“Well done. Once you arrive in Avelina, we’ll get in touch with you again.”
Before the start of the semester, at Allen’s old home, a person wearing a fox mask with a nightingale insignia on their hand sat by Allen’s window, placing a box on his desk.
The voice was neutral, making it impossible to tell their gender.
The person before him seemed particularly adept at disguise.
The fox mask stood up and said, without looking back, “From today onward, you’re one of us too.”
With that, they disappeared into the moonlight.
It’s worth mentioning—the back of the fox mask’s hand not only bore the nightingale insignia but also a striking, memorable mole.
Lin Yue sat in front of the screen, unable to make sense of Allen’s memory.
Until the very end, the fox mask never revealed their identity.
Or perhaps, by the end of Act Three in the original story, the organization Nightingale had vanished entirely, and the fox mask disappeared along with it.
But the intelligence they provided was extremely important for Allen in the game.
They directly led to Allen leaving Avelina Academy to open a dungeon in the Royal Capital, eventually joining the royal faction in the Nightingale eradication plan.
From that point on, every time Allen entered a dungeon, he did so with legitimacy—as a titular noble of the Empire.
Until the day he defeated the Demon God and retired to a mountain village.
“So… you suspect they’re a spy organization, trying to obtain intelligence on Avelina’s faction?”
Allen leaned on the railing, sounding a little surprised.
“I was going to ask you the same. If you have their membership mark, shouldn’t you know more than I do?”
Lin Yue looked at Allen.
Of course, he knew what Nightingale was, and that Allen was being kept in the dark.
But if he didn’t play dumb, things would get out of hand quickly.
Nightingale was an extremely mysterious organization that lived on information.
No one knew what their goal was.
As for the topic they’d just discussed, letting Allen know a bit was actually beneficial for clearing the game.
“My knowledge of them is limited to intelligence exchange. Honestly, if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to strengthen myself so quickly before the exams.”
Lin Yue glanced at Allen, then continued, “That fox mask—do you remember anything else about them?”
Although Lin Yue had seen Allen’s memory directly, it was all from a god’s-eye perspective, like a cutscene.
For the details, it was better to ask the person himself.
“Mm… If I have to say something, it’s that there’s a very obvious mole near the mark on their left hand. Other than that, I didn’t notice anything else.”
“Is that so…”
So, after four playthroughs, there’s still too little intel in this world.
…
“Class dismissed.”
The magic professor before them glanced down at the group of geniuses, tapped the blackboard, then turned and left the classroom.
Lin Yue’s gaze burned with frustration as he glared at Airella, who looked away.
Airella, on her part, looked like she had a guilty conscience, turning her head aside to ease the awkwardness.
It had been nearly half a month since he’d joined the elite class.
In that time, apart from Gus and Leah occasionally dropping by the camp for food and company, Airella hadn’t shown her old enthusiasm for free meals—she was clearly avoiding him.
Time’s almost up!
The next crucial plot point is nearly here.
If you don’t tell me, I’m really going to lose it!
These days, in the classroom, corridors, cafeteria, dormitory—everywhere he might spot Airella, Lin Yue just couldn’t catch her.
Isabella was no help at all—whenever he approached, Isabella would drag her away like a madwoman.
As soon as class ended, Lin Yue shot up from his seat, ignoring the idle gossip of others, ready to grab Airella’s hand and stop her from running off again.
But she had already cast an acceleration spell in advance and vanished without a trace.
Lin Yue was practically fuming; he really was out of ideas.
“Sigh…”
He sat at his usual spot in the deepest corner of the Mapelle Café, this time in a yellow wig, propping his face up with a sigh.
“If you sigh all the time, your luck will be blown away, you know?”
Beside him, Mapelle placed a coffee on his table with a smile.
Lin Yue looked up, forcing a smile, took the coffee, and sipped.
The rich aroma didn’t ease the frustration in his heart.
Airella was as slippery as an eel—impossible to catch.
The key plot event was about to slip by.
“Thanks, Mapelle.”
Lin Yue spoke dispiritedly.
“It’s always quietest here.”
Mapelle smiled and said, “What’s wrong? Is it about the Valiana sisters? You look so down.”
