Regis Academy’s Chairman’s Office.
Darkhan looked at the student in front of him with a stern gaze.
“Why did this happen?”
In response, the girl with ash-gray hair replied nonchalantly.
“I’m sorry. I accidentally touched it while trying to take a bath.”
“……”
Darkhan was left speechless by Lily’s shameless response.
‘…It’s not like it would explode just from a mistake…?’
How much did he care about the students’ safety?
To prevent any unexpected accidents, he had designed all dangerous magical tools to be completely safe.
There was no way they could just explode from being touched.
And the hero who directly blew up the magical tool would know this too.
“……”
“I’m sorry, Isajang-nim. I’ll accept any punishment.”
Punish the hero?
At her calm declaration of acceptance, Darkhan felt a headache coming on.
In the end, Darkhan let out a short sigh and spoke to Lily.
“Fine. There must’ve been a reason for what you did.”
Darkhan thought to himself.
‘Right. She was chosen by the Yeosin-nim, so I shouldn’t doubt her.’
At the very least, she must be a good person. He concluded that it would be more comforting to think she had no bad intentions.
Ultimately, Darkhan intended to let Lily go without any punishment, but she stood still, gazing at him.
“Huh? Do you have something to say?”
“Isajang-nim, you know a student named Sera, right?”
“Uh…um?”
“I heard you recommended her.”
At that, Lily’s eyes resembled those of a predator hunting its prey—silent and cold yet intensely burning with interest.
Darkhan swallowed hard, feeling pressured by her intimidating gaze.
But recalling Hera’s request to keep her identity a secret, he replied with the calmest voice he could muster.
“Well… yes, but I only brought her in because she seemed talented when I discovered her by chance.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But why do you ask about that child?”
Taking a big step closer, Lily spoke.
“I was wondering if you might know something. For example….”
Gazing directly into Darkhan’s eyes, she asked as if waiting for a reaction.
“Is she hiding her identity?”
With words sharper than a well-honed blade, Lily’s probe caused Darkhan’s heart to sink.
Darkhan thought silently.
‘…Could she know something?’
No, that can’t be right.
Hera clearly said only she knew.
If she had been sure, she wouldn’t be asking me right now.
This must be her way of testing me.
He wasn’t sure why the hero was curious about Hera, but he had no intention of breaking his promise to protect her identity.
“If you know something, please tell me right away.”
With burning eyes, Lily pressured Darkhan.
However, he maintained a placid expression and replied.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“…..”
Instantly, the fierce fire in Lily’s eyes cooled down.
After staring at Darkhan with a chilling gaze for a while, she seemed to decide further questioning would be pointless, and she relaxed her sharp aura, saying.
“…Thank you for letting me know.”
“Yes. Now please head back.”
With Darkhan’s permission, Lily walked out of the Chairman’s Office without saying another word.
Peace had returned to the Chairman’s Office.
“M…so scary…”
Only the trembling voice of the old man echoed in the room.
*
The day after the explosion incident in the bathhouse, when Ariel was crying and beating the ground in despair.
I sneaked out through the back door of the Academy, avoiding people’s gazes.
After walking for a while, the bustling city came into view.
Before I knew it, the weekend had swiftly arrived.
The reason I had sneaked out of the Academy was to keep my promise with Iris.
After entering a seemingly deserted alley and confirming that no one was around, I cautiously removed my disguise.
As I did, I felt a strange sensation sweep over my entire body, and dark black hair swirled around me like ebony.
“Whoo… it’s been a while since I’ve looked like this.”
Perhaps because I had returned to my true form, my body felt significantly lighter.
I wrapped my robe around myself even tighter to conceal my appearance.
‘We definitely agreed to meet in front of the clock tower, right?’
Looking up slightly, I could see the distinctly large tower.
I resumed my steps, walking toward it.
When I arrived in front of the clock tower, I found Iris surprisingly easily.
‘…Iris is beautiful.’
Unlike her usual school uniform, she wore a black skirt that reached her knees and a fluttering white blouse.
