Chapter 2: A Daily Life Descending into Chaos

“Ugh, damn it… Why the hell am I stuck dealing with this crap…?”

Glenn had somehow managed to smooth-talk his way out of a duel with that fired-up senior, Har-something, and cleared up (or so he desperately hoped) the misunderstanding about his relationship with Re=L.

The whole fiasco had eaten up more time than expected, throwing today’s lesson plan completely off track.

With no other choice, Glenn switched gears and decided to hold an impromptu practical magic class.

It was also his way of helping Re=L get accepted by the class faster—getting everyone active together outside might help her blend in. If she could fit in smoothly, guarding Rumia would be a lot easier too.

And so, Glenn’s class found themselves at the academy’s magic training field.

Luckily, no other classes were using it at this hour.

Here, they could unleash their magic to their hearts’ content.

“《O Thunder Spirit, with your purple lightning》—!”

Sistine’s clear, commanding chant echoed across the wide-open training field.

With a bold flourish, she thrust her left hand forward, and a single bolt of purple lightning surged from her fingertips.

The lightning bolt Sistine unleashed soared about two hundred meters, streaking straight toward a humanoid bronze golem set up at the far end.

The golem had six circular targets attached to its head, chest, both legs, and both arms.

Sistine’s lightning bolt struck the head target with pinpoint precision, neatly punching a coin-sized hole through it.

“I did it!”

Sistine couldn’t help but strike a small, triumphant pose.

A chorus of awed gasps rose from the students watching her performance.

“That’s insane… As expected of Sistine…”

“She really is a cut above, being from such a prestigious family…”

Brushing off the admiring looks and murmurs behind her, Sistine returned to Rumia’s side.

“That was amazing, Sistie! You hit every single target with all six shots!”

Rumia greeted her, beaming as if it were her own victory.

For the record, Rumia’s score was three out of six. She’d hit the right arm, chest, and, by sheer luck after missing her aim, the left leg.

“Not bad, White Cat. Hitting all six at this distance is legitimately impressive.”

Glenn, clearly impressed, jotted down her results on his clipboard.

At his praise, Sistine’s face lit up for a split second before she turned away with a huff, her cheeks faintly flushed.

“Grr… Don’t think you’ve won yet, Sistine!”

Wendy glared at Sistine, biting her handkerchief in frustration.

Wendy’s score, by the way, was five out of six. She’d been nailing each target flawlessly until a sneeze threw off her final shot.

“This is unacceptable! Utterly unacceptable! Sensei, I demand a redo! If I’d performed at my true potential, there’s no way I’d lose to Sistine!”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear ya… We’re tight on time, so maybe later, you clumsy goof.”

“Kiii—!”

While casually placating a fuming Wendy, Glenn moved on to the next student.

“Alright, next up. Kash, you’re on!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

By now, the students seemed to have completely forgotten the rumors about Glenn and Re=L.

In a setting where they could freely test their magical prowess, such gossip was secondary. Everyone was engrossed in showing off their magic sniping skills.

“Let’s see… Zero out of six… You were close, though. Oi, Kash, you sure you’re focusing out there?”

“H-Huh? That’s weird…”

Kash, whose results were lackluster, slunk back dejectedly after finishing.

“Well, getting that close shows you’ve got some talent. It’ll come down to practice from here.”

Glenn offered a bit of encouragement while noting Kash’s results on his clipboard.

“Ugh… I’ll work harder…”

The sight of the burly, tough-as-nails boy—who’d shone in the duel battles at the recent Magic Tournament—looking so crestfallen was oddly endearing, drawing soft chuckles from the class.

“Guess delicate magical exercises like this are a bit much for your rough personality, huh?”

“Tch, shut up! You picking a fight, huh!?”

Gibul’s smirking taunt, delivered while adjusting his glasses, provoked an irritated shout from Kash.

“K-Kash, calm down! And Gibul, don’t say it like that…”

Caught in the middle, the delicate, feminine-looking Cecil floundered nervously.

Gibul, the lone wolf, and Kash, the social butterfly, were polar opposites. Their bickering, which often felt like a full-blown argument, was a daily occurrence in the class.

Still, Kash didn’t seem to genuinely despise Gibul. Whether their relationship was good or bad was anyone’s guess.

“…Tch, if you’re so high and mighty, let’s see what you’ve got, Gibul. Bet you’re feeling pretty confident, huh?”

“Hmph. Just shut up and watch.”

“Oi, next up, Gibul. Your turn, go.”

Right on cue, Glenn called Gibul, who sauntered confidently to the sniping position.

…

And then…

“Damn, Gibul got six out of six… That guy’s skill is annoyingly top-notch as always.”

“Second only to Sistine’s score… His reputation’s no fluke.”

Kash grumbled in frustration, while Cecil nodded in admiration.

As if that’s even a question.

With an expression that screamed self-assurance, Gibul finished his round.

“Hmm…”

Glenn recorded Gibul’s results on his clipboard, quickly reviewing the other students’ scores.

Sistine and Gibul were, as expected, in a league of their own.

Wendy, despite missing one shot, was also exceptional. Her tendency to fumble at critical moments, like today, held her back, but on a normal day, she’d likely match the top two.

In terms of overall performance, these three consistently stood out in Glenn’s class.

The rest were more or less on par with each other, averaging around three out of six. Rumia fell into this range. She excelled at white magic—particularly healing spells—but was otherwise competent but unremarkable.

Surprisingly, Cecil scored five out of six. While he typically excelled academically and struggled with practical magic, he’d been rapidly improving in magic sniping since the Magic Tournament. His intense focus, honed through reading, was likely paying off.

The issue was Lynn, who scored one out of six. Closing her eyes at the moment of casting was a surefire way to miss. Kash, though rough around the edges, showed flashes of raw talent, so Glenn wasn’t too worried about him. Lynn, however, might need some one-on-one coaching.

“Alright, then…”

After finishing the records and mentally outlining his next teaching steps, Glenn turned to the next student in line.

The rest of the class followed his gaze, their eyes locking onto the student.

The moment everyone had been waiting for—the highlight of this practical session—had arrived.

In the distance, the student tasked with swapping the targets signaled with a raised hand, indicating they’d finished replacing the golem’s targets.

Catching the signal, Glenn addressed the final student.

“Alright, Re=L. Your turn. Go for it.”

“…Mm.”

“Got it? You can’t aim for the same target twice. Each target gets one shot, that’s the rule for now. Understood?”

