Wang Yue stood tall, holding a sign with “Delia” written in bold characters. A silk ribbon with “Welcome, New Students” printed on it was draped across her chest. She muttered under her breath, “Why didn’t we have any seniors greeting us when we started?”
“I don’t think many upperclassmen were even on campus back then,” Loran Wright replied with a smile.
Wang Yue looked down the mountainside at the freshmen, who looked like a line of marching ants. She shook her head. “I think the professors are just overwhelmed with their own schedules and want us to do the heavy lifting. Promoting ‘social exchange’ is just a fancy way of saying they want us to get them settled.”
“You certainly are blunt, Wang Yue. But yes, that is essentially the case.” Loran smoothed a stray lock of hair blown by the wind. She leaned in closer, whispering, “I heard my father reached out to you again.”
“Mm,” Wang Yue nodded slightly. “They’ve set off.”
She couldn’t reveal the specific details, even though Loran was Lord Aurora’s daughter.
The final Lantern-Bearer to join the squad was known as “Aztod of Memories.” Wang Yue had never met them; she had only heard the name mentioned by Lord Aurora.
The Gaze Worm had already been extracted from her avatar’s body. At this moment, it was nestled in a small, dark container, sending back a subtle sensation of movement as the team traveled.
At Wang Yue’s request, Helen had been sent to the Quicksand Lowlands by the Explorers’ Guild. Wang Yue didn’t doubt that Helen had gained the strength to live independently after all she had endured, but the thought of a little girl living alone made her uneasy—it was too easy for someone with ill intent to target her.
Fortunately, the Quicksand Lowlands were under the protection of the Three-Eyed Crow System. If anyone tried to target her, the system would simply erase them from existence.
As Wang Yue was lost in thought, the sound of footsteps approached from behind. She turned to see the group from the Eye of Truth.
There were four of them in total, with Gymnopedie standing at the back. Generally, in these small social circles, the ones in the front held the highest status.
Wang Yue’s gaze swept over them. In the front row stood a beautiful girl with long silver hair and emerald eyes. Beside her was a blonde… Lilith? Not you again!
Enough is enough! Why is she still hanging around those creeps from the Eye of Truth?
Wang Yue recalled the music box Lilith had brought her that day and felt a wave of discomfort. These girls were older now, far more experienced than a naive girl like Lilith. They would play her like a fiddle.
Wang Yue’s brow furrowed, her knuckles cracking as she clenched her fist. This sinister secret society might very well be a front for Restorationist spies. She needed to investigate them properly—and if she had to use a bit of “rough persuasion,” so be it. The Headmaster had given her the authority to act as she saw fit, after all.
Beside her, Loran was startled by Wang Yue’s contorted expression and the terrifying coldness in her eyes.
Lilith spotted Wang Yue at the same time. Her face went pale, and she instinctively tried to turn and walk away, but Gymnopedie nudged her from behind, urging her on.
“Don’t be afraid! She’s the one in the wrong here. Who puts down a half-eaten peach and says they aren’t buying it? Is it because the peach next to it is bigger, or did she just want a free bite?”
Slap!
Hatsuyuki Karuta suddenly turned and struck her across the face!
Gymnopedie clutched her cheek, her body trembling slightly. Her face flushed a deep red, and her eyes were filled with a strange, longing resentment. She let out a self-deprecating laugh. “True… I’ve eaten many more peaches, many of them unripe. I’m sorry. I have the least right to say such things…”
Lilith huffed in annoyance.
Gymnopedie chuckled. “Well, we’re all in the same boat, aren’t we? In this entire school, we’re the only four ‘normals’ who can’t use magic. Even the maids can cast low-level witchcraft. Sigh… what’s the difference between a witch who can’t use mana and a sow?”
Slap!
Karuta turned and delivered another blow. This time, all three of them ganged up on Gymnopedie, giving her a thorough beating.
On the mountain path, the freshmen had finally arrived. They were led by a new teacher with flowing long hair and a bright red dress that billowed in the wind like a river of blood. It was Glannar Cardipo.
Pandora moved silently within the crowd of students, blending in.
