Notes

Transcendence



Chapter 4: "The Understanding and The Tour"

[Seventh Section]

After hearing Shiro’s explanation about how he learned archery from the High Elves, Ely’s Ranger students were left in a mix of awe and disbelief. Then, the murmurs began.

"Amazing! At the age of four..."

"He pulled it off at that age!"

"I was still playing hide and seek at that age!"

"But he said his body was fragile..."

"So he truly started off weak?"

"And got stronger in his own way?!"

"He worked hard! Even though he was fragile!"

"Shiro-kun! You are reckless!"

That last comment threw Shiro off. "Yeah... I was," he admitted, looking away.

But that didn’t stop the barrage.

"You made your mother worry so much!"

"It was a good thing you got grounded!"

"Why did you push yourself so hard?"

"Your recklessness is impressive, but you need to take care of yourself!"

Shiro sighed. "What are you, my mom?" He felt like he was being scolded all over again.

While he and the girls chatted...

‘It looks like he’s starting to get along with them,’ Ely noted with amusement, letting out a small giggle. ‘He’s the type with a natural charm, after all.’ She then twirled a strand of her hair as a thought crossed her mind. ‘His mother is a Healer. Caring, protective, strict… and strong.’ A knowing smirk formed on her lips as she pieced things together. ‘Strong—A Healer with inhuman strength... I see! I think I know who, hmm!’

Meanwhile, Shiro took something from his pocket and held it up. "This is the badge the High Elves gave me."

The moment they saw it, their eyes widened in astonishment. Their murmurs erupted again.

"That’s..."

"The Elven Badge from the High Elves!"

"Getting that badge is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"I don’t think I could ever get one!"

"If I do my best, maybe I’ll earn a badge like that!"

"Maybe Ely-sensei can give us an Elven Badge!"

"I think Aria-san will be the first to earn one!"

"You bet!"

Hearing that name caught Shiro’s attention. "Aria?"

They turned to him and eagerly explained.

"She’s an A-Rank Ranger."

"The ace of Ely-sensei’s class!"

"The strongest among us!"

"Right now, she’s not with us."

"She’s busy! As expected of Aria-san! She’s so diligent!"

"I bet she’ll like you, Shiro-kun!"

"Totally! But we’ll get ahead of her! Hehehe!"

"First come, first serve!"

Shiro blinked, slightly confused. "Well, I don’t mind meeting her, but... I don’t get what you mean by the last part."

One of the girls suddenly spoke up. "In other words, Shiro-kun… do you have a girlfriend?"

"Eh?!" Shiro exclaimed, caught off guard. "No, I don’t."

"How bold!" Ely chuckled, folding her arms in amusement. "Aren’t you lucky, Shiro?" she teased.

Shiro frowned slightly. "Uhh... I don’t get it."

"How innocent!" Ely’s voice softened playfully.

Another girl leaned in. "Shiro-kun! Do you have someone you like right now?"

Shiro hesitated but answered plainly. "No... I don’t."

His response caused the girls to exchange glances, their eyes practically sparkling. Their silent expressions screamed "He’s single!"

Shiro furrowed his brows as he sensed something strange. ‘What is this scent they’re giving off? Infatuation? And… it’s merging? All directed at me?!’ He suddenly felt uneasy.

"Shiro-chan~," Ely called out teasingly, giving him a knowing look and a wink. "This is what I meant."

Shiro processed the situation and sighed. "I see... but why do I feel like this is a bad thing?" His voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

Ely smirked. "You’re not used to this, are you?" She leaned in closer, her golden eyes locking onto his.

‘Close—! Too close!’ Shiro panicked internally, his face heating up as his heartbeat quickened.

Before the moment could escalate further…

"Ah! No fair, Ely-sensei!"

"Don’t hog him all to yourself!"

"I want to do that, too!"

Ely let out a playful laugh, covering her mouth. "Ara~! How selfish of me!" She turned back to Shiro, feigning innocence. "I took the spot first."

Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she asked, "By the way, did you ever have someone before, Shiro-chan?"

Her students immediately turned their attention back to him, eager for an answer.

Shiro lowered his gaze slightly before speaking. "To be honest, I’m not sure, but..." He paused for a moment. "Maybe I did see someone that way before. I just didn’t realize it until now."

Ely’s smirk grew. "In other words, you fell in love before, Shiro-chan?"

Shiro gave a small nod. "Well, you could say that." His voice softened. "But..." His tone shifted, his expression growing somber. "She died seven years ago."

