Chapter 141

Frey swallowed the tension-laden saliva with a gulp. It was because, for a while now, she had felt a burning gaze from behind her back.

Well, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. Right now, she was closing a class session, with Saintess Maria sitting beside her and Evans and Aru watching over from behind.

Calling him “Evans” itself feels ridiculous at this point—he’s already been confirmed as the Joker of the Demon Realm after all.

Even with the Joker there, right behind her, if her neck wasn’t tingling, *that* would be strange. Of course, it’s probably just her nerves contracting inwardly, manifesting as this feeling.

KUHNG, KUHNG—

‘It’s fine… Joker doesn’t know me. He only saw half my face yesterday, anyway.’

Frey placed her hand on her ample chest to calm her pounding heart. No matter how bizarre the Joker might be, there’s no way he could hear her heartbeat through her clothes… but still, her racing heart wouldn’t settle easily.

‘Though I lost my pistol, it was bought from the black market—meaning any meaningful tracking is impossible. There’s no way I’d get caught…’

“YIP.”

“HIIEEEEEE!”

Evans’ outstretched finger poked Frey’s back. Startled beyond measure, Frey let out an uncharacteristically high-pitched squeal.

“Hmm…”

The sound wasn’t loud enough to disturb the teacher, who merely cleared his throat and continued teaching without hesitation.

But Frey? She was far from composed.

‘Why, why? What is it? Why would Joker suddenly poke me? I’m nothing more than a scarecrow in his mind, right? Could he be suspecting me?’

For whatever reason, Evans’ random touch meant Frey had to react.

As naturally as possible. Absolutely no signs of her tension should be detected.

“Why? Evans.”

She turned her head with a bright smile, only to meet two crimson eyes staring straight into hers.

“Wh-what? If you’re gonna poke me, say something already!”

His eyes were unreadable. Goosebumps prickled along her skin.

“Evans, why? Why did you poke me?”

She asked in a steady tone.

Surely, that was the case…

“Look ahead.”

“What? But you’re the one who poked me when I was already looking ahead!”

“Look ahead.”

“…!”

“Students up front? Please keep it down.”

Their voices must’ve gotten louder because the Real Eye Teacher reprimanded them lightly. Frey turned her head with an expression of confusion.

Just as she was about to refocus on the blackboard…

Sssshhrrrkkk—

“W-WHAT THE HELL?! Are you insane? Is this even appropriate in a classroom? Are you in your right mind?”

Suddenly, icy fingers pulled up her school uniform. The hem of her blouse was silently lifted upward.

Frey and Maria’s seats were the second-to-last row in the classroom, meaning only two people could see her exposed back.

This was clearly harassment. Even if she were pretending to be a naive version of herself from the first cycle, this was definitely something to get angry and retaliate against.

The moment Frey’s hand moved to swat away Evans’ hand creeping up her bare back…

Click-clack.

A metallic click echoed faintly. To anyone else, it might’ve sounded like someone adjusting their belt.

But Frey heard it differently. Her fingers trembled as she recognized the sound.

The unmistakable noise of a gun being cocked.

It was the same pistol she had taken from him just yesterday. There was no way she couldn’t recognize it.

‘C-Could he really be suspicious of me already…!? Pulling out a gun so openly…!’

An invisible gun was pointed at her. Concealed beneath the desk, its cold barrel radiating an ominous chill.

Frey’s throat went dry. Thanks to the other students, desks, and bags blocking the view, no one noticed Evans’ actions yet.

“Look ahead.”

Evans whispered again.

“U-Ugh…”

After hesitating for a brief moment, Frey reluctantly turned forward. Acting scared like an ordinary teenage girl seemed like the best option. Though in reality, she was caught between anxiety and tension.

‘T-That’s really a gun… And it’s the one I took yesterday!’

The frigid muzzle was aimed directly at her, lurking ominously beneath the desk.

Frey’s mouth went bone-dry. Everyone else remained oblivious due to the obstacles concealing Evans’ moves.

“Look ahead.”

With Evans’ hands still creeping under her shirt, Frey’s stomach churned painfully as cold sweat poured down her neck. Her chest thudded wildly, making it hard to breathe. Any sense of hostility couldn’t form amidst her rising panic.

‘H-He really has a gun… And it’s the one I took yesterday!’

The cold steel pressed against her spine. Hidden by the clutter of desks and students, no one else noticed what was happening.

Frey strained every nerve trying to calm her erratic heartbeat. Surely, Evans must be able to feel it through his palm.

“Maria, Maria.”

