A new day, a new experience, a breath of fresh air.

  The days have epsed and another day has passed. With the vanishing of darkness and the dyeing of the sky blue, the final day of the weekday has arrived once again. One more day and the students of Darius Academy finally rest.

  Yet despite it being a day to look forward to, the whole Academy was abuzz, rumors and gossip spreading like wildfire. The halls were filled with cmor and ruckus, the students whispering to one another, voices low and be.

  "Hey, that's her, isn't it? The one who challenged you-know-who."

  "Yeah. I did hear that she was skilled, but I didn't think she'd challenged a Caraquel."

  "That's because you don't know how good she is. I've seen her performance ba one of our electives, and I say she's amongst the best in rade.

  "Ohh～! Then this should be exg then!"

  All their words were directed to a single person, their eyes shifting towards her from time to timeー no, it would be more appropriate to say that all eyes were ohe student body giving her a curious and ed look.

  That figure was her than Yuna, fidently walking down the hallways, her expression painted differently and before. She looked a lot more serious than usual, the air around her feeling sharp and chilly.

  "Amazing... They really are looking at Elena..." ［Kale］

  "Hmph! These obnoxious people! Don't they know it's rude to stare?" ［Alea］

  Kale, Alea, and Edin were also with her, heading towards their . They tried to, but they just couldn't help but notice all the stares directed at them. It felt like they were b holes through their heads, unfortable as be.

  As for the reason why such curious stares were directed at the silver-haired young dy, one had to look back yesterday. It was the very same day the greenhouse was destroyed, all items and pnts mercilessly ruined along with it.

  Grey and Yuna had just fiheir versation, and the others were still gloomy and crestfallen over what just happehey were all still looking down to the ground, both life and colors void from their dry eyes, only sighing in grief as they watched the painful se before them.

  "Here, Alea, Edin, Kale, have a some." ［Yuna］

  And in that dark time, a single hand reached towards them, extending a couple packs of cookies to cheer them up. It was her than Yuna, Grey standing behind her, both looking at them with eyes filled with .

  They were all puzzled by the suddeure, but they still accepted the young dy's goodwill. Though they could see she was smiling, there was something off about her, her usual cheerfulness o be seen.

  "Sorry about this, everyohis might have happened because of me." ［Yuna］

  "N-No! Not at all! It's not Elena's fault! It's the fault of the one who did this!" ［Alea］

  "That's right, Elena. Even if Jermel did this because he's envious of you, we aren't bming you or anything. You're just a victim like us." ［Kale］

  "So you already knew..." ［Yuna］

  "Well... There's been several nasty rumors about him. He's the only person who I think is arrogant enough to pull this off." ［Kale］

  Kale's voice sounded calm, but he was clearly g his fists, trembling ever so slightly. There was still intense anger brewing deep in his heart, wanting to crush the arrogant bastard he just mentioo pieces if he could.

  Unfortunately, the oppo was a noble, and one of especially high standing. Even with the help of the Academy, there is only so muoners like him could do, especially when they don't even have evideo back their cims.

  It was unfortunate, but there was nothing they could do about it. The moment they try to push themselves any further, it will only lead to more difficulties iure. It was better to simply set it aside and move forward without taking a look behind.

  "Then, should I beat him up for you?" ［Yuna］

  "H... Huh...?" ［Kale］

  However, such restris don't apply to Grey and Yuna. Fet the nobility, not even Royalty could do something to them so easily. They possessed influe lower to that of Monarchs, able to wipe out anyone who dares to stand their way.

  No, that was a mere uimation. No matter what field or situation they are in, Grey and Yuna already stand at the top where no one could do anything against them. If they wao, they could destroy a kingdom or two,

  Normally, one would think that Yuna's words were just a joke, but with the strangely serious and intimidating eyes she wore, no one could say anything against her. She has bee a pletely different person, totally dominating them.

  "E-Elena, we're gd you're worried about us, but you shouldn't endanger yourself just because of us. Your thoughts are more than enー" ［Alea］

  "Just because of you...? Don't say it like we're strangers! You three are my precious friends! It's natural that I'll do this much for you... Or... is it that I'm the only one who thinks so?" ［Yuna］

  "N-No, it's not like that! We treat you as friends, right?!" ［Alea］

  "Yeah! We just don't want you to put yourself in danger because of us!" ［Kale］

  "I see... That makes it more the reason that I should do at least this much." ［Yuna］

  It was a trap, the two only realizing that it was a trap when all was finished. Yuna already khey would be worried about her, so she made it into a situation that they couldn't say no even if they wao.

