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Sharin’s Bombshell Announcement.

With that statement, the previously warm party hall suddenly fell silent.

“...Magic fox, who said you could do things on your own?”

Seron was the first to break the silence with a sharp retort.

Even with Seron’s sharp tone, Sharin remained completely unbothered, resting her face on the table.

With a languid smile, she opened her mouth.

“First come, first served when it comes to asking for a date, right?”

“Wha—”

Sharin nonchalantly uttered the word “date.”

Without a hint of embarrassment, her confident demeanor left Seron momentarily flustered.

This time, Isabel stepped in to scold Sharin.

“Rin, he’s a teaching assistant. That’s why we’re hosting this party.”

Isabel was right—I was a teaching assistant.

It was because of this status that the girls had prepared this party.

But Sharin didn’t care.

“No one would notice if he switched to being a student.”

I had already been abusing the Veil Bandages without hesitation.

I had no rebuttal for that.

Sharin stood up and trotted over to me.

Then she clung to one of my arms.

“You’ll come with me, won’t you, hubby~?”

“I won’t allow that.”

But instead of my response, a voice came from elsewhere.

Sharin turned to look—and there was Iris, seated with her arms crossed.

She gave me a slightly tilted gaze.

“Vikamon-oppa has to help me sleep tonight.”

Even on Christmas, Iris was determined to use me as her cuddle toy.

Her crimson eyes gleamed ominously.

“Ahem.”

Apparently sensitive to such talk, Eve let out an awkward cough.

Sharin narrowed her eyes.

She now seemed ready to declare everyone here her enemy.

“You, tell Rin to stop. She throws tantrums because you keep spoiling her.”

Even if she told me to stop Sharin… it’s not like Sharin is someone you can stop.

“A-And if you’re going to go with someone, it should be me! It’s a day blessed by the goddess, after all.”

Isabel herself didn’t seem all that willing to stop this either.

“Why’s everyone cutting in?! If he’s going, it’s with me!”

Seron screamed, abandoning all reason or explanation.

It was chaos—pure and utter chaos.

I looked down at Sharin, who had started this entire mess.

She clung tightly to my arm and whispered in secret.

“Hubbyyy, they say Christmas is the day with the highest conception rates~”

Where the heck is she learning all this stuff?

I raised my other hand and gave Sharin a flick on the forehead.

She grabbed her forehead and pouted.

“Everyone stop. I’m not going to any party.”

“Then… you’re sleeping with me?”

Iris casually made her appeal.

“This party was prepared just for me. There’s no need to go anywhere else. Let’s just celebrate Christmas here and go home.”

Since they had all put this party together for me, I had no intention of leaving for another one.

We might as well all celebrate here together.

Then, the one who had been the quietest so far—Hania—spoke up.

“Wow. That’s a trashy comment. You're basically saying you'll spend Christmas with everyone here.”

Oh… I guess it does come off that way.

Slide—

“Apologies. I’m late due to training.”

Just in time, Aisha appeared, wearing a scarf.

Her nose slightly red from the cold, she tilted her head as she took in the atmosphere.

“Vikamon sure is lucky. One more joins in. And strangely, they’re all women.”

Hania pointed out the obvious weak point with a chuckle.

She was right—unintentionally, every character I had revealed my identity to was a woman.

Even though Flame Butterfly was technically a harem-style game, during Lucas’s time, there were plenty of male allies like Ban and Card.

There had been quite a few male martial arts classmates too.

But Ban still didn’t know who I really was, and Card and Grantoni had left the academy.

With my shrinking circle of connections, things had ended up like this.

“...Am I trash?”

Trash who only built relationships with women.

“Uh… Senior, I don’t know what’s going on, but hang in there.”

Only Aisha, who hadn’t fully grasped the situation, offered me encouragement.

＊＊＊

The party atmosphere quickly returned.

Honestly, being treated like trash wasn’t anything new—it was practically a daily thing by now.

I’d gotten used to it.

So, I enjoyed the party with everyone.

With the upcoming Winter Demon Dungeon scenario, this would be our last break.

Gotta enjoy it while it lasts.

In the Empire, anyone over 15 is legally considered an adult.

Though adults would still see them as kids, legally, drinking was permitted.

Perhaps that’s why, thanks to the wine Hania had specially brought, everyone started drinking enthusiastically.

One thing I learned from this: Eve is a total lightweight.

“...I want to make more friends.”

Eve quietly sobbed in a cozy spot with a pile of cushions.

I should try to help her find more friends next time.

In contrast, Aisha didn’t get drunk at all.

“In the North, drinking is part of everyday life. No one from the Bizvel Count family can’t handle alcohol.”

Aisha, with Bizvel blood, was immune to alcohol.

She drank the wine like juice, without showing the slightest hint of intoxication.

The party buzzed along.

With the alcohol loosening people up, the mood was more relaxed than usual.

Even Iris, who normally didn’t mingle much, had a lot more conversations tonight.

It seemed like making her first friend had widened her social horizons.

I was a little proud of that.

