Side Story 9: Huh?

The sunset sank below the horizon, and the crimson sky was beginning to dissolve into the colors of night.

The faint remnants of the setting sun illuminated the silhouette of a slender man atop the roof of Serendia Academy's boys' dormitory.

...Achoo!

Lewis Miller, who had been sitting cross-legged atop the roof of Serendia Academy's boys' dormitory, shivered in the north wind and sniffled.

Lewis had come to the school festival to support Monica Everett, the Silent Witch, but he was currently guarding the Second Prince in her stead.

As Lewis had predicted, the assassin from the chess tournament had appeared at the academy once again. This time, the assassin had used body-manipulation magic to disguise themself as a student.

Monica had noticed the assassin at the last possible moment and engaged them in combat. Afterward, it seemed that she had been forced to inhale poison and could no longer move.

Monica's familiar appeared to have gone to rescue her of its own accord, but there was only so much a familiar could do. Thus, Lewis had reluctantly sent Rin to rescue Monica.

Lewis would have preferred to pursue the assassin, but since the Second Prince had come to no harm, protecting the Silent Witch took priority.

He could not afford to lose such talent here...