In the Simulated Reincarnation.
Over the next few days, Lu Mo took a break and didn’t enter the second Simulated Reincarnation.
During these nine days, Elia appeared at the courtyard entrance on time every day to guide her in sword practice.
She also saw Cecilia nine times at the academy.
“Miss Lu Mo, would you like to attend the freshman entrance ceremony together?”
One day, after watching Lu Mo practice swords, Elia invited her again.
“Entrance ceremony?”
Lu Mo just remembered that the freshman admission assessment was over and the results were out.
Next, the academy would announce the freshman rankings at the entrance ceremony and award prizes to those at the top.
The prizes were generous, but they had nothing to do with her.
After all, she only got in because her family paid her way in.
And in the eyes of others, she had always been a waste without any talent for cultivation.
If only her memories had recovered a few years earlier, and the system had appeared a few years earlier.
Then, maybe she could have taken a “domineering heroine” path in reality.
Toughly make a three-year pact with Cthilla.
Shine in the academy’s talent test, overwhelming her peers.
At the entrance ceremony, clash head-on with the family genius, challenge them on the spot, and defeat them in front of everyone.
Just thinking about such a development felt amazing.
But it was just a thought.
For now, she could only lay low and survive.
She had planned to skip the freshman entrance ceremony.
After all, the excitement belonged to the geniuses, and it had nothing to do with her.
But… since Elia had invited her so warmly, she couldn’t refuse.
“O… okay.”
Lu Mo agreed.
She had wanted to call Elia by her name, but the other girl had never told her.
What exactly was this tall girl’s name?
Lu Mo felt a little troubled, but it also made her even more curious.
Upon hearing her answer, Elia’s eyes lit up and her heartbeat quickened.
The next moment, she grabbed Lu Mo’s hand without hesitation.
“Huh?”
Before Lu Mo could react, she was already being pulled out of the courtyard, running toward the square.
As if afraid she would change her mind.
Under the sunlight, Elia pulled Lu Mo as they ran.
So happy, so light, so full of youthful vitality.
The wind rushed past them, and the scenery receded behind them.
Many things were left far behind.
Including hesitation, doubt, as well as unease and sadness.
She wanted to take Lu Mo’s hand and bring her into the sunlight.
Just like how Lu Mo had done for her back then.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
“Good morning, Young Master Koman.”
“Are you heading to the entrance ceremony too, Young Master Koman?”
Someone yawned and greeted him.
“Yeah.” Koman replied.
“Going to check out the pretty new female students?” the other teased.
“Sort of,” Koman said indifferently. “There’s a junior in the family with good results, just going to take a look.”
“But new female students, I might as well ‘critically’ check them out.”
“Oh, Young Master Koman, you look pretty pale…”
When the other got closer and saw his slightly haggard expression, they were a bit surprised.
“Just some insomnia, nothing serious,” Koman said.
He hadn’t slept well for the past nine days.
Every time he closed his eyes, the scene from that day would appear in his mind—
Lu Mo stood there, smiling slightly.
The Saintess… actually took the initiative to step forward and let her pat her head.
And the Bishop even greeted her amiably.
What the hell was going on?
Not to mention the Bishop.
How did Lu Mo… get so close to the Saintess?
In the family, she had always been an introverted and inferior child.
Was the Saintess attracted by her face?
Her only remarkable feature was her delicate appearance.
But the problem was—
There were so many beautiful girls in the Holy Sanctuary, why was the Saintess paying attention to her specifically?
Did the Saintess approach Lu Mo on her own?
Or…
Did Lu Mo gradually approach the Saintess?
If it was the former, that was fine.
But if it was the latter…
Cold sweat broke out on Koman’s forehead.
How could Lu Mo, who had always been silent in the family, suddenly learn such tactics?
The Saintess had only been at the academy for nine days.
Wait!
Was there a possibility—
Was Lu Mo playing dumb all along?
In the family, she couldn’t find an opportunity, so she pretended to be weak and withdrawn, lying low.
And once she came to Cangyu Academy, free from the family’s control—
She revealed her true fangs.
‘This woman… is she trying to use her beauty to get close to the Saintess, and have the Saintess help her fight against the family, even the Night Ripple Empire?’
This thought made Koman break out in a cold sweat that night.
If that were true, then Lu Mo’s schemes were too deep.
Maybe the whole family had been fooled by her acting.
He even almost contacted the family elders to report this.
But soon, he calmed down.
Would a sixteen-year-old girl… really think that far?
And that day, when the Saintess ran to Lu Mo, he clearly saw nervousness on Lu Mo’s face.
‘So… her meeting with the Saintess was probably just a coincidence.’
Koman finally put down the communication crystal.
After all, if he reported false information, he would be the one scolded.
In the following days, he also kept an eye on their movements.
It seemed that to prepare for the entrance ceremony, the Saintess and Lu Mo had almost no contact during these days.
There were no more absurd scenes of “actively asking for head pats.”
Koman’s anxious heart finally relaxed a bit.
‘It was indeed a coincidence.’
‘Maybe the Saintess is just pure-hearted and had a whim.’
‘Now, she’s probably lost interest in Lu Mo.’
‘In a while, she might even forget her completely.’
‘Lu Mo isn’t playing dumb; she’s really dumb.’
After reaching this conclusion, Koman finally felt at ease and prepared to go out to see the new female students and relax.
The entrance ceremony was about to begin.
He took a deep breath of the morning air and let out a smile of relief.
“Tap tap tap—”
Just then, rapid footsteps sounded behind him.
“Miss Lu Mo, can you still run?”
A girl’s voice came.
“Mm?!”
Hearing the words “Lu Mo,” Koman immediately tensed up.
“I can run…”
Lu Mo’s voice followed, a bit out of breath and somewhat embarrassed.
“This… seems pretty nice.”
“What’s the matter?” The girl laughed. “Is Miss Lu Mo shy?”
“But… if we run hand in hand like this, won’t people… think we’re a couple?”
“C-couple?!”
Koman’s breath caught.
He immediately turned around.
He saw two figures running rapidly toward him, almost passing him by.
One was a slightly shy Lu Mo, being pulled by the hand.
The other was the tall girl pulling her along from the front.
And that girl—
He recognized her.
And he remembered her clearly!
It was Elia!
Ranked first in the freshman talent test!
Ranked first in the practical test!
And now—
Elia was actually holding Lu Mo’s hand.
And… they were so close?!