Chapter 526: Clearance 4

After finishing lunch at the cafeteria, Janica and I walked side by side down the cobbled streets of the academy, the early afternoon sun casting soft shadows over the stone paths.

The wind carried a faint floral scent from the garden walls nearby as we made our way toward the commercial district.

It was a bit quieter than usual—students scattered here and there, most of them either dozing off from heavy meals or rushing to afternoon electives.

The perfect in-between time.

Janica kept her hands folded in front of her as she walked, her gaze fixed ahead, but I could feel the tension still lingering in her steps.

After a minute or two of silence, she finally spoke.

“You… did you have something to talk about with me?”

I looked over at her, feigning nonchalance. “No. But maybe you might.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t.”

“Is that so? Then let’s just consider this invitation of mine… as a small date of ours.”

She stumbled a step. “D-Date?!”

A light flush rose to her cheeks as she shot me a flustered glare. “You really are shameless! I understand you’re confident since you somehow managed to capture the hearts of Princess Snow and Miss Rose, but I—I won’t fall for your slimy personality so easily!”

’Slimy?’

“You can think whatever you like. But can’t friends go on a date too?”

“No, they don’t!” she snapped back instantly.

“Then fine,” I shrugged, “consider it just us hanging out. Like friends.”

Janica went quiet after that, but didn’t move away.

Her steps matched mine more naturally now, and she walked just a little bit closer.

Her shoulders weren’t as tense.

The silence this time felt… comfortable.

I smiled to myself.

I had been worried.

After everything that happened between her and Lucas, I expected her to be more closed off even now

But she was still the same Janica albeit slightly more mellowed now.

It would probably take time for her to open up about what really happened between them.

Whatever fight or distance grew during winter, it wasn’t something she’d easily talk about. And I wasn’t about to force her.

We had time.

I didn’t know how much progress she and Lucas had made before Evelyn started interfering… but I could tell Janica was stuck somewhere between waiting and giving up.

And honestly?

This was a rare chance.

A chance to spend time with the heroine who once made me the happiest.

Even if we weren’t from the same world originally, even if the game had drawn lines around our roles—none of that mattered now.

So just for today…

I’d give her the kind of day she deserved.

A proper date. The kind every heroine deserves at least once.

“Let’s go over there”

Janica followed the direction I pointed, her gaze drifting upward.

In the distance, the entertainment district sprawled out across a rising incline of stone and steel.

Towering buildings stood five stories tall at most, some capped with rounded domes and crystal-tipped towers.

Between them, dozens of sparkling powder-blue magic lights flickered lazily in the air like enchanted fireflies, suspended along glowing cables and floating above the streets.

Overhead, cable-run trains glided effortlessly between structures, occasionally crossing paths with sleek mini airships piloted by uniformed drivers.

Each vessel bore the crest of a merchant guild or noble family, ferrying their pampered clients through the air like royalty.

It was a place of colors and motion—alive with enchantment and just a hint of chaos.

“The entertainment district…” Janica murmured, narrowing her eyes.

Then she turned to me, looking completely unamused. “You know… if you’re looking to earn yourself corporal punishment, you can go get it alone.”

I chuckled.

She wasn’t wrong.

As per academy regulations, students weren’t supposed to enter the entertainment district during class hours or weekdays—especially not if it involved gambling, drinking, or anything remotely illegal or risqué. Not to mention, the district had a bit of a reputation.

At night, parts of it basically transformed into a full-on pleasure quarter.

But like most things at the academy, some rules could be bent—especially if you knew the right people… or the right loopholes.

“Come on,” I said casually. “Trust me—you’ll enjoy it.”

She looked like she wanted to argue, but after a moment of quiet resistance, she let out a long sigh.

“…Fine. But if we get caught, I’m throwing you under the train.”

“Fair enough.”

Moments later…

“O-One more time… Just one more! I’ll get it this time!”

I raised an eyebrow, arms crossed as I handed her another small pouch of coins. “Yes, yes. That’s what you said the last five times.”

