The three of them stepped into the room and they saw two people inside the room. One of them, the older one, was sitting down on a chair. Whereas, the other, the younger one, was staring blankly at his boots.

"Oh? Three of you? Interesting." The older man with a gruff voice said, his hazel eyes glinting.

The older man was a burly man in his forties, and his outfit as well as his mannerisms resembled a barbarian. There was a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek which added on to his fierce features.

It was just like the author had described, everything about him screams fierce.

The man was simply named Gom.

Cecil was taken aback, and she couldn't help but step back when Gom directed his sharp eyes towards her.

"You, girl, step forward and show me your right palm."

Cecil obediently did so, and the man guffawed.

"You drank the Widerlich willingly? And you are an earth?" Gom clapped his hands together, thrilled. "Good, very good! You pass, girl! I accept your enrollment!"

Cecil pulled her hand back, confounded. She didn't expect it would be this easy, however, the author had stated Gom liked following his instincts.

He was an intuitive man.

"Thank you." Cecil answered with a lukewarm tone.

Kai, who was being moody all along, seemed to have heard Cecil's voice, looking up with wide eyes.

Cecil!

He couldn't believe his eyes, he held onto the hope that Cecil would enroll, and she was right here, in front of him at this moment. He clearly heard Gom accepting her enrollment as well.

She's enrolling! She's accepted!

Cecil looked at Kai, her expression softening a little. She could imagine his tail wagging around excitedly and the big ears standing upright on his head.

This silly fluffy boy, look who I've brought along.

Cecil stepped aside, allowing Xue and Hana to come into his view, pretending not to notice Kai.

The two of them were focused on Gom, and the moment Kai saw them, he became still.

Cecil wasn't even sure he was breathing anymore.

"You, young lad, step forward!" Gom pointed to Xue.

Cecil knew Xue would be Gom's disciple and only student after five years. Gom was particularly picky about his students, and he only took those whom he was fond of.

Xue stepped forward and Gom stared at him, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Hmm. Hmm, hmm. You haven't drank Widerlich, but I can tell you are special." Gom nodded in approval. "Accepted! Next, the last girl!"

[ Mission #4 : Eagle Academy
Objective completed!
Reward : 20 points
Remaining points : 90 points ]

Cecil hurriedly closed the message.

Xue cast a worried glance at Hana, but his eyes caught onto something. Finally noticing Kai, he gazed back at the flummoxed young man, his reaction similar to Kai.

Cecil was anxious.

Too anxious for Hana's result and, the meeting between protagonist and his alter.

Does the heroine have her own "plot armour" as well?

Gom observed Hana, his eyebrows twitching. "...not too bad, you are here for your good friends here, aren't you?"

"Yes." Hana said innocently.

Gom grimaced, looking at Cecil and Xue, especially how Cecil seemed to be glaring at him.

"You aren't too bad, girl. Also for the sake of your good friendship, accepted!"

Her plot armour worked!

Hana squealed and hugged Cecil, making Cecil pat her on the back. Hana withdrew from the hug, turning to Xue to see his reaction, only tilting her head when she saw Xue and Kai having a staring contest.

"...Xue?"

The two young men turned to look at Hana. Kai staggered back upon looking at her, and he glanced once more at Xue, before moving back to Hana. Xue glanced back and forth between Hana and Kai instead, whereas Cecil tapped her fingers anxiously on her arm.

Gom blinked in confusion and he frowned, coughing harshly.

Cecil remembered this part.

This is where Gom will say--

"Settle your disputes, and once you are done, I'll be waiting outside."

Gom left the room, and Hana's eyes were still fixed upon the two men who bore a resemblance to one another.

"You two...look similar! Are you long-lost brothers? Oh, twins!" Hana gasped out in awe.

No matter how many times Cecil has read about this part, even hearing it in real life now, still made her smack her forehead with her own hand.

"Ha...na...?" Kai called out, conflicted.

"Hmm? You called me?" Hana tilted her head to one side, smiling good-naturedly.

"Hana...?"

"Yes?"

"Hana."

"Why do you keep calling me?"

The dialogue was exactly the same. At the rate it was continuing, Cecil knew what would happen.

There was nothing she could do to change the dialogue as well. Kai would hug Hana, due to being overwhelmed with emotions. Xue, according to the author, has always been possessive and obsessive.

After his soul exploded into fifty pieces, his mental state was unstable and that only added on to his possessiveness and obsession.

Thus, when he saw his other alter hugging his beloved who just responded to Kai's hug without any qualms, Xue punched him...and they got into a scuffle. Gom will then storm in to separate the both of them.

Nothing can cure Xue's volatile state until he completes his soul...and only Hana can help achieve that.

Cecil sighed inwardly, deciding to excuse herself, since there was nothing else she could do.

Kai noticed another presence moving in the room, and as if a spell that was broken, the presence came into view.

"Cecil?"

Cecil halted.

"..."

This wasn't in the novel.

Everyone was now looking at Cecil, awaiting her response.

...what's with this new development?! Why did Kai call out to me? He's supposed to be overwhelmed by meeting his host and his beloved wife!

Her eyes wandered about, panicking and Cecil finally willed herself to turn around.

"Kai, good to see you again." Cecil greeted, expressionless, her tone holding the usual hint of arrogance.

"Uhm..." Kai glanced at Xue and Hana again, shaking himself awake. "Yo-you decided to enroll after all?"

"Yes."

"Gom accepted you, heh! Of course he would, even I approved of you!"

"Hmmm."

"Congratulations!"

"Thank you, I'll wait outside." Cecil replied, looking away and heading towards the door.