  "Fufufu! Don't worry about me too much. I don't have any pns of putting myself in danger. I still have a lot of dreams to achieve, you know?" ［Yuna］

  "Elena, you.... You really are something..." ［Kale］

  Such were the only words Kale could mutter, feeling happy and guilty at the same time. He's happy that she was ed enough about them to go to such lengths, but also guilty that she puts herself in danger for them,

  Alea was also in the same situatioears welling up once more as she bawled her eyes out again. She thought that she had already dried up her tears fr so much, a few moments ago but it seems to not be the case.

  "Elena, I won't stop you... But please be careful..." ［Edin］

  Finally, Edin, who has been quiet the whole time, had spoken out a few words. He was just as touched as Kale and Alea, also worried that she might put herself in unnecessary danger because of them.

  "Fufufu! Don't worry so much. I might not look it, but I'm pretty strong, you know? And even if things turn for the worst, I still have Shin with me." ［Yuna］

  "Yeah. You rest assured. I'll make sure to look after Elena. She may be a little bit reckless at times, but she's still my beloved fiancée." ［Grey］

  "Shin... You make it sound like I'm a handful to take care of." ［Yuna］

  "Oh? Is that not the case, My Dear?" ［Grey］

  And now, what seemed to have been a serious situation has turned into a edy bit between the engaged couple. They were subtle, but smiles bloomed on the faces of the others as they watched the two banter wittingly.

  The two of them also smiled a relieved at the sight of the three, feeling much better now that they were smiling. They could finally take their leave ale their business with Jermel, the much more civilized way.

  "Ah! I take some herbs here before we go?" ［Yuna］

  "H... Herbs...? From here...?" ［Alea］

  "Un! I have some use for them, you see." ［Yuna］

  But before they went, Grey and Yuna picked up a couple herbs from the ground. They may be damaged greatly, but some of them could still be salvaged. Plus, Yuna has some uses for them ter on down the line.

  Soon after, Grey and Yuna finally left the greenhouse ahe others in the care of their reliable cssmates. They are now in good hands, mung on some of the cookies Yuna just gave them. They were delicious.

  "Grey, you tell me where they are?" ［Yuna］

  "Copy that, Ma'am." ［Grey］

  Finding the enemies wasn't very difficult of a task either. All Grey had to do was use his "Heaven's Eye" to survey the whole Academy and in just a couple fras of a sed, he immediately found where the perpetrators were.

  They were still walking down the corridors, big and disgusting smiles pstered on their faces. And it wasn't just Jermel, the very thugs who destroyed the greenhouse were also with him, ughing with him heartily.

  While he may not be able to hear them, Grey could make out their words from the movements of their mouths. They were still talking about the greenhouse i, looking smug and proud about the devastation they just caused.

  "Found them..." ［Grey］

  "Great! Let's go ahead and greet them, shall we?" ［Yuna］

  Grey and Yuna didn't waste any more time and immediately headed towards the hallways where Jermel and his ente of imbeciles were, their hearts pumping fiercely, ready to do some a. A more peaceful type of a, that is.

  They both vanished into thin air, not even a footstep to be heard. Air had returo the pce, the shadows shifting slowly but surely as usual. The very moment, they appeared before a couple familiar bit loathsome figures.

  "Hahaha! I wonder what's the look on their faces right now?!"

  "They must look hirious! I'm sure that demoness is g right now!"

  "Kukuku! That's what they get for messing with the Boss!"

  And just their luck, it seems like the people responsible for the greenhouse i are still talking and ughing about what heinous acts they just did, showing no remorse about what just happened, even ughing boisterously.

  They didn't eveend to hide it, and make sure no one finds out. Rather, they seemed quite proud of what just happened, ughing out loud without any regard to the people walking down the hallway, not even batting them an eye.

  After all, they were with Jermel, who is known as the heir of Caraquel. The moment someoried to speak out against them, they would be in a world of pain. They only act deaf and blind, trying to not pay attention to them.

  "But as expected of the Young Lord! With this, she wouldn't act arrogant anymore.

  "Hmph! That b*tch deserves this. Who told her to humiliate our Boss?"

  "Right, right. A oner should have known her pce."

  They were also quite good at bootlig, infting Jermel's ego even more with more of their unruly and impudent words. They were scum amongst scum, harassing the weak just because they could. The worst kind of trash.

