Chapter 232: Morning Visit..?


    ?


    Under the fresh morning light streaming through the window, Alice and I sat in tense silence on the sofa.


    The awkwardness between us was palpable, and I couldn''t help but feel a bit amused.


    Despite her usually calm demeanor, Alice''s reaction hinted at something more vulnerable, like a young girl caught off guard.


    I almost wanted to tease her because of how genuinely cute she looked in this flustered state. But time wasn''t on our side.


    I hadn''t meant to fall fully asleep when I closed my eyes earlier I must''ve gotten too rxed.


    There was a pressing matter I needed to attend to: the [Bishop dungeon] would be opening soon in the library.


    In the game, Alice had intercepted it only after detecting the White Queen''s energy, but by then, the monsters had already spread chaos.


    Damage had been done, and people were hurt-some students and academy staff even lost their lives.


    Clearing it now, before anything could happen, was critical.


    I nced at Alice, who seemed to be waiting for me to make the first move, her cheeks still tinged with that lingering blush.


    "Senior," I began, keeping my tone light to ease her nerves.


    "Y-Yes...?" she stammered, her eyes flickering up to meet mine with a hint of hesitation.


    "I won''t ask how you ended up in my bed, but if I had to guess, I''d say it had something to do with Cheshire, right?"


    She let out a small sigh, as if relieved I''d guessed. "... Yes, how''d you know?"


    "Well, you don''t exactly strike me as the type to just hop into my bed for no reason," I replied with a half-smile.


    "That''s... true..." she admitted, a faint smile breaking through her embarrassment.


    "So, you don''t need to be so flustered about it. I understand,"


    Her shoulders visibly rxed, and her eyes softened.


    "I-I see." Then, her usual confidence returned as she tilted her head with a yful smirk. "Hehe~ I guess you''re more attentive than you look, junior-"


    "Well, I''m not that dense,"


    "Fufu~ I wonder if that''s really the case..."


    "Did you say something?"


    "Nothing... Anyway..." She cleared her throat, shifting back into a more formal stance as she looked at me directly, her tone softening. "I apologize, junior. Though it was an ident, I know all of this was still caused by my familiar..."


    "It''s fine, really. If anyone should be apologizing, it''s Cheshire," I reassured her.


    She nodded, though the guilt in her eyes lingered. "But even still, as her master, I ought to take responsibility. Not only did I intrude and fall asleep in your bed... I... I even made such... embarrassing actions...."


    She blushed again, clearly recalling her unconscious actions while I slept.


    Though the memory seemed to mortify her, I found myself more amused than bothered.


    ''I mean, I didn''t exactly hate it in the first ce...''


    "It really doesn''t bother me," I said, shrugging, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. She nced up, surprised, and I could tell my words had a calming effect, her cheeks losing some of that telltale redness.


    Reassured by my words, Alice seemed to rx, her shoulders visibly easing.


    She inhaled deeply, exhaling in a slow, measured breath, as if grounding herself. "I-I guess that clears up any misunderstandings..." She paused, then nced at me, a faint glint of mischief returning to her gaze. "But aren''t you at least a little curious, junior...?"


    I shrugged, meeting her eyes with a small smile. "I won''t lie and say I''m not, but would you actually tell me if I asked?"


    Her cheeks tinted pink as she looked away, almost smirking. "Not exactly..."


    "Then why even bring it up?"


    "Hehe~," she chuckled, a bit embarrassed by her own teasing question. Slowly, she stood from her spot on the sofa, taking a step closer as she fidgeted slightly with her fingers before meeting my gaze again. "W-Well, since I''m clearly at fault here, junior..." She hesitated, but then her voice took on a yful confidence. "This great senior of yours owes you a favor... consider it my way of making things right."


    With a flourish, she extended her hand, holding out a small card. It was the Ace of Hearts, but unlike any regr card-it bristled with raw energy, pulsing faintly with her mana.


    "If you ever need me," she said, a glint of seriousness in her eyes, "just snap this card in half. No matter where I am or what I''m doing, I''lle to help you immediately."


    I took the card from her hand, feeling the soft hum of power coursing through it as her mana resonated against my fingers.


    I looked up at her, a sincere smile spreading across my face. "Thanks, senior. I''ll keep it safe." She nodded, a touch of pride showing beneath her blush.


    "Hehe~ I guess I''d better go now... Can''t keep bothering you, right, junior?" She gave a soft chuckle, a mix of humor and reluctance in her voice.


    I leaned back, meeting her gaze with a smirk. "I don''t mind being bothered by you, senior. In fact, you can even touch me more if you''d like."


    "Wh-What ridiculous things are you saying?!" Her face red with color, and she crossed her arms in a flustered huff. "Do you want this senior of yours to burn you to a crisp?"


    Iughed, watching as she started referring to herself in the third person—a surefire sign she was embarrassed.


    "You''re really going all out with that ''senior'' role, aren''t you? Even though you technically sexually assaulted this junior of yours in his sleep."


    "I-I did no such thing... I mean that wasn''t what happened! I-I had my reasons-"


    "Hahaha."


    "Y-You''re such a tease, junior..." She tried to sound stern, but a smile was already tugging at her lips. "Don''t tell me this is how you usually are."