I’d had my fair share of drinks too, and before I knew it, my face was flushed.

That loosened-up feeling was pretty pleasant.

“I’m gonna get some fresh air.”

Wanting to clear my head a bit, I stood up.

I left the classroom and stepped outside to the first floor for a bit of cool air.

Under the night sky, I could see the brightly lit gymnasium.

They were probably having their own Christmas party in there too.

“You.”

As I stood there, staring at the gym, Isabel approached me.

She must’ve followed me out when I left.

Her face was also flushed from the drinks.

She came to stand beside me and softly exhaled a breath of warm air.

Then she covered her mouth and giggled quietly.

“What’s so funny?”

“Just… thinking about summer.”

Summer… yeah, we had watched the ocean together back then.

What’s different now is that I’m Vikamon… and I’ve had a few drinks tonight too.

“A whole year has already passed.”

Isabel looked up at the night sky with slightly glazed eyes.

This past year had been turbulent for her.

Starting with being driven to the brink of suicide by Lucas’s death.

Then, recovering and finally awakening the Wings of the Goddess.

Her hardships and trials were all wrapped into this one year.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

When I praised Isabel’s efforts, her eyes widened in surprise.

Then she looked at me and smiled softly.

“Are you really one to say that?”

“Anyone can say it.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Isabel took a small step closer to me.

Then, after hesitating for a moment, she leaned her head gently on my shoulder.

Her signature citrusy tangerine scent lingered at the tip of my nose.

Her cheeks, tinged slightly with drunkenness, looked a bit redder than usual today.

“You had no problem stealing someone’s lips before.”

“Hehe... Even so, being embarrassed is still being embarrassed. I wish I were more forward like Sharin or Seron.”

Isabel confessed her feelings to me.

Even so, the reason she wasn’t as forward as the others was probably because she was shy.

Though I feel like she’s the one who gets the most jealous out of everyone.

Sometimes, her gaze can be a bit terrifying.

“…What about you? How are you feeling these days?”

Lost emotions.

When she brought it up, my eyes turned to Isabel.

“Isabel, how do I seem to you?”

Lately, I’ve noticed subtle reactions from others.

Expressions like they’re looking at someone no longer human.

I was definitely straying further and further from being normal.

“…To be honest, I think it’s dangerous. Like you’ve lost the standards you used to hold.”

Isabel looked at me, biting her lip tightly.

She was right.

My concept of “right” and “wrong” had started to collapse.

Emotions amplify people—but sometimes, they also suppress them.

And I was gradually losing that suppressive power.

“But your eyes are still the same. Just like the day I first met you. You're still you.”

Her sun-like eyes looked straight at me.

Isabel was a sunflower.

But at some point, the flower had bloomed, and she had become a sun that could shine on her own.

To her, I must have looked tainted.

Her radiant light couldn’t reach into my clouded eyes.

“Can I ask you for just one thing?”

“As a Christmas present or something?”

“Yeah. I’m greedy like that.”

She gently took hold of my collar.

“Can you only wear the Veil Bandages when entering the Demon Dungeon from now on?”

Only wear them then.

Hearing that, my gaze dropped to the Veil Bandages.

I had been wearing them even in daily life.

Ever since Hannon, I never saw a reason to take them off.

My emotions were already gone, and as long as I had to keep using the bandages, I figured there was no point in removing them.

Besides, there were scars and traces of the ancient dragon left on my body.

To hide those, I’d need another disguise anyway.

But at least, unlike the Veil Bandages, they wouldn’t erase my emotions.

“You can stay at Zerion Academy as yourself now.”

I opened my mouth to object, but then stopped.

Why am I trying to argue with that?

Isabel’s point was perfectly valid.

I was the one who asked others to help me recover my emotions.

Yet I hadn’t really tried to get them back myself.

The excuses that came to mind slowly sank away.

The scars, the Demon Dungeon—all of it was just an excuse.

Ah.

I see now.

I finally realized the true nature of the Veil Bandages.

“……”

After a moment of silence, I looked back at Isabel.

“Isabel.”

Hearing my voice, her eyes widened.

I didn’t know what my face looked like in her eyes.

Her gaze trembled violently, then she suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.

Her body was trembling.

But my emotions still didn’t show any sign of movement.

“…Sorry. I kept trying to stay aware of it, but I guess I’m more broken than I thought.”

The Veil Bandages were a curse.

A dreadful curse that eventually made it impossible to remove them yourself.

“It’s okay!”

That’s why Isabel shouted.

“I’ll get them back for you. You’re not broken. I will make you whole again!”

She clung to me, voice desperate, pouring all her strength into the hug.

Trying her best to make her emotions reach me.

“Just like you saved me, I’ll save you too. So—”

She showed me the only emotion I still recognized.

A radiant smile, tears welling in her eyes.

“Let’s get them back. Let’s take everything back.”

A quiet night.

Isabel made that promise with me.

And from that day forward, I decided to take off the Veil Bandages in my daily life.

Because that was the promise I made with Isabel.