Chapter 373: Chapter 373

After the kids left, Luna scratched the back of her head and asked.

“So, where’s our next destination?”

“You sent them ahead because it’s a place that’d be awkward to go with them, right? Isn’t that it?”

Luna gave me a sideways glance. The moment I saw her face, I knew.

Luna’s signature move, the “Occasionally Firing Off Brilliant Intuition,” had activated.

She usually had the awareness of a brick, but moments were always shocking. Enough to give me chills.

“Keke, it’s nothing like that. I just wanted a short break. As you know, we’ve been pushing ourselves quite hard lately, haven’t we?”

“Hmph~ Keeping secrets again? Fine, whatever.”

“Alright, alright. This big sister will understand with a generous heart. So, where should we go?”

It didn’t seem like she was planning to listen to my explanation. Still, if she was willing to follow, there was no problem.

“Let’s take a break. According to some intel I heard before, there’s a fantastic ice cream shop near that alleyway.”

“A snack, huh… You really are smooth with excuses. Just give me a heads-up if you’re planning to cause trouble. That way I can brace myself.”

“Keke, what kind of preparation do you need for eating delicious snacks?”

Just as we were about to head out together, I turned my head, feeling a gaze from somewhere.

Our pet cat… no, Rezé was staring at me quietly.

‘Right, she was here too.’

She had such a faint presence that I honestly forgot about her sometimes.

Anyway, had Rezé also sensed something like Luna did?

Rezé hesitated, then cautiously opened her mouth.

“Do-Do they have carrot ice cream too?”

Right. So you’re fine as long as there’s a carrot involved, huh?

Honestly, the chances of carrot ice cream existing are low. But—

“Keke, of course they do.”

Given that I absolutely had to go there, lying was my only option.

“Carrot ice cream is something beloved by humanity, cried over daily by black mages who can’t eat it, and feared by demons. There’s no way it wouldn’t exist.”

A dash of C-seasoning, and Rezé was out of it.

Luna shook her head and took Rezé’s hand, following behind me.

As we walked toward our destination, I got lost in thought.

In truth, Luna’s guess was spot on. There was a good reason I’d chosen to move separately from Party 1.

My objectives for this episode were as follows.

The first issue wasn’t much of a concern. I had already confirmed that the story was proceeding according to the original scenario.

‘In the game, Dolores is found dead, and two days later, the mastermind’s identity is revealed.’

Since Dolores was found a day early and is alive, that means Baron Kelven’s identity will be revealed tomorrow.

That would mark the beginning of the end for this episode.

‘And since Party 1, including Yuridia, just headed toward Nade, I’m sure of it.’

I could’ve gone with those kids to visit Nade, finish the deduction, and receive the stat bonus.

But I chose another path—one that would yield a bigger gain.

‘Receiving the Proof Token from Lowell and confirming the true nature of the Dark Beast Squad.’

That’s right. This was the path I chose. To be more precise—

‘It’s a process to verify my hypothesis about the Dark Beast Squad.’

The idea that they exist to exert a negative influence on the Four Heavenly Kings and Legion Commanders, while exerting a positive influence on the Eight Pillars and allies.

Coincidence or fate, there were two individuals here who fit the criteria.

Lowell and Rodelin, daughters of the Lucid family, one of the Empire’s Eight Pillars.

‘And the way to verify the hypothesis is simple.’

Spot a change in their conversation and take advantage of it.

That would prove my theory that the Dark Beast Squad’s presence influences allies positively and enemies negatively.

It was nearing sunset. Which meant we could only visit one more location today.

But that was fine. Because I knew better than anyone where Rodelin would be right now.

“This is the place? Looks like an ordinary ice cream shop.”

“Keke, the more ordinary and old-fashioned the place, the better the taste usually is.”

I looked around. The key characters hadn’t arrived yet.

To kill time, I handed an ice cream cone to both Luna and Rezé.

Common soft-serve ice cream, the kind you could find anywhere.

Rezé glanced between me and the ice cream. She clearly wanted to know where her carrot ice cream was.

I took a plain soft-serve and stuck a whole carrot into the top.

“Keke, what a splendid carrot ice cream.”

Her long bangs hung down like curtains. From behind them, Rezé sent me a very displeased glare.

Stick a carrot in it, and it’s carrot ice cream. Am I wrong?

Ignoring Rezé’s eyes burning with fury, I turned around.

That’s when I heard a small commotion in the distance.

“I said I don’t want it!”

“Please take it. You haven’t been eating much lately.”

It was Lowell and Rodelin. The two were bickering as they walked down the street.

Luna glanced at me with narrowed eyes.

“So it was Senior Rodelin you wanted to see? You don’t just know every girl in the village, but even exactly where they’ll be… Your pervert level is truly…”

“Keke, it’s a coincidence. Think about it. I didn’t go looking for them—they came this way on their own, didn’t they?” Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel⚑fire.net

“That’s exactly why it’s scary, okay? You’re my friend, but sometimes you seriously freak me out.”

You scare me too sometimes, you know. I can still picture you stalking me at the start of the semester.

Enough idle thoughts. I walked up to the bickering Lowell and Rodelin.

“Is something the matter?”

