On top of a building in the autonomous district of Zilnius Academy, Sorciera and Clam were together.

The rooftop was locked and not open at night. In the quiet space where only the two of them existed, the sound of Clam opening a canned juice echoed.

“My treat, here you go.”

Sorciera, who caught the thrown can, thanked her briefly and opened it.

After a brief silence, Clam was the first to speak.

“So, why were you in such a place?”

“Because it was necessary.”

“Necessary, huh?”

While watching the Murder Frog hopping at her feet, Sorciera spoke.

“I just thought that by chasing the Mystic Eye, I could reach Nameless. Honestly, I have no interest in that plan involving the Mystic Eye.”

“Nameless… That’s the one you were talking about with the doctor, right?”

“Were you eavesdropping?”

“Recently, microphones and cameras have been implemented.”

Clam laughed as she placed one of the Murder Frogs on her palm.

“I don’t know anything about Nameless. I’ve been investigating the dark side of Kisou Academy, but I’ve never encountered it or even heard its name.”

Clam wasn’t part of the dark side. But she thought she knew a fair amount about it.

Even she didn’t know who Nameless was. Sorciera answered the question with a sigh.

“A false star that uses the same magic as me. An existence that shouldn’t be.”

Sorciera looked down at the canned juice and added, “I don’t know anything else.”

Hearing this, Clam tilted her head.

“Oh? You seemed to know about Nameless in front of the doctor.”

“I was just testing the waters. In truth, I know nothing about Nameless.”

“…Was it okay to tell me that?”

For someone who always maintains an advantageous position, revealing ignorance is akin to exposing a weakness. This was unexpected for Clam.

“Is there a problem? I don’t mind telling you.”

Clam stared at Sorciera, who spoke so casually, and her cheeks relaxed slightly.

(I see, it’s okay to tell me…)

Feeling somewhat acknowledged, Clam couldn’t help but smile despite the situation. Seeing this, Sorciera frowned as if she had seen something unpleasant.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, really… But so, you were chasing Nameless? Then, our meeting was a coincidence.”

Clam tossed the empty can. The Murder Frogs skillfully caught it and carried it to the trash bin.

“I was planning to just observe this time.”

Sorciera remained silent. Seeing this, Clam continued.

“That girl you helped… Hikari is currently hospitalized at this academy. Fortunately, her battered body caught the attention of the best healer. I thought she was safe—until three days ago when she was attacked.”

Her voice was filled with frustration.

“You know about the ghost rumors, right? Ghosts increase their numbers. Ghosts devour students.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Then, you also know that it’s pointing to the Mystic Eye?”

With a look that seemed to say it was a foolish question, Sorciera nodded.

“…Of course. Anyone who thinks a little would understand.”

“As expected. Well, I thought so since you were with that thing.”

Clam continued, sounding impressed.

“That thing devours people. I don’t know how it chooses its victims, but Hikari was attacked once.”

“……It must have been attracted to my magic within Hikari. That thing craves magic too.”

“I thought so. The student council has tightened security, so Hikari hasn’t been attacked since. But I can’t just forget and feel at ease.”

While swinging her legs, Clam looked up at the starry sky.

“That’s why I decided to monitor with the Murder Frogs. Yesterday, it wasn’t in the academy, but it came back. I was trying to find the Mystic Eye’s weakness by sending the Murder Frogs around.”

“And you found me.”

Clam nodded with a proud face.

“Yes. It may sound self-serving, but it was perfect timing. Although you seemed to notice midway.”

“…True. But it’s also true that I was saved thanks to you. Thank you.”

Sorciera smiled as she said this. Her straightforward gratitude was unexpected and oddly embarrassing. Clam tried to hide her feelings by petting the Murder Frog.

She was genuinely happy to have been of help. She never thought the chance to repay the favor would come like this.

(If I can help Sorciera…)

Thinking this, the words naturally came out.

“…If it’s okay, I can join you.”

“—No.”

Her words were cut off.

Before she knew it, Sorciera had stood up and was looking down at Clam. Her slender white finger was pressed against Clam’s lips.

“You moved to help Hikari, didn’t you? Both then and now. Then, you mustn’t get your priorities wrong.”

She smiled gently, bathed in the moonlight. Her beauty was so overwhelming that the words Clam was about to say vanished.

“I was saved this time. But I’ll be fine now.”

Sorciera leaned closer, peering into Clam’s eyes.

“I’m not foolish enough to lose twice.”

Her eyes, with geometric patterns and magical formulas etched within, were filled with determination. Clam intuitively understood.

That was the Mystic Eye.

“Don’t get too involved in this matter. …Though it’s ironic coming from me, who was saved.”

Sorciera pulled back and turned away. A teleportation magic circle had already formed at her feet.

“Ah, wait—”

Before she could finish, Sorciera disappeared. Only silence remained, as if no one had been there from the start.

(What was I planning to do by stopping her?)

Clam smiled wryly as she looked at her outstretched hand. This time, she had saved Sorciera by chance.

Sorciera wasn’t weak enough to need someone’s help. That an absolute existence like her was saved by a B-rank explorer was likely the result of various coincidences.

Thinking this far, Clam remembered.

“…Ah. I forgot to mention that.”

She had been waiting for the right moment to say it, but it flew away while she was looking at Sorciera.

“Haha, I wonder if she’ll be surprised.”

If she could see Sorciera’s surprised face, that would be good too, Clam thought. Then, she took out two student IDs and held them up to the starry sky.

(I should return my hair to its original color.)

She pinched the ends of her dyed blonde hair, thinking this.

(Three blondes would be confusing visually, after all.)

Her thoughts were thoroughly immersed in the streaming industry.