Published at 5th of December 2025 8:12 pm

Chapter 218

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Chapter 218

Yulia Tsheringen, smiling faintly, rubbed her chin in thought before speaking to me.

Dont panic, Lucas. No backing out.

Hm?

Im gonna give it my all.

Yulia grinned like she was about to dive into something fun.

She tried to mask it for politeness, but couldnt hide the excitement entirely.

***

Theres a reason I asked Yulia for this.

First, Leos playing the distant act, so acting chummy with him wouldnt mean much.

Next, Elias and Narce.

Theyre easier psychologicallyreal friends.

But theyd crack up

No question. Theyd collapse laughing mid-act. Sometimes their faces alone make me laughhow could they pull it off?

Then Ulrike or Heike?

Nah.

Were not close enough to ask for acting, and while I could boost Favorability hanging out

Theres a key problem. If a stalker attacks, they lack the judgment and Magic Power to counter.

Yulia, though, wont laugh mid-act, has the skills to handle a special-ability criminal, and isnt awkward enough for this request to strain thingsperfect conditions.

Ha

Leos sigh pierced my ears today.

We were in a different building.

Not the main stadium for the opening and international friendly tournament, but an ice hockey arena.

More blue decor than the main stadium, and far fewer people. We hadnt met a soul. Felt like just the three of us in the building.

We walked, eyeing banners and panels.

[1898 Berlin Pentalon]

[Warmest welcome to athletes from 56 national delegations.]

Blackletter font, heavy with gravitas.

Yulia laughed, saying,

Fun that the three of us are patrolling together today.

She put a hand on my shoulder.

Right, Lucas?

Yup.

Smiling back, I caught Leos eye.

He didnt know my plan, so my dragging Yulia along puzzled him.

At our destination, Yulia clapped.

Ive been with Narce, but we each took a room. You guys too?

Yeah.

Then Ill take the left row on the first floor. Leo, right row?

Lucas?

Yulia, with a polite smile, shrugged at Leos question.

Hm? With me, of course.

.

Leo stared silently, then turned, heading to the right room.

Entering the left room with Yulia, I swapped my wand for a staff, striking the floor.

No foreign magic reflected off mine. Moving the staff to check the walls, Yulia closed the door behind.

Click

Hm?

Haha

Yulia glanced at the window and ceiling, smiling, and approached slowly.

Puzzled, I watched. She waved it off.

What? Keep going.

.

I gave a dry laugh, pressing the staff to the wall. Pink magic flowed along it. Nothing caught.

Stepping toward a central metal shelf, Yulia grabbed my left arm, spinning me to face her.

Golden eyes loomed close. Her hair, supposed to be waxed and tucked under a cap per regulations, brushed my forehead.

What the fucks this?

I was too lax earlier.

Im the one about to crack up.

Suppressing laughter, I whispered to Yulia.

Yulia, this isnt what I asked for.

Just friends~

Friends, my ass.

So smooth. Shes done this before, hasnt she?

No Favorability window, so shes not swept by weird vibesjust acting. Seemed to eye the window, too.

Id come with hypotheses about the culprit. They likely werent watching through the window, but Yulias effort was enough, so no need to point out.

Diverting my focus, stifling laughter, light leaked through the door crack.

!

I tried pushing Yulia, too late.

Boom!

A deafening roar, and corridor light flooded in.

Hey.

Yulia, calm, turned slightly, only for Leo to grab her collar.

Pain stabbed my core.

Leo, dumbfounded, yanked Yulias shirt.

Whatre you doing?

Friendship bonding? Getting closer.

Dont fuck around.

Leo, irritated, shoved Yulia out and slammed the door.

With Yulia gone, the magic density spiked, choking me.

Whats this? Think this is school? Even if it was, since when were you two that tight?

Later.

I gestured.

Leos icy glare was clearwhere his disbelief lay.

Misunderstanding. Sorry. Explainings tough now, but this was legit.

Legit

.

His cold sneer hit hard. Leo twisted his lips in a new expression.

Think Im thrilled? This is to lure the culprit out.

My core stung like hell. I nearly flipped his core but stopped, knowing Id schemed something shady at work.

Ill explain. Not slacking to make you work, so go.

When.

Short question, but clear.

Today.

Cant explain now.

The culprit might overhear, and if my hypothesis holds, silencing spells wont help. Yulia tried hard; I cant ruin it.

Leos stare bore into me.

Avoiding it, I met his eyes, and he turned, leaving, convinced I wasnt lying.

I followed, watching.

Shed make a great manager.

Hawk-eyed, no slacking. Then I remembered hes already class rep.

Leo approached Yulia, retying her tie, and pushed her to the left room.

Switch. Im with Lucas, youre solo.

Why? I wanna stick with Lucas.

Why?

Leos sarcasm dripped.

.

Asking why now?

That retort, that lookseasoned.

Yulia, outmatched, shrugged.

Fine. Wait a sec.

She pulled me a few steps from Leo.

Feeling Leos chill, Yulia gave an awkward smile.

Gonna get axed by Leo before we catch the culprit?

Hes such a stickler

Not a playgroundwhats this? Thats why he grilled us about school.

Were working, and in perfect team mode, this wouldnt fly.

Still, Yulias reckless push, unknown till now, was checked by Leos unexpected necessity.

Hahaha! You know hes a by-the-book guy. Hm, were just messing around while working

She trailed off, switching topics.

After this, we hit the annex for breakfast. See you then.

Yeah.

I nodded, following Leo to the right room.

