“Three… times?” I inadvertently murmured.

    Just by hearing those words alone is already enough to understand that Kuroyuki Shiroha’s childhood friend— Lucifer Vermillion, is a madman.

    “Like… how…?” I added.

    “…I bit off the artery on his neck when we met for the first time,” Kuroyuki told me.

    “…!?”

    It felt so unbelievable that I thought she was joking with me.

    I only know it was real because of the sombre smile on her face.

    What had she been through that she needs to kill by biting off the artery of someone on their neck…?

    “…Do you, perhaps, want me to bite off your neck?”

    Kuroyuki’s voice is somehow, seductive.

    Did she do so on purpose just so she could make me feel more secure…?

    “…Thanks, Kuroyuki… and sorry,” I said to her. “It’s just… Phew… felt too much to digest all of a sudden.”

    “…Not quite. I’m actually thankful that you told me instead.” I told her. “I now know that being friends with you will be harder than I thought, hahaha.”

    I deliberately forced out a laugh to hide my uneasiness.

    “…You… still want to be friends with me…?” Kuroyuki asked. “…Even after knowing the things I’ve done…?”

    “I was surprised, alright. But it’s not like you would bite my neck now and kill me, no?”

    “…Who knows?”

    With that reply, Kuroyuki smiled.

    It really is a miracle for her to recover.

    But still… for Lucifer Vermillion to reach out to her for three times just to save her sanity… Just how much of a madman he is…?

    “No wonder you like him so much,” I replied. “If a person is willing to go that far just to save me… I would’ve fallen in love as well.”

    “Uh…?” I was dumbfounded. “Who…?”

    “…Principal,” Kuroyuki replied while making an innocent look. “…It’s obvious that your relationship isn’t just ‘Teacher’ and ‘Student’.”

    Something within my head snapped.

    “YOU DON’T WANT ME TO GRIND YOUR HEAD, DO YOU?” I protested while smacking my hands onto Kuroyuki’s face. “I’M NOT GAY.”

    Kuroyuki then chuckled.

    “…After all, you kicked each other at your bu????ks.”

    “Why you little…!”

    I squeezed and rubbed her cheeks with my palms.

    After finally venting out my anger, Kuroyuki then rubs her seeming swollen cheeks.

    She’s making such an evil look.

    I wondered why, but it seems that their relationship isn’t just ‘Teacher’ and ‘Student’ as well.

    “Do you perhaps, knew that guy as well…?”

    “…We are close,” Kuroyuki murmured. “…Very close.”

    Her eyes are dying.

    “…Right. Your parents are friends with him.”

    “…So he told you. I never mentioned they were friends…” Kuroyuki uttered. “…You really aren’t just a simple special student, weren’t you?”

    “In my opinion, both of us aren’t just special students. After all, with you attending this academy itself is already superfluous. I’m sure you had another complex identity here on Central Imperial Island.”

    “…I would rather keep that a secret,” Kuroyuki told me. “…It catches too much unnecessary attention and might affect our status quo.”

    Looks like Kuroyuki Shiroha had a relatively high social standing on Central Imperial Island.

    “…Unless, Principal himself decides to let you know,” Kuroyuki told me. “…You would definitely be shocked, hehe.”

    I wondered why, our seeming pointless topic feels like two politicians facing off against each other.

    “If that day comes— we will see about that, hehehe.”

    However, no matter how high her status quo is, I don’t think she would know that the person standing in front of her is the King Candidate of Central Imperial Island.

    Because my authority on Central Imperial Island is just below Principal— the King, Vice— the Queen, and Lucillea— the Prime Minister, also the King’s older sister.

    I mean, even I couldn’t believe this myself.

    THUMP.

    “Guh…!?”

    Crap… my breathing…!

    Kuroyuki caught me by lifting my arm with her shoulder.

    “…What’s wrong…?!”

    The strain caused by the ‘Twenty Seals’… it’s getting stronger all of a sudden. Have I overexerted my quota limit for today…?

    “Oh… don’t worry… this is normal. I will be better after I get some rest.”

    “…Don’t push your luck,” Kuroyuki uttered. “…You don’t look good at all.”

    “Then… please carry me to my room.”

    “…Hmph…!”

    “Wah…!?” I inadvertently screamed by her sudden approach.

    It’s so embarrassing that I thought I would die.

    “I’m very sorry... Kuroyuki, but could you please put me down…” I murmured. “You can’t possibly lift me… I’m really heavy.”

    “…No can do.”

    She really doesn’t have any intention to put me down.

    “Kuroyuki… I may not look like it… but I weighed about 681 kg.” I told her.

    “…E-Eh…?”

    She was totally surprised by my remark.

    “…Now this makes sense…” She then murmured.

    Nevertheless, she continued on. Taking me towards the lift.

    “Erm, Kuroyuki? Are you listening? Put me down…!”

    “…I never said you are heavy,” Kuroyuki replied. “…You should know that my grip strength alone is enough to lift you.”

    On second thought, she’s right.

    “Ahaha… I will leave it to you, then…” I replied.

    Which then, Kuroyuki took me to the lift.

    “…Would this happen to the other you…?” She asked. “…If this would, I’m cancelling the ?ssignment.”

    “Well… Nightwalker doesn’t have this kind of strain, for now.”

    “…For now?”

    Kuroyuki turns her head a little from reflex.

    “It won’t be a problem. I think it’s alright to continue. If anything bad happens to Nightwalker… I will be counting on you, okay?”

    “…Even if it might be dangerous…?” Kuroyuki muttered. “…Is it really indispensable…?”

    “Then let me ask you… would you rather go out on a war to leave a mark on history or just to live quietly and peacefully for the rest of your life?”

    “………………”

    Kuroyuki somehow hesitated to answer.

    “For me… living quietly and peacefully is already enough,” I told her. “For the first time in 8 years that I’d finally step out from that island. I want to try out various things starting now.”

    Somehow, Kuroyuki made an exasperated sigh, seeming to give up from convincing me.

    “…If that is your wish…” She murmured softly, seeming to agree.

    “Thank you very much, then…” I replied, with b?r?ly any strength to speak.

    I could b?r?ly keep my eyes open.

    …so tired.

    “I guess… I’m going to pass out… for a while……”

    “…E-Eh—!?”