'So, this was what it was about.'
I thought as I listened to what Maya was saying. If a trip was about to happen, then it made sense that she wanted to inform us face-to-face to see our reaction as well.
If she had sent a ssage only, most students would probably not accept her opinion in any case.
'Well, I don't think it is bad personally.'
This was an event that wouldn't happen in the ga since traveling was sothing that wasn't much related to this club. Even if the player joined it, most of the events were all in the academy.
But I was already expecting changes to happen, and this one didn't seem that bad either. If we could get a change of environnt while observing a historical site, it would be fine by . Especially since I could see what this world was about in more detail.
I knew this world was the sa world as it was in the ga, but even then, it didn't an I knew everything. Thus, learning and observing more would be optimal.
That was why I thought, but hearing the next words of this guy made my decision firr.
"I think it is good. I always wondered how it would feel to see a real historical site."
Since Mason was a demon contractor, I knew from the mont he approved this that he was already seeing the trip as an opportunity.
'That makes sense.'
Being outside of the academy while also being in the sa space as Sylvie….There was no better option than this for him to act. Now that the academy and the governnt were also alert thanks to recent incidents, he probably saw this in a new light.
"Then, it is settled. See you Saturday." After Senior Maya finished the discussion, the students also turned their attention to their friends.
And, just like before, Mason approached Sylvie with a friendly smile, his eyes gleaming.
"Sylvie, are you free? How about we grab a drink? Others are coming as well."
FLINCH!
From my senses warning , I was already aware that he was using his demonic skill. This was the way demonic humans worked, as they had countless different spells that affected the minds of their targets.
However, Sylvie's response was different this ti. She looked at him, her expression neutral, and replied curtly, "Not interested."
'Hmm?'
Her expression and everything were a lot different than in previous ones. Previously, she would always join other students with a smile, but now she was looking at Mason with an uncomfortable gaze.
Mason's smile faltered for a mont, caught off guard by the unexpected response. He tried to recover, "Co on, it'll be fun. We can all relax and enjoy ourselves."
THUMP!
He was also using more demonic energy this ti, possibly trying to shake off Sylvie's defenses.
However, Sylvie stood her ground, her neutral expression turning into a fierce and angry one. "I said I'm not interested. Leave alone," Sylvie retorted, her voice carrying an edge of frustration. The intensity of her gaze bore into Mason, making it clear that she wasn't going to be swayed by any persuasive tactics.
'She really is different.'
I don't know what caused a change in her heart clearly, but it wasn't that hard to guess.
'She must be able to see that Mason has a demonic energy in his body.'
With her recent awakening, it seems Mason was no longer able to deceive her powers. Only this could explain why she was behaving like this.
"Co on, if she doesn't want to co, let her be." At that mont, the girl who was always with Mason pulled his shirt, glaring at Sylvie.
'She likes him, huh?'
That was plainly evident. After all, humans tend to get more aggressive with their deanor when the person they are interested in shows an interest in another.
"It is her own decision to miss this chance after you offered him. You don't need to waste your ti on soone who can't even appreciate that."
And her words proved that.
Mason, sensing the change in Sylvie's deanor, finally took a step back, a forced smile on his face. "All right, all right. No need to get all worked up. If you change your mind, let know." With a final attempt at nonchalance, he walked away. But, as he turned his face, I could see a slight change in his expression.
His smiling face disappeared for a second, turning his face into a more serious and hateful one.
'Showing your true colors….No need to get worked up, though; you will have your share soon.'
Once Mason was out of earshot, Sylvie turned her attention to , her expression softening as she took a deep breath. "Should we leave now? I don't want to stay here longer."
"Okay." Seeing she was uncomfortable, I followed her request, and we started leaving as well.
As we left the classroom, the tension seed to ease, but Sylvie seed to be bothered by what she did.
"You must be surprised," she said, her voice shakier than usual. "I'm sorry you had to witness that."
"It's not a problem," I replied, "You don't need to apologize. If soone's bothering you, it's natural to stand up for yourself."
Sylvie was a soft girl, and she lived all her life like that. But from this mont on, this needed to change, and she must know it as well.
Sylvie paused for a mont, her eyes looking at mine. "You are not asking anything. Aren't you curious about why I changed my mind so suddenly?"