“Mm, got it. I just need to destroy those targets with an offensive spell, right?”

“Yup, exactly.”

“Leave it to me.”

At Glenn’s prompting, Re=L took her position.

“Well, let’s see what she’s got.”

“How many will Re=L-chan hit, I wonder…?”

“Y’know, she might be crazy good. She’s always so cool and focused…”

“Didn’t she say she’s aiming to join the Imperial Army or something?”

The entire class watched Re=L’s every move with rapt attention.

And why wouldn’t they? A new classmate’s skills were bound to spark curiosity.

Under the collective gaze of the class, Re=L fixed her sleepy eyes on the golem two hundred meters away—

“《O Thunder Spirit・with the shock of purple lightning・strike it down》”

She muttered the chant in a monotone, standing stiffly and pointing forward with a mechanical motion—

The purple lightning streaked across the two-hundred-meter distance.

But it veered far to the right, missing not just the target but the entire golem.

“““…”“”

An awkward silence blanketed the class.

(Okay… I mean, sure, I never saw Re=L properly use black magic offensive spells back in the army, but to be this bad…?)

Stunned by the unexpected outcome, Glenn could only wipe the cold sweat from his brow.

One shot was enough to tell: Re=L’s magic sniping skills were, without a doubt, the absolute worst in the class.

“《O Thunder Spirit・with the shock of purple lightning・strike it down》”

Undeterred by the strange atmosphere, Re=L calmly chanted again.

This time, her lightning bolt veered sharply to the left, missing the golem entirely.

It didn’t even come close to grazing the target.

Instantly, the class’s scrutinizing stares softened into the gentle looks one might give a struggling child.

“Re=L-chan, relax, relax!”

“You’re too stiff, dear. Try extending your arm more gracefully…”

“You’ve got this! You’ve still got four shots left!”

“Haha, looks like you’ve got some competition, Kash!”

“…What, you hate me that much, Gibul?”

Re=L’s attempts continued.

But the results were consistently dismal.

Her [Shock Bolt] spells either flew into the sky or buried themselves in the ground. Even with the class’s advice, they didn’t come close to the golem.

Finally, she was down to her sixth and final shot.

“…Oi, Re=L. How the hell have you survived this long being this bad…?”

Glenn muttered in exasperation when—

“Hm?”

He noticed something.

It was subtle, but Re=L seemed to tilt her head slightly, as if dissatisfied.

“What’s up, Re=L?”

“Mm, just…”

She spun around to face Glenn and mumbled quietly.

“Hey, Glenn. Does it have to be [Shock Bolt]?”

“Not strictly, but… at this distance, other offensive spells won’t even reach properly.”

Glenn eyed her suspiciously as he answered her odd question.

“It’s not that [Shock Bolt] is mandatory, but it’s pretty much the only student-level spell that can effectively hit at this range.”

“So, any spell is fine?”

“Well, technically, yeah…”

“Got it. Then I’ll use my specialty.”

“…Huh? Oi, just so we’re clear, military-grade magic is off-limits, got it?”

“It’s fine. No problem.”

Re=L turned back to face the golem two hundred meters away.

“You’ve got this! One last shot!”

“Don’t give up till the end!”

Amid the class’s lukewarm cheers, Re=L began her chant.

“《I beseech all creation・grant to my hands・the sword of the cross》”

A crackle of purple lightning sparked as Re=L crouched and touched the ground.

In the next instant—

“““What the hell—!?”“”

A massive cross-shaped greatsword—a Cross Claymore—materialized in Re=L’s hands, and a cross-shaped indentation formed in the ground beneath her.

Through rapid alchemical transmutation, she’d instantly forged a steel greatsword from the training field’s soil.

“O-Oi… Re=L, what the hell are you…?”

Glenn’s words, spoken through twitching cheeks, fell on deaf ears—

Re=L hoisted the greatsword high above her head—

“Hiyaaaaah—!”

With a spirited yell, she kicked off the ground—

And, using every ounce of her body’s strength, hurled the greatsword, which was taller than she was.

The sword tore through the air with a whoosh, spinning vertically like a storm, closing the two-hundred-meter distance in a flash—

CRASH! With a deafening sound of destruction, the greatsword pierced the golem’s torso—

And in the next moment, the golem shattered into pieces, scattering in all directions.

Naturally, all six targets attached to the golem were obliterated without a trace.

“““…”“”

As the class stood frozen, eyes wide and mouths agape…

“…Mm. Six out of six.”

Re=L, her sleepy expression unchanged but with a hint of pride, muttered softly.

“…Uh, Re=L… I told you to use an offensive spell…”

“Mm, offensive spell. That was a sword I made with alchemy, wasn’t it?”

“That’s… That’s not how it works. That interpretation is absolutely wrong…”

Glenn could only look skyward, utterly dumbfounded.

As expected, the class was now staring at Re=L with fear in their eyes.

His whole plan to help her bond with the class had gone completely off the rails.

And so…

The introduction of Re=L to Glenn’s Class 2 had come to an end.

Re=L had made quite the explosive debut.

In the end, her first impression on the class was solidified as “weird,” “scary,” and “dangerous.” For a new transfer student, this was a catastrophic failure.

To begin with, Re=L’s emotional expression was painfully subdued, making it hard to read her feelings. Her perpetually half-closed, sleepy eyes could easily be mistaken for anger or displeasure, making her intimidating to approach. Naturally, she never initiated conversations herself.

On top of that, after witnessing such a hair-raising display of destruction, the students were, frankly, too scared to talk to her.

…And so.

“““…”“”

Lunch break.

Re=L sat alone at her desk, isolated as expected.

She didn’t do anything, didn’t move, just stared blankly into space.

“Oi… someone go talk to Re=L-chan already…”

“B-But… isn’t she kinda scary?”

“And… that power of hers… Is she even human…?”

It wasn’t that the class was deliberately ignoring her.

It was just that Re=L’s doll-like aura and the glimpse of her overwhelming ability made her unapproachable. No one could find the right opening to start a conversation.

“…Tch, idiot.”

Seeing Re=L so thoroughly ostracized, Glenn let out a deep sigh.

It couldn’t be helped. Re=L’s upbringing was… unconventional, to say the least. She’d lived her entire life in an abnormal environment. It was obvious her social skills were less developed than a child’s. She didn’t even grasp that pulling a stunt like that would make her stand out in the worst way.

