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Chapter 124

A day when everyone couldn’t help but feel down.

Monday.

But maybe because everyone was young, unexpectedly, everyone was bustling with laughter and chatter.

In the vibrant academy classroom.

“Hello, Sera!”

A girl with tulip-colored hair greeted me with a bright smile.
Ariel waved at me.

“Hey, Ariel. And… hello, Lily.”

Lily was quietly looking at me from beside my seat, as if she came to visit our class.

“Hi, Sera. What did you do over the weekend?”

“Uh… I met a friend…”

For some reason, I felt a bit intimidated by her chilly voice.

“A friend? Who?”

“Um…? You wouldn’t know if I told you?”

“Is it a boy?”

“No…? She’s a girl…”

“…..”

After that, I gulped at Lily, who continued to stare at me silently.

But I tried to act as if nothing was wrong and smiled at her.

“W-What did you do over the weekend, Lily?”

“I went home.”

“Oh, I see.”

If she went home… she must have seen Dania-unni.

The trace of my longing sister made my heart ache slightly.

‘…I wonder how she’s doing.’

Whenever I was beside her, my heart felt at ease.
I missed her cooking and her gentle smile so much.

Surely, she was doing well, just like Lily.

I shook my head a couple of times to shake off the sad feelings.

“Good morning, everyone!”

Iris appeared next to me and greeted us.

In fact, I had seen her just yesterday, but I decided to pretend I didn’t and returned her greeting.

“Hi, Iris. Did you have a good weekend?”

At my words, Iris beamed with a smile.

“Yes, I had a great time.”

“What’s up, Iris? You look so happy! Did you get a boyfriend or something?”

Ariel chuckled and joked while looking at Iris’s face.

Little did anyone know that a bomb would explode from her joke.

“Hehe… It’s just a one-sided crush, though.”

As she said that, she smiled happily, her cheeks slightly flushed like a girl in love.

Whew-

In an instant, the lively classroom atmosphere turned icy cold.
It was as if everyone had agreed beforehand to stare only at Iris.

“…What?”

The first to break the silence was Lily.
She stared at Iris with a face full of disbelief.

And the next voice to emerge was.
“W-W-W-Wha… What did you say?!!!?!?!”
Ariel screamed at the top of her lungs.

*

After Iris dropped her bombshell, chaos erupted throughout the academy.
Iris was one of the top beauties in the academy.

With such a stunning face, an angelic personality, and the nobility of a saintess,
it would be odd if she didn’t have fans.

For her to say she had a crush on someone was like a bomb going off in the middle of the city.

Before I knew it, lunchtime had rolled around.

“……”

“Umm… Was the shock too much?”
Ariel glared at Iris in silence.
Iris awkwardly smiled while picking at her food.

Lily also seemed quite shocked, as she quietly chewed her food without saying a word.
As for me, I gazed at Iris with a confused expression.

‘What on earth were you thinking, Iris…’

She must know how famous she is…
She surely must have known it would get this loud.

When I looked at her with a puzzled expression, Iris took a short breath and, with focused eyes, opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry for not telling you earlier. It’s just that we haven’t known each other for long…”

“…..”

“But I don’t want to hide my feelings for him.”
The look in Iris’s eyes was sincere and intense.

“……”

Ariel stared at Iris for a long while before letting out a short sigh and starting to eat again.

“Who is the guy?”
At Lily’s question, Iris looked apologetic and replied,
“I’m sorry… but he doesn’t want me to say.”

“I’m feeling totally betrayed here, Iris.”
Ariel pouted and grumbled. Iris awkwardly smiled and changed the subject.

“Don’t you guys have anyone you like?!”
“Eh?”
Lily and Ariel said in unison.
As they looked at Iris, she laughed and continued.

“I thought you all were so pretty and had such nice personalities, you’d have lots of admirers.”
“….”

There was a moment of silence among us.
The one to break the silence first was Ariel.
She pondered over Iris’s words for a moment before cautiously speaking, as if checking my reaction.

“…Actually, there is someone I’ve been thinking about lately.”
She said shyly, her cheeks red.

“Eh?”
I was thrown into confusion by a story I had no idea about.
‘…..What?’
Ariel…?

Who could it be…?

“Ah…”

Could it be…?
A name immediately popped into my head.

Could it be Robin…?
The hero of the original novel and the protagonist of the harem party, Robin.
He was the only one Ariel could be concerned about.