She didn’t hear me—or maybe she was just ignoring me—as she eagerly fed the coins into a bright red slot machine decorated with golden trim and enchanted glyphs that flickered with each spin.

The game was simple: pull the lever on the side, roll the spinning panel, and try to match nine identical symbols in a 3×3 grid. Sounds easy.

The catch?

With each successful match, the reels spun faster.

Much faster.

And of course, if you lost even once, you had to start over from the beginning.

“C’mon, c’mon… ah—no! Again!” Janica cried, slapping her palms on the machine as her symbols mismatched by a single tile.

She reset the game, her brows furrowed in deep concentration.

This was her sixth attempt now—and judging by her body language, we weren’t stopping anytime soon.

I leaned against the side of a nearby machine, watching her like someone watching a friend fall down a very slippery slope.

“Riley~”

I turned slightly at the sound of my name, instantly recognizing the playful lilt in her voice.

Clara approached with a soft rustle of her elegant robes, her ornate fan snapping open with a practiced flick, shielding the lower half of her face.

Only her eyes—half-lidded and sparkling with amusement—were visible.

’She kind of remind me of Big Sis right now.’

“Clara,” I greeted, arching a brow. “You done with your business?”

She gave a graceful nod. “Yes, finally. The old geezers were a bit of a hassle—stubborn as ever—but in the end, they did agree to my terms.”

“Try to go a little easy on them next time,” I said with a light chuckle. “They may be relics from another era, but they’re still the ones managing this place.”

Clara giggled behind her fan. “Fufufu~ whatever could you be implying, Riley~? Are you suggesting I bullied those poor officials into submission?”

I gave her a sideways glance. “Considering your track record… yes.”

“Hmm~ I won’t deny it~ But either way, you don’t have to worry about any academy officers sniffing around. You’re clear to enjoy this little excursion uninterrupted.”

“Appreciate it,” I said with a nod, then paused when her tone took a sharp turn.

“But I must say…” Clara leaned in just slightly, mischief dancing in her eyes. “I never thought you’d bring a girl here of all places. A grand casino? Really, Riley? And not just any girl—Lucas’s girl, no less.”

“Janica isn’t ’Lucas’s girl,’”

’Unfortunately…’

“Oh? My, my. Defending her title already?” she teased.

I sighed. “What are you getting at?”

Clara tilted her head slightly. “You’re not aiming for her, are you? I mean, everyone’s free to pursue love or pleasure however they see fit—but even so, going after a friend’s woman is a major no-no among men, isn’t it?”

“Just what kind of man do you think I am in that sharp little head of yours?”

She lowered her fan a bit, just enough for a playful smirk to curl her lips.

“Oh, I don’t know… the mysteriously maniacal kind?”

A long silence stretched between us.

“……”

“……”

I blinked. “You really don’t hold back, do you?”

Clara gave me a short curtsy, perfectly poised. “Wouldn’t be fun if I did.”

“Anyway, thanks for everything.”

“Don’t mention it,” she replied, her fan closing with a snap. “You were already here, so I thought I’d lend a hand. But of course…” Her eyes gleamed again, “…you’ll owe me this little favor in time, Riley~.”

“Spoken like a true businesswoman,” I muttered.

“Naturally.” Clara gave a sly smile as she reached into her side pouch. “Oh, and also—here.”

She handed me something small and flat—not a pouch of coins like I expected, but rather a plaque.

Its golden surface shimmered with a faint magical glint, a seal engraved on its face like a crest of nobility.

I raised an eyebrow. “What’s this?”

“The Golden Plaque of the Goldkeeper himself,” she replied with a light, almost theatrical tone.

My eyes narrowed in surprise. “Wait—Sir Boseman’s here?”

I knew Clara would be here almost everyday but Boseman was kind of unexpected.

Clara nodded. “Mhm. He and I were actually supposed to attend a private meeting today with a few fellow investors in the upper executive suites. You just so happened to bump into me before I headed up.”

She tucked her fan away and crossed her arms. “He mentioned wanting to speak with you, by the way. Said he was curious about your… recent escapades. But right now he’s busy entertaining a room full of crusty old aristocrats. I figured I’d pass the plaque along in the meantime.”

