**Chapter 430: Study Group**
The first week for the freshmen at Saint Felis Academy is all about various experiences, with actual classes starting in the second week.
So, the next day, after a day full of classes, Yuliya rounded up Kaise and found Inif, ready to check out the study group together.
But as soon as they met, Inif chuckled and said, “Look, Riya, you’re in the newspaper again.”
“What?” Yuliya frowned, “Newspaper? Again?”
“This.”
Inif handed over a small, simple newspaper.
Yuliya took it.
Right in the middle of the paper, the title screamed: “Saint Felis Daily.”
She quickly scanned it—only the front page, with about seven or eight reports total.
Half of them were about some professor at a certain academy discovering something innovative.
The other half? Just the usual student gossip.
But two reports stood out like a sore thumb.
One was about the new student “Riya.”
The headline read: “Excellence Newbie Riya Makes Her Debut by Facing Off Against the Student Council—The Club Recruitment Stage is Empty as a Chair!”
Wait a second, when did I go up against the Student Council? I had no idea!
This title is clearly stirring the pot! I need to report this newspaper to the Student Council!
But… the latter half of that statement doesn’t seem wrong. If this continues, I might really end up in a feud with the Student Council.
Seemingly reading Yuliya’s expression, Inif reassured her, “Don’t worry, everyone treats this daily as a sort of entertainment. Anyone who has been at the academy for a while knows that the Feihua News Agency thrives on this kind of sensationalism.”
Yuliya let out a sigh of relief.
The article’s content was actually pretty straightforward—about that stage incident from yesterday.
It was entertaining enough, and some performances truly outshone the main stage.
Curse you, misleading headlines!
With that thought, she glanced over at the other eye-catching report.
“New Tutor Euphilia Revealed! Strong, Elegant, Beautiful! Is She One of the Most Stunning Tutors?”
The “one of the” part was notably shrunk; at a quick glance, you’d miss it entirely.
As for the content? Just her lecturing habits.
I have to admit, the news agency knows how to work the angles—full of hype and guaranteed traffic!
Definitely a talent.
“Oh, so there’s a news agency like this? How come I didn’t see them during the recruitment yesterday?”
“They’re probably hiding away, writing their drafts. Otherwise, this newspaper wouldn’t have made it out by noon today.”
Kaise feigned surprise and asked, “Wait, you actually care about the newspaper? I thought you were the lone wolf type who didn’t care about anything!”
“…”
That was pretty accurate.
“I naturally keep tabs on Riya’s affairs—not like you useless cat, always snuggling up to her!”
Yuliya interjected, “So I’ve been widely known for ages because of this newspaper?
“Most likely.”
I mean, in a big place like this academy, there’s gotta be a channel for news.
This so-called “Saint Felis Daily,” while sensationalist, does have some actual content.
“So, don’t their clubs need to recruit too? Why didn’t anyone come looking for me?”
“Are you interested in the news agency, Riya?”
“Yep, very interested. I really want to investigate how to seal their lips.”
Kaise shot her hand up, “Leave it to me, Riya-dono, I’ll find their hideout!”
“Not a hideout, it’s called a base,” Yuliya swatted her hand away. “Saying it like that makes it sound like we’re going to raid them!”
“Isn’t that the plan? Get them all in one go, and their mouths will be sealed tight.”
“…”
Oh no, this kid is beyond saving.
“Hehe, just joking! Anyway, leave it to me.”
“Alright. But for now, let’s head over to the study group.”
Yuliya led the duo to the student activity area.
After asking for directions twice, they finally found the correct floor.
“It should be just here.”
Yuliya looked at the door number, which matched the flyer perfectly.
“But… why does the atmosphere feel a bit off? It’s so quiet…”
Kaise glanced around, spotting hardly anyone.
A gust of wind blew, sending a chill down her spine, and she instinctively snuggled closer to Yuliya.
Inif didn’t feel anything odd; she just looked up at the sign.
It had five characters, but the first two were blank. Only the last three displayed “Study Group.”
“This place should be correct, but was there really a study group here before? I don’t recall it at all.”
“Study groups are supposed to be quieter. As long as we’re certain, let’s head in.”
Yuliya was nonchalant about it.
After all, she was just looking for a place to loaf around and k*ll time.
She wasn’t as cold-eyed as Inif, who was famous for it, nor could she pretend to be like her.
Just thinking about how if she didn’t participate in anything, the tutors would try to convince her, and those clubs would pester her, gave her a headache.
So the best strategy? Find a random spot to blend in, blocking the other people’s mouths in advance.
She had her fishing game all mapped out!
The more lifeless the place was, the better to catch some fish!
Yuliya glanced around, then pulled out three textbooks.
“Each of you take one, and we’ll just stroll in like this.”
Inif peeked at her book, which was “Theory and Fundamentals of Magic,” Riya had “Introduction to Alchemy,” and Kaise held “Classification and Features of Martial Arts.”
Three textbooks…
While everyone else comes to study groups with interesting extracurricular reads, here we are, lugging around textbooks.
“No choice, let’s make do. Carrying nothing is worse.”
With that, Yuliya knocked on the door: “Hello, we’re interested in the study group, and we came to learn a bit.”
The door creaked open, but there was no response.
A breeze passed, causing Kaise to retract her neck, “Riya-dono, this doesn’t feel right…”
“No problem.” Yuliya shook her head.
She was sure there were people inside.
No one came out? Well, we’ll go in ourselves!
Yuliya pulled Kaise inside, with Inif bringing up the rear.
As they stepped through the threshold, the door quietly closed behind them.
However, the club activity room was rather dim, with the curtains over the windows drawn tight, save for a faint light shining from the back.
Kaise tugged at Yuliya’s sleeve: “Riya-dono, do we need to study in such darkness?”
“Isn’t there some light inside? There are even figures. Perhaps they’re studying something dark-themed for a better immersion experience.”
After a few more steps, Yuliya pushed open the innermost room’s door.
“He slashed his wrist with a dagger, and black bl**d flowed from the wound. He pushed aside nearby dismembered limbs and skeletal remains, cackling madly, knowing his ritual was a success!”
“Just then, the door swung open, and three figures appeared at the entrance.”
The person caught in the middle suddenly turned, twisting his body 180 degrees, revealing a pale smile at the door: “Oh, you guys! You finally made it.”
“Eek!” Kaise panicked and squeezed Yuliya’s arm.
But Yuliya waved her other hand, causing the wind to whip the curtains aside, letting sunlight flood the room.
“Are you all nuts? Scaring people like this in broad daylight? What’s the fun in that?”
