"Let's go, Timeth." Acma yawned, she was so into reading about GFs that hours had passed at Zyma's room, and she was now feeling exhausted as her head reached her capacity.

"Are we almost done with this duty? I think I'll have a psychological trauma after this anyway." Timeth shared as he put on his hood and facemask.

Acma did the same, and the duo walked into the training center's secret area as usual.

"Someone got to do it. Better our time than the precious time of our seniors. We're… helping. Think about it that way, Timeth." Acma gave Timeth a few fake words of encouragement.

"Why are we here?" Trepie #23 asked Zyma.

"Just come and see a two-faced friend," Zyma replied.

"Don't you think it's a good idea to clarify a bit? I'm risking my reputation coming here with you after curfew. You're not asking me out again, are you?" Trepie #23 questioned.

"Oh, come on, Trepie #23. We passed that stage long ago. Besides, you're on the Disciplinary Committee. Your record is as clean as a diamond. No one would think you hang out with someone like me," Zyma reassured her.

"Right..." Trepie #23 smiled warmly. "So, who are you spying on? Am I your shield?"

"Oh, don't ask. You're ruining the surprise," Zyma teased.

As they stepped into the area, they noticed couples making out. Some opened their eyes to see who was approaching but quickly returned to their activities.

Zyma scanned the surroundings but couldn't spot the ones he was looking for. He walked towards the balcony, and that's when he heard a gasp and caught a whiff of the familiar lavender scent.

"Found ya," Zyma muttered.

He drew out his scythe blade and swiftly cut through a nearby bush, revealing the couple he had been searching for. They were still fully dressed and wearing face masks.

"Have you just started or already finished?" Zyma smirked, playfully sneaking away his scythe and turned towards Trepie #23 in triumph. "See? She has a boyfriend. I win."

"Trepie #23..." Acma gasped. "You're with him?"

Trepie #23 did not reply but giggled very hard.

Timeth noted something down on his sheet, murmuring. "Zyma, Trepie #23, S20."

"Timeth, don't..." Acma interrupted Timeth's writing.

"Wait… What is it?" Zyma noticed the camera in Acma's hand.

He snatched it from her and realized that, in addition to the photo he had just taken with Trepie #23, there were more pictures of other couples in the secret area.

"Give it back!" Acma demanded, taking the camera back from Zyma.

He then took hold of her wrist, and they began to put their martial arts training into action.

"What are you doing with this?" Zyma asked. "Oh, come on! Don't embarrass your sensei in public. You're being sloppy."

After ten moves and a few screams, Acma found herself restrained. Due to her screaming, other couples in the Secret Area approached the gang in curiosity.

"What the hell? This is not okay. We're not in training, and you're interfering with my duty," Acma exclaimed in pain.

"I'm taking this as evidence. What kind of duty involves violating people's privacy, huh? Let's see what the Disciplinary Committee has to say about this," Zyma threatened, glancing at Trepie #23.

"Oh yeah? Do you even know where they are? Someone please tell this crazy man!" Acma yelled.

Timeth and Trepie #23 giggled in response.

Xu's office.

"That's what happened. He used a dangerous weapon in garden, attacked me in front of everyone, tried to destroy evidence to his own offense. There are plenty of witnesses. Miss Xu, you have to do something!" Acma explained the scene.

Xu facepalmed, unable to count how many times she had to deal with this whiny Trabia transfer student.

"So, you were busted?" Xu asked.

"B… buested?" Acma asked, not understanding Xu's question.

"Acma," Xu looked into her eyes and explained, "I chose you and Timeth to be temporary members of the Disciplinary Committee for this duty because no one knows you are in the committee, and no offenders would run away from you. I can't let you do this work after you scream for the whole garden to know your duty."

"Miss Xu... I'm sorry."

"That's okay. Hand over your findings. I'll find someone else to replace both of you. Thanks for your work so far, anyway."

Acma handed over the sheet and did her best to hide her relief from being released from this useless responsibility.

"Okay, you two can go," Xu dismissed Acma and Zyma.

"That's all, Miss Xu? What about his assault?" Acma gasped.

Xu let out a sigh and stood up, looking into Acma's eyes.

"Acma, I have high expectations for you. But you've caused more trouble than you're worth. Try not to create any more scenes with your mentor, or I'll postpone your SeeD exams. Understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Acma replied promptly.

