Chapter 144
Academic Festival D–11
“So the astrology club is setting up a booth as well, right?”
“Yes, y-yes! That’s right! We were wondering where we’ve been assigned…”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll check and get back to you.”
As Devan disappeared after telling them to wait, Asta and Selina looked around the bustling Royal Family clubroom.
The last time they had passed by, it had felt calm and orderly—but now it looked as though a storm had swept through.
The clubroom was in complete chaos.
The members themselves looked just as bad, handling an endless flood of work like exhausted zombies.
I don’t see Sylvia or Sylvester.
Those two hadn’t been able to come to the astrology club lately, trapped here and being thoroughly exploited.
“They… they look really busy, don’t they?”
“Yeah. No wonder Sylvia and Sylvester have looked terrible lately.”
Selina agreed with Asta’s whisper.
“Oh? Well, look who it is. Selina.”
At the familiar yet oddly irritating voice, Selina shrank her shoulders. Turning around, she saw Ardan—looking refreshingly fine compared to everyone else, who looked on the verge of collapse.
“Your Highness…”
“What brings you here? Even the club president came along?”
“I-it’s been a while!”
“We’re the same age, so speak casually. This is the academy, after all.”
Despite Ardan’s easygoing tone, Asta’s eyes were already spinning in panic. Seeing this, Selina stepped in.
“We came because we had some questions regarding the academic festival. We were told everything related to it is handled here.”
“Ah, that’s why you came all this way. Honestly, isn’t the academy being a bit much? No matter how capable we are, dumping this much work on us is exhausting.”
“…You look pretty healthy for someone saying that.”
“That can’t be true. I’m so tired my skin’s gone rough. Can’t you see my dark circles?”
Ardan suddenly leaned in and pointed under his eyes.
Now that she looked closely, there were dark circles—very faint ones. Still, the reason he looked fine overall was probably that bright smile of his.
“So, have you decided what you’ll do for the festival this time? Are you doing the ‘Witch’s House’ again?”
“Yes. This time, Asta-senpai will also be doing fortune-telling.”
“Oh! You can tell fortunes too?”
At Ardan’s interest, Asta trembled and spoke.
“I-I’m n-not very g-good at it. J-just simple readings…”
“That sounds fun. I’ll be sure to stop by during the festival. By the way, when does it start—”
“Your Highness, what are you doing here?”
“Ghk—Devan.”
Devan appeared like a grim reaper, startling not only Ardan but also Asta and Selina.
He looked like he might collapse at any moment.
When Devan stared at him without a word, Ardan laughed awkwardly and returned to his place.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. The astrology club has been assigned to Zone E-5. Here’s the layout—please check your location.”
“Thank you.”
Asta and Selina examined the map Devan handed them.
It wasn’t far from the entrance and was close to a building—perfect for heavy foot traffic.
Just in case, Asta wrote down the rough location and assigned area in a notebook she’d prepared.
“Please try not to come back with the same issue again. As you can see, we’re very busy.”
“Yes, we’ll make sure of it. Since you seem busy, we’ll be going now.”
After leaving the Royal Family clubroom, the two walked briskly away.
“Our spot looks really good, right?”
“Y-yeah! I hope the things we ordered arrive soon.”
Asta began hopping excitedly. As Selina smiled at her small bouncing figure, a familiar face appeared in the distance.
“Hey, you guys—…huh?”
Just as Asta was about to call out, her voice trailed off and her raised hand slowly dropped.
“…Are they… fighting?”
What she’d thought was just a conversation between Chris and Mie now looked tense.
When Mie turned away, Chris ran a hand through his hair.
“What do we do? I-if they’re fighting…”
“Senpai, please follow Mie. I’ll go talk to Chris.”
“Okay! S-see you in a bit!”
At Selina’s words, Asta hurried toward Mie.
“Well then…”
What exactly happened here?
“Chris.”
Chris, who had been scowling, frowned even more when he saw Selina.
“What happened with Mie?”
“…You saw?”
“Yeah. She looked really upset.”
“…Sigh. So here’s what happened.”
Chris explained what had happened between him and Mie. Listening quietly, Selina crossed her arms.
“So, to sum it up—you were talking about the ball, Mie asked if you’d found a partner, and you said you’d just grab anyone. Then she got mad. That’s it?”
“Yeah.”
“You idiot.”
Chris looked confused as Selina stared at him with utter disbelief.
“You really don’t know why she said that?”
Nyaah~
[Honestly, that guy’s hopeless. How can he be so clueless about a girl’s feelings?]
Luna sighed beside them.
“Mie was indirectly asking you to be her partner.”
“…What?”
Chris went blank.
“At this rate, someone else is going to take Mie from you.”
“T-take her? What do you mean?”
“A few days ago, Senior Berche formally asked Mie to be his partner.”
Chris’s face stiffened instantly.
“Mie said she’d think about it. And from what I can tell, that senior really likes her.”
