Merlin spent quite a while coaxing Cleopatra before she finally dropped the idea of reporting him to the Divine Ancestor.
After that, the two didn't linger in the hall for long and soon excused themselves to a meeting room.
"What are they here for?"
"Probably some business matters. That's why Auntie came."
Nero replied casually.
The conglomerate's affairs were currently handled by the older generation. Though she was the future heir of the Roman conglomerate, for some reason, her father, Romulus, showed no intention of letting her take over the family business anytime soon. Instead, he allowed her to do as she pleased.
The speaker might have been careless, but the listener took it to heart.
Eiji had initially thought this was a comedic world, but after meeting Aoko Aozaki, he dismissed that idea. It was clear this world had silently merged with the timeline of Mahoutsukai no Yoru.
Then there was the man he'd seen in the nurse's office—his icy demeanour made it hard to believe he was the real Romani. It was more likely someone else wearing his skin, perhaps even that King of Humans.
Bringing other characters into this world was whatever, but dropping the King of Humans here? That felt like a recipe for disaster. That man had no business appearing in a place like this.
Though it was just speculation, Eiji felt this was supposed to be a serious world.
But if so, then this world seemed like some kind of joke—places like Kinoko Town, all these Heroic Spirits running around—it was all too bizarre, unlike what a proper world should look like.
There was definitely something deeper going on.
Though many mysteries remained unsolved, Eiji had at least grasped this much.
"Ah, well, what does any of this have to do with a passerby like me?"
Shaking off the weight in his heart, Eiji's expression relaxed again.
He was definitely going to bail on this world eventually. No matter how many secrets it held, none of them concerned him.
***
After finding a bedroom in the student council room, Eiji slept straight through until noon.
"Eiji, come eat lunch!"
He had originally planned to grab something from the school cafeteria, but as he reached the first floor, a rich aroma suddenly hit him.
"Oh? There's a dining room here too?"
Following Nero's call, Eiji entered the dining area and was greeted by an entire table full of dishes.
A quick count put it at over twenty different dishes, spanning multiple cuisines—mostly oily, meat-heavy fare. Yet, including Eiji, there were only five people in the student council.
Aoko Aozaki was also there.
Her eyes burned with intensity as she stared at the lavish spread, as if she'd never seen such an extravagant lunch in her life.
"How uncultured."
Aoko's face instantly darkened.
She shot Eiji a sidelong glare, her eyes fierce.
"Oh? And you've seen better?"
"Nope."
"Then shut the hell up!"
"I haven't, but I also wouldn't gawk like you."
Aoko rolled her eyes.
Eiji calmly took his seat at the table.
What people needed was grace.
"Hmm?"
Nero sat at the head of the table while Mata Hari set plates in front of Eiji and the others. Sheba wagged her tail excitedly.
"Eiji, it feels like you and Vice President Aozaki have gotten a lot closer over the weekend?"
"Not at all!"
Aoko refuted as if dodging a bullet.
"It's natural."
Eiji smiled serenely. "Everyone wants to get along with me."
If anyone else had said this, they'd be seen as delusional—a laughingstock.
But when Eiji said it…
Even Sheba and Mata Hari nodded in agreement.
Normally, Eiji wouldn't actively use his charm skill.
That thing was downright unethical, trampling over others' self-esteem and dignity, turning anyone affected into his loyal dogs—even gods couldn't resist.
He wasn't a sociopath, so of course he wouldn't use it recklessly.
But even so, his overwhelming charm ensured that anyone who saw him would instantly develop strong favorability—or feel ashamed, convinced they weren't fit to stand in the same world as him.
"Who wants to get along with you…"
Aoko muttered under her breath.
Though she'd been wary of him during their first meeting, that was just her magus mindset acting up. In truth, even then, her emotions had been stirred.
"This feels dangerous!"
Nero's internal alarms blared.
"Eiji, any plans for the afternoon?"
"Nothing concrete… Though I was thinking of touring the school. I don't know much about the high school division yet."
"Then I'll join you! I've got nothing to do this afternoon anyway!"
Eiji had no objections—having someone familiar with the school as a guide wasn't bad.
Aoko's brows twitched slightly, but she otherwise showed no reaction.
***
Afternoon.
With Nero as his guide, Eiji wandered around the high school campus.
He made a point of visiting the music room.
"It looks… abandoned."
Instruments like pianos were placed inside, but the room seemed barely used. A thin layer of dust had settled on the windowsills.
The scene looked like no one had set foot in here for at least a month.
"At our Type-Moon Academy, music is one of the least popular subjects. No one really knows why…"
Nero explained, equally puzzled.
Are we sure it's not because of the legendary "monster howls"?
"What are you two doing here?"
A sharp voice suddenly called from the doorway.
Looking over, they saw a girl with vibrant red hair, a slender figure, and a chest so flat it could rival a cliff. Though she wore the high school uniform, her petite stature made her look more like a middle schooler.
"Does the student council need a reason to be here? More importantly, who are you?"
"Uh… Student council? I-I'm Elizabeth, a second-year."
Hearing it was the famously influential student council, the girl mumbled something, her initially haughty attitude vanishing instantly.
Elizabeth?
The Dragon Idol?
Hearing the name, Eiji immediately recalled who she was.
"You come here often?"
"How did you know?!"
Elizabeth jumped in surprise, staring at Eiji in shock.
"The dust patterns in some spots look unnatural—probably from your clothes brushing against them, right?"
"...Damn, you're sharp."
Elizabeth looked impressed.
With that, the mystery of the "monster howls" in the music room was effortlessly solved.
Well, that's disappointing. And here I was getting excited.
"I'm actually pretty confident in my singing. Wanna hear?"
For some reason, Elizabeth started enthusiastically promoting herself.
Could it be that no one ever listens to her sing, leaving her pent up?
But sorry—
"Oh? You dare say that in front of me?"
Before Eiji could refuse, Nero's gaze sharpened.
"Interesting. I'm something of a singing genius myself. Care for a duel?"
Eiji: "???"
Wait.
What are you two doing?
STAY BACK—STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME—!!!
***
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