“Ah, I forgot to tell you gentlemen this.”

As the operator smiled, his cheekbones slowly rose, pushing up the black mask above them.

“Once you’ve entered this place, you must sign a confidentiality agreement. I’ve shown you this place to give you my trust, so I believe you gentlemen will rightfully show me your trust in return.”

The operator gave a nod to the staff member waiting behind him, and the staff member took out a paper from an envelope and respectfully handed it to the operator.

“You may leave now.”

The staff member bowed once and quietly closed the door as he left.

The paper in the operator’s hand was not the common cream-colored paper one usually sees.

The paper was so pristinely white that it seemed it would easily become dirty with the slightest touch of a fingertip.

The four corners of the paper were decorated with pure white flowers and light green stems.

Those flowers were none other than lilies, the temple’s exclusive flower symbolizing purity and unwavering love for the goddess.

Shadows fell over Noah and Allen’s faces as they immediately recognized the nature of the paper.

“I see you both have realized what this contract is. Because such esteemed guests have visited, I’ve specially brought out this temple-issued contract that I’ve been keeping safe.”

…What did he say?

Nigel, inside the closet, blinked her eyes.

‘Did I hear that right? A temple-issued contract?’

Contracts issued by the temple could only be issued by chief priests or higher, and even when breaking the contract, one had to go directly to the priest who issued it.

In other words, temple contracts were twice as tricky as magic contracts, and carelessly signing one after skimming its contents could make one’s life twice as arduous.

“Now, please sign.”

The operator held out the fountain pen that had been tucked in the breast pocket of his black jacket.

Noah obediently took the fountain pen.

Allen, his hands trembling, gave Noah a meaningful look.

Allen’s hand was on his waist, where he had hidden the dagger he received earlier in the carriage.

Shake, shake.

Noticing Allen’s gaze, Noah slightly raised the corners of his mouth, smiling gently as he shook his head at Allen.

“I’ll sign first.”

“No!”

It was just as the tip of the fountain pen in Noah’s hand was about to touch the pure white paper.

Thump!

Suddenly, the sound of wood colliding came from somewhere in the room.

…A mouse?

Just as they were about to ignore it.

Thump thump!

This time, a sound too loud to be a mouse, impossible to ignore, was heard.

“Who’s there?”

The operator, Allen, and Noah walked towards the source of the sound.

Meanwhile, inside the closet.

‘This hurts like hell.’

Nigel rubbed her throbbing left arm.

Roneh looked at Nigel with a face that said, “What kind of person are you?”

Nigel just shrugged indifferently.

‘What else can I do? This is the only thing I can do in this situation.’

She couldn’t just stand by and let those kids with bright futures make an unfair contract with a con artist while trying not to get caught herself.

Thump, thump.

The sound of multiple footsteps grew closer to the closet where Nigel and Roneh were hiding.

And finally, the footsteps stopped in front of the closet where Roneh and Nigel were hiding.

“…”

“…”

A subtle atmosphere flowed inside and outside the closet.

Soon, the single beam of light entering the closet gradually grew larger.

“Duck your head!!”

At Roneh’s words, Nigel reflexively lowered her head.

Whoosh.

The wind brushed over Nigel’s head, gently ruffling her black hair.

Thump!

And with a loud noise, a heavy vibration shook the floor.

‘What happened…?’

When Nigel raised her head, she saw one closet door with a hole about the size of a human fist punched through it, flying far away.

And beneath it, a man wearing a black mask had fallen.

Looking closely, his chin was red.

“…”

“…”

Did that person just… blow away a closet door that’s at least an inch thick with pure strength?

“Ah, it really is more comfortable to move directly with the body. I’m really not cut out for undercover investigations.”

Roneh came out of the closet, dusting off her hands.

‘I shouldn’t talk back during class.’

Nigel clenched her fist, making a resolution as she watched the wood chips falling mercilessly from Roneh’s hands.

Shuffle, shuffle.

Cautious footsteps were heard.

“…Professor Roneh? And…”

“…Nigel?”

Allen and Noah spoke in succession.

Flick.

Nigel raised her right hand and waved dryly at Allen and Noah.

“Nigel, are you alright?”

“Nigel! Do you know how worried we were when we suddenly couldn’t contact you?”

Noah and Allen rushed to Nigel’s side.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Allen examined Nigel’s body from head to toe.

“No. As you can see, I’m fine.”

Nigel said, crossing her arms.

At that moment, her left forearm, which had hit the closet, flinched.

It hurt like hell, so it must have bruised.

“…You’re hurt, aren’t you? Your left arm.”