But since he never became a hero, the events leading her to meet him should have vanished.
So how and when did he get close to her?

‘….Isn’t being the protagonist just for show?’
Is it that events aren’t necessary after all?
I felt a bit upset.

While someone was struggling to find peace,
someone else was happily flirting with girls…
Even if it was my friend, Ariel…

I promised myself that the next time we spar, I would definitely humiliate him.
But…

“….I have someone too.”

Cough! Cough!
I immediately spat out the food I had just swallowed.

I felt like I had just heard something I shouldn’t have.
As I looked toward the source of the trembling voice,
I found Lily picking at her food with an expression I couldn’t read.

“U-Um? L-Lily, what did you just say?”
My voice stuttered like a broken machine.
L-Lily…

No way..?
It couldn’t be…
I refused to believe it.
Surely, my little sister wouldn’t…

But the heavens seemed indifferent.
I had no choice but to despair.

“I… have someone I love.”
Her words struck me like a thunderbolt.

Iris and Ariel looked at Lily with wide eyes.
“W-What? You too??”
“Oh my! Congratulations, Lily!”

While they were excited, I couldn’t say a word.
Like a thunderstruck bird, I just stared blankly at her.

“That’s… that’s great…”
I tried to speak, but my trembling made it hard to convey my feelings.
It was definitely something to celebrate.
Loving someone is a great blessing.

As long as Lily was happy, that was all that mattered.
Lily… as long as she’s happy, that’s what counts…

*

– I will live with my sister forever!
– Unnie~ Please give me a kiss!!
– Hehe… Unnie…
– Unni…-

The memories with her replayed rapidly, and tears welled up in my eyes.
Even though we weren’t on close terms now, I still felt a lonely emptiness as if she were leaving me.
I wanted to believe I had misheard, but Lily’s expression was endlessly serious.

‘…..Robin…’
That bastard…
That scoundrel…
He didn’t just leave hero duties behind but dare to flirt with my little sister?!

I have decided.
I will never forgive Robin.
He will pay for this in one way or another.

As I made that resolution, my heart started to burn with a fiery passion.

During this time, Ariel continued the conversation.
“At least it’s a relief that our crushes don’t overlap. Honestly, I wouldn’t be confident against you two.”
“Hehe, I feel the same way.”
“…….”

Excluding me, who was suppressing tears, the three lovely girls chattered cheerfully as they finished their meal.

*

[You seem to have a lot on your mind, my disciple.]
‘You’re here…’
Hearing my teacher’s voice in my head, I mustered the strength to respond.
[Hmm… Why do you look so down?]
‘…I’m fine now. It’s okay…’

Until then I hadn’t been okay.

The shock from discovering Lily loved Robin had left me in a state of daze.
However, was time the answer after all?
As time passed, the fiery emotions began to cool, and I could look at the situation rationally.

‘…..Okay. Let’s accept this.’
As long as Lily is happy, that’s enough.
If Lily really loves Robin…
I should support her, right?

After all, I long for Lily’s happiness more than anything.
I had cursed Robin out of excitement earlier, but in reality, I didn’t hate him that much.

Although he was leading a harem, he was a good man at heart.
With a handsome face, a straight character, and clear talents.
He could easily be considered a prime husband material in the academy.

Given his character, he would never betray Lily or make her sad.
I’m not her mom, and I don’t have the right to meddle in her love.
…..In the end, if that’s what Lily wants, she will go to Robin.

But.
But a harem isn’t allowed.
Dare to flirt with other girls while leaving Lily?
That’s something I could never accept, even if it means my life.

If Lily ends up dating Robin,
then Robin should only love Lily and no one else.
I doubt he would glance at another girl knowing how lovely Lily is.

But the Robin in the novel was the protagonist of a harem party.
There’s a chance he might toy with Lily’s heart.
If that happens…
Then Robin will pay dearly.
A hundredfold. No, a thousandfold. No, ten thousandfold. He will suffer the same pain he inflicted on her.

“…Alright.”
[Huh? What do you mean?]

I’m sorry, Ariel, for having a crush on Robin…
But I will side with Lily.
Ariel is a great friend, but…
Lily is my beloved family and sister.

I made that firm vow as I fixed my gaze ahead.

‘…..Lily, just trust me.
For your happiness, I will make an effort.
Thus began my grand operation to help Lily achieve her love.


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