“Ah, finally decided to come home, A-She?”
As Sheffil opened the door, he saw a familiar figure sprawled on his couch.
Normally immaculate in her academy uniform and witch’s hat, Dorothy Byrne had tossed them aside.
Dressed only in a white inner shirt, she lay half-reclined, casually flipping through a comic book.
She barely spared him a glance, lifting her hand lazily in greeting before returning to her reading.
“Why are you still here so late? What about your own place?”
Unlike Sheffil, Dorothy lived in a different dormitory closer to Jadecrest Academy, sharing an apartment with Jianle.
Sheffil often teased that the two of them were basically living like a couple.
His gaze drifted toward the mess of comics and empty snack wrappers scattered beside the couch.
She’d clearly been here for a while.
“You’ve got some nerve asking that!”
Dorothy shot up the moment he spoke and leapt onto Sheffil’s shoulders.
“What happened between you and little Jianle?! Fess up, now!”
“Ow, ow! Stop pulling my hair! What the hell’s gotten into you?!”
“What could possibly have happened between me and Jianle?!”
Sheffil wrestled to pry the small girl off his shoulders, all while trying to keep her from yanking out his distinctive white-highlighted hair.
“Then take a look at what’s on this newspaper!”
Dorothy finally let go of his hair—his life source, practically—and spun once around his neck before landing back on the couch.
She grabbed a paper from beneath her hat and shoved the front page in his face.
“Huh? What could it possibly say?”
Still rubbing his abused hair, Sheffil took the newspaper from her and scanned the headline.
“Let’s see here… ‘Shocking! Sheffil’s True Nature Revealed—Abandoning Swordmaiden Jianle After Secret Affair?!’”
“Huh?! Who the hell wrote this crap?! And why are there pictures?!”
Just one look and Sheffil felt like half his body had gone numb.
The garish red headline was bad enough—but next to it were several photos of him and Jianle looking suspiciously close, all thanks to some unfortunate camera angles.
He remembered now.
During yesterday’s prank war with Jianle, he’d made her angry… and clearly, someone had captured the moment with ulterior motives.
But who the hell had the luck—and the gall—to write something like this?
Suppressing a rising tide of fury, Sheffil scanned downward until he found the author’s name.
“Written exclusively for the academy by the Super Ace Reporter, Mr. Luther.”
Of course.
Of course it was you, you damn bastard, Luther!
No wonder you hesitated when you asked me if I was ‘enlightened’!
“LUTHER!!!! YOU DOGSHIT BASTARD!!!”
The fourth student dormitory block trembled under the roar of unholy wrath.
***
“Achoo! Huh… who’s talking about me behind my back?”
A tall blond man lounged on a couch, long legs casually propped up on the office desk.
He yawned as he scanned the income report from the previous day, a smug grin stretching across his face.
“But wow, revenue hit another new high yesterday.”
“Sheffil, my dear junior—you really are my golden goose.”
“Deputy Director, don’t you think you’re milking Sheffil a bit too hard? Isn’t he going to be pissed?”
A nervous member of the journalism club asked, sweating as he stared at the article Luther had just finalized for tomorrow’s edition.
“The Truth Behind the Breakup: A New Flame from the Mysterious Northern Kingdom?!”
If Sheffil were here, he would’ve recognized those photos instantly—moments captured during his shopping trip with Tianxia, right before they ran into Luther.
“Hmph. Sheffil’s a good sport. He’ll be fine.”
“Oh, and make sure Lize’s article goes right after the headline feature.”
Luther waved a hand, leaning back with both arms tucked behind his head like a king.
“Uh, sure. But this photo… it wasn’t taken by us, right?”
Another club member asked, holding up a clearly lower-quality photo compared to their department’s crystalstone camera standard.
“Mm, a helpful citizen submitted it.”
Luther threw a brief glance at him and gave a half-hearted reply, then turned his eyes back to the revenue chart, releasing a sinister chuckle.
He had no idea that at this very moment, a certain someone was planning to twist his head off and use it as a soup bowl.
