“By the way, Lynn.”
Felica seemed to suddenly remember something and pulled a gold-plated pass from her pocket.
“Dean Emil asked me to bring this to you,” Felica said, holding it between her fingertips and spinning it rhythmically.
“Eh, it looks like a pass for the Nightfall Fools~”
A few mischievous thoughts suddenly popped into Felica’s mind.
She wanted to tease Lynn a little more, to keep him by her side just a bit longer.
After all…
This was one of the few moments she could spend alone with him.
“Do you want it?”
The corners of Felica’s mouth curled into a smirk.
Looking at her like this, Lynn could easily guess that Felica was up to no good again.
Sigh.
Lynn sighed inwardly.
Of course, he wasn’t going to let this wicked woman toy with him so easily.
If he remembered correctly, Felica was particularly ticklish.
So…
With that thought, Lynn gently tickled the soles of Felica’s feet.
Sure enough, as Lynn’s fingers lightly scratched up and down, Felica couldn’t help but curl her delicate pink toes, letting out a shy, strained gasp.
“You… you brat!”
Felica raised a small fist, acting somewhat annoyed.
But in the next moment, she realized that the gold-plated pass in her hand had already vanished.
“Thanks.”
Lynn naturally tucked the pass into his pocket.
“You cheated,” Felica said with a pout, looking displeased.
“Did I?”
Lynn tilted his head and thought for a moment.
“I suppose so, but I prefer to call it a victory of wit.”
With that, Lynn took out a towel he had prepared earlier, dried Felica’s small feet, and after pouring out the footbath water, he put his clothes back on.
“I have some things to do, so I’m heading out. You should get some rest soon, too,” Lynn said.
“Oh,” Felica replied curtly as if throwing a tantrum.
She turned her head away and refused to look at him.
Seeing Felica’s pouting expression, Lynn scratched his head, thinking that women were truly difficult to understand.
“See you tomorrow,” Lynn said as he opened the door.
He didn’t forget to close it carefully behind him as he left.
Once she was sure Lynn was far away, Felica slowly looked up, her face filled with a touch of resentment.
“…”
“Idiot, don’t think it’ll be that easy to shake me off.”
After leaving the room, it was already late at night.
Lynn walked alone down the street, carefully examining the pass in his hand by the light of the magical street lamps.
His name had already been engraved on the pass in elegant calligraphy.
With this pass, Lynn could enter the Nightfall Fools’ archives at will.
Although Lynn only held the lowest level of clearance, which only allowed him to browse less important data and some rare magic books not found on the market.
That was enough.
After all, the magic books collected by the Nightfall Fools were all geared toward lethality.
They could complement some of the magic learned at the academy, potentially making them even more powerful.
As long as Lynn could engrave them all onto his Chess Piece, his strength would surely reach a new level.
However, once Lynn used the pass and accessed the Nightfall Fools’ data, he would be obligated to join their ranks after graduation, whether he wanted to or not.
This was an established… unspoken rule.
Thinking of this, Lynn sighed softly.
The Nightfall Fools had already extended an olive branch to him.
Rather than a pass, what he held in his hand felt more like an invitation.
Then again, why exactly did the Nightfall Fools notice him?
Had he done anything particularly eye-catching recently?
Lynn thought carefully.
If he had to say…
It seemed to be that time a while ago when he sneaked into the projection of a Tier-4 Secret Realm to take the [Heart of Nibelung].
Could it be that the live recording of his conquest of the secret realm had been broadcasted in its entirety?
At this thought, Lynn’s right eyelid twitched violently for no reason.
Damn it, the people of this world have no respect for personal privacy!
Lynn couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed.
In truth, he had always tried to keep a low profile.
After all, if one was too flamboyant, it was easy for those with ulterior motives to discover things that were amiss.
If he was dragged into danger just because of this, Lynn felt it would be quite foolish.
But for now, since it had already happened, there was no point in regret.
Since he had just gained the right to enter the archives.
Then…
“I have to go check exactly what kind of curse causes the death ending,” Lynn said quietly, looking at the pass under the light.
Following the prompts on the card, Lynn walked into a convenience store that was still open.
The store was empty.
Only a black kerosene lamp hung in mid-air, swaying continuously and emitting a dim light.
However, as Lynn took out the pass, the wall beside him gradually melted like water, revealing a staircase leading underground.
After walking down the stairs for a short distance, a massive library appeared before Lynn’s eyes.
Before Lynn could begin exploring the giant library, a deep voice stopped him.
“I knew you would come tonight, Lynn.”
Looking toward the sound, Lynn discovered a middle-aged man in formal attire standing behind him.
Looking at the decorations on his clothes… he seemed to be a Duke.
His identity was then obvious.
“Good evening, Duke Klein.”
Lynn bowed slightly, performing a rare gesture of respect.
Lynn remembered clearly that while the man before him held the noble rank of Duke, he was the leader of the Nightfall Fools in every sense.
Not only did he frequently accompany members on missions, but he also personally handled the daily trivialities of the team.
In the mid-to-late stages of the story, after the Central Royal City was breached by the Abyssal Cult in league with the Outer Realm Dragon Race, Duke Klein died for his country, fighting until the very last moment to protect the evacuation of the citizens.
Lynn had always deeply respected such a person.
“Just call me Captain. There’s no need for formalities, now or in the future.”
Duke Klein slowly helped Lynn up.
“Coming here in the middle of the night, you must have encountered a problem you can’t solve on your own?”
Lynn nodded and then described his recent situation in great detail.
After listening, Duke Klein frowned slightly.
“It sounds like some kind of secret technique from the Abyssal Cult.”
“But the information you’ve provided is too limited. I can’t distinguish exactly which one it is. Perhaps you can try looking for it in the books yourself,” Duke Klein suggested.
Hearing this, Lynn’s heart tightened.
Then, a surge of anger gradually rose within him.
The Abyssal Cult again…
Lynn unconsciously clenched his fists.
Phew—
After a moment, Lynn let out a long breath.
“Thank you, Duke Klein.”
A few hours later.
Felica followed the scent on Lynn’s body and eventually traced it to the convenience store.
She had secretly placed a tracking spell on him while she was “punishing” him.
Felica did not want to lose track of Lynn!
She slowly followed the trail to a wall.
As if thinking of something, a golden magic circle gradually appeared in Felica’s hand.
Felica slowly closed her eyes.
As she chanted an ancient and obscure incantation, her clothes began to flutter despite the lack of wind.
In the next moment, Felica appeared inside the database.
“Hmph~ You little brat, don’t think you can hide from me.”
“To dare treat this lady like that just now, you must give me an explanation!”
Felica crossed her arms over her chest, raised her head proudly, and began to walk forward slowly.
But in the next moment, she felt like she had stepped on something.
Looking down, a pair of pink underwear and a matching bra appeared before her eyes.
Felica froze for a moment, then picked them up with a look of disbelief.
This… this…
Isn’t this Livia’s intimate apparel!
Felica’s snow-white face instantly turned crimson.
Wait, when did she follow him here?
And what was she doing in here with Lynn!