Still, seeing her all alone in such a lively class, with no one to connect with, tugged at the heartstrings. It was just plain pitiful.

Re=L herself probably didn’t care about the situation, but leaving her like this felt wrong.

“…Guess I’ve got no choice.”

As her former comrade-in-arms, it was up to him to step in and help.

His reputation at the academy was already in the gutter. One or two more weird rumors wouldn’t make a difference.

Glenn started walking toward Re=L, intending to invite her to lunch and get her out of there… when—

“Oh?”

Someone beat him to it, standing by Re=L’s side.

“Good afternoon, Re=L.”

It was Rumia, with Sistine standing behind her.

“…?”

Sensing Rumia’s presence, Re=L glanced at her briefly.

Her gaze, with only her eyes moving while her body remained still, could feel like a glare to some, unsettling them.

But Rumia brushed off Re=L’s stare with ease, smiling brightly as she spoke.

“It’s lunch break right now… So, Re=L, what’re you doing for lunch?”

“…Lunch?”

At the question, Re=L shifted her gaze away from Rumia, falling silent for a moment.

Then, moving only her eyes to glance back at Rumia, she said,

“I don’t need it. I can go three days without eating.”

“Huh? N-No way, that’s… That’s not good for your body, you know?”

To Re=L’s blunt words, Rumia responded with a wry smile.

“You’ve got to eat properly. Look, it’ll affect your work too, right?”

“…That makes sense.”

Then, Re=L suddenly stopped tracking Rumia with just her eyes, tilting her head ever so slightly to look at her more directly than before.

“But I don’t know what to eat. For this mission, they didn’t provide any food. I ate all the rations I had on the way here.”

…She’s got it rough, Glenn thought, dumbfounded, as he observed from a distance.

The rations Re=L mentioned were, without a doubt, military field provisions—blocks of food made from grains like beans, barley, or potatoes, kneaded and baked into a solid form.

But who in their right mind would let someone tasked with blending into daily life and guarding someone munch on military field rations? What was she planning to do without meals, anyway?

Come to think of it, back when he was a mage, the image of Re=L eating was always her gnawing on those god-awful field rations. Could it be… she’d never eaten anything else?

“Oh, if that’s the case… We’re heading to the cafeteria now. Want to come with us, Re=L?”

“…Cafeteria? …What’s that?”

“Hmm, a place where you eat food… I guess? So, how about it?”

“…”

Re=L fell silent.

Upon closer inspection, her blinking seemed to increase slightly. She appeared to be confused. She’d probably never eaten with girls her own age before.

“Hey, Re=L, I’m not saying you have to come, okay?”

Unable to bear the silence, Sistine interjected from the side.

“But we might be working together for a while, so it wouldn’t hurt to get to know each other, right? Plus, eating with others is more fun.”

“…Fun? …I don’t really get it, but…”

Repeating a fragment of Sistine’s words, Re=L glanced briefly at Glenn.

Glenn gave a small nod, jutting his chin as if to say, Go on.

Seeing this, Re=L nodded slightly and stood up.

“Okay. I’ll go.”

“Hehe, great! Let’s get going, then!”

And so, Rumia and Sistine began walking, leading Re=L along.

A murmur of voices rippled through the room.

The students lingering in the classroom watched Rumia’s group from afar, whispering among themselves.

“Wow, Rumia’s got some guts…”

“Is she gonna be okay… inviting her?”

Ignoring the hushed comments from their classmates, Rumia and Sistine, with Re=L in tow, headed toward the door leading out of the classroom.

As they passed by Glenn, he muttered under his breath.

“…Take care of Re=L, alright?”

“Yes!” Rumia replied with a bright smile.

“…Good grief.”

Watching the three head toward the cafeteria, Glenn scratched his head and let out a sigh.

This was going to be a headache. For a bodyguard, the first thing you do is find an excuse to approach your target, not wait for the target to come to you—that’s third-rate at best. Once again, this personnel choice seemed nothing short of insane.

But…

“…When you think about it, this might actually be a good opportunity.”

He mulled over the thought with a hint of bitterness.

Re=L hadn’t exactly had a normal upbringing. Even now, at such a young age, she was a mage in the Imperial Court Mage Corps. Of course, there were complicated circumstances that forced her into the Corps, but it was undeniable that this had stunted her personal growth. So far, Re=L hadn’t shown any catastrophic breakdowns, but there was no denying that, as a person, something about her was… broken.

Still.

If, through this mission, she could interact with lots of people, wouldn’t that give her something valuable? Couldn’t it be a chance for her to grow, both emotionally and as a person?

Spending time with Rumia and Sistine might just… spark that kind of hope.

Indeed, when you looked at it that way, this mission might be exactly what Re=L needed—maybe she was the perfect fit for it. Of course, the person who actually decided to send Re=L was still certifiably nuts. Honestly, Glenn wanted to punch them in the gut a hundred times.

“Come to think of it, the ‘Field Study Expedition’ is coming up soon…”

For Re=L, going somewhere fun with people her own age would be a first. If this trip could yield something meaningful for her… Glenn couldn’t help but hold onto that faint hope.

“Alright, guess I’ll grab some food too.”

After seeing the three off, Glenn left the classroom and headed toward the cafeteria.

He could’ve grabbed a snack at the school store, but today, for some reason, he was in the mood for the cafeteria.

(…It’s not like I’m worried about them or anything, okay?)

Mumbling a vague excuse to no one in particular in his head, Glenn hurried toward the cafeteria, sneaking along as if trying not to be noticed.

“This is the cafeteria of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy!”

Guided by Rumia and Sistine, Re=L arrived at the academy’s cafeteria.

“What do you think? It’s huge, right? Surprised?”

Rumia introduced the place with a cheerful smile, while Re=L blinked in response.

Inside the vast cafeteria, long tables draped with white tablecloths were lined up as usual. Adorned with candelabras, they gave off a subtle air of elegance.

A crowd of students carried dishes they’d ordered from the kitchen counter at the back, taking seats wherever they pleased, chatting and eating together.

As always, the academy’s cafeteria was bustling with the lively energy unique to lunchtime.

“There’s so many people… and it smells… nice…”

“The food here is cheap and delicious, so it’s pretty popular among the students.”

Sistine, brushing back her silver hair, added her own commentary.