I held the plaque up, giving it a once-over. Even without my mana flowing through it, I could feel the enchantments woven into the metal. “So… this gets me what exactly?”

“Nearly full access,” Clara said. “Almost every table, machine, and private lounge here will accept it. Think of it as a golden VIP pass. Unlimited credits, no waiting, no restrictions. Go wild.”

I blinked. “That’s a little too generous for a favor.”

“Call it an investment in entertainment,” she smirked. Then added more dryly, “And don’t make me regret it.”

I let out a chuckle. “You really shouldn’t call your business partners ’crusty old aristocrats,’ by the way. Not very professional.”

“Says the guy who brought Lucas’s girl to a high-end casino in the middle of a weekday,” she fired back, shooting a glance at Janica, who at this point was far too focused on her seventh attempt at the slot machine to notice us whispering.

Clara’s smile faded ever so slightly, her tone turning more pointed.

“I don’t know what your true intentions are with this little stunt, Riley—and frankly, I don’t care either. You do you. But…” Her eyes slid back to Janica, who was now groaning at yet another failed match. “…you might want to hold her down before she spirals. That girl’s got the face of someone who’s about five minutes away from becoming a gambling addict.”

I exhaled through my nose, amused. “Yeah… I noticed.”

With a pivot of her heel, Clara turned away, waving a few fingers at me as she walked.

“I’ll be off now. Business calls. And remember—this isn’t free~”

I nodded, watching her elegant figure disappear behind the gold-trimmed elevator doors that led to the upper suites.

DING! DING! DING!

The machine lit up in a riot of magical colors, a loud fanfare of triumphant chimes blaring across the casino floor.

“L-Look, Riley! I did it! I really did it!!” Janica’s eyes sparkled as she turned to me, practically bouncing in place. “Am I going to win money now?”

I nodded with a small smile. “Yes… you are.”

Though, frankly, I doubted it would make up for the sheer amount of expensive tokens she’d already dumped into that machine.

But I wasn’t about to kill her excitement with a dose of fiscal reality.

“Congratulations, Janica.”

“Yes! Huhu, it took me a while, but I got used to it!” she beamed, clenching her fists in victory. “They say chance and luck rule these games, but in the end—skill triumphed!”

I glanced at the screen, which now showed twelve reels, all aligned perfectly to display nine matching symbols in a pristine row. A rare, nearly impossible achievement.

“…Well, I’ll give you that,” I murmured. “Most people couldn’t get that even if they played for years.”

“Hehe~ do you have more coins, Riley?” she asked, suddenly filled with fresh energy. “I can show you exactly how I did it! Oh! And since I won now, I can pay you back—how much was the cost again?”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” I waved it off. “I brought you here in the first place. Seeing you have fun is already more than enough.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly at that, and she folded her arms, trying to act indifferent. “I-Is that so? Hmph. W-Well if you say it like that, then I’ll enjoy bankrupting you. But I will pay you back… with my winnings, of course.”

“Generous of you,” I replied with a chuckle. “But how about we try other games now? There are more exciting machines, and a few open table games too.”

“Won’t those be expensive?” she asked, tilting her head.

“They might be,” I said as I pulled out the Golden Plaque and flashed it in front of her eyes.

She blinked in surprise, clearly about to ask about it—but I stepped forward before she could. “Come on. Let’s go. Today, you get to enjoy yourself to the fullest.”

“…Alright,” she muttered, and a small smile crept across her lips as she hurried after me.

We moved to a row of magically enhanced machines glowing with vibrant colors, illusions dancing across their surfaces. Janica picked one at random and eagerly slid into the chair, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Watching her now—her childlike excitement, the way her hands trembled slightly before pulling the lever again—I couldn’t help but smile subtly.

That’s right… this was one of Janica’s hidden traits.

A quirk you’d never discover unless you explored her route far enough in the game… or shared moments like this.

Her love for gambling—a surprising, almost contradictory facet of her usually composed and proper persona—was something even she hadn’t fully realized yet.

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