Nigel first felt something strange on the third day of the second semester, during lunchtime.

“Why are you spacing out like that?”

“…Oh, Allen.”

Allen, who had just returned from the lockers, lightly tapped Nigel’s shoulder as she sat alone in the first-year lounge.

“It’s nothing.”

Nigel answered dismissively, but her gaze was fixed on Noah in the distance. Noah was surrounded by students wearing lion emblems, regardless of gender, with only his silver-blue hair bobbing visibly above the crowd.

“Oh, is it because of Noah?”

Allen chuckled, covering his mouth.

“As if.”

Irritated by his mischievous smile, Nigel responded curtly. Then, belatedly realizing her attitude was worse than usual, she added:

“Since he’s taking more faculty classes now, it’s natural for him to get closer to the Swordsmanship students.”

“Right! I heard they’re assigning partners in the Swordsmanship faculty for the semester, and Noah is the most popular.”

“Of course he is.”

He’s destined to save the world, after all.

Nigel said, crossing her arms with a hint of pride and matter-of-factness in her tone.

“By the way, I heard you already submitted your elective course application? I’m a bit hurt you didn’t tell me anything until the end.”

“That’s because you always try to follow me around. Allen, you need to develop some independence. You’re interested in magical tools, but you’d choose your electives based on what I’m taking. Why waste your precious time because of me?”

“Nigel…! I thought you found it annoying that I followed you around, but you’re unexpectedly thoughtful? I didn’t think you cared about such things at all.”

Touched, Allen leaped towards Nigel. Nigel naturally patted him on the back.

At that moment, her eyes met Noah’s, who was still being pestered by the Swordsmanship students.

“…?”

No, Noah unilaterally avoided Nigel’s gaze. Unlike his usual gentle eye-smile when their eyes met, he looked indifferent and cold.

Noah had never shown such an expression to Nigel before. Even when they argued about Amolio, there was always warmth in his eyes.

“…Nigel?”

The hand patting Allen stopped. Allen’s kind green eyes looked down at Nigel.

‘It must be a coincidence. As soon as the semester started, he went straight into training with Professor Roneh, so I haven’t had a chance to infuse him with mana. Yes, that’s why he must be very tired.’

Nigel recalled Noah’s strong shampoo scent these past few days, morning and night. However, the uneasy feeling remained.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go to class before we’re late. We should also apologize while we’re at it.”

“Ah, ah…!”

Allen’s face gradually darkened.

Today was the day of Professor Nubilus’s first class.

“What if Professor Nubilus is really angry? In the worst case, won’t all four of us fail?”

Allen’s face turned paler than his uniform shirt. Nigel also became serious at the mention of failing.

“The… results aren’t out yet. Let’s go for now. Oh, and you don’t get held back easily. You need to fail two subjects for that.”

Nigel said in a gruff voice, hiding her anxious feelings. Allen brightened at those words.

“That’s right, isn’t it? This semester too, all day… no, Professor Cledian’s class is a common course, so it should be fine, right? Last semester, the professor gave me just 1 point above failing.”

“…”

For a moment, Nigel’s face hardened.

“What’s wrong, Nigel Ars? Why are you suddenly silent? You’re making me nervous.”

“…I’ll help you a lot.”

Nigel couldn’t bring herself to say the empty words that Allen wouldn’t fail.

“Yes, yes! You’re really the only one I can count on. Let’s make sure we graduate together! Okay?”

“Yeah.”

Nigel answered, avoiding eye contact.

“So, what elective did you choose?”

Allen cheerfully added that he had chosen Understanding Magical Tools. Nigel hesitated before slowly opening her mouth.

“History of Theology.”

“What?!”

Allen shouted loudly. At that sound, all eyes turned towards Nigel and Allen.

Among those gazes was Noah’s blue eyes.

However, Noah blinked and turned away indifferently. At the same time, Nigel felt a slight irritation.

Why did she feel so upset? Before Nigel could ponder this, Allen vigorously shook her shoulders.

“You hate the temple, don’t you!”

“…Huh?”

Nigel’s eyes widened at Allen’s confident statement, her body swaying without resistance.

