Chapter 303: Dark Demon’s Snowless Footprints (4k)
Rose Florette woke up in a daze.
The cold wind sneaking through the gaps in her bedding made her shiver slightly.
Instinctively, she hugged her Grass Cat Plant and rubbed against it. The comforting touch reminded her of something.
She suddenly jolted awake.
“Dianna!”
Rose hurriedly threw off the blanket. Even in her bunny pajamas, the cold was too much, causing her to sneeze involuntarily.
She reached behind her neck to put on her hat, and her two bunny ears drooped down.
Before leaving, she grabbed a thick coat and put it on. She glanced at the wall clock and saw that it was already half past five!
“Mmm, I overslept.”
Wearing pink bunny slippers, Rose ran out, her first glance directed towards Dark’s dorm.
But Dark’s dorm was at the end of the hallway, and the corridor curved, making it impossible to see that far.
After closing the door, she immediately went to Dianna’s dorm room.
Hesitating for a moment, she knocked on the door.
“Knock knock knock.”
“Dianna?”
She called softly, but there was no response from inside.
“Could that silly girl really have blocked the door?”
Rose couldn’t help but pull her bunny ears down hard.
Then she ran towards the end of the hallway.
She wasn’t worried about Dianna, but this kind of behavior felt foolish.
Books had said that when a girl pursues a boy, it’s just a thin veil away, easy to break through.
But not all boys would appreciate it.
If a girl acts too aggressively, she might come across as lacking modesty, leading people to form negative impressions of her.
Once a boy thinks you’re too frivolous, even if you’re together for a while, the future is uncertain.
Because what’s easily obtained isn’t valued.
This is human nature.
Rose certainly didn’t think Dark was that kind of person, but the book “Her Youthful Romance Story Is Indeed Problematic!” said otherwise!
Leaving aside Dianna for now.
Rose was easily influenced by books…
“Tap tap tap.”
Not long after, Rose arrived near Dark’s dorm.
Immediately, she noticed two gift boxes at the entrance.
“What are these?”
She bent down to take a look.
The neatly placed square boxes were large—naturally so, since Dianna had stuffed a whole chocolate bear inside!
That chocolate bear, as big as a volleyball, was made by Rose. One of the bear’s eyes was button-shaped, mimicking the Christmas gift Dark had given Dianna.
The bear sat with its hands holding a heart-shaped orange syrup sculpture.
It was very delicate.
To make this chocolate bear, Rose didn’t have time to make her own chocolates, so she only managed to mold a tiny chocolate rabbit.
On the front of the box, there was a card peeking out with a small bear ear. It was written in cursive with Dianna’s name.
Other than that, there was no confession or other messages.
Dianna had considered writing them, but Rose stopped her.
She knew they were still first-year students, too young to focus on romance instead of their studies.
Dark Demon probably thought the same.
If Dianna confessed now, even if not rejected outright, she might be misled.
Though Dianna could quickly regain her spirits, things would never be the same.
They needed to grow up a bit more.
When Dianna matured into a girl who couldn’t be refused, the outcome might be different.
Moreover, from what Rose observed, Dark seemed to prefer someone more mature.
Thinking of this, her heart tightened.
…
Rose turned to the other gift box.
It was pink, decorated with various stars. The box was about the size that could be held with both hands, adorned with a large heart-shaped ribbon.
But there was no card, so it was unclear whose it was.
“Another person came?”
“Who is she?”
“Where’s Dianna?”
Rose was momentarily confused.
She had assumed no one else was as innocent as Dianna…
But reality slapped her hard.
“Did they quarrel or something?”
Fantasy-loving Rose couldn’t help but imagine scenarios.
Then she covered her mouth and mumbled, “Maybe they went somewhere to duel? Those stories always say two boys duel over a girl, and whoever wins gets to pursue her! Ugh, why does it always feel so romantic?”
“Click!”
Just as Rose was lost in slight daydreams, a mechanical sound came from inside the door in front of her.
The door opened, revealing a golden-haired youth with a hint of fatigue.
Rose couldn’t help but widen her eyes.
Then she looked down at the gift boxes on the floor and her bunny slippers.
Her pale cheeks instantly flushed red.
…
“Busy?”
The Ditto transformed into a sleeping cap, swaying on top of Dark’s head.
Dark looked at Rose at the door, puzzled.
He hadn’t expected to leave so early, but the unexpected heavy snow had caught his attention.
Snow was rare in the kingdom, and the old castle’s snowy scenery was uniquely charming.
He thought he’d skip his morning jog, just take a walk around the castle, or perhaps sketch a couple of snow scenes to add to his collection.
It was a good idea, poetic even.
But before he could leave, Rose was blocking the door.
…
“Uh…”
Dark was momentarily stunned.
If someone else like Dianna or Eudora were here, he could understand.
But why was Rose waiting alone?
“Is something wrong?”
Dark pondered, smiling, “Good morning, looking for…”
He was about to say “for me,” but then noticed the two gift boxes by his feet.
In an instant, everything became clear.
Dark: “I see.”
Rose blushed and hurriedly said, “It’s not mine…”
Dark laughed, “This little bear card is Dianna’s, where is she?”
Rose sighed in relief, “I don’t know, I’m looking for her too.”
Dark’s thoughts stirred.
So the pink box wasn’t Rose’s?
He had assumed the two boxes were for Dianna and Rose, but it seemed not.
If so, who did the pink box belong to?
With a hint of confusion, Dark asked Rose, “So who does the other box belong to?”
Rose shook her head, “I don’t know. I just got here and saw these two boxes.”
“Is that so?”
Dark thought for a moment, then bent down, placing the pink box on top of Dianna’s larger box, picking them both up.
