Chapter 20
“Room 603! If you lose your key, it’s your responsibility. You’ll have to pay a fee to get it reissued! Well then, have a comfortable rest!”
The staff member who had guided them all the way here spoke cheerfully and closed the door.
Selina looked around the room in a daze.
“Meow! It’s huge! It’s as big as our house!”
Luna, finally freed from her carrier, wandered around with light steps.
Just as Luna said, Room 603 was as spacious as their house on Therion Street. All this space was for a single student.
“Selina! Look at this! You can run around here and it’s still roomy!”
Luna hopped up onto the bed and started bouncing. The bed was big enough for more than four people to lie on comfortably.
“Ooh! Even the bathroom is huge! I’ve never seen a bathroom like this!”
The bathroom Luna ran into was even larger than Selina’s room back home. It even had a bathtub so big it felt wasteful to use alone.
“Let’s take a bath here later!”
Luna was absolutely delighted with the comfortable environment. Unlike her, who roamed around happily, Selina swept her pale face with a gloomy expression.
“Haa… I’m ruined.”
She could almost hear the sound of her peaceful, quiet school life shattering.
What could she do about a room assignment that was already decided? Selina gave up and began unpacking.
While Selina was busy, Luna continued her exploration without pause.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door. Who would come to see me? she wondered—until she remembered what the guide had said.
“There are always attendants stationed on the 6th floor. They handle general management and cleaning of the rooms, so ask them if you need anything.”
Maybe the attendants had come for the daily cleaning?
With that thought, she opened the door—
—and immediately stiffened at the sight before her.
“Selina. Why did you come without me?”
The one knocking was Sylvia. She stood there carrying Nox, looking hurt.
Selina didn’t know why Sylvia had come to her room, but that wasn’t the only reason she was startled.
Even more shocking was the towering figure standing behind Sylvia like a guardian statue—Sylvester.
When she’d seen the class list earlier, his expression had been the same: like a predator eyeing prey.
She had no idea what his relationship with Sylvia was, but it felt like one wrong word and he’d take her head off.
“Selina?”
Sylvia’s gentle voice snapped her back to reality. Selina tried to relax her frozen expression.
“O-oh. Why?”
“Well, I wanted to come with you earlier, but you left first… Did I make you uncomfortable? I really want us to be friends…”
Of course you make me uncomfortable! Who knows what trouble I’ll get into if I get involved with you!
The words rushed up her throat—but she couldn’t say them.
Sylvia fidgeted, lips pouting, unable to meet Selina’s eyes. But her shy, hopeful glances were nothing like the intimidating presence behind her.
“Um, and… who is that behind you…?”
Selina subtly shifted her gaze to Sylvester. His already furrowed brows furrowed even deeper.
“Huh? You mean my brother?”
Sylvia turned her head back, and the fierce expression melted instantly into a bright smile.
The change was so sudden Selina wondered if she had imagined the previous face.
“Oh! I haven’t introduced him yet, have I? This is my brother, Sylvester Hailerus! We’re the same age, but I just call him ‘older brother.’”
What? He’s family with the protagonist?
They didn’t look alike at all—she’d assumed he was just one of Sylvia’s admirers…
“…Sylvester Hailerus.”
“…Selina.”
A cold greeting without even a handshake. Heavy silence followed.
“Ah! Selina! If you have time, do you want to walk around with us? We can look around campus, eat together, and I’ll introduce you to my other brother too!”
“I, um—”
“Please? Let’s do it!”
Sylvia had suddenly stepped close and pleaded earnestly.
Being close to the protagonist—the protagonist—felt incredibly burdensome. Selina didn’t want to be involved.
But at the same time…
She’s the main character but… she seems like a good person… Maybe it won’t hurt to get along?
She was a bit talkative, but overall harmless. Maybe even pleasant.
…Should I check?
Selina secretly activated her Vision to look into Sylvia’s inner feelings.
Because no matter how someone appeared on the outside, their true intentions could differ. It wasn’t necessarily bad—but knowing them helped.
She activated her Vision—
—and her face immediately went pale.
“Selina, you look unwell. Are you okay?”
She sensed nothing from Sylvia.
Had the Vision not activated? She glanced beside her—
Hmm… So this is the “witch”? Doesn’t match the rumors…
Sylvester’s thoughts flowed into her as clear as day. He held a faint hostility toward her.
