Leaning against the bathroom door with my ears touching the door, I tried to ascertain if the intruder had done anything in the ti I had been in the bathroom.
However, as I listened, it seed that Alya and "Astrid" were conversation normally as "Astrid" attempted to explain the situation.
From through the door, Alya's voice spoke.
"So you're saying that djinns will attack during the winter ball... but there's no guarantee as to how or where they'll attack."
"Yes... that's why I need as much help as possible. If you could convince Ren...it would be a great help."
"But... why Ren? Wouldn't you much rather have the help of a top-ranked student like Liam or Kevin?"
"You don't have to protect to act oblivious; I know you've seen Ren fight as well."
"I-i have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, co on, look at your clothes. There are clear black marks all over, no matter how much you try to help it."
"..."
"That's obviously from that elental slash attack he does."
"..."
"Anyway, it's not like I don't doubt Liam or Kevin's power. I've seen that fight and work as part of the student council. They're most likely on par with Ren's power or maybe even stronger."
Hearing the couch cushion crack through the door, I assud that Alya was recalling the fight in the carriage at Astrid's words.
Once again, Astrid's voice spoke despite Alya's silence.
"His planning skills and ability to co up with things on the fly, when needed, is what proves his worth to ."
"y-yeah, I s-see why you choose Ren."
Hearing another cushion crack, but from father away, I imdiately stepped away from the day as I assud Astrid stood up.
Speaking a louder tone than earlier, Astrid's voice sounded.
"Is he alright in there...? I an, you heard that crashing sound earlier, too, right?"
Rushing away from the door, I hid in the shower, imdiately closing the curtains and covering myself.
This intruder had managed to deceive my eyes... the thing I prided myself most on as I used to believe... that my eyes could see everything.
They were not soone I could take easily...a plan needed to be made.
As I manifested two pairs of corrupted daggers, Astrid knocked on the door before saying.
"Is everything good in there?"
Internally facepalming in the shower, behind the curtains, I readied my two daggers.
How could I have not noticed this wasn't the real Astrid?
Would the real Astrid, the fad student council president known for her serious persona, really check up on soone in the bathroom...?
I had relied on my eyes too much...just like I had earlier been dependent on the plot of the book.
Just because their movents were the sa, I had assud that she was Astrid, despite all the bits of abnormal dialogue I had noticed from her.
I had made the sa mistake twice.
Clearing away my worries, I stayed silent for a mont before screaming in an awkward tone.
"uhh... I need so help in here!"
Where was the optimal place to fight?
A big and open room where Astrid, who had the power to cast plant and tree spells, could abuse the hell out of it.
...or a small room where spells would be essentially useless.
Calming my emotions, I inwardly muttered as silence descended upon the room inside and outside.
"It has to be done... no matter my pride."
After a couple of monts of silence, Astrid finally responded from behind the bathroom door.
"what...what exactly do you an!?"
Trying to keep my tone as calm as possible and devoid of any sarcasm, I seriously replied.
"It's exactly what I said. There's a bit of a... problem in here."
"..."
"..."
As silence once again descended upon the room, I began to make preparations, playing the physical corruption in my hands.
Manifesting a makeshift arrow trap, I carefully positioned it right above the door before also making a lever.
Connecting the two together, I stared at the system, which, as soon as the door opened, would send arrows flying downwards at the person entering.
Finally, Astrid responded.
"and... what exactly do you want to do about it...?"
Staying silent, I pulled out my smartwatch before... imdiately realizing that I didn't have Alya's number saved anywhere.
Finding Ruby's contact, I rapidly ssaged.
[Ren: I need Alya's #, asap.]
[Ruby: ***]
[Ruby: I sent it, but why? Aren't you at odds with everyone, basically?]
Reminding myself to check for her reply later, I copied and pasted Alya's number into my ssaging app before opening up a group chat with her.
[Ren: This is Ren... there is a problem.]
[Alya: ...I know, I'm right outside the bathroom too. Can you just finish and co out so we can discuss it? This is getting ridiculous.]
[Ren: I'M BEING SERIOUS]
[Alya: All right... then.]
[Ren: I'm going to make Astrid co into the bathroom, then I need you to shut the door right behind her.]
[Alya: ...you know, those rumors weren't too far off. What you're asking to do is quite literally... yeah.]
Shaking my head, I quickly typed another response.
[Ren: That's not really Astrid... it's soone disguised as her. I need you to trust , just this once. If you don't, we could be in serious trouble.]
[Alya: Alright... but I would never have been involved if sothing happened.]
[Ren: When she opens the bathroom door, close it behind her.]
Closing my smartwatch, I picked up my two daggers before replying to Astrid.
"...can you co in; there's a problem with the sink, I'm trying to figure out."
Hearing soone practically collapse behind the door, I imdiately continued.
"I am fully clothed; there is nothing sexual about this."
Maybe should have said that first, huh?
From the shower and behind the curtains, I manifested a stick of corruption before making it long enough to reach the doorknob.
After another bit of silence, "Astrid's" voice finally sounded again.
"If you say so... but I swear to god if this is so ploy."
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