Chapter 32: I Don’t Want to Die

From the moment she was born, Sal made up her mind to experience a life completely different from the pointless one in her previous world.

She wanted to understand and feel the beauty of this world.

She wanted, just like the protagonists in those other-world anime, to have a richer and more colorful new life.

…

But after the nightmare that tormented her all night yesterday, Sal suddenly fell into brief confusion.

She seemed to realize that even in an academy that allowed students to grow steadily, some terrifying things were happening in the dark.

If it had happened just once or twice, Sal could have brushed off those scenes she saw last night as nothing but a nightmare.

But now the problem was: she had already confirmed Lucía’s appearance from the mouths of Vivian and the others—blue long hair and eye color exactly like the girl in her dream.

And she was even the same mixed-blood dragon.

So Sal could pretty much confirm that the half-dragon girl she saw being brutally dismembered in those flashback-like fragments was Lucía—the girl she still hadn’t met yet.

(But why would I be seeing the scene of her tragic death? Isn’t she supposed to be alive and well right now?)

(And that third-person point of view…)

The more she thought about it, the more terrifying it became.

It felt like she was…

About to get dragged into something big?

“Sal, little sister?”

Hearing Natia Vida’s gentle call, Sal quickly pulled herself out of the mental dead end she was spiraling into.

She took a deep breath and tried to make her expression less stiff.

“Sister Natia Vida, yes?”

“It’s nothing much. I just noticed you’ve been a bit absent-minded since this morning… did you encounter something you can’t solve on your own?”

As Natia Vida spoke, she placed one portion of the two breakfasts she had just prepared in front of Sal.

“If you run into any trouble, you can always tell me and Vivian. We may not fully solve it, but we can at least help you think.”

“Thank you, sister.”

Facing Natia Vida’s kindness, Sal gave a grateful smile.

But behind that smile, she was seriously considering whether she should really ask for more details about those creepy academy rumors.

Yet just as Sal was still hesitating, a commotion suddenly rose from the cafeteria entrance.

Everyone, including Sal, turned their attention toward the noisy voices by the door.

A group of students wearing the same style of Cantoria uniforms as Vivian and the others—but in different colors—were blocking the doorway, arguing loudly with several students wearing Magic Department uniforms.

“The Alchemy Department people are stirring up trouble again.”

Natia Vida and Vivian exchanged glances, then both looked at Sal.

“Looks like we’ll have a show.”

…

The cafeteria in Cantoria Academy was usually separated—Magic Department had their own, and the other departments had theirs as well.

So when dozens of Alchemy Department students came as a group early in the morning to gather at another department’s cafeteria entrance, it was basically a blatant provocation.

But even if you want to fight or argue, you still need a reason.

And the reason the Alchemy Department gave was:

“You ask why? Because all the materials we used for alchemy last night were swapped out with gunpowder!”

The one answering Natia Vida was the Alchemy Department’s student council president—someone equal to her in status in theory.

But in strength? Completely different.

Alchemy wasn’t focused on frontline combat, but on support work done in the backlines.

However, academy rules stated clearly: no private fights.

If you wanted to fight, you had to sign up at the arena.

Perhaps relying on this rule, and believing Natia Vida—even with her strength and background—would have to “talk reason,” the Alchemy President questioned her confidently.

“Other than your Magic Department people, I can’t think of anyone else who would pull such a dirty trick.”

Hearing this, Natia Vida’s first reaction was to turn toward Vivian with a visibly shocked expression.

Because Vivian had just told her about this yesterday—and that casual joke she made…

(Don’t tell me you actually swapped their materials, girl?)

And Vivian only rolled her eyes in response, as if to say: You were with me the whole time. Don’t you already know whether I did it or not?

Of course Natia Vida knew—she just wanted to tease her.

Even if Vivian really had done it, Natia Vida could easily use her authority as Magic Department Student Council President to protect her.

She turned back again, still smiling but with a strict expression.

But the words she spoke were not nearly as polite.

“You can eat nonsense, but you can’t speak nonsense.”

“Since you’re accusing the Magic Department, let me ask: where is your evidence?”

Just two short sentences, and the Alchemy President, who had been puffed up with arrogance, immediately deflated.

Seeing his reaction, Natia Vida was even more certain they had come without any solid evidence.

Even if he had evidence, she had ways to protect anyone from the Magic side.

But now he says he doesn’t?

“No evidence? Hmph…”

Natia Vida sneered, half-closing her eyes as her tone grew colder.

“Then we need to have a good talk about how your Alchemy students keep disrupting our Magic Department students’ rest every night with your late-night alchemy—and now you’re slandering us on top of that!”

…

Meanwhile, Sal, who remained alone at the table for the moment, wasn’t paying attention to the commotion.

Because almost all the Magic students had crowded toward the entrance to support their president—except for her and one other girl.

Sal looked at the blue-haired girl sitting quietly like a doll, eating without reacting to the commotion. On her head were two unmistakable dragon horns…

She jumped down from her seat (important detail) and nervously walked toward the girl.

“Excuse me—”

The girl didn’t answer.

She only glanced at Sal, her eyes as cold and distant as Sal expected.

Clearly, she didn’t want to respond or interact.

But Sal couldn’t care about that now—she needed to confirm one thing.

“Are you Lucía?”

The moment Sal spoke the name, she clearly saw the girl’s shoulders tremble.

She would either deny it or admit it.

To Sal, it was simple.

But to Lucía, it clearly wasn’t.

She didn’t choose to answer.

Instead, after making sure everyone’s attention was on the entrance, she suddenly fell to her knees in front of Sal and grabbed her tightly.

Sal froze from shock.

“I’ve never met you, but you know my name.”

The girl spoke quickly, voice trembling with sobs.

“You’re not sent by that person, right?!
You—you can save me, right?!”

Tears streamed down her face.

Sal’s eyes widened.

Images of the blue-haired girl dying miserably in a dark alley flashed through her mind.

“Please… please save me. I… I don’t…”

“I don’t want to die!”