By late March, the contest between Ivette and Nixia was still ongoing—or rather, it was Nixia's one-sided contest, because Ivette had no idea what was happening at all.
How should she put it? She had indeed intended to learn a little more about Nixia, but only because of Nixia's identity as a member of the Demon Race.
What she needed to observe was whether Nixia was secretly up to anything bad, plotting some evil scheme or the like. That kind of observation did not require them to form any close relationship; they merely needed to remain physically close enough.
As for deeper exchanges of intelligence, they would definitely need to build mutual trust first. She had not yet figured out exactly how to do that—after all, the Academy of Truth was a five-year institution. It would be fine to start next year. This year, she could just coast along.
A thousand-year witch never fought over a day or a moment!
Meanwhile, seeing that Ivette's daily routine remained as regular and detached as ever after electives began, with no unusual changes whatsoever, Lucia finally let go of the worry she had been carrying for half a month.
She had thought that after meeting that "interesting girl," Ivette might start skipping dinner at home, making plans to eat with someone else, or even simply staying out all night.
But the facts proved it!
Those were all mistaken thoughts.
Ivette would not forget her dear friend just because she had made a new one. Though from Ivette's perspective, Lucia was not exactly a dear friend, but more like a combination of student, maid, and cook.
Just like Abera, who was already somewhere on the Black Tide Continent, happily enjoying herself without anyone knowing where.
It was an evening when twilight had begun to