“Some students from upper-class families—like wealthy merchants or nobles—don’t use the cafeteria and eat at fancy restaurants outside the academy. On the other hand, some struggling students from lower-class backgrounds bring their own lunches and don’t come here much either. But most of the academy’s students eat here.”

Incidentally, Sistine, coming from a prestigious magical family, was upper-class herself and had more than enough money to dine at high-end restaurants outside. However, having grown up on her mother’s home-cooked meals, she preferred simple, homey flavors—a rare trait for someone of her background—so she often ate at the cafeteria.

That aside, Sistine’s explanation went mostly unheard by Re=L.

To Re=L, meals were something taken mechanically on a grim battlefield, purely for energy replenishment—a maintenance task for the body.

She’d never seen anything like this: a lively scene where people gathered, surrounded by appetizing aromas, eating together in such a cheerful atmosphere.

As Re=L stood overwhelmed, lost in this unfamiliar sight, Rumia spoke up.

“Come on, let’s go, Re=L. Let’s order some lunch!”

Taking Re=L’s hand, Rumia wove through the crowd toward the counter at the back.

Beyond the counter, the kitchen was a whirlwind of activity, with countless chefs cooking as if they were at war.

“Mmm, everything looks so delicious today… What should I get?”

Rumia scanned the menu board propped up near the counter, listing today’s offerings, her voice brimming with excitement.

“I’ll have my usual.”

Sistine, without even glancing at the board, spoke curtly.

“Two scones again? Sistie, that’s all you’ve been eating lately… You need to eat properly, or it’s bad for your health!”

“Ugh, shut up! I’m fine with this!”

“Sistie’s not even close to fat… If anything, she’s on the slim side…”

“N-No, that’s not it! It’s not about gaining weight or not! I just… I don’t want to get sleepy during afternoon classes, that’s all!”

Sistine rattled off excuses to a wryly smiling Rumia.

“By the way, Re=L, what do you want to eat?”

She turned the question to Re=L.

But no response came.

“…”

Looking over, Re=L was staring intently at a female student eating at a nearby table.

More precisely, she was fixated on what the girl was eating.

The student held a strawberry tart, chatting happily with a friend beside her as she ate it with obvious delight.

“…”

The tart’s vibrant, colorful appearance had likely caught Re=L’s eye.

Though her face remained as sleepy as ever, her eyes seemed to sparkle with curiosity, just for that moment.

“Re=L… Want to try that?”

Picking up on her interest, Rumia asked gently.

Re=L’s eyes flicked toward Rumia, moving only her pupils.

“That… Can I eat it too?”

“Yup, you can order it! Want to give it a try?”

At Rumia’s words, Re=L fell silent for a moment, as if pondering.

Then, she gave a small nod.

…A little while later.

“So? Is it good?”

“…”

At one corner of the cafeteria table, Re=L was wholeheartedly devouring a strawberry tart.

Ignoring Rumia’s question, she held the tart carefully with both hands, focusing solely on eating it in silence. Rather than gobbling it down, she nibbled at it delicately, like a small animal gnawing on a nut.

“Looks like she really likes it…”

Watching Re=L, Sistine shrugged and elegantly brought a small piece of her scone to her mouth with a fork.

She glanced at Re=L again.

In fact, this was Re=L’s sixth tart.

Her first bite had been cautious, but once it touched her lips, she began eating with an almost possessed fervor, finishing the first one in no time. Since then, she’d kept asking for more, leading to the present moment.

“…I’m jealous.”

Comparing her own plate of scones to Re=L’s tart, Sistine muttered under her breath.

“Huh? What’s wrong, Sistie?”

“Ugh… You’d never understand, Rumia, with your body that somehow grows in all the right places no matter how much you eat…”

Sistine shot a resentful glance at Rumia’s chest and her meal.

Rumia’s menu today consisted of a small bread roll, roast beef, a cheese salad, and corn soup.

She must have a naturally high metabolism. Despite eating heartily, Rumia never gained weight. And, frustratingly, the parts others envied seemed to develop perfectly.

If I ate that much, it’d be a disaster, Sistine thought.

The weight would probably skip the parts she wanted to fill out and pile onto her waist or arms—places she definitely didn’t need extra padding.

God was so unfair.

“Ha…”

With a sigh, she looked at Re=L.

Just once, she wanted to eat sweets like Re=L, without worrying about gaining weight. To eat her fill like Rumia.

This scene, with two such hearty eaters in front of her, was a bit tough on Sistine’s psyche.

“Still…”

Propping her cheek on her hand, Sistine studied Re=L again.

Re=L was still engrossed in nibbling her tart.

(…She’s kind of innocent, isn’t she?)

The thought crossed her mind.

Honestly, Sistine had been scared of Re=L.

She’d attacked Glenn with a sword out of nowhere, and then there was that incident earlier. Her supernatural abilities were like a natural disaster, far beyond what minor magical tricks could handle. Sistine couldn’t fathom how Rumia could interact with her so calmly.

But seeing Re=L like this, innocently eating her tart… it made Sistine’s quiet fear and wariness feel foolish.

“…Want some?”

Noticing Sistine’s gaze, Re=L looked up.

“…Oh, no, it’s not like that…”

“If you want, I’ll share.”

Saying this, Re=L started to break off a piece of her tart…

“…”

But she suddenly froze, her hands stopping mid-motion. Her sleepy eyes stared at the tart, wavering with a hint of conflict, her brows subtly furrowing into a slight frown.

At such an obvious reaction, Sistine gave a wry smile.

“Hey, don’t force yourself. You want to eat it all, right?”

“…Is that okay?”

“It’s fine. If I really want one, I’ll buy my own.”

Relieved, Re=L resumed nibbling on her tart.

(She’s not a bad kid… just really weird.)

She was, well, pretty darn unsociable, but Re=L didn’t do anything to make people uncomfortable. If anything, there was something oddly endearing about watching her.

“Geez, Re=L, you’ve got cream on your cheek… Come on, clean up properly…”

With a sigh, Sistine pulled out a handkerchief and reached toward Re=L’s cheek. Rumia watched the two with an amused smile.

“Hold still… There, all clean.”

“Mm… Thanks.”

If I had a little sister, would it feel like this?

Just as Sistine started to think that, a voice interrupted.

“The cafeteria’s pretty packed today, isn’t it? What should we do?”

“Oh… Wendy… There’s a spot over there!”

“Oh, you’re right!”

Familiar voices approached.

Sistine turned to see…

“Oh? Sistine?”

“Wendy… Lynn, too.”

