“If you received a report that I saved you, why did Histon react so sensitively?”

After Widrun’s confession, a series of questions and answers followed.

And in the process, Nigel learned a new fact.

“Well…”

That the unmasked Widrun was even softer than Nigel had thought.

Widrun spent a long time choosing the right words while observing Nigel’s expression.

“Just say it. Don’t waste time unnecessarily.”

“But Nigel, who isn’t the mad dog of the temple, is an even greater existence to me than the hero Valein.”

Nigel turned his head away and sighed, disliking the sight of the man who used to curse with his eyes now acting shy, even if he refrained from verbal abuse.

“…The Dean treated me like a scoundrel during the Obeliu incident as well.”

Sensing displeasure in Nigel’s voice, Widrun quickly spoke up.

“That’s because we thought Nigel was behind that incident.”

“What?”

Nigel’s brow furrowed deeply.

“You’ve been thinking that all along? For everything that’s happened so far…?”

Widrun nodded.

“This is insane…”

Nigel muttered to himself without realizing it.

“You were already quite mad to begin with. Your brilliant mind was particularly excellent at tormenting others.”

Widrun smiled brightly as if telling an amusing story.

“Ah, this happened in your previous life. Do you know what you said to me in private after ostentatiously using holy power on a terminally ill man who approached you desperately?”

“No.”

“You giggled in my ear, saying you had recently learned how to control holy power, and that you had only extended that man’s life by a single day, even as he shed tears of joy, believing he had received the goddess’s blessing.”

“That’s insane.”

“Indeed. After seeing that, I gave up on all possibilities for you. So when you came to Sienna Academy, you have no idea how worried I was.”

Widrun chuckled as he recalled what had happened.

“Of course, you might think you weren’t a mad dog. But you had a natural talent for acting. Your favorite game was to build solid relationships with others, then completely shatter that trust and laugh at their betrayed faces.”

“…”

Nigel, who had intended to question why he was misunderstood, ended up being convinced by Widrun.

“Then… why were you certain I wasn’t a mad dog?”

Widrun once again opened and closed his mouth, looking troubled.

“Don’t tell me… after sending me to the Dien ducal family?”

“…Yes.”

Combining the point when Widrun’s attitude softened and the mad dog’s interests, the answer was easily deduced.

After all, the toy most suited to the mad dog’s game was none other than the Dien ducal family.

“I sincerely apologize for testing you with your family, but… the you I knew would have left a huge scar on Miss Meriel’s face and, not satisfied with that, revealed your identity to Duke Dien who was angered by this.”

“Haa…”

It was the first time feeling so uneasy after getting the correct answer.

“Then, I’ll ask one last thing.”

“Anything for you.”

“…Do you also know what group the Shining Rose is?”

“No. I’ve been investigating under the assumption that you were the leader all this time…”

Widrun trailed off.

Nigel bit his lip hard but couldn’t bring himself to ask him anything.

Even though he didn’t have good feelings towards Widrun, listening to his story made Nigel feel pathetic for trying to refute.

“…You really aren’t the mad dog after all. This is the first time you haven’t been the leader of some strange group.”

Widrun stared intently at various parts of Nigel as if observing a strange animal, then grinned broadly.

“Shut up.”

Even as Nigel frowned, the smile only grew wider.

At that moment, a clear green magical energy appeared in the air and settled on Nigel’s palm.

What the magic carried was none other than a communication stone.

“From now on, trust only me, Nigel. Whatever you want, just communicate, and I’ll help you.”

The words “You can’t curse at a brightly smiling face” fit perfectly, so Nigel shoved the communication stone into his pocket.

“Enjoy your winter break.”

“…You too, Dean.”

And with a light smile in return, he left the dean’s office.

Nigel was certain that this place would not be uncomfortable from now on.

Snow falls in the capital city of Solef.

Nigel sat by the window, observing the snow slowly accumulating on the streets decorated with sparkling magical lights.

“Are you going to keep holing up in your room on New Year’s Day?”

At that moment, a low voice interrupted Nigel’s meditation.

“If this were Tillin instead of your house, Zeronin, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

Nigel frowned at Zeronin.

Meanwhile, he gladly helped himself to the warm tea and desserts Zeronin had brought on a tray.

While Zeronin might not be welcome, refreshments were always appreciated.