The playful atmosphere instantly faded as the girls gasped, exchanging shocked glances.

Ely, who had been teasing moments ago, now observed him carefully. ‘There’s more to this,’ she noted, focusing on the subtle change in his heartbeat.

Sadness.

Tragedy.

And...

Anguish.

With a gentler voice, she asked, "Care to share, Shiro? It’s okay if you don’t want to."

Shiro hesitated for a moment, his mind recalling an old memory—her face, her voice.

He took a deep breath, then looked at them with serious eyes.

"That girl’s name was Diane. She was..." He paused before finishing his sentence.

"A demoness."

The moment those words left his lips, silence fell.

Ely and her students waited, anticipation hanging in the air.

[End of Seventh Section]





[Eighth Section]

The girls murmured among themselves…

“A demoness?”

“Shiro’s amazing! Even a demoness, he…”

“But she died, right?”

“That’s terrible…”

“He has no preferences about race.”

“Aren’t demons supposed to be really strong?”

“Yeah, demons are said to be dominant among the Dark Races.”

Ely gently clapped her hands, cutting through their murmurs. “Girls, I understand.”

Their voices quieted as Shiro prepared to speak. He began sharing his past—about Diane, the demoness he had once held dear.

As he spoke, his memories surfaced—an image of a hooded girl with red hair and piercing red eyes.

“I met Diane seven years ago. I was six at the time. She had wandered into my homeland, looking for a place to stay. At first, she appeared human, but her scent was different—that’s how I knew she wasn’t. She was afraid that if people discovered she was a demon, they would drive her out… or worse.”

The memory played in his mind—Diane using concealing magic to blend in, hiding her true form. But when he encouraged her to reveal herself, trusting that she meant no harm, she undid the spell. Her horns emerged, her red eyes filled with fear… fear of rejection.

“Diane was innocent and kind. Through her, I learned that not all demons are bad—just as not all members of the Dark Races are evil. There’s no such thing as an ‘evil race.’ My homeland welcomed all races, so she was safe. When she realized that, she was… happy. She smiled a lot and was so grateful. She was my first friend, someone my own age. We played together, spent time together… and before I knew it, I wanted to be with her. I didn’t understand it at the time, but looking back… that was love—not the love of family, but something different.”

He paused, glancing at the girls. A faint smile formed on his lips… only to fade a moment later.

“But happiness didn’t last forever.” His voice turned solemn.

“One night, Diane left the city. She wanted to find her missing friends and bring them back. I wasn’t allowed outside the gates at night, but I followed her anyway—tracking her by scent.

“That night… a group of bandits found her first. They tried to take her, but she fought back. They weren’t just ordinary bandits—they were kidnappers, part of a slave-trading ring.”

His voice dropped lower, heavier.

“When I found her… she was already…”

The memory surged forward—Diane, lying motionless on the ground. Her red hair covered part of her face, her mouth slightly open, stained with blood. A sword protruded from her chest. The bandits stood around her, their weapons still drawn, turning their attention toward him next.

The girls gasped, their murmurs filled with frustration.

“The bandits killed her?!”

“Why?! She didn’t deserve that!”

“Damn bandits! They’re everywhere!”

“I swear, if I see one, I’ll—”

“Shiro-kun! What happened to them?!”

Shiro exhaled, steadying himself. “They were taken care of after that. But… I lost Diane. I blamed myself for her death that night. We gave her a proper burial and prayed for her, hoping she would find peace.”

Silence settled over them. The Ranger girls fell quiet, unsure of what to say.

Ely, however, was watching him carefully.

‘Shiro-chan left something out,’ she noted. His expressions, his heartbeat… they revealed more than his words.

She understood.

He hadn’t just lost Diane.

He had avenged her.

His memory continued to resurface.

In that memory…

He heard Diane’s voice—pure, calling his name.

Then, his own—filled with anguish and rage, screaming into the night.

And then…

Cries.

Men begging for mercy.

“DON’T KILL ME! PLEASE—AAAH!”

“M-MONSTER!”

“I’M SORR—GAH!”

“WE PROMISE WE WON’T DO THIS AGAI—AAAH!”

Their screams were cut off one by one—drowned out by the sounds of flesh being sliced, bones shattering, blood splattering. Their wails merged with his uncontrollable fury.

No one was left.

Ely couldn’t hear the echoes of his past, but she felt it. His heartbeat raced, his fists clenched tightly on his knees. Though his aura was unnoticed by others, she could sense the lingering emotions stirring inside him.