Noah said glumly.

“It’s fine, it’s nothing.”

“Then that loud noise from the closet earlier… was that you, Nigel?”

“…”

Nigel silently turned her head away.

“Were you… worried we might be in danger?”

Nigel lowered her head and just stared at the floor pattern.

Clap, clap, clap.

At the sudden sound of applause, Nigel, Noah, and Allen all turned around simultaneously.

“Is everyone done with their touching reunion?”

Roneh groaned as she got up from the floor.

“You’re all concerned about Nigel first, and I’m completely out of mind? I tied this person up first because I was worried you might be in danger.”

Somehow, and from somewhere, the operator’s arms and legs were tightly bound with rope.

“Ah… haha. Hello, Professor Roneh. It’s even more pleasant to see you here.”

Allen scratched his cheek.

“Yes, indeed.”

Roneh grinned at Allen and then turned to look at Noah.

“So, Noah. Don’t you have anything to say to your teacher?”

“Master…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What are you doing, shattering the closet door? What if Nigel couldn’t avoid it and got hurt…”

“Wow, I’ve raised my disciple well, very well indeed. I fed you, clothed you, and taught you with blood and sweat since you were little, following me around, and this is how you repay my kindness.”

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

Roneh clapped her hands with exaggerated gestures.

“It was you, Master, who followed my father and me around saying I should learn to hold a sword from a young age, but it was my parents who fed me, clothed me, and made me who I am.”

Noah said with a dry expression.

“Oh my! You’ve grown so much that you can talk back to your master now?”

“Anyway, please be more careful, Master. Nigel could have been hurt.”

“Yes, someone else might have been hurt. But Noah, you clearly saw it earlier. As soon as I spoke, Nigel immediately lowered her head. Her reflexes are as good as the students in the swordsmanship department, I tell you. This is innate.”

“…”

Huh, you’re not refuting this?

As Noah remained silent, Nigel felt a bit provoked.

“By the way, who is this person in the black mask? Carrying around a temple contract.”

“He’s the operator of Histon.”

Allen gently approached the operator and poked his shoulder.

The operator, with a dark bruise on his chin, lay still without any reaction.

“I can understand Nigel coming to look for a friend, but why and how are you, Noah and Allen, with the operator?”

“Noah’s seal…”

“We thought Nigel might be here.”

Noah quickly spoke up, cutting off Allen’s words.

“Hmm… Is that so? Alright. Then all of you stay put and wait here quietly. I’ll be back after contacting the guard.”

Nigel, Allen, and Noah chorused “Yes” simultaneously.

Pretending to be mature, yet acting like children among friends, Roneh smirked and walked away.

Click.

“Noah took out his family seal ring for the operator, so we could come here.”

As soon as the door closed, Allen spoke without taking a breath.

“…What?”

“Allen…!”

Noah, his ears turning red, reached out to cover Allen’s mouth.

But Nigel, with her quick reflexes, quickly slipped between Noah and Allen.

“Go on, Allen.”

“He even drank kura directly.”

“…Is that true?”

Nigel squinted at Noah.

Noah, his face now completely red, quickly covered it with both hands and spoke.

“Allen, didn’t we just promise to keep secrets between friends…!”

His voice dripped with indignation.

“Well, yes, but Nigel is my first friend. I have no secrets from my first friend.”

Thump.

Nigel put her arm around Allen’s shoulder.

“Too bad, Beselion. You should have become Allen’s first friend.”

“Right. It’s such a shame.”

Allen also put his arm around Nigel’s shoulder.

They say there’s no one to trust… Noah’s eyes grew moist.

“Um… Nigel… Allen… I really had no strange intentions. You know that.”

“Yeah, I know. When I heard about the kura, I thought for a moment it might be true.”

“That’s right. I’m not a merchant’s son for nothing, you know? I understand, Noah. You might want to invest.”

Pat, pat.

Allen patted Noah’s back.

“By the way, this place is…”

A little later, the calmed Noah looked around and then closed his mouth.

Girls lying on numerous beds placed left and right, wearing white dresses without patterns or decorations, their faces pale.

Seeing the girls, it was difficult to say anything, or rather, to say anything easily.

“…Allen, try sensing the magic.”

Nigel said, biting her lip.

Nod.

Allen slowly closed his eyes and focused on the flow of magic.

“…Huh!”

Allen opened his eyes in less than 10 seconds.

“This… What is this…”

Allen couldn’t find the words, his eyes brimming with tears.

“…As expected, Siennia students are indeed different.”

Just then, a voice came from behind Allen.