Chapter 218 - Nathan and Athena Receive Chocolate

Nathan Evenhart:

Finally, the last day of school had arrived. Soon, I’d be back in my duchy, where we’d gather to discuss our plans for Nikolaus Wolves. There would be no intervention from the kingdom, no legal proceedings. We had no concrete evidence, only suspicions. But we all knew, from the clues, that he was behind everything.

It was the Goddess of Strategy who deduced it all, and that was more than enough. I might despise Athena, but I can’t deny her intelligence.

Over these last few months, there was no sign of the third assassin, even after I exposed myself in deserted places around the city. All signs pointed to him giving up, likely under orders from Nikolaus Wolves. After the failed kidnapping attempt, Nikolaus probably didn’t want to risk triggering the kingdom’s intervention or raising suspicion.

The penalty for harming a high-ranking noble is clear and unforgiving. There’s no mercy, no bargaining. Nikolaus’s life would be mine, along with his family, his employees, his soldiers, his animals. I would have the right to kill them all. I could, if I wished, wipe out the entire peasant population of his region. I could even spend the rest of my life torturing Nikolaus and his men. That’s the price to pay for attacking a high noble. No exceptions – child, elder, or beast; all would be at my mercy.

That’s the legal route…

But without evidence, we can’t take the case to the kingdom. Kidnapping Nikolaus and trying to force a confession would be pointless. He’s likely already erased any traces long before the assassins acted. After all, they’d been planning this for at least two years. Capturing the third assassin, if he was still under contract, was crucial. We also can’t kidnap and torture Nikolaus to force a confession; the kingdom would never condone such methods. A testimony obtained through torture would be unreliable, and the kingdom requires solid proof for a crime of this magnitude. After all, it would be too easy for a high noble to fabricate a charge or eliminate a rival in their own territory.

Although my family owns the lands, we can’t act freely against other nobles due to the agreement my ancestors made when they joined the Founder’s Empire. Part of the political nobility in my duchy was selected by the kingdom to ensure noble laws are respected.

For this reason, we won’t approach Nikolaus Wolves as the Everhart family. We’ll go as assassins. He’ll meet with an unfortunate “accident.”

Does it count as an accident if he falls more than ten times from the top floor of his mansion onto a knife?

I laughed at the thought.

"Here!" said a girl, a little nervous.

"Thank you…" I replied, watching as she hurried off.

What’s going on with me? Aren't girls only supposed to give chocolate to friends on Chocolate Day? So why were so many strangers handing me boxes of chocolate?

I continued walking down the academy hall, careful not to drop the ever-growing pile of boxes I was carrying. For some reason, various girls, their faces red, kept handing me chocolates and then running off.

I don’t even know these girls…

I kept walking, still perplexed.

"Nathan Evenhart…" called a voice from behind me.

"Yes?" I replied, turning around.

There stood a short girl with glasses, her face slightly flushed.

"I'm a third-year…" she said, hesitantly.

And that means… what? Should I congratulate her for that?

"Here," she said, handing me a box of chocolates, her hands trembling.

"Thank you…" I said, taking the box.

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"I… I… wanted to know if you…"

If I what?

Before I could ask, she ran off.

"Wait! At least tell me your name…" I tried to call after her, but she’d already disappeared down the hall.

I sighed, looking down at the pile of chocolates I was now holding.

Good grief…

Everything seems to suggest that these chocolates are intended for something beyond mere friendship.

So, my face really does attract attention, I guess. Now I understand why High Elves only stay in their own society…

"Icarus! These chocolates are divine!" Athena exclaimed, walking beside me down the hall. She’d made a phantom copy of one of the boxes and was devouring its contents, looking crazed with every bite.

"Keep walking down the hall while these girls keep showing up. Don’t even think about heading to the dorm. I want more chocolate," she commanded.

I’m not your servant. I can’t just keep accepting chocolates from teenage girls because you want them.

I tried to ignore the goddess, who was eating with exaggerated sounds of delight.

"Icarus, fuck a normal life! Let's invade a chocolate factory, set up a throne inside, and reign over everything," she said excitedly.

You’re insane! Disappear!

I kept walking as Athena muttered bizarre theories about how chocolate was made.

