Chapter 161

—A festival, a festival!

—They’re doing that at our Academy?

—Who even runs that stuff.

—The Student Council’s really killing it. Kinda glad I voted for them.

Trinity Dawn Light Festival.

As soon as the announcement of a festival by that name was made, the Academy burst into excitement. The students’ reactions were nothing short of explosive.

Even those who once belittled Student Council President Iri as “a first-year from the Fallen Sector,” or those harboring resentment after the recent [Showcase] incident, couldn’t help but heap praise on this upcoming festival.

“Looks like everyone’s enjoying it, thankfully.”

“[Who’s gonna hate a chance to have fun?]”

“True enough.”

Stingray University Hospital.

Inside the VIP room labeled “Patient Park Tae-jun,” Silence and Raina were browsing college community forums together, chatting.

“[A festival, huh. That would’ve been unthinkable just last year. You guys on the Student Council must’ve worked your asses off.]”

“You’re telling me. We had a hell of a time convincing the corporations and the Academy’s board.”

“[Figures.]”

“Especially Iri. She went through a lot. Honestly, if it were me, I’d have quit halfway through. But she just kept pushing through no matter what. She worked more than anyone to make this happen…”

“[She’s got a real rebellious streak. Heard she kicked Chairman Aaron on the first day. Just from that, she sounds completely nuts.]”

“…Senior.”

“[Huh? I’m not bad-mouthing her. That’s a compliment. I once tried to stab that man in the neck myself. Didn’t succeed though.]”

Silence chuckled to himself.

It was hard to tell, given his voice came through the mechanical tone of his mask, but judging by his tone, he seemed to be in good condition.

Raina gave him a slight side-eye before she started peeling fruit.

“Let’s skip those jokes.”

“[Not a joke. Ask Iri or Miyu. They’ll say I’m right.]”

“Yeah, yeah. Enough of that—here, eat this.”

“[Mmfh, mmfh!]”

As she stuffed fruit into Silence’s mouth, Raina continued.

“Anyway, festival or not, I’m worried about Iri.”

“[Why?]”

“You saw the promo poster, right? ‘Dawn Light Festival.’ Sounds grand, but there’s no actual content.”

“[Ah, true. Why is that?]”

“Nothing’s been finalized.”

“[Ahh. So they just rushed out the poster to make it look good, huh. Must be super busy right now then.]”

“Mhm.”

Raina’s expression grew complicated at Silence’s words.

“But not really.”

“[Why not?]”

“Iri said she’d take full responsibility and handle everything herself.”

“[Ah…]”

Just that one sentence was enough for Silence to understand the situation.

The plans were solid. All that remained was to close negotiations with the sponsoring corporations. But the problem was—Iri was from the Fallen Sector.

Inside the Academy, she had student support, but to outsiders, she’d only spark resistance.

No way those negotiations would go smoothly.

“[…Is she really gonna be okay?]”

“I’m worried too. She’s looked so exhausted lately. Even if she’s an Adaptee, overworking takes a toll on the body all the same.”

“[So she’s not listening, huh.]”

“There’s nothing we can do. All I can do is stay by her side and support her however I can. I’ll make sure to take care of her, so don’t worry. And—”

Raina playfully tapped Silence on the shoulder.

“Worry about yourself first, senior. How long are you planning to stay bedridden?”

“[Ow… I’m a patient…]”

“Excuse me? I didn’t even hit you that hard!”

“[You’re someone who walks around with a minigun as your main weapon—Okay! I get it! I’m in pain! Hit me again and I’ll need to extend my hospital stay!]”

The two bickered for a while.

Then suddenly, the door flew open.

“Time to check your blood pressure and draw some blood~”

Two nurses walked in and immediately froze in shock, their expressions turning serious.

They smoothly carried out the tests, and during that time, the other two sat in awkward silence.

“All done. Thank you for your cooperation.”

“We’ll be leaving now.”

The android nurses left with their businesslike smiles. As the door slid shut, faint voices could be heard from the hallway.

—His girlfriend has such a kind heart. Did you see how she comes every day without fail?

—Right? That guy’s real lucky.

“[…]”

“……”

Pretty sure this was a VIP room.

Never mind the nurses’ behavior—why could they hear everything happening outside? There were a lot of things to complain about.

“[Ahem.]”

But now wasn’t the time, so Silence cleared his throat, trying to change the subject.

Unfortunately, he was never particularly good with words.

“[So… uh… the weather’s nice today… yeah.]”

He might as well have said nothing at all.

Incidentally, Anti-Rain was falling outside. Level 4—practically a torrential downpour.

But Raina wasn’t exactly in her right mind either. Her face flushed red as she nodded along awkwardly.

“Y-yeah. Feels refreshing.”

“[R-right? Haha.]”

“Ahaha……”

“[…]”

“……”

Silence again.

Was the room’s climate control broken? Or was it that the battery on his usual LED mask was overheating from age? Silence felt the air growing stuffy.

How the hell was he supposed to clear this tension? Damn it. Those nurses had to say something stupid and now things were just awkward with his junior—

“Senior. I’ll get going now.”

It was then.

Maybe she couldn’t take the tension any longer—Raina stood up. Silence nodded with stiff, puppet-like movements.

“[O-okay. Be careful heading back. Thanks for coming.]”

“Aw, it’s nothing.”

She walked gently toward the door, her steps cautious. Then, hand on the doorknob, she spoke with her back still turned to him.

“Senior.”

“[Yeah?]”

“Um…”

Raina hesitated for a long moment.

And finally, in a voice that sounded wrung from deep inside—

“Would you like to go around the festival with me?”

