The Blood Princess, sandwiched in the middle of the crowd, had her head lowered. Her expression was somewhat shy, and her shoulder-length hair was pitch-black, shiny, and extremely smooth.
Looking at the text, this was probably a group photo taken when they were in their third year. Not only did it feature the Blood Princess, but also Claire and Alvit.
The reason Hero Bright was not present was not that he lacked strength at the time, but because this was a women-only competition.
Virt was quite sensitive to "long black hair," so he looked extra carefully. However, one really couldn't glean much from such a photo.
"Isn't the Blood Princess a descendant of the Blood Clan? Perhaps this black hair is her original hair color, but after practicing Blood Magic, her hair color changed?" Virt speculated, stroking his chin.
However, his unintentional speculation caused Robert's face to instantly turn deathly pale.
Hair color could change.
If practicing that so-called Blood Magic could really turn hair red...
No wonder he always felt that the hair color of the Blood Princess he saw in the mist was much redder than the Blood Princess in 300 Heroes!
"Robert, are you okay?" Virt noticed the anomaly and couldn't help asking.
Robert hastily composed himself and said, "Of course I'm fine. Let's keep looking; we might just find something new, who knows?"
...
Just as the two were huddled together flipping through the campus newspaper, Pandora at the Library's front desk welcomed an uninvited guest.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at the "girl" appearing at the doorway, and couldn't help but frown.
People came and went in the Library every day. Of course, she wouldn't remember everyone's appearance, but the sense of unfamiliarity this "girl" gave her was exceedingly peculiar.
It seemed to be... an inhuman aura?
This caused a trace of vigilance to involuntarily rise within her.
However, the person who appeared behind the "girl" caused her to let her guard down once again.
...
Not long after, that "girl" bypassed the counter and entered the spacious reading room.
She had short black hair, double eyelids, long eyelashes, and cherry lips. The school uniform on her body was slightly loose, but it only made her look even more petite and cute.
After entering the reading room, she took careful steps, her gaze darting left and right as if searching for something.
A moment later, her eyes suddenly lit up, and then she walked straight toward Virt and Robert.
Newcomers would always attract some extra attention.
The students reading and doing homework in that area couldn't help but look up.
Some glanced and immediately moved on.
Others watched curiously, wanting to see exactly who she was looking for.
Just when people thought she would brush past the table where Virt and Robert were seated, she suddenly stopped, widening her eyes to look at Virt at the table!
Disturbed by the shift in light and shadow, Virt couldn't help but look up, locking gazes with the girl's bright and spirited large eyes.
Suddenly being stared at like this by a petite and cute girl, Virt, who had no similar experiences, suddenly felt a bit flustered, so much so that his heartbeat quickened slightly.
Meanwhile, Robert, who was staring at the campus newspaper, was a beat late in looking up and subconsciously blurted out, "Who are you?"
The girl seemed to be startled by him and subconsciously took half a step back.
Virt complained, "Don't scare her. Excuse me, is there something you need from us?"
But the girl didn't answer; she merely pursed her lips and observed him carefully.
Virt was certain he was being observed, which made him very uncomfortable.
Very quickly, however, the girl suddenly brought the hand hidden behind her back to her front. Then, she leaned forward abruptly, stretching her arm out perfectly straight.
And in the palm of her hand, she was gripping a box of chocolates!
Looking at that chocolate box, along with the stubbornness and shyness of the girl biting her lip, Virt was instantly dumbfounded!
Beside him, Robert also looked as if he had been hit by a paralysis curse, his entire body freezing up.
For them, this was perhaps a scene that could only be witnessed in a dream, right?
A very, very cute girl gave them—no, only gave Virt chocolates!
Although it was now the second day after Valentine's Day.
But being one day late shouldn't count against it, right?
"Hahaha," Robert laughed dryly in his heart.
Virt, on the other hand, was so agitated that his hands trembled.
He couldn't help but ask, "Is this for me?"
That sheer cautiousness truly made it seem like he was touching a dream, as if the dream would shatter if his voice was even slightly louder.
The girl gave a small nod.
Virt couldn't help but reach out and accept the chocolates.
Then, the girl let go and suddenly bowed, as if expressing her thanks.
