Freya's Overactive Imagination, Vera's Suspicion

On a weekend morning, Ansu was at home, as usual, studying magic.

He sat cross-legged on the sofa with his eyes tightly shut, attempting to guide that faint, elusive trace of magic to project an invisible Shadow Bolt at the sandbag opposite him.

But no matter how he tried, the Shadow Bolt refused to take shape...

[Shadow Bolt (1st-Circle Magic)]

[Not Mastered (Learning Progress: 283/350)]

Although this progress was incredibly fast compared to a real magic practitioner, Ansu was still not satisfied.

After all, time was of the essence...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room.

Vera, who was hunched over the table reviewing her schoolwork, watched as Ansu gestured at the air and muttered to himself from time to time... her expression was one of helplessness.

Her brother had been acting more and more obsessed lately...

Although he kept saying this was all part of his work, what kind of legitimate job was like this? Why did he need to learn dark magic?

Was her brother really working for an official secret organization, or had he joined some bizarre, cultish group...

Feeling dizzy and mentally exhausted from his studies, Ansu stood up and walked to the table to have a drink of water.

He took the opportunity to check his sister's homework.

"Hmm, not bad."

Ansu glanced at the math workbook; there was only one wrong answer on the entire page, so he patted Vera's little head. "As expected of my sister, you've caught up on the lessons you missed in just a few days. Vera is so smart!"

"Brother..." Vera dodged Ansu's hand and muttered, "Don't treat me like a child! Such simple lessons, couldn't I just understand them by glancing at them?"

"Aren't you a child?" Ansu looked at Vera's expression and couldn't help but smile. "Alright, if you think the current lessons aren't difficult, I'll find you the next level. Besides, once I get the enrollment procedures sorted out, you can go back to school."

When he was at school, Ansu had spoken to Freya about his sister's situation, and Freya had said it was a trivial matter.

She would arrange for Vera to attend the best church school in Benalu City, with full tuition waivers, and if Vera showed other talents, there would be specialists to tutor her.

"Brother... does this church friend you know really have that kind of authority?" Vera couldn't help but feel curious.

"That's Trinity Academy! It's a very prestigious middle school. I heard the Saintess of the Church attended it back in the day..."

"Don't you worry about it," Ansu said with a smile. If a proper Saintess couldn't even handle a small matter like this, she would be far too incompetent.

"Oh..." Vera nodded, then suddenly asked, "Brother, who exactly is this friend of yours who works for the Church? Why haven't I seen him before?"

For so many years, she had never heard of her brother having any friends in the Church. How had her brother's connections suddenly become so good?

"Well, about that..." Ansu didn't know if he should tell her that it was actually the Saintess of the Church who had found the school for her.

Just as he was thinking this, a light knock sounded at the door.

Following it was a soft, pleasant female voice.

"Excuse me... is this the home of Ansu Morris?"

There was no need to struggle with the decision now...

Ansu looked silently at Vera. "She's already here."

Vera was stunned. This voice—why was it a woman?

Ansu walked over to open the door. Once he opened it, Freya, dressed in a long white dress with a gentle smile, appeared before them.

"Good morning, Ansu!"

She greeted him politely, and seeing Ansu's sister in the living room, she added, "I have already arranged your sister's school. Unless there are any special circumstances, she can start tomorrow. Also..."

Freya lowered her voice and winked at Ansu. "There have been some developments regarding the three bishops..."

Ansu knew she had come today to report on the mission, so he nodded and politely welcomed her inside.

As soon as Freya entered, she curiously looked around Ansu's home.

But as she looked, she couldn't help but slightly furrow her brows.

She hadn't expected the home of the Chosen One... to be so impoverished.

Freya was invited by Ansu to sit on the worn-out fabric sofa. She sat down gently, glancing around at the old furniture and the peeling, mottled walls, feeling an indescribable sensation in her heart.

"Ansu, I didn't realize you were living such a frugal life. Are you having any financial difficulties?"

Freya reached for her handbag. "I have some money here, if you don't mind..."

"Better not, I do mind..." Ansu looked at Freya with a bit of helplessness, thinking to himself, why does everyone who comes over want to throw money at his house? Was he living that pitifully?

"Ah, you... you don't need it?"

Freya blinked. Ansu's refusal immediately made her realize something.

As the Chosen One, Ansu shouldn't be short on money. Looking at it this way, he must have deliberately chosen this temporary residence...

The more Freya thought about it, the more she felt this was the case.

After all, she knew Ansu was currently undercover in an evil cult, and those detestable cultists often lurked in the chaotic, low-income districts, so he must have done this intentionally...

Having figured this out, Freya offered an apologetic smile and turned to look at Vera, who was quietly brewing black tea on the side.

"Student Ansu, your sister is very cute~"

"Thank you for the compliment." Vera smiled, pushed the black tea toward her, and simultaneously voiced the doubt in her heart, "Are you the person from The Church that my brother mentioned? How did you and my brother meet?"

"We met at school." Freya explained, "We got to know each other because of Bishop Paul's lecture. Student Ansu has very unique insights into theology, so we became friends, and he also told me recently about the difficulties you've been having with your schooling..."

"Bishop Paul's lecture?" Vera immediately sensed something was wrong and cast a suspicious glance at her brother.

"Didn't Bishop Paul only just arrive at your school recently? Does that mean you've only known each other for a few days?"

"Ah?" Freya blinked in surprise and looked at Ansu as well, wondering how his sister knew so much about the Royal Academy.

Ansu couldn't help but rub his forehead. It's over...

He had almost forgotten that Vera paid extremely close attention to his school life and social interactions...

He had been so focused on guarding against Cecilia, thinking that Freya coming over today wouldn't be an issue, but the sharp-witted Vera had instantly spotted the inconsistency.

"Um... in any case, we haven't known each other for long." Ansu didn't want to lie, as it would be impossible to hide anything from Vera, the little detective.

"But after Freya heard that you had a talent for Holy Light, she was indeed very proactive about your schooling. Vera, you should thank Miss Freya!"

"Mm." Vera nodded, looking at Freya with a well-behaved smile, "Thank you, Sister Freya!"

"You're welcome!" Freya looked at the seemingly well-behaved Vera, but felt something strange for no apparent reason.

Why does it feel like Ansu's sister has a hint of hostility toward me...

Strange.

"I don't have much time. I came to see Student Ansu today because there is another urgent matter." Freya cast these strange thoughts to the back of her mind; after all, she was Ansu's sister, so the 'hostility' must have been her overthinking things.

"Right, the soundproofing in the living room isn't very good. Beware of walls having ears." Ansu cast a wary glance at the doors and windows and walked straight toward his room, "Let's talk in my room."

Freya stood up, followed Ansu to his room, and then gently closed the door.

Hearing the sound of Ansu's door locking, Vera's eyes widened.

This, this...

What is going on??