Without hesitation, she leaned in, placing her hands gently against his face.

His light blue eyes, once calm, now burned with something more monstrous—his pupils constricted, glowing faintly.

But beyond those glowing irises, Ely saw it—his torment, his buried rage.

‘I knew it… He did what he never wanted to do. But after what they did to her, how could he not?’ she thought. ‘For him to go through that at such a young age… it’s terrifying.’

“Shiro-chan.” Her voice was soft, unwavering. “Diane would understand.”

She didn’t say anything else. She simply looked into his eyes, offering silent reassurance.

[End of Eighth Section]




[Ninth Section]

A brief silence settled over the area as Shiro spaced out, his mind lingering in distant thoughts. Ely kept her hands between his face, her golden eyes locked onto his. Gradually, the tension in his body faded—his eyes returned to normal, his aura settled, and his heartbeat and breathing steadied.

At that moment, the last thing Shiro recalled from his memory was Diane’s spirit visiting him. Even though seven years had passed since the tragedy, the guilt had never left him—until a few weeks ago, just before he set off for Central District. Diane had appeared to him, her presence gentle and warm. She had never wanted him to blame himself for her death. She forgave him, urging him to let go of his hatred. With a tender smile, she hugged him one last time and even confessed her feelings. She wished she could still be alive and by his side, but time would not turn back. Her final farewell, before she ascended to Elysium’s Realm, had given him solace.

Then, a bright light snapped Shiro back to reality. Though absentminded, his senses gradually stirred.

"Warm..." he mused, feeling something soft between his face. He instinctively held them in his hands. "This scent... so soothing." His nose subtly picked up the fragrance, calming yet familiar. "This presence... serene."

His hazy vision adjusted.

"Something yellow... golden... two of them. Suns? Amaterasu-sama? No, no. There's only one."

As his sight cleared, his absentminded gaze finally registered the face before him. Long pink hair. Warm hands. A gentle smile. Two radiant golden eyes staring back at him.

"Ely-sensei?"

Then, it hit him.

"E-Ely-sensei?!" he yelped, his entire face flushing deep red. "Si-Sin-Since wh-when wa-was I-I li-ike this?! W-Why am I hol-holding y-your hands?!" His words tripped over themselves in panic. "Too close! Your face—too close, sensei!" He stumbled back several times.

The Ranger girls blinked in shock, baffled by Shiro’s sudden outburst.

"What just happened?!"

"Shiro just snapped!"

"Was he spacing out this whole time?"

"I thought Ely-sensei did something."

"A while ago, he was all emotional about his past, and now..."

"I think he just went back to normal?"

"Then his reaction just now..."

"He didn't realize Ely-sensei was leaning in."

"Ahh! I wanna do that to him!"

"He's all flustered and red. Cute!"

"Ara~!" Ely mused inwardly, suppressing a smirk. 'Looks like he's back to normal. So he really was spacing out that whole time. I thought he was just letting me touch him.' Then, the opportunity struck, and her teasing began.

"Shiro-chan," she cooed, "you were quite the man just a moment ago!"

"Eh? What do you mean?!" he stammered.

"You kept looking at me the whole time and even complimented me. How sneaky~ wooing me like that!" she teased playfully, giggling.

"I-I-I didn't do anything! I wasn't making a move or anything!" Shiro protested, his voice hitting higher pitches.

"Ho? Really? I was so moved by everything you said a while ago. You're just adorable when you're like this." Ely smiled sweetly, tilting her head slightly as if savoring the moment.

"I didn't really say anything! Wait—What did I even say, anyway?!" Panic surged through him as his blush deepened.

His confused flailing only fueled Ely’s amusement. The Ranger girls, now thoroughly entertained, stayed silent, simply enjoying this new side of him. After a few minutes of relentless teasing, Shiro couldn’t take it anymore.

"GAH-HA!" Steam practically shot from his head as his eyes went blank for a brief moment before he hastily shook it off.

"Stop it, Ely-sensei! This is embarrassing!"

"Are you running away, Shiro-chan~? Don't! We're just getting started."

"Tha-thank you for today! I'm sorry!" Shiro declared as he shot up from the bench, reaching for a smoke bomb.

However, just as he was about to smash it—

"Oops! Don't do that, Shiro-chan~!" Ely swiftly grabbed his hand, locking his fingers around the smoke bomb before he could activate it. Her playful grin remained as she cooed, "That trick won't work a second time—"

"Really sorry! I can't do this, Ely-sensei!"

