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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Academy's Troublemaker (1)
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Late at night, when darkness had fallen thick. At that hour, when everyone was asleep, the lights were already out in the room where Sei-an and Kanto resided.
*Click...*
But into that darkened room, a window slowly opened, and someone began to step inside.
"..."
The next moment, however, the person entering the room had to halt their steps, startled by something pressed against their neck.
"Who are you?"
"..."
The one who spoke in a leisurely tone despite the sudden appearance of a stranger was none other than Sei-an.
Yet, contrary to his calm voice, Sei-an had aimed the small carving knife he always carried for making dolls at the stranger's neck.
Soon, however, Sei-an lowered the knife, stepped back from the person, and quietly continued speaking, almost to himself.
"Too little killing intent for an assassin, too confident a stride for a thief..."
"Shut up."
At Sei-an's words, the man curtly muttered in a low voice, then walked straight over to the empty bed on the right.
"..."
Only then did Sei-an realize who he was. The person was the owner of the empty bed on the right, whom he hadn't seen there yesterday or today.
'Hmm.'
Sei-an watched the man lying down to sleep on the bed with a brief look of interest, then he too returned to his spot and began to rest.
'But why did he come in through the window instead of the door?'
Sei-an tilted his head, feeling puzzled by his action of deliberately entering the room through the window.
***
"Gasp!"
Kanto, waking early, casually turned his head and gasped, scrambling upright when he saw someone lying in the bed that was always empty.
"Lark?"
Realizing he was Lark, the original owner of that bed, Kanto let out a short sigh and silently watched him for a moment.
"Are you awake?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
Just then, Sei-an emerged from the bathroom, looking as if he'd already washed, and spoke. Kanto nodded, turning his gaze to him.
"When did he arrive?"
"He arrived last night."
"Really?"
"Your sleep was surprisingly deep."
"What?"
At Kanto's words, Sei-an recalled Kanto from last night, who had shown no sign of waking even when the window opened and Sei-an spoke, and replied.
"Once I fall asleep, I wouldn't know if someone carried me away."
"You have the perfect constitution for being assassinated."
"..."
Kanto stared blankly at Sei-an, who spoke to him with such a nonchalant expression, remaining silent for a long time.
He wondered how Sei-an could utter such words so casually, as if they were nothing.
"Just shut up."
"..."
"..."
Just then, a voice interrupted their conversation—it was Lark, who had been trying to sleep.
He slowly sat up, a deeply furrowed frown on his face, and cast a cold gaze at the two of them.
"Ah, my apologies."
Kanto quickly apologized and fell silent.
"..."
"..."
Meanwhile, Sei-an and Lark stared into each other's eyes, neither speaking for a moment.
'So it was him from yesterday.'
Lark recalled that the strange fellow who had sensed his presence in the garden yesterday, bowed his head, and then left, was the very Sei-an now before him, and he subtly frowned.
He had shared the room for a long time but rarely slept there, nor was he the type to stare at others enough to remember their faces. Thus, he was only now properly looking at and recognizing Sei-an's face.
"..."
Sei-an, on the other hand, looked at Lark, his already expressionless face growing even more so.
'It must be hard to look like that...'
His hair was utterly disheveled, his clothes unbuttoned, and dust and stray hairs clung to him everywhere—a sight that was, frankly, hard for Sei-an to bear. His expression subtly stiffened in that moment.
What he couldn't properly discern in the lightless darkness of last night was now glaringly obvious today.
Yet, strangely, the appearance suited Lark perfectly. His long, messy hair that covered his eyes, and his untidy clothes, didn't look dirty at all; instead, they were a perfect match for his rebellious gaze.
"What are you looking at?"
"I was looking at your messy hair and untidy clothes."
Of course, to Sei-an, it was simply a slovenly sight.
"Se-Sei-an."
At Sei-an's words, Kanto was flustered and quickly called his name.
Because Lark, right before them, was the number one person at Juist Academy you absolutely shouldn't mess with.
