CHAPTER 132: NEW STUDENT: PART-2

The Next Day

The morning sunlight streamed gently into the dining room. Plates clinked softly as breakfast was served.

Raphael sat across from Leo at the table, her fork moving lazily as she picked at her food. Her eyes, however, stayed locked on her nephew. She ate in silence, but stared at him.

Leo finally noticed and frowned, sipping his corn milk. "What are you staring at?" he asked.

"Hmmm..." Raphael tilted her head, narrowing her gaze. "Did you sleep well?" she asked with an oddly curious tone, noticing the faint dark circles under his eyes.

Leo shrugged, his expression flat. "I slept like a log... it’s just—Ophis kept hugging my neck. And my leg..."

"Oh?" Raphael raised her brows. She already knew about Ophis... yesterday Leo had mentioned that she would be staying here for the time being, supposedly because her family had gone abroad.

But Raphael wasn’t entirely convinced. The story Leo had told didn’t add up, not completely.

The truth... that Leo had almost killed Ophis’s father, wasn’t something he could exactly say out loud. Otherwise, his aunt would freak out and even do something... which he didn’t want.

And the part about the casket... well, Ophis didn’t want anyone to know about her mother. So Leo had lied, telling Raphael instead that Ophis slept in some strange box-like bed.

Even though Raphael struggled to make sense of it, she eventually just shrugged it off, thinking some people were weird. After all, she’d seen stranger cases in the hospital she worked at.

"I thought she was sleeping in the casket, though?" Raphael asked again, her brow furrowing as she chewed slowly... even though it was sarcastic tone.

Leo coughed into his hand before replying smoothly, "Even so... she’s still a little girl, you know? She gets kind of scared at night. So... sometimes she sneaks into my bed after a while."

Raphael nodded absentmindedly. Nothing about his words really made sense, yet for some strange reason... she couldn’t help but believe him.

"Where is she now?" Raphael asked after a pause.

Leo shrugged casually. "She said she needed to talk to someone early this morning, so she left."

Raphael frowned for a brief second before sighing and letting it go. "Anyway... since I have duties at the hospital, I won’t be at the school today. So you’d better not do anything weird, okay?"

Leo nodded obediently.

Raphael wasn’t finished. "Also, once my duties are over, we’ll start our usual daily training again. Until then, you should wake up on time and train by yourself. Don’t sleep in until late, understood?"

Leo gave a stiff, awkward nod, scratching the back of his head.

Raphael finally smiled, her expression softening. "Good. Well then, I’ve got some paperwork to drop off at the school anyway, so I’ll drive you there."

Leo’s face instantly turned pale. "My god... not this again."

****

Merlin-II High School

Leo’s legs trembled as he staggered out of the car and into the school gates. He clutched his bag against his shoulder, muttering under his breath. "How is she even alive... driving like that?"

He wasn’t sure anymore.

Was he just getting old... or were Raphael’s driving skills actually getting worse day by day?

Maybe both.

Sigh...

He walked into his classroom like a man heading to his execution, dragged himself to his seat, and dropped down into the chair. His eyes already felt heavy. He knew the day was going to be the same as always, so why bother pretending? With a tired groan, he closed his eyes, sinking into his desk.

Ah... he could sleep here so beautifully~

Last night had drained him. He needed this nap more than anything.

But just as his body relaxed and he was about to drift off—

"Attention, students. I wish to confirm that the school festival will proceed on the scheduled day. There will be no changes or delays, so get ready." The teacher’s voice cut through the air, delivered in his usual lifeless, energyless tone.

The entire classroom froze for a second. And then—

"YAAYYYYY!!"

Not just his class, but the entire school roared at once, their cheers exploding as if every teacher had announced it in unison.

The walls practically shook with excitement.

Leo flinched at the deafening scream, ’Argh! Am I the only one who hates this thing?’ he groaned inwardly.

Usually, he would take a leave on festival days, skip all the chaos, and enjoy his peace in secret. Running around, shouting around, joining silly games... no thanks!!

"So as usual," the teacher droned, "the list of participants for each game has been plastered on the notice board. You can verify your name there. If it’s not listed... you can inform—" he paused, then sighed heavily, "not me... the student council."

The man looked like life itself had been drained from him.

So much pain. Poor man... Damn man!

Leo shrugged, not that he cared much. He already planned on taking that day off anyway. A whole festival?

Too noisy... Too crowded... Better to disappear and enjoy his long, quiet day.

Come to think of it... wasn’t the festival day the same day as his birthday?

Talk about coincidence...

’Well, which means I’ll definitely not be coming here!’ Leo thought with a casual shrug, leaning down on his table. With that, he decided to close his eyes, eager to drift into another nap.

But then—

"Also, I’d like to inform you all... that we have a new student," the teacher said suddenly.

The words hit like a ripple through the class. Everyone froze in place.

A new student? At half-year?

Who would even transfer now?

"Is it a girl, sir?!" one of the boys blurted out eagerly.

The teacher did something shocking. For the first time that year... he smiled.

"Yes," he said simply.

"OOOHHHH~!"

Every boy in class howled in unison like a pack of hungry wolves, their chairs screeching, their hands pounding the desks.

Leo didn’t bother opening his eyes. He really didn’t care. Still, a small thought crossed his mind.

Who the hell would join the school at this time?

Thud!

The classroom door slid open.

The howling slowly died down, the voices of the boys fading into silence. One by one, their jaws dropped. Until finally—

Almost no sound at all.

It was as if the entire classroom had frozen.

Leo frowned.

Why the sudden silence? With a sigh, he lifted his head lazily.

And then... he saw her.

A beautiful girl stood at the entrance.

Her long green hair flowed like a waterfall, glimmering faintly under the sunlight, each strand catching a soft shimmer as if kissed by morning dew. It wasn’t just hair... it looked alive, like fresh spring leaves swaying in a gentle breeze. A faint floral scent seemed to follow her into the room, light and refreshing, as if she had stepped straight out of a meadow.

Her skin was pale, smooth, and delicate... yet with a faint rosy glow that hinted at warmth.

Even in the plain school uniform, she looked divine. The blazer hugged her slender frame perfectly, the pleated skirt swayed lightly as she shifted... It was as though the outfit had been designed with only her in mind.

She tucked a lock of green hair gently behind her ear, her movements slow, deliberate... every gesture looked like a goddess.

Then, without warning, her golden eyes shot a glance at Leo.

Just a second... Just enough to pierce through him.

!!!

Leo flinched, his heart stuttering in his chest, a chill rushing down his spine.

Meanwhile, Class 3-A

"Students, say hello to Ophis," the woman teacher said warmly, smiling as she gestured to the little girl standing at the front.

Ophis stood there stiff, her face pale, eyes wide, her body trembling as she looked at the children around her... children of the same look, all staring at her with curious eyes.

"Hello, Ophis!" the students chorused loudly.

"You look cute!" another shouted, their voices overlapping with cheerful innocence.

All of them were staring at the small pink-haired girl with twin tails standing timidly before them.

Ophis, however, did not look happy... she was horrified.

Where was she?

Why was she here?

And her horrified expression only deepened as one snotty-nosed girl waddled up to her, rubbing her nose with her hand before offering it out with a sloppy,

"Hello~"

Ophis’s eye twitched.

And then, unable to hold back—

"VALRA!!!!!!!"

Her scream shook the classroom walls.