"Wait outside, but why?" Kai asked, frowning. "Hey, Cecil!"

"Cecil, wait for me!" Hana hurried after her.

"You know that woman as well?" Xue spoke softly to Kai. "...strange. I never thought..."

Kai watched Cecil go, reluctant and hearing Xue's words, his eyes lit up.

"I know Cecil because I asked her to be my girlfriend!" Kai raised his voice on purpose.

A loud bang resounded throughout the room.

Cecil's hand had slipped from the doorknob in shock and the lost of balance cause her to slam right into the door.

"Oh no, are you okay?" Hana asked worriedly.

Cecil winced, pressing softly against her sore nose.

Xue raised his eyebrows, his alters were only supposed to love Hana.

How did this first alter of mine that I've met, end up liking another woman?

"Where did you meet her?" Xue questioned, intrigued at this unexpected discovery.

"At the balcony that night where she was dressed in a nightgown--"

"Stop talking!" Cecil cried out, marching across the room to Kai. "Not. Another. Word!"

There was a rosy tint on her cheeks, and her limpid eyes were slightly misty as she soothed her sore nose with her fingers.

The two men were tongue-tied upon seeing Cecil in this manner. It was the first time they have heard her raising her voice too.

"...I remember, it's that night! You were the pervert that Cecil was shouting about! The trespassing pervert!" Hana exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at Kai. "You peeped at Cecil in her nightgown!"

Cecil buried her face in her hands, embarrassed.

Xue raised his eyebrows, looking at his alter in a different light.

Kai rubbed at his nose as he looked away, shy and guilty.

The door slammed opened and Gom stormed in. "I heard a loud crash! And something about a pervert! Where's the pervert?!"

Hana and Xue pointed to Kai.

Kai recoiled back in horror.

Cecil lifted her head up, glaring at Kai, chagrined. She huffed, exiting the room swiftly.

"Wha--Kai?!"

"No, wait! Yo-you've got it all wrong, Gom! Mr. Gom!"

***

The five of them settled down the couches in the lobby area of the inn, Xue and Kai sat side by side while opposite them were Cecil and Hana. Whereas, Gom was sitting alone in the middle, a table in the separating them.

Cecil recovered, switching back to her haughty self and Hana wore an innocent look. Kai maintained his toothy grin, gazing at Cecil but his gaze strayed towards Hana from time to time, his eyes glazing over before he snapped out of it. A constant frown was etched onto Xue's eyebrows as he switched his eyes to Kai, Cecil and Hana.

Gom could sense the strange atmosphere and he cleared his throat.

"Since you are now considered students of Eagle Academy, you may start packing up and preparing to set off. The two of us, me and Kai will be escorting you to the academy. A week should be sufficient to say your farewells?"

"More than sufficient." Xue nodded.

"Yes." Cecil answered, her dancing lessons with her mother was almost done.

It was only the sword movements now, and her mother advised her to find her own movements instead once Cecil obtained her own sword.

Her mother would only teach her the basics of the sword dancing movements.

"Of course! I hope my parents don't feel too sad..." Hana agreed cheerily, only lower her tone after thinking about her parents.

"Along the way to the academy, I will start to explain more. For now...since you are already acquainted in one way or another, I will leave you be."

Gom stood up and headed up the stairs, back to his room. At the same time, Cecil headed for the door.

"Cecil!"

Cecil wanted to cry.

This man has been looking and calling out for her the entire time, though he still looked at Hana. She assumed once Kai saw his beloved wife, his infatuation would disappear and everything would be back to normal again.

But what is with this unexpected development!

This story is only supposed to have one single couple! Not a love triangle or a love square!

Great lord protagonist, why isn't your alter going to Hana instead...

Cecil spun around, raising her eyebrows in a questioning manner.

"Yes, Kai?"

"No-nothing, I'm just glad that you are really enrolling." Kai flashed her an adorable, happy grin.

So. Cute.

But that smile shouldn't be shown to me...

Hana, could it be your "heroine" powers aren't strong enough? Sigh.

Cecil forced a smile upon her lips in response, "I have to train after all, that's why I enrolled. I'll be heading back first to rest."

Hana waved goodbye to Kai, trailing after Cecil and she assumed Xue would follow behind them. To her surprise, Xue stopped Kai when he wanted to go after Cecil once again, holding his arm.

"You, stop. We need to talk for a moment."

"...but...okay."

A message appeared in front of Cecil at the same time.

[ Warning! It is imperative you eavesdrop on their conversation. Your existence to first alter "Kai" has become essential. Your decisions will now affect the outcome of the secret mission.
Once again, your time limit : 52 days
8 days has passed since you were last given this mission. ]

Cecil froze. "...?!"

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

It's the other "me".

The first one I've met, and as expected, he only remembers Hana.

That pisses me off.

Even if they are "me", I won't allow them to touch Hana.

...?!

...he likes...that weird woman?

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

She is the woman stuck in my mind for years.

It's overwhelming.

I want to...touch her...hug her... and something tells me we are meant to be, but it doesn't feel right.

It's suffocating, and it suffocates me more when I look at the man that looks like me.

...and it all disappears when I look at someone.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 3

《 start 》

That man, Kai, looks very similar to Xue! They have to be long-lost brothers!

Oh...so that's it.

That's how Xue feels like to me, my long-lost brother! He isn't my brother though...hmm, what is he?

...!!!

The peeping pervert is Kai! Oh! Does he like Cecil?! Bu-but he looks like Xue!

...Xue likes Cecil?

Hehehe, that makes me kinda jealous, but...somehow...it suits him!

《 stop 》