Accomplices

After telling them about her past, Linnae paced around the rooftop, looking at the academy from every angle.

She watched students working hard in their classrooms, then relaxing and laughing freely after class.

"I knew from the start that the Remnant Star Society's 'Linnae' wasn't just a student."

Linnae raised her head slightly and tightened her grip on the cassette tape as she looked at the defenses beyond the academy.

"But I came to Lahai Luo anyway. I became the Remnant Star Society's informant here, and at the same time, I became the student I wanted to be."

At that moment, Mobai understood why Linnae loved this academy so much.

Compared with her old life, life here was paradise.

"At this academy, I don't have to wake up every day and look in a mirror to figure out who I am. I want to protect this life and get rid of the Remnant Star Society's people here. That's why I came to ask you to work with me."

When she finished, Linnae looked at the Rover, apparently waiting for an answer.

"Work together... That doesn't sound like something a student would say. Neither did anything you said earlier."

"..."

When Linnae didn't reply, the Rover continued.

"Even if this ends well, will you be able to face your real self in the mirror afterward?"

Like Mobai, the Rover could see that neither the Linnae they had known at the academy nor this world-weary Linnae standing before them was the real one.

Was the person you saw yourself as your true self? Was the person others saw your true self?

Perhaps only the person in the mirror, and the one in your shadow, was truly you.

"..."

Linnae closed her eyes and frowned. The Rover went on.

"I spoke up for you in front of Verlaine. That means I believe you."

The Rover had made their position clear.

"Now I need to stand by what I said."

The Rover's serious tone and expression caught Linnae off guard.

"With that tone, you could teach at this academy."

Linnae opened her eyes and pressed a hand to her forehead. There was a hint of happiness in her voice.

Perhaps it was because the Rover was still on her side and willing to trust her.

"Then I'm formally asking you to investigate the Remnant Star Society's true purpose in Lahai Luo with me, Rover."

"Let's work together."

The Rover and Linnae shook hands.

They might have been students on paper, but now that they were investigating the Remnant Star Society's purpose at the academy, they were no longer ordinary students.

Phew.

After that, they both looked at Mobai.

Clearly, they wanted to know what he thought.

"Sorry, but I'm out."

"Phew, class is finally over. Today's lessons were exhausting!"

"Yeah. It was all math and runes. We're not Roy. How were we supposed to understand any of that...?"

"Tch, those few credits aren't worth it! I'm dropping the course. Let's get something to eat!"

Only after stepping outside the teaching building did Mobai remember that he had been in this world for almost a day without eating.

Maybe it was the cursed energy sustaining him. Either way, he felt almost superhuman.

But after hearing the students talk, Mobai realized he was hungry.

So he went to the cafeteria to grab whatever he could find.

Calling it a cafeteria was generous, though. All the food on offer came in cans or packets.

Still, he didn't care how it tasted. His mind was elsewhere.

Just now, he had refused to join the Rover and Linnae's alliance against the Remnant Star Society.

Mobai had only just arrived in this world and hadn't experienced how terrifying the society could be. Fear wasn't why he had backed out.

It was because, as he listened to the Rover and Linnae talk, he realized he couldn't read either of his two friends.

One was the New Federation government's enforcer; the other was some kind of Threnodian from Black Shores.

Neither was simple.

"So mysterious."

Muttering to himself as he thought back over everything that had happened with the Rover and Linnae, Mobai tore open a packet of food.

"What the hell is this?"

One bite made him frown. Its strange taste and texture drove the gloom right out of his mind.

"It's like I ate nothing, except I somehow feel full. And that texture is disgusting. Like a lump of flavorless snot..."

Having delivered his verdict, Mobai looked around.

The students in the cafeteria ate with the blank familiarity of people used to it.

Was he the one with the problem?

With that thought, Mobai made a hand sign toward his shadow.

"Divine Dogs."

He might as well let the dog try it.

"Whine..."

The white Divine Dog pulled a face after eating the stuff too.

"Even a dog doesn't want it. The people at this academy must be incredibly adaptable..."

Still frowning, Mobai forced down the rest of the food in his hand.

"Ugh! Am I really supposed to live on this stuff until I graduate?!"

He complained after barely managing to swallow.

Thud, thud, thud!

Just then, he heard someone running hard behind him.

Was someone charging at him?

Mobai turned, ready to order the Divine Dog at his side to intercept them.

"I saw it! Your Resonance ability!"

But when Mobai turned around, the newcomer stopped at a safe distance and stared at the Divine Dog beside him, panting for breath.

"Huh?"

Mobai had no idea what to make of that.

He had seen Soundmarks on some people at the academy. Were Resonators actually rare in this world?

At least he could tell this person wasn't dangerous.

Apart from the white lab coat, he looked like an ordinary Star Torch Academy student.

"No, that came out wrong! I mean, I really need your Resonance ability!"

Realizing how odd that sounded, the student hurried to correct himself.

Talk about no sense of boundaries...

Mobai felt he was dealing with exactly the kind of overly forward person he had no idea how to handle.

A whole crowd of students in the cafeteria had turned to look. It was embarrassing.

Forget it. I'll ask what he wants, then make an excuse and send him on his way...

"Can I ask what you need my ability for? And what should I call you?"

The student's eyes lit up at Mobai's question. He straightened his lab coat and announced his name.

"Ahem! I'm Moqu, president of the drama club! What about you, underclassman?"