Shinji Matou at Your Service

Waver and Golden Princess's private conversation didn't last long.

About a few minutes after Flat invaded the barrier and applied a sound amplification spell, Golden Princess left the room with her maid Carina.

Although the time was short, the content of this brief conversation was enough to stir up a terrible storm, so much so that Reines now regretted letting Flat invade the barrier.

However, what's done is done, and regret is useless now. The urgent matter is how to handle this situation.

Just as Reines was recalling the conversation and weighing the pros and cons, Waver's voice came from across the wall.

"Flat, I know you're eavesdropping. Let them all come over."

"Ah, I've been found out."

Flat habitually stuck out his tongue and casually removed the interference.

"The professor wants us to go over. Shall we go?"

"Let's go!"

Reines said with a grave expression.

"Remember, you're not allowed to leak a single word of what you hear and see tonight. This is a matter concerning the survival of our class, understand?"

"Understood!"

The young boys and girls nodded repeatedly.

Flat added, "I won't say a word even if it kills me."

"You're the one I trust the least. You must keep your mouth shut tight."

Reines specifically warned Flat, who directly covered his mouth, indicating that he absolutely wouldn't speak—he might be a bit naive and sometimes called a fool, but he's not truly stupid and won't make fundamental mistakes.

After giving everyone a preventive warning, the group came to Waver's room, just a wall away.

Reines got straight to the point: "Big brother, what are your plans? Do you think Golden Princess's escape is real?"

"It doesn't seem fake. There's no problem with her expression, language, demeanor, or logic, but I feel something's off somewhere. Where is it?"

Waver folded his arms, frowning deeply. Seeing him like this, Reines and the others also began to review every word of Golden Princess.

The reason Golden Princess gave for her escape was "meaningless suffering."

Her beauty wasn't naturally born but came through constant modifications, a process that must have caused immense pain. But for magi, this is quite common. Starting from the transplantation of magic crests, it's a form of self-modification, and the process inevitably involves pain. Besides, modifications to the brain and internal organs are not uncommon. The worm magic developed by Zouken also contains a lot of content about body modification.

It can be said that the growth of a magus is accompanied by pain. But all of this needs to be based on one foundation—this pain must have meaning. If there's no meaning, meaningless suffering is equivalent to self-destruction.

Historically, such meanings were not uncommon. After reaching a certain stage, the previously used methodology becomes completely useless. If one can change in time, there's still hope, but continuing on an already useless path will lead the family to its end.

And the Iselma family, or more accurately, Golden Princess's father Byron, was in such a state of obsession, at least according to Golden Princess.

"If this continues, either I or Silver Princess will die sooner or later."

Golden Princess said so. To avoid meaningless suffering and extinction, the young girl decided to escape with her sister.

But relying solely on the two sisters who weren't even magi, it would be impossible to escape from Iselma. Even if they escaped, they would be caught and brought back, so they needed to find a new patron.

The first one to be excluded was Valualeta. Although lord Valualeta has a good reputation and is a nice person, since she has taken the position of Valualeta's lord, she couldn't possibly protect the two sisters, because Byron had already achieved sufficient merits, which couldn't be erased.

Other families belonging to the democracy faction wouldn't work either, as no one would risk breaking ties with Valualeta for the sake of the two sisters.

Barthomeloi faction wouldn't be afraid, but given the sisters' value in mysteries, they would likely end up on a research table.

The neutral faction Meluastea was similar, and this faction was relatively weak and rarely participated in political struggles, not as good as Barthomeloi.

In comparison, the Department of Modern Magecraft would be much better.

First, the department head Waver has no talent in magecraft and early on gave up the goal of reaching the Root as a magus. Under his protection, at least they could avoid the pain of being dissected on a research table.

Second, the El-Melloi classroom is an object that various factions are vying to win over. Even Valualeta wouldn't overly offend Waver at this time. In other words, he can protect the sisters, at least to fight for a chance for them to survive.

All the sisters seek is just an opportunity to survive without having to bear meaningless suffering.

If Waver doesn't accept, they can only choose to make a political deal with Barthomeloi, exchanging information for a place to stay.

Everything could be explained, and both ways forward and back had been found. Neither Waver, with his world-class insight, nor Reines, familiar with political routines, could find any flaws, until—Flat spoke up:

"Just agree, Professor. It would be a shame if such beautiful people, like works of art, died. Didn't Lord Valualeta want you to give lectures? Why not use this as an exchange..."

"Wait, what did you just say?"

"Flat, say that again?"

Waver and Reines seemed to have caught onto something and looked at Flat simultaneously.

The boy swallowed and took a step back: "I suggested you use the lectures as an exchange—"

"Yes, that's it!"

War svelapped his thigh hard.

"Exchange, that's where the problem lies."

Seeing that the others were still confused, Reines explained: "The El-Melloi classroom is not a charity center. There's no need to risk offending Valualeta to shelter these sisters unless they truly have stakes worth the risk. However, until the end of the conversation, Golden Princess didn't offer any stakes—indeed, it's a remarkable charm, even Big Brother couldn't resist."

Waver retorted: "The same words to you, lady."

It's always hard to refuse a beautiful woman's request, let alone a beauty like Golden Princess who's beyond the level of national beauty. She's capable of captivating both men and women.

"I was thinking from Golden Princess's perspective," Reines insisted.

"So was I. However, there's another possibility. Because my response was too vague, she didn't state the stakes."

Indeed, Waver didn't directly agree to Golden Princess's request, but said he needed to confirm Silver Princess's thoughts.

"So big brother intends to accept Golden Princess's invitation?"

At the end of the conversation, Golden Princess invited Waver to her room the next morning.

Waver thought for a moment and said:

"We need to figure out what they're trying to do. That way, we can better respond."