If even this tiny bit of emotion could be called pain...
Then what kind of despair did Lillian breathe in as she faced her final end?
Ain recalled things from a long time ago.
After his parents divorced, he had lived with his mother before even starting middle school.
But later, his mother found a new husband, and his biological father also formed a new family.
No matter which side it was, he seemed to have become something completely dispensable in their lives.
Then what did his own existence even mean?
Did he really want to watch such a tragedy play out again?
Did he have to watch another person get dragged into that suffocating misfortune once more?
Then, there was absolutely no need for any reasons behind what he was doing now!
Because...
The story simply shouldn't end this way!
Ain slowly stood up, his gaze fixed on the card of The Banshee in his hand.
In an instant, the card's surface quietly lit up, and a magic circle like a brilliant star emerged.
“This is...”
Ain's eyes lit up slightly.
This was a divination technique that required coordinates to be inscribed in advance—Star-track Leap.
It could teleport designated individuals to a predetermined coordinate together!
This was the real reason he had come here!
If Lola was the one who gave this to me...
Then my coming to this place must have been her intention as well.
Ain suddenly came to a realization.
Her purpose shouldn't have been just to let him see these truths...
Lola seemed to have mentioned before that she wanted him to save Lillian?
Since she knew something would happen to Lillian and possessed such immense strength, why didn't she save her herself? Why did it have to be him?
Was someone holding her back?
An idea exploded in his mind like a flash of lightning, and Ain suddenly understood.
How could I be so stupid!
On this stage set up by the academy, not everyone was looking forward to Lillian's death!
If she couldn't act because she was being restrained by the academy's higher-ups...
Then everything made perfect sense!
Wasn't his initial purpose of obtaining the Scale of Astral Judgment to change the ending of Act Two?
She knew this, which was why she helped him get the Scale of Astral Judgment!
And that was why she had approached him back then!
Ain's gaze suddenly brightened, a brilliant light flashing in his eyes.
If the academy's higher-ups were holding back the Eye of the Astral Splendor, did that also mean the Eye of the Astral Splendor would hold back the academy for him in this incident?
Ain carefully pondered the few whispered words Lola had left him before parting. At this moment, he could read a completely different meaning behind them.
So what she really meant back then was...
For me to go all out?
At this thought, the remaining fog in Ain's mind was instantly torn apart. His gaze grew cold, and a heart-palpitating madness surged deep within his eyes.
“Then I'll show you all...”
“Not just the Nightingale Secret Order, but the academy, and even the Titan Prosecution Office...”
“None of you are playing this game anymore!”
Seeing that Ain had regained his former composure and confidence, Rosalind also let out a sigh of relief, a smile gracing her face.
“Thanks, Rosalind.”
“By the way, didn't you say just now that we could do it again?”
A playful, slightly mischievous smile played on the corner of Ain's lips. His gaze locked onto her like a predator watching its prey, looking at her with a hint of playfulness.
“Eh?”
Rosalind blinked, instinctively crossing her arms over her chest.
“Haha, I'm just kidding.”
“We can, you know...”
“...”
This time, it was Ain's turn to fall silent.
Amused by his reaction, Rosalind looked at him and said softly, “Once you have finished all the things you need to do.”
“Just as you wished, let's do it again, shall we?”
“And next time, I won't be using this magic~”
Rosalind tilted her head, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she looked at Ain.
Beneath her elegant demeanor, the girl revealed a hint of childlike playfulness. Her captivating appearance struck a chord deep in Ain's heart.
The sudden flutter in his heart caught Ain off guard. He simply raised his hands and let out a sigh, half-helpless and half-yielding.
“You win.”
“I surrender.”
Rosalind clasped her hands behind her back and slowly stepped closer to Ain.
The girl's sweet scent enveloped him as Rosalind leaned in close to his ear, whispering slowly word by word.
“I... am... not... kidding... okay?”
Her warm breath brushed past his ear as if on purpose, causing Ain's entire body to stiffen. He had never experienced such a seductive and aggressive approach before.
“I was wrong. Please stop teasing me.”
Ain felt like crying but had no tears.
This woman's tactics were truly unfathomable!
Seeing the girl slowly back away, Ain immediately seized the opportunity and walked back in the direction they came from.
“Cough, I wonder how Roy is doing over there.”
“Let's head back first.”
Watching Ain's retreating back, Rosalind couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Then, the girl gently placed her hands over her chest, feeling the rapid pounding of her heart. She lightly touched her lips as she recalled the scene from earlier, a blush gradually spreading across her face.
Was she... being a bit too bold?
...
Ain and Rosalind walked down the corridor, their voices echoing through the hallway.
“What do you plan to do next?”
“First, I'll see if the people from the Titan Prosecution Office have arrived, but I doubt they will show up.”
Ain shrugged.
“This place must be extremely hard to find. Let's look for another exit ourselves first.”
“What about the document you had Master Sevis obtain?”
Ain chuckled.
“That's no longer important.”
Rosalind asked curiously, “Why?”
Ain reached out, showing her the card of The Banshee, and explained the whole story to Rosalind.
“Knight... Heh, I thought the name sounded familiar back then.”
“Knight is just her last name. Her full name should be...”
“Lillian Knight.”
Rosalind was somewhat surprised. She reached out, slowly pointing at the card in Ain's hand.
“This...”
“Considering the Titan Prosecution Office wanted to use Sevis as a shield, I'm not surprised they are involved in this matter.”
“No, I mean, the patterns on this card are glowing.”
Ain froze. He quickly turned the front of the card toward himself. Just as Rosalind had said, the star-like glowing patterns were spreading across the entire card.
In the next second, their surroundings shifted instantly. The enclosed space vanished, replaced by a familiar ceiling and a vast array of seats.
They were back in the classroom.
Staring at the glowing patterns on the card, Ain hesitated.
Did Lola do this?
“Mr. Ain, look outside, quick!”
Following where Rosalind was pointing, Ain turned his head and looked out the window.
Though dusk was approaching, a deluge of purple lightning suddenly split the heavens, illuminating the night sky as bright as day.
Urged by the harsh shouts of their instructors, countless students rushed toward a certain direction in unison. Amidst the chaotic cries of the crowd, deafening roars of magical beasts swept in from all directions.
The final chapter of Act Two has begun?
Rate on N.U.
