Chapter 66: The Campus Festival and a Desperate Plan

“Hey, just look at them—aren’t those girls incredibly beautiful?”

“They must be students from the academy; I even noticed one wearing a uniform… Hold on, that person is actually a man!”

“No way, really? What an enviable situation, curse him, I’m so jealous!”

“Perhaps if you possessed their striking good looks, you might enjoy such privileges yourself.”

“Hmph… Never mind. That fellow clearly strikes me as nothing more than a pretty boy, content to live off women! I truly can’t stand him!”

Strolling through the bustling streets with two stunning young women, Yalin found himself far too conspicuous.

He could distinctly feel the countless gazes relentlessly fixated upon them.

Despite being in a position that any man would envy, he found himself utterly incapable of feeling even a flicker of joy.

His mind raced, consumed by the single thought of how he might possibly slip away.

On the other side, Celeste remained equally silent.

The memory of Yalin having pulled Liyang close earlier left her with an intensely complex swirl of emotions.

‘Could it be that Yalin’s true affections, after all, lay with Liyang?’

Yet, there was also the possibility that he had acted solely to evade her, much like his deliberate maneuver with Totomia previously.

But what precisely had transpired between them?

A nagging curiosity persisted.

With neither of the other two uttering a single word, Liyang, trapped squarely between them, felt utterly stifled.

“Oh dear…”

She kept her head bowed, her gaze glued to the tips of her shoes.

Their unusual formation was quite striking.

Celeste walked on the far left, Yalin on the far right, and Liyang, like a human barrier, stood between them, much like a character in a comic book.

In truth, she detested this conspicuous position.

Though she had made several attempts to swap places with Yalin, he had always deftly sidestepped her, leaving her no choice but to reluctantly concede.

“This is truly, truly mortifying…”

Liyang nervously fretted with the hem of her skirt, silently urging herself on.

She absolutely had to say something to break this suffocating silence!

After much deliberation, her mind meticulously replaying various scenarios, she finally conceived of a suitable topic.

“Oh, that reminds me, Yalin, are you familiar with the Campus Festival?”

“The Campus Festival?”

“Yes, the Magic Academy Campus Festival—it’s the academy’s grandest annual celebration, typically held within the Magic Division. You’ll certainly need to attend when the time comes.”

A sudden jolt ran through Yalin.

The Magic Academy Campus Festival!

No wonder the name felt so hauntingly familiar; he now recalled it with perfect clarity.

Within the original narrative, it was precisely on this day that he was destined to become the Evil God’s avatar, plunging the entire academy into utter chaos and disarray.

His glorious life would conclude with a brutal, passionate struggle against those formidable muscular women, only to be mercilessly annihilated by their overpowered heroine.

‘Bloody hell!’

‘Did that mean, if the original plot unfolded as written, he would be meeting his end in a mere three months?’

“Y-Yalin, what’s wrong?”

Observing the sudden shift in Yalin’s expression, Liyang couldn’t help but inquire with genuine concern.

“Ah, n-nothing… I merely haven’t paid much attention to such matters before, so hearing about the Campus Festival for the first time is quite novel…”

“It’s essentially a rather grand celebration. Everyone sets up stalls, performs enchanting magic shows, and you can even witness exhilarating competitions between the different divisions… Oh, and on that day, even those from outside the academy are permitted to visit, so many aspiring students come to observe and learn.”

Liyang explained with a gentle smile.

Perhaps owing to their lengthy conversation that night, she no longer felt as nervous when speaking with Yalin, finding it easier to articulate her thoughts.

“Celeste is the student council’s provisional president, isn’t she? She came to the commercial district today specifically to scout for items needed for the celebration, correct?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes, that’s right…”

Still lost in her own musings, Celeste was momentarily startled by Liyang’s question before vaguely nodding her agreement.

“Indeed, that’s precisely why I asked Liyang to accompany me…”

‘So, Celeste has already joined the student council?’ Yalin mused inwardly.

This particular detail aligned perfectly with the original timeline, yet what other unforeseen changes might unfold remained entirely beyond his grasp.

Yalin shook his head, dismissing the thought.

The immediate situation was already pressing; he hardly had the luxury of worrying about things three months in the future.

The coffee shop, situated not far from their path, materialized swiftly before them.

Its design was remarkably chic, the entire edifice boasting a fluid, curvilinear structure and an exterior clad in light-hued stone, exuding an air of sophistication that captivated many young women.

Being the prime hour for afternoon tea, the interior of the café was bustling with patrons, though, fortunately, a good number of outdoor tables remained unoccupied.

Once the trio had settled into their seats, a server promptly placed menus upon their table.

As young women, Celeste and Liyang naturally found themselves drawn to the fashionable allure of the coffee shop, eagerly huddling together with their menus, discussing in hushed tones.

“This cream cake looks absolutely divine!”

“I-it’s their signature item, after all, isn’t it? Oh, but they also have a limited-edition Mont Blanc here…”

“Such a difficult choice. By the way, what would be good to drink?”

“Hmm… I think I’ll go with a milkshake.”

In stark contrast to the animated pair, Yalin felt utterly on edge, as if seated upon a bed of needles.

Perhaps owing to Liyang’s proximity, the insidious influence of the Evil God seemed somewhat diminished, yet even so, the tumultuous agitation within him was rapidly approaching its breaking point.

He was nearing his limit!

His vision began to fragment, and the sounds around him gradually blurred, replaced by a deep, unsettling murmur—it felt as though something utterly deranged was desperately trying to tear itself free from his very being.

“Hey…”

A slender, fair hand waved twice before his eyes.

Yalin lifted his gaze to find Celeste observing him with an expression of perplexity.

“Yalin, I’ve called your name several times. We’ve all placed our orders. What would you like to eat?”

“Ah, just coffee.”

“Only coffee? You could certainly have a pastry as well, you know?”

“Just coffee.”

“Alright, then what kind would you prefer? They have quite a selection of coffees here…”

“The most ordinary coffee will suffice…”

Celeste couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?”

As she leaned closer, her body drawing nearer, a wave of goosebumps erupted across Yalin’s skin, and several dark tentacles uncontrollably breached the surface of his wrist.

His face turned ashen as he frantically pressed the aberrant appendages back with a desperate grip.

‘Damn it, surely no one saw that?’

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, tracing a path down his temple as Yalin cautiously raised his head.

Liyang kept her head bowed, her hands clasped upon her knees, evidently having noticed the crowded environment, which seemed to make her somewhat uneasy.

From Celeste’s vantage point, being a little further away, she likely couldn’t have seen his arm hidden beneath the table.

‘Good, it seems I wasn’t exposed. If those things had fully emerged in public, my life would have been utterly ruined.’

However, the current predicament remained dire. It appeared he had no choice but to employ that particular tactic!

Yalin had accompanied them to the coffee shop and endured this ordeal precisely to await this opportune moment!

He was about to unleash his hypnotic magic!