When the time had come, we both arrived at the training facility. Just as the professor told us to.

There were already people inside.

Melissa went first, opening the door for me.

“Oh? Good, looks like everyone’s here,” said the old man.

The professor along with everyone else in the squadron was gathered at this spot.

“As you all know, we still have two months left until it reaches that time of year.”

Everyone nodded at his words.

I had a vague understanding of what “that” was, apart from the fact that we were participating in it as a group.

It was something like a tournament that encompassed all the academies in this continent. In a way, it was comparable to a sports competition with the caveat of violence being allowed—violence as in combat.

“Which is why the upcoming festival will be good practice for when that time comes.”

“Practice?” one of the girls said.

“Yes, you will all be participating in this year’s celebration.”

The girl’s face showed hesitation. Same was for the others except for that white-haired student.

“You will all tourney in this year’s Magic Festival as representatives of the school. I’ll make it clear that since the establishment of Grimphon, we have never had a combative squadron, making you guys our first. Do you all understand?”

“Yes!” a majority of them shouted as though they were in the military.

On that note, it sounds straightforward. Since we would be representing this academy for the first time in a public event—it would matter a lot to the reputation of this institute. In a sense, this would be the debut match of a sports team.

“Normally, we should have a month in preparation for such things, but the semester just started, meaning that this time will be an exception. This year, the celebration will be hosted through individual match-ups in tournament fashion so I won’t have you all practice collectively like I was planning.”

“Regardless, I expect every single one of you to perform well.”

He was looking at me as he said that.

“Hone your magic as best you can. If there are any questions or if any of you are stuck in their magic cultivation, be sure to confide in me. I’ll be in my office so you all should know where to find me.”

He made a nimble retreat after that announcement.

After seeing him out with my eyes, I turned over to look at everyone else minding their own businesses. Everyone was getting up to do their own things, whether it was training as Eigenvalue said, or doing whatever.

‘I guess I’ll go.’

“Where are you going?” Melissa grabbed onto my wrist when she saw me getting up.

Out of sheer reflex, I knocked her hand away.

“Outside,” I said, not thinking too hard.

“If you’re practicing magic, didn’t you say that we could train together?”

She blinked her eyes as she awaited my response…

“I’m just taking a walk,” I said.

As for what I was actually going to do, I’ll figure that out when the time comes. I could either continue reading that unending book or go for some shadowboxing. Either way, it depended on my mood.

“A walk? Oh! Are you going to check out the festival preparations?”

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“Festival preparations?”

“Yeah, there’s usually a seven-day holiday before the observed day of the festival.”

That did sound interesting. I barely understood the culture of this world since I didn’t interact much with anyone. Not to mention that I haven’t wandered out of the campus since the first day.

I had this creeping premonition every time I neared the borders of the campus that a certain red-head would appear out of nowhere to seize me.

I haven’t seen her in a while. Then again, I’d rather not.

“I’ll check it out,” I said.

“Great! Let’s go together!”

‘…’

My thoughts?

Take a guess.

—Samantha—

{Hypnosis Resistance [Skill] has leveled up!}

{Hypnosis Resistance [Skill] has reached [Level 100]!}

{Hypnosis Resistance [Skill] has evolved into Hypnosis Immunity [Absolute State]!}

When I awoke, I was greeted by a nauseating sting in my eyes. It was as though I had slept for years without using them.

“Lady Samantha, is there a problem that needs to be addressed?” said the burly man in front of me.

“Lady Samantha?” I found myself muttering after him.

He was dressed in a tidy suit, a very professional attire. But what drew my attention was his oddly-shaped ears. They were long; too long for a human.

“Have some water.” He grabbed a bottle from somewhere in the carriage.

“Thanks.” I found myself answering the man subconsciously.

My hand reached for the bottle of water, sneaking in a sip.

The way my body moved felt preprogrammed; I had lived and performed these intimate actions more times than I could count. It was just drinking water—how complex could it be? But this was enough to convince me that something wasn’t right.

That’s right, the last thing I could remember was…

I made swift movements after capping the water to check on my clothing. In and out, I inspected.

The clothes on me were unbefitting—too flamboyant and sparkly for the eyes.

I didn’t like dresses. At the same time, I couldn’t remember the last time I wore one.

There weren’t any pockets. And the thumb-sized jar of medicine entrusted to me by Melissa was nowhere to be found.

“Lady Samantha, we’re here.”

The burly man exited the carriage first to open the door for me.

Taking my first step, it was only then that I noticed the thing I was wearing. Sandals.

It was hard to walk as I usually did, but I was able to get down safely. And when I did, a small wind tickled my naked feet.

“Follow me,” the burly man said as he led me into what looked to be a shrine grander than any cathedral told in fairy tales and lullabies.

The opened gates meant to size a beast were wide enough for any horde.

I was confused. Where was I? What’s going on? Hypnosis Immunity?

But if there was anything I’ve learned from being with him, it was how he reacted to unfamiliar situations.

So I decided to observe first, like Daniel, and freak out later.

The burly man spoke to me in a reverent tone, meaning he was not antagonizing me. That was enough for me to go with the flow.

My current situation had something to do with Melithear, that much I was aware of. After all, she did say that part of the deal was… Wait, deal? When did we form a contract?

All of a sudden, the burly man fell to the ground. But the drop did not make a sound in this holy sanction. Rather, he was kneeling, but not in a way I had seen before.

Both his knees were on the ground as his entire body arched forward with his head resting on the floor. It could be said that he was kissing the ground.

My eyes went straight to the thing he was kneeling to, and there in front of me was a statue larger than any I had ever seen, granted, I had only heard of these constructions in stories.

Chiseled out of a beautiful white rock was a man. With one foot on top of a rock, I could see the sandals he wore, just like mine.

But instead of a dress, he had a thick furry coat that extended down to his knees. In place of what should have been pants, he had underwear that exposed the muscularity of his thighs.

Above all that was the shining pack of eight with streaks running across the sides. It was an understatement to say that someone could grind meat on that chiseled core.

A step above the stomach was a deep scar. Three across in the same diagonal; a mural that told a story of a war fought between man and monster.

The half-exposed chest unable to be covered by the coat was enough to convince demand my attention.

‘Was he a king?’

Such foolish thoughts ran through my head. He was a forest man, not a civilized one.

From the neck down was a figure that could make anyone jealous even with the battle scars.

The long flowing hair matched with the masculine tone added an aura of primitivism—in a good way. That’s what it should have been, had I not seen the face.

With sharp eyes and equally sharp eyebrows, the man had a smirk larger than the scar dashed across his cheek.

Arrogance.

That was the emotion I was sensing.

But I also sensed an unfamiliarity within that face. A second persona I didn’t know existed.

Because this man...

He looked like Daniel.