Chapter 220

Our Violets thought about the gradually changing attitudes of the professors during the first week of the second semester.

“It suddenly changed. Why is that?”

“I don’t know!”

As I pondered deeply, it seemed to be because I had showcased some exceptional skills.

That gave me quite a headache.

I couldn’t just ignore the flood of questions, and out of pride, I somehow had to solve or answer them.

So everyone’s reactions were quite dynamic.

“How do I do this…”

“You studied well. What you just said…”

“Oh no, this is bad…”

“What should we do from now on?”

No matter how much I thought about it, the duel had been the decisive blow. After that, the way my fellow first-years looked at me was anything but ordinary.

If I had known it would turn out this way, I should have just swung my weapon around aimlessly and lost.

This was my fault.

However, apart from the other professors, why did the close combat professor suddenly single me out that day?

“I think that green-haired professor might have spread some rumors!”

“Really?”

Suddenly, I recalled how Professor Albert had solved my problem for me.

“Now that I think about it…”

“Why did he solve it for me?”

Normally, the professor would have scolded me saying, “If you do this, you won’t improve, so please just sit down and solve it on your own,” but he readily helped us.

I felt a bit dubious, so I sought out the professor in his office.

“Professor, can I ask you something? Why did you help us that day?”

I explained how Professor Sharia had been persistently clinging to me since that day.

Sure enough, the professor smiled with a rare glimmer of mischief upon seeing our faces.

“Indeed, I was right. Since you solved such a difficult problem, it’s only natural to be drawn in.”

Only then did I realize that the professor had intentionally helped us.

“Ever since that day, the professors won’t leave me alone… If I had known this would happen, I shouldn’t have asked for help.”

“That’s exactly why I helped you. You need to study!”

The professor looked at me with a gaze of disappointment.

“Does it make sense to have such great skills and just idle around? Since you’ve come to a good academy, you should focus on studying from now on. You have enough ability! Why waste it?”

“It’s a hassle…”

“How can someone who finds everything a hassle pull off a terror attack?”

“Punishing bad guys is fun.”

Hearing my words, Professor Albert shook his head.

“Ugh, fine… But you’ll have to struggle for a while.”

“Yes. Understood…”

Our Violets then became a bit somber.

We weren’t ignorant of the importance of learning, but being viewed as exemplary students was too burdensome.

“The strategy of hiding my power failed!”

After the concealment strategy flopped, all that remained were the Violets who didn’t hide their strength.

“I guess I’ll just have to quietly attend classes for a while.”

While the Violets were having a consultation, the Academy’s Violets checked the time.

It was soon time for the consultation.

“Student Violet Rugilinn. That’s you, right?”

The consultations we had to attend were mainly twofold.

One was biweekly interviews with the Headmaster, and the other was weekly visits to the academy consultation room to share what happened that week with the counselor.

“How was the first week of this semester?”

“It was fun.”

The counselor didn’t ask complicated questions. What I mainly had to answer were the various things I did and the emotions I felt.

Of course, there was also a seemingly simple but intriguing test.

The counselor placed drawing paper and colored pencils on the desk.

“Student, this is a simple test. Please draw a house, people, and a tree here. Got it?”

“Yes.”

I first drew a grinning Violet in the center. Then I added a large mansion filled with windows and surrounding trees.

“I’ll make a lot of money and live in a place like this!”

While drawing, it seemed a bit empty. So, I added my friends one by one.

“Who are these people?”

“They’re friends and acquaintances!”

Excluding private investigators or business contacts, I drew everyone that I considered important.

“The house looks a bit empty!”

“Let’s build some defenses!”

After a while of drawing, a fantastic picture was born.

The finished product featured several versions of me, brightly smiling in front of the mansion’s garden, surrounded by friends holding hands and smiling together.

The place we were in was a large mansion with a stylish design complete with turrets and weapons.

Surrounding the mansion were fences, barbed wire, and large barred gates, all surrounded by lush green trees.

“I’m done!”

“Nice drawing.”

After that, the counselor asked me various questions about the drawing. I answered all of them.

“Great job.”

“Goodbye!”

Consultation? It wasn’t much of a deal.

A few hours later, in the Inspection Bureau office of the Central District, Sophie El looked over the consultation results sent from the academy.

“The consultation results for Violet this week have come in. Currently, there aren’t any major issues.”

While reviewing the materials received by the Scholarship Officer, Sophie El’s eyes caught a glimpse of a colorful drawing made with colored pencils on the tablet screen.

The counselor’s analysis accompanied it as a note.

[i]

[Drawing a big self in the center, looking bright and smiling. Shows a self-centered mindset and positive self-image.]

[Drawing several versions of oneself reflects unique abilities on the surface, but also suggests awareness of various aspects of oneself…]

[/i]

Next, Sophie El focused on the enormous mansion depicted in the background.

[i]

[The mansion is unusually large and very ornate in appearance. There is a strong desire for material success. The many windows also hint at a desire for interpersonal relationships…]

[/i]

[However, the mansion is blocked from the outside with obstacles and closed doors. Inside, things like turrets or military weapons are sketched out. The mansion is surrounded by bushes…]

[/i]

[While desiring contact with others, there is a tendency to shy away from exposing one’s private domain. Aside from those perceived as friends, there seems to be primarily hostile gazes towards outsiders, as well as defensive and, in severe cases, aggressive tendencies.]