With those final words, Shiro revealed another hidden smoke bomb in his free hand and slammed it to the ground.

A thick cloud of smoke burst forth, engulfing the entire area. The unexpected move caught Ely and the Ranger girls off guard, making them cough as the smokescreen consumed their surroundings.

By the time the haze cleared—Shiro was already gone.

"Shiro is—AHEM—gone again!"

"Didn't Ely-sensei stop him?"

"What even happened this time?!"

"That smoke bomb was so uncalled for!"

"Ara~!" Ely chuckled between soft coughs. "He outwitted us. The first smoke bomb was a decoy to throw me off so he could use the real one in his other hand. I underestimated him~ Shiro-chan is clever!"

Then—

"Idiot."

TONK!

"Ow!" Ely yelped, holding her head. "That hurts... Siri-chan!" Even as she pouted, her playful tone remained.

A cold chill ran through the Ranger girls as they turned toward the source of the voice.

Siri-chan had appeared out of nowhere, standing behind Ely, gripping her magic staff.

"Siri-sensei! Since when did she—?!"

"Scary! She just popped out of nowhere!"

"I didn't notice her at all!"

"Wait! Didn’t she just whack Ely-sensei on the head with a magic staff?"

"As expected of the strongest Mage in the Academia!"

"Ely-sensei and Siri-sensei are on a whole different level."

"And they're equal in power, too!"

While the girls whispered among themselves—

"I expected you to reconcile with Shiro," Siri said neutrally, her gaze sharp. "But what exactly were you doing?"

"A-haha~. I did reconcile with him, but I may have gotten a little carried away," Ely admitted with a cheeky smile.

Siri, unimpressed, tapped the bottom of her staff against her palm—a silent warning.

"Calm down, Siri-chan~! I did make progress, you know! Just trying to lighten the mood after things got a little heavy," Ely reasoned.

Siri paused. "...I see."

"Speaking of which," Ely's voice shifted slightly, keeping its playful tone yet carrying a layer of seriousness, "there's something I want to discuss with you. About this."

She didn’t say it outright, but both of them understood what—or who—she was referring to.

Siri nodded. "Alright." She then glanced at the Ranger girls. "Tell your students to leave."

Ely turned to her students. "Girls, you can return to the dormitories. Get enough rest for today. Let’s give Shiro-chan a break and some space, okay?"

"Yes!" the students responded in unison.

As they dispersed, returning to their dorms, Ely and Siri remained seated on the bench. A private conversation was about to begin.

[End of the Ninth Section]




[Tenth Section]

[TENTH SECTION]
With the Ranger girls having already left the area, Siri and Ely remained seated on the bench, their conversation shifting to a more serious tone.

Ely was the first to speak, sharing what she had learned about Shiro's past—his time training under the High Elves and the tragedy of Diane.

"I see," Siri responded neutrally. "So he endured hardship even before his training with his master... and then survived the 'depths of hell' after that."

"It's cruel, Siri-chan. Shiro went through all of that..." Ely's voice, though calm, carried a deep concern. She slowly folded her hands together, fingers moving absently. "...Tragedy, struggle, anguish, madness, and insanity. I can't imagine someone so young surviving all of it."

"And yet, he did," Siri acknowledged. Then, her gaze sharpened as she asked directly, "Ely, do you think Shiro is still human... or is he a monster?"

Ely closed her eyes briefly, considering the question before answering in a steady but thoughtful voice, "Hmm... I don't know." There was no hesitation in her tone, only a quiet seriousness. "If the 'depths of hell' is a place that breaks the mind and devours the soul, then anyone who survives it would still be human... on the outside. But inside? They would be like an empty shell, housing something... inhuman."

She glanced at Siri before continuing, "And yet, Shiro is different. He's retained his humanity and sanity. Earlier, he showed genuine emotions—happiness, sadness, anger, fear, embarrassment... None of it was fake, especially that buried rage he’s been suppressing. The fact that he still feels, despite everything he's endured, proves his willpower is beyond reason. His strength didn’t just come from training—it came from survival. His level of endurance is... unique, but impossible."

Siri nodded slightly. "Ely, you know there are eleven Arts, don't you? Can you guess which disciplines he can use beyond Blade Arts and Point Arts?"

Ely tilted her head in thought but gave no answer. Instead, she countered with a question of her own. "You think he can use other Arts?"

