Chapter 96

The somewhat annoying electronic chime came from the wall clock, then it chimed nine times, announcing that it was now nine o'clock.

From eight to nine, an hour is enough to do many things. Luo Shao Chachawan tidied up the leftover food, washed the dishes, and cleaned the dining table and kitchen; Yifu sat in the chair and read all the newspapers and magazines that the family had subscribed to for the day; Huyan, who had retreated to her room to play games, had, according to Levi's careful eavesdropping, already completed a fighting game with different characters twice; Far坂凛 (Farsa Lin) finished all the homework assigned by the teacher and reviewed it; Mengmeng, who went to the bathroom, dried her hair, changed her clothes, and then went downstairs to sit on the empty sofa to accompany the male and female hosts to watch TV, was Beruia. Debiroku; finally, Levi and Ewen watched an episode of a TV drama plus three commercials.

An hour is neither too long nor too short, enough to do many things, but the guest Levi had been waiting for in the living room after dinner was an hour late.

Was there an accident? The young lady, though busy with her daily work, should have arranged her time since they had made an appointment in advance. The other newcomer, with a serious and almost obsessive demeanor, didn't seem like someone who would be habitually late like Levi. Levi, sitting in his designated spot on the sofa as Ewen's dedicated cushion, stared blankly at the TV screen in a daze.

"Still not here?"

Ling, who had completed her student duties and returned from stealing fruit from the kitchen, sat down on the single sofa to Levi's right, asking out of boredom.

Hearing that the master she had never met wanted to discuss a collaboration, she took on the task that Levi had intended to leave for her. Partly because she was concerned about the newcomer who only had a basic understanding of the Holy Grail War, and partly because she was a bit curious about the master's identity as an idol singer. Teenage girls always have some curiosity about the entertainment industry, just ordinary curiosity. Ling wasn't as obsessed with idols as some of her classmates, and after waiting for so long and finishing all the things that could pass the time, she was already getting impatient.

The conscientious student council president hated people who were always late. Ling glanced at the dazed Levi and thought that her ability to tolerate his frequent tardiness was truly exceptional.

If, as Levi suspected, the other party had encountered an accident on the way, Ling didn't think it was necessary to continue waiting. Levi's miserable state when he returned home had already confirmed to her that Ewen's healing and recovery abilities were powerful. With Levi, who could directly confront a Servant, and Huyan, and Ewen's significant improvement, their side was already strong enough. Besides, Ling wasn't particularly interested in forming an alliance. There were only seven teams in the Holy Grail War, and with her and Levi working together, adding more allies would mean there wouldn't be enough enemies to go around. After all, only one Master and their Servant could ultimately obtain the Holy Grail. Perhaps the delay was due to the other party's concern about her unspoken plan, which she hadn't told Levi? Ling thought it was quite possible.

Ling's eyes wandered with her thoughts, and her subconscious behavior caught the attention of the pink-haired girl sitting directly opposite her.

Mengmeng wasn't particularly interested in the TV program. She had changed into her pajamas and come downstairs because she preferred the atmosphere in the living room. It was a bit stuffy but warm and cozy. In her view, this was what a family should be like. The palace, though large, felt cold and empty, unlike this small, crowded living room.

If only her sisters were here too, the girl thought, staring at the braids on either side of Ling's head, remembering her twin sisters with similar hairstyles and her older, two-year-older, always innocent and adorable big sister.

"They're here."

Levi's sudden words startled Mengmeng and Ling, who were lost in their own thoughts. Ewen shifted her gaze from the book in her hands to the entrance, clearly sensing the presence of the visitors. In the living room, only the house's owner, Ewen, who was still curled up in Levi's lap like a kitten, didn't seem to care, thinking it wasn't her guest.

Knock knock.

Two light knocks, very ladylike. Levi pulled Ewen off his lap, ignoring the vampire girl's protests, and placed her on the sofa before standing up. As he walked to the door, his clearly surprised expression puzzled Ling, who had just come to her senses. She watched him intently as he reached for the doorknob and then turned it.

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"Sorry for making you come with me. I'm always so任性 (capricious). Having such a master must be quite a headache."

At the small boat dock by the sea, Yuna was leaning on the waist-high railing, the time was just before Levi and Ewen returned home, shortly after she had received her call.

Wearing a simple and elegant white dress, without the dazzling stage attire, she blended seamlessly with the tranquil surroundings. The sunset over the sea was soothing, but the girl herself was even more captivating. Passersby who occasionally walked by couldn't help but stop and look back, unwilling to miss this rare and beautiful scene. Fortunately, she had set up a suggestion spell beforehand, or the idol singer's identity would have already caused a commotion.

The spell was only one reason. In the twenty minutes, no one had mustered the courage to approach her, not just because of the simple suggestion. To avoid affecting the students' still fragile minds, she had minimized the spell's effect. If she were wandering alone in a bustling commercial street, Yuna would have already received dozens of invitations. Even on the quiet autumn beach, she wouldn't be overlooked. Most passersby who occasionally walked by cast admiring glances at her, leaning against the railing.

The reason no one broke through the weak spell to approach her was the man standing three meters behind her, leaning against a uniquely styled motorcycle. Claude didn't display any overtly threatening posture, and his head was lowered behind his sunglasses, easily mistaken for someone dozing off. But every passerby who saw him immediately averted their gaze, like small animals instinctively avoiding danger.

There are always exceptions. The Academy Island is a place for students to acquire knowledge, and apart from students and teachers, few unrelated people can stay on the island. Since it was said to be few, there would still be some, such as various researchers, students' parents, necessary merchants, and Yuna and Claude themselves...

A man was slowly walking toward them from a distance, his blood-red eyes sizing up Yuna and Claude. His hands were in his pockets, and his posture seemed lazy, but his spiky golden hair gave off an indescribable sense of pressure. The already sparse passersby avoided him, walking away quickly. Seeing their tact, a playful smile appeared on the man's lips, as if he had discovered a new toy he had been searching for a long time.

Yuna seemed oblivious to the changes around her. She placed her right hand to her mouth, gazing at the endless sea, and blew a long, melodious whistle.