Xu knew very well that the SeeD exam was Acma's weak point. She would be willing to spend an entire year in the Secret Area if it meant becoming a SeeD as soon as possible.

"Good. Now go. And Zyma, one word."

Xu asked Acma to leave the room and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms and looking at her troublesome friend.

"Who's the girl you went to the Secret Area with?" Xu inquired.

"No one," Zyma replied.

"Say it. I'll find out anyway. Many people saw you," Xu pressed.

"Fine. It's Trepie #23, but we were just catching up. We've been in the same class for years," Zyma admitted.

"Okay, if it's her, I'm not worried," Xu nodded. "Now, about Acma. Can you handle her?"

"She's the most annoying person I've ever met. She asks too many questions and complains about every little thing," Zyma quickly responded. "Xu, I beg you, assign me real missions. Assign her to someone else! I can handle mentoring two guys at once, but she… she's a handful, please!"

Xu smiled, pleased with his response. "Sorry, but you'll just have to put up with her. Consider it a challenge for you. I've noticed her strength and dexterity stats have improved significantly."

"From single digits..." Zyma interjected.

"That's good enough," Xu interrupted. "Train her, and you can go solo whenever you want after the SeeD exam."

Zyma left Xu's office, a smile forming internally. Knowing Xu for so long, he understood that if he had said he was fine working with Acma, she would have seen through his true feelings.

Now that he knew the silver-haired boy posed no threat, he was content with the status quo of seeing her every day without needing to confess his feelings. As a mercenary, he understood that romantic relationships were not meant for him, and he had no desire for one either.

As he looked around the hallway, disappointment washed over him when he realized Acma had already left. But just as he was on the verge of leaping out of the window, her voice called out, beckoning him to return.

"Wait. What did Miss Xu say?" Acma asked.

"Nothing. She said she's happy with your improved stats, so I guess we're stuck with each other for a while," Zyma replied.

"Poor me..." Acma rubbed her bruised wrists.

"I'm sorry. Does it hurt?"

"A lot."

"Ointment?"

"No, thanks. I'm broke."

"On the house," Zyma chuckled, ignoring her resistance as he pulled out an item from his hand.

"What's wrong with you snapping my camera back there? I told you to stop."

"It's just a natural instinct to protect people's privacy. You could have just told me you're patrolling."

"I can't disclose that. And based on what we just witnessed, you're an offender yourself. Also, when did you start caring about other people's privacy? What about my own privacy? That camera could have my pictures," her voice grew increasingly louder.

"I'm sorry, but even if there are your pictures, there's nothing to peek at, kid."

Tch… jerk.

She couldn't contain her most burning question of the evening. "What were you and Trepie #23 doing there?"

"Just talking."

"What kind of talking?"

"Business."

"Right… What kind of business?"

"That's none of your business."

"You're not spying on me and Timeth, are you?"

"Tch… tell that to the dozen couples you took photos of."

"So… you and Trepie #23 are a couple?"

"I didn't say that."

"In the early stages, then?"

"Why don't you ask her?"

"Sure I will. I feel so betrayed. The two people I spend most of my time with…"

"And hey, don't fool me, you want to get off this duty, don't you?" Zyma pointed out, "Xu gave transfer students this job because no one wants to do it everyday after curfew."

Acma couldn't contain her joy. "That's not even the half of it. We had to categorize the levels of intimacy among the offenders, and there were lists of verbs that neither Timeth nor I could find in the dictionary. Miss Xu was so confused by our not-so-descriptive report that she even asked us to... demonstrate? Can you believe it? Timeth and I... we're like brother and sister. It was just..." She waved her hands in the air, searching for the right word to describe the uncomfortable situation between her and Timeth.

"Incest?"

"Ughhhhh…." she groaned in embarrassment.

"How cute…" Zyma smiled, then changed the subject. "Back to our business… Now that I know he's not your boyfriend, let's split time between your room and mine as our study meetup spots."

"My room? What the hell?"

"I can't turn on the light in my room for too long. It would destroy certain items. Plus, there's a smell of zombie powder."

"What about the library? You know, where everyone actually studies," Acma protested.

"See you tomorrow."

"You're kidding, right?"

And with that, he jumped out of the window from the third floor and disappeared.

"For Hyne's sake!"