Ellen's Report Card

Koleda: "Um, Proxy, thank you! I didn't expect you to find two intelligent machines so quickly, but we'll need some time to locate the third one."

Belle: "No problem, Koleda. Just message us anytime!"

Koleda: "Alright, I won't waste time on pleasantries. I'll have Anton take Eous and Griseo back later."

Belle: "Okay, I'll hang up first, then."

As the call ended, Koleda put away her phone at the Belobog Heavy Industries construction site, turned to look into the distance—and froze on the spot.

Anton and the grabber machine were waiting hand and foot on Griseo and Eous.

Anton was responsible for serving tea, pouring water, and fanning them. Eous sat comfortably in a chair, holding a teacup in its two little hands, its eyes narrowed into slits as it made contented "Mm-nah, mm-nah" noises.

The grabber machine was performing a Thomas flare for Griseo, its display scrolling the words: "What performance would the boss lady like to see?"

Koleda remained silent. Though she was curious about what had happened, she did not ask.

As the president, rather than concern herself with such trivial matters, she might as well clear out more Hollows.

At the same time... New Eridu—Victoria Manor.

In the manor's elegant and spacious living room, the Wolf Thiren Lycaon sat quietly on the sofa, reviewing several intelligence reports in his hands.

Behind Lycaon, Rina, the head maid, gave a slight bow and said gently, "Mr. Lycaon, I have one piece of good news and one piece of bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

"Then the good news." Lycaon set down the intelligence reports and looked at his colleague with gentlemanly composure.

"According to our investigation, some of the people connected to the Dead End Butcher subjugation incident have been identified."

Rina handed a document to Lycaon.

"Phaethon, Sinner's Child, the fall of the Old Capital..."

Lycaon accepted the document, and his expression changed the moment he read it. He immediately understood what Rina meant.

The people and events involved were no longer something he could decide on himself. His expression turning grave, he asked, "What did the mayor say?"

"The mayor's instructions are that we may make temporary contact, but any further action... must await his decision."

Rina spoke as calmly as ever while handing Lycaon a cup of coffee, never forgetting a maid's etiquette.

"I see. Fine, then let's not tell Corin and Ellen for now."

Lycaon nodded, then asked, "What about the bad news?"

"Mr. Lycaon, Ellen scored thirty-eight points on her last exam, and eighteen this time. So for this parent-teacher conference, as the master of Victoria Housekeeping, surely you won't refuse?"

As Rina spoke, she suddenly reached out and grabbed Lycaon, as though afraid he would run away.

"Rina, you know I'm very busy. How about you go in my place..."

Upon hearing that, Lycaon no longer carried his usual elegant, leisurely air.

As the mayor's sharpest blade, there were few things that could make him afraid... but unfortunately, one of them was something known as a "teacher."

They were creatures with gentle faces, yet the moment they started ranting, their features instantly twisted, veins bulged across their foreheads, and profanity poured from their mouths...

Most importantly, you could not fight back.

"Mr. Lycaon, have you forgotten? The last time I attended Ellen's parent-teacher conference, her teacher thought she had encountered a ghost and fainted on the spot."

At that moment, the head maid Rina wore a rare expression of embarrassment. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Afterward, the school invited masters from Yunkui Mountain to perform rituals for three days."

"..."

Faced with Rina's reason, Lycaon did not know whether he should complain or agree to her request.

"Oh, right. Where's Ellen?"

Lycaon suddenly asked. Could it be that Ellen was afraid he would be angry and did not dare come home?

Rina said, "That child knew she had done badly and was afraid you would be angry. She sent a message saying she was receiving tutoring from a teacher with her classmates, hoping to pass the makeup exam."

(In Ellen's story PV, it can be seen that her school is probably like a high school in a Japanese anime, so I used a Japanese anime-style exam system—students who fail can take a makeup exam, and the test paper is the same.)

"I see. Ellen's poor grades are partly because she has too many assignments. We should take this chance to give the child a few days off as well."

As he spoke, Lycaon comforted himself.

Since the mayor was in no hurry, the parent-teacher conference was now the most pressing matter. He needed to prepare himself mentally before going to the school.

Sixth Street, outside the video store.

Ellen had both hands in her pockets and the lollipop she never seemed to finish in her mouth as she narrowed her eyes at her companions.

"Mona, Ruby, Rin—"

She tilted her head, suspicion in her voice. "This is the address of the tutor you mentioned?"

Wasn't this place a video store?

They were old acquaintances. The owners were that brother and sister pair; they had even met them at the previous KTV gathering.

"Yes!"

Ruby, the blonde girl in pink, nodded hurriedly.

"Manager Wise agreed to help tutor us, and he even said he wouldn't charge anything. He said it would count as compensation for the last KTV outing."

"..."

Ellen stared at her expressionlessly, rolling the lollipop around in her mouth.

Her gaze said it all—if I believe even one word you say, I lose.

As Ellen's close friend, Ruby immediately understood what that look meant, and her eyes began to wander.

"No, Ellen... Actually, we wanted to take the chance to visit the art studio of the princess of The Stars."

The Bull Thiren Mona beside them could not withstand Ellen's gaze and was the first to let it slip.

Ellen glanced at her, then shifted her gaze back to the store entrance, her tone casual. "Then you can go visit. I'm going home."

Ellen pulled her hood over her head and made as if to turn away.

"Rin—! Say something, quick! You're the smartest one!" Ruby panicked and repeatedly jabbed the "brainiac" beside her with her elbow.

Rin sighed helplessly. She took out her report card from her backpack, unfolded it, and held it up in front of Ellen.

"Ellen, you should at least give it a try. It's free, anyway. Otherwise, at the next parent-teacher conference..."

Ellen stopped in her tracks, her gaze falling on the eighteen points beside her name on the report card.

She fell silent. The bold resolve she had shown moments earlier when she turned to leave deflated like a punctured balloon.

Her enormous shark tail swayed weakly twice. Ellen pulled her hood lower and said, "Fine. I'll give it a try."

Ruby and Mona exchanged glances and smiled victoriously. Rin silently adjusted her glasses, hiding her accomplishment and fame.

Inside the video store, a faint scent of film lingered in the air.

Wise carefully cleaned the outer shop area. He had wiped every movie poster, videotape, and disc dozens of times.

"Bro, even if you're tutoring Ellen, isn't this a bit much? Don't tell me you still care about the last KTV..."

Belle tilted her head slightly as she leaned against the doorframe of the inner room.

"Go on, go on. All you know is how to tease your brother. Aren't you supposed to be helping Griseo finish her commission?"

The moment Wise heard Belle, he became unhappy. This little sister only knew how to undermine him.

"Tch, I finished it ages ago. Did you really need to tell me?"

Belle rolled her eyes at Wise, then added, "What are you so smug about? If you've got the guts, don't use Fairy to cheat later."

"Heh, sis, you really underestimate your brother. High school knowledge is a piece of cake!"

Hearing Belle's doubts, Wise patted his chest, looking utterly confident.