While fondling Frey’s back, Evans casually called out to Maria. His voice was barely audible, blending into the air between them.

“Why do you ask, Mr. Evans?”

“A funny story just came to mind. Want to hear it?”

During class, it wasn’t unusual for Evans to strike up conversations with Maria. Though Maria disliked chatting during lessons, she made an exception for her “first friend,” Evans.

“A story? Hmm… Is it long?”

“Short.”

“Oh, well… Can you please whisper then?”

“Yeah, it’s a good one. You’ll like it.”

And so, Evans began narrating softly. While keeping his hand pressed against Frey’s damp back, hidden from Maria’s sight.

“Yesterday, Aru and I were wandering around town when we accidentally got lost in some alleys.”

“Because of that, we ended up aimlessly wandering for a bit. Not only was it our first time visiting that part of the city, but alleys are always twisty-turny, right? Eventually, Aru and I found ourselves deeper and deeper into a labyrinth.”

“And then, somewhere along the way, we stumbled upon this really run-down bar with not a single soul inside. We were starving, so we decided to go in anyway. As soon as we entered, the smell of tea hit us.”

“Maria, do you know where we were?”

Thump, thump, thump, thump—

Frey fought desperately to control her racing heart. Surely, Evans could feel every beat through his palm.

“Where… Where was it?”

“The Black Point. The shady information market where secrets are bought and sold. Heard of it?”

Having her bare skin invaded like this was a first for Frey.

Even during her 500 years as a Colosseum battle slave in the Divine Realm, nothing like this ever happened.

Sure, her bones had been grotesquely twisted. A gaping hole had once pierced her abdomen. She’d lost limbs countless times.

But never before had she been touched like this. The eerie, unpleasant sensation sent shivers down her spine. There was no sign of her heart calming down anytime soon.

“Guh… Huhhh…”

‘What… What is he doing telling this story while touching my back…? Could he be using my heartbeat to… hic!’

“No, no….”

“Ah, you might not have heard of it. Anyway, somehow we ended up at the Black Point, but both Aru and I were famished, regardless of its hidden nature. So after ordering food, we sat at a table waiting when… a customer walked in.”

Thump.

“A customer similar in build to Maria. Maybe two heads taller? Their face was completely covered by a hood, but I could make out the lower jawline.”

Thump.

“I think I caught a glimpse of their hair too. Blonde, right? Like Stella-senpai’s or the princess’, radiant golden strands. Or perhaps… resembling the Heroine sitting right here.”

THUMP!

“Why am I randomly telling this customer story, you ask? Keep listening. This customer was there to buy information. They ordered a few pieces from the bartender. But among those orders….”

“H-Huhh…!”

“Excuse me, Mr. Evans.”

Noticing Frey’s growing pallor, Maria interrupted Evans. He smirked slightly, shrugged, and simultaneously withdrew the gun under the desk along with his hand stroking Frey’s back.

“Miss Heroine, is everything alright? Why are you sweating so profusely…?”

Maria placed her hand on Frey’s forehead. Instantly, her pristine white hand became damp with sweat. The saint gasped in surprise.

“Huh?! Are you feeling unwell? I healed you thoroughly last night….”

“N-No! Maria, don’t say that…!”

“Kekeke… Last night, healing… Ahaha.”

A sinister murmur reached Frey’s ears. She couldn’t turn her head anymore. Instead, like a mouse frozen before a cat, she trembled uncontrollably while staring straight ahead. Her mind had gone blank.

Maria looked at Frey with worried eyes. Meanwhile, Evans’ storytelling had ceased.

Rustle.

Behind Maria and Frey, the sound of pen scratching paper filled the air. Curious as she was, Frey’s fear outweighed her curiosity, preventing her from turning around.

Maria found Frey’s lack of response irritating but eventually focused back on the lesson when she received no reply. The Real Eye Teacher was already rushing through the material.

Shhhhrak.

A piece of paper flew onto Frey’s shoulder. It was small, crumpled into a fist-sized ball.

It tumbled silently down her skin and nestled between her ample bosom. Paralyzed with fear, Frey allowed the intrusion without resistance.

Sssshhrrk.

Once again, fingers traced her back, this time writing something.

‘Open it.’ That’s what the finger-written message said. Trembling, Frey carefully slipped her hand inside her uniform to retrieve the note.

Soaked with sweat from her cleavage, the paper clung wetly to her fingers.

“…”

A palm-sized scrap of paper. As Frey shakily unfolded it, her pupils dilated.

[Hey, Hero. Is that you?]

Defeat.

---