“That’s good to hear. You should be able to return to work within three days, given your quick recovery. Just make sure you don’t skip your meals and medication for your strength.”

“Will do.”

“I’ll check back this evening.”

The physician left, and Mrs. Sophia placed freshly baked bread, soup, and medicine on the shelf.

“Would you like to eat now?”

“No, leave it there. I’ll eat it later.”

“Understood.”

Sophia, about to leave the room, hesitated and turned back. When Gibnen looked at her as if asking what it was, she gave him a warm smile.

“You must be feeling a bit empty today.”

“…”

“If it weren’t for the academy, the young lady would have been by your side all day.”

“It doesn’t really matter whether she’s here or not.”

“Is that so?”

Sophia gave a meaningful smile, bowed, and said, “I’ll leave then; please rest.”

Once she left, Gibnen sat up and looked out the window. Indeed, Riley had been sticking to him all day lately, annoyingly so.

But now that she was gone, it did feel a bit strange.

Time seemed to pass a bit slower than usual. As he was staring out of the window, he caught sight of Riley, who had changed her clothes and was leaving the house. He watched her until she was out of sight and mumbled to himself.

‘I might feel a bit empty, indeed…’

“Riley! What the heck happened?”

As soon as Riley entered the classroom, Hila ran up to her and hugged her tightly. Other students looked at them curiously, but Hila spoke excitedly.

“I thought something happened to you again.”

“Just… a family member was a bit sick.”

“Really? Sick enough to keep you from coming to the academy?”

“Yeah, I thought it would be better if I took care of them.”

“So they’re okay now?”

“Much better.”

“Phew, thank goodness. I was worried something happened to you, like last time…”

“I’m sorry for worrying you. It wasn’t a situation where I could contact you.”

Finally relieved, Hila let go of Riley, and they both sat down to prepare for the lecture.

“Anything happen while I was gone?”

At Riley’s question, Hila hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Some guy was looking for you?”

“A guy?”

“A really good-looking guy. He asked where you had been the past few days. How would I know? So I just told him I didn’t know.”

Hearing about a good-looking guy, Riley immediately thought of one person.
In her life, there were few handsome men, except for Gibnen in the mansion. If it were Saak, he would have visited the mansion rather than coming to the academy, so he was also an exception. Even the master was out of the equation.

That left just one.

“What was his name again…”

It wasn’t as if they’d even been formally introduced.

Ever since the day she had the face-to-face with Gibnen, she hadn’t encountered him once, so what’s happening now?

“Ah, and there’s going to be a welcome party.”

“A welcome party?”

“Yes, they’re going to gather all the magic department students to promote friendship…”

“Is this something they usually do?”

“No. For some reason, this time they announced that they would hold a welcome party. Perhaps they felt challenged by the general department?”

“The general department?”

“The magic department has a strong individualistic culture, so there isn’t much interaction even between upperclassmen and underclassmen… Those from Prestige have been attending social gatherings since childhood, so they never felt the need. But the general department is different. They have many different departments and lots of people. Plus, networking is important for getting a job, so they always have welcome parties.”

“I see…”

“The new student council president of the magic department is very enthusiastic. He likes socializing with people, so this year, they decided to hold a welcome party for the department.”

“It’s not mandatory to attend?”

“It’s not mandatory, but they did notify that there would be significant disadvantages if you don’t attend.”

“…Disadvantages.”

“I like it, though. The general department always has their welcome parties in different cities. Maybe the magic department will do the same? I think it’d feel like going on a trip. All the costs are also covered by the student council.”

Unlike Riley, Hila seemed very excited about the welcome party.

“Do you not like such gatherings, Riley?”

“It’s not that I dislike them; it’s just a bit overwhelming.”

“Why! You can just hang out with me.”

She simply found gatherings with many people overwhelming. She didn’t know how to socialize, and if it weren’t for Hila approaching her first, she probably wouldn’t have made any friends. Being with upperclassmen, who weren’t even her classmates, made her uncomfortable and claustrophobic.

It’s not just any gathering; people from Prestige will also be there. With the chance of collective bullying from the upper and lower classmen, especially given that those from Prestige are tight-knit.

Also, going outside the academy for leisure was even more worrisome.

“When is this welcome party?”

“The day after tomorrow!”

“…The day after tomorrow?!”

“Why? You’re going, right? I can’t go if you’re not there. I was even planning to come and tell you today. Let’s definitely go together.”

But Gibnen still hasn’t fully recovered yet…

“It’s a two-day, one-night trip. The destination is Luraz! Have you heard of it? It’s a famous tourist ocean city at the southernmost tip!”

Wasn’t that the place she visited once before with Gibnen?

Where a bullet had flown at Gibnen’s head…

“They say attendance points will be given for the welcome party since it’s an extension of classes. If you don’t go, you’ll lose points.”

Riley fixed her gaze on her book with a gloomy expression.

She didn’t like the idea of going out to have fun while leaving the ailing Gibnen at home. But if she didn’t attend an event that affected her attendance score, that would be a problem. She had already missed two days, and more negative points could spell disaster.

“…Alright.”

Riley let out a quiet sigh.

Why did they suddenly decide to hold a welcome party? Group life really isn’t easy.

Her head ached from the complicated thoughts.