Mapelle seemed very interested in gossip and pulled out the chair across from Lin Yue.
“If you have troubles, you can tell me. My information network’s quite good.”
“No… it’s because of Airella.”
“Airella?”
Mapelle asked in confusion.
Now that was odd.
Why was he asking about Airella?
Had he switched targets?
“Mapelle, you…”
Lin Yue was about to ask the super socialite—who was a fixture among the girls—where Airella usually hung out.
But as his gaze inadvertently swept over her, he made an unexpected discovery that caused his pupils to shrink.
This is…
On the back of Mapelle’s hand was a small mole that was deeply imprinted in his memory.
If he remembered right, it was the left hand as well—could it be…
Should he test her?
Just as Lin Yue was about to speak, the café’s bell suddenly jingled.
The very person Lin Yue had been seeking entered, lost in her own thoughts.
Airella—why is she here?
Seeing the visitor looking so down as well, Mapelle instantly sensed trouble.
“Airella! You’re just in time, Lin—”
Suddenly, Lin Yue grabbed her hand and shook his head desperately.
“Uh… How about I add a drizzle of honey to your coffee?”
Mapelle didn’t know why Lin Yue was so agitated; his grip actually hurt her a bit.
“No, I just want it bitter…”
Seeing Airella so deflated, Mapelle brewed her coffee and walked over, setting the cup down in front of her with a smile.
“What’s wrong? Who’s made our lovely Airella upset?”
“It’s really nothing serious…”
Airella thought about it—she really needed someone to talk to.
Isabella was hopeless, and among the girls, only Mapelle would really understand this kind of thing. She should be fine asking her for advice…
“Lin Yue… seems like he wants to take me back to be his mountain bandit bride.”
“Pfft…”
“Huh?”
Upon hearing this, Lin Yue—still wearing the fake yellow wig—spit his coffee out on the spot.
“Cough, cough, cough!”
Airella noticed the unfamiliar yellow-haired person sitting in the corner, seemingly choking.
“Mapelle, shouldn’t you help your customer first? He looks like he’s choking.”
She instinctively tried to catch his scent, wanting to remember it, but the strong coffee aroma in the air blocked everything out.
“He… there are napkins over there. Why don’t you tell me about Lin Yue first?”
Mapelle was struggling to keep her composure.
What do you mean, Lin Yue wants to take you home as his mountain bandit bride?
That’s as explosive as that ‘wanting both sisters’ scandal!
“It’s actually strange. You know I can control magical beasts, right? Well, just a few days before enrollment…”
Hmm?
Lin Yue heard the words and snapped to attention as if a keyword had been triggered.
Even Mapelle knew?
“Ah… mm.”
Mapelle turned to see Lin Yue signaling for her to keep listening.
So Airella poured out the entire story of what happened in the days before their first meeting.
“This…”
If Mapelle weren’t still wearing her public persona, she would’ve run over and checked if Lin Yue’s brain was made of wood.
He says so many strange things; no wonder the girls go nuts and accuse him of being a player.
Mapelle rubbed her temples and said, “Maybe he didn’t mean it that way—maybe he just has something important to discuss with you?”
“Mm… maybe, but I’m afraid if that’s not the case and I turn him down, I won’t be able to mooch food off him anymore.”
So that’s what you care about?
Mapelle suddenly realized she’d been overthinking it.
This kid never considered actually going with Lin Yue.
“Mapelle! I’m counting on you for this—if Lin Yue comes here for coffee, could you help me ask what he really thinks?”
With that, she got up, ready to head back to the dorm.
So that’s all it was…
Mapelle turned to look at where Lin Yue had been sitting, but he was gone.
The bell above the door was still swaying, and he’d left some money and a little extra as a tip on the table.
….
Hoo…
Airella walked through Avelina’s park, taking a deep breath before exhaling.
Thinking back on Lin Yue these past few days, she suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
She’d been avoiding him this whole time, which was unfair to him.
Airella hated stringing people along without giving them an answer.
But what could she do?
Who wouldn’t panic in this situation?
She’d never even been in a relationship…
As she was pondering how to talk to Lin Yue, a familiar voice called from behind.