“Mie…”
“You should make your stance clear already. You’ve known for ages that Mie likes you.”
Chris bit his lip, saying nothing.
“I’ve given you all the hints I can. The choice is yours. Just so you know—Mie’s planning to give him an answer a week before the ball. You’d better hurry.”
Leaving Chris behind, Selina walked away.
[Is it really okay to leave him like that?] Luna asked.
“How much more do I have to spoon-feed him? If he can’t find the courage now, it’s better they don’t end up together.”
[That’s awfully decisive.]
“Hmph. There’s a limit to pointless digging.”
[Coming from you, that’s rich.]
“Shut up!”
As always, Selina and Luna bickered as they walked off.
* * *
“So Selina gave this to me…”
“Yes. She said she definitely wanted to invite her ‘father.’”
Baon deliberately emphasized the word father.
At that, Priman’s lips curved upward.
He examined the invitation Baon handed him. Inside the envelope was not only the invitation but also a handwritten letter from Selina.
“Oh? ‘The Witch’s House,’ huh. I heard about it briefly during the break—so they’re doing it at the festival too.”
“It’s quite famous within the academy. Professors occasionally seek Selina out.”
“Is that so? Haha, just like Stella’s daughter. She really takes after her—no matter where she goes, she’ll never starve.”
Baon smiled as Priman praised her resourcefulness.
And yet, you always worry about her, he thought—but didn’t say aloud.
Moving on, Baon got to the point.
“Have you heard? The closing ceremony will include a joint prayer with the Temple of the Sun.”
“Yes, I heard today. The dean wants to publicize this year’s collaboration between the Moon Temple and the academy. That was the condition for Selina’s admission, after all.”
“I spoke with Priest Felix. Apparently, His Holiness Dies will be attending the ceremony.”
“Dies himself? Is it because of his son?”
Priman raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not sure, but we should prepare on our end as well.”
“I was planning to attend anyway… I suppose I should inform His Holiness or Lord Modis.”
“It would be wise to hold a meeting first.”
Priman murmured that this might be the grandest closing ceremony yet.
Traditionally, the festival ended with a prayer to the Sun—but with figures as high-ranking as the Pope of the Sun Temple and cardinals of the Moon Temple present, the scale would be immense.
Meanwhile, at the same time, in the western Hailers estate—
Just as Priman had received an invitation from Selina, Arnold and Anais had also received invitations from their children.
“All the children are at the academy this year. You’re going too, right?”
“Of course. I’m not as busy as last year.”
“Isn’t this already the third time? Aren’t you tired of it?”
“Oh my, don’t say something so hurtful. Sylvester and Sylvia will be there too. The letter mentions the club they talked about during the break.”
“The astrology club, you mean? Sounds like a questionable religion…”
“Silvester already said it’s not a cult. Trust the children, dear.”
“If you say so.”
Arnold raised both hands in surrender.
“The festival’s next week. We should prepare quickly—no matter how fast we go, it’ll take four days to get there.”
Anais jumped up, saying she needed to start packing immediately.
Maids hurried after her. Watching them, Arnold lifted his teacup.
When the investigation Anais had requested—one that lasted over ten years—ended recently with no results, she had slowly lost her vitality.
But after receiving the children’s letters, she seemed to have regained some energy.
“If this cheers her up, it’s worth it.”
If Anais could smile again, Arnold would do anything.
There was one week left until the academic festival.
* * *
“Ugh… I’m exhausted.”
It was past 10 p.m. when Sylvia finally returned to the dormitory. With half-closed eyes, she collapsed onto her bed.
Nox strolled over beside her, white fur fluttering.
“What the hell are you doing? Change your clothes first.”
“Give me a break… I didn’t rest properly at all today except when I ate…”
Sylvia was already on the verge of sleep.
Nox sighed and looked at the shadow beneath her. The shadow rippled, then rose and began moving.
It changed Sylvia’s clothes and cleaned her thoroughly.
Finally, Nox laid a neat, tidy Sylvia back onto the bed.
With her eyes closed, Sylvia smiled.
“Hehe… thanks, Nox…”
“Don’t make me waste my power on pointless things.”
Nox clicked his tongue, but Sylvia skillfully ignored him and praised him instead.
“Waaah~ Nox is the best~”
Left with no choice, Nox moved to her bedside. Turning his head, he saw the moon outside the window slowly filling into a full moon.
That day was approaching.
“Sylvia. In just a few days, it’ll be the decisive day. Remember that.”
“Mmm… okay…”
Whether she truly heard him or not was unclear—Sylvia soon drifted into sleep.
For a moment, Nox wondered if he had made the wrong choice—but it was already too late to turn back.
Using his power, he extinguished the lights and lay beside her, gazing out the window.
Staring at the bright, cloudless moon, Nox recalled Luna smiling warmly beside Selina earlier that day and frowned.
“Lunios… it’s time to return to the past.”
