"Rose?"

"Yes?"

"I've noticed you've been going out a lot lately," Riley said casually. "Is something going on?"

"No, nothing at all."

She answered too quickly.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. There were just a few things I was curious about, so I wanted to go out and do them alone for a while…" She glanced at him, then smiled softly. "Does it bother you? Fufu—if it does, I can just stick to you twenty-four hours a day instead."

"Haha, not at all."

Riley shook his head lightly.

"Though that offer isn't bad," he added, half joking. "I was just a little worried. But if it's really nothing, then that's fine. Still… don't hesitate to talk to me if something is going on. I'm here. We all are."

"Fufu… I know."

Rose walked ahead, her steps light, her expression calm—almost playful.

She stayed close to his side, humming faintly to herself like nothing weighed on her mind.

Riley watched her quietly.

To anyone else, she looked normal. Relaxed. At ease.

But he could tell.

Rose was hiding something.

Under his usual apathetic gaze, a quiet concern lingered.

He already had a few guesses as to what the trouble might be.

Her family—or more specifically, her father.

In the game, that man was practically the final boss of her route.

Even though Rose's character arc had always been unpredictable, most of her major events eventually circled back to him.

The fact that she was deliberately avoiding the topic meant something had already started moving.

Either Raymond had made his move…

Or Rose had.

Whatever it was, Riley decided one thing for now.

If she didn't want him interfering, he wouldn't force his way into her problems.

…At least, as long as things stayed within tolerable limits.

Riley recalled the kind of person Raymond was.

On the surface, the duke was quiet, restrained—someone who preferred to stay behind the scenes like a hidden chess master.

But Riley knew better.

That obsession he held toward his "star," Rose, was the kind that never stayed buried forever. Eventually, it would boil over.

And when it did, Raymond wouldn't remain in the background.

He would become a direct villain to face.

Should I have gone and met him last time…?

The thought lingered.

Riley remembered the invitation Duke Raymond had sent him before.

At the time, he'd brushed it off as meaningless.

Pointless political talk.

A waste of time.

Back then, avoiding it felt like the right choice.

Now, he wasn't so sure.

If he had gone, he might've gotten a read on Raymond's current state—his mindset, his intentions.

Instead, all Riley had now were fragments from memory and assumptions based on the original storyline.

Raymond wasn't particularly strong. Not compared to what Rose had already overcome.

If it came down to it, she could handle him on her own.

It was a winnable scenario—no matter how things played out.

But winning didn't mean it wouldn't hurt.

No matter how many sins the man had committed, no matter how twisted his actions were, one truth remained unchanged.

Raymond was still her father.

And that alone was enough to leave scars that wouldn't fade easily.

Riley let out a quiet breath.

Normally, he wouldn't worry this much.

But this world was no longer following the exact path he remembered.

Too many things had changed—especially Rose. Her growth, her choices, her emotions… all of it had shifted because of him.

And then there was Dorothy.

That thought darkened his expression slightly.

Riley was certain Rose already knew the truth about who Dorothy really was.

That knowledge alone would make her next encounter with her father far more dangerous—and unpredictable.

If Raymond made a move now…

There was no telling how Rose would respond.

"By the way… did something happen between those two?"

Rose's question pulled Riley out of his thoughts

. She was looking ahead, where Snow and Seo were walking side by side.

They were talking, but the atmosphere between them felt off—awkward in a way that didn't fit their usually close dynamic.

"Well… a little something did happen," Riley said.

After thinking for a moment, he decided there wasn't much point in hiding it. As they continued walking, he explained what had happened between Snow and Seo. About five minutes later—

"So, Snow's an idiot."

Rose said it flatly.

"Haha… I wouldn't go that far," Riley replied, rubbing the back of his head.

"No, she is," Rose continued without hesitation. "How could she do that to innocent Black Rat— I mean Seo."

Riley awkwardly smiled. "Yeah… I guess what she did was kind of extreme. But she regrets it badly and she's already learning her lesson. It'll probably take a bit of time, but I'm sure those two will make up soon."

Rose frowned slightly. "Even I wouldn't ask Seo to do something like that, or force her into making that kind of choice. What was Snow even trying to get out of it?"

"She said she wanted to experiment with some new spell she came up with."

Riley paused there.

He could tell there was more to it, but Snow herself hadn't gone into detail.

