Chapter 42 : The Witch

“This is the place.”

Sheffil stopped in front of a building that looked like a cathedral and turned to look at Darkness and the two cosmos.

Unlike the other buildings they had passed—those grand structures built from gleaming white marble—this one was black as pitch.

Even under the blazing sunlight, the stone bricks that made up its walls absorbed all light, reflecting none.

This was the Second Academy of Magic.

Unlike the First Academy, ruled by the Archmage of Crystals and known for its all-encompassing curriculum, the Second specialized in everything considered “dark” by the common folk—black magic, witchcraft, illusions, derivative spells, alchemy, necromancy.

All of it taught under the authority of the mysterious Vice Dean.

Sheffil had no idea why the joint social between the Vocal Department and the Extreme Track Team was being held here.

The whole place was so dark you couldn’t even tell if the people arriving were men or women.

How was anyone supposed to bond like this?

Honestly, it served those track boys right—they were all probably virgins anyway.

Thankfully, he was only here to help the girls from his club get settled.

If he had to attend the social in this gloomy place, he’d be nothing more than a chump chatting with girls and paying the bill.

Speaking of which—wasn’t it around this time that Dorothy got out of class?

“This is it?”

“As expected, that old man’s taste is still as terrible as ever.”

Darkness stroked his chin, gazing up at the towering dome.

Meanwhile, the two cosmos had already stepped through the front doors of the chapel.

Old man?

Were they talking about the Vice Dean?

“Hey, Vice President, you’re here early!”

As Sheffil pondered the two strangers’ identities, a girl suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned around and found himself face to face with four stunning girls, all dressed in summer attire.

Their slender figures, lovely faces, and coquettish eyes marked them as the cream of the crop—wait, no, he was getting off track…

They were members of the Vocal Department, the ones invited to today’s social.

He never quite knew why, but the department president seemed to really like him.

He had only won a few competitions, and she had promptly handed him the Vice President position.

Not that he was complaining—being Vice President had its perks.

The girls in the Vocal Department were easy on the eyes, and on dull days, just watching them could lift his mood.

“You’re here pretty early.”

Sheffil greeted them with a nod, then turned to Darkness and said his goodbyes.

“So this is the Second Academy. Mr. Darkness, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Alright, we’ll get going then. Wouldn’t want to interrupt your romantic endeavors,” Darkness replied with a teasing grin, eyeing the girls behind Sheffil like an older brother who approved.

“There’s nothing romantic going on…”

“Darkness! Less talking, more walking. Get over here.”

“Yes, yes, Lady Cosmos.”

Before Sheffil could explain further, Darkness gave him a knowing wave and jogged after his companion, still wearing that universally understood look among men.

“Hey, senpai, was that someone you know?”

“He looked super handsome—was he one of the guys we’re meeting today?”

“Hmm~ he looked like my type~”

“Looks like we’ve been mistaken for your harem, junior. How about we ditch the social and let big sis teach you something a bit more… educational~?”

“Haha, or maybe it wouldn’t be so bad being your girlfriend instead~”

“It’s not like that. I was just showing him the way. Also, I have no intention of getting a girlfriend right now.”

With one hand, Sheffil gently pushed away the overly eager senior trying to press her diamond-like assets against his back.

Calmly, he addressed the buzzing crowd of girls.

“I see, that’s a shame. I was hoping we’d have a guy like you at the social.”

The senior leaned lazily against his back, grumbling in mock frustration.

“Right? If only more guys were like Vice President Sheffil… Actually, no, not like Sheffil. We don’t want a guy obsessed with childhood friends, right~?”

“Right~?”

“Right~?”

The girls echoed the phrase in a rhythm that sounded more like playful teasing than genuine questions.

Their laughter filled the air, while Sheffil could only sigh, caught between amusement and exasperation.

He got along well with most of the girls here, so their teasing didn’t bother him.

But calling him a “childhood friend freak”?

That crossed a line.

Just look at Dorothy—flustered every time she saw a girl.

How could anyone be obsessed with someone like that?

“Give me a break. What does not wanting a girlfriend have to do with Dorothy? Who’s the childhood friend freak?”

“Who’s always going on about that little girl from your house in the clubroom?”

The senior who had been leaning on his back now wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering softly into his ear.

“That’s only because Dorothy asked me to promote her.”

“And who keeps gushing about how amazing his little childhood friend is whenever we chat?”

Another girl clung to Sheffil’s left arm, pouting as she playfully confronted him.

“She used to like me. Once she found out I got a girlfriend, she gave up.”

“Yeah, every conversation with you ends up about Dorothy. It’s so boring.”

A third girl grabbed his right arm, snickering as she joined in.

“Okay, now I have to say something. The way you talk reminds me there’s only a one-year gap between us, yet I feel like there’s a whole generational divide. I can’t keep up.”

Sheffil looked at the girl sincerely.

Was this really how kids talked these days?

Maybe being from the countryside made him too out of touch.

“Sounds like you’re the one who’s outdated, senpai. Right, girls?”

“Exactly~”

“Ugh, whatever. I’ll just say it once—let’s cut the nonsense. You really think I’d like someone as dumb as Dorothy?”

Closing his eyes, Sheffil spoke each word as if reciting a sacred creed, decisively shutting down their ridiculous assumptions.

Like Dorothy? What a joke…

“Eh?”

A quiet, meaningful sigh echoed behind him.

With one girl clinging to his back, one on each arm, and another right in front of him, Sheffil turned around instinctively at the sound.

There she was.

The little witch with long white hair stood behind him, a gentle, almost saintly smile on her face.

No one knew when she’d gotten there.

Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly, and the two girls beside her looked tense and uncomfortable, their expressions full of disdain.

“You just now…”

The white-haired witch opened her eyes, those scarlet irises glinting coldly.

“Who exactly were you calling dumb, Sheffil?”