As soon as the bell rang, Chion scooted his chair back to his desk. He'd had more than enough of the sparkly-eyed gaze the ponytailed girl had been shooting at him all class.
"Chion, let's eat together in the cafeteria! They've got chicken sandwiches today," said Zora, looking at Chion hopefully.
However, Chion had already prepared an excuse and immediately refused without hesitation, "Unfortunately, my servant already brought me lunch."
Zora sighed in disappointment at his response. But she nodded and left with her friend. As she did, she mumbled loud enough for Chion to hear. "I knew it. He must be a young master from a rich family. Do you also have a servant who prepares lunch for you?"
That was followed by a burst of laughter.
Chion let out a sigh of relief as one problem walked out the door. Now there was only one left.
Just as he thought that, another voice came from above him, "Want me to grab you something? I can bring it for you."
Chion paused for a second before replying, "Milk candy."
Darian was slightly stunned, not expecting that request. But he quickly recovered. "Alright then, I'll bring some for you later."
Once the classroom emptied, Chion let his friendly smile drop. The corner of his mouth went numb.
"Zach," he called.
A blue flame, the size of an adult's fist, which had been floating quietly beside him since the beginning, instantly transformed into the form of a man wearing a butler's uniform.
His black hair was slightly tousled, and his sharp blue eyes scanned the surroundings.
"They say you're my servant," the young master said with a sneer. "So act like one and obey your master."
The blue eyes, which had just been sharp and alert, softened as they landed on the handsome face before him. "Haven't I always obeyed you? I even followed your little house-playing games."
The young master clicked his tongue in annoyance. His posture slumped as he leaned forward on the desk. "By the way, where's Sera? I haven't seen him at all."
"...Forget that fool. What's more important is, have you gotten any information from the students?"
With his face buried in his arms, the young master mumbled indifferently, "That's your job. I'm already drained."
Zach sighed wearily, clearly expecting that answer. He reached into his pocket, pulled out three colorful candy wrappers, and dropped them on the young master's desk. "Then I'll be off for a while."
In the blink of an eye, the tall figure turned into a transparent blue flame and vanished into thin air.
The young master waited until the room was completely silent again before raising his head. He unwrapped one of the candies Zach had left behind and popped it into his mouth, letting the sweet chocolate melt slowly as he listened to the faint voices coming through the classroom walls.
Just as the last trace of sweetness disappeared from his tongue, the classroom door opened, and a familiar voice called out.
"Chion, I got your candy! Oh, I rushed back so we could eat together. Let's split the chicken sandwich later!"
Chion quickly put on a smile as Darian sat down across from him, setting a plastic bag on the desk. It held a sandwich, milk, and ten individually wrapped candies.
"Thanks," Chion said as Darian handed over the candy.
Darian grinned. But as his eyes glanced at the 'young master from a rich family's' desk, he didn't see any lunch. just two empty candy wrappers.
"Chion, did you already eat? That was fast."
Chion cursed inwardly. He'd forgotten to ask Zach to bring him food. Well, Zach did give him candy, so maybe that counted as lunch?
Still, no way he could say that out loud. Besides, there were only three pieces.
"I just realized I left my lunch at home," Chion explained after thinking of an excuse in two seconds.
Darian looked shocked, and there was a hint of panic in his expression. "No wonder your face looks so pale. You must be starving. Eat this sandwich!"
Darian unwrapped the sandwich and offered it to Chion.
The gesture caught Chion off guard. He didn't react right away until Darian grabbed his hand and pushed the sandwich toward him.
"No need. I'm not hungry at all," Chion refused, pushing the sandwich back.
"Don't be shy. I've got a small stomach. I'll be full with just the milk," Darian insisted.
"…" Who's being shy, huh?!
The awkward back-and-forth of pushing the sandwich lasted for nearly twenty seconds, making the whole scene look ridiculous.
Chion, unused to this kind of absurd interaction, didn't know whether to be angry or laugh. On one hand, he wanted to destroy the sandwich that had become the victim of the tug-of-war. On the other, he felt the whole thing was just absurd and foolish.
Eventually, he sighed in defeat and said, through gritted teeth. "I lied about the lunch prepared by my servant. I always skip it."
Darian stopped pushing the sandwich immediately. He blinked in confusion. "Eh? But earlier you told Zora…?"
Chion placed the squashed sandwich back in Darian's hands. "I just didn't want to leave my desk."
Before Darian could respond, Chion quickly changed the topic. "Finish your sandwich. Class is starting soon. Also, I've got some questions."
Though he was still curious, Darian's attention was drawn at the mention of questions. While munching on his chicken sandwich enthusiastically, Darian cheerfully said, "What do you want to ask? I'll tell you whatever I know."
Chion let out a small chuckle before asking his first question, "I heard this school is cursed?"
The direct question brought Darian's chewing to a halt. His jaw dropped, revealing a half-chewed bite of chicken sandwich.
With a snap of his fingers, Chion snapped Darian out of his shock. He shut his mouth and swallowed quickly.
"Who told you that?" he asked. His voice suddenly low.
Chion raised an eyebrow at Darian's defensive tone. "Oh? Am I wrong?"
Darian shoved the last of the sandwich into his mouth, gulped down the milk, and glanced around the classroom. Once he confirmed the classroom was still empty, he leaned forward until half his body was sprawled across Chion's desk.
In a low voice, he said, "Not the school. But what's inside it."
Chion tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing in interest. He thought for a moment, then leaned in too, until their faces were nearly touching. A small smirk curled on his lips, and the twin black dots beneath his eyes gave a dangerous look.
"Can you tell me in more detail?"
And just like that, the young master began his work.