  "Hahaha! Those oners should have just kept quiet like the lowly b*tches that they are. They should be kneeling toー Urk!"

  THUNK THUD THUD

  And just as they were chatting ever so merrily with their fmboyant voices, a sudden cabbage came flying out of nowhere, hitting one of the thug's heads, and making him bite his to was all so sudden, they couldn't even se.

  "Which crazy bastard just threw aー Ugh! Urk! Uwaak!"

  They soon turo see who was responsible for it, but rather than the perpetrator, they were greeted by a volley of a few more cabbages, hitting them all in the head, and making them eat some raw leafy greens.

  Jermel was also not spared, getting hit by ara big one, hitting him right on the mark and squashing his ugly face. He was so weak and useless, he immediately fell towards the ground, sitting his ass down towards the floor.

  "Oh my, you were having an iing versation just now. Why did you suddenly stop? I wao hear more of it, you know?" ［Yuna］

  "You worthless b*tch! Who do you think youー Guaaakkk!!"

  "Did you just say something, just now?" ［Yuna］

  Of course, the ohrowing them was her than Yuna, pag a little bit of strength ihrows to make sure they hurt ara bit. She was one devious and crazy little devil when she's angry. She really is.

  'Yuna... This isn't civilized at all...' ［Grey］

  Some people tried to go at her, but they were quickly hit by another cabbage, f them to stay down. They couldn't do anything to her at all, only humiliating themselves the more they tried tle against her.

  "Hey, Jermel, you were the one who destroyed Alea and the reenhouse, weren't you? You were just talking about it now." ［Yuna］

  "This lowly wh*re! That's Lord Jermel for youー Uwaakkkk!"

  And now, she is starting to throw potatoes towards the ones who try to interrupt her, hurting a lot more than the cabbages. It even bsted one of the thugs away quite a bit of distance. Even a bear would faint at such a force.

  It was only then that they realized what situation they were into, Yuna turning out to be pletely different from the frail and delicate dy they expected. At this point, she looked even more of a thug than the real thugs.

  "What the hell are you talking about?! Do you know what kind of crime it is to hit a noble?! I will make sure the Headmaster hears aboutー" ［Jermel］

  "Answer my question. Were you the one who did it?" ［Yuna］

  Jermel tried to use his status as a o scare the young dy, but it ointless. Yuna didn't even budge an inch, looking at him with indifferen her eyes, ready to crush him the very moment he slips up with his words.

  "Y-You...! Are you acg me of such a crime?! you hahe sequences of pinning a nonsensical crime towards a noble?!" ［Jermel］

  "Yes. Yes I . But the question is... you...? you hahe sequences of itting a crime as a noble?" ［Yuna］

  He tried to use the same cards again, but it ointless. Yuna still turhe table around, firmly standing her ground and domihe whole versation. She was not oo be pushed around, his eyes that of a predator's.

  "I... I ...! I definitely ! But do you have evidence?! You are just spouting baseless accusations towards me! This is injustice!" ［Jermel］

  "Evidence, huh... That's funny... Did you know that there's a whole lot of Meltor Bluebill Grass in that greenhouse?" ［Yuna］

  "And so what?! What does that prove?!" ［Jermel］

  "Well, you see... Though Meltor Bluebill Grass extracts are clear at first, they actually ge into a nice blue color once you pour a mix of acidic solutions to it. I bet you didn't know that, did you?" ［Yuna］

  Said Yuna with a bright smile on her face, but Jermel's expressions couldn't be any different. He was white as a sheet of paper, clearly nervous about Yuna's words. Just another push and he would be driven into a er.

  "You see... I just so happen to have that very solution with me. Should we give it a try? There should be nothing to lose if you're i, isn't there?" ［Yuna］

  "S-Stop talking nonsense! I'm sure you phis all to be in your favor! This is all a ploy so that you could pin those acts to me. Am I right?!" ［Jermel］

  "Even if that is true, then how is it that your people would have Meltor Bluebill extracts all over their bodies. Aren't you the one speaking nonsense here?" ［Yuna］

  "S-S-Shut up! I'm not listening to this poialk anymore! Let's go!" ［Jermel］

  He may be a little talented in alchemy, but he was very much useless in other things, the moment he was ered, he immediately started panig, esg the se quickly as he could with his stupid henー or so he was going to.

  "Fufufu! You really are like they say... Coward." ［Yuna］

  But the very moment he heard Yuna's words, he immediately stopped on his tracks, irked veins popping all over his face as his heart trembled with rage. He looked at Yuna once again, his hands itg to rip her apart.

