oh, how rude of me. So some idiot risked his life to save a girl who almost drowned chasing after a boy, but even that can't be mentioned. Sorry about that."

"...... Can you tell me exactly what happened last night?"

As Milia failed to grasp the situation, the three ended up telling her what had happened the previous day.

"We expected the 3rd prince's private soldiers, but... ah, devil, you say?"

"Fortunately, I happened to have the power of the sky, otherwise what you would have faced today would've been our corpses."

"It's a little strange you happened to have the power of the sky just then, but... I'll admit it. It would have been risky for me as well if not for your help."

Isella looked bitter, and Ottbo shuddered.

"Just thinking about it gives me chills."

"Ottbo, your role was important too. If you hadn't brought Professor Kryphi in time, it might have been dangerous."

"R-really? I'm glad I was helpful!"

Ottbo, who had thought his performance was ambiguous at best, looked quite pleased at Isella's compliment.

And Milia, eyes wide, listened to their explanation.

If not for Isella's confirmation, she couldn't have believed any of it.

That's how absurd the story was.

"What on earth is the 3rd prince thinking...?"

No matter how royal his blood, if he joined hands with a devil-like ancient being, the 'Ascente Holy Order' would never let it go.

Whatever the 3rd prince was thinking, that was a problem for later.

For Milia, it was a good opportunity.

It might have been a crisis of life and death, but thanks to Luca and Ottbo's help, crisis turned into opportunity.

There wasn't any evidence right now, so they couldn't interrogate him, but this event would become a significant key in Milia's life.

"Enough chit-chat. I'm extremely tired, so let's go back quickly."

"Ugh, I have to drive the automatic carriage all the way to the academy...."

"Drive carefully and don't have an accident."

Luca turned away, Ottbo despaired, and Isella, watching them, couldn't suppress a slight upward twitch of her lips.

Milia, looking at the three, couldn't fully understand but sensed that much had changed due to the events of last night.

'I'm not sure— but... I'm jealous.'

Even as she wondered whether it was right to feel envious of those who had nearly died, Milia found herself jealous of how much closer they had become.

Luca, who had been walking ahead, paused, and then spoke to her as she hesitated, overwhelmed by complex emotions.

"Hey, Milia. Are you going to eat lunch with us today? Ottbo's been pestering me about wanting to have lunch with you."

"Lu-Luca!"

Ottbo's face blushed bright red at Luca's slightly teasing words.

Milia burst out laughing as she watched them.

"Sure. I don't have any plans today, so I'll specially eat with you!"

"Brazen, aren't you. Ottbo, what do you even like about a girl like that?"

"Luca! Shh!"

Vrrr!

At that moment, a vibration came from Luca's pocket.

Luca, with a puzzled expression, took out his phone and twisted his lips.

[The Undying Princess]― Fake identity of Brid Seteg Hernan: Become friends with Milia Fille. (o)― Rescue Milia Fille and Isella from danger. (o)― Find the source of darkness surrounding Milia Fille and Isella.-???-???-???

A hint had been updated.

* * *

The automatic carriage carrying Luca, Ottbo, Milia, and Isella, and Kryphi who had defeated all of the 3rd prince's private soldiers overnight, thankfully returned to the Academy without any accidents.

As soon as Kryphi got back to the Academy, he declared he was tired and returned to his office.

The four of them had gotten some sleep, and perhaps because they were still young, spent time chatting for the first time in a while and had lunch before parting ways.

"Well, I'll go rest too."

"Mm, Luca. See you tomorrow!"

"Right."

After sending off Ottbo, Luca finally lay on the bed in his room and let out a sigh of relief.

He looked at his phone again.

[Notification: There are unclaimed rewards. Please check.][Notification: Something has changed with the Skybird.][Notification: You have unused Hint Collection slots.]

There were many notifications.

'I'd been so wrapped up in thinking, I just kept checking the story, so a lot piled up.'

With everything that had happened, starting with Whistle, he hadn't really made use of his apps since he was too busy gathering information to solve the situation.

'Rewards... Ah, the backstory.'

Come to think of it, there was a reward for unlocking a backstory, but he didn't remember claiming it.

Luca entered the Backstory section and checked his reward.

[Backstory Unlock Reward for the Statue in the Pia Forest]― You have successfully unlocked the secret level 5 backstory of 'The Statue in the Pia Forest.'― You are awarded a 'Level 5 Information Search Ticket' as a reward.

'Information Search, huh. I figured this would show up eventually.'

He'd always expected things like search or shop functions would show up since his phone was acting as a medium.

'I assumed there'd be restrictions on Information Search, just like with the Hint Collection—didn't expect they'd do it by level.'

Luca immediately launched the search application.

[Information Search]― If you search for content not matching your rank, your ticket will be consumed but you may not receive information.― Each search ticket allows up to three search attempts.― Searched information is automatically saved.

The moment he opened the app, these cautions came up. It seemed designed to prevent reverse-tracing the value of information.

'What should I search?'

At that moment, nothing came to mind.

'The backstory for the statue in the Pia Forest doesn't seem that crucial anyway. The information from this probably isn't all that great either.'

Thinking that, Luca next checked the Skybird Growth Journal.

[Skybird Growth Journal][Whistle]Species: SkybirdGrowth Stage: 2nd Stage (Evolving)Heaven's Power Available: Lightning, Cloud

Summary: You have succeeded in absorbing a devil's power for the first time! This is the beginning of the devil hunt, which is the very reason for the Skybird's existence. Please help recover the true power of the Skybird that once saved humanity from devils by absorbing more devil powers!

"......?"

Luca didn't know when Whistle had absorbed a devil's power. So, he could only be bewildered by this sudden change.

'Says "evolving"—I guess I can't talk to it right now, so should I just let this go for now?'

He was curious how it had absorbed devil power, but he couldn't ask right now.

He decided he'd ask Whistle after its evolution was done. As he was about to open the Hint Collection, he suddenly remembered that the hint had been updated.

[The Undying Princess]

― Fake identity of Brid Seteg Hernan: Become friends with Milia Fille. (o)― Rescue Milia Fille and Isella from danger. (o)― Find the source of darkness surrounding Milia Fille and Isella.-???-???-???

"Hmm......."

He had succeeded at what seemed an extremely difficult mission—saving Milia and Isella from danger.But now, he was tasked with finding the source of the darkness surrounding them.Truly, one hurdle after another.

'I don't get it. Isn't the 3rd prince the source of the darkness? What more could there be about him?'

As he worried, another strange thing caught his eye.

[The Darkness Hanging Over the Academy]― Find a person associated with the Academy's darkness. (o)― Actually encounter the Academy's darkness.-???-???-???-???

'...... Wait a second. Why hasn't this changed?'

He had already met Martin, the Academy's darkness. Moreover, he'd even uncovered his true identity.

But the darkness over the Academy mission hadn't updated.

Staring at his phone, Luca suddenly had a thought.

'Are the Demons and the Academy's darkness separate? Wait, weren't the Demons supposed to be the darkness?'

Vrrr!

"Ah, that startled me."

Suddenly, his student notepad started vibrating. Luca, thinking his phone had changed again, flinched, then looked at the student notepad with a sullen face.

He put it to his ear, wearing a puzzled expression.

"What is it, professor Kryphi?"

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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