Immediately after, just as Virt wanted to say something else, she suddenly twisted around and trotted out of the reading room.
The impression she gave was of a very shy girl who, on the day after Valentine's Day, had finally made up her mind to give chocolates to the person she liked.
And after delivering the chocolates, she ran away out of shyness!
However...
"Who exactly is she?" Robert asked in a low voice after she ran away.
But Virt didn't echo his sentiment. Instead, he placed the box of chocolates on the table, let go, and stared at it carefully.
After a long while, he finally said, "Robert, what do you think I should do?"
Robert forced a joking tone, "She's quite cute, isn't she?"
Virt murmured, "But I already have someone in my heart."
Robert replied, "This involves an age-old dilemma."
Virt asked, "What dilemma?"
Robert answered, "Between the person you love and the person who loves you, who will make you happier if you are together?"
Virt asked, "If it were you, how would you choose?"
Robert said, "Of course, I would choose the one who loves me!"
Virt replied, "Then I..."
He couldn't help but hesitate.
Just yesterday, he had just been ignored.
Yet now, he was still undecided.
"Let me think about it."
...
This "thinking" took nearly half an hour.
Virt hesitated endlessly, and in the end, he didn't open the box of chocolates in the Library.
When it got late, he left the Library together with Robert.
Senior Pandora, as always, registered his departure, just like she did for everyone coming and going from the Library.
Virt had gradually come to realize that giving her chocolates wouldn't attract her attention.
Because she received far too many chocolates on Valentine's Day!
It wasn't that there were no other excellent girls in the academy, but Pandora was the Library administrator, meaning students from the entire academy could come into contact with her.
Therefore, the number of people who developed an admiration for her was exceptionally high.
Mixed among so many people, Virt did not stand out in any way.
His identity as the "Son of the Hero" wasn't of much use either.
In comparison, another girl had now noticed him!
And she had even personally given him a box of chocolates!
...
On the walk from the Library back to the dormitory, Virt thought about a lot of things.
Finally, he made a decision.
"Hey, Virt, want to play a game after taking a shower?" Robert waved to him in the corridor.
He subconsciously said, "Of course, I'll wait for you."
He then unlocked his door and went in, quickly walking to his desk and sitting down. He placed his schoolbag on the desk and took out the box of chocolates from it.
After placing the chocolates on the table, Virt took a deep breath, clapped his hands together as if on a pilgrimage, and began to unbox it.
"Is it store-bought chocolate?"
The moment he saw the chocolates, Virt couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
He saw that the chocolate box was homemade, so he initially thought the chocolates inside would also be handmade.
Although handmade chocolates might not be as tasty as store-bought ones, they represented a piece of one's heart.
Virt valued that more.
"Perhaps she's just a clumsy girl."
Virt quickly found an excuse for her. Only then did he find a card inside the box, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.
His greatest fear was not knowing her name or House, which would make her very difficult to find.
But when he took out the card to look, he discovered it was unsigned.
[If, and I mean if... you think I might be the one, please reply to me.]
[Tonight at 11 PM, I will wait for you here.]
There was a small map attached at the end. Although drawn rather simply, its features were obvious, and the location could be recognized at a glance.
It was precisely the exterior bridge where Virt had opened Into the Abyss under the full moon for the first time!
Due to its geographical location, that bridge between the Castles often became a dating spot for couples, and thus was dubbed the "Lover's Bridge" by some students.
It was indeed a good place for a rendezvous.
But 11 PM...
Virt felt somewhat anxious.
Should he go, or not?
"11 PM, that's only an hour before curfew, plus there are Golems patrolling..."
"But if I don't go, will she keep waiting there?"
"If she misses curfew because she kept waiting, wouldn't that be my fault..."
...
Knock, knock, knock.
The door was knocked.
Virt abruptly snapped back to reality, hastily tucked the card away, and went to open the door.
Robert, who had finished showering quickly, walked in wearing plush pajamas, carrying a Magic Guide Chess set in his hands.
Virt hesitated for a moment but still ended up playing chess with him.
But when it reached 10:30 PM, he looked at Robert—who still wanted to play another round—and hesitated before saying, "Robert, I'd like to go to sleep early tonight."
