What To Do?

"Oww... What a tragic love story! I'm in tears!" Maruti mocked dramatically, wiping away invisible crocodile tears.

Esdeath remained expressionless, her cold demeanor unchanging. The two of them arrived at the cafeteria, picked up their food, and began eating, each bite filled with a strange, contrasting calmness given the tension surrounding them.

---

Meanwhile, in the principal's office, a tense atmosphere filled the room. Principal Elara sat behind his grand oak desk, his brow furrowed as he examined the stack of papers handed to him by Vice Principal Lilith. Several other faculty members stood around, their faces reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Elara's eyes scanned the documents with a sharp gaze. "So, this is the record of all the students who went missing or were found dead?" he murmured, his voice low and heavy.

Lilith leaned back in her chair, her silver eyes cold and focused. "Yes, these are all the cases. And in my opinion, there's one common thread tying them together—Esdeath Crimson," she stated firmly.

Elara looked up at her, his expression cautious but curious. "Esdeath? Why do you suspect her? She's only been here a few months. How could she be capable of something like this?"

Lilith's tone turned sharper as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "That's exactly the problem, Elara. Nothing like this has ever happened before in the academy. Decades of peace, and suddenly, the moment she steps foot here, students start dying or disappearing!"

Elara stayed silent, letting her continue.

"Let's not forget the first incident," Lilith pressed. "Eldon Karanthis. He was killed by a child. And what did the child say? That Esdeath told him to do it. We had no evidence, so nothing could be done, but that alone was suspicious."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "And then there's Luna Cassia. She goes missing, and guess who her roommate was? Esdeath."

Elara rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk. "It's strange, yes. But how could she manage all of this so flawlessly? She's just a first-year student, someone who awakened mere months ago. She has no formal training, no history of advanced skills."

Lilith's eyes narrowed. "That's what makes her even more dangerous. She's black-haired, Elara. You know the rumors. What if she's cursed? What if—"

"That's just speculation," another professor interrupted, raising her hand. She was a calm woman with soft features, but her voice carried authority. "Her affinity wasn't dark, remember? And we have no evidence against her. We can't act based on theories and assumptions."

Lilith let out a frustrated snort, her annoyance evident. "Dark affinity?" she thought bitterly. "Who's going to tell them that the Demon King doesn't even have a dark affinity? That's just a convenient stereotype everyone clings to!"

It was true. Over the years, people had built a myth that dark magic and evil went hand in hand. Most believed it without question. But those who knew the truth understood how naïve that belief was.

But the second point was truly on point, "We have no evidence, so what can we do?"

Elara's calm demeanor persisted as he smiled knowingly. "But there's something new to note. Today, no students went missing or were killed. That tells me one thing—whoever the suspect is, they're aware that I'm more than just someone who understands time magic. They know I've made strides in investigation as well, and they can't fool me easily."

Lilith nodded thoughtfully. "That does make sense," she admitted. "But we have another issue—the waves of monsters keep coming. It's wearing down our defenses and morale."

Before the conversation could go further, a male professor burst into the room without knocking. His face was lit with excitement, so much so that he seemed to have forgotten basic decorum.

"Vice Principal! Principal! The monster waves have stopped!" he exclaimed, his voice full of enthusiasm.

A stunned silence filled the room, broken only by the incredulous voice of the female professor. "Really?" she nearly shouted, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Lilith let out a relieved breath, her tense shoulders relaxing. "Finally, after all these days of constant fighting, our forces can rest. I can rest," she thought, the weight on her chest lifting slightly.

Elara clapped his hands together, his expression bright. "That's excellent news! Now we can turn our attention to other matters. Let's resume the first-year competition. Make sure it starts and ends tomorrow to avoid any unnecessary pressure," he ordered.

The room collectively nodded in agreement, the air lighter now.

------

Back in the cafeteria, Esdeath stood up abruptly, brushing off her uniform. "I'm done," she said flatly, finishing her meal with her usual cold efficiency.

Maruti looked up in shock, her mouth still full of food. "Wait, already? I'm not even halfway done!" she protested, her words muffled by a large piece of meat stuffed into her cheek.

Esdeath glanced at her with a faint smirk. "If you eat that much, you'll get fat again. But it's your choice. I'm leaving." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away.

"Go on, then! I'm not a child who needs help eating!" Maruti snorted, stuffing another piece of meat into her mouth.

Her peace, however, was short-lived. A group of students entered the cafeteria, their loud chatter silencing the room. At the center of the group was a girl with caramel-colored spiral hair, her presence commanding the attention of everyone present.

Maruti froze mid-bite, her breath hitching. The piece of meat slipped from her mouth back onto her plate. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she stared at the girl in disbelief. "Caramel… What is she doing here? According to the fable, she should be arguing with Ethan right now. Did something change in the future?"

She shook her head quickly, trying to focus. This wasn't the time to think about changes in the timeline. What mattered was leaving—immediately and unnoticed, especially by Caramel.

But as the group fully entered, two boys stationed themselves at the door, blocking the exit.

"No one is allowed to leave or enter during Goddess Caramel's meal! No disturbances are permitted!" one of them declared loudly.

Maruti bit her lip in anger, her annoyance growing. "Of course they'd pull this nonsense now," she thought bitterly.

The rest of the cafeteria, however, seemed unaffected—or rather, completely affected in the opposite way. A wave of admiration swept through the students as they rushed toward Caramel, showering her with compliments.

"You're so beautiful, Goddess Caramel!"

"Can I carry your tray for you?"

"You're perfect!"

Even the cafeteria maid, who was placing dishes on a nearby table, froze when her eyes fell on Caramel. Her cheeks flushed as she rushed forward. "Your name is Caramel, right? I think I'm in love with you. Let me feed you with my own hands!" she said breathlessly, immediately picking up a spoon and offering it to Caramel.

The students gasped, jealousy flashing in their eyes. "Hey, no fair! I should be the one feeding her!"

"No, me!"

"No, it's my turn!"

Chaos erupted as the crowd surged forward, each person desperate for Caramel's attention.

Maruti, however, stayed rooted in her seat, watching the ridiculous scene with wide eyes. And then it hit her.

"Oh no! If I act indifferent, she'll notice me for sure! I need to blend in, pretend like I'm just as smitten as everyone else!"

She hurriedly began to stand, ready to join the frenzy. But it was too late.

Caramel's grey eyes locked onto her.

Maruti froze again, her heart sinking. "I'm doomed."

Caramel stood up gracefully, her eyes locked on Maruti like a hawk spotting its prey. The cafeteria grew silent, all eyes following Caramel as she walked toward Maruti with a calm but commanding presence.

Maruti's heart raced, and she hunched over her plate, pretending to be deeply fascinated by her half-eaten piece of meat. "Don't look up, don't look up. Maybe she'll think I'm invisible."

But Caramel stopped right in front of her. "Hey, you!" Caramel's voice rang out. "Why are you so quiet? Do I not look beautiful to you? Do you not like me?"

Maruti froze, her mind scrambling like a squirrel on a slippery branch. She slowly lifted her head, meeting Caramel's intense gaze.

Her thoughts went into overdrive. "Okay, think, Maruti, think! If I say yes and act all lovey-dovey, she'll know I'm faking it and if I say no, I'll be the first person in history to deny her, and that might just get me in more trouble or worse... dragged into a drama where I can't escape. What to do… what to do?"

She swallowed hard, glancing at the spoon in her hand. "Maybe I can fake choking? No, too dramatic. Or maybe I could just faint? But what if she makes me confess while unconscious?!"