"His master was that man," Siri stated. "The one with the Devil Mask. Have you forgotten?"

"The same 'man' who could wield all disciplines," Ely replied, her usually bright voice tinged with unease. Then, she let out a small, knowing smile. "Of course, I haven't forgotten."

"That 'man'... he’s changed," Siri muttered. "A different person now—one who isolated himself from the world after his last battle with 'her' a long time ago. What I'm more curious about... is his connection to Shiro."

Ely's eyes narrowed. "That 'man's' power was unparalleled—except for her. He was old. She was young. And yet, both of them possessed strength beyond imagination."

"But in the end... she defeated him," Siri added.

Both women fell into silence, their minds painting a shared memory—two figures standing opposite each other in a storm of clashing energy.

A man in a devilish mask, terrifying eyes glowing beneath it, his amulet pulsing with reddish-black energy.
A woman with flowing silver hair, strands floating as though weightless, gripping both a sword and a magic staff, her piercing red eyes burning with an eerie brilliance.

A battle that shook history.

And yet, as quickly as it surfaced, the image faded, and their conversation returned to Shiro.

Siri exhaled softly before shifting the topic. "Ely. I’ve been investigating Shiro’s status. He has 'Fragility'—an Abnormal Status, not a Cursed Status. It indefinitely weakens him, making him extremely fragile and vulnerable. It also inhibits his ability to use direct magic."

Ely listened attentively as Siri continued.

"That doesn’t mean he can’t use magic," Siri clarified. "He can, but only through indirect means—channeling, augmentation, and enchantment. It’s the same logic he applied to master 'Point Art: Critical Point.' Normally, anyone can use magic without weapons, though magic-oriented Classes, like Mages, have an advantage. But for Shiro, he needs a weapon or tool to do so."

Ely tapped her chin. "So Fragility is a permanent status, then? One that severely limits him?"

Siri nodded but smirked slightly. "Yes. But here’s the thing—so is Adaptability."

Ely’s eyes widened slightly, pieces beginning to fall into place. "Adaptability... Shiro mentioned that he was born with a fragile body—far more vulnerable than a normal child's. He would get sick just from exhaustion or exposure to ailments. But he said that every time he recovered, his body adapted."

Siri confirmed with a glance before explaining further, "Exactly. His Fragility makes him weak... but Adaptability counteracts it. Every time he suffers, his body memorizes the weakness, counterbalances it, and then strengthens his limits."

She paused before delivering the final realization.

"Shiro doesn’t just survive... He evolves."

A moment of silence.

Then, Ely let out a slow smile. "I get it now. No wonder you’ve been so invested in learning more about him… as much as I am."

Siri chuckled lightly. "Perhaps the Headmaster already knows about him. In fact…"

She recalled her conversation with the Headmaster earlier that morning—just before the newly awakened children arrived at the Academia.

Inside the Headmaster's Office—before the new students' arrival.

Siri stood before the towering desk, facing the Headmaster—a man with a strong yet serene presence. He sat with his fingers interlaced before him, the sunlight from the tall windows casting a faint shadow over his face.

"G-Rank Survivalist?" Siri repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," the Headmaster confirmed. "One of the newly awakened. It’s unheard of for someone to start with that Rank and Class."

He stood from his chair, adjusting his glasses as he turned toward the window. "They'll be here soon. But one among them... is different. I sense something familiar in that child. Something dormant. Feral. Primal."

His voice grew heavier.

"I won’t make assumptions yet, but my instincts tell me I should keep an eye on him. To be safe, I’ll have that child assigned to you."

Siri remained silent for a moment. Then, neutrally, she asked, "Why me?"

The Headmaster turned slightly, his gaze unreadable behind the light reflecting off his lenses. "Because you’re the strongest now. After the Ashen Swordmaster and her—the Ashen Heroine—you and Ely remain as the last of the Ashen Party. With those two gone, you are the only one I can trust."

His tone softened slightly.

"Besides, discrimination based on Ranks and Classes is inevitable. And that child... will likely be targeted. I won’t tolerate such behavior—not in my Academia." He sighed. "But I’m a busy man. That’s another reason I’m relying on you."

Siri simply nodded. "I see."

The Headmaster let out a breath before turning his gaze back to the window. Below, the escorted children were beginning to arrive at the main entrance.

"Oh. They’re here," he murmured. "More than I expected. That child is among them. Siri, can you tell which one it is?"

