The noise within the cafeteria completely shut off.

"Transmigration games...?" Some whispers echoed throughout the room.

Cassien looked up toward the man currently standing on top of one of the cafeteria’s scratched wooden tables, then casually decided to include himself in the confusion.

"Transmigration games?" he repeated aloud while glancing around. "What exactly is that?"

Naturally, Cassien chose the idiotic route. Acting dumb here was probably the safest possible option while everyone else spiraled into confusion around him.

The man standing on the table continued shouting.

"Don’t look at me like that!" He rotated dramatically, pointing in multiple directions. "You know exactly what I’m talking about!"

For some reason, he singled out one particular student.

That student simply responded by flipping him off.

"Whoever’s playing this game, why don’t we just go after the creator instead?!" he shouted desperately. "Help me! Come find me, and we’ll kill the author together!"

Most people ignored him entirely and resumed what they were originally doing.

"That’s what happens when you’re a baron’s son," a group of girls nearby laughed.

"I would never want to be like him. He honestly gives me the creeps."

While all of this unfolded, Cassien slowly shifted his attention toward Amelia.

Her gaze was locked directly onto him.

Intense. Suspiciously intense.

"Team up?" she whispered.

Unfortunately for her, she seemed to have forgotten that both Ren and Cassien were seated directly beside her.

Ren paused mid-bite.

"What was that?"

A single bead of sweat rolled down Amelia’s forehead as she awkwardly scratched the back of her head.

"O-oh, it was nothing." She forced a smile. "People are just really crazy nowadays."

Cassien smiled.

Then suddenly stood up.

Amelia immediately tensed.

"W-what are you doing?" she stuttered as Cassien casually approached her.

Without warning, he gently placed a hand beneath her chin and tilted her face upward.

His face slowly leaned closer.

Closer.

And closer.

Amelia’s eyes widened slightly before eventually shutting on instinct, her hands awkwardly crossing over her chest.

Completely prepared for what she thought was about to happen.

Instead, Cassien smoothly dodged past her lips and leaned toward her ear.

"Your expression is telling me that you know something about these supposed [Transmigration Games]."

He whispered so casually that Amelia instantly opened her eyes again.

"I’ll invite you over later today. You can explain it to me there."

Amelia visibly stiffened.

For obvious reasons, she couldn’t exactly refuse.

Not without risk.

If she denied him here, there was always the possibility he’d expose her on the spot. And judging by everything that had just happened, she clearly wasn’t interested in becoming today’s main attraction.

So instead, she forced herself to nod.

"Sure thing."

Cassien smiled and calmly returned to his seat.

Meanwhile, the man on top of the cafeteria table continued his public breakdown for another few minutes before eventually giving up.

Though not everyone ignored him. Some students slowly began approaching, seemingly interested in his proposal.

Until

Bang!

A bright flash shot through the cafeteria like a shooting star.

Before anyone could process what had happened, the man’s body collapsed flat against the table.

Blood immediately began pouring from the top of his skull.

Silence followed.

Pure silence.

No one even saw where the shot came from.

"I-is he dead?!" someone screamed.

Then chaos erupted.

"Run!"

"Everyone run for your lives!"

Students scrambled from their seats as panic spread through the cafeteria like wildfire. Knights rushed in almost immediately, followed by medics who quickly surrounded the corpse.

Cassien, Amelia, and Ren joined the mass exodus as well.

The cafeteria doors burst open, and students flooded outside.

Across the academy grounds, magical circles began glowing from the floor.

A voice echoed throughout the area.

"If you hear this, this is an emergency alert! All students are to immediately return to their dormitories!"

Ren adjusted his glasses nervously while glancing between the two.

"I-I have to go now. Bye!"

And just like that, he sprinted off.

Amelia hesitated awkwardly.

"So..." she muttered. "I should probably go too."

Cassien looked at her.

"Sure. I wouldn’t mind that."

Amelia blinked.

"Really?"

Cassien smiled.

"Well, unless you’d prefer having your little secret exposed instead. Doesn’t really matter to me though."

Amelia gritted her teeth.

"Fine." She sighed. "I’ll come."

Cassien nodded approvingly.

"What a kind girl you are. Just follow me for now."

...

As Cassien led the way toward his dormitory, something immediately felt off.

Amelia was walking far too slowly behind him. Too carefully. Too deliberately.

Until suddenly—

Clash!

Cassien blocked the incoming knife strike with ease, his own blade already infused with mana. The force of the impact alone sent Amelia’s knife flying from her hand before it clattered harmlessly onto the floor.

Amelia stared downward in silence.

Then sighed.

"I’m done."

Cassien barely reacted.

He simply continued walking forward while casually inspecting his own weapon for scratches.

"I’m glad."

...

The walk back to his dorm felt painfully awkward.

But none of that mattered once they were finally inside.

The door clicked shut behind them.

Cassien gestured toward the bed.

"Sit."

Amelia obeyed reluctantly.

After a moment, she glanced around the room.

"You don’t have a roommate?"

Cassien shook his head.

"No."

And moved on immediately.

’Maybe my roommate died.’

Cassien shrugged internally.

’Doesn’t matter much to me. More space for myself.’

After a few moments of silence, his expression sharpened slightly.

He finally got serious.

"What exactly are these... [Transmigration Games]?"

...

Amelia explained details that Cassien largely already knew.

Nothing especially groundbreaking, unfortunately. Still, at least she wasn’t lying.

Apparently, Amelia herself was a transmigrator. A female commoner from Korea.

Not exactly a country Alex was especially familiar with.

"Hmm. Interesting." Cassien tapped lightly against his chin. "Seems this academy is hiding far more than I initially thought."

Amelia nodded tiredly.

The conversation finally came to an end.

A quiet silence filled the room afterward.

Then Amelia suddenly shifted on the bed.

Cassien looked over.

She was slowly unbuttoning the top of her uniform.

He blinked.

Confused.

Then Amelia spoke as if this were the most logical conclusion possible.

"Go ahead."

She looked away awkwardly.

"You can have your way with me now."