Since she could hear his inner voice, the Vision wasn’t malfunctioning.
Which meant—
“I think we should take her to a healer. She’s sweating…”
She couldn’t see Sylvia’s fate at all. Past, present, future—nothing.
Even the aura every living being had was missing.
Even a corpse had a faint lingering aura, but Sylvia felt like she didn’t exist in this world.
This had never happened before.
A creeping terror washed over Selina. Something unknown was right in front of her.
Just what was Sylvia…?
HISSSSS!
A vicious hiss snapped her out of her horror as Selina pushed Sylvia away on reflex.
She panicked afterward, but thankfully Sylvester caught Sylvia before she fell.
“You! What are you doing!”
Sylvester growled furiously. Understandable—Selina had shoved his sister.
But there was an even bigger problem.
“Luna!”
“Nox!”
HISSSSS!
HISS!
Luna, who had been peeking through the doorway, hissed at Nox. Nox hissed back from Sylvia’s arms.
Mrrrroww!!
[What are YOU doing here!?]
Luna showed a kind of rage Selina had never seen before.
Nox wasn’t backing down either—he wriggled out of Sylvia’s hold to challenge Luna.
Mrawwrr!
Mraaaa!
HISSS!
The two cats clashed in a battle of wills. They were familiars—this was far from a cute cat fight.
Their claws extended threateningly.
MRAAA!
“No!”
As emotions peaked, they lunged at each other.
Selina instinctively grabbed Luna.
“Ugh!”
Mrr?!
Both cats froze mid-fight.
Thick, dark red blood dripped on the floor.
“H-hey!”
“Selina!”
Deep claw marks tore through Selina’s hand and wrist. Blood streamed from her pale skin.
Luna and Nox stared, stunned.
“B-Blood…!”
“Wait! Stop the bleeding first!”
The wound was worse than expected, enough to scare both Sylvia and Sylvester. Selina bit her lip hard.
The pain throbbed beyond a sting.
“Kh…”
Mrrr!
[Are you okay!?]
Luna panicked in Selina’s arms, teary-eyed.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Did he scratch you?”
Selina forced out her words, stroking Luna with her uninjured hand. Luna shook, then burst into tears.
Mrrwww…
[Worry about yourself, idiot! It must hurt so much—there was divine power in that attack…!]
Selina sank to the floor, and Luna hurriedly licked her blood.
[I’m sorry…]
Seeing Luna desperately trying to comfort her was almost cute.
“It’s fine, stop—w-wait…?”
Selina froze.
Her hand was glowing white.
Sylvia and Sylvester, who had been preparing to bandage her, dropped their cloths.
“T-this is…”
The torn skin closed quickly, leaving no trace—bathed in a radiant light.
“Divine… power?”
Sylvester muttered, staring blankly at Luna.
Mrr!
[Now it won’t hurt! I’m sorry—it’s my fault… huh?]
Luna, who had been proudly apologizing, suddenly stiffened as she was lifted into the air.
Are you crazy?! Why are you using divine power in front of them!?
Selina screamed mentally. Luna finally understood and went slack.
[Ah.]
“Ah”?! If they learn you’re not a normal familiar—!!
“Wow…”
Selina flinched at the voice beside her.
Sylvia stared with sparkling, overwhelming admiration.
“Your familiar is amazing! Better than even a high-ranking priest!”
Sylvia continued marveling.
“Wow!”
“Amazing!”
“As expected of Selina!”
Sylvester finally came to his senses and tilted his head.
“He healed that level of injury… and he’s just a familiar…?”
Selina’s heart plummeted. If they grew suspicious, she had no excuse.
“All healed, so I’m fine! But Luna and Nox don’t seem to get along, so I’ll go rest now! Let’s hang out another time! Bye!”
She spat out excuses at lightning speed and slammed the door shut.
Leaning against it, out of breath, she listened—
“Ah… I’m sorry about Nox, Selina. Rest well today—we’ll see you tomorrow!”
Their footsteps faded.
Only then did Selina’s tension unwind, and she slid down the door.
“…You okay-meow?”
Luna peeked up at her nervously. Selina exhaled deeply.
“You. We need to talk.”
“…Meow…”
Luna drooped her tail and followed Selina toward the bed.
