Why He Came All the Way to My Room
“Was it you, Matian?”
“So that’s what Lukna calls deduction.”
With a fresh smile layered over his sarcastic tone, Matian pointed to the windowsill.
There was a single footprint—larger than Lukna’s, smaller than Matian’s.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t have left something that sloppy behind.”
Careless, honestly.
For a moment, Matian considered whether he should give Lukna a cutting from the vine he grew by his window—Alechi. Once its pollen stuck, it was difficult to remove, and if it touched bare skin, it caused a rash. It was excellent for detecting intruders.
“…Sorry if I misunderstood.”
“At this point, I’m curious why you immediately named me the culprit.”
Matian crossed his arms and tilted his head.
Many incidents had occurred at the academy, but not a single cadet had ever dared to suspect him.
And why would they? He was living law itself, a flawless model student.
That was Matian Wigretz.
Yet Lukna Golden seemed to evaluate him differently.
It had been bothering him for some time.
There was something about Lukna—an odd sense of dissonance, as if she existed outside the world’s common sense.
“You suspected me too.”
“Suspected? I suspected you?”
“As the thief of the Holy Sword.”
Lukna, whose own conscience twinged, bit her tongue but forced herself to continue.
“I thought you might search my room to find the Holy Sword.”
“A full inspection was already conducted a few days ago. Why would I?”
“Because you’ve been watching me.”
Just as Matian said, a large-scale belongings inspection had been carried out to locate the missing Holy Sword. Naturally, the sword—now transformed into a necklace—had not been discovered.
Because of that, the imperial court and the academy were leaning toward the theory that the black magic group known as the Red Eagle had stolen and destroyed it through illicit means.
Yet Matian’s gaze toward Lukna remained unchanged.
Those piercing blue eyes, persistently tracking her movements, had made her so tense one day that she accidentally swung out the same arm and leg while walking.
“That sounds like a bit of self-conscious paranoia, Lukna.”
Matian responded with an easy smile, though inwardly he reflected on his behavior.
Had I really been watching her that closely?
He hadn’t realized it at all.
Lukna, meanwhile, felt wronged.
Ever since she enrolled, his gaze had followed her everywhere. In this vast campus, the number of days she hadn’t run into him could be counted on one hand.
But there was no point arguing that now.
“Then why did you come here?”
She brushed her hair back and asked directly.
“There are three reasons.”
Matian tapped the windowsill lightly with his fingers.
“First, your subordinate’s statement about ‘taking over the school.’ As student council president, I can’t ignore that.”
He referred to the cadets of the Louisbit Building not as friends, but as Lukna’s subordinates.
“They were just talking nonsense. I don’t have the intention—or the ability—to do anything like that.”
“I’ll accept that for now. Second, both suspects in the two assault cases behind Golden College happen to be you.”
Lukna pressed her lips together.
Better to stay silent. If she lied and got caught, demerits could delay her graduation.
It had been self-defense anyway, but there was no need to escalate things.
Fortunately, Matian merely glanced at her without pressing further.
“And the last reason is…”
He trailed off.
Then he pushed away from the window and strode toward her.
Stopping right in front of Lukna, he suddenly extended his hand.
Is he picking a fight?
Though she knew he wasn’t the type to lay hands on someone outside of a duel, Lukna instinctively squeezed her eyes shut.
But his large hand moved downward and drew the training longsword from her waist.
Shing.
W-What?!
Startled, Lukna leaned back stiffly.
Matian carefully examined the standard-issue training sword distributed to every cadet.
He seemed to be checking whether the Holy Sword had been disguised as it.
He slid it back into place at her waist.
“I wanted to confirm this.”
He muttered. It wasn’t a lie.
But he also wanted to know why his heart felt at ease when he was near her.
The same peculiar sense of stability he’d felt when gazing up at the Holy Sword embedded in the Plaza of Honor persisted whenever he stood beside Lukna.
Is that why I instinctively seek her out?
Even now—his heart had started aching, and without thinking, he had come to her.
But is it really just because of the latent divine power she supposedly has?
He gazed intently into her green eyes.
Lukna endured the stare for a few seconds before abruptly turning her head away.
No woman on earth could remain unaffected under the gaze of a face like his.
“Are you still thinking I stole the Holy Sword from the Plaza of Honor?”
