Chapter 24: Distancing and Approaching

“If you are truly skilled in psychology, then defeat her.”

Dounia was silent for a short while.

“Is that your personal suggestion, or did Fia tell you to say that?”

“It is my personal one,” Adelle answered concisely and clearly.

“Anyway, no matter what, I am going to participate in the assessment. There is no doubt about that.” Dounia looked up at Adelle. “Tell me how to pass the ‘assessment’?”

“Theoretically, I cannot disclose these matters,” Adelle said. “But I can warn you about one thing: psychological knowledge is more dangerous than you imagine.”

As Adelle spoke, she observed Dounia’s curious expression.

“Regardless of your identity or your performance, it is evident that you have received corresponding, even if only general, knowledge.”

“Perhaps you had a teacher before.”

Dounia nodded slightly, not denying it.

“That would make sense.”

“Psychological knowledge that has been self-summarized or relayed by others causes less erosion than direct reading. It seems you had a good teacher,” Adelle said with certainty.

Click.

The lock turned.
Fia led the way, with the medical staff following behind, as they filed out of the room.

Hutchinson’s gaze swept over to Dounia, and she sneered with contempt.

“I don’t understand why a large-scale source of contamination is being placed outside Miss Violet’s sickroom.”

Fia turned her head, also observing Dounia’s reaction.

Dounia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then slowly opened them again.

The slightly shorter girl placed her hands on her hips, her crimson eyes fixed on Hutchinson, fearlessly glaring back.

“Since you think I’m a source of contamination, then you should act a little more afraid.”

Dounia took a step forward.
Hutchinson was taken aback and retreated repeatedly to hide behind her colleagues, as if these human walls could bring her a sense of security.

“That’s right, run away. This is the posture you should have when facing me.” The corners of Dounia’s mouth lifted slightly, revealing a contemptuous smile.

Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears.
At this moment, her small body seemed to exude an invisible pressure.

The medical staff also warily distanced themselves from her, as if the very air between them could carry a plague, leaving only Dounia and Adelle standing together.

Fia turned her head back again, saying nothing.

Dounia looked at Fia, and the current favorability value appeared above her head—[1.5%]

‘Her previous words had increased her favorability by 0.1%, but last time, after she tormented me for half a day, it was only [1%] when she left.’

‘A dead iceberg that neither gains favorability nor corruption!’

‘And this 0.4% that appeared out of nowhere, is it because of Adelle’s description of me, or because of the improvement in Violet’s condition?’

‘It seems that favorability doesn’t only increase through direct interaction; one’s actions and influence can also subtly improve and affect relationships with surrounding characters over time…’

Dounia looked up at Adelle, who was still by her side, and asked in confusion, “They’re all afraid of me. Aren’t you afraid?”

Adelle looked at her deeply, a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

“I am your Surveillance Officer. I will not be afraid of you.”

‘Did she just remember something from her past…?’

Just as Dounia’s imagination was running wild, Violet had already walked out of the sickroom.

“Dounia-chan, come give me a hug~”

As she spoke, she took the initiative to embrace her, bumping Dounia with those exaggerated and soft snowy peaks, completely ignoring the fact that there were still people watching nearby.

“Violet, we’re still outside… This is too intimate!~” Dounia said, covering her flushed face.

‘If she had her own favorability meter, it would probably be soaring right now.’

‘Miss Violet smells so nice, like a fresh scent with a hint of citrus…’

‘And she’s always so mean-spirited yet proactive…’

‘From the moment we met, she has never shown any distance or fear because of my identity.’

“Hehe.” Violet released her arms, not showing any of the weakness she had in the sickroom.

‘The energetic and lively young lady also has things she wants to hide.’

“Adelle, are the pen and paper ready?”

Adelle immediately produced a sheet of letter paper and a fountain pen, handing them to Violet.

Violet picked up the pen and began to write, leaving behind lines of graceful handwriting.
Her elegant style revealed the education she had received at every turn.

“Alright.” Violet carefully folded the letter and handed it to Dounia. “Hold on to it tight, okay? This young lady’s letter of recommendation is very precious~”

She lifted her chin slightly, a small smile on her face, as if she were radiating light.

And that light shone into the bottom of Dounia’s heart, dispelling the gloom of being ostracized.

“Mmm!” Dounia accepted it solemnly. “Thank you.”

Violet waved her hand nonchalantly.

“Let’s go.”

“On the way, I can tell Dounia about the precautions for studying psychological knowledge. Ah, of course, I can’t go into too much detail, or it will affect fairness.”

The three of them walked slowly down the corridor, their shadows stretched long and thin by the sunlight filtering through the glass.

“First point, you might feel a little dizzy when reading. If you feel unwell, try to give up, okay?” A rare serious expression appeared on Violet’s little face.

Dounia blinked.

“Alright.”

“Second point, everyone’s resistance is different. It’s said that the purer one’s heart is, the less likely they are to be affected by ‘erosion’ and have a strong reaction.”

“And the more a person has experienced, the more easily they are affected by ‘erosion’.”

Violet looked at Adelle, whose hands were clasped in front of her. “Adelle is also this type. She almost failed the assessment back then.”

Adelle listened in silence.

“But!” Violet held up an index finger. “Adelle’s mind is tenacious. You may have already noticed that she is a very rigid and rule-abiding person in some respects.”

“Second Miss…” Adelle couldn’t help but say.

“Such a creed will also increase one’s tolerance to ‘psychological erosion.’ Does Dounia understand now?”

Dounia blinked.

“I don’t understand.”

Violet puffed out her cheeks cutely and gave Dounia’s cheek a firm, angry pinch.

“Ouch! It hurts!~” Dounia surrendered.

“You pretend not to understand even when you do. Dounia, you’re such a dummy,” Violet chided.

The three of them turned left and right, finally arriving in front of a mysterious library.

The color of the heavy wooden door had faded somewhat.
It was inlaid with some small glass shards, which seemed to have some unreadable inscriptions on them.

These glass shards faintly formed a solid circle, reflecting a multicolored light under the sun’s rays.

The knights stationed on either side each held a long spear, the tips gleaming with a cold light.

Their entire bodies were covered in silver armor, with only a small, narrow slit left for their eyes.

“How mysterious…” Dounia couldn’t help but exclaim. “Julie, who guards Area D, is just equipped like a regular guard, but those in charge of guarding the psychological assessment are fully armed…”

“Just as Miss Violet said, rashly coming into contact with psychological knowledge can be very dangerous,” Adelle said. “Be prepared.”