There stood Wendy and Lynn, each holding a tray of food.

“This is rare, Wendy. You, eating at the cafeteria?”

Sistine blinked in surprise, as if she’d seen something unexpected.

“You’re practically the poster child for students who eat at fancy restaurants outside the academy. And with Lynn, no less… What’s gotten into you?”

“Heh heh! It’s a noble’s duty to occasionally inspect the commoners’ dining habits!”

“I-I just… happened to run into Wendy at the cafeteria entrance…”

Wendy puffed out her chest with unnecessary pride, while Lynn stammered an explanation.

Then, Rumia clapped her hands together, as if struck by a brilliant idea.

“Hey, why don’t you two eat with us? It’d be a great chance to get to know Re=L better!”

“Huh?”

“Eating together is more fun, and the food tastes better, right?”

“W-Well, that’s…”

“…Um…”

But at Rumia’s suggestion, both Wendy and Lynn hesitated, their expressions complicated as they glanced at Re=L beside her.

Likely, their minds flashed back to the practical magic class earlier, where Re=L’s superhuman abilities and the destruction they caused had left an impression.

Indeed, Wendy’s usual aristocratic composure faltered, a bead of cold sweat on her face, while the timid Lynn subtly hid behind her.

Unable to say yes or no, they fell silent…

“…Is that a no?”

As Rumia gave a slightly sad smile, a voice broke the tension.

“Yo, cuties! If that’s the case, mind if I join you?”

A jarringly cheerful voice cut through the awkward air from behind.

“I mean, we’ve got the class’s top beauties all gathered here! No way I’m missing this vibe!”

“Haha, Kash, really? Anyway, mind if I join too? I’d love to chat with Re=L.”

Approaching were Kash, a burly guy, and Cecil, a petite boy with a feminine face—two male classmates.

“Well, this is unexpected. Cecil, sure, but Kash eating at the cafeteria?”

Sistine blinked in surprise at the arrival of their classmates.

“Got paid for my scribe gig yesterday! Figured I’d splurge a bit today.”

Both Kash and Cecil carried plates of food. Ignoring the stunned Wendy and Lynn, Kash plopped down next to Rumia—directly across from Re=L—while Cecil settled beside him.

“Hey, Re=L-chan!”

Startled by Kash’s boisterous greeting, even Re=L shifted her focus from the tart, blinking at him.

“That thing in class earlier—making that sword with a whoosh and sending it flying with a boom! That was insane! How’d you do it?”

“It was… cool? Me?”

“Hell yeah! I’ve never seen magic like that!”

“I think flying the sword was just physical enhancement magic combined with basic combat skills… but making the sword was alchemy, right? Being able to transmute that fast is incredible. Where’d you learn it?”

Kash and Cecil peppered Re=L with questions.

“C’mon, teach me the trick sometime! If I could transmute that fast, it’d come in handy!”

“I’m more curious about what kind of transmutation formula you used.”

“……”

For a while, Re=L stood in silence, as if lost in deep thought…

“…Alright. I’ll teach you when I’m free.”

“Oh! Hell yeah, thanks!”

Kash turned back to Wendy and Lynn, who stood there dumbfounded.

“Hey, Wendy, Lynn, what about you two? I bet it’ll help you climb the ranks as mages!”

Faced with Kash and the others’ excitement, Wendy and Lynn exchanged glances.

The two nodded at each other, as if the tension had been drained from them, and then…

“That high-speed alchemy was indeed impressive, Re=L. …But what in the world was that [Shock Bolt]?”

“Haha… I’m totally hopeless when it comes to that one…”

Wendy and Lynn had taken seats around Re=L as well.

“I haven’t studied much black magic.”

“Honestly… [Shock Bolt] is the most basic of basic black magic offensive spells. You need to practice more seriously, or you won’t advance to the next rank, you know?”

“Ugh… That stings…”

“If you’d like, I could teach you, Re=L.”

“……”

At Wendy’s offer, Re=L glanced briefly at Rumia’s face.

Rumia smiled warmly and said,

“Why not, Re=L? I think you should let her teach you.”

“…Okay. Teach me.”

Re=L never initiated conversations with others, but her responses were relatively clear. Though she seemed curt, she somehow managed to hold conversations with those around her.

“Thanks, Kash-kun.”

As the group’s conversation grew lively around Re=L, Rumia quietly thanked Kash, who was sitting beside her.

“Well, even if she’s a bit weird, it’d leave a bad taste to just watch a new classmate get sidelined… No big deal.”

Kash grinned knowingly.

“If you wanna thank me, how about a date sometime…”

“Oh, sorry, that’s a no-go, Kash-kun.”

Kash, struck by Rumia’s angelic smile and brutally honest words, slammed his head onto the table with a thud.

“Haha, shot down, huh, Kash? …Tough luck.”

“Ugh, shut up… Leave me alone…”

Kash sulked in response to Cecil’s vague attempt at consolation.

“Still, I’m glad there are others who’ll accept Re=L properly.”

“Well… I’ll admit, I was a bit freaked out by her at first…”

Kash said awkwardly.

“But watching you guys interact from a distance in the cafeteria… Sure, she’s weird, but she didn’t seem like a bad person. I mean, look at her.”

He glanced at Re=L, who was silently munching on a tart, tuning out the heated argument that had broken out between Wendy and Sistine.

“…She’s cute.”

“Yeah, cute.”

Rumia giggled, and Kash nodded in agreement.

“Being scared of a girl like that? That’s just crazy… And since you and Sistine have accepted her, she can’t be bad. The class is spooked now, but they’ll come around eventually.”

“Kash-kun…”

“The [Field Study Expedition] is coming up soon, right? With a new classmate joining us… It’s starting to feel like it’ll be fun, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, you’re right. I hope it’ll be fun.”

The two shared a smile as they exchanged those words.

“Man… I didn’t even need to step in.”

From a shadowy corner of the cafeteria, Glenn let out a relieved sigh as he watched Rumia and the others from afar.

The students passing by shot suspicious glances at Glenn’s sneaky demeanor, but he didn’t seem to care.

“Gotta say… My students are a pretty great bunch… Ugh… I’m so lucky to have students like them…!”

Glenn pressed a hand to his eyes, overcome with emotion.

“Alright, now that I’m feeling a bit at ease, it’s time for Professor Glenn to make a cool exit…”

But just then, he remembered something critical.