    "Who knows?" I said with a shrug, enjoying the way she half-heartedly turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.


    She sighed, rolling her eyes but unable to hide a smile. "I-I''ll go now... wouldn''t want that personal maid of yours to see me here."


    "If you mean Yui, it''s toote. She probably already knows, but don''t worry-she''s discreet. I''ll have a talk with herter, just to make sure things stay between us."


    She hesitated, her shoulders rxing at my words, then gave a small nod. "I-I see... I''ll trust you on that, junior.... Really, I''ll be off this time. Goodbye, junior..."


    With a final nce, she focused her energy, and red mana began to glow around her, wrapping her form like a zing aura.


    Cards flickered into existence, hovering briefly before spinning around her, and in a rush, she


    rose off the floor.


    In a sh of red, she soared out the window, her speed leaving only a faint trail behind.


    If anyone saw a sudden red blur streaking from my window, it''d undoubtedly spark some rumors, but without concrete evidence, they''d likely be dismissed.


    ''It would''ve been better if she used celestial magic to slip away more discreetly... but I guess


    the dorm master would sense her presence immediately if she tried.''


    Watching the faint trails of Alice''s mana slowly dissipate, I stood up from the chair,


    stretching out my arms as I examined the card she''d given me.


    Its surface gleamed with a subtle but distinct aura, the Ace of Hearts seeming to pulse slightly


    in my hand.


    [Note: New item acquired!]


    [Item: Red Queen''s Ace of Hearts (Unique)]


    [Effects: Red Queen Call]


    [Effects: Temporary Mid-rank Barrier]


    [Effects: Temporal Call]


    This item held more power than I''d expected, with effects that went well beyond what I


    thought Alice would entrust me with.


    Marked as "Unique," it wasn''t just an emergency contact-it was an artifact that could


    summon her directly, shield me with a barrier, or even give me the ability to manipte time


    briefly in a critical moment.


    In the game she only gave this card once you''ve sessfully raced her affection meter by 70% and above... so I guess senior likes me more than I thought huh...


    I traced the card''s edges, musing over the weight of the gift.


    I had no intention of actually using it unless absolutely necessary; the idea of putting Alice in


    any form of danger sat ufortably with me.


    Yet, the future remained unpredictable and ever-shifting, and I couldn''t deny the potential


    value this card held if a situation truly spiraled out of control.


    For now, I''d keep it close.


    I checked the time. If my memory was correct, the dungeon break for the [Bishop Dungeon] happened shortly before sunset.


    By now, it was likely active-a hidden dungeon veiled by the White Queen''s own protection.


    This was a uniquely insidious threat; it would remain unnoticed until it was toote, as the dungeon''s concealment was designed to prevent anyone from detecting it ahead of time. Even with all my knowledge, finding the dungeon on my own would be impossible.


    In the game, the only clue given was that the outbreak originated in the library.


    But details were scarce, and given what I knew about the monsters, especially the boss-the White Bishop-handling it solo would be nearly impossible.


    I''d need an ally, someone capable of immense mana sensing, someone who could pick up on


    even the slightest hint of hidden mana in a sh.


    ''Rose.''


    She''d be perfect for this.


    Her mana sense was exceptional, and with her, there''d be a solid chance of detecting and


    containing the outbreak before it spread.


    I''d have to ask her to join meter.


    Sure, Alice would have been an ideal choice, considering her experience with the White Army.


    Fighting them was practically her specialty.


    But thest thing I wanted was to put her in harm''s way-especially with her already fraying


    health. Between the dimensional cracks and the constant exposure to hostile forces, she was under more strain than I liked. Keeping her away from these monsters was my top priority. For her sake, and the long term, I couldn''t risk her any more than necessary. With that in mind, I moved to prepare for the day ahead when a sharp clicking and creaking


    sound echoed from behind me.


    The door opened, and to my surprise, a strikingly beautiful boy with long, wavy brown hair


    entered, his deep sky-blue eyes oddly familiar despite this being, supposedly, our first


    meeting.


    Just behind him trailed Yui, her head slightly lowered, an uncharacteristically uneasy expression on her face.


    "Who...?" I asked, half to myself, as I tried to ce the stranger''s face.


    Before I could say another word, the young man narrowed his eyes, his stareced with


    irritation. "Riley Hell-... Who was here with you?"


    "Huh... what are you talking about? And who exactly are- " I started, but Yui interrupted, her tone tight with apology.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Y-Young Master, I''m sorry. I tried my best-"


    "You may leave now," the young man cut her off coldly, dismissing her with a wave.


    Yui hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting mine, filled with an odd, almost pitying look


    before she sighed and retreated from the room.


    I was left staring after her, a thousand questions brewing.


    What''s going on right now?


    The boy took a step forward, his expression as frosty as it was intense. "Riley Hell~... I''ll ask


    you one more time-who was here with you?"


    I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could get a word out, a shimmer of blue light


    enveloped him.


    I watched, frozen, as his appearance shifted, softening with every flicker until it revealed a


    face I knew all too well.


    "Snow...?" I whispered, hardly believing it.


    She gave me a tight-lipped smile, her expression devoid of its usual warmth. "That''s right,"


    she said coolly. "So... who was here with you?"


    The prating gaze she fixed on me was enough to drain the words from my mouth.