"Who do you think you are!? This is the assembly hall for the Society of Friends of the Night!"
"I am well aware! That is exactly why I have come! I have no business with the likes of you! Now, get out of my way this instant!"
Inside the hall, Cyan had been searching for Sakura, but he was now paralyzed with dread as a familiar voice drew steadily closer.
As the other members turned toward the commotion at the entrance, the very person Cyan had feared appeared, barging through the opposition just as he had expected.
"Any Luminous Academy students present! Return to your dorms at once!! Associating with a group that idolizes a criminal is absolutely beyond the pale!"
"Gah... Lamy’s actually here...?"
The scenario was changing yet again. Cyan watched Lamy storm into the hall, his mind racing.
He had already failed to encounter Sakura as planned, and now, with these unexpected developments piling up, he truly had no idea how to proceed. As he stood frozen, a group of Kurotobari’s most devoted followers stepped forward to block Lamy’s path.
"You, stop right there! You barge in here uninvited and spout such nonsense!?"
"To call Lord Kurotobari a criminal... you are an unpardonable sinner!"
"I told you, I have no use for you! You’re in my way—move!!"
The moment Lamy screamed, the Luminous Academy students she had brought along—likely upperclassmen—used magic to blast the obstructing followers aside.
A massive stir rippled through the venue. As Lamy scanned the crowd, her gaze locked onto Cyan. He instinctively winced, his face practically screaming, 'Oh, crap.'
"Cyan Fail! To think that even you would be in a place like this...!!"
"N-no, you’ve got it all wrong! There’s a perfectly good reason for this! I haven't become a follower of Kurotobari or anything like that!"
Cyan rushed toward Lamy, making frantic excuses as he approached her face, which was twisted with disappointment and rage.
Though he knew it sounded like a hollow justification, he really hadn't joined the cult, and he desperately tried to make Lamy understand that.
"I only came here because I heard Amamiya-san was attending the Society of Friends of the Night, and I wanted to bring her back! It’s obvious she’d be in danger at a risky gathering like this! So, I thought I’d save her before anything happened—"
"I’m sure you did. I’m quite sure there are other students who came here with the same intent to 'save' Amamiya-san."
"Yes, exactly! That’s why I—"
"Then why did every single one of you act independently? And without so much as a report to the faculty! Do you have any idea what kind of situation your selfish actions have invited!?"
"Eh...!?"
Cyan had hoped to navigate this mess using a valid excuse, his protagonist perks, and the Affection Level he had carefully ground out with Lamy. He was stunned into silence when she reacted in a way he hadn't anticipated.
Lamy looked around at him and the other students known as Hero Candidates, her voice sharp as she lectured them on the fallout of their behavior.
"Listen to me. Because you all joined this gathering to find the exchange student, a massive number of other students followed you here! They look up to you as Hero Candidates, and now rumors are spreading that you’ve all become followers of Kurotobari!"
"N-no way! We didn't mean for that to happen...!!"
"This wouldn't have happened if you had cooperated or shared information...! In the first place, if you knew Amamiya-san was coming here, you should have consulted me immediately! What good does it do to worsen the situation by acting on your own!?"
"Ugh..."
Lamy ranted hysterically, but since her logic was sound, Cyan couldn't find a single word to say in his defense.
Cursing Egos for ruining his reputation and assuming his Affection Level had plummeted because of it, Cyan glared at his former partner in his mind. At the same time, he couldn't help but spit venom at Lamy internally.
(As if I could cooperate! Everyone else is a rival aiming for Sakura, don't you get it? Besides, the scenario said this was fine, so it’s not my fault...!!)
He knew the scenario was deviating wildly. However, Cyan and the others were so tethered to their knowledge of the game that they were incapable of doing anything other than following the original script.
As they were being ruthlessly scolded for their lack of foresight, a quiet but commanding male voice echoed through the assembly hall.
"My, my... it seems some rather forceful guests have arrived."
The moment that voice rang out, the murmurs of the followers ceased instantly.
The crowd split to the left and right, carving a path for a middle-aged man dressed in ostentatious clothing to step forward.
"And you are...?"
"It is a pleasure to meet you, teacher of Luminous