[/i]

Was there a psychological reason behind Violet’s actions of illegally amassing weapons and equipment through suspicious routes?

Her attention shifted to the friends depicted in the drawing, all smiling alongside the protagonist.

[i]

[Drawing friends together suggests a strong desire to form even more positive interpersonal relationships with the depicted subjects…]

[/i]

In the drawing, girls with various hair colors were brightly smiling around Violet. Silver, purple, light pink, wavy golden, shy black, and others that she seemed to know were sketched in too.

‘The closer they are to the center, the more important they must be. I know who these people are. And…’

Suddenly, Sophie El burst into a short laugh.

Inside the mansion, there were a man and woman in formal attire, standing a little apart from Violet.

Though the drawing was rough, their hair color and style clearly indicated who they were meant to be.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hahaha! Seijis, come here and take a look at this, hurry!”

The Scholarship Officer approached with a puzzled look and examined the drawing that his sister was pointing at.

“This looks like you and me, doesn’t it?”

In the drawing, a black-haired girl was smiling brightly, while a man appeared with a somewhat serious and stern expression.

“Look at the expression. This looks just like you, right? What do you think?”

Sophie El chuckled, impressed by the cute idea.

The Scholarship Officer felt a complex mix of emotions upon seeing his likeness in the drawing, curious about what impression he had left on this student for her to draw him like that.

“…It does.”

He looked grimly at the screen, but his eyes showed undeniable embarrassment.

On the first weekend at Aegis Academy, the remaining Violets decided to explore their surroundings.

The clones that had gone out with friends were currently bustling about.

Clone 14, Violet, was zooming around the vicinity of Aegis Academy on a motorcycle.

“Kalia! Step on it harder!”

“Got it, got it! Stop bouncing around and hold on tight!”

“Woohoo! This is thrilling!”

The fierce wind that brushed my face felt like it was piercing through my chest.

I had gifted the motorcycle to Kalia thinking it would suit her well, and it seemed she was enjoying it more than I expected.

Before long, unidentified delivery motorcycles whizzed past, blaring their horns loudly.

“Hey, wait a minute. What’s that? Is that you?”

“Yep, it’s Delivery Violet! Go faster!”

“What? Are you crazy? People will think we’re in a biker gang! Ah, no. Stop!”

While Clone 14 enjoyed the thrill of driving, Clone 781 was dragged by Daphne to a nearby clothing store for shopping.

“We only need a uniform… I can just touch the clothes and copy them.”

“Then what’s the point of shopping? Come on, try this on. It will look great on Violet!”

“Umm…”

Unlike the Violets paired with friends, the Academy’s Violet was alone.

Irene was busy in a video conference.

Clone 881, on a solitary stroll around the academy, spotted Sister Adela dressed in stylish outing clothes.

“Wow, Sister Adela!”

“Violet!”

We exchanged warm hugs, beaming smiles at each other.

“How was your first week? Did you do well?”

“Yes, it was really good!”

We sat on a nearby bench and shared stories from the past week.

“I heard quite a few rumors? How often Violet comes up in conversation among the professors. Even the Student Council is talking about our cute junior.”

Sipping the hot chocolate that Sister Adela handed me, I looked up.

Curious about what rumors were circulating, Sister Adela began to discuss how I solved the problem and the duel.

“Of course, it’s Violet. The professors keep praising you. It’s only the first week, but you’ve captured the entire school’s attention. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next!”

“Hehe…”

Sister Adela affectionately ruffled my hair, as if she were proud.

“It might sound exaggerated, but I believe in you. Violet will become an incredible talent in the future.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Absolutely! I sometimes feel that our junior tends to underestimate her abilities.”

My heart swelled with joy at the beautiful senior’s generous praise.

“Are you not interested in Student Council activities? Honestly, I think Violet could easily become the next Student Council President.”

“But you’re the current president, Sister.”

“I’m scheduled to graduate in a year.”

“Oh…”

I was taken aback by how quickly the time with Sister Adela was approaching its end.

“Then I won’t get to see you often after you graduate.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be around the school for a while due to family matters. I’ll come to visit you often even after graduation.”

Her transparent eyes held a gentle smile.

“Oh, by the way, could you do me one favor?”

“What is it?”

“When it’s just the two of us, call me ‘Sister’. Got it?”

“Yes, Sister!”

I readily agreed to her request for clarity in our relationship.

Suddenly, as the conversation shifted to graduation, a brilliant idea struck me.

“By the way, Sister Adela. You don’t have to go out of your way to visit me. I’ll come find you directly!”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

I quickly explained to the somewhat bewildered Sister Adela.

“Isn’t it awkward to contact and make appointments? I can make another Violet to keep by your side!”

Sister Adela, realizing my true intentions, was taken aback momentarily but soon burst into a bright smile.

“What a fantastic idea!”

We both felt that it was indeed a wonderful thought.

If all goes well, maybe I could live in Cascadia Mansion?