"How does it feel missing out on an entire holiday? You want to hear about all the cool things we did?"
"Yeah, it's beyond horrible, don't even talk to me about it, ok? I just… really had enough."
"No, really. I just don't understand. You two literally belong in the same family. Why does she treat you like that the whole time?"
"Does this never happen to you? Jonathan never criticises or humiliates you or anything?"
"Never, but that's perhaps because I'm a better person anyway."
"Luck really boosts one's confidence in their abilities, huh?"
"All aside, did she ever harm you physically?"
"Not in this period, at least. She's cocky and all that, but Nathan Modernson's warning is no joke. Just the regular, verbal thing, you won't understand anyway."
"Leo, let's say you became the head of the Blanc Clan. What would you do if similar things happened between your daughter and someone from a branch family?"
"If that ever could become the case, I'll definitely intervene. You know just as well as I do that our clans can't afford internal conflicts. The external ones are enough burdens for us to carry."
"Of course. I will probably do the same if I become the head of the Schwarz Clan, but… that's all meaningless daydreams."
"Maybe it becomes reality one day, you never know."
"Wait, Leo, if it does and we both become heads of our clans, do you think—"
"Absolutely not. There is a fine line between individuals and communities. The hundred-year-long strife between our clans will not cease because of two irregular cases."
"But as you said, you never know."
"Time will prove me correct, but if that reality ever comes, I'll promise not to bother you if you don't bother me."
"Then what more needs to be said? Welcome back to the club, Leo."
For the members of the Salvation Club, how much they contributed in this rescue mission barely mattered as they victoriously descended in the elevator. The important part was that their existences alone were bargaining chips that allowed Nathan to secure his plan before Amy Blanc.
The energy that they had when they went to confront her did not dissipate after it had been completed. Some of them went up to Leo and encouraged him, yet others thought what he needed more was probably dignity rather than comfort. Only those who knew enough about Leo understood that he needed both.
For some reason, everybody eventually came to an unsaid yet mutual conclusion that they should leave everything for William Schwarz. It didn't seem logically suitable, but the results seemed promising.
Others, however, were more concerned with Nathan's duel with Amy Blanc and the "Personalised Rune Art" he apparently had.
"Third floor first, by the way. I need to have a talk with Jonathan Schwarz. William! That would be fine, right?"
After seeing William's gesture of approval, Nathan turned back behind the group of people surrounding him and began answering their questions.
"Look, what am I the best at?"
"Being creative?" Charlotte suggested.
"Giving a speech?" David evoked.
"More like… manipulating others, having the audacity to provoke everyone, finding ways to break dumb rules, lying, mocking, pranking…" Daniel counted with his fingers, moving on from one hand to the other.
"Escaping responsibility, projecting his flaws, abusing his identity, being annoying, and having a lack of boundaries?" Jennifer added.
"Yep, all is what I wanted to say." Daniel nodded. "What more can we think of, gang?" He grabbed a small whiteboard, whose origin nobody knew, and began brainstorming on it.
"No, I say you all stop right there!" Nathan interrupted them before things got more out of hand.
"Wow, you are good at many things, Nathan." Daniel rubbed everything off and said in a truthful yet infuriating voice.
"You guys all forgot the most important one!" Nathan shook his head. "What about cheating in exams?"
"Ohhh… how did we miss that one? Gotta remember and improve next time." Daniel nodded to the laughing crowd. His poker face in all scenarios had always made him the best comedian of all time.
"You are really going to cheat in a duel?" Ash looked at Nathan with complicated expressions, trying to hold his laughter.
"Of course!" Nathan patted himself on the shoulder proudly. "Not only will I cheat, but I'll also find myself a partner in crime!"
"So… you didn't invent a Personalised Rune Art?" Monica looked disappointed.
"Does he look like he did any studying over his vacation?" Jennifer side-eyed Nathan and sighed.
"Dare you say," Nathan snapped his fingers, "I spent half of my time trying to find inspiration for my Personalised Rune Art. I tell you, an idea is already brewing."