“Wait, I haven’t eaten lunch yet!? I got so caught up watching them that I totally forgot! Oh, crap!? How much time’s left until lunch break’s over—”

At that moment, Glenn’s stomach let out a loud growl.

The bell signaling the end of lunch break rang coldly throughout the academy.

“Wh-Whaaaaaaaat!?”

Glenn’s anguished scream harmonized with the bell’s chime…

……

—I see—a dream.

A fragment of my childhood days. Back when I was still confined by the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom.

“Sniff… Hic… Ugh…”

“What’s wrong, □□□□? What happened?”

My brother was soothing me as I hugged my knees and sobbed.

“I… I killed… Rita… Because… the organization ordered me to…!”

“What!?”

“Damn it! What the hell!?”

My brother’s best friend, □□□□, standing beside him, furiously slammed his fist against the wall.

“It’s gotta be that damn training the organization’s forcing on □□□□, right!? High-speed weapon alchemy and the organization’s secret assassination sword… Damn it! They’re making us kill each other now!? Are we just disposable to them…!? Damn it all!”

“Calm down, □□□□.”

“□□□!? But…!”

“We’re orphans with nowhere else to go. Without the organization’s protection, we can’t survive… That’s the truth.”

My brother shook his head sadly at his friend □□□□, then looked straight at me.

“It was tough, wasn’t it, □□□□? I’m sorry about Rita, but… as your only family, I’m glad you survived… So…”

“B-Brother… I’m scared…”

Back then, the only way I could hold myself together was by confessing the swirling anxiety in my heart to my brother.

“My heart… It’s dying, little by little… Every day, it’s like I’m turning into some kind of doll, something else entirely… And lately, even that feeling… It’s fading…”

“It’s okay… It’ll be okay…”

But my brother always encouraged and supported me.

“We’ll escape this organization someday. I’ll make it happen. And we’ll live freely. Until that day… Please, □□□□, hang in there… I’m begging you…”

“Brother… □□□-niisan…”

Yes, back then, the only reason I survived… was because of my brother.

Because he was there… I could keep going.

“Hey, □□□□. If you… ever escape this organization, what would you want to do?”

But it’s all white. Perhaps because the memory is so distant—the background is gone, the voices are gone, everything’s just white.

Even my brother’s face is shrouded in a white mist, making it hard to see.

It’s vague, indistinct, a barely recalled remnant of days gone by—

—A white memory.

……

“Look, Re=L. I know it’s rich coming from me, who dozed off on my first day, but… Try acting a bit more like a student, alright…?”

“…?”

My consciousness, wandering through the past in a dream, returned to the present.

I woke up and slowly lifted my face.

It seemed I’d been sleeping face-down on my desk. Rubbing my eyes, I looked around.

It was the usual classroom at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

The lesson had apparently ended, and it was now break time. A relaxed atmosphere filled the room, buzzing with students chatting and moving in and out.

Beside me stood Glenn, sighing in exasperation as he looked down at me.

I stared at his face.

“…What? Is there something on my face?”

Maybe it was because of the nostalgic dream.

Strangely, Glenn really did look a bit like my brother beyond the mist.

“…Sheesh.”

Glenn let out a deep sigh at the sight of Re=L rubbing her sleepy eyes.

A week had passed since Re=L arrived at the Magic Academy.

Her spectacularly disastrous introduction on the first day had created an atmosphere where her classmates kept their distance. Initially, Glenn had been on edge, wondering what kind of chaos Re=L would unleash in her academy life.

After all, Re=L’s reckless, all-or-nothing approach and the martial feats that followed were infamous—both good and bad—within the Imperial Court Mage Corps. The list was endless. For example…

If the enemy outnumbers you, just cut them all down with sheer willpower.

If the enemy’s defenses are too tough to cut through, cut through their defenses with sheer willpower.

If the enemy is faster than you, move faster than them with sheer willpower and cut them down.

If the enemy sets a trap, cut through the trap and the enemy with sheer willpower.

…And so on. These were examples of the trusted and traditional Re=L tactics.

To make matters worse, Re=L possessed the overwhelming ability and talent to actually pull off these nonsensical brute-force strategies, with documented victories to prove it.

The villainous mages defeated by Re=L were probably still scratching their heads in hell, wondering why they lost. The only explanation: they faced Re=L.

In every sense, Re=L was anything but ordinary. On top of that, she was woefully ignorant of the common sense of the civilized world. It wouldn’t be surprising if she caused all sorts of trouble.

But—in the end, those worries proved largely unfounded.

“Re=L, it’s lunchtime. Wanna head to the cafeteria with us again today?”

“…Rumia? Sistine? …Okay, I’ll go.”

“But, Re=L, you’re not seriously eating strawberry tarts again today, are you? Don’t you get tired of them? I know I’m one to talk, but you’re gonna mess up your nutrition. You’ve had them every day since the first day.”

“It’s fine, Sistine. No problem. …Strawberry tarts… are delicious.”

“Ugh… That’s not a reason. What’s with this picky eating?”

“Haha, ever since we recommended them on the first day, she’s completely hooked, huh?”

“……”

Glenn watched the three head to the cafeteria together, as they did every day.

The fact that Re=L hadn’t caused any major issues was, without a doubt, thanks to Rumia and Sistine.

With the two of them sticking close to Re=L both in and out of the academy (though they were utterly hopeless as bodyguards), they managed to cover for her lack of worldly knowledge.

“Hey, Re=L, why not try something new today? Look, there’s gotta be tons of other delicious stuff besides strawberry tarts.”

“But… I want strawberry tarts…”

For Rumia, Re=L was (technically) her protector, and more than that, her personality wouldn’t let her ignore someone struggling to adjust to academy life.

“Honestly, you’re such a handful… Listen, Re=L. You can’t keep eating like that at your age, okay? You need to aim for healthier, balanced meals, or you’ll ruin your body.”

“Hmm… I don’t think you’re one to talk, Sistie…”

“I-I’m fine!”

Sistine didn’t seem to have any particular fondness for Re=L at first, but as she spent time with her for Rumia’s sake, she gradually started to see Re=L as a troublesome little sister.

Before they knew it, the three of them spending time together had become the norm.

“Yo, you three are together again, huh? Haha, you’re tight!”

“Goodness. By the way, Sistine, the next class is fieldwork in the herb garden. Don’t get so caught up talking that you three show up late like last time, alright?”

