Simon looked down at her with a blank expression. "...... Yes, Lady Nephthys?"
"Ah! Food! Food!" Nephthys exclaimed, scampering over and clambering onto Simon's chair.
Her eyes sparkled as she swallowed hard.
"Who is this?"
"She's so cute!"
Meilin and Kamibarez screamed in excitement upon seeing Nephthys.
Nephthys tilted her head, her innocent eyes wide open. 'Could it be that they don't know?' Simon gasped and stretched out his arms.
"Wait a moment, everyone!"
"Do you want snacks?"
"Yes!"
As Nephthys nodded eagerly, Meilin patted her head with a look of adoration.
Kamibarez quickly turned to Dick.
"Is it okay to feed her, Dick?"
"Uh? Uh..."
"Wow!"
Once permission was granted, Nephthys hurriedly grabbed snacks and stuffed them into her mouth.
Her fluffy cheeks puffed up.
With a happy smile, she said, "Delicious!"
"Ahhh!"
"Do you want to eat this too?" Meilin offered a cookie after unwrapping it.
Nephthys opened her mouth wide and took a big bite.
"Yum!"
"I ate it!"
"Me too! I want to try!"
......
The situation was spiraling out of control.
Simon spoke urgently.
"Wait a moment, everyone! This lady is......!"
"She's so cute~ What's her name?"
Kamibarez's kind question made Nephthys, who was busy stuffing her mouth with food, beam widely.
"Yes! I'm Nephthys!"
"Ahhh!"
"So cute!"
......
They clearly didn't believe her! Most people from the continent, who were not affiliated with Kizen, were unaware that Nephthys, who was three hundred years old, was actually a little girl.
It was understandable, as she had not shown herself in public for decades and only moved behind the name Kizen.
Whenever she had to appear, she took on a form other than that of a girl.
Above all, the weight and fear of the name Nephthys had given rise to countless imaginations and speculations.
People imagined Nephthys as a terrible witch, transcending humanity, caught between human and monster.
Of course, there were stories that Nephthys appeared as a little girl, but Meilin and Kamibarez were not even considering such doubts.
They couldn't fathom that Nephthys could appear here.
'What should I do?' Simon felt like he was staring at a ticking time bomb.
Meanwhile, Dick, who had excellent information-gathering skills, seemed to have grasped the situation and was moving to another spot, ignoring them.
"Dick! Do something!" Simon gestured desperately.
But Dick was not looking at Simon.
He sat stiffly at a distance from them.
"...... Dick?"
Kamibarez turned her head to look at Dick, who was sitting with a stiff expression.
"Why are you suddenly kneeling over there?"
"W-What are you talking about? I've always sat like this!" Dick said, sweating profusely.
Even if he wanted to explain, Nephthys kept sending him strange glances, silencing him.
"Is it delicious?"
Meilin was showing a reaction like a girl of her age after a long time.
As she patted Nephthys's head, Nephthys seemed pleased and giggled.
"Yes! It's delicious!"
"Ahh, my heart hurts..."
"This is the prettiest girl I've ever seen!"
Having eaten her fill and patting her little belly, Nephthys jumped off the chair and rushed over to Simon, taking his hand.
"Simon! Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"...... Ah, yes."
The two stepped outside the classroom.
Simon quickly said, "Lady Nephthys, I apologize on behalf of the others! They didn't recognize you..."
"Hehe, it's okay! It's something I experience all the time! The snacks were delicious too," she said with a smile.
Then she stopped walking and stared intently into Simon's eyes.
Simon also halted and waited for her.
"Hmm."
She smiled slyly.
"You've finally got your army in hand, Simon."
"......!!"
Simon's heart sank.
She returned to her childlike smile and took Simon's hand.
"It's not quite the place to talk here. Shall we change locations?"
"Yes?"
Holding Simon's hand, Nephthys jumped up.
In an instant, Simon felt his legs lift off the ground, as if he were transcending dimensions.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a different place.
'Where is this?'
It was someone's room.
The wallpaper combined cream and pink colors, with frilly curtains.
On the shelves were cute animal dolls and charming decorations.
A wonderful scent filled the air.
'No way.'
Simon turned to see the girl who matched the room's appearance perfectly.
"Lady Nephthys, you have this taste..."
"This isn't my room."
"What?"
At that moment, a rustling sound came from behind, as if a blanket was being pulled.
Simon turned around in shock.
A girl with a blank expression, red eyes, and slightly damp black hair was looking at him.
"R-Rorein!"
Simon's face turned bright red.
Rorein was dressed in comfortable shorts and a top that resembled underwear.
She covered her body with her arms, staring at Nephthys.
"Mom."
"Yes!"
"Bringing a boy to my room via teleportation is just outright messing with me, right?"
"What are you talking about!" Nephthys said, placing her hands on her hips confidently.
"I came here to tell you both something at the same time!"
"Hah."
With a deep sigh, her red eyes glinted fiercely.
"Mom always does this."
"Hmph, you too!" Nephthys bounced around.
"It's exam season, and you overslept again! Simon is gathering his group members for a study session!"
"I'll handle it myself."
"Don't you know the professors have been constantly nagging you lately?"
"Not knowing some formulas has nothing to do with my skills!"
A tense atmosphere arose between them.
On the surface, it seemed like a typical argument between a nagging mother and a rebellious daughter, but stepping back, it looked like an unmistakable sisterly quarrel.
