The following two days went by in a flash. Despite Mel's invitation to date, Lila remained stuck in her single-bedroom, focusing solely on practicing magic and preparing for the Written Exam.
Once, the playful, totally-not-lazy Mel knocked on Lila's room door at night, only for her dear Lila to greet her wearing a lace-trimmed sleepwear that barely disguised cleavages.
It was another kind of invitation that Mel was sure Lila was aware of. Unfortunately, Lila merely held her nose, the blood seeping through the fingers before muttering 'get out' and shutting the door with a bang.
Mel blinked at such a charming, panicky sight before glancing to the side.
[Favourability: 66 -> 68]
Hm. Mel held her chin musing, as her fingers swept over the bouncy, milky skin. She noted how she should 'invite' her friend more later going forward, after they 'obtained' their permissions to live together in the same dorm room.
And with that particularly disruptive incident, she found that Lila woke up with some dark circles underneath her eyes. Scolding herself for her inconsideration, Mel secretly muttered
It is noteworthy that the Heiress never appeared again, not even once. Inquiring at the check-out, she realised the room had been emptied already yesterday.
"Oh, Haha. That weird lady again?" The counter Lady laughed, gossiping loudly as if uncaring of the Duchess's dignity. "She was a curious one. I heard a few streets down that she arrived in the capital a month ago and lived in one inn after another for one day each. Said she wished to 'get a feel' of every living district."
Heh? Mel uttered in her heart as Lila frowned confusedly. The transmigrator knew the Witch of Wrath was a little weird in the head, but this type of pointless behaviour was unexpected.
After leaving the inn, both witches were on their way to the capital. Mel complained a little about how she couldn't have the time to guide Lila around as the 'local resident', but the promise from Lila to date afterwards eased her mind.
Speaking of 'easing her mind', Mel contemplated before taking out a
The Witch of Envy raised a brow. "This is?"
"A stave and some potion."
Lila hung her head, feeling conflicted. "I appreciate the help, but no need, Mel." One more debt to her friend, and Lila would implode out of helplessness. She would like to get through the Entrance Exam with her strength, to be worthy enough to know Mel's secrets.
The Witch of Lust, however, merely chuckled. "Sure enough. I will ask again sometime soon."
She wondered if she should immediately tempt Lila about the 'secret benefit' of being within the top ranks of the exam. Still, she figured she should do so later in the Third Exam to respect Lila's resolve.
After all, to win the Third Exam, she must partner up with Lila to face both the Protagonist and the Witch of Greed herself. The Witch of Sloth is also an issue, but given her personality, she would likely surrender before it even began and hid herself to sleep in another obscure corner.
Soon, they arrived at the Academy of Solaria. Going through the iron gates revealed a sprawling castle-like academy with towering spires. The stone walls were polished and surrounded by runes of power, the defense for all the students within, commoners or nobles.
A senior student instructed them and guided them to the examination hall. On the way, Mel noted the senior's ironed-out uniform with no hint of wrinkles, the meticulous care suggesting the status of a noble.
"System." She mumbled. "I thought the nobles were more selfish like those tropes in Villainess manhwas. This one seemed too nice."
[ Host! Please note that the Saintess has once 'personally visited' every noble household to warn them of her presence! ]
"Ah." The Witch's memory drifted to the blind Saintess's frightening smile that seemed stitched with hidden malice. "I get it now."
Even 10 years after the Witch of Pride's defeat, it would seem to Mel that the Saintess's influence lived on quietly.
---------
When Mel and Lila separated, promising (in Mel's imagination) a tearful reunion, the Witch of Lust was led to be seated in a classroom.
The room was full of examinees with different-colored robes, gowns, and leathers, all varied with different backgrounds. Written exams usually benefited the nobles, but after the Saintess's intervention, the books that commoners could afford could build another grand Library. So frankly, everyone started on equal footing, as bizarre as it sounded to Mel.
She eyed the examiner at the front with a narrow chin and a slitted pair of eyes as if they had never opened.
Mel nodded approvingly. In her mind, she treated him as the 'false-flag' character, even though she never remembered his name in the original, apocalyptic timeline.
"Alright, gents and ladies."
A weirdly lingering tone came out from him, which only furthered Mel's labelling him as a character of the misunderstood' mastermind trope.
"We shall start the exam."
And with a wave of his hand, papers and quills flew to each student's table, before landing without a sound.
"The time limit is 45 minutes." The examiner yawned. "I'll be at the club- I mean, I'll come back when the time is up. The timer starts...now."
And with that, the examiner merely vanished out of thin air. He was not paid enough to monitor the students directly, and the automated
Mel's lips curled up wryly at such a 'professionalism', before glancing at the paper's question.
"Wow." She shrugged. "I'm so confident...at getting a zero for this."
Whether it is stating the Church's definition of 'Holy Theology', or writing a 500-word essay about how the Saintess reformed the 'Noble-Commoner' Society exactly 15 years ago, she had absolutely zero clue thanks to her drooling but fulfilling nights of sleep in Saria's study sessions.
"System?"
[ ...no. ]
"As I thought."
And unexpectedly, inquiring from last night, it would seem her System is illiterate too. How fascinating. It almost touched her heart for how much 'humanity' her System implied with its idiocy that she also shared.
"Alright." She eyed around. No protagonist in sight, so she slumped her cheek onto the table with her arms folded together as a pillow. "I will sleep."
Mel snorted a little. This is perhaps a tactical move for justifying her laziness, but more than that, it was a crucial step to gain the Witch of Gluttony's attention.
She recalled some information. In the game's extra excerpts, Gluttony's hatred for laziness was second-to-none, likely the reason she barely got along with the shut-in, 'doing-nothing-but-praying' Saintess.
And given Gluttony's inherently inapproachable personality, gaining her animosity is her only way.
"And crushing that animosity with an unexpected victory is key to reel back the favourability."
Mel sighed, however. The Witch of Gluttony was the third most difficult heroine on her harem list, behind Wrath and Pride. Not for how unclear or unstable her romance strategy is, but for how long it would take her.
"Two semesters, at least...hopefully..."
She sincerely prayed that she wouldn't have to wait long till she could squeeze Gluttony's pillar-like thighs before sleeping peacefully into the dreamland.
-------------
And as expected, Mel didn't fill in a single answer.
She yawned and left the room with the crowd, before catching a glimpse of black, rough hairs fluttering in another crowd emerging from the classroom. She whistled involuntarily before leaving without a thought.
Eventually, she found a fidgeting Lila.
"Mel." Lila's lips shivered, holding back a worry. "How's...your exam? Don't tell me you didn't fill in a single question."
Mel grinned loosely before embracing the stiffened Lila. "Exactly as you guessed. As expected from my dear Lila!"
Lila sighed deeply. "Should've helped you study, too. I'm sorry." No blaming, just an apology. The Witch of Envy wished to scold Mel deep down, but she also found a strange belief that Mel already had her plans, bringing her no sense of danger and urgency.
And the Witch of Lust did not disappoint. "Lila, no worries. I will ace the next exam easily."
The first two exams were compiled and evaluated into a single result for the student. Zero on the first? Then she needed to ace the second.
More importantly to Mel, it was a less boring, much more comforting Combat Assessment against Virtual Monsters. She could almost feel at home with her gacha-game nostalgia.
The Witch of Lust hugged her fellow witch tighter. Even if there was fighting later, nothing compared to more huggies wuggies. She should ask for more rewards after she passes the next exam without sweating!