‘Forget it, don’t dwell on this.
Regarding the incident caused by Professor Barlan, everything that should be made public has been made public, and everything that should be concealed has been concealed.
If I pursue this matter, the result probably won’t develop the way Erica expects.
The matter related to Noelle and the Demon King seems to have neither been exposed nor mentioned—probably due to a decision by the Order’s higher-ups.
Actually, it doesn’t matter to Erica. She’s gained enough from this incident.
Her Mage class, which was difficult to level up, has successfully advanced. She also tried various spells and mastered the advanced necromancy ‘Galil.’
If there’s a chance, she’d like to try out this newly acquired spell.
As she experienced firsthand, she knows this spell is so powerful that it transcends ordinary things and actually possesses its own will. Using it rashly without safety measures could be dangerous.
For now, she’ll hold back. Incidentally, is there really no report about Noelle?’
Erica flipped through the newspaper diligently.
After all, she had been ordered to investigate the whereabouts of the Demon King’s descendant from the three noble daughters.
‘Though it’s turned into a ridiculous mission of looking for myself… However, investigating the Demon King’s descendant and his traces—I believe this is one of the actions I must take to revive the Noelle Family. If done well, I might even find some clue connecting the enormous legacy, magical knowledge, power, and authority he left behind.’
“Rustle, rustle.”
Someone snatched the newspaper from her hands. Erica furrowed her beautiful brows and looked up, finding a pair of red eyes looking down at her.
“You’re here? Erica Angelina.”
“Miss Miona?”
Miona Draco appeared in this cost-effective平民 student restaurant, completely out of Erica’s expectation. The other students seemed just as surprised, and whispers spread around them, discussing this Rank 6 honor student.
“I heard she defeated Professor Barlan yesterday?”
“Didn’t Professor Barlan graduate from Ark Academy in the top twenty?”
“As expected, those in the top ten are truly extraordinary.”
This stormy figure who had already caused a sensation on campus actually came to find her in this ‘commoner gathering place’ that she normally wouldn’t even look at? Although the attention and gazes around her must have been annoying, Miona didn’t mind too much and sat down directly opposite her.
Because Erica frequented this restaurant, the surrounding students had already inquired about this stunningly beautiful woman, and… even fewer people dared to approach her. Originally it was because her outstanding appearance made most people feel inferior, but now it was probably due to titles like the Queen’s close aide, the vengeful woman, the scheming demoness with a dark heart…
“What brings you here?”
“Because of some things that happened yesterday. If not for that, why would I deliberately run from the dormitory all the way to such a distant restaurant, spending an hour to find you?”
“You looked for that long?”
“That’s not important.”
“Could it be that you got lost?”
Swish. Miona unfolded her fan, covering her face.
“Erica Angelina. I came about the spell from yesterday—the one you used to knock down Professor Barlan.”
Miona’s words stirred up a commotion around them.
“Erica knocked down Professor Barlan?”
“You’ve never even spoken to her, yet you know her name?”
“Ahem, as if you don’t know?”
“Ahem.”
“But that girl named Erica Angelina, isn’t she barely around rank 300?”
“No, I heard her original rank was close to 1000…”
People pricked up their ears, carefully listening to the story coming from Miona’s mouth and trying to digest the shocking information.
Erica hadn’t expected to expose her strength so early, secretly feeling troubled. Then Miona, as if deliberately making sure everyone could hear, said in an even clearer voice:
“Didn’t you defeat Professor Barlan with a fairly outstanding spell?”
“Holy crap, she really beat Professor Barlan!”
“Professor Barlan lost to a first-year? I remember she was pretty weak when she entered… Actually, that was just about a week ago, around the time of Eph.”
“No, it could be true. Didn’t Bond, the Lead Commissioner of the Mithril League, collapse without even touching her? I heard he didn’t even get to chant a spell. Don’t you know Bond is hospitalized now?”
“Which side is true? Is she strong or weak? What if I can’t beat her and get domestically abused?”
“Kid, you’ve got quite the imagination.”
People were deeply confused. This was exactly what Erica feared—these people from Ark loved to stir up trouble.
“I only helped a little at the end. Even without me, the two of you—Lady Emil and Miss Miona—could have handled it perfectly well, couldn’t you?”
“That’s true, but Erica, because you were there, those annoying things became less annoying. In that regard, you need to be more confident.”
“… Thank you.”
Erica suddenly realized that Miona had come to boast about her achievements, deliberately publicizing her greatness to others. Naturally, a question quietly surfaced—’Why?’ Of course, this doubt was quickly answered by the shocking words that came out of Miona’s mouth.
Miona, as if telling the people around her “Listen up,” spoke eloquently behind her fan.
“Humility is a virtue of the Order. Angelina means kindness and good news. You must have lived up to that expectation well. But light will never be obscured by darkness, and gold shines wherever it goes…”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“And besides, Erica, the fact that you disregarded worldly views and boldly proposed to me is also a clear fact. There’s nothing to hide at this point.”
“Huh…!”
“I, Miona, do not wish to have my future partner be evaluated as mediocre, nor do I wish to harm the reputation of myself and the Draco Family.”
“Did I hear that right? Proposed? Aren’t they both women?”
“My mind is a mess.”
“No, I’m getting a clearer picture. If I propose to one of them now, wouldn’t I be the one with monogamy?”
“?”
‘What the hell is Miona Draco spouting? And even if she really is pursuing someone, did she have to make this public in front of everyone? Completely unexpected. I never anticipated she would do this. Wasn’t she the conservative type who cared a lot about status? So lesbian relationships don’t damage family reputation? And my commoner status doesn’t matter now? I really can’t understand. Was Miona somehow controlled by some evil necromancy?’
Erica chanted a spell softly, trying to remove any magic on her. But Miona remained unchanged, continuing to speak as if it were the most natural thing.
“To avoid disgracing the name of Miona and the Draco Family, from now on, Miss Erica must behave in a manner befitting her status.”
“Ah, this…”
“You can be proud of this. Though not the first candidate, as a marriage candidate for me, Miona, you are in the top ten… no, the top twenty! And among commoners, you are the only one!”
Miona let out a light laugh.
3Q?
…Erica almost wanted to scream.
“Damn it…”
“Damn it? I know that word too. Among commoners, it means ‘very grateful’ and ‘cheerful,’ right?”