'......
I want to go back to the dorm.'
Caught in a fight between the scariest mother and daughter in the world, Simon pressed himself against the wall with a pale face.
"Please finish quickly, Mom. And Simon?"
"Ah, yes."
"Could you stop glancing around?"
Simon held back tears inside.
It’s not that I want to look.
Rorein sat up from the bed and grabbed any outerwear hanging on the coat rack to wrap around herself.
Now Simon could see her properly.
"Okay, Simon? First, about the information you provided."
Nephthys plopped down on a nearby chair.
"Information?"
"Yes! The spy who infiltrated Kizen."
So she heard it from Rorein.
Simon waited with a tense expression for her next words.
"I've already requested an investigation from trustworthy subordinates. We're gradually finding clues."
"Ah, that's a relief."
"But I came to warn you of danger."
Nephthys continued in a serious tone.
"That traitor seems to know your identity."
Simon's heart sank.
Nephthys slowly continued.
"Do you remember the Cyclops evaluation? The Cyclops your group faced was particularly strong, not because of the drugs or curse side effects during capture, but because someone intentionally tampered with it."
"......!"
Nephthys smiled brightly.
"Of course, you know what that intention was, right?"
......
Disguised accident.
Simon swallowed hard.
"Simon."
This time, Rorein spoke.
"Since you said you met that person in the Forbidden Forest, the spy is much more likely to be at the school than at the Kizen headquarters. If you stay here, you might continue to face life-threatening situations."
"Yes, that's true."
Nephthys smiled and crossed her arms.
"Our Rorein is really worried about you!"
"Mom!!"
"Anyway, are you really not considering accepting Kizen's protective measures?"
......
Simon firmly shut his mouth.
"If you're worried about being expelled from Kizen, we could hold you back like your roommate Kazhan. You could stay in your hometown until the incident is resolved and start again next year."
"...... I truly appreciate your concern, but my thoughts remain unchanged."
Simon slowly raised his head.
"I believe my current life is worth the risk. Please allow me to stay at school. I am also looking for clues in my own way, so it will be helpful."
Rorein bit her lip, showing a complicated expression, while Nephthys nodded readily.
"Honestly, I expected you to say that! You're Richard's son, after all."
She took out a silver necklace from her spatial pocket.
Simon wondered what it was as he watched her gesture for him to lower himself.
Simon quickly knelt on one knee, and Nephthys stood on her tiptoes to place the necklace around his neck.
"What is this?"
"It's an artifact," she said.
"Recently, there have been many unsettling events happening in the continent, so I can't focus solely on you. So, I'll give you this. The power contained in this necklace will protect you."
Simon swallowed hard as he looked at the radiant light flowing from the necklace.
He could easily guess that it was more valuable than anything he owned.
"If this artifact warns you of danger, you must immediately stop whatever you're doing and leave that place. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I will remember."
"And."
Nephthys turned to Rorein.
"You should also pay some attention to our Simon."
"...... I know, Mom."
Rorein replied, somewhat sulkily.
At that moment, Nephthys jumped onto the bed.
"Wake up! Hurry up!"
"Ah, it hurts!"
"Simon."
Nephthys pulled Rorein's arm and turned to Simon.
"I'll send you back to where you were studying, so take her with you! You lazy bum!"
"Mom!" Rorein shouted in surprise.
"Why would I go there!"
"Hmph! If I don't do this, you won't step outside!"
"You call it studying! If I'm there, it'll just be awkward, and it'll be a nuisance to Simon's friends!"
As Rorein shouted, she pushed Nephthys's arm away with force.
Nephthys plopped down on the bed.
Suddenly, tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Ugh! Waaaah! Being a daughter just makes me suffer all the time! Fool! Fool! Rorein is a fool!"
Nephthys's flailing arms and legs as she cried were typical of a little girl throwing a tantrum.
Simon could only watch helplessly, while Rorein sighed deeply, pressing her forehead.
"...... Sigh, fine. I'll go."
"Yay! Then please take care of our Rorein, Simon!"
Nephthys immediately stopped crying and jumped off the bed.
Simon was a bit taken aback by her perfect mood change, but Rorein, as if accustomed to it, grumbled while opening the closet door.
"When you two are ready, come outside!"
Nephthys hummed a tune and left the room.
Rorein took out her school uniform from the closet.
"Sorry, I'll just be quiet for about an hour before I go."
"No, no. If the study group increases, we welcome it."
Rorein suddenly stopped moving and stared at Simon's face.
"...... Why, what's wrong?"
"Are you trying to watch me change?"
At that, Simon's face turned bright red, and he hurriedly dashed out the door.
A little while later, Rorein joined the study group of Team 7.
"......."
"......"
Meilin, Kamibarez, and Dick turned pale upon recognizing the famous Rorein.
An awkward atmosphere enveloped the five of them sitting in the classroom.
Only their eyes darted around busily.
Meilin looked at Simon as if demanding an explanation, while Dick wished he had ten hearts.
Having just seen Nephthys, and now Rorein!
"This is Rorein from Class L."
In contrast, Simon smiled nonchalantly as he introduced Rorein.
"I'd like to study together for just today, is that okay?"
The three quickly nodded.
Even if it wasn't okay, it had to be okay.
With an impassive face, Rorein scanned the surroundings and spoke in a calm voice.