Explaining half-baked reasons would only complicate things, so he left it at that.

"Hm…" Rose hummed quietly. "Well, as long as they're honest with each other, it should be fine."

Riley nodded in agreement.

The group continued forward, and before long the academy coliseum came into view.

It was already afternoon, yet the excitement surrounding the Grand Continental Festival showed no signs of dying down.

It had been like this for three days straight.

Cheers, shouting, and bursts of excitement echoed from inside the coliseum and spilled out into the surrounding area.

Even from a distance, the crowd was dense, students and visitors packed together, all drawn in by the atmosphere.

The festival was in full swing—and it wasn't slowing down anytime soon.

Today marked Rose's fourth match.

And judging by the atmosphere, almost everyone here was waiting for it.

The moment their group stepped into the academy colosseum, a subtle shift ran through the crowd.

Whispers spread, heads turned, and eyes followed them wherever they went.

Even those who tried to act calm couldn't completely hide their excitement.

After all, it wasn't every day that so many well-known figures gathered in one place.

Geniuses. Prodigies. Monsters in human form.

And right at the center of it all was Rose.

Some gazes were filled with admiration, others with awe, and a few with envy.

A number of male students shot irritated looks toward Riley in particular—clearly unhappy that someone like him was casually surrounded by so many outstanding girls.

"So you're fighting Stacia, huh…"

Seo's quiet voice broke through the noise.

"Yes," Rose replied calmly.

"I see…"

Rose tilted her head slightly. "Hmm? Is there something going on with that junior?"

"No." Seo shook her head. "I just thought it was a shame I couldn't face her myself. The match pairings are too random."

"Did you want to fight her?"

"…A little."

Rose paused for half a second, then spoke in a flat tone.

"Then should I try to lose?"

Seo immediately shook her head. "No need. If it comes down to it, we'll face each other soon anyway. I think that would be more fun."

Riley, walking beside them, couldn't help but smile faintly.

Even they were curious.

Curious about where they stood now.

About how much stronger they'd become.

His gaze shifted upward toward one of the larger floating screens above the arena.

Compared to the others, this one had been enlarged to match the anticipation surrounding the match.

[Rose vs Stacia]

Their portraits appeared side by side.

Riley's eyes lingered on Stacia's face.

He recalled his earlier conversation with Evelyn.

Whatever she had done, it was clear she'd played a part in Stacia's sudden growth.

He didn't know the details—but he could feel it.

This match wouldn't end as quickly as Rose's previous ones.

And for the first time in a while…

Riley found himself genuinely interested in how it would unfold.

"Heeey everyone—sorry I'm late, hehehe!"

A familiar cheerful voice rang out behind them.

Before anyone could react, a red rectangular portal popped open in midair, and Alice stepped out of it like she'd just walked through a door.

She adjusted her witch hat, her long pink hair spilling loosely over her shoulders as the portal quietly closed behind her.

"Alice," Riley said, turning.

"Hello Riley~ hehe. And everyone else too."

Alice glanced around the crowded coliseum and let out a small sigh.

"Looks like I didn't miss the match after all. The principal was just… way too stubborn."

"Did you finish your business with her?" Riley asked.

"Well, we're still in the negotiation stage," Alice replied, rubbing the back of her head. "Same as yesterday. She really wouldn't take no for an answer. But don't worry—we reached an agreement this time."

"And that would be?" Snow asked.

"I told her I'd think about her offer after I graduate," Alice said. "She didn't look happy about it, but she accepted in the end. Honestly, after I mentioned your name, Riley, things went smoother. Maybe I should've done that from the start."

The girls chuckled at her words. Even Seo, who was usually quiet, showed a faint smile.

"We're glad you made it, Sister Alice," Snow said warmly. "Though if you truly don't want the principal's offer, it might be better to take a neutral stance. Or perhaps suggest a suitable replacement. And if it really comes down to it, I could speak to her myself."

"Hehe, I appreciate that," Alice replied, waving her hand lightly. "But I feel like that would just complicate things even more. I'll let it stay like this for now."

She then turned toward Rose, her expression brightening.

"Do your best as always this time, Sister—ah… maybe don't go too far?"

She laughed awkwardly, clearly remembering the kind of damage a serious Rose could cause.

The others laughed along with her, the tension easing as the group fell into casual chatter once more, their attention slowly drifting back toward the arena where the match was about to begin.

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