Ah, sunlight. You are as beautiful as the day I lost you….

I'm in the carriage that is personally owned by our family, and our destination is obviously the capital of this kingdom. School seems to have been opened once more and every noble child is obligated to attend.

Who would have thought that I'll actually look forward to going to school.

Since the day I returned home, my family has literally locked me up in our house. Even when I tried to go outside, I had a very strict security detail. Even when sleeping, a lot of them are staying both inside and outside my room.

Surprisingly, some of the maids were the extras that Alpha has hired to humor me. One of them is a beautiful brown haired lady, who called herself Nu.

Beta is actually one of the disguised maids within my mansion. She personally takes care of me after the strict monitoring has been put into effect in our house. However she often seemed busy somewhere, so they decided to bring the other extras like her.

My attitude towards them? It's so so…

I still can't believe Alpha actually fooled me. I truly have to stop believing in others and just do my own thing. It's the only way to not feel disappointed again!

Anyway, as I was stuck in my house for a few weeks, I decided to use Chibirisa as much as possible and train myself. It is connected to me and everything I learned from it is useful. I can also use Chibirisa to act as a mysterious hermit living within the forest, so I can kill some time and ignore my own situation being stuck in my home.

It still won't beat actually leaving with my own body and moving it as I like. I feel so icky not being able to train so much that I was forced to stimulate all of my muscles through magic manipulation. It's a bit dangerous because a small mistake might cause my nerves to burst, but it's also good training.

Having done that for a few weeks, it became a habit. I'm doing it even as I am sitting here in the carriage.

"For you, Milady." Nu suddenly speaks after she glances around her, then she hands something to me.

I wonder what this is?

Taking it from her hands and then opening the white envelope, I saw it was a letter from Eta.

Let's see…. it's a gibberish about fruits, trees, and crystals yada yada yada–oh!?

I see. So she managed to create a working prototype.

She said something about crystals, so I wonder what is that?

There is something about her not being done yet, and that she has to focus on it a bit more. There is also a very small postnote stating that Alpha forced her to write this.

"These crystals…."

This beautiful brunette just bowed to me as she silently gave me something from within her pocket. She handed me a really good looking dark crystal. It is pulsing with some sort of power that I can't understand.

Hmm…. I'll test this thing out after I get back to the usual inn I stayed at in the capital.

Dorm life? No way, it's too expensive for me!

The sun is really beautiful to this day. We are just getting near the gates of the capital. I hope something great is happening there. Like say some large criminal organization is planning to take it over or something?

…. Oh right, now that I am seeing the silhouette of the walls of the capital in the distance, I just recall that princess' invitation to the War God Festival.

Well, it is my Aurora persona, but it's the same.

I wonder if I should use my Aurora persona tonight?

Better yet, why don't I just make another clone?

Hehehe…. Now I am really looking forward to getting back to the capital!

"Arisa-chan, are you free this day?"

"Arisa-chan! Please come along with us!~"

"Arisa-sama…. Could we go and talk about books in the Library?"

"Arisa-san… We have a party going on at our villa in this city. I was hoping you would also attend later…"

"Just ignore them, and notice me Arisa-sama!~"

"Arisa-chan!~"

"Arisa-sama!~"

This is not good!

This is totally not good!

Why are you looking at me!? Ignore me dammit!

"A-ah…." I am still thinking what to say, when Nu suddenly steps forward.

"I apologize, but Lady Arisa is currently feeling tired on her journey. She would like to rest soon, so if you may…?"

Nice assist, Nu!

These boys and girls had been waiting at the school entrance and suddenly crowded me when I left my carriage. I am really curious why we are going to this school. Also, am I going to rest here?

How did that happen? I thought I wasn't going to stay in a dorm!? Isn't our family too poor to afford it!?

I keep silent and just walk forward after the others obediently stepped back. Though before doing that…

"Okay, then please take your time. We understand!"

"Right. It's been an ordeal for you. Sorry for being inconsiderate…"

"Just don't be shy and tell us when you are feeling up to it…"

"Yes. We are looking forward to talking and spending time with you!"

….. Why am I so popular!? This is ridiculous!

Should I really have gotten back as soon as possible? Maybe going to the Holy City was truly a bad idea…..!

So apparently my parents somehow got sponsored by Gamma's company, and my dorm life became now free of charge. I don't know what Gamma wanted, but as Nu, one of her elite staff (as I recall it), is acting as my personal maid and always monitors me, I think it is fair to assume that she wants me to work for her after I graduate.

It's really fine. In fact, it's one of the things I planned to do when I graduated. What's more unassuming than being a faceless clerk in a random shop?

Though it is a popular company in this kingdom, being a faceless clerk would still be good for my mob persona! It's just very difficult to turn them into a protagonist no matter what you do!

(Note: It's her personal bias)

Maybe she thinks I'll be a good clerk too? It might also be her way of thanking me for helping her?

Regardless, I'll accept this wholeheartedly. It's free so why not?

It is now evening and I'm sure the students won't be barging inside my room. Along with Nu, there are also two other maids who are standing outside, and three private knights from our territory who are staying somewhere in this academy.

I don't know how they got the permission for it, but I somehow got them to monitor me on everything I have to do. It's very annoying, but I can get around this restriction.

"Ah… I'll be going away for a bit. Can you please not tell anyone?"

"I understand, Milady." Nu bows to me gently, her tone so professional and not even perturbed by it.

She's good. I'm sure she knows because she also comes along to humor me. Though I personally don't know why she is playing along with it, I'm sure she won't blab about it.

Nodding like that, I left the premise of the academy through the second floor window of the girl's dormitory. Then quickly jumped along the roofs while changing my outfit to that of my Shadow persona.

My plan for this night is simple!

I'll have to create a new, and more stable clone! I have to see what Eta meant about this being the answer!

A/N

I'm back. Here is a short chapter for now!~

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Ko-fi(dot)com/levelgap

See you later~