“[Huh? O-oh, uh-huh…]”

Silence nodded without thinking.

It was the Academy’s first-ever festival, so he was naturally curious. And it didn’t sound too bad to walk around with a close junior.

Then it hit him.

Raina had said “with me.” Specifically. That choice of words…

“[W-wait, Raina. Just now, did you mean—]”

“We have a promise now. Get well soon, and I’ll see you at the Academy.”

With that, Raina gave him a soft smile as she glanced back and left. Silence was left sitting alone in the VIP room.

“[Ah……]”

Silence sighed.

Just moments ago, he’d noticed.

That while Raina had smiled like everything was normal—her ears were burning red.

And he wasn’t stupid enough to miss what that meant.

“[Ah, damn it……]”

This shouldn’t be happening.

Over the fading image of Raina from just moments ago, another face began to slowly overlap like a lingering afterimage. A massive wave of guilt began to crash into his chest.

Silence tore off his mask and gripped his two melted faces—deformed from Junk Chip side effects—as if in agony.

And he murmured,

This shouldn’t be happening.

Really… this shouldn’t be happening…

“Training’s canceled for today.”

“…Huh?”

At Lexus Bane’s sudden declaration, Iri furrowed her brows. This damn old man—no, Master—where the hell was he planning to run off to this time, canceling their schedule on a whim?

“…Mister. You do realize I worked my ass off just to match today’s schedule, right?”

“Exactly why I’m saying this, kid.”

“What?”

“Look at your face. Do you really look like someone fit for training?”

“What’s wrong with my face.”

“Go get some sleep in your room, brat.”

Shoving his hands into both pockets and swaggering off like some street thug, Lexus grumbled as he walked away.

For a moment, Iri considered chucking the shield she had slung over her back at the back of his head, but decided not to. He’d probably dodge it anyway. Besides, on second thought, this might’ve actually worked in her favor.

“Since training’s canceled, I’ll have more time to invest in Academy assignments and Student Council work.”

Iri headed back toward the Student Council office. Even as she walked, she used her cyberware to project document screens in front of her eyes and began scanning and processing the files step by step.

The tasks she had to handle weren’t just festival-related.

There were assignments she had to complete and submit as a dutiful Academy student, and she had to go through various student petitions as well.

Tomorrow, she had to prepare for a meeting with the Academy’s crusty board members—those damn relics—and she also needed to look into the new defensive system scheduled to be added following the recent terror incident.

“I’m so sleepy…”

At first, she had charged ahead, fueled by the joy of achieving her goals one by one and receiving recognition from those around her.

But the limits were starting to show.

She was the type who couldn’t function properly without enough sleep. Even the stimulant effect from the coffee she had “borrowed” from the Stingray Foundation’s office was starting to wear off.

Still, Iri had no intention of giving up.

The more she pushed herself now, the better life would become for the other students at the Academy. And in turn, she herself would grow stronger.

She had reached the corridor near the Student Council room, still walking while staring down the documents when—

“Huh?”

She bumped into someone.

And then collapsed on the spot.

Iri opened her eyes.

“Mmm…”

Her body felt strangely energized. Her foggy head was clear, and the drowsiness that had been clinging to her was completely gone.

But there was one problem.

It was far too bright outside the window.

“Gasp…!”

Startled, Iri checked the time—and realized she had been asleep for nearly twenty hours.

“I’m screwed…!”

It was already 1 PM.

She’d completely missed her meeting with the Academy’s board relics. She’d also skipped about two classes. She clutched her head with both hands.

“This is insane…!”

How was she supposed to recover from this?

If those damn old fossils kept seeing her weaknesses like this, things would only get harder moving forward…

Then suddenly.

“What’s so insane?”

A low, mid-toned voice.

One she knew very well.

Startled, Iri turned her head toward the source.

“Gasp. Chairman…”

Aaron was sitting right next to her.

It was only then she realized—she was in Aaron’s office.

A place she had visited occasionally even before becoming Student Council President.

Meeting Aaron’s gaze, Iri felt a strange sense of relief… and immediately reprimanded herself. You can’t keep depending on this man forever.

“I—I’m sorry for the trouble. I’ll head back now—”

“Sit.”

Just as she started to rise, an invisible force pushed her head down, making her sit back on the sofa. Then Aaron spoke in a calm voice.

“I’m going to give you exactly three orders.”

“…Yes.”

There was no room for refusal.

She had made a mistake. Iri obediently listened.

“First, go back to your room immediately.”

“Yes…”

She got scolded.

Well, it was fair.

She had failed in her duties as Student Council President and even ended up burdening her supporter. But the next instruction was… strange.

“Second, change your clothes. There’s a package in front of your room—pick whatever you like from inside.”

“Yes… Huh?”

“Third. Be back here by 2 o’clock.”

“W-why?”

“We’re going somewhere.”

“But Chairman, I…”

“I won’t repeat myself.”

“….”

Iri fell silent.

When Aaron said something, that was final.

No matter what anyone else said, you had to obey.

That was the law of New Valhalla City.

But Iri, ever the rebel at heart, got a little annoyed by Aaron’s commanding tone and asked with as much defiance as she could muster:

“…Where are we going?”

“To have fun.”

“…??”

Iri couldn’t believe her ears.

Aaron Stingray, of all people, just said he was going to “have fun”? Sure, she’d been sleep-deprived lately, but had something finally short-circuited in her brain?

She must’ve misheard.

Convinced of that, she asked again.

“Where did you say we’re going?”

“To have fun.”

Ah.

She hadn’t misheard.

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