Siri closed her eyes briefly before opening them again—her irises glowing faintly yellow. Her vision shifted, taking in the energy radiating from each individual. Auras flared across her sight, measuring their power and potential.

Among them, one caught her eye.

Most of the children possessed slightly strong auras. But one... emitted nothing.

Just a normal presence.

"This one," Siri said, pinpointing a child wearing a brown cloak. "His aura... is neutral."

The Headmaster remained quiet before giving a simple command.

"Look deeper, Siri."


[End of the Tenth Section]




[Eleventh/Final Section]

Siri enhanced her ability, delving deeper into the child's neutral aura.

"Nothing unusual about—"

Before she could finish—

Something beneath that neutral exterior stirred. Something formidable. Something monstrous.

Her breath hitched. Sweat formed on her brow. Her hands trembled.

"What... is this?!"

She barely found the words.

The overwhelming presence lurking beneath the surface—it wasn’t just powerful. It was unreal.

The Headmaster’s voice was steady, almost knowing. "What you just saw and felt... that was merely a fraction of its source."

Siri turned to him, unease creeping into her voice. "What do you mean by that, Headmaster?"

"This is why I need you, Siri. To find out more about that child."

Siri’s gaze returned to the boy below. Beneath his hood, his face was partly visible—only for a moment. But then, to her shock, she realized—

He was looking right at her.

Directly. Unwavering.

His eyes glowed a soft, light blue, his expression unreadable.

Even though she was far above, observing from the towering heights of the Transcendence Academia, her instincts screamed—

That was no coincidence.

"Wha—?!" Siri immediately disengaged her ability.

Her heart pounded. That wasn’t normal. That shouldn’t have been possible.

The Headmaster remained composed, watching her reaction closely. "Do you understand now, Siri? That is no ordinary child."

Siri exhaled slowly, forcing herself to regain her composure. "I see."

"Don’t worry," the Headmaster assured her. "That child won’t be difficult to look after. Despite what you sensed, he doesn’t seem unruly like the noble children. Quite the opposite—he’s composed, mature beyond his years."

He adjusted his glasses, the light reflecting off them for a brief moment. "I was told how he spoke to the Emperor without hesitation—earning His Majesty’s respect and trust. That alone speaks volumes. There's more to him than meets the eye."

The Headmaster leaned forward slightly. "So, Siri, will you take on this task as the child’s leading advisor?"

She met his gaze, now fully composed. "That’s fine, Headmaster. If no one else will do it, I will."

A rare, grateful smile crossed his lips. "Thank you, Siri. I owe you for this."

Beneath his glasses, the jagged scar over one of his eyes was faintly visible.

Siri’s voice lowered slightly. "Do you fear that child, Headmaster?"

The air grew still for a moment.

The Headmaster clasped his hands together, his calloused fingers resting on his desk. "No," he said simply. Then, after a pause, he added, "But I do fear the worst that could happen—what that child could become."

Siri remained silent, letting his words settle.

"As Headmaster of Transcendence Academia, it is my duty to oversee everything within these walls," he continued. "You understand that well, don’t you, Siri?"

"Yes," she replied, her voice as neutral as ever.

Siri’s mind returned to the present as she finished recounting the memory to Ely.

"So he arranged Shiro’s enrollment ahead of time," Ely mused, slightly surprised. Then, after a pause, her lips curled into a teasing smirk. "I envy you, Siri-chan! You have Shiro all to yourself!"

Siri let out a quiet sigh. "The Headmaster respected your preferences. That’s why he assigned the task to me."

Ely pouted. "If only I had been there at the time! I could’ve taken the task instead."

"Too late," Siri said flatly. "I’ve already taken it. Give it up, Ely."

Ely wasn’t one to quit so easily. "But I can still hang out with him. Maybe even ask him out?" Her tone was playful.

Siri didn’t even glance at her. "Do your work and act your age."

"That’s so rude, Siri-chan!" Ely feigned offense before dramatically flipping her hair. "I’m the purest and most beautiful after all!" A pink light practically radiated behind her as she posed confidently.

Siri shot her a dry look. "You’re a pain in the neck."

Ely grinned. "You’re just hard to get, Siri-chan!" She practically skipped beside her, giggling. Then, in a teasing whisper, she added, "But you’re beautiful too, you know~?"

Siri sighed again, walking ahead. "You’re annoying. Shut it."

Their voices—one playful, the other coldly exasperated—echoed down the hall as they made their way to the faculty office, calling it a day.

[END OF CHAPTER 4: "The Understanding and The Considerate"]