Oh no!
He had rushed out just now, so Thor had simply grabbed his things. The side of the three-dimensional coordinate diagram with the writing on it was facing outward.
"Mm~"
This time, the nasal sound curved upward, carrying a hint of pleading.
A Level 2 Apprentice had seen something interesting. He hadn't tried to snatch it, only expressed his desire.
Very... clearly expressed his desire.
Thor sighed inwardly and spoke quietly to the seemingly harmless Senior, whose presence was almost nonexistent. "Senior, it's almost eight. How about we head back to the West Tower dorms and talk there?"
"Mm!"
A short, cheerful sound rang out.
Thor hurried back to the West Tower, and the Level 2 Apprentice followed close behind him.
Silent, and barely noticeable.
Like a ghost trailing behind him.
By the time Thor returned to the West Tower dorms, most of the Apprentices were back too.
It seemed to be an unspoken rule that few people stayed in the East Tower past eight, but they didn't return too early, either.
This was the liveliest time in the West Tower dorms. Even some of the veteran Level 1 Apprentices living on the sixth floor came out for some fresh air.
There was no other reason. The pressure was simply too much.
Their whole world was this little Wizard Tower. Until they reached Level 2, they barely even had a chance to leave.
After a day of exhausting study, the moment they returned to the dorms was when everyone felt most tired—and most relaxed.
Thor had hardly ever seen the Apprentices like this.
Whenever he returned to the dorms, he went straight inside with his head down. He had never lingered outside.
But today, the place seemed especially lively.
"Thor!" Keli was leaning against the door of her dorm, apparently waiting for him.
As soon as she saw him, she stepped forward twice, looking a little displeased.
"Why didn't you come to the Mutual Aid Society gathering?"
Thor blinked.
"I forgot."
He really had forgotten.
At first, he'd discovered the three-dimensional coordinate axes and buried himself in studying them, losing all track of time. Later, he'd been swamped with work and had barely made it back to the East Tower in time.
In that state, how could he possibly have spared a thought for the Mutual Aid Society?
"I only went because Duoze told me you'd be there." Keli pouted, her expression far more animated than usual.
"I only said I'd think about it..."
"I knew Duoze couldn't be trusted." Keli put on an angry face, but soon recovered, even breaking into a smile. "Still, that Mutual Aid Society was pretty interesting. We all discussed things together, and it actually helped me figure out some things I'd never thought about before. Hee-hee-hee..."
Thor stared at Keli in alarm.
Keli shivered under his gaze and quickly looked herself over. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Thor rubbed his arm. The moment Keli had smiled, he'd suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. His goosebumps still hadn't gone away.
"Why are you laughing like that?" Thor asked bluntly.
"Laughing?" Keli touched her cheek without thinking. "How was I laughing?"
"I mean..."
"Hee-hee-hee..."
Thor and Keli turned around at the same time. Not far away, the girl who lived diagonally across from them was laughing as she talked with Duoze.
"...Hee-hee-hee."
Duoze seemed to have heard something funny and started laughing too.
Thor felt the atmosphere in the whole dormitory grow strange.
He looked into the distance again. Had all the new Apprentices in the corridors come out? Why were there so many people?
"Hee-hee-hee."
"Hee-hee-hee..."
Laughter that seemed normal but was somehow eerie rang out in the corridors now and then.
Thor's gaze finally settled on Keli in front of him.
"Hee-hee-hee." She was still watching Duoze's group. It seemed she'd heard something funny, because she was laughing along with them.
"Keli!" Thor smacked her on the forehead.
"Ah!" Keli was stunned by the slap. "What are you doing?"
Thor didn't know how to explain it, but he just felt that he couldn't let Keli keep laughing like that.
Thor grabbed Keli and pulled her into his dorm.
This was Keli's first time in Thor's dorm. She immediately fixed her eyes on his desk.
As expected, even a top student was more interested in studying.
Thor had just closed the door when he remembered that the Senior with almost no presence was still behind him.