Robert was stunned for a moment, his eyes casually glancing toward the chocolate box on the desk. He then said straightforwardly, "Of course, no problem. I'm a bit tired today too."
Thus, he packed up the chessboard and quickly returned to his own dormitory.
However, after putting down the chessboard, he went to the door and pulled his dormitory door open just a crack.
Virt had been completely distracted while playing chess tonight; it honestly couldn't have been more obvious.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before he heard footsteps coming from Virt's side.
"Has it started already?"
Robert couldn't help but feel a sliver of gratification.
Virt had finally given up on the Senior he had no chance with!
He genuinely thought the girl who came to deliver chocolates tonight was quite nice, and her hair color was the black that Virt liked.
Although she had short hair, she could just grow it out!
...
Thinking this way, Robert opened his door and quietly followed behind Virt.
Don't ask why he trailed along.
Who didn't have a bit of a gossipy soul?
...
Castle third floor.
The usual spot...
Dark leaned against the window, looking at the exterior bridge on the second floor known as the "Lover's Bridge," and couldn't help but feel a trace of guilt.
If he wasn't out of options, he really wouldn't have resorted to this poor stratagem.
But under the current circumstances, there truly weren't many methods to lure Robert out without arousing his suspicion.
Furthermore, it required ensuring that Robert and Virt were separated by a certain distance, and doing so during the dangerous time of "late night."
"Everything is to test whether there's a Vampire inside Robert's body. Presumably, once Virt knows, he should understand, right?"
Dark flipped the Magic Guide Card in his hand somewhat embarrassedly. Suddenly, his heart stirred.
"He's here!"
...
For tonight's operation, Professor Kazel had specifically adjusted the patrol routes of the Golems.
Thus, Virt successfully avoided all the Golems and rushed to the Lover's Bridge before 11 PM.
Upon arriving at the bridge entrance, a cold wind came whistling over.
He couldn't help but grab his collar, pulling it tight with force. Then, as if making up his mind, he strode toward the other side of the bridge!
It was almost time.
If the girl had already arrived, she should be on the other side of the bridge.
As he crossed the bridge, someone quietly poked half their head out from the direction he had come from.
It was exactly Robert, who had followed him.
Robert was extremely familiar with Virt.
Therefore, when tracking him, he had always maintained a certain distance from Virt. He hadn't used his eyes to look at Virt's back a single time, tracking him purely through sound localization.
He was very satisfied with his performance tonight, wanting to praise himself as a "tracking master"!
"I hope things go smoothly for them!" Robert couldn't help but offer his blessing.
He retracted his head and didn't move any further forward.
...
Meanwhile, Virt, having reached the other side of the bridge, finally saw his girl.
The girl was wearing a school uniform, standing there quietly like a delicate jasmine flower.
Virt suppressed the excitement in his heart, but his walking pace involuntarily quickened.
Once he arrived in front of the girl, Virt took the initiative to speak, "Good evening. I still don't know your name..."
"Mangmang."
For the first time, the girl opened her mouth and made a sound in front of the boy.
Virt subconsciously asked, "What?"
Then he continued, "Mang Mang? Your name is Mang Mang?"
The girl replied, "Mangmang!"
Virt said, "Anyway, it's Mang Mang, I guess. Thank you so much. I was very happy to receive your chocolates tonight..."
Just as Virt was softly pouring out his feelings...
That girl's head suddenly began to melt.
From the top down, it melted like a candle.
Her originally delicate facial features and cute face...
Virt froze for a split second, and then his entire body trembled in fear at the horrifying sight, letting out a "piercing" scream from his throat!
But the sound vanished.
It was the familiar Silence Card.
...
"Has it begun?"
Dark picked up the "[Magic Beast (Ditto)]" Magic Guide Card in his hand. Feeling Ditto's transformation, he gradually gained an understanding of the situation.
He turned his ear to listen.
Something was slowly approaching from all around, and in great numbers.
Everything was under control.
Meanwhile, beneath his feet on the second floor of the Castle, at this end of the Lover's Bridge.
Robert Broheim was leaning against the wall, deep in thought, when he suddenly noticed a Golem walking over.
Startled, he hurriedly curled his body up into the corner.
____
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