翁公和媛媛在厨房里猛烈进出

From through the door, Alya\'s voice spoke.

"So you\'re saying that djinns will attack during the winter ball... but there\'s no guarantee as to how or where they\'ll attack."

"Yes... that\'s why I need as much help as possible. If you could convince Ren...it would be a great help."

"But... why Ren? Wouldn\'t you much rather have the help of a top-ranked student like Liam or Kevin?"

"You don\'t have to protect to act oblivious; I know you\'ve seen Ren fight as well."

"I-i have no idea what you\'re talking about."

"Oh, come on, look at your clothes. There are clear black marks all over, no matter how much you try to help it."

"..."

"That\'s obviously from that elemental slash attack he does."

"..."

"Anyway, it\'s not like I don\'t doubt Liam or Kevin\'s power. I\'ve seen that fight and work as part of the student council. They\'re most likely on par with Ren\'s power or maybe even stronger."

Hearing the couch cushion crack through the door, I assumed that Alya was recalling the fight in the carriage at Astrid\'s words.

Once again, Astrid\'s voice spoke despite Alya\'s silence.

"His planning skills and ability to come up with things on the fly, when needed, is what proves his worth to me."

"y-yeah, I s-see why you choose Ren."

Hearing another cushion crack, but from father away, I immediately stepped away from the day as I assumed Astrid stood up.

Speaking a louder tone than earlier, Astrid\'s voice sounded.

"Is he alright in there...? I mean, you heard that crashing sound earlier, too, right?"

Rushing away from the door, I hid in the shower, immediately closing the curtains and covering myself.

This intruder had managed to deceive my eyes... the thing I prided myself most on as I used to believe... that my eyes could see everything.

They were not someone I could take easily...a plan needed to be made.

As I manifested two pairs of corrupted daggers, Astrid knocked on the door before saying.

"Is everything good in there?"

Internally facepalming in the shower, behind the curtains, I readied my two daggers.

How could I have not noticed this wasn\'t the real Astrid?

Would the real Astrid, the famed student council president known for her serious persona, really check up on someone in the bathroom...?

I had relied on my eyes too much...just like I had earlier been dependent on the plot of the book.

Just because their movements were the same, I had assumed that she was Astrid, despite all the bits of abnormal dialogue I had noticed from her.

I had made the same mistake twice.

Clearing away my worries, I stayed silent for a moment before screaming in an awkward tone.

"uhh... I need some help in here!"

Where was the optimal place to fight?

A big and open room where Astrid, who had the power to cast plant and tree spells, could abuse the hell out of it.

...or a small room where spells would be essentially useless.

Calming my emotions, I inwardly muttered as silence descended upon the room inside and outside.

"It has to be done... no matter my pride."

After a couple of moments of silence, Astrid finally responded from behind the bathroom door.

"what...what exactly do you mean!?"

Trying to keep my tone as calm as possible and devoid of any sarcasm, I seriously replied.

"It\'s exactly what I said. There\'s a bit of a... problem in here."

"..."

"..."

As silence once again descended upon the room, I began to make preparations, playing the physical corruption in my hands.

Manifesting a makeshift arrow trap, I carefully positioned it right above the door before also making a lever.

Connecting the two together, I stared at the system, which, as soon as the door opened, would send arrows flying downwards at the person entering.

Finally, Astrid responded.

"and... what exactly do you want me to do about it...?"

Staying silent, I pulled out my smartwatch before... immediately realizing that I didn\'t have Alya\'s number saved anywhere.

Finding Ruby\'s contact, I rapidly messaged.

[Ren: I need Alya\'s #, asap.]

[Ruby: ***]

[Ruby: I sent it, but why? Aren\'t you at odds with everyone, basically?]

Reminding myself to check for her reply later, I copied and pasted Alya\'s number into my messaging app before opening up a group chat with her.

[Ren: This is Ren... there is a problem.]

[Alya: ...I know, I\'m right outside the bathroom too. Can you just finish and come out so we can discuss it? This is getting ridiculous.]

[Ren: I\'M BEING SERIOUS]

[Alya: All right... then.]

[Ren: I\'m going to make Astrid come into the bathroom, then I need you to shut the door right behind her.]

[Alya: ...you know, those rumors weren\'t too far off. What you\'re asking me to do is quite literally... yeah.]

Shaking my head, I quickly typed another response.

[Ren: That\'s not really Astrid... it\'s someone disguised as her. I need you to trust me, just this once. If you don\'t, we could be in serious trouble.]

[Alya: Alright... but I would never have been involved if something happened.]

[Ren: When she opens the bathroom door, close it behind her.]

Closing my smartwatch, I picked up my two daggers before replying to Astrid.

"...can you come in; there\'s a problem with the sink, I\'m trying to figure out."

Hearing someone practically collapse behind the door, I immediately continued.

"I am fully clothed; there is nothing sexual about this."

Maybe should have said that first, huh?

From the shower and behind the curtains, I manifested a stick of corruption before making it long enough to reach the doorknob.

After another bit of silence, "Astrid\'s" voice finally sounded again.

"If you say so... but I swear to god if this is some ploy."