“I’ve always been watching you, how could I not know? Whenever there’s a temple nearby, I can see your eyebrows rising as if you’re uncomfortable.”

“No way. You know I’m from an orphanage established by the temple.”

“What does that have to do with anything? Nigel Ars, don’t change the subject.”

When her rebuttal didn’t work, Nigel clicked her tongue.

Still, there was a good excuse that worked every time in situations like this.

“I’m curious about the Saint.”

As expected, Allen’s face immediately softened.

The Arenium Empire began when the Goddess Kirellia gifted humans with divine power and mana, so most citizens had a strong faith in the temple.

However, it had been 17 years since the previous Saint passed away. As the new Saint, who was supposed to be born when the previous one returned to the goddess’s embrace, hadn’t appeared for a long time, the strong faith of the citizens began to waver.

Nevertheless, one thing was clear: all citizens wanted to know the whereabouts of the Saint. Whether they liked the temple or not.

“I wonder where the Saint is. Many people are still looking for her.”

…Right in front of you.

Nigel raised her teacup to cover her lips, which were itching to speak without her permission. The bitter black tea, without any additions, slid down her throat.

“I’m worried that the Saint might be involved in something bad. They say even the temple is being accused of exploiting the prophecy of the Saint’s birth.”

“…Pfft!”

Nigel barely managed to hold back from spitting tea everywhere. As a result, she choked and started coughing violently.

“Nigel, are you okay?”

Allen handed Nigel a handkerchief. After a minute, when the coughing finally subsided, Nigel wiped Allen’s mouth and looked up.

And she saw Noah’s gaze directed at her.

“…?”

Without exception, Noah turned his head away.

‘This is really bothering me.’

Nigel couldn’t understand why Noah would steal glances when she showed weakness if he was going to consistently ignore her.

But Nigel had no grounds to confront him. After all, she had also avoided Allen and Noah without explaining any reason.

‘You really do reap what you sow.’

Nigel thought bitterly, lifting the corners of her mouth.

“I’ll wash the handkerchief and return it to you.”

“Sure, sure.”

Allen, responding kindly, continued to talk about the missing Saint until just before class started.

The students around them naturally joined in the conversation one by one, filling up the long 8-person table where only Nigel and Allen had been sitting.

At this time, the opinion of a male student from the Politics faculty caught Nigel’s ear.

“…In my personal view, I think the Saint intentionally hid her identity.”

“How is that possible? The temple receives an oracle a few days before the Saint’s birth, right?”

The male student blushed slightly at Nigel’s sharp question, seemingly flustered for a moment before speaking.

“That’s true, but I think it’s possible if we assume the Saint is simply around our age. While the Saint, who helps those in need with powerful divine power, is certainly great and deserving of respect, no one can answer whether the Saint herself is truly happy.”

“…!”

The students who had been chattering loudly until just now all fell silent.

As the atmosphere began to turn strange, Allen quickly spoke up.

“Ah, haha… It’s almost time for our common class, shall we end the conversation here? We shouldn’t be late.”

Only then did the students begin to relax their expressions and stand up one by one.

At that moment, Nigel grabbed the sleeve of the male student from the Politics faculty.

“You, what’s your name?”

“Ashton.”

The ash-haired boy with a sensitive and prickly impression answered casually, as if he had never been flustered.

“I’m…”

“Nigel Ars. I already know your name. There’s no one in the entire school who doesn’t know your name.”

Nigel looked down at Ashton’s veined hand in front of her, then took it.

“Feel free to call me Ash, Nigel.”

Ashton said, shaking her hand up and down.

“Ah, I’ll pass on that. It’s too burdensome.”

Nigel replied firmly, releasing Ashton’s hand.

“Still, I think we’ll be seeing each other often. I’m also taking Understanding Theology this semester.”

Ashton grinned.

His sharp impression softened in an instant.

‘He has a mole under his eye.’

Nigel noticed a small mole above Ashton’s dimple, which only appeared when he smiled.

“Ah, do you like it?”

“It’s alright.”

“Then I’ll have to try harder to make you like it more. See you later, Nigel.”

Ashton waved his hand and followed after his group.

Meanwhile, Allen received Noah’s resentful gaze.