"Everyone okay? Then let's head to the city for some fun~"

The two who’d looked queasy earlier seemed to have recovered. Lixin waved her hand, ready to leave.

"Wait..." Though speaking might bring on nausea, Cleyna still called out to her.

"What is it?"

"..." Cleyna’s face was stern as she stared silently at Lixin for a long moment.

"?" Though unsure what was happening, Lixin felt it must be serious.

"...Wait, just give me a moment. I’m afraid I’ll throw up..." After saying this, Cleyna’s face instantly turned green again.

"...Uh, fine."

Two minutes later, Cleyna seemed recovered. She looked up again, expression stern.

It was a serious moment—why did Lixin’s gaze feel so jarring?

"You!" Cleyna shouted.

Honestly, Lixin jumped.

"Aren’t you... hiding your true strength? What’s your purpose?" Cleyna pressed.

D-damn... My worst fear came true. How to answer? Say, "Hahaha, what are you talking about? This loser I am has no strength to hide"?

Wouldn’t that just give it away?! Plus, she’d think I’m calling her an idiot and either lecture me forever or punch me!

Then... tell the truth?

Nah. Say, "Actually, I’m that urban legend from seven years ago—the one who wiped out all enemies and accidentally killed every ally. I just can’t be bothered with trivial stuff alongside you mortals"?

Yeah right. Who’d believe that? And that tone’d get me beaten anyway!

"Admitting it? Then explain. Why hide your strength? What’s your real level?"

Lixin’s silent panic was taken as confirmation. Cleyna, now certain, wielded her student council president authority to press further.

Ahhh! Since when did I admit anything?! Now I can’t even play dumb!

Lixin’s expression twisted. Awkward silence filled the air. Qin Fan stood dumbfounded nearby.

What were they even discussing? He caught bits—Lixin faking weakness while actually strong? Seriously, wasn’t that obvious? Why the drama?

If Lixin knew Qin Fan’s thoughts, she’d want to bang her head against a wall. Was her acting really that bad? Even this idiot saw through it.

Well, it was terrible.

"Uh... actually..." Lixin stammered, her mouth twitching.

"Hmm? Actually?" Cleyna leaned in, eager.

"Actually, I’m Class A, hahaha..."

Me! Damn! What did I just say?! How to fix this?!

"Oh? Really? Then why does your file say C-Class?"

"Mhm!" Qin Fan nodded vigorously beside her.

Wait... their reactions... Could they actually believe it?

This might work. She knew how to play it now.

"Well, I skip class a lot—Qin Fan knows. I missed the grading day, so they slapped me with C-Class."

Cleyna glanced at Qin Fan. He nodded fast.

Lixin continued, "Later, I tested alone with the Principal. He said Class A and told me to update my file, but..."

"But?"

"...My laziness kicked in. I never went."

"..."

If anyone else said this, Cleyna and Qin Fan wouldn’t believe it. But from Lixin? Credibility shot up.

"Sigh... Since you’ve cleared it up, our doubts are gone. Nothing more to say."

Relieved, Cleyna felt lighter.

"So what now?" she asked. Breaking from the military was Lixin’s idea—they’d rushed out with no plan.

"City fun, obviously. The military’s business isn’t ours anymore. Thanks to the war, the city’s shifted back. We’re in the suburbs—walking’ll take an hour or two. It’s dark now; finding a place to stay works too."

"Right."

Cleyna agreed. No lodging meant sleeping in fields.

"Um... what about the military folks? And how do we leave later?" Qin Fan weakly raised his hand.

"They didn’t trust us—why care? This wasn’t our destination anyway. Leaving? Seriously? Once in the city, signal’s no problem."

"True."

In the end, slowed by Qin Fan, they walked until 10 PM. At the urban-rural fringe, they found a tiny inn—the area’s only one. It stayed open only because it was the owner’s converted home; three kilometers from the suburbs made it too dangerous to run.

Entering the city center... would have to wait till tomorrow.

................................................................

North America, Labrador Peninsula.

"Commander, the second line of defense has fallen."

"Do you think... with the last line... can we hold it?"

"Commander, frankly, it’ll be difficult."

"Then I leave command to you for now."

"Commander... you..."

"A person must move often... rust sets in... and that’s no good..."