She couldn’t afford to be too conspicuous yet. Her plan was to start with Delia, practicing her “farming” techniques until she’d mastered every possible angle. Then, she would move on to her roommates, one by one, before finally hunting the senior witches.
As her gaze drifted over the seniors who had come to welcome them, Pandora’s expression began to stiffen. The beauty of these witches was actually on par with her own!
Is there something wrong with my eyes? Why is every single one of them so stunning? And it’s not just their looks—their auras are so unique. Once you see them, you can’t forget them…
A massive sense of disparity washed over Pandora, making her feel incredibly uncomfortable. In the past, she had been the solitary moon, hanging high and unique in the sky. Now, she was just one small star in a vast, glittering galaxy.
While she was lost in thought, someone tapped her on the shoulder.
Pandora instinctively turned her head and met a bright, captivating smile.
“Oh ho ho! Hello, little junior! We’re from the Karuta Club. Do you like playing cards?” Gymnopedie asked, a sweet smile plastered on her face as she handed over a small promotional card designed in a traditional woodblock style.
Pandora hesitated before taking the card that was practically shoved into her hand. She cast a casual glance at the girl’s status bars and nearly jumped out of her skin.
The red bar was completely maxed out, flickering with a flame-like outline! But the blue bar was empty—zero!
Huh?
What is wrong with this person?
Favorability is at maximum on our first meeting? Is it love at first sight?
But if that’s the case, why is the trust level at zero!?
What does she think I am?
The bizarre situation defied everything Pandora knew. She stood there with her mouth slightly open, frantically trying to decide how to react when she suddenly felt a surge of killing intent from the side.
Pandora turned stiffly. Standing next to the strange senior was a blonde girl who looked to be about her age.
In an instant, she felt as if a pair of blood-red eyes had magnified a thousand times, lunging straight into her mental world!
Suspicion, hatred, and boiling murderous intent radiated from her, emitting a terrifying pressure.
A chill ran down Pandora’s spine as if she had fallen into a frozen lake. Her survival instincts screamed at her to run.
She checked the bars again. Both red and blue were at -100, the frames covered in a frost-like effect.
Pandora’s face went deathly pale. Her legs felt so weak she nearly collapsed. This senior definitely wanted to kill her!
But why?!
Just because she doesn’t like the look of me?
Trembling, Pandora ducked her head and hurried away. These two were both freaks; she didn’t want to spend another second near them.
Lilith stared at Pandora’s retreating back. For some reason, this freshman reminded her of Wang Yue—likely because they both had black hair and dark eyes.
She realized she might have been a bit too aggressive and scared the girl… Hmph. That’s what you get for looking like Wang Yue.
“Remember to visit the Karuta Club!” Gymnopedie shouted after her.
Pandora had only taken a few steps when she nearly walked into a sign. She looked up…
Ah!
Mother!
Why is she coming straight for me?
Am I exposed?
But she’s never even seen me before!
Pandora’s heart leapt into her throat. The powerful bloodline resonance couldn’t be wrong—this was her progenitor!
However, the black-haired girl wasn’t looking at her. She stood there, holding her sign and waiting.
Only then did Pandora notice the name “Delia” on the search sign.
She turned to look at her companion and rolled her eyes.
Ugh.
She was looking for this stupid brat.
Scared me to death.
She breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze lingering on Wang Yue’s face. A smirk played across her lips. As expected of my progenitor, she’s quite the beauty. Though, as her daughter, I’m clearly the superior model! Hahaha!
Wang Yue saw the auburn-haired girl walking toward her and offered a warm, elder-sisterly smile. “You must be Delia from Scissor Town. Your father asked me to look after you. My name is Wang Yue.”
The auburn-haired girl was instantly captivated by the senior’s gentle, soothing gaze. It felt as though she were a piece of drifting duckweed being cradled by a warm hand. All the anxiety and unease of traveling to school alone evaporated, replaced by an overwhelming sense of security.
She bit her lip and nodded vigorously.
Pandora watched in shock as Delia’s favorability toward her plummeted. It was down to 60!
Wha—?
Why?!
Does she… like my mom more than me?