The time for the elevator to descend to the third floor was just right for their conversation to conclude with some remaining suspense. Nathan advised everyone to return to their old, untouched base as they waited for William and him. As Ash and the others had planned, they hosted a small-scale banquet to celebrate Nathan's return.
Despite their constant cruises on the floors they were never meant to enter, it was the first time that he had entered the third-year Representative Students' dormitories.
The difference was notable but not enough for Nathan to look forward to living here in two years' time. Rather than decorative styles, it was how leisure areas and dormitory doors became more personalised that changed. Weird RAPIs that Nathan had never seen before inhabited the area. If he were to live here now, he wouldn't even know how to activate them.
Nathan could almost tell which room each person belonged to from the impressions of their doors. The pure white one with elegant patterns had to be Amy's, while Arthur was clearly in charge of the innovative design of the one belonging to him. Though having never met her before, Nathan was sure that the overpopulated one with an uncountable number of tiny figures and puppets belonged to the Student Council Treasurer, Dorothy Rumble.
Without William's guidance, Nathan would definitely never have found Jonathan Schwarz's residence. It looked identical to all those currently unoccupied rooms, with simple doors made of dark oak that glimmered under the calm lighting.
Nathan lifted his eyebrows slightly as William went to knock on the door. He understood what this oversimplicity, which almost seemed like extreme laziness, explained about its owner. Jonathan was one of those who had no interest in sharing or showcasing anything about themselves, a defensive mechanism that blocked any form of spying. Nathan was always troubled by how to deal with these people; they had no weaknesses nor strengths on display that he could abuse. He just had to pray luck was on his side for this time.
"William? Come in, please." Jonathan replied in a voice that sounded like it came from a corpse. "Door's not locked."
Nathan began rubbing his fingers together in concern. For someone like him, keeping doors constantly open was clearly not consistent with the style.
The rooms of third-year students were also considerably larger, with an extended section behind the living area that probably allowed for advanced Rune Arts research. From the look of it, Jonathan Schwarz was definitely a diligent student, but also not someone who loved keeping his workspace tidy.
"I see you brought a friend," Jonathan murmured as he struggled to climb out of his bed. With a soft groan, he stretched his back forcefully by pushing it outwards. "Ah, my back… Anyway, Nathan Modernson, pleased to finally meet you." He bowed, slow yet appropriate for a standard courtesy. There was no life nor light in his eyes, and the messily shaven facial hair would usually not leave someone a great impression.
"No need, no need." Nathan bowed in return and quickly interjected, "Kinsmen of William don't need to act all formal towards me; it lengthens the distance between us, don't you say so?"
"As he said," William added with a natural smile. "That aside, Nathan is here to bring good news."
"Good news?" Jonathan lifted his head slightly as he scanned Nathan. "We'll have to make that assumption after I've heard it."
"Arthur Paradox had resigned from his position as the Student Council President." Nathan got straight to the point. "Mr Schwarz, you know what that suggests."
"The next president has to be determined between you and Amy Blanc."
"Go on," Jonathan replied without enthusiasm.
"Who do you think will win?" Nathan continued, staring Jonathan down. "Or rather, who do you think can't afford losing more?"
"Of course it's Miss Blanc." Jonathan sat back down on his bed, like standing up already took all of his energy. "I'm just from a branch family… Nobody will expect me to win."
Nathan smiled knowingly. "If that's the case, you wouldn't be sitting on this bed right now, composed and relaxing."
Jonathan replied with nothing.
"Jonathan, before we commence, I'm going to make it clear for you so there's no misunderstanding. I, Nathan Modernson, am not here to support you."
William looked at Nathan with serious shock, not expecting something so harsh to come out of Nathan's mouth when he was the one needing assistance.
"You are not as stupid as Amy Blanc," Nathan continued. "In fact, you must be pretty damn smart for you to remain a competitor to a main family heir. If I said I'm here to help you, there is not a single scenario where you will believe it."
Jonathan grunted.
"But between you becoming the president or… otherwise… I'm pretty certain which one benefits me more."
"Cut the analysis," Jonathan interrupted, though his tone remained indifferent. "Can you guarantee that I win?"