I told myself I wanted to live life as a human… but this situation is kind of funny.

"There you are, my friend," said Edmund, appearing suddenly.

"So, you’re also carrying a mountain of chocolates?" I asked, noticing he was holding several boxes.

He laughed.

"Ah, the perks of our faces. I mentioned my plans for a second wife, but I wouldn’t mind having over ten," he said, chuckling.

Edmund and I headed to the dorm. On the table in the living room, there was an impressive amount of chocolate boxes.

"Here, boys," said Alice, appearing and handing each of us another box.

"Thank you," we both said.

I noticed most of the boxes on the table were Alice’s.

"Because I’m part of the royal family, I have to give chocolates to everyone in our class to show that I’m friendly with everyone," she explained.

Soon after, another girl appeared.

"H-here!" Melina said, handing me a box of chocolates and then another to Edmund.

Just as I was about to say something, Alice spoke first.

"That amount of boxes you two have is unusual," she remarked, eyeing the growing stacks. "Could they have been given with… other intentions?"

Edmund laughed.

"Of course."

He says that so casually…

"HERE!" a shout from behind made me turn. It was the wolf girl.

"Thyra is giving chocolate to her friend," she said, handing me a box.

"Thank you, Thyra."

She smiled, clearly pleased with herself.

"Thyra ate half the box to make sure it was tasty," she added.

What? You ate those chocolates?

"Don't worry. Thyra opened the others to make sure they were the same, then licked the wrappers to seal them back up."

Yeah… I’m definitely not eating those chocolates.

"And mine?" Edmund asked, curious.

Are you seriously considering eating licked chocolates? You have strange tastes…

"Thyra isn’t your friend," she said flatly before walking off.

Edmund and I exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

"I thought I got along with everyone…" he murmured.

"Don’t worry, it’s just Thyra. She’s… a little crazy," Melina said, trying to reassure him.

As I reached my apartment door, I heard another voice call out to me.

"Nathan!" Syvis approached with a box of chocolates in hand.

She tossed the box in my direction, but before I could catch it, a vine extended from her hand and pulled the box back to her.

"Hahaha," she laughed, coming closer. "Thyra taught me that trick."

I think Thyra might be a terrible influence on a future queen…

"Here. Thanks for being my friend," she teased, finally handing me the box. "The academy’s fourth top entrant that no one knows about."

"Thanks," I said, appreciating the joke.

Edmund appeared beside me, receiving a box from Syvis as well.

Just as I was about to open the apartment door, Kinue stepped out, looking a little flustered.

"Nathan…" She met my eyes. "Here… thank you for being my friend and always supporting me."

She handed me a box of chocolates, then looked into my eyes for a moment before quickly glancing away, clearly nervous.

"And mine?" Edmund asked, suddenly at my side.

I saw Kinue turn bright red.

"Sorry… I only bought one box. I only have one guy friend…" she said, obviously embarrassed.

I glanced at Edmund and chuckled.

"Tough luck, my friend," I teased, heading into the apartment.

I rushed to set my boxes on the kitchen table, when suddenly, a familiar figure darted out from the bedroom.

"What’s all this?" Cylla asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Chocolates that I received. Want to try some?" I offered.

She sniffed the boxes, considering.

"Sure."

Kinue returned, closing the apartment door behind her.

"I don’t know if I’ll be going to the restaurant with you guys," she said hesitantly.

"That’s fine. Are you heading straight to the mansion?" I asked.

She looked at me, lowering her gaze.

"I don’t think I’ll be going back to the duchy… for a while," she admitted, sounding a bit melancholic.

"But why? I thought you’d already stabilized your bestial form."

Kinue looked at me, smiling, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"It’s just temporary… I have some things to figure out internally…"

I understand. I also have some things to work out.

"That’s alright. But still, everyone misses you there. You’re part of our family," I said, hoping to comfort her.

She sighed softly.

"I’ll think about it…" she replied. "Now, I’m going to talk to Professor Adrihna. I’ll see you later…"

With that, she left the apartment.

"Nathan," Chloe’s voice called out as she emerged from her room.

"There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about for a long time…" she said, looking at me seriously.