Rianon was very displeased by this and showed it throughout the class. But during conversational practice that would reflect on their grades, Rianon had no choice but to participate.

Originally, Rianon was not particularly intelligent. Later on, she ended up choosing the same language major as Neris, not because she was talented in languages, but because she was worse at literature and music.

Young Neris couldn’t understand people who didn’t understand what was taught in class. Neris corrected the sentences Rianon messed up without malice, and that hurt Rianon’s pride.

“You’re really funny. You think you’re all that? If you’re so great, go to the moon class! You think someone wants to be in the same class as you? That’s why nobody likes you.”

Rianon’s words were bold, and Neris felt each one sting.

It was true. Nobody liked Neris. If anyone had liked her, the situation would have been different.

Neris really didn’t know what she had done wrong and blamed everything on herself.

It was near the end of the class. Rianon was passing notes with several people, including Megara and Alecto. Neris shrunk away from the vague thought that everyone was laughing at her and thought of Nona.

I have a pen pal too. Why doesn’t Nona reply? Is she sick? Like my classmates, has she gradually come to dislike me and doesn’t want to associate with me anymore?

As she was lost in doubt, Neris happened to see a note that Rianon had carelessly spread out on her desk. The exchanged writings filled the entire paper, and the note had served its purpose.

It was signed with a familiar handwriting.

Then Neris realized. Nona was Rianon’s nickname.

Unbelievingly staring at the signature, Neris was annoyed by Rianon, who nonchalantly folded the note and put it in her bag. Neris couldn’t believe it.

“You… was it you? Are you Nona? Did you ruin my secret place?”

Neris’s question was clearly a failure on Rianon’s face, but that expression soon disappeared, and Rianon narrowed her eyes as if she couldn’t believe it.

“What are you talking about? What’s your secret place?”

“You sent me a letter. You wanted to be friends. There was a signature that said Nona there too.”

“Don’t be funny! Do you have evidence?”

Evidence, of course, existed. All the letters exchanged with Nona over the time were evidence. But Neris knew that nobody would believe her, as had been the case with the theft.

And what would it matter if anyone believed her? What mattered was that the friend Nona, who had liked Neris from the beginning, never existed at all.
After that day, Lianel acted as sensitive as a growling cat at the mere sight of Neris. Perhaps the cause of such behavior initially stemmed from a guilt that he himself did not want to admit.

But soon his attitude turned into blame towards Neris.

“Why suddenly follow me and call me a liar? You must be insane. Complain to Trued instead of me? Thanks, there’s no one but you.”

When peer recognition was more important than anything in the world, friendship was sometimes—or often—exercised in a direction of unconditionally believing in a friend’s perfect morality.

The children were excited by the news that ‘dare’ Neris Trued had absurdly conspired against Lianel. Several times a day, a child came to Neris and told her not to lie, asking why Lianel would lie to her.

Public opinion intensified, and one day, Neris was beaten by a few classmates in the school backyard.

No matter how much Neris said that wasn’t the case, it was useless. After all, it was reasonable. What mattered to the children was taking Lianel’s side, not pursuing the actual truth.

Would a ‘friend’ impulsively lie to them? Therefore, Lianel’s words were the truth.

It was something the children, of an age too young to feel the weight of responsibility and of a status with no need to bear responsibility, had done. What started as a prank turned increasingly serious, and Neris was scared and in pain.

Luckily, before an uncontrollable situation arose, a passing unknown teacher saw her, and it was fortunate.

Although no permanent injury was left, Neris had to be hospitalized in the school infirmary for several days. It took courage to return to the classroom after being discharged.

She felt like she was dealing with a piece of wood that couldn’t feel pain, cruel and relentlessly tormenting. They didn’t seem like the same people.

Wouldn’t the same thing happen again when she returned to the classroom? Maybe not in front of the teacher. But while moving from one classroom to another? On the way back to the dormitory?

The secret place was no longer safe, and Neris had nowhere to go. She entered the classroom trembling, and felt a chilly relief at the fact that all the children were ignoring her.

As she walked to her usual seat, Neris inadvertently caught a glimpse of Lianel. It seemed Lianel had been looking at Neris too. He sneered coldly as their eyes met.

“Are you going to tell the teacher again? You can’t do anything on your own?”

“Lini.”

Megara lightly called Lianel’s nickname. Seeing Lianel immediately quiet down, Neris realized Megara had settled the situation.

And soon after, she found out why Megara, who usually ignored Neris’s bullying, stepped in this time.

When Neris’s accusation of assault was dismissed due to lack of evidence.

Evidence? The bruises on Neris’s body were evidence. Witness? Of course, the teacher who witnessed the students committing violence was a witness! But no matter how hard they searched, they couldn’t find out who that teacher was, and Neris’s injuries were surprisingly evaluated by the school as ‘unlikely to have been beaten.’

After that, Neris wasn’t assaulted in the same way. But it wasn’t because the children realized that Neris was human.

That strange, brief peace was the price for protecting the children who had directly committed the assault.

According to what Megara and the school agreed on, without even asking the victim’s opinion.

Why was Lianel protected? Why were those children protected?

She didn’t exactly remember who had directly committed the assault, but Neris thought those children must have been somewhat useful to Megara.

Lianel was probably more useful than most other children. Being the beloved daughter of the Berta family and having her own popularity.

So this time, they would have to make sure she didn’t talk.