“The Breeze Stones should probably go in this corner after all? And I can increase the number a little… let the wind-attribute mana harmonize the overflow from the other attributes.”
Via was in the unused room, drafting the layout of her Magic Workshop.
She needed to place the attribute stones first and check whether the mana balance was stable. If it went out of balance, she would have to make precise adjustments.
Just as she was completely focused, a knock came from outside.
Knock, knock, knock—
“Hm?”
Via raised her head and glanced behind her.
Judging by the sound, someone was knocking on the dorm door.
Who could it be?
She thought for a moment. First of all, she no longer had a roommate. Given her reputation, no one wanted to share a dorm with her, so it couldn’t be a new roommate—she hadn’t received any notice.
Normal people wouldn’t come looking for her either. Lately there were rumors she had studied black magic; anyone who got close would have their luck stolen, or end up like the members of Team 043—dead in the wilderness.
So… the dorm supervisor?
Though she was unpopular, she had never once broken dorm rules. The supervisor followed the principle of “better to avoid trouble” and wouldn’t bother her.
Knock, knock, knock.
The knocking continued.
“So annoying.”
Via turned her attention back to the Magic Workshop draft. She didn’t want to waste time on pointless things.
Let them knock all they want—she would just pretend she wasn’t home.
After eating a closed door, they would probably leave soon enough.
“If I don’t add too many Breeze Stones and just shift the Clear Spring Stone a little closer to the center, the mana of each attribute can be perfectly balanced.”
Via continued her adjustments.
Sure enough, just as she expected, the knocking outside stopped.
The annoying fellow had finally stopped disturbing her.
“Excellent. Next step—channel the mana in this space toward—”
Click.
A faint sound suddenly rang out, freezing Via completely.
Was she hallucinating?
Why had the sound of a key unlocking the front door just come from outside?
She hurriedly moved to the room’s door, cracked it open the tiniest bit, and peeked out—only to witness something unbelievable.
It was Sophie.
Sophie had come to her dorm!!
“Via?”
Sophie held a key, looking a little confused.
“The dorm supervisor said you hadn’t gone out, so you should be in the room, right?”
“…”
Via’s pupils shook.
She glanced back at her Magic Workshop draft and the attribute stones placed in every corner.
Some of the materials even fell into the category of dangerous goods.
No student at Avalon Academy could possibly build a Magic Workshop alone.
Sophie absolutely could not see this.
“This room?”
Sophie’s gaze shifted toward the unused room Via was in.
Via’s heart skipped several beats. Instinctively she stepped back—and that tiny movement produced a faint scuff.
“Mm…”
Sophie narrowed her eyes and walked toward the unused room.
It’s over.
It’s completely over. If Sophie opened the door, there would be no way to explain this.
She had been raised under the Holy Land’s education since childhood, striving single-mindedly to become the Perfect Saintess—then suddenly revealing transcendent magical attainment and building a precision Magic Workshop alone?
Anyone who saw that would be suspicious. They would definitely think she had been possessed by something and send her back for a grand inquisition.
No—no way!
No matter what, Sophie could not be allowed to enter this room!!
Even if she had to risk… everything!!
Via clenched her teeth.
Her mind raced. As Sophie drew nearer step by step, countless plans were rejected one after another.
Suddenly, an idea struck her—one so absurd she herself thought it ridiculous.
“This… is insane, right?!”
Via’s cheeks flushed slightly.
Though the plan was utterly preposterous, after thinking it through, there was truly no better option right now.
Fine then—
Here goes nothing!!!
Great undertakings do not fuss over details. For the sake of walking the Demon King’s path once more, today’s humiliation is a necessary sacrifice!
With that thought, the pink-haired girl yanked off the over-the-knee white stockings that had been covering her thighs and tossed them to the floor. On the other leg she pulled the stocking down to her calf.
With lightning speed she stripped off her shorts, leaned against the door, removed her hair ties, and slipped one hand inside her loose T-shirt.
“Nn… uu… ah… nn…”
Via’s face was now redder than a ripe tomato.
She let out sounds that sounded extremely… not good.
“Ah? That’s Via’s voice?”
Sophie stopped in her tracks.
She had clearly heard very abnormal noises coming from the room ahead—almost as if Via was… bullying herself.
What on earth was her little sister doing alone in there?
The red-haired girl’s mind went completely blank.
Wasn’t this something only adolescent girls did?
No.
Her little sister was exactly at that age.
Though she still loved following her around like when they were children, she was indeed in puberty.
“Via, you…”
“Ah?”
Via put on a shocked expression, pushed the door open, and stuck out only half her body. She looked at Sophie with an expression of disbelief and extreme shame.
“…”
Sophie stared at her disheveled little sister, radiating an indescribably delicate aura all over, and her mind went blank.
“Why… would you…?”
Via lowered her head, clutching the door, looking so shy she was about to cry. A layer of mist covered her pink eyes.
“I’m sorry, Via—I didn’t realize you were… taking off… uh, I mean, not that…”
Sophie covered her face, unable to look directly at Via, babbling nonsense.
This was her first time encountering such a scene—she genuinely had no idea how to handle it.
Neither textbooks nor etiquette instructors had ever taught her this.
“I’ll step outside first! When you’re… finished, come find me, okay!”
Leaving those words, she fled as if escaping, exiting the dorm at top speed and slamming the door shut.
“Phew…”
Via let out a huge breath of relief. Though it had been mortifying, this exaggerated performance had successfully driven Sophie away.
No one who saw that situation would ever think of entering the room.
The secret of the Magic Workshop was safe.
But… was it really worth it?
Thinking of this, the pink-haired girl squatted on the floor, hugging her head. The moment she remembered that she still had to face Sophie later and pretend she had actually been doing that, she wanted to find a hole to crawl into and hide forever.
“Somebody save me… just kill me now…”
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