The fact that central figures in the class, like Kash and Wendy, quickly accepted Re=L also helped. Following their lead, their classmates were gradually starting to warm up to the eccentric Re=L.

This class had always been open-minded enough to accept even a maverick like Glenn. Though Re=L occasionally shocked those around her with outlandish behavior tied to Glenn, she was steadily blending into the class.

(To think… that Re=L is living a somewhat normal academy life…)

To Glenn, it was astonishing and deeply moving.

Of course, things weren’t entirely smooth sailing.

The presence of Re=L, an inherently anomalous entity in the everyday world, undeniably had its drawbacks.

“So… it works like this… You apply the Marcios operation to this elemental array formula… like so. …Then, you calculate the origin attribute values for the fire element [Flamea], water element [Aques], earth element [Soile], air element [Eal], and spirit element [Etherio]… and rearrange them here… like this, reconstructing the material…”

After school.

A group of students gathered around Re=L’s desk, watching intently as she, with sleepy eyes, scribbled with a quill on paper. The pages were filled with intricate elemental array conversion formulas and the magical formulas controlling them, spanning multiple sheets.

It was Re=L’s alchemy—the formula for high-speed weapon creation.

After the day’s final alchemy class, some students lingering in the classroom began chatting, and the topic of the technique Re=L had shown on her first day came up. It snowballed into her explaining it to them.

“…Got it?”

Finishing her explanation matter-of-factly, Re=L stopped her quill and muttered.

“Yeah, I got absolutely nothing.”

Kash, who had given up on understanding halfway through, said with surprising cheer.

“Re=L, you’re amazing… I totally lost track of what you were doing halfway through…”

Rumia gave a wry smile, agreeing with Kash.

Most of the students gathered there shared Kash and Rumia’s vague impressions.

“That’s incredible…”

“What the… Who even came up with this formula…?”

Cecil, who excelled in theoretical studies, and Sistine, one of the top academic performers in their year, were among the few who could barely follow along, their faces stiff with shock.

Even for these two, if they hadn’t taken Glenn’s niche lessons on building magical formulas and functions from scratch using runes, they wouldn’t have understood even this much.

“I’m floored… I couldn’t figure out how you were forging a Wootz steel greatsword so quickly… To think you were even exploiting bugs in the rune magic language’s specifications…”

Cecil’s expression was one of complete awe, sweat beading on his forehead.

Wootz steel was a special material with superior rigidity and toughness compared to regular steel, achieved by arranging carbon layers in a specific periodic structure within its elemental array.

In the empire, only a handful of forging artisans could industrially produce Wootz steel, and annual production was minimal, leading to research into alchemical methods for its creation.

However, permanently stabilizing the forged product was difficult, and reproduction was temporary. The complexity of the array structure made the process extremely time-consuming. That was the current consensus in the empire’s magical research community regarding Wootz steel alchemy.

Re=L’s formula had the flaw of not permanently stabilizing the forged product, but its forging speed was literally orders of magnitude faster. It was simply astonishing.

If this formula were presented to the academic community, it would likely be dismissed as theoretical nonsense—unless they witnessed Re=L perform it in person. That’s how absurdly theoretical her forging method was.

“No wonder this formula isn’t deployed in the imperial army…”

Cecil let out a sigh of admiration.

“Re=L… You do this all the time?”

Sistine, with a stern expression, pressed Re=L.

“One wrong step, and your mental processing will overflow, frying your brain and leaving you a complete wreck!”

“…Really?”

“Yes, really!”

“…I didn’t know.”

Re=L muttered in response to Sistine’s warning, showing no trace of concern.

Her sleepy, expressionless face held not a hint of shock or fear.

“Honestly… What’s with this reckless use of the deep consciousness field!? It’s like the formula’s creator didn’t care about the caster’s safety at all! You can practically see their flippant intent to treat the caster as disposable!”

Fuming, Sistine turned to Wendy behind her.

“You think so too, right, Wendy!?”

“…Huh?”

Snapped out of her daze, Wendy, who had been stunned by Re=L’s explanation, came to her senses.

“Y-Yes, exactly! Absolutely correct! A formula that disregards the caster like this is hardly aristocratic… I knew it from the start!”

For some reason, Wendy’s forehead was slick with sweat, and her words faltered.

“Now, now.”

Rumia stepped in to calm the heated Sistine.

“Anyway, the point is that Re=L is amazing for mastering such a complex technique, right?”

“I practiced a lot.”

“How are you not dead…?”

Sistine’s cheek twitched at Re=L’s nonchalant reply.

Still, a few questions lingered.

Glenn had mentioned that Re=L was part of the Imperial Court Mage Corps, but would the imperial army really subject its soldiers to such life-threatening training? Something felt off. Moreover, Cecil had said this formula wasn’t even deployed in the imperial army.

Where had Re=L learned this magic?

“Everyone, don’t try to copy this, okay? Mastering this formula requires an extraordinary natural talent for alchemy. At this point, it’s practically Re=L’s [Original Magic].”

Deciding it was tactless to pry further, Sistine moved to wrap up the discussion without touching on her doubts.

“As if we could copy it…”

“Probably no one but Re=L could pull it off…”

“W-Well, I could probably manage it if I tried… Hmph, but such an inelegant, un-aristocratic formula… It’s beneath me!”

Just then.

A loud crash echoed through the classroom as someone roughly stood from their seat.

“…Gibul?”

The source of the noise was Gibul, who had been sitting quietly alone at a desk a little away from Re=L, not joining in the group’s conversation until now.

“Hey, Gibul, what’s up? All of a sudden…”

“…I’m leaving. If you guys have time to mess around like that, shouldn’t you be heading home to study magic?”

Sounding somewhat irritated, Gibul began roughly stuffing textbooks and notebooks into his bag.

“Huh? C’mon, man, that’s a bit harsh, don’t ya think?”

Kash, used to Gibul’s haughty way of speaking, scratched his head in exasperation.

“Hmph.”

But just as Gibul turned on his heel to walk away, ignoring the response, at that very moment—

Tug. Someone grabbed the sleeve of his jacket from behind.

“Wha… Y-You…!?”

Turning around and seeing who had grabbed his sleeve, Gibul’s eyes widened in shock.

The one who had pulled his sleeve was Re=L, who had somehow closed the distance to Gibul without a sound.

The group blinked in confusion, as if bewitched by a fox, at her movement—so silent and sudden it was almost like teleportation.

“…This.”

