“Mm…”
Via slowly opened her eyes.
She discovered that she was actually lying on the ground, having fallen asleep.
The sky outside the window was completely dark, filled with twinkling stars.
She had slept from afternoon all the way to evening.
“How did I nap for so long?”
She touched her messy hair and slowly got up from the ground.
What was she doing again?
Oh…
Right!
“Demon King Armament!”
Via ran to the center of the charging magic array and found that the mana in all four hundred magic stones had been completely consumed—clearly replenished into the Demon King Armament.
The Demon King Armament’s armlet was floating, surrounded by a faint swirling mana, in a state of full energy.
“System, initiate Demon King Armament.”
[Demon King Armament initiating…]
[Demon King Armament, initiation complete.]
The armlet released a glow, covering her body. After the light dissipated, a majestic Demon King appeared.
“Demon King Armament, switch to combat mode.”
[Combat mode, switch complete.]
“Good, very good—the familiar feeling is back!”
Via was extremely satisfied.
After replenishing energy with the magic stones, the Demon King Armament could now normally enable combat mode.
With the enhancement of this legendary armament, even though her strength was currently only Silver-rank, it was enough to contend with Transcendent-tier powerhouses.
After much effort, she was no longer a weakling at others’ mercy. Transcendent-tier strength was sufficient to temporarily secure a place in the human world.
Of course, just Transcendent-tier wasn’t enough. If she wanted to return to her previous life’s peak strength and overlook the entire world, she needed to advance toward higher realms.
The Demon King Armament’s issue was resolved. The next step was to advance her own strength further—break through to Transcendent-tier with her main body.
After all, Silver-rank still couldn’t fully unleash the Demon King Armament’s complete performance.
“Meow meow~” From outside the Magic Workshop door came the little yellow cat’s cheerful voice, meowing nonstop, as if playing with someone.
“Strange—I wasn’t playing with it. Could the little yellow cat be having that much fun by itself?”
Via was somewhat puzzled.
Just then, she hadn’t eaten dinner yet and was hungry, planning to take care of that.
She could clean up the Magic Workshop later.
“Demon King Armament, full deactivation.”
[Demon King Armament, deactivating…]
[Deactivation successful.]
The slender and tall Demon King vanished, replaced by a youthful and beautiful girl.
“What to eat tonight? Should I take the little yellow cat out to eat together?”
While Via was thinking, she opened the door and walked out. In the living room, she saw a scene she couldn’t accept.
“Oh, Via, you’re finally awake?”
The blue-haired girl was holding a cat teaser, waving it back and forth, making the little yellow cat bounce around in front of her.
Clearly an uninvited guest, yet she acted like this was her own home, greeting Via.
“I called you for so long, but no response.”
“Meow meow, meow meow~”
The little yellow cat noticed Via had woken up and ran over, circling around her.
“You…?”
Via widened her eyes.
Wait, what was this situation?
Why, without permission, had Stella come to her dorm?
And little yellow cat—where was your hissing?
Why weren’t you hissing at a stranger and instead playing with someone else!
I usually feed you so you can properly guard the house!
“Via, not fully awake yet?” Stella rested her cheek on her hand. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“What are you doing here?”
Via stepped forward, wanting to drive Stella out of her dorm.
“This is my dorm—without my permission, no one is allowed in!”
“Oh, so this is Via’s dorm? What a coincidence.”
Stella took out a key, slipping the key ring onto her fair finger and spinning it.
“This seems to be my dorm too.”
“What do you mean?”
An ominous premonition arose in Via’s heart.
Could it be?
“That’s right, Via—just like you imagined.”
Stella seemed to see through Via’s thoughts.
“Starting today, I’m your roommate.”
“Impossible!”
Via was somewhat unable to accept it.
With her reputation, Avalon Academy wouldn’t have anyone willing to live with her.
Others avoided her like the plague when they saw her.
“This was my own application. Via, your previous roommate Mary disappeared, right? The vacancy has always been there. After I learned about it, I applied to Instructor Anima, and he approved it.”
Stella said this while walking to the room that had been converted into the Magic Workshop.
She placed her hand on the room’s door.
“This room is really strange. It clearly looks unlocked, but no matter what, I can’t open it. Via, what are you doing in there?”
“Nothing—just napping.”
Via saw the suitcase placed in the living room—clearly Stella’s.
In her heart, she cursed Anima a hundred times.
Why approve this person specifically to become her roommate?
Now this was really troublesome. With an extra roommate, it would be inconvenient to do anything in the Magic Workshop later.
However, from the current situation, Stella probably didn’t know her identity—she still had some room to maneuver.
“Stella… I remember your name is Stella, right?”
“Yes,” Stella turned around, “I’m so happy—this is the first time Via has called my name. Call it a few more times, okay?”
“Uh, Stella?”
Via felt Stella was really odd.
Would anyone at Avalon Academy talk to her like this?
“Mm~”
“Aren’t you mistaken about something? Why would you want to be my roommate? Hanging around with me isn’t good for your reputation. You don’t want to be ostracized by the other classmates at Avalon Academy like me, right? That’s not a good experience.”
Via was trying to dissuade Stella, hoping the other party would quickly give up the idea.
“If you go find Instructor Anima now, it’s still in time to switch dorms.”
“It’s fine—I don’t care.”
“I… care.”
Via put on a pitiful appearance, making her eyes moist.
“I don’t really like interacting with others—I prefer living alone. Stella, I’m really sorry.”
“Am I disliked?”
“I’m sorry, Stella—you’d better switch to another dorm, right? For example, Lucy is pretty good. She seems to be short a roommate too.”
Via made up her mind—even if she had to force it, she would drive Stella away.
“Via, others say you’re like mochi, but I don’t think so. I feel like you’re more like stuffed mochi.”
Stella smiled ambiguously, her words carrying implication.
“Stuffed mochi—your identity seems to be more than just this one.”
“… What do you mean?”
“Should I continue calling you Via, or—”
Stella stepped lightly to the pink-haired girl’s side, leaned her lips close, and whispered softly in Via’s ear:
“Mr. W?”