He looked up, intending to open the door and invite the Senior inside, only to find that the Senior who only ever said "Mm" was already standing behind Keli.
Keli was curiously examining Thor's desk, barely restraining herself from rummaging through it.
But the Senior had come up behind her and suddenly bent down. His mouth stretched out like a retractable hose, extending several inches until it touched the top of Keli's head.
Keli seemed completely unaware, still focused on Thor's desk.
"Senior, don't!"
Hearing Thor cry out, Keli turned around at once. Only then did she see that an older man had appeared behind her without her noticing.
His wormlike mouth seemed to be pressed against her head.
Keli was usually a proud, composed little girl, but when she saw someone's mouth "kissing" the top of her head, she froze in terror.
When she tried to move, she realized she couldn't move at all.
"Thor... Thor..." The twelve-year-old girl trembled as she called for help.
Thor was just about to step forward when the Senior shook his head at him.
"Mm~"
He even made a drawn-out sound of refusal, rising and falling in pitch.
"Glug."
It seemed like something was being sucked out of Keli's head. A distinct bulge traveled from the top of her head along the hose-like mouth and into the Senior's mouth.
Only then did the Senior pull back his strange, elongated mouth. He wiped it with the back of his hand and nodded at Thor.
"Mm!"
Thor's first thought was that the Senior was telling him everything was all right.
After the Senior pulled his mouth back, Keli stood frozen in place, her face growing darker and more ashen by the second.
"I got ambushed." She raised a hand and felt the top of her head. There were two tiny wounds that only stung a little when touched.
Coming back to herself, Keli bowed respectfully to the Senior who had saved her.
"Thank you so much."
But the Senior ignored her and nodded toward Thor.
"Mm, mm."
Thor respectfully handed the diagram in his hand to the Senior.
The Senior had already seen the diagram. Even if Thor refused to hand it over, it wouldn't be hard for him to take it.
Besides, he had stepped in to help Keli.
And Keli had helped Thor before.
"Senior, are you going to help the others outside?" Thor asked cautiously.
The Senior shook his head indifferently as he studied the diagram Thor had given him.
Thor actually felt relieved by the answer.
He wasn't particularly kindhearted. He'd simply been afraid the Senior might be a do-gooder.
Now it seemed the Senior had saved Keli mainly in exchange for something.
If Thor hadn't shown that he cared about Keli, the Senior might not have stepped in at all.
That was fine by Thor. He liked trading favors and didn't like owing anyone.
"If you're interested, Senior, I can explain how this thing works."
Since he'd already handed over the diagram, Thor didn't mind explaining a little more. He believed a Level 2 Apprentice would figure out the diagram's basic principles sooner or later.
Since the Senior liked trading favors too, Thor didn't mind playing one of the few cards he had.
That way, his trump cards wouldn't lose their value so quickly.
The silent Senior didn't refuse. Thor led him and Keli to the long table and briefly explained the concept of coordinate axes and how they were used.
After his brief explanation, the room fell silent for a moment.
The Senior suddenly opened his mouth wide.
His mouth stretched like rubber; he could fit an entire arm inside with room to spare.
Then he really did reach inside and rummage around, pulling out a small booklet.
A few untidy words were written on it.
Byron's Study Notes.
"Senior, your name is Byron?"
Senior Byron nodded. He hesitated, then pulled a sharp dagger out of his mouth and casually cut a five-centimeter gash in his neck.
Dark red blood gushed out.
Neither Thor nor Keli had expected that.
What was going on?
Was he putting on a show of slitting his own throat?
But from beneath the wound, a set of yellow teeth and a thick tongue struggled to emerge.
"The parasites of the Mutual Aid Society won't take your life." A hoarse voice rang out, as if he hadn't spoken in a very long time. "But they're no good, either. Don't go near them. Don't get involved."
As Byron spoke, his wound began to heal. By the time he finished the last word, it had vanished, leaving only a trail of blood running from his neck down to his chest.
Before you continue