Korova’s words made the air in the infirmary freeze for a moment.
Everyone looked at each other, and finally, Lillian was the first to nod, her pale gold ponytail swaying slightly.
“Since it is the Academy Principal’s request…… then we won’t disturb you. Get some good rest, Student Camilla.”
She looked at Camilla with soft eyes and bowed slightly to her.
Alina curled her lips, said nothing, and walked out with her arms crossed, while Emma whispered “recover well” and followed Lillian out.
Salina took a deep look at Camilla, then glanced at Korova, a hint of suspicion flashing in her crimson eyes, but ultimately she said nothing, her skirt drawing a sharp arc as she turned.
Lyudmila followed silently, and Shana picked up Rimuru, mouthed “good luck” to Camilla, and left with the blood wolf.
Tom’s squad members politely withdrew and gently closed the door.
—
Only Camilla, Ophelia, and the Academy Principal holding the rabbit doll remained in the room.
Ophelia did not let go of Camilla’s hand; instead, she gripped it tighter.
She raised her ice-blue eyes, which held no respect for the Academy Principal, only suppressed anger and cold questioning.
“What are you here for？”
Her voice was very calm, but contained no goodwill.
“I remember very clearly that one of the conditions for you inviting me to join Mistra was to guarantee the absolute safety of the second daughter of the Violet family during her time at the academy. And now？”
She pointed to Camilla’s pale face and the bandages on her face.
“My sister has been lying here for three days, three whole days, and she almost didn’t wake up. Is this the absolute safety you promised？ When the Dark Demonic Beast Legion invaded, where did you go！”
The smiling expression on Korova’s face stiffened for a moment.
She scratched Miss Dim in her arms, attempting to act cute to get through it.
“Oh, this… it was an unexpected event, no one anticipated that those lunatics from the Dark Demonic Beast Legion would be so desperate…… Student Ophelia, you saw it too, the academy’s losses were also very heavy…… And, it’s not that I wasn’t willing to come over, there were indeed special circumstances……”
“Don’t change the subject.”
Ophelia interrupted her, her gaze sharp enough to pierce through someone.
“According to our agreement, I have the right to take Camilla away at any time.”
The rabbit doll in Korova’s hand almost fell to the ground.
“Wait, wait！ Dropping out？ That won’t do！ Only that is not allowed.”
Genuine anxiety finally appeared on her small face, and a rare look of panic appeared in her watery, large eyes.
“Student Ophelia, you are a genius the likes of which our academy hasn’t seen in a hundred years！ Student Camilla also has great potential！ This time was an accident, an accident ah！”
The girl, who could be the other’s great-great-great-great-great-grandmother in terms of age, lunged and hugged Ophelia’s leg, looking up piteously at her.
Her tender pink lips couldn’t stop trembling, as if she would burst into tears the next second.
“An accident cannot be an excuse for breaking a promise.”
Ophelia remained unmoved, her tone resolute.
“I only want my sister to be safe. Since this place cannot provide that, we will leave.”
As she spoke, Ophelia shook her leg in disgust, trying to shake off the “octopus” clinging to her.
“Don’t——！”
Korova let out what could be called a wail, no longer possessing even a hint of the demeanor of a legendary summoner, looking exactly like a child about to have their candy confiscated.
“I was wrong, I was wrong！ It was my failure！ Please don’t leave！ How about…… how about this！ Compensation！ I’ll give you compensation！”
Ophelia frowned and was about to refuse, but Camilla, who had been listening quietly, suddenly moved.
“Compensation？”
Her voice was still a bit raspy, but her eyes brightened slightly, and her headache didn’t seem as bad.
“What compensation？”
Seeing a chance, Korova immediately struck while the iron was hot, her small head nodding like a chick pecking at grain.
“Yes, yes, yes！ Compensation！ My private collection room！ You two sisters can go in and each pick one item to take away！ Pick whatever you want！ I’ll never go back on my word！”
Private collection room？ Each pick one？ Could it be！
Damaged Broken Sword, Emerald Tablet Fragments, an egg of an unknown ancient creature, Karthus’s Notebook, Forbidden Drop……
All sorts of precious items that could only be chosen at the beginning of the game flashed through Camilla’s mind.
“Really？”
Camilla couldn’t help but ask.
Despite being wrapped up like a mummy, she still sat up excitedly.
“Absolutely true！”
Korova patted her chest in guarantee.
To increase the stakes, she hurriedly added.
“Also！ To make up for the mental distress you two suffered during this operation, the academy has decided to provide 100,000 gold coins as compensation. In addition, I will personally gift you a batch of very precious cultivation materials, the kind you absolutely cannot buy on the market！ How about it？ Ah, right, the Student Council. I also want to recommend you two to become members of the Student Council…… No, considering Student Ophelia’s strength, she can be internally appointed as the new Student Council President！”
Camilla immediately turned to look at Ophelia.
Although her face was still white, her eyes were already written with “Sister, agree to it, hurry up and agree to it！”.
Ophelia was stunned by her sister’s sudden change.
She didn’t quite understand why her sister, who was weak and powerless just a moment ago, instantly became energetic upon hearing “collection room” and “precious materials,” but she was almost unconditionally indulgent toward Camilla.
“……Since Mila wants to stay.”
Ophelia sighed, her ice-blue eyes softening as she gently rubbed Camilla’s hair.
“Then we’ll stay.”
When she looked back at Korova, her gaze was still serious.
“We will accept the compensation, but this is the last chance. Academy Principal, if Camilla falls into this kind of danger again because of the academy’s negligence……”
“It won’t happen again！ I guarantee it with my reputation as the strongest summoner！”
Korova immediately raised her hand to swear and let out a long sigh of relief.
She finally managed to temporarily stabilize these precious students…… especially the sister-complex genius, Ophelia.
With the crisis averted, Korova returned to her smiling self.
She held the rabbit doll as she sat on the chair by the bed, her short legs not reaching the floor, swinging them gently.
“So, the Academy Principal coming here personally shouldn’t just be to appease the students and their family, right？”
Ophelia asked calmly.
One hand still held Camilla’s, while the other habitually rested on her waist——though her sword wasn’t there.
“Hmm, indeed there is an important matter I want to ask Student Camilla.”
Korova nodded, her emerald eyes turning to Camilla.
That gaze was no longer carrying deliberate childishness, but was the scrutiny and inquiry of a veteran powerhouse.
Although still gentle, it seemed as if she could see through many things.
“We discovered a thick Abyssal Aura at the scene of the Dark Chimera’s death. Based on comprehensive analysis and evaluation, besides you two and the Evil Trainer, there should have been a mysterious person present. It was she who killed the Dark Chimera and left the Evil Trainer’s life or death unknown.”
Hearing this, Camilla’s heart skipped a beat, worried that the other party might see something.
After all, on the continent of Tarola, the reputation of Abyssal Demons wasn’t exactly that of a rat crossing the street; at the very least, they were despised by everyone.
Compared to them, even the Dark Demonic Beast Legion could be considered law-abiding good citizens.
Fortunately, the other party didn’t seem to notice her abnormality but treated the traces of that battle as the “masterpiece” of a third party.
Korova leaned forward slightly, the glass eyes of the doll and her own eyes quietly watching Camilla.
However, she couldn’t read much unusual emotion from the other’s eyes.
So, she continued to ask.
“Only you and Student Ophelia survived at the scene. Student Ophelia was unconscious due to heavy injuries at the time, so…… Student Camilla, did you see that mysterious person who dealt with the Dark Chimera？”