Damn… No way, is this some kind of daily login bonus in a game?
The moment the clock strikes midnight, as soon as a new day begins, it just freaking refreshes?! Didn’t I just…?!
Feeling that irresistible urge, Ange’s violet eyes swept over to Ingrid, who was still sitting beside her.
She was completely done for—ever since Ingrid arrived today, nothing good had happened.
Just thinking about how she’d have to deal with this group of troublemakers in the same way from now on, even the Black Card in her hand had lost its appeal.
“Teacher?”
Ingrid blinked her innocent, clear eyes.
Those green pupils made Ange feel as if she were sitting on needles.
Ingrid was still here, but her Curse was truly urgent—if only she’d had a bit more time to react and prepare back then, she wouldn’t have retired so quickly.
She had to start the “massage” immediately.
“It’s late, Ingrid. Good students should be in bed by now.”
“Eh? This early?”
Ingrid tilted her head.
As far as she knew, Demon Hunters often took Missions at night, so they weren’t supposed to sleep this early.
Some Demon Hunters even lived with a reversed schedule compared to normal people, since demons preferred to be active at night.
She thought it over and decided it was probably because Teacher Ange hadn’t been on the front lines for a long time.
Since she no longer personally hunted demons, she didn’t have to adjust her schedule to their activity anymore, so sleeping early and rising early to stay healthy was normal.
Besides, it was already midnight, so it wasn’t really that early.
“It’s not early, Ingrid. You’re still young and growing, you should sleep early. Good night, good night, off you go!”
“Eh?”
Ange’s tone had completely changed to one of urging her to leave as soon as possible.
Ingrid started overthinking again.
Was Teacher in such a hurry to send her away because she hated her now?
Come to think of it, yesterday during their fight, Teacher had raised her Gunblade at Ingrid in a Cross stance the moment she arrived—was that a sign she now saw Ingrid as no different from a demon?
Thinking about it, Ingrid decided—no matter what, she couldn’t just let Teacher send her away like this.
If she left now, wouldn’t it be like she agreed with Teacher’s opinion?
No, she had to make Teacher understand—maybe she’d been a little rude before, but she was a professionally trained Demon Hunter candidate!
“Go on, get to sleep early, it’s good for your skin. You’re not even on Missions yet, so cherish the days when you can sleep like a normal person!”
Ange, unsteady on her feet, stood up and grabbed Ingrid’s shoulder, pushing her toward the door.
But just as Ingrid was about to reach the exit, she suddenly twisted her waist and shifted her foot, using her strong physique to completely block Ange’s push.
Even though Ange wasn’t using much force—honestly, with her Magic Mark acting up, she didn’t dare use much strength—she was still shocked by Ingrid’s raw power.
This girl was seriously strong.
She wielded a Rapier with the momentum of a greatsword, and when she said she wasn’t leaving, she meant it.
Ange couldn’t help feeling a little jealous.
If she’d had that kind of strength when she first became a Demon Hunter, she wouldn’t have suffered so many Curses from those demons—she’d have blown their heads off before they could even mutter a spell.
“Teacher, I know you might not have a good impression of me, but please give me a chance to make it up to you.”
“If you go to bed early, I’ll be happy.”
“No, if you’re trying this hard to send me away, you must really be dissatisfied with me.”
“I’m not dissatisfied with you, I—”
Ange dared not speak further.
She hurriedly shut her mouth, afraid that she’d blurt out something that would shatter her image in Ingrid’s eyes.
“I know, you don’t need material compensation.”
Wait! I really do need it! But hold on! Can’t you just go back to your own room and tell me there?! I really can’t take it anymore!
Ingrid was now completely lost in her own imagination.
She stood stubbornly at the door, refusing to leave.
All Ange could do was widen her eyes in helpless frustration.
“So please accept my apology. I, Ingrid Beltans, sincerely ask for your forgiveness for my reckless behavior earlier.”
Forget forgiveness! Get the hell out of here already!
There were countless things Ange wanted to say—she wanted to yell at her—but she knew that if she opened her mouth, what came out wouldn’t be words suitable for a child to hear.
“From now on, we’ll be student and teacher. Maybe even teammates and Team Leader, Warrior and Commander. I don’t want any barriers between us. I truly ask for your forgiveness.”
I’m begging you, Ingrid, go back to your room. Text me if you must! I’ll thank your whole family.
Ange pressed her right hand to her lips, her left hand clenched so tightly her knuckles were white.
She curled her toes, and sure enough, there was a slippery feeling—something was running down her thigh and soaking her slippers.
“If there’s ever anything I can help with, please tell me. I’ll do my best to help you. It’s not charity or payment, just mutual aid between companions.”
Ange’s pupils trembled.
Her left hand had gripped her palm so hard that her nails dug into the flesh.
Mutual aid, my ass! Ingrid! Ingrid! I’m giving you ten seconds—if you don’t disappear right now, if you don’t get out of my sight this instant—
Tonight, I swear, I’ll—
Ange’s furious roar hadn’t even ended when Ingrid finally left.
The golden-haired young lady walked gracefully down the hallway, her silhouette growing smaller with distance until she completely disappeared on the other side of the building.
“Gone? She finally left! Hahaha!”
“My white gun! Where’s my white gun?!”
“Out of battery?!”
Ange rummaged through drawers, and soon she found a mysterious little gadget that fit neatly in one hand.
She kicked the door shut, unable to endure any longer, and dove into her bed.
Glancing at the door that wouldn’t close all the way, she clicked her tongue and decided to just pull the blanket over herself.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the hallway, Ingrid was still anxious.
She kept glancing back, trying to observe Teacher Ange’s reaction.
She thought her apology should have worked, at least a little, but Teacher Ange remained almost completely expressionless—the only change was that her eyebrows had arched high, but who would raise their brows in happiness?
That probably meant her apology was useless.
Well, someone as amazing as Teacher Ange wouldn’t need her apology anyway.
She’d been overestimating herself.
She had to change—she was the student, Ange was the teacher.
“Speaking of which, should I consider getting another Rapier?”
Not for any other reason, just so she could strike a cool Cross pose like Teacher Ange.
Sadly, she wasn’t qualified to act as a divine agent yet, so she could only dream about it.