Not wanting this eerie vibe, I passed Leo to check another roomsaves time, good move.

But, predictably, Leo grabbed my collar like Yulia.

.

I could fight back, but why get mad at a high schoolers rigidity? To Leo, I looked like I was screwing around.

Three suffocating hours later, 8 AM.

I met Yulia. She held up breakfast from imperial subcontractors.

Hm~ Salad today.

Nice.

My core ached.

Giving me the stink-eye for talking? I tapped the table.

Leos signal stopped.

But peace didnt last. Ten minutes into eating, Yulia sid something, and Leos magic flared around my core.

Asked before, but if I get you a new artifact, will you pierce your ear? Got one I want you to wear.

Sorry. Ill think about it later.

I snapped my fingers under the table. Leo, visibly twitching, turned, scoffing.

Yulia, seeing Leos odd reaction, laughed.

Guess I pushed too hard.

Nah, thanks for the offer.

Five hours later.

The plan worked.

No notes after lunch.

Good. Stay gone.

And let me land a punch. Contradictory, but thats my raw desire.

I unclenched my fist, smiling.

Culprits peace came, but I dodged Leos collar-grabs multiple times.

Sending Yulia off, I faced Leos menacing approach.

Why you always on my case?

His face darkened.

Were too close, so hes picking on me, not Yulia.

Or he expected better from me.

He hasnt grabbed me yet, just threatens.

He leaned close, unblinking sky-blue eyes low.

Lucas, work.

I am.

Chatting with Tsheringen all days work? Tough mission

.

Leos mocking smile hit, so I smiled, wringing my hands.

!

Leo hunched, frowning, touching his core.

I call Yulia Tsheringen in my head, but saying its different.

His class rep and goody-two-shoes vibe hid his sarcasm, but hes got bite.

Politician needs that edge.

I get why hes so strict, but his attitude needs work. I started this mess, so I wont push harder.

Explain later.

.

Leo, about to speak, sighed and turned. He needed time to cool off.

I went out, approaching Yulia, whod been fixing her tie all day because of Leo.

Yulia, rein in that class rep. Whats his deal?

Hm, haha! She wont be reined.

Why?

Yulia, pondering, spoke lightly.

Well, national interests her thing. You too, right? We grew up like that.

National interest?

Random, but I get it. Before I could ask, she grabbed my shoulder.

What now?

All day with weird vibes?

Haha~ Wont we get awkward tomorrow?

Know better, behave

But its damn effective.

The culprits so pissed shes silent.

No Favorability window, so Yulias not swept up, just acting.

This way, no personal drama ruins teamwork, and we mess with the culprit as planned.

Yulia held out her hand. I tapped it, but her fingers laced with mine.

.

I held back laughter.

Yulia bit her lip, showing straintheres a limit to holding it inbut she forced a straight face, acting.

Clearing her throat, she smiled, peering into my eyes. My face reflected in her clear yellow eyes.

Absorbing my flowing magic, she murmured,

Your Magic Powers unique, you know?

Duh. Pinks one-of-a-kind.

Haha, not that Your pink magics probably unique worldwide.

Yup.

I smiled, feeling chills.

Then, know why I keep asking for your hand?

No clue.

Really? Better stay clueless.

Yulia grinned brightly. I stared, like *why stop there?*

Unique magic and hand-holding are linked, I get.

She let go, likely thinking shed drawn enough attention.

Truth hit right after.

I turned at footsteps, laughing dryly.

She let go because Leo approached.

Leo said nothing, just shot us a cold glance and passed.

.

Yulia gave an awkward laugh, her 18-year friendship data kicking in.

I felt it too. Not a normal look. He doesnt half-ignore.

Yulia grabbed my hand, chasing Leo.

Come on, Leo.

.

Leo, scornful, glanced and walked on.

Whether we followed, Leo unfolded a map, checked, and opened a large door.

Yulia, despite the chill, spoke.

Wow, huge~

Labeled a supply room, it was a warehouse. Stale, unused air.

One side had daily items, the other artifactsmagic lamps, radios, projectors, no electricity. Far off, maintenance gear was neatly arranged.

Finding magic anomalies herell take ages. These places always do.

Yulia muttered, tapping a magic-item shelf with her wand.

Leo blocked her side, so I took the non-magic items, far off.

Wow, Pentalons going color for broadcasts. Leo, your familys magics in its budget, right?

Yulia said, eyeing artifacts.

Colors pricierneeds dyed magic.

.

No reply. Yulia apologized seriously.

Youre upset. Sorry.

Two slackers, whod be happy?

Leos reply dripped sarcasm.

Wasnt slacking.

Still, we soured the mood. Our acting creeped us outthird parties must gag.

Need mental compensation.

Messing with a culprit pissed off a friend.

Gotta find a way to soothe him later.

The left door shook.

*Boom!*

Huh?

.

Eyes met. The open door slammed shut.

Leo shot up, and the magic lamps died.

Lamps out?

Artifacts dont die unless their lifespans up or airs magic is cut.

Door closing didnt kill them, so the airs magic

As I thought, corridor light faded.

Total darkness.

*Click*

Leo tried the doorknob, locked. No give after tries.

Realizing it was locked, the air chilled.

Yulia, Leo, feel anyones magic outside?

Nope.

Nothing. Were the only ones here.

I felt none either.

Whats this mean?

Clear.

No face-to-face, as planned

Finally, you bastard.

Acting beyond letters.

Thats key.

Time to test my hypothesis.

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