Yan Lingxuan rubbed his stinging cheek, feeling utterly wronged. He stole a glance at Sherlock beside him—still wearing that ice-cold expression, as if none of this concerned her. Though it was her slap that left the mark burning on his face.

They stood in the principal’s office again, in the same spots as before. Only now Yan faced the door while Sherlock looked toward where Principal Yuan Ye Misaki and her secretary stood. Why this reversal? Let’s rewind to five minutes earlier.

Five minutes ago.

After Principal Misaki said something that angered Secretary Miura Riko, she retaliated with a lightning-fast punch. Following this brutal lesson—leaving Misaki nearly foaming at the mouth and blissfully unconscious—the principal fought back. Her hands shot backward, accurately seizing Miura’s ample chest. A soft moan escaped the secretary, but she didn’t stop. Neither did the principal. A fierce struggle erupted.

Yan remained neutral during their "brutal" clash, intending to observe as an outsider. But the sheer violence of it—even from a distance—hit him like a physical blow. A sharp sting flared in his nose… until Sherlock slapped him and barked, "Turn around!"

He’d been *this close* to seeing the finale. But under Sherlock’s terrifying glare—promising he’d "never see anything again" if he disobeyed—Yan had no choice but to yield.

The sounds of struggle faded. Rustling clothes came from behind him. Yan’s monkey-like curiosity flared, but Sherlock’s warning stare froze him in place.

"You may turn around now, Brother Yan."

He turned. Secretary Miura stood bathed in morning light, blouse open as she fastened her bra strap. The sight felt sacred, beautiful. Tears welled in Yan’s eyes—he’d cherish this memory forever. Yet why did the secretary look horrified? Why did she whisper a word that didn’t fit him at all?

"Pervert…"

Sherlock’s murderous glare returned. Yan stammered, "It’s not my fault! The principal said—"

*Smack!*

A week after the last time, both his cheeks swelled crimson again.

Rubbing his puffy face, Yan looked teary-eyed with humiliation. Sherlock’s icy expression didn’t soften an inch.

"Principal Misaki will now explain why you were summoned," Secretary Miura announced. She stood perfectly composed, as if nothing had happened. Her uniform was immaculate. Only two faint lumps on the principal’s temples hinted otherwise.

Misaki beamed sweetly across her desk. "Simply put: you two will convince five truant students to return to class."

"Huh?"

"What do you mean, ‘simply put’?"

The principal had skipped all explanations, acting as if they’d already agreed. Still, Yan and Sherlock grasped the gist—and both were baffled. Shouldn’t teachers handle truancy? Why involve students?

"This is the principal’s decision," Miura stated flatly. "Consider it an academy mission. Alice will brief you on details. Yan Lingxuan, you still owe fifteen hours of community service for that brawl. Sherlock, aren’t you campaigning for Student Council president? This is a chance to earn goodwill."

*Why only me?* Yan thought bitterly. *What about Zaku?*

But resistance was futile. They accepted.

"I have a question about this mission," Sherlock said suddenly. At Misaki’s nod, she shot Yan a look of utter disdain. "Must we work together?"

"Technically, no. But I urge cooperation. This mission may… develop unexpectedly." Misaki’s rare seriousness made the air tighten.

*Not just truancy,* Yan realized. With recent magical crimes escalating, this reeked of danger. Why entrust it to students? Where were the Valkyries’ elite mages? Misaki’s silence confirmed his suspicion: answers wouldn’t come easily.

Sherlock, no fool, had likely reached the same conclusion. Yet she asked nothing. *Confidence? Or calculation?* Yan guessed the former.

"I work better alone," Sherlock declared. "Weak partners only slow me down."

*So much for the ‘kind, generous Princess Sherlock’ rumors,* Yan thought. Every interaction felt like walking on knives. Was he imagining it?

"Just stay out of my way," he muttered, used to her barbs.

"Handle the task as you see fit," Misaki said sharply. Her gaze turned steely—the look of Valhalla Academy’s headmaster, and one of the Twelve Seats of the Magic Association. "But act quickly."

…

Back in class mid-lecture, they slipped into their seats with the teacher’s permission.

Yan had magically soothed his swollen cheeks on the walk back. *Can’t look like a pervert… even if I am one.*

As he passed the front row, a short-haired girl glared daggers at him. Her fury suggested he’d committed an unforgivable crime. *Nakamura Ai,* he recalled. One of Sherlock’s devoted fans. *Why’s she mad at me?*

After class, Gavi and Yu Xiaozhuo cornered him. "Where were you with Princess Sherlock?" they pressed, waggling eyebrows. Yan remembered Nakamura’s glare. *They’ve got the wrong idea.* He felt wronged all over again—he’d taken two slaps, not romance!

"The principal assigned us to find Monte and the others. Get them back to school."

"Nothing happened between you two?" Yu Xiaozhuo pressed, grinning. "Rumors say Sherlock’s been watching you. I hoped for a campus love comedy!"

"Did *you* start those rumors?" Yan narrowed his eyes.

Yu Xiaozhuo just chuckled nervously. "I, uh… heard it somewhere."

"Don’t spread that," Yan warned. "I’ll be lynched by her fans before I reach the door. And that princess? She’d never look twice at a nobody like me."

"True," Gavi nodded. "If someone like you could land a princess, otaku wouldn’t exist."

*What’s wrong with otaku?* Yan fumed silently.

"Exactly," Yu Xiaozhuo sighed dreamily. "If Yan Lingxuan deserves a British princess, then Yuan Ye is totally my boyfriend." Stars glittered in her eyes—clearly lost in fantasy.

Harold, silent until now, snorted. "Even my toes know that princess would never want Yan Lingxuan."

*Ouch. Even if it’s true… have some tact!*

The joking stopped. Gavi turned serious. "So what’s your plan?"

"No idea. Alice is supposed to brief me." Yan sighed. "This is such a hassle."

His Wearable Device glowed. Alice’s hologram appeared—still in that sleeveless catsuit, black-stockinged legs making Yan’s heart skip.

"Per the principal’s orders," the tiny figure bowed formally, "I grant Yan Lingxuan full operational support, second only to April Council clearance."

*April Council—the highest authority in Atlantis.* Yan swallowed hard. This just got real.