It doesn't particularly matter to me who does what and where. Most things don't interest me. After all, everyone has at least one or two secrets they can't talk about. A life without even that would be terribly dull.

The carefree cat was tormented by her own birthright, the earnest honor student was intent on taking their parent's life, and even that foolish-looking noble brat had burdens worthy of his station.

Night fell over the academy city of Lehan.

As I moved through the quiet, slumbering streets, suppressing my footsteps, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and glared up at the carefree cat.

“Ridiculous. Whatever he's hiding, it’s probably just some scuffle or dispute between delinquents.”

Even though there was a slender back right before my eyes, it felt strangely like the very presence of Riona was wavering. She looked down at me and gave a wide, sneering grin.

“You don’t knooow that~! Ehehe! Maybe he’s sneaking off to a shady little shop, hmm? Hnfu, I’m definitely gonna dig up his dirty little secret and make that smug stray dog eat his words! I can’t wait~”

“Did you seriously just say ‘eat his words’…?”

Yes. We were tailing a shadowy figure far ahead. Not chasing, not in a hurry—just maintaining a steady distance.

“Ah, no, no! El-tan, don’t step in front of me, okay? If you get any closer, that dog will notice. I myself am already at the critical distance. Got it?”

“...Yeah, yeah…”

To think she’d use every skill of infiltration, espionage, and assassination… just to expose someone’s secret. This woman was terrifying when she set her mind to something.

“Anyway, I’m going to track him all the way to whatever shady little shop he’s sneaking off to!”

It all began that night. Just as the magical lamps in the knight academy’s dormitories were dimming and the city was drifting into slumber.

Riona suddenly barged into Lili’s room and, in a hushed voice, whispered a startling revelation—Void had slipped out through the school gates. Lili, already dressed in her nightclothes, let out a weary sigh, then started getting ready to follow him. But that was when Riona struck.

—Even if we’re going to scold Void for his behavior, wouldn’t it be better for Team Three to discuss it first, before you, as an instructor, step in?

That saccharine voice, those earnest eyes—so convincingly spewing absolute bullshit. It was almost impressive. What really stuck with me, though, was the way Lili nodded, just slightly pleased. She must have been happy to see her student showing signs of maturity.

She fell for it completely.

Come on, Lili, get it together… I need my sleep if I’m ever going to grow taller...

And so, here I was.

Dressed in my nightclothes, with only a hastily strapped-on sword belt making the outfit even remotely battle-ready. Oh, and of course, my beloved nightcap remained firmly on my head.

Beside me, however, stood another figure—fully dressed in uniform and in full battle gear, as if we were marching into war. The ever-diligent samurai honor student.

“Hmm, I don’t think it’s a brothel. This is a proper academy city. There’s no way an establishment like that could exist here.”

“Huh? Who said anything about a brothel? Ohhh? Ryoka-chan, is that what you were imagining? Heeeh~? Is that what’s been filling your head?”

Riona turned back, flashing another sly grin.

“Wha—!? I-I—I just—there aren’t many other shady types of places that—!!”

I was exhausted. I wanted to go home.

Staggering slightly, I walked in a wavering line.

“Keep your voice down, Oujin. He’ll notice. I thought he was sneaking into a tavern. Booze, that’s all.”

“Same here~. So? What about you, Ryoka-chan? A brot… what was it again?”

Oujin clenched his eyes shut, groaning through his gritted teeth. Then, he reached for the hilt of his sword.

“...I will commit seppuku!”

“—!?”

I immediately kicked Oujin’s leg to stop him.

“Cut it out! That woke me right up! This is why Eastern warriors are terrifying! They don’t even carry shields, yet they charge in alone, unafraid of death, and even when we finally manage to capture them, if we let our guard down for even a moment, they slit their own stomachs! Do you have any idea how many times I suffered because of that!?”

Back then, I never did figure out exactly who they were. But now, after being reincarnated, I finally understand.

“...”

“...Huh?”

Ah. That was one of Blythe’s memories. I was a mercenary in the Republic back then. Damn it, I must still be half-asleep.

I cleared my throat once.

“...Or so it was written in one of Blythe’s records. He said people should value their lives more.”

A perfect lie.

Oujin gave a strained chuckle.

“No, haha. Even I wouldn’t actually go through with it over something like this. I was joking. Sorry.”

“I see. A joke, huh? Heh.”

Muttering quietly, I then widened my eyes in a glare.

“—I’m going to beat you to death, you idiot.”

“What happened to that heartfelt speech about the importance of life!?”

“That was Blythe! I’m Eremia, so I—mmph!?”

My nose slammed into Riona’s back, stopping me in my tracks.

“Ow... What now!?”

I took a step back and looked up, only to see something rare—Riona, with her head hung low, quickly ducking behind Oujin.

The reason was obvious.

Void, veins bulging in his forehead, was stomping back toward us with a thug-like swagger, shoulders squared in fury.

Our tailing had failed. It seemed we’d been caught.

So much for infiltration, espionage, and assassination. We were amateurs. Time to retreat. We should just go home and sleep.

Riona pouted.

“Moo~, it’s ‘cause El-tan’s killing intent was too strong.”

Ah. Was this my fault? That’s... unfortunate.

“No, that was just a joke. I wasn’t being serious.”

“That was a joke? You’re seriously terrifying.”

Void came to a stop in front of us.

His gaze swept over everyone, looking down on us all.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. I’ll listen.”

Riona raised her right hand in a sharp motion.

Void jerked his chin at her, signaling her to speak.

“Ryoka-chan said that if he was going to a shady shop, he wanted to be taken along too! So, El-tan and I were tailing the stray dog to keep him company! Sorry!”

Incredible. Not a single part of that story fit together logically. There was no way anyone would believe it. In fact, it almost felt like she was mocking him on purpose. It was honestly impressive.

Void bared his teeth, his forehead creasing.

“Lehan is an academy city! There aren’t any shady shops here, you morons!”

...Can I go home now?