Chapter 113: Weekend Appointment

According to the academy’s regulations, students of the Ark are not allowed to leave the campus at will on regular days.

But if there is a time when students can freely come and go from the academy city of Regtaya, it is the weekend. On Saturdays and Sundays, students of the Ark go into the city to buy necessities, relax and have fun, or do some short-term part-time work.

Heroes from adventurer backgrounds sometimes take this opportunity to pick up small quests.

Therefore, the holy city of Regtaya welcomes bustling groups of Ark students every weekend, making the entire city vibrant and full of youthful energy.

Erika also planned to go out and see the city today—the first weekend of the semester. Moreover, she had an appointment today with the elder of the Draco family twins, Miona Draco.

Knock knock.

Just as Erika was busy packing her things to go out, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Before she could even ask who it was, the dormitory door opened on its own. A girl with thick golden hair tied in a high ponytail and deep blue eyes appeared at the doorway. Her face was so exquisitely beautiful she looked like an early-debuting movie star or model.

“Hey Erika, I’m a bit bored, came to play with you.” Emil La Riones, dressed like a homebody in a tracksuit, swaggered into the dorm room.

But when she looked at the girl, or rather, when her gaze fell on the bandages and cast wrapped around the girl’s arm, her slender, pale golden eyebrows immediately shot up.

“How did you get hurt?”

“Uh, well…”

Just as Erika was about to explain, the big guy clicked her tongue. “The other guy got it worse, right?” “Probably.”

‘Probably broke some ribs. Was vomiting liters of blood back then, internal organs must have been pretty messed up too. Probably won’t end up with an incurable disability, but likely facing a painful bedridden recovery for several weeks or even months.’

The big guy said this while sitting down on the girl’s bed. “I heard about it too. Seems you got into a fight with those guys called Silver Truth? I thought you’d get bullied pretty badly, looks like you were well prepared this time?”

“Yeah, yeah. Would’ve been taken advantage of if I lost.” “Huh?”

Seeing Emil’s expression gradually turn strange, Erika realized she had said the wrong thing and hurriedly changed the subject. “Anyway, I won! So, what brings your esteemed self to my humble abode?”

“Nothing special. Wanted to invite you to go out and stroll around the city today, it’s the weekend. Maybe buy some things I need.”

‘Emil wants to spend the weekend with me today, hand in hand, shopping in Regtaya… Why does this feel familiar? Wait, you big oaf, your intentions aren’t pure!’

But she really hadn’t paid much attention to Emil lately. And unfortunately, she already had a prior appointment with Miona Draco today.

“Sorry, I’m a bit busy today.”

“What? You’re rejecting my invitation right now?” Emil growled like a ferocious lioness, causing the roommates who had been sitting quietly, not daring to breathe, to tremble in fright.

“Forget it! I don’t like being with you anyway!”

“Hmph!”

Emil puffed out her cheeks, turned her head away, and strode out of the room. She seemed genuinely a bit angry… Erika started to worry if the angry big guy might impulsively do something troublesome in the heat of the moment.

At this moment, Axis, who had been holding her breath, finally had a chance to speak. “That was Miss Lyonesse, right? I’d only heard of her before, today’s the first time I’ve seen her in person! Truly lives up to her reputation, her aura is extraordinary.”

‘Probably talking about how big she is everywhere. Erika won’t comment. Being flat has its advantages too!’

Lisette, however, looked serious as she spoke to Erika. “Erika, a young lady from such a great noble family is willing to be close to you, and you actually refuse. I really can’t understand it.”

‘You wouldn’t think that if you knew she doesn’t see me as a friend, but as a wife.’

But it’s true. Emil is a goddess in the hearts of many men and women. A dashing, commanding yet adorable prince-type super SSS-tier beauty. Who wouldn’t like her?

But some things are just unavoidable. Because there’s another SSS-tier white-haired beauty who has an appointment with her.

Just then, the door creaked open once more. Thinking she had left long ago, Emil poked her head in again, then stretched one hand into the room, wiggling her fingers lightly.

“Hey, you two, come with me. Shorty and Chubby, I have something for you to do.”

Apprentice Priest Axis’s face immediately broke into a respectful and brilliant smile. “Miss Lyonesse, it’s truly an honor to meet you!”

“Enough. We’re moving luggage today, be mentally prepared.” “Luggage…?”

‘Looks like these two are going to replace me as Emil’s objects of amusement today.’

Erika silently clasped her hands together in her heart, mourning for them. “There seem to be a large number of undead appearing on the outskirts of the city recently, everyone be careful.”

Listening to the academy staff’s reminders and precautions, Erika received her exit permit and headed into the city.

‘I don’t know how long it’s been since I came outside the school alone. A sense of relief wells up in my heart. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I even put on very androgynous casual clothes and a hat. I think I can relax properly now.’

The time was around ten in the morning. Erika stepped into an accessory shop.

“Is this a Blue Falcon feather? Where did you get such a high-quality tail feather? It’s really rare to see.”

Faced with the young female shopkeeper’s inquiry, Erika couldn’t explain much and could only vaguely reply, “Found it by chance.”

Seeing this, the shopkeeper didn’t press further and quickly finished making the item she wanted. Carefully storing that item away, Erika headed to Miona’s residence according to the address she had inquired about earlier. It was said the Draco family villa was located somewhere near the outskirts of Regtaya.

“Is this the place?”

Arriving at the city’s outer ring area, what greeted her eyes was a cemetery filled with ancient tombstones and withered trees. In the eerie center of the grounds stood a mansion inhabited by flocks of crows.

Although it wasn’t even noon yet and the sun was bright, that mansion alone for a kilometer around was shrouded in gloom, like a terrifying haunted house in the deep night of winter, making one’s hair stand on end just looking at it.

‘Is this really it? I didn’t take a wrong turn, did I…?’

She suddenly felt a chill about entering the Draco villa. After all, this family was one of the culprits who pushed the Noel family into decline. Perhaps her current actions were no different from walking into a trap. Stepping into the enemy’s den, like walking into a lion’s mouth? But… she couldn’t let herself be trapped by fear and hesitate either.

So Erika stood before the huge iron gate leading to the garden and gently knocked on the door knocker.

……

She thought at least a servant would come to open the door, but unexpectedly, the skull ornaments she thought were mere decorations suddenly creaked, and the gate slowly swung open on its own, indescribably eerie.

“Eek…” She almost cried out in fright.

Despite cursing the Draco family’s insanity in her heart, Erika forced herself to remain calm, passed through the gate, and walked straight towards the garden entrance. Throughout, a creepy feeling of being silently watched lingered.

“Sssssssssss.”

“Hsssssssss.”

At the same time, faint beastly howls came from somewhere, urging the girl to quicken her pace and stand before the mansion.

“Is Miss Draco here? I am Erika Angelina.”

She merely knocked lightly on the mansion’s door, and it opened immediately, as if someone had been waiting behind it for a long time.

Naturally, standing behind the door was the young lady of the Draco family. Even though it was the weekend, she was still wearing her school uniform.

“You’re late, commoner.”