“Well, it must be disappointing. You even bought train tickets, but now you’re staying at my house because of the heavy snowfall in Tillin. If it were Tillin, you’d probably be making New Year’s cake with the kids by now.”

“…Well, this isn’t so bad either.”

Nigel mumbled in a small voice, then sipped the warm tea.

“Right, I was just getting bored too, so you came at a good time. Rest well while you’re here.”

Nigel nodded and picked up a chocolate cookie.

“Since you’re staying in the capital, didn’t your friends ask you to go to the New Year’s festival?”

“Do I really need to? We’ll meet again in two months anyway.”

“You really… I can’t believe you have friends.”

“I can’t believe it either. That you sealed my childhood memories, Zeronin.”

Nigel looked up, gazing at Zeronin who was smiling bitterly.

Why had Nigel forgotten about Nix when he remembered everything else about this place? He had a pretty good guess, and sure enough, it was because of Zeronin.

“I’ve told you many times. When that child was about to leave, you were in so much pain after your magical awakening that I had to do it.”

“…I know. It would have been nice if you had at least given me a hint.”

“If you had seen yourself back then, you wouldn’t say that so easily. You didn’t even know where Nix lived, but whenever you regained consciousness briefly, you tried to go to the capital recklessly with a body suffering from severe magic addiction and burning with fever.”

Zeronin let out a small laugh.

“Even the director and the kids thought you had fallen into terrible madness. If I had delayed sealing your memories any longer, it would have been even harder to save your life. Back then, you wouldn’t try to release your holy power unless you were in front of Nix.”

“…Thank you.”

Nigel said sincerely.

It would be a lie to say he had no resentment towards Zeronin, but it was Zeronin who had saved him time and time again.

Zeronin’s eyes widened slightly, then softened gently.

“If you’re grateful, take good care of your health. It’s a life someone saved, after all.”

“I’ll think about it if you stop nagging.”

Nigel said, half-joking and half-serious.

It had been two weeks since he came to Zeronin’s house, and Zeronin nagged him every time they met.

I heard you met Jayden Galloway at the magic sword tournament, don’t get worked up by meeting him unnecessarily. No matter how much holy power you have, it still hurts when you get injured, so don’t approach magical plants and monsters carelessly, and so on.

In some ways, he knew even more about Nigel’s academy life than Widrun did.

“Come to think of it, we almost got lost together at the post office yesterday too. You always…”

“Communication stone.”

Just as Nigel’s face was about to crumple at the impending lecture, the communication stone Widrun had given him sparkled.

‘…Please don’t let it be Noah Beselion.’

Nigel reached for the meaningfully sparkling communication stone.

However.

Zeronin’s hand reached the communication stone faster than its owner’s.

“…Are you crazy?”

Nigel scrunched his face and lunged at Zeronin.

“Zeronin, are you really insane? Why are you acting like you’re aging backwards?”

But no matter how much Nigel struggled, it was impossible to reach Zeronin’s hand stretched out near the ceiling.

“I’ll give it right back after just hearing the voice. I can’t believe you have friends.”

The communication stone persistently sparkled in various colors, as if it would be better if the communication ended quickly.

The fact that no specific color appeared on the communication stone meant it wasn’t a registered code.

Nigel, who had shoved the signet ring Noah had given him deep into his luggage bag without even opening it, hoped and hoped again that it wouldn’t be Noah Beselion, and that the light would turn off soon.

But today too, Kirellia did not raise Nigel’s hand unchanged, and Zeronin’s magic was injected into the communication stone.

-Ars, are you… having a good New Year?

At the young man’s voice that leaked from the communication stone, Zeronin’s eyes narrowed.

“Who might you be?”

At Zeronin’s sharp and cold voice, no sound leaked from the communication stone for a long time.

-…I’m Sid, the second son of Count Cromwell, but isn’t this Nigel Ars’s personal communication stone code?

Satisfied after extracting the personal information, Zeronin handed the communication stone to Nigel as if doing him a favor.

Fearing it might be snatched away again, Nigel quickly grabbed the communication stone. Then he mouthed “crazy bastard” at Zeronin.

“Oh, it’s me. What’s up, Sid?”

-It’s been a while, Ars. Are you feeling alright?

“Yeah. So what’s the main point?”

Sid’s careful breathing could be heard through the communication stone.

-…Kyle has disappeared.

At that moment, Nigel’s eyes wavered.