"Absolutely not," Nathan shook his head sternly.
"But I guarantee that you won't lose."
"…"
"Neither lose nor win? Huh?"
"William, if you would excuse us for now, I would like to talk to Nathan privately."
William looked at Nathan for further indication, and Nathan replied with a gentle pat on his shoulder.
"Leave it to me, William."
"I usually don't like hiding things from my friends, but I'll make an exception for you this time, Jonathan Schwarz."
…
When Nathan returned to the giant pillar where the Salvation Club held their gathering, William had almost waited for a full hour.
The banquet was prepared perfectly under the guidance of Daniel Whitedawn, but everything was only made possible by the close relationships between David Edmonds and various restaurant owners on campus. It wasn't a proper dining feast with long tables and luxurious tableware, but more like a lively party hosted by some outgoing guy in the neighbourhood. The first thing Nathan did as he walked in was to hold his thumb up for Daniel. For most members of the Salvation Club, this atmosphere appealed to them more than any formal banquets would have.
Members barely reacted to Nathan's return. They chattered and laughed among themselves, only giving up a tiny fragment of their time to give him a slight head tilt.
Nathan didn't mind that the whole purpose of this banquet was to celebrate him. He understood more than anyone that it wasn't just him who returned to the Club, but everyone else who was in it.
Only William Schwarz pushed through the crowd and asked Nathan hastily, "What did Jonathan say?"
Nathan lowered his head for a pause and pursed his lips before replying, "Everything's settled. Jonathan Schwarz is one of a kind, wise, and suspicious of everything I affirmed."
"But I'm Nathan Modernson, so against me, being clever is never enough."
"To confirm, how much do you care about Jonathan, William?"
William's expression froze. He took a rushed sip of his drink and swallowed. "I don't want to become his enemy. Otherwise, do whatever."
Nathan replied with a silent, thoughtful nod. After a few rounds of purposeless chatter, they dismissed each other and went around the room, joining other circles to engage in.
"David, how's the investigation for RunaLine's incident? Anything yet?"
Nathan took a seat on an armchair beside David, who had his attention fully focused on Leo's story about what happened to him as they left. There was a huge crowd grieving around him, leaving an empty seat that Nathan took for his own temporarily.
"Nothing." David stuffed his face with chicken drumsticks. "Almost two months. Everyone suspected everyone, but no one had evidence. My father is quite angry at them; I might as well not interfere."
"Then what do we do? Pretend like it never happened, like it's actually just an accident?" Nathan grabbed some food himself and took a big bite.
David gave out a soft sigh, but there was no sorrow on his face anymore. "Leave it for now. You have more important things to prepare this week."
"I know, but I'm just curious about how there was no evidence or real suspect whatsoever. Also, I promised you I would help, so——"
"All good." David grinned. "If both Royalty and the Rune Arts Federation can't even solve this problem, then even you probably can't do anything about it."
The next stop Nathan arrived at was a bar table where Charlotte and some other girls were quietly lounging, not used to the overly loud and chaotic environment they had never experienced. He went across the table and called out to her.
"Yo, Charlotte, if I remember correctly, you are an artist, no?"
"Artist?" Charlotte turned her head around gracefully and giggled. "That's a flatter, Nathan, but I do draw as a hobby."
"What type of drawings? Like… objects? People? Fantastical figures?" Nathan leaned on the table and asked.
"A bit of all." Charlotte had a quick think and answered.
"Can you do me a favour?" Nathan furrowed his eyebrows slightly. With a voice that almost sounded like a beg, he said, "I need a backup plan for the duel to make sure everything lines up perfectly, even if something goes wrong. It's not something difficult for you, and only you can help me with it."
"Something relating to drawing something?" Charlotte mirrored Nathan and leaned on the table, questioning curiously. "Sure."
"Just draw the most, most, most intimidating figure that you can think of. Doesn't have to be complicated; a sketch is more than enough, but it has to make someone want to run for their lives if they see it in real life."
"What are you going to do?" She grinned at how random the request was.
"Use it for my 'Personalised Rune Art,'" Nathan grinned back and said.