“Hmm… I don’t know. What exactly is this?”
Matian pressed his fist firmly against his chest and let out a long breath.
“Did you have a priest among your ancestors?”
“I don’t know. I lost my memory.”
“Ah, right. You did say that.”
He nodded slowly. His complexion had improved slightly but was still pale.
“Are you… okay?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
He stepped back, offering a casual eye-smile.
“You’ve been breaking out in cold sweat for a while now.”
“It’ll pass.”
He said that, but this episode was particularly severe.
Being near Lukna had kept it manageable; had he been farther away, he might have lost consciousness.
There’s definitely something wrong with the seal on the Demon’s Egg. I should visit the temple.
Resolving to consult the High Priest about the ominous signs, Matian headed toward the entrance.
“Where’s your room, Matian? I’ll walk you back.”
“I’m not going to my room.”
“Then where are you going? Tell me. You look like you’re about to collapse.”
Lukna asked again.
She had never imagined someone who seemed unshakable even in a winter gale could look so fragile.
“Haha, collapse? Who would?”
With a mask-like smile, he concealed his condition as best he could.
“Thanks for inviting me today.”
Huh? Did I invite him? Didn’t he just walk in?
While Lukna tilted her head in confusion, Matian slipped his shoes back on, opened the door, and left.
“Wait, you shouldn’t go alone if you’re sick—”
Bang!
The door slammed shut, cutting her off.
Honestly, that jerk.
Lukna glared at the closed door, lips pouting. But worry quickly followed.
He really looked like he was about to faint.
Would someone who trained at dawn in secret to maintain perfection ever want others to see him collapse?
She hesitated at the door for a long moment before opening it and stepping into the hallway.
Descending the spiral staircase, she checked every floor and the first-floor lobby—but he had disappeared completely.
Just as she decided the great student council president had surely made it back safely—
The Holy Sword suddenly spoke.
“I sense an ominous presence nearby, Master.”
An ominous presence?
“Yes. Proceed straight for 42 meters, then turn left.”
I see. Then I’d better be careful too.
Lukna turned back toward her room.
“Master? I said I sense an ominous presence!”
The Holy Sword’s voice rose like an alarm.
Ow, my ears! If there’s something ominous, shouldn’t I protect my precious life? Why are you trying to send your valuable master to her doom?
“Indeed, precious Master. Return and rest. Thanks to your choice, the Empire’s destruction will now be advanced by one year.”
Destruction? That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think?
“…….”
You only go quiet at times like this, you useless Holy Sword.
Lukna quickly followed the direction it had given.
Matian hurried away from Lukna’s room.
The farther he got from her, the worse his condition became.
Not only cold sweat, but blood began dripping from his nose.
At this rate, I really might collapse.
He was not someone who could afford to show weakness.
The steadfast version of himself was “the great hero’s descendant who defeated the demon.”
The fragile version was “a variable who might turn into a demon at any time.”
It was the fate of one born with a fragment of a demon embedded in his heart.
Whenever someone tampered with the spell sealing the Demon’s Egg, his heart reacted with convulsive pain.
The black magic group attempting to resurrect the demon must have attacked the seal again.
Damn it. This time the curse feels stronger. I need to find somewhere secluded.
He struggled to stay conscious.
Fortunately, Closet College came into view.
It housed lecture rooms for sacred magic, scripture studies, ethics of faith, herbalism, and anatomy—and behind it lay a rarely visited clearing.
Perhaps it was relief that loosened his strength.
His body gave out and collapsed.
No.
He tried to rise again, but he couldn’t control his body. With his last strength, he dragged himself into a corner where no one would see him.
And to avoid losing consciousness amid the pain, he forced himself to replay memories.
The first thing that came to mind was Room 414—the one the thief had visited—and its owner.
A room scented with lilac instead of stale odor.
Lukna’s traces among the disordered furniture.
Her name engraved in round handwriting on even the smallest belongings.
Green eyes that had turned aside after meeting his gaze.
Small feet fidgeting.
Her pale, delicate face—and the peaceful aura he felt the closer he approached.
What am I thinking?
It was absurd enough to be lying on a cold stone floor thinking about Lukna.
Yet it felt as though Lukna’s presence was drawing nearer.
“Matian?”
Hearing her voice as well, he was certain he must be losing his mind.
