Chapter Seventeen: The Kindest Monster

Eventually, 1242 still left.

Her dormitory was located within Nightleaf Academy, amidst those towering white spires that reached for the clouds. She had originally been assigned to patrol the streets, required to report her position and check in regularly. Now, her sudden disappearance was already a breach of the rules; to stay out all night would, without question, be an even graver offense.

Meanwhile, Su Ziye and Liu Ru remained behind. In fact, after that, the mysterious Third Highness never engaged in any further communication with the two of them. Or rather, from the start, most of her conversations had been with 1242; once 1242 departed, the enigmatic young lady ascended directly to the second floor.

As for Su Ziye, he casually opened a room on the first floor, gathered his bags and the goods that had been teleported in with them, and stowed everything inside before closing the door.

“Eye of Scadi.” Only when the door was shut did Su Ziye turn to Liu Ru and utter this cryptic phrase.

The moment she heard these words, the tension that had gripped Liu Ru all day finally eased. Throughout the day, she had been meticulously playing the role of “Liu Ru”—appearing relaxed and carefree, yet maintaining such a relentless, flawless performance was something her former self could never have imagined.

“Is it safe enough here?” Liu Ru looked at Su Ziye and asked.

This was the rule of the game between them. Only when Su Ziye uttered the password “Eye of Scadi” could Liu Ru let down her guard and communicate with him as her true self. Otherwise, even if threatened with death the next instant, her disguise and act would not falter.

“If there is only one safe house in all of Nightleaf City, this is it,” Su Ziye replied, smiling faintly at Liu Ru.

The youth who had played the loyal servant by day now appeared equally at ease.

“Or rather, the entire purpose of our coming here was to gain the help of this Third Highness.”

“Who exactly is this Third Highness?” Liu Ru could not help but ask, curiosity piqued. “Can she hear us talking right now?”

“If she wishes, of course she can. I’ve never tried to hide anything from her,” Su Ziye said calmly, meeting Liu Ru’s gaze. “As for who she is—if I’m not mistaken, she is the second most formidable being in this city.”

“A monster?” Liu Ru’s expression was peculiar.

Su Ziye often used the word “monster,” and she had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

But that girl in the black cloak, whose beauty was breathtaking, whose every movement exuded tranquility and grace—she inspired only the instinct to care for and protect her. Could such a person truly be a monster? And not just any monster, but the second-ranked in the whole city?

“The entire Nightleaf City is protected by the barrier set by the Saint; almost no one can fly or teleport here. Even Nightleaf Academy itself must rely on specially-trained birds for rapid movement,” Su Ziye said quietly, looking at Liu Ru. “But the Third Highness can traverse and teleport anywhere in the city as if no one else exists. She can even perfectly teleport others along with her.”

He sighed, unable to suppress his awe. “You have to understand—in that instant, she had no contact with any of us, yet she managed to precisely teleport all three of us, including the goods lying on the ground, directly into this house. Such power—on a global scale, there are hardly any who could match it.”

“But for her, it’s no more difficult than breathing.”

Hearing this, Liu Ru finally felt enlightened.

Indeed, when the girl called Third Highness had done all this, it had seemed so natural, so ordinary, that one could almost forget how extraordinary it was.

But if you ponder it carefully, it was a power so tremendous it suffocated the mind.

“So she’s only the second?” Liu Ru couldn’t help but look at Su Ziye.

“That’s because she’s not the master of this city,” Su Ziye explained as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “She’s merely a resident here.”

“But she doesn’t seem dangerous at all,” Liu Ru muttered under her breath.

Indeed, 1242 had been so worried that the two of them might harbor ill intentions toward the Third Highness. Even Liu Ru herself felt vaguely that it might be inappropriate for them to reside under the same roof—as if, should they possess the slightest malice, something dreadful would happen.

But hearing Su Ziye’s explanation, Liu Ru realized that, in truth, the only ones in danger were themselves.

“She isn’t dangerous,” Su Ziye said with a faint smile. “In fact, she’s been in Nightleaf City for at least thirty years. Normally, she only appears before the students of Nightleaf Academy.”

“Then…” Liu Ru began to ask why the Third Highness had appeared before them, but suddenly recalled something. “Is it because we are now prospective students?”

Indeed, earlier that day, the two of them had promptly submitted their recommendation forms at the registration office and obtained the qualification to take the Academy’s entrance trials.

So, in a sense, at this very moment, they were just barely considered members of Nightleaf Academy.

“That’s one way to exploit the loophole,” Su Ziye said to her with a smile.

“And about Lanliu…” Liu Ru ventured cautiously.

Given Su Ziye’s nature, he was not fond of surprises.

She strongly suspected that even Lanliu had been part of Su Ziye’s plan.

“Yes. Obtaining temporary student status alone wasn’t enough. Those trinkets we used at the market—I specifically gathered them to appeal to the Third Highness’s tastes, making them the perfect bait,” Su Ziye said quietly. “But bait alone isn’t sufficient. After provoking Lanliu during the day, that proud noble would naturally want revenge. By choosing to set up our stall in the street, we gave him the perfect stage.”

He didn’t forget to add, “By the way, you performed excellently today—truly my star pupil.”

“So, the reason the Third Highness brought us here is because she sensed we were in danger?” Liu Ru mused.

“Yes,” Su Ziye answered softly.

Liu Ru gazed at him intently. “Doesn’t your conscience hurt, manipulating her like this?”

She glanced up at the ceiling. “Didn’t you say she can hear every word we say?”

Was it really wise to be plotting so openly under her very nose?

“It doesn’t matter,” Su Ziye replied with a smile, shaking his head. “If all the monsters in this world were to be ranked, the Third Highness would undoubtedly be the kindest of them all.”

“No matter how we make use of her, she would never mind.”

“Because, from beginning to end,” Su Ziye looked at Liu Ru,

“I have never harbored any malice toward her.”

“And she has always understood that—that’s all that matters.”