I stopped in my tracks as well. Of course, it wasn't bad to know the details of her thoughts, I could guess to so point.
"Do you need a reason?"
"What?"
"I an, do you really always need a reason to act like you did back then?"
"You don't?"
"You don't. For , you just said you didn't want to hang out; that was it."
"But it was out of the blue?"
"Maybe, but aren't you a human? You can sotis feel angry out of nowhere, and no human is consistent. I can do sothing for five hours a day for a whole month without complaining, but randomly, out of nowhere, I may start hating it. Don't you feel that way too, sotis?"
"I do."
"Then, it is the sa."
Sylvie pondered on my words for a mont, and then a faint smile appeared on her face as if she had reached a realization.
"You have a point. Maybe I've been too hard on myself."
"Exactly. You don't have to explain yourself to everyone. It's okay to prioritize your own feelings."
This was my goal. With how low her self-esteem is, it is not hard to see that she will run into problems in the future, especially since she is surely going to achieve a high position.
She needs to learn how to stand up for herself.
She nodded, and as we resud walking, I could see a subtle change in her deanor. It seed like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and she was beginning to embrace the idea that it was okay to assert herself without always providing a detailed explanation.
"Thanks," Sylvie said after a while as we got out of the building. "I think I am feeling better now."
"No problem."
"Then, have a nice day. I will et with my friends."
With those words, she started moving away as she headed toward her group of friends, the two girls waving their hands.
One of them was glaring at clearly with an annoyed expression, but I didn't sense any intent behind her gaze.
I watched her for a mont and then turned back.
'Now, let's start preparing.'
Since this trip wasn't an opportunity only for demon contractors.
'You are not the only one who is holding back because of the academy.'
After all, the mont we get out of the academy will be the mont where I can use my powers without hiding from those belonging to that safe ground.
'I can finally get rid of these dogs.'
*******
"What an opportunity."
That was what Mason thought the mont he heard that the club would be going on a trip. After all, he had been looking for an opportunity all this ti. His superiors were getting restless as well.
"Who does she think she is anyway?"
He could see the girl he had chard fuming already.
"Even though we are calling her to co with us, how dare she refuse you rudely like that?"
He had already wrapped her around his fingers, and this wasn't the first ti. He had done this countless tis, and she was just another one of his tools. Normally, he would just brush these complaints off.
"Calm down, Taylor."
However, now that he wasn't in a good mood, he couldn't bear it. After all, even though this was his mission, getting rejected in front of everyone like that made him quite angry.
"How can I calm down? She just embarrassed you and in front of everyone! You deserve more respect than that," Taylor retorted, clearly not understanding the depth of Mason's vexation.
Mason's jaw tightened, and he clenched his fists, the frustration building into sothing more volatile. "ENOUGH! Do you think I don't know that, huh?" As he said those words, he grabbed her from her neck.
CLENCH!
"Kurghk-!" The girl struggled under his grip, but she couldn't do anything as his strength was sothing she couldn't resist.
"When I say sothing, listen well." His eyes shone red for a split second, and the girl slowly lost the strength she was using to resist.
"I-I am s-sorry."
TAP!
As her hands fell to the sides, Mason released his grip on Taylor, pushing her away with a force that sent her stumbling to the side.
His eyes still tinged with a faint red glow, reflected a mix of anger and frustration.
As Taylor mumbled an apology, Mason muttered under his breath, "That bitch's ti will co soon enough. No one embarrasses like that and gets away with it. You don't need to worry about it."
With a dismissive glance, he turned away, leaving Taylor to collect herself. However, suddenly, he stopped for a second as if he realized sothing while looking at the girl.
She was breathing heavily, but there was a strange glint in her eyes as if sothing wasn't right.
Mason's sudden change in deanor was palpable. He seed to have perceived sothing in Taylor's reaction, prompting him to alter his course. "Co here," he commanded, and Taylor, almost robotically, moved closer without a word.
"Sorry for that," Mason mumbled, his arms enveloping her in an oddly gentle manner. As he whispered under his breath, an otherworldly energy emanated from him, enveloping them both. The surroundings seed to darken montarily, creating an almost surreal atmosphere.
SMOOCH!
And then, in the darkness of the night, two lips pressed together, just like that, as the girl left herself in his arms.
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