“Airella.”
She spun around to see the very person she’d just been thinking about.
Instinctively, she recited an acceleration spell and tried to run, but before she got far, Lin Yue appeared ghost-like in her path, pinning her against the wall.
“Why are you running!”
Perseverance paid off—after Lin Yue used spatial magic in a desperate move, he finally caught Airella and slammed her against the wall.
Thud, thud…
Airella’s heart, already restless, skipped a beat and began pounding erratically.
What do I do? This is bad…
“Wh-what are you going to do…”
At that moment, the once decisive beast-tamer girl was nowhere to be seen.
She’d completely transformed into the delicate shoujo manga heroine who, unable and unwilling to run, just stood there.
Lin Yue’s being so forceful. If I reject him, will he…
“Just so you know, I’m not an easy woman to satisfy…”
Looking at this person who wanted to resist but was acting so awkward, Lin Yue nearly burst out laughing. With a look of disdain, he said, “Then tell me, just how hard are you to satisfy?”
Airella heard Lin Yue’s words, lowered her head and thought seriously, then said, “At the very least, you have to satisfy my appetite! And then… and then…”
“And then?”
Watching Airella struggle to get out a second condition, Lin Yue asked with interest.
“And then… I haven’t thought of anything yet? Maybe just be gentle with me?”
This girl is way too easy.
That’s what Lin Yue thought.
“Anyway, you… you… being so forceful isn’t right, let me go…” Airella didn’t know what conditions to set.
She thought of all sorts of troublesome demands but just couldn’t say them aloud.
She didn’t really dislike being pinned by Lin Yue. In fact, some strange excitement rose from deep inside.
Her voice gradually softened.
“Aiya… He’s so handsome, has a good personality, and can cook. Just say yes already.”
An impish voice echoed in Airella’s mind.
“You’re just a country girl, plain and inexperienced. Meeting someone like him, that’s more than luck…”
“Besides, he really understands you. Remember? In that cave, weren’t you so happy?”
As Airella, almost by reflex, closed her eyes to give in, another angelic version of herself leapt out and pounced on the demon Airella.
“Airella! You mustn’t give in!”
“Don’t forget, Lin Yue admitted himself that he wants to marry both Valiana sisters. He’s a scoundrel—don’t trust him!”
“Maybe he’s a reliable partner, but that’s only as a teammate! Don’t mix things up!”
“You…!”
“I won’t lose!”
As the two figures wrestled, the grim-faced Lin Yue finally spoke: “I just want to ask if you summoned Rui’er to help you during the exam, and if anyone saw you.”
Lin Yue spoke in a low voice to Airella.
“Eh… ah?”
In an instant, the two figures vanished like popped bubbles, leaving only the stunned real Airella.
So that’s what he wanted to ask?
The air froze for a moment.
I’m such an idiot!!!!!
All kinds of emotions—shame, guilt, disappointment—flooded Airella’s face.
She flushed bright red, not knowing how to face the puzzled Lin Yue before her.
“Y-yes… I did…”
She stammered, squeezing out a few words.
“No one saw, right?”
“Only… only Mapelle knows…”
Hearing the answer he wanted, Lin Yue finally let out a relieved smile.
Damn, after all that, it was a total misunderstanding.
Lin Yue quickly released Airella’s hands, rubbed his chin, and pondered.
Since Airella revealed her ability during the exam, it counted as reaching the plot point. No explosion.
“Why did you let go…”
Airella stared at the red marks on her wrists, feeling a wave of disappointment and muttering softly.
What am I thinking… Am I crazy?
She’d always hated forceful people, so why did she… only with him…
If this keeps up, Airella felt, her head would be filled with nothing but romance.
She shook her head wildly.
I have more important things to do.
I can’t keep caring about others’ opinions.
Thinking of the village’s commission, she looked toward the ground not far away.
That was precisely where Avelina sealed the forbidden magical beast.
…
“Sister?”
On the stone bridge not far away, Isabella, holding some daily necessities, called out to Isabella, who was gazing into the distance.
“Ah… Sorry, I was spacing out.”
There was a trace of disappointment in her eyes.
They really do make a perfect match…