“Ouch, ouch, ouch…”
The next day, Liyakade arrived at the classroom as usual, her face swollen in a huge lump that hurt terribly even when she brushed her teeth that morning. Bored, she sat quietly in the last row, waiting silently for the bell to ring.
At that moment, Liyakade saw Alice walk into the classroom.
Alice no longer looked like the miserable figure she’d been yesterday, trapped in the small grove. She wore a clean school uniform, her short blonde hair was tousled but neat, and all the bruises on her body had vanished without a trace. It was as if nothing had happened yesterday.
“Light Magic really is amazing…”
Liyakade couldn’t help but sigh wistfully. If only she could use Light Magic, she could have reduced the swelling on her face as well.
Come to think of it, Liyakade felt somewhat relieved she hadn’t torn things apart with Irina Zi yesterday. The memories transmitted weren’t even accurate, and the game’s storyline hadn’t mentioned this part.
She didn’t even remember being sold by her estranged, long-absent parents to Irina Zi. If she had really exploded at Irina Zi yesterday, Liyakade would be dead and buried without a trace.
The only reason she was still around was because she was still useful to Irina Zi. Once she lost that value, even the School wouldn’t tolerate her anymore.
Sigh.
With this thought, Liyakade let out a helpless sigh. She finally understood why the original protagonist had sparked a war and destroyed the Kingdom.
With no support in the Kingdom, labeled a Curse Child wherever she went, even her own parents selling her off, and Irina Zi using her as a scapegoat and tool—sometimes even abusing her—living in such an environment, anyone who didn’t side with the Demon Race to help resurrect the Demon King would be a saint.
Or maybe she should just run away.
Facing this hellish-level dungeon, Liyakade worried she might not be able to handle it either. Perhaps she could sneak a large sum of money from Irina Zi’s home and escape abroad, smuggling herself to a new country to live quietly.
“Eh? Liyakade, what happened to your face?”
Just as Liyakade started considering her escape plan, an untimely voice reached her ears. Looking up, she was surprised to see Alice approaching her, initiating conversation.
“Yo, isn’t this Alice-chan? How’s it going?”
Liyakade thought Alice was here to mock her, so she pointed to her swollen face, “My face is swollen like a monkey’s butt, it hurts so much.”
“I… I can tell,” Alice hesitated, “No, what I mean is, how did it get like this?”
“Ah, I accidentally fell down the stairs and hit it.”
Seeing Alice’s sincere tone, Liyakade dropped her flippant attitude. Of course, she wouldn’t outright expose Irina Zi.
Aside from whether anyone would believe her, if Irina Zi found out she’d said such things, Liyakade’s days would be even harder.
“By the way, you’re really strange. I did that kind of thing to you just yesterday, and today you’re still willing to talk to me?”
“It’s fine, as long as you can repent and never do such things again.”
Alice shook her head, “Besides, Irina Zi-sama said your nature isn’t bad, it’s just jealousy.”
“Jealous of what?”
Liyakade’s temper flared at the mere mention of Irina Zi’s name. She held back the urge to interrupt Alice until she finished, then scoffed, “You actually believe whatever that woman says?”
“Th-that woman!?”
Alice was shocked to hear such disrespectful words from Liyakade.
“Yeah… that woman!”
Liyakade whispered so only she and Alice could hear, “I don’t like Princess Field. Actually, I barely even met her, so how could I be jealous of you?”
“Then why…”
“If I were to be jealous of anything, it would be your golden hair.”
Liyakade gently lifted a strand of the silver-white hair hanging by her ear, explaining the original protagonist’s attitude, “Look at me—silver-white hair, crimson eyes. Totally different from normal people. Scary, right?”
That was a lie.
Though most people in this world feared Liyakade’s white hair and red eyes, that exact combination happened to be her preference. She was quite satisfied with this body. Still, the original protagonist did envy Alice’s hair color and magic.
“Oh, right, sorry about yesterday.”
Liyakade suddenly remembered she hadn’t apologized to Alice because of Irina Zi and her informants watching.
“Mm, Liyakade, please don’t repeat it again, no matter who it’s towards.”
Alice gladly accepted the apology, then her fingers glowed with a soft light as she gently touched Liyakade’s swollen cheek.
“Whoa, it’s gone? And it doesn’t hurt anymore! Is this Light Magic?”
Liyakade rubbed her face and marveled at how her face had returned to normal.
“Hey, are you some kind of saint? Healing me like this.”
Liyakade was impressed. Alice truly was a rare Light Magic user. Despite being someone she had hurt before, Alice was able to put aside the grudge and heal her.
If this were some dark, twisted story, Alice would’ve ended up sold off and still counting money for the buyer.
“Helping others is what I should do. As long as Liyakade promises not to hurt anyone else, I can forgive you. And,” Alice said earnestly, “your hair color is very special, which makes you even more unique. Don’t be ashamed of it. If you treat the world with kindness, you will find friends who truly care for you.”
“Mm, mm, thank you, Alice-chan.”
Hearing Alice’s encouragement, a warm feeling blossomed in Liyakade’s heart. But as soon as she thought of Irina Zi, her mind twisted into a mess.
She had planned to stop bullying Alice, but now that she had been sold to Irina Zi, she was sure Irina Zi expected her to continue targeting Alice. What should she do?
If she kept bullying, it would surely trigger the storyline. And Alice was so kind—how could Liyakade bear to hurt her?
Perhaps right now, the informants spying on Alice had already reported the peaceful conversation between her and Alice to Irina Zi.
She had to come up with a plan…
Tell Alice directly she was acting under Irina Zi’s orders?
Aside from whether Alice would believe her, if Irina Zi found out, Liyakade would face severe consequences.
Even if Alice stayed away from Princess Field, it wouldn’t help—Irina Zi already hated Alice, and the Field Princess shared a dorm with Alice, so they had unavoidable contact.
Pretend to bully Alice a little? That wouldn’t work either, since Irina Zi’s informants were always watching her. Irina Zi also conducted regular checks.
…Got it!
Liyakade tapped her palm, having thought up a brilliant idea.