Combined with her pure white hair, she exuded a fresh and lovely vibe.
By the way, I also came out 20 minutes early, but it looked like Iris had arrived even earlier to wait for me.
I approached her from behind and gently tapped her shoulder.
Iris turned around, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Hera-nim..!! I missed you!!”
With a soft blush on her cheeks, she brightly smiled and jumped into my arms.
As I embraced her, Iris rubbed her face against my body while giggling.
“Did you have a good time, Iris?”
Honestly, I already knew how she had been doing from observing her, but it felt polite to ask.
“Yes!! I was looking forward to the weekend, so it was a bit tough… But seeing you, Hera-nim, all my worries disappeared!”
Seeing her cheerful smile made my heart skip a beat.
Since I had once been a man, it felt fluttery to have a beautiful girl like Iris like me this much.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Hehe… so… should we go have a meal? I found a great place! It’s a famous spot, and I’m sure Hera-nim will love it!”
I couldn’t help but instinctively pet her hair due to Iris’s enthusiastic demeanor.
“Ah…”
Iris looked at me with a dazed expression, making a deflated sound.
‘Oh no… I unconsciously did it like I did with Mari…’
That was rude.
I had heard somewhere that girls don’t like having their heads patted.
I had absentmindedly carried a habit I developed with Mari onto Iris.
Worried that she might dislike it, I stopped immediately, but Iris surprisingly held on tightly to my hand, as if urging me to continue.
“More… can you pet me a bit more…?”
Inside the bustling atmosphere of the lively dining room, Iris looked nervously at me.
“Is it to your taste, Hera-nim…?”
I smiled softly at her.
“Yes. This is really delicious.”
After showing signs of tension for a while, Iris finally relaxed and picked up her utensils after hearing my answer.
As we continued to talk and eat, I called out to her.
“Iris.”
Taking a breath, I called her name.
“Yes?”
She answered with a bright smile.
I felt a twinge of guilt but still thought I had to say something important.
“Like I said before, I can’t accept your feelings.”
“Ah…”
Iris’s eyes shook for a moment before they drooped sadly.
“It’s not that I dislike you, Iris. In fact, you’re far too precious for me.”
“Ah… no! I’m not that precious!!”
“…The problem is with me. I’m not in a position to accept someone right now.”
Atena had left havoc in my heart.
Although I had somewhat forgiven her now, the wounds from back then still lingered.
The pain from that time remained as aftereffects, always close by.
Whenever someone touches my body, I still tremble, and I can’t properly look someone in the eye when meeting new people.
Of course, I could force myself if I wanted to, but that would merely be suppressing the rejection that arises from my body. I was still afraid of people.
Naturally, I also had no capacity left to accept anyone’s heart.
The heart I had given entirely to Atena had burned away without leaving a single ember.
I felt very sorry for Iris, but I couldn’t accept the feelings she had for me.
“I know this sounds selfish… but I still want to help you, Iris.”
“…..”
I had realized this when Iris had self-harmed last time.
I understood how desperately she craved love.
Also, how much she had suppressed those feelings daily.
“I want to ease your worries until Iris finds her true match.”
Although in the novel, Iris never ended up with anyone, I believed she would surely find her match.
After all, she’s such a lovely girl. Someone would break down the walls of same-gender love and accept her heart.
Of course, I also planned to help her find her match.
Despite how it looks, I know quite a few girls around me… Surely, someone among them might match Iris’s feelings.
In any case, I have no intention of watching Iris live sadly and lonely.
“…So, you’re saying you’ll keep meeting with me on weekends, right?”
Although a sorrowful air still lingered on her face, her eyes remained beautiful and sparkling.
“Yes, as long as Iris wants it.”
“….I want to.”
With a bashful expression and a flushed face, Iris spoke.
I picked up a piece of meat off my plate and held it out toward her.
“Then I’ll be counting on you, Iris.”
Iris took the meat into her mouth and lit up with her bright smile once more.
“Yes..! I’ll also do my best, Hera-nim.”
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