房客(糙汉)何璐程曜坤

"It did not work the same as it happened with Ludier... ghh...!"

Hearing the unique shadow speak in an official manner that was exactly like the one Xeonith character from the game always used was surprising enough, but coupled with it shrinking down and turning into a golem-like shape was straight-up fascinating - at least until the spasm of pain made the black-haired boy gasp for air through his greeted teeth.

|Little ones, can we be sure that he really doesn't recognize me?|

Zoemi thought while carefully watching the properly formed shadow Xeonith as it looked around, fidgetting in concern.

"(He might not know you at all, master, or he might as well Just don't remember you right now.)"

"(It is... difficult to say for sure...)"

The boy's sentinels didn't have a straightforward answer and sounded very much bothered.

"You have the guts to play a fool! My lord, can you just tear him apart right now, please?"

Burushi glared at the shadow figure and hissed furiously at it before hiding right back Zoemin back and asking him in a worried voice.

"Huh?! You can see and hear him?!"

"Now hold on, miss...! I can see for myself that something weird has happened to me, but there is no need to jump to conclusions!"

The black-haired boy's eyes widened as he turned around to stare at the blond-haired heroine - but he wasn't the only one shocked either, Xeonith's shadow was even mare taken aback than any of them were.

"My name is Xeonith Zerble Derizno, and I'm a first-year student at the Aspakeony Academy! I might look like some sort of specter or a folktale monster, but I am just a harmless human being!"

The shadow flinched and began backing off while shaking its head and arms quite wildly to push his point across.

"... first-year student...?"

"....?!"

To his words, Zoemi blinked a few times and glanced over at Burushi, who was staring at the shadow Xeonith with her mouth hanging open.

"Senior, could you please tell we your name...?"

Using their consternation as a chance, the shadow figure clapped its hands together and asked in a slightly trembling voice.

It was quite easy to see through the reason for such worry - If Xeonith's shadow really did not remember his school year as a second-year student, then he had no right to know about Zoemi getting enrolled as it was kept hidden until the two months before the beginning of a new school year.

Therefore, Xeonith might very well suspect that in fact whatever happened to him was caused by the black-haired boy in front of him.

Or that it was all some elaborate trap that he fell for...

"Zoemi Benevi Banernor. The found heir of the Banemor family."

"....huh...?!"

Zoemi revealed without thinking too much about it, but his words caused the shadow Xeonith to tilt his head in constemation.

"...pardon me if this will sound rude, but, Banemor territory was left without an heir for over fourteen years, do you have any proof of your identity...?"

"The audacity! You are the one looking like some creepy shadow monster! Why he should prove anything to you? If anything, you should be the one proving yourself right now!"

The shadow fidgeted nervously and asked carefully, clearly trying to both keep a cake and eat it with how it acted, which the blond heroine has seen right through and called out immediately.

"No, no, no! Miss servant! I don't lie! If we are still in the Aspakeony, Academy, you can go and ask my best friend, Reo, to come here and confirm my identity! Although he is a prankster, he shows his responsible side during serious situations like this!"

Burushi's words worked wonders, making the shadow Xeonith become meek and apologetic in the very next second.

"Was Xeonith supposed to be that good of an actor or did your spell make him like that?.

The blond-haired girl leaned closely against the black-haired boy's back and whispered conspicuously into his ear.

"I want to my, I told you, but this is out of the realm of my expectations, actually. Still, you agree that it would be okay to not erase him right now?"

Zoemi tilted his head from side to side and muttered back in a slightly more relaxed tone than before.

It did seem like the shadow Xeonith was serious about thinking that he still was a first-year student.

On one hand that kind of confirmed Zoemi's theory - maybe not entirely, but partially for sure.

"...fine...just..."

Burushi groaned and rolled her eyes before discreetly looking around the staffs break room to make sure that no one is eavesdropping on them.

"...just hide him away for now. Can you imagine what would happen if someone have seen or heard him act like the actual Xeonith...? As long as you will keep him in check, he can stay around - but hidden!"

The blond girl added in an inconspicuous voice, glancing over at the shadow figure that gave off an aura as if it was staring back at them in worry mixed with suspicion and hesitation.

"You are right. Young lord Derizno, I will take you to a safe spot where we could have a proper talk. Do not be alarmed."

|Store him away, please. Do not let him escape, but do not let him melt away or anything of the sorth!|

Zoemi said out loud and immediately followed it up with a silent instruction aimed at his two sentinels.

"(Yea, yes~!)"

"(He will be in our care, master!)"

"Hold on - what do you exactly...?"

*WHOOM*

The two sentinels cheered out and even though shadow Xeonith was not completely on board with the idea, a clump of shadow shot up from the ground beneath it and swallowed him whole in one swift movement, bringing back the peace and quiet to the room.

"Haaah... okay, now - my lord, I kind of doubt that this thing was the reason for you showing up here. What did you originally want to tell me?"

Burushi breathed out and stepped away from the black-haired boy, speaking to him from an appropriate distance..