“Come in.”
Logically, since the boxes were outside, they were meant for him.
Though the person was gone…
He couldn’t leave the boxes outside.
Once inside, Dark removed the Ditto hat from his head and picked up the pink box.
In theory, there shouldn’t be any danger in the tower of the Noble Academy.
But better safe than sorry.
Dianna might have left with the owner of the pink box.
To find out who owned the pink box, he just needed to open it.
…
As Dark opened the box, Rose cautiously entered and closed the door behind her.
She turned her head to observe the surroundings, somewhat surprised.
Every time she entered Dark’s dorm, she found something new.
This time, there were even more surprises.
The enormous cat climbing frame and the four three-tier beds against the wall were particularly eye-catching.
The mana spirits lounging on the beds were incredibly cute, almost irresistible.
If the timing weren’t off, she’d have stayed here to soak it all in!
This dorm was truly her dream place!
“Mmm.”
She forced herself to look away from the boxes.
…
In a moment, Dark had opened the pink box.
The scent of alcohol that escaped made him frown.
But he soon realized the box contained not alcohol, but transparent candy-wrapped heart-shaped chocolates.
“Candy with alcohol centers?”
Dark couldn’t resist picking up a chocolate, unwrapping it, and smelling it.
Then he carefully took a bite.
The bittersweet taste of the chocolate spread in his mouth, with the rich aroma of alcohol permeating his senses.
Looking down, he saw the faintly swirling alcohol inside the chocolate.
In this world, he had never seen such a concept before.
Thus, he was even more astonished.
Unlike the alcohol-filled chocolates he was used to, these seemed to contain a stronger alcohol content.
Dark licked his tongue, and a sharp sensation exploded.
He couldn’t help but tilt his head back.
“What kind of operation is putting strong liquor in a chocolate center?”
Rose asked, “What’s wrong?”
Dark shook his head, “Nothing.”
Then he placed the half-eaten chocolate on the table and pulled out a folded pink letter from the bottom of the box.
At this point, he already had a hunch.
Unfolding the letter, sure enough…
“It’s Eudora.”
Dark quickly scanned the contents of the letter.
This letter was less than a hundred words, and the message was surprisingly mild.
It simply stated that she had been working hard recently and would continue to do so.
She also mentioned her journey as an astrologer.
It seemed like a letter to a pen pal.
From affection, but within bounds.
But the more mundane the content, the more it felt like a hidden undercurrent.
Dark folded the letter and placed it in the drawer.
“If it’s Eudora, it should be fine.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and told Rose, “Let’s go look for them?”
“Mm.” Rose murmured softly.
But as they left the dorm and walked side by side in the hallway, she suddenly remembered something, her face turning red.
To hide her embarrassment, Rose clutched her bunny ears and covered her face with her hat.
…
The cold wind blew.
The footsteps in the hallway sounded urgent.
First, Dark went to Eudora’s dorm, then to Dianna’s.
He knocked on both doors, but unsurprisingly, there was no response.
“Since they brought gifts, it’s unlikely they’re still asleep inside.”
Dark pondered for a moment, noticing Rose was still in her bunny pajamas, and asked, “Should we change clothes?”
Rose quickly shook her head, “Let’s keep looking, I’m a bit worried.”
Dark frowned slightly.
Of course, he wanted to continue searching.
But with only the clue that the other person was Eudora, they had no other leads.
Even Sherlock Holmes couldn’t solve a case out of thin air.
At this point, they could only try a thorough search.
“There are two possibilities: searching upward in the tower, or searching downward outside the tower.”
Dark’s gaze shifted, considering a possibility.
“If they left the tower, maybe someone can provide some information.”
He immediately led Rose down to the common room, then pushed the door open and approached the Feathered Serpent construct.
As the guardian golem of the Noble Academy, this “Feathered Serpent” wasn’t a real creature but always gave a peculiar feeling.
It coiled at the entrance, unmoved by time and weather.
Its colorful wings draped over it, and its occasionally opened eyes were deep and wise.
Known as the “Truth Speaker,” the Feathered Serpent was said to see through illusions and reveal truths, never lying.
Dark looked at the closed-eyed Feathered Serpent construct and asked seriously, “Feathered Serpent, did anyone else leave their dorm early this morning?”
In Rose’s surprised gaze, the Feathered Serpent slowly opened its eyes, and indeed, it flicked its tongue and nodded!
Dark immediately followed up, “Was it Dianna and Eudora?”
But the Feathered Serpent closed its eyes again, like a stone statue.
Dark took a deep breath, “It must be them. Let’s check if there are any clues on the other side of the bridge.”
As he stepped onto the snow-covered bridge, Rose hurriedly followed.
The footprints Dianna had left were already buried by fresh snow.
But after crossing the bridge, faint traces remained in the castle on the other side.
These were not the clear footprints often seen in detective novels, but merely a few wet spots that hadn’t dried yet.
Dark couldn’t tell if it was one or two sets of footprints.
Nor could he infer the posture of the person from these traces.
Even the wet spots disappeared shortly after.
In the real world, there were rarely traces to follow.
Dark suddenly remembered to ask, “By the way, why did Dianna come so early to deliver chocolate? Isn’t Valentine’s Day flexible with timing?”
Rose’s face instantly turned red.
She averted her gaze and whispered, “They say early delivery brings good luck.”
Dark: “How early?”
Rose: “As early as possible.”
Dark opened his mouth, connecting the dots, and suddenly a thread of logic emerged in his mind.
He couldn’t help but cover his head, “I guess I figured it out.”
He had avoided the detective novel tropes but couldn’t escape the romance novel ones.
Life’s patterns were indeed one after another.
