Chapter 60: Testing

Rofilia’s deep violet eyes lingered on Sefina for a moment, as if trying to pierce through her calm exterior straight into her heart.

But the faintest trace of a smile still hovered at the corner of her lips, and her tone sounded casual:

“Teacher Sefina, it’s so late. Where were you just now? The academy hasn’t been very peaceful lately…”

The words arrived, and ripples stirred within Sefina’s mind, yet her surface remained as still as the hardest ice, utterly motionless.

Her delicate poker face revealed no extra emotion; even the slightest flicker in her eyes was barely noticeable. She spoke softly, her voice steady without the faintest hint of abnormality:

“I went to a friend’s house in the royal capital city to have dinner. We chatted a bit late.”

As she answered, her mind raced rapidly. After the initial shock came a supreme calm analysis.

Tonight’s plan had been meticulous—from faking Mia’s death, to exposing the Seventh Seat’s position, and finally taking down the laboratory herself…

Every step had been calculated, theoretically leaving no direct evidence pointing to herself. No matter how skilled Rofilia was, she couldn’t predict everything in advance.

She must have sensed the unrest hidden within the academy, that dangerous elements had infiltrated it.

With accidents happening one after another tonight, and with Sefina being a newcomer whose background wasn’t entirely clear, as well as going out late at night at such a coincidental time, she naturally became one of the prime suspects.

It seemed she still wasn’t cautious enough… Perhaps she should have waited for the commotion to settle before making a move, but that risked missing the opportunity…

No, now wasn’t the time for reflection. For now, Rofilia had no direct evidence. As long as she acted natural enough without any cracks, Rofilia wouldn’t find any doubts, and suspicion would naturally lessen.

The more in times like this, the more one must not panic.

With a quick shift of thought, Sefina even took the initiative to steer the conversation further, adding a touch of casualness typical of friends chatting:

“It’s that new ‘Moonlight Cat Pavilion’ at the corner of Central Avenue. Their grilled fish and mushroom chowder are pretty good. The principal should try it sometime too.”

She even tilted her head slightly, as if recalling the taste of the food, providing flawless details.

On the surface, Rofilia maintained a listening expression, her smile gentle, but deep inside she was far from untroubled.

Sefina’s behavior was too normal—normal enough to seem like any ordinary teacher coming home late after a casual gathering with friends.

That composure, that fluent response, even the proactive sharing of details, almost perfectly dissolved the suspicion caused by “going out late at night” itself.

Could it really… just be a coincidence?

Rofilia pondered silently, but years of experience and intuition told her that things were never that simple.

However, the petite blue-haired teacher before her showed no sign of a slip.

Sefina keenly caught the fleeting scrutiny in Rofilia’s eyes and knew she couldn’t remain passive in answering.

So, she shifted the topic with a hint of well-placed curiosity:

“Principal, what about you? Why are you still here at the East Gate so late? Are you… out for a walk?”

Her clear garnet eyes looked toward Rofilia as if genuinely concerned as a colleague.

Rofilia took the opportunity to pick up the thread, her smile softening somewhat and replaced by a more serious expression.

“A walk, not exactly.” She sighed lightly, her gaze sweeping over the silent academy nightscape.

“The academy’s not peaceful tonight. The Demon Bat and that Blood Clan appeared, but the Blood Clan seems to have been utterly destroyed in the Demon Bat’s self-destruction.”

“What’s worse is that an unidentified Black-robed Man infiltrated the grounds, escaped after a skirmish with the patrol team. I was just tracking possible traces left by the Black-robed Man nearby.”

As she spoke, she carefully observed Sefina’s reaction.

At these words, Sefina’s brow furrowed slightly, and a subtle look of surprise appeared on her face before settling into a serious, low voice as she repeated:

“Demon Bat? Self-destruction? Blood Clan dead, and there’s a Black-robed Man…?”

Sefina’s expression was controlled with great restraint, avoiding exaggeration. It was the worried seriousness of someone calm and reliable upon hearing sudden bad news.

This perfectly matched the impression she usually gave her students—calm, dependable, emotions rarely displayed.

“So many things happened…” Sefina’s voice carried a hint of gravity. “Are the students alright?”

Watching Sefina’s flawless reaction, Rofilia’s doubts didn’t entirely vanish but were certainly alleviated.

Aside from the slightly delicate timing of her appearance, her words and actions matched those of an innocent bystander.

Perhaps… she was just overthinking? After all, it was incredibly rare for someone to conceal emotions and intentions so perfectly.

“The students are fine, just a little shaken.” Rofilia waved her hand, her expression softening again.

“Well, it’s late. Teacher Sefina, you should head back to rest early. I still have some follow-up matters to attend to.”

“Please take care too, Principal.” Sefina nodded slightly, her tone carrying the right amount of concern.

The two bid each other farewell, and Rofilia’s figure quietly melted into the night just as she had appeared, walking deeper into the academy.

Only after that red figure completely disappeared from her perception did Sefina let out a barely audible breath, the tension in her nerves easing slightly.

Fortunately… she hadn’t been exposed.

Sefina walked slowly through the East Gate, heading toward the faculty dormitories. Inside, she reviewed the encounter, confirming her responses had been flawless.

From Rofilia’s words, she confirmed the Seventh Seat had escaped unscathed.

Though the process was perilous, the identity remained undisclosed.

This was to be expected; after all, that person was a cadre of the 【Black Utopia】, so some means of self-preservation and escape were always in place. They must still be hiding somewhere in the academy.

But… who exactly were they?