  He was as arrogant as he was stupid, easily provoked at the most trivial of things. Yuna didn't eveo try so hard, the enemy falling for her trap at the very first try. Everything was going perfectly acc to the pn.

  "What... did you just say to me...?" ［Jermel］

  "I said you're a coward! You're a coward who only has your family's status going on for you! If not for your money, you'd be worse than a 3rd rate alchemist!" ［Yuna］

  "You b*tch! I'm going to rip you apart! Get her!" ［Jermel］

  Uo retaliate against Yuna's harsh words, all he could do was resort to violence, sending out his uselessly rge and bulky hehugs to charge towards Yuna. There were a total of 6 of them, eae ready t harm to the young dy.

  Unfortunately, there was ohing they fot to sider....

  BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM CRASSSHHHHH

  ... And that was Yuna was not alone.

  Before they could evehe ce to get in Yuna's range, Grey had already appeared before them and ected some "light" puoward their sor plexus, bsting them towards the walls and the pilrs.

  "Take aep forward and it won't end with just bsting you away anymore. Just try to approach my fiancée... I dare all of you." ［Grey］

  He was even scarier than the young dy, ag like a fierce tiger proteg its cub. His eyes were one which burned with intimidation, seemingly looking like the Grim Reaper, ready to harvest the souls of the damned.

  Grey had been keeping silent since before, but he is pretty pissed about the bastard students calling his beloved Yuna curses and other names. If he could castrate them, he would have already done so. He was seething with rage.

  "You...! You two! Don't think yetting away with isー" ［Jermel］

  "Bh Bh Bh! You're all talk! If you're so angry, why don't you defeat me in an alchemy battle then? Tomorrow, at lunch break! The loser will admit their fault and take responsibility for everything. If you're so proud of your skills, that shouldn't be very hard for you, isn't it?" ［Yuna］

  "Why should I agree to suonsense?!" ［Jermel］

  "Heh... I k... You might e from a prestigious family, but a coward would remain a coward. I was a fool for expeg too much." ［Yuna］

  "You b*tch! If that's what you want, then fine! I'll make yret it!" ［Jermel］

  Jermel was just about to make the right decision, but he was too prideful, he couldn't even withstand a simple provocation, immediately agreeing to Yuna's words, It was all top perfect, everything going all acc to pn.

  "You better not run away. I'll make sure to show you the differeween the nobility and oners. I'll thhly crush you!" ［Jermel］

  "Fufufu! I'm looking forward to it then." ［Yuna］

  Just like that, the challenge was decided, and Yuna and Jermel would be having an alchemy battle during lunch break. The rumors had spread sihen, everyone in the Academy practically knowing all about it now.

  With it, not only did Yuna make him dig his own grave, but also humiliate himself in front of everybody. She will tarnish his reputation by winning in a ndslide victory, making sure that he won't be able to act arrogant anymore.

  It was a cheap price to pay for all the terrible things he had done.

  "Elena... Are you really sure about this? You don't have to go this far for us. You don't have to risk yourself over this!" ［Kale］

  "We believe in your skills, but your oppo is still a Caraquel. Even if you win the alchemy battle, things would surely bee difficult for you iure." ［Edin］

  "Yeah... You still back out, and we'll help you in every way we . I'm sure the Headmaster would also hear us out. It's not too te yet." ［Alea］

  Like before, the others were still worried about Yuna. Sincere worry for the wellbeing of their friend that they just couldn't help but fidget around. They were the ones being nervous for the young dy, heart filled with and ay,

  Yuna is very happy, but she wouldn't be bag out because of it. She could hahe bullying and harassment, but she couldn't five those who harms those recious to her. She's going to make sure that they pay the right price.

  "Fufufu! Don't worry too much, everyone. I already have a special on prepared, so everything will be all fine. You rest assured." ［Yuna］

  "A secret on...?" ［Edin］

  "It isn't anything dangerous, is it?" ［Alea］

  "Fufufu! You'll just have to wait and see!" ［Yuna］

  A bright smile on her lovely face, everyone tiheir steps, taking a few twists, turns, and stairs. Curious and ed peeks and stares tio follow them as their steps echoed throughout the massive hallways.

  They soon arrived at their destination, even more curious looks greeting them as they ehe room. All were people io watch the not-so-long-awaited alchemy battle, the enemy standing proudly before them with a sh*t-eating grin on his face,

  "You've finally arrived." ［Jermel］

  CHAPTER 378 END