Lowell’s eyes twitched violently when she saw us. Judging by her reaction, we’d caught her in a moment she didn’t want seen.

If she ran off now, I wouldn’t be able to verify my hypothesis. So I immediately dropped into a split to match her eye level.

Luna split down too. Though with her height, she barely needed to move.

It seemed our behavior had pleased her. Lowell’s wariness eased a little.

“Ahem. Your manners are perfect, as always. I wish my little sister were more like you.”

“So that’s what it was!”

Rodelin suddenly did a full split, as if something had finally clicked. Seeing that, Lowell’s face twisted into a deep scowl.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you embarrassed? Get up right now!”

Rodelin stood up straight, wearing an awkward smile.

Lowell let out a deep sigh.

I spoke to her as she exhaled.

“Keke, more importantly, what brings you all the way here?”

Though temporary, Lowell was still an instructor. It made sense for her to be on security duty.

Because of her exceptional skills, she had been assigned to watch over the knights’ quarters. But the place we were now was on the complete opposite end of that zone.

Lowell looked clearly flustered by my question.

“W-What do you mean, what for? I came to keep an eye on something unnecessary.”

She forced the words out. I nodded and replied.

“I see. You came because you were worried about your sister.”

“Wh-What the hell are you saying! I said I came to monitor her! Are your ears clogged? Should I clean them for you?”

Lowell yanked hard on my ear.

‘What are you going to do if your true feelings slip out?’

That’s right. In truth, Lowell cared deeply for Rodelin.

The reason she was especially harsh with her, the reason she crushed her dream of becoming a soldier, and the story of their past—

I already knew it all.

“You heard about it too, right? Chasing suspicious people alone… she could’ve died, easily. Acting on her own during group activity? With that attitude, how can she ever hope to become a soldier?”

Rodelin’s shoulders drooped.

It looked like she had taken Lowell’s words at face value.

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. So please…”

Shrinking back, Rodelin held out something wrapped in cloth.

It was a lunchbox. One she had prepared herself for her older sister, Lowell.

“I told you I didn’t need it. The rations they give are more than enough.”

“You haven’t been eating well lately. Nutrition is important. Especially at a time .”

“Are you trying to lecture me now?”

Rodelin, determined not to back down this time, grabbed Lowell’s hand.

Lowell clenched her fists and resisted with all her strength.

One trying to give, the other refusing to take.

As the tug-of-war dragged on, Lowell suddenly swung her arm hard.

“I said… I don’t need it!!”

The lunchbox flew through the air and rolled along the ground.

The impact shattered the container, and its contents spilled across the floor.

A sigh escaped Rodelin’s lips.

Everyone was too stunned to act for a moment.

“No! That’s a lunchbox handmade by senior!”

I bent down and began picking up the spilled food and eating it.

Honestly, it was a pitiful sight. But I had no choice.

‘If I don’t act, their relationship could be permanently broken.’

That’s right. Picking up and eating food from the ground—

It was the only way to preserve their bond.

Hmm… Now that I’m eating it, I’m not even sure it’s dirty. Maybe because I picked it up within three seconds? Or maybe it’s filled with Rodelin’s love?

Just as I was chewing away on the food from the ground—

Two bright stars exploded in my vision.

When I looked up, I saw Luna and Lowell, fists clenched.

“Don’t eat stuff off the ground!”

“You filthy brat, how dare you eat my food… Die!”

Luna’s punch hurt, but Lowell’s punch hurt way more.

And she didn’t stop there. Lowell grabbed me by the hair and started shaking me violently.

Her grip was full of emotion.

“Keke, I just picked up what was thrown away. What’s the issue?”

“It wasn’t thrown away, you trash! Die! Just dieeeee!”

“P-Please calm down! We know it was an accident! And Zero, stop eating. You’re going to get sick!”

A chaotic mess unfolded. Lowell finally calmed down after tearing out a good handful of my hair.

“S-So… Anyway, don’t bother making something next time. I’ll handle my meals myself!”

Lowell ran off in a hurry.

Rodelin stared after her, then gave a faint smile and put on white gloves and a mask.

“Keke, I was already cleaning while eating, actually.”

“…Fine, just keep eating. Why not lick the floor while you’re at it!?”

I started cleaning while enduring Luna’s scolding. It wasn’t hard. After all, I had an S-rank [Clean] skill.

“Thank you, everyone.”

“Aren’t you angry, senior? I mean, even if she’s family, that was too much.”

“She’s just on edge, that’s all. You know how she hasn’t had a proper break lately.”

She said it like it was nothing, but it must have stung badly.

In the game, if you let this event slide, Rodelin emotionally severs herself from Lowell.

The rift becomes so deep it’s beyond repair.

‘I handled that well.’

With the secret move, “Pitifully Eating Scraps(?)”

In any case, the relationship between Rodelin and Lowell didn’t fall apart.

Rodelin, as if making excuses, continued speaking.

“Besides, she’s been squeezing in personal training during breaks too… She must’ve been on edge because of that. And I went and made things more annoying… So it’s all my fault.”

My hands, which had been busy with the [Clean] skill, paused for a moment.

Personal training. That wasn’t something that happened in the game.

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