The year was already drawing to a close.0

It was late December, the eve of the new year. The usually bustling academy had grown quieter, with students returning home for the winter break. Just days ago, the Christmas festivities had filled the air with excitement, making the emptiness left behind even more pronounced.0

“Almost New Year, huh…”0

Luize, walking through the streets, observed the changed atmosphere with a peculiar expression.0

Last year, when she was still undergoing rehabilitation, the thought of the approaching year had felt dreadful. But now, she no longer had those thoughts. If anything, she just had an urge to smack a certain someone—someone who had gone completely silent until Christmas Day, only to send a single text at 11:00 p.m. saying, “Merry Christmas.”0

Well, he is a busy man after all…0

Even so, couldn’t he have at least shared a meal with her? Luize felt a strange sense of dissatisfaction. She understood it in her head, but her heart refused to accept it.0

Annoyed, she furrowed her brow. But that only lasted a moment, as she broke into a small, amused smile soon after. After all, the fact she could even afford to have such trivial concerns was proof that she had become far happier compared to last year.0

Wishing for more would just be greedy, wouldn't it?0

It would be a lie to say she didn’t want even more, but she didn’t dwell on it too deeply. To her, right now, what mattered more than her own wishes was the answer of the person she wanted to smack. 0

Alas, to get that answer, she first had to eliminate the Demon Force.0

Every time I think about it, it’s absurd.0

Why did she have to take down the Demon Force just to get his answer? Every time similar thoughts crossed her mind, she felt the urge to charge forward without waiting. 0

Each time, however, Luize suppressed that impulse. She already knew exactly what kind...0