CHAPTER 29 – JEALOUSY

HIRAYA MISTELTEIN

The word about Alris dubbing me his "Destined One" ignited a storm of rumors that swept through the entire campus like a wildfire in a dense forest. In the days that followed, we found ourselves thrust into the spotlight as a couple, with even the teachers endorsing our supposed loveteam. Responding to this unexpected twist was a challenge in itself, as it felt like a confession had been made, though I understood it was intricately tied to the mysterious magic of the Vesryn Pulse.

Amidst the whirlwind of attention, I grappled with the realization that Alris likely referred solely to the Vesryn Pulse. This revelation sparked a cascade of questions in my mind. As a pure elf, I had never encountered a scenario where a Vesryn Pulse was activated in tandem with a dragonoid. This magical connection, I believed, was traditionally reserved for humans or hybrids, not elves like me.

Despite lingering doubts, Alris insisted on the potential significance of our unique Vesryn Pulse. If his assertions held true, our shared magic could serve as a formidable shield, safeguarding not only the Magic High School but the entirety of Tasty Town from future threats.

In a joint effort, Alris and I devoted a week to investigation, delving into the shadows to glean information about the elusive Neo Arcadia. Alris, with his gentle looks and soothing voice, made the process of questioning students appear as smooth as silk. Through these inquiries, we uncovered details suggesting a certain graduating student named Maggie Antlers harbored some connection with the terrorists we sought to unveil.

Coincidentally, Maggie Antlers happened to be classmates with both Arthur and Lysander. As lunchtime began, Alris and I decided to pay a visit to their classroom. We were greeted by the perpetually cheerful Arthur, known for his penchant for playful teasing.

"Good morning—I mean, good afternoon, Prez! And a pleasant lunchtime to you too, Mister First Gentleman," Arthur teased with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Hahaha. A pleasant lunchtime to you too," Alris responded, maintaining a kind smile.

Arthur's grin widened, resembling a kitten that had just unraveled a playful scheme. His blonde eyebrows arched as he nudged the junior detective Alris. "So, when's the honeymoon, huh? How many elven kids would you like to have?"

"Huh?" Alris tilted his head, genuinely perplexed by the unexpected turn in the conversation.

Instantly, my blood surged, and mana transformed into an aura of seething rage. Despite the smile on my face, it held a lethal intent as I directed my gaze toward Arthur.

"Arthur, you're aware that I'm a reasonable and peace-loving President, right? But if you misbehave, I will kick your balls to smithereens, you fucking fuck..." I paused, letting the threat hang in the air.

"O-Okay, I'm going to shut up," Arthur whimpered, resembling a scolded puppy as he gestured zipping his mouth.

Breaking the tense moment, Alris interjected, "A-Anyway... Madam President and I are looking for somebody named Maggie Antlers, and we heard that she attends this class." The shift in focus eased the atmosphere, diverting attention away from the earlier confrontation.

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"Ah, Maggie, right?" Arthur scanned the classroom before directing his question to one of his female classmates. "Hey, Odessa, have you seen Maggie?"

The girl shook her head. "Nope. She's been absent for the past three weeks. Mentioned something about business with her parents and stuff."

Arthur shrugged, indicating his lack of knowledge and apparent indifference. "Well..."

As the information unfolded, I surveyed the classroom, my eyes searching for someone I hadn't encountered in the past few days. And there he was—a figure with silver hair and lifeless blue eyes, casually enjoying a sandwich while gazing at the azure sky. This guy truly seemed to inhabit a world of his own.

Leaving Alris to gather information from the other girls, I approached the solitary figure, the self-imposed loner who seemed to strive for invisibility with his stillness. His movements were deliberate and unhurried as he savored each bite of his ham sandwich.

"Hey, Lysander~" I greeted with a warm smile, waving at him.

"Oh hey, Hiraya," came his response, though it lacked the cheerfulness of my greeting. He continued chewing his sandwich at an almost glacial pace.

"Um, by any chance..." I blushed and scratched my cheek, feeling a sudden awkwardness. "Are you avoiding me these past few days?"

"Hmm? No. Not really," Lysander replied in a cold tone, his response doing little to dispel the sense of distance between us.

"Oh, okay," I responded, a frown forming and my elven ears drooping. "Anyway, did you unfollow me on social media?"

"What?" Lysander met my inquiry with his usual cold, uncaring azure gaze. "Of course not."

"You did," I insisted.

"Nope."

Doubt gnawed at me, prompting me to retrieve my phone. As I navigated to his profile page on the social media app, the "Follow" button stared back at me. There it was—an undeniable sign that either of us had pressed the "Unfollow" button, and I was pretty sure it wasn't me.

"Look at this," I groaned, presenting him with my phone.

"Oh..." Lysander commented, devoid of emotion. His lack of surprise only deepened the sense of disconnect between us.

"Don't 'oh' me," I frowned, tears welling up in my eyes. "Did I do something to offend you? Maybe I teased you too much, and it got annoying? I... I'm sorry if I did something wrong."

"No, you did nothing wrong. Look, I may have pressed the 'Unfollow' button by accident. It's not much of a deal," Lysander explained.

Frustration bubbled within me, and I clenched my fists, struggling to contain the negative emotions swirling inside. I had been avoiding acknowledging it, but deep down, I knew what was causing Lysander's distant behavior. He was jealous.

"Look, if it's about Alris... He said he'll help us protect the campus and the whole town. He'll be a great asset to prevent the grim future you're so concerned about," I offered in an attempt to bridge the widening gap between us.

Suddenly, Lysander's demeanor shifted, and he erupted into laughter. The unexpected outburst drew the attention of everyone in the room, prompting curious glances at the eccentric silver-haired loner.

"Hahahahaha!" Lysander chuckled. "Prevent the grim future? With you two? Yeah, right."

"Is something funny?" I bit my lip, a pang of hurt accompanying Lysander's unpredictable behavior.

"Yes. Everything is funny."

Lysander rose from his seat, fixing me with a chilling, cold azure glare that sent shivers down my spine. The room seemed to darken as an intense aura of murderous intent enveloped him. Fear gripped me; the instinct to run, scream, hide, and beg for mercy surged through me, yet my body refused to move.

"If you really want to prevent the grim future, then I have a tip for you. It's a bigger fish than Maggie. It can be considered a whale compared to that insignificant skinny lizard girl. A killer whale that would definitely point to Neo Arcadia," Lysander disclosed.

"Who?" Alris interjected, stepping into the conversation.

Lysander directed his gaze toward Alris' crimson eyes and smiled. "Pete Voltaire, the school doctor. He has been experimenting dragonoid students from this school."

"Why are you telling me this now?" I winced, fingers pressing into my aching chest.

"It's because it is an enemy you're not ready to defeat." Lysander's lips curled into a devilish smirk. "But since you have your 'Destined One' with you, maybe things might work out better than I thought." His words lingered in the air, leaving a sinister trail that hinted at challenges beyond my grasp.