Re=L held out a single quill pen in her palm, offering it to Gibul.

“You dropped it.”

“~~~~ !”

His face flushed red with hostility, Gibul snatched the quill from her hand and stormed off with large strides, leaving the classroom with a rough slam of the door.

“…?”

Re=L remained frozen in place, her hand still extended, like a statue.

The remaining students could only stand there, dumbfounded.

“What’s his deal?”

Sistine muttered, half-confused, half-irritated.

“Now that you mention it, ever since Re=L joined this class, he’s been awfully on edge, hasn’t he…?”

“Haha… Could it be that guy’s jealous ’cause Re=L-chan’s alchemy skills are just too incredible?”

“Knock it off, Kash. That might actually hit the mark. Gibul’s always been super confident in his alchemy… He even said he wouldn’t lose to Sistine.”

In the empty hallway outside the classroom,

Glenn leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, unnoticed, watching Gibul’s retreating figure as he hurried away, letting out a small sigh.

“Well, yeah. Not everyone’s gonna just accept someone as out-of-place as Re=L so easily…”

Thanks to Rumia and Sistine, Re=L had blended into the class relatively smoothly, but there were definitely a few students like Gibul out there.

After all, Re=L’s abilities were beyond the norm. She was the ace of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex, boasting an unmatched record of defeating rogue mages. Her power wasn’t something she could hide. Many students instinctively felt an unexplainable fear toward her.

Out of concern, Glenn had avoided letting her participate in any explicit magical combat so far… but in his class, there wasn’t a single person who could hope to beat Re=L, no matter the circumstances.

And yet, to the students, this overwhelmingly superior opponent was an inferior student who could barely handle basic magic. That hierarchy had been established in the very first lesson, when Re=L had shattered a golem to pieces with her greatsword. Deep down, everyone knew they couldn’t stand a chance against her if it came to a real fight. For a mage, that realization must have deeply wounded their pride—especially for someone as young as Gibul, who’d feel it even more keenly.

“Well… guess we just gotta wait for time to sort this one out, huh?”

Suddenly, he sensed Re=L and the others stepping out of the classroom.

It seemed their conversation had wrapped up, and they were heading home together.

Glenn scratched his head vigorously and quickly slipped away from the scene.

Issues like this weren’t limited to the subtle discord lurking within the class.

Re=L herself was part of the problem.

That became clear on another occasion.

“…”

Re=L walked down the hallway of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy, carrying a stack of documents in both hands.

Some ten meters behind her, at the corner of the hallway, hidden in the shadows—

(Re=L… You’re doing great, kid… Your teacher’s so proud…!)

Despite having assigned Re=L the task of carrying the documents, Glenn was secretly tailing her to check on her progress—an utterly nonsensical act—feeling a warmth well up in his eyes.

As he suspiciously yet warmly watched Re=L from the corner of the hallway, drawing the curious glances of passing students…

“Glenn Radars, I heard what you did! In your black magic class, you dismissed the spell I designed in front of the students, calling it ‘impractical’ and ‘inefficient,’ didn’t you!?”

Out of nowhere, Halley stormed up, hurling a glove at Glenn’s back and shouting in fury.

“You’re the first person to ever humiliate me like this! Today’s the day I won’t forgive you! I challenge you to a duel!”

“Uh, w-wait… Har… something-senpai?”

Glenn turned to face Halley, his face pale with panic and nervousness.

“R-Right now… uh… it’s not a good time… I mean, due to some very organic and complex circumstances, challenging me to a duel right now would be really bad… I-I’m sorry, okay?”

“Hmph, scared, are you!? It’s too late to apologize now! Pick up that glove! Let’s see this so-called practical magic of yours! Don’t worry—I’ll at least spare your life!”

“N-No, wait, it’s not about my life… It’s your life that’s in serious danger right now, like, actively hanging by a thread… If you don’t retract this duel and leave fast, this peaceful academy’s gonna turn into a stage for a gruesome tragedy—”

Desperately trying to defuse the situation, Glenn attempted to calm Halley, but it was too late.

“…What? Glenn. That guy… an enemy?”

“She’s hereeeeeeeeeeeeee—!”

At the sight of Re=L, who had appeared right beside him out of nowhere, Glenn clutched his head in a full-blown panic.

“Har-something-senpai!? Run! Hurry up and run!”

“What’s that, little girl? So you’re the rumored transfer student? I heard you’ve got a bad attitude—”

The moment Halley approached Re=L with a haughty air, ready to lecture her,

Whoosh! A vicious slash from a massive greatsword tore through the air, aimed at Halley.

At the same time, the sword’s pressure shattered all the nearby windows outward and cracked the stone walls.

Thanks to Glenn’s quick thinking, tripping Halley with a leg sweep, Halley only lost the hair on top of his head—had it been a fraction slower, his head would’ve been gone.

“W-Wha-What!?”

Now sporting a gleaming bald scalp, Halley sat on the floor, looking up at Re=L, who had just swung her enormous sword with one hand, trembling in fear.

As always, Re=L’s sleepy, expressionless face remained unchanged, but the shockwave from her sword’s swing continued to collapse the hallway walls around her—

“Kyaaaah!? His hairline was already in danger for someone so young, and now Halley-sensei’s precious hair is gone!?”

“What’s happening!? The walls!? The walls are collapsing!? What just happened!?”

The commotion caused the students in the hallway to start panicking.

“Shut up! Don’t talk about my hair! A-And you! W-What kind of magic did you just use!? No way… that sword? That’s impossible! No sword could produce that kind of power, not by common sense!”

“Common sense doesn’t apply to her! That’s why I told you to run!”

While Halley and Glenn flailed in panic, Re=L readied her greatsword with a hint of pride.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let him escape. …Leave it to me, Glenn. I’ll take down your enemy.”

“Re=L, wait! Calm down!”

“Help meeeee!”

“Let go, Glenn. I can’t defeat him if you hold me back.”

“Be quiet! I’m not letting a murder scene happen at the academy! Ugh, where are Rumia and Sistine!? Someone do something!”

…And so, due to her lack of common sense and skewed perception, Re=L occasionally caused outrageous trouble, leaving Glenn with days where he could never let his guard down.

Still, when asked whether these hectic days were a net positive or negative for Re=L, the answer was obvious…

For Re=L, everything she saw and heard was a fresh, new experience.

The fleeting glimpses of her expression, ones Glenn had never seen before, didn’t seem entirely displeased.