***
“So? What do you have to say for yourself?”
Dorothy stood with arms crossed, an irritable expression on her face, fingers drumming against her elbow to broadcast her rising annoyance.
“I’m innocent, alright?! Lady Dorothy, surely you don’t believe that garbage Luther wrote!”
“Oh, I absolutely do.”
“Do you really think I came here just because of a newspaper?”
Dorothy took a step forward, eyes locking with his voice turning icy.
“Jianle’s been in a foul mood ever since she got back to the dorm last night.”
“Barely spoke a word.”
“I thought something serious had happened.”
“And then today, Lucia showed me that paper, and guess what I found out?”
“You, with your thick brows and righteous face, were the culprit who made her upset.”
“However…”
Dorothy’s tone suddenly flipped as she plopped down on the couch, a smirk tugging at her lips.
“I still don’t know if you really abandoned poor little Jianle.”
“Phew… for a second, I was about to punch you just to confirm if you were the real Dorothy.”
Relieved, Sheffil let out a deep sigh and walked over to sit beside her.
Honestly, if their years of childhood friendship could be shattered by one false article, he’d have to seriously reconsider the depth of their bond.
“Tch, getting all worked up over a joke.”
“Jianle would never like someone that petty.”
Dorothy tucked her legs up onto the couch, hugging her knees as she tilted her head toward him with mockery.
“So what really happened?”
“What do you think?”
“Took her out shopping for the first time in ages and showed her something she didn’t like.”
Sheffil said casually, sipping from the cup on the coffee table and ignoring her teasing.
“Something she didn’t like?”
“Wait, wait, wait—don’t tell me you showed her your—”
“What the hell’s going on in your head?”
“You think I’m some kind of exhibitionist?”
Sheffil flicked Dorothy on the forehead, interrupting whatever R-rated speculation she was about to make.
“I took her to North Street to check out some comics.”
“She saw one that portrayed her in a way she really didn’t like.”
“That’s it?”
Dorothy rubbed the spot where he flicked her, eyeing him suspiciously.
Her gut told her Sheffil wasn’t lying—but also wasn’t telling her everything.
“Still, for someone like Jianle, who’s got pretty traditional values, those North Street comics could be a real shock.”
“So what now?”
She didn’t press further.
She trusted Sheffil, just as he trusted her.
And if he had nothing more to say, then she’d leave it at that.
If it hadn’t involved her two closest friends, she wouldn’t have stormed into his place like this in the first place.
“As for the newspaper, that’s just Luther stirring the pot again.”
“Give it a couple days and it’ll die down.”
“Jianle, though… I’ll apologize to her in person.”
“You don’t have to worry—just focus on living your harem dream in peace.”
Sheffil sank into the couch and snapped his fingers.
The crystalstone screen flickered to life, playing one of his favorite shows.
“No wonder you’re my best bro—so damn dependable.”
“And what do you mean harem dream?!”
“I seriously want to give every girl a proper home!”
Dorothy pouted and thumped his muscled arm with both fists.
“By the way, where were you all day?”
“You weren’t home, and you didn’t respond to any of my messages.”
Sheffil thought back to the strange day he’d spent with Tianxia.
In the end, he decided it was best not to say anything.
“Just hanging out with the boys. Left my crystalstone com behind.”
“Really?”
Dorothy looked unconvinced.
“Really. Would I lie to you?”
Sheffil replied, still glued to the screen, not bothering to turn.
After all, nothing happened—he’d just strolled around town with Tianxia.
At most, she might casually mention that some guy named Sheffil had kept her company.
“Fine, fine. Anyway, it’s already so late.”
“I’m staying over tonight.”
“Your blanket, spare clothes, and toiletries are in the little box on top of the wardrobe. Go grab them yourself.”
“Got it, got it.”
“Ah, Sheffil, you really are the perfect childhood friend.”
“So handsome, so capable…”
“Alright, enough. Just so we’re clear, you’re sleeping on the couch tonight.”
“Ehhh? Why are you like thisss…?”