"l?"
"Yes?"
"It’s fine if you increase the counter. Just..."
Lila reached out, her erald eyes shimring. "Please..."
l blinked, then chuckled softly. "Don’t take the punishnt ga so seriously, Lila."
She took Lila’s hand with a tender grasp, their fingers interlacing. "Let’s go."
"...Mm."
With a reluctant nod, the couple headed to the Southern Sportsfield in silence.
The above drifted along with their steps, gentle howls echoing as they walked hand-in-hand on the stone pavent.
Silence lingered as they reached a shaded, tunnel-like entrance and stepped into the Sportsfield.
A vast green field stretched out before them, where the Class 1-A students stood in neat rows alongside Samantha, other classes, and an unexpected guest.
"Hehe." l’s thumb idly brushed the back of Lila’s hand. "Now that’s a rarer sight than flying whales."
The Student Council President, Liora, stood atop a wooden podium, flanked by two narrow steps.
Her voice, firm yet tinged with exhaustion, bood across the field. "And with their arrival, all of Class 1-A has gathered."
She glanced at l and Lila from afar, then back to the crowd with a slumped gaze.
"Once again, this trip will be a testant to your conduct outside the academy as students, so try not to stumble over a simple rock while you’re at it."
With a wave of her hand, the Witch of Sloth invited Samantha up to the podium before stepping down with a yawn.
"Well, I’ll be off."
Samantha mounted the podium, scanning the crowd with a stern gaze.
"As ntioned, this trip will last no more than three days. The academy has prepared all necessities, and we’ve ensured appropriate-"
As the teacher carried on, steadying the students’ nerves, a flat yet judging voice echoed in l’s mind.
’Try to be more punctual next ti, would you?’
l stifled a chuckle as Liora’s ca through, as her golden eyes locked with a lazy gaze from the elf, now sitting at the podium with her eyes closed.
’How long have you been waiting for ?’
’Fifteen minutes. I stood fifteen minutes longer than necessary - for you, Lila Vexara, and the Heiress.’
A quiet sigh echoed through l’s mind.
[ Sloth blad you for the unnecessary morning exercise! ]
[ Sloth Favourability: 4 → 1 ]
’Hehe. I must apologise.’
As l conversed with the elf, her hand let go of Lila’s before snaking around her waist, her finger pressing against the soft skin.
eting Lila’s confused gaze, a foxy smile curled up on her lips as she nudged her softly, their waists brushing gently against each other.
The Witch of Envy hung her head, her face flushing a faint red with an embarrassed expression.
l’s eyes sparkled with delight at Lila’s cuteness, before another buzzed from the Elf.
’No need for your apology. You’re not the last one who’ll do whatever feels right in the mont.’
l raised an eyebrow in interest. ’eting more troubles?’
’Much more than you think.’
A sigh echoed again—this ti heavier, laced with annoyance.
’Why do you think a sudden trip, announced only by letters, was so well-received by your class?’
’Letters?’
l glanced at the System Panel, which cheekily displayed a ’teehee’ emoji.
Soone was keeping their surprises a little too close to the chest.
l pouted against her partner before finally looking around.
Classmates’ faces bead with excitent, their dreamy eyes fixed on the whales in the sky, as if the creatures were the main characters rather than themselves.
All except two—Rosana, arms crossed as she read a book with a bored gaze, and Calina the Witchhunter, who, strangely, was dozing off.
’Those whales you see...’
The Elf opened her eyes, glancing skyward as they narrowed into a squint.
’Were directly summoned by the Saintess herself.’
l’s mind raced, imdiately comprehending the implications.
Usually, a trip hastily prepared would anger nobles and commoners without allowing them sufficient preparations.
That is, however, if the trip was not arranged by an individual so admired that they were more than willing to let the inconvenience slip aside.
Like the Famous Hero who defeated the Witch of Pride in the decade-long war, for example.
The Witch of Lust humd lightly in a ’small shock’. ’Really?’
’Really. So was the destination they were arranged to bring you.’
A slight pause of hesitation. l mused at the sudden silence, before the Elf’s voice in her head grew steady, too steady for soone lacking sleep.
’It’s a surprise for , since it’s the first ti since 5 years of her self-imposed ditation that she has made a move as significant as this, not accounting for her Noble Cleansing Purges or Sa-sex Marriage Policies.’
’...that’s a mouthful.’
’From soone supposedly as lazy as I am, indeed. It was suspiciously a tall order.’
’Oh ho. You seem to know her pretty well.’
A sharp glint crossed l’s eyes as the Elf’s tired, grey eyes finally landed upon hers.
The Elf sent her last , mouthing the words as a silent warning.
’Perhaps so.’
Her observant gaze skimd across l, cautious with a sense of distance.
Unbothered, however, the Witch of Lust glanced back at the fidgety Lila before leaning in and squishing her cheek against her hair.
As she idly rubbed her cheek, listening to Lila’s low grumbles, l’s voice was light as she responded.
’Then, if you know how much trouble you will have being involved with her, why did you co to give the speech yourself?’
l could discern that, at this point, the Witch of Sloth knew sothing about the Saintess.
Maybe even suspected, or was already aware of, her connection to the Saintess.
Then what was she here for when she could order her other council mbers to give the speech?
A curiosity sparked in l’s eyes, in how Liora deviated from the behaviours she had known her for from the ga’s canon tiline.
Yet Liora simply lifted her shoulders in a subtle shrug before standing with a retort.
’I wouldn’t be in the position I am if not for her. And I never hand the troubleso work to those I care for if possible.’
She eyed l and Lila, still clinging tightly to each other, as if unaware of the challenges ahead.
Not just in these three days, but in what would co if they were to dismiss the Saintess carelessly.
The student council president descended the steps, yawning. ’Well, in any case, do take care. I’m not afraid of your safety if our deal still stands.’
’Deal?’
The link cut off, as l watched as the President shuffled toward the side entrance, her steps uneven but strangely graceful.
The Witch of Lust mused over the ’deal,’ suspecting from the conversation that it involved both the Saintess and Sloth.
Well, as expected, she could really rely on her partner!
Chuckling to herself, she drew her breath for a small peck at Lila’s hair, before a trembling voice called out to them.
"Hm... excuse ..."
Confusion flickered across her face as l leaned back against Lila’s hair and looked up at the approaching elf.
She wore a brown braid settling on her shoulders and a pair of round glasses on her nose.
l’s brows knitted together in contemplation, a familiarity surging inside her despite the distinct voice she had never heard before.
Then, a sly smirk played on her lips as she exclaid. "Hello!"
She watched as the brown-haired elf twitched, yet an unmistakable mischievousness flashed in her expression.
Their golden eyes locked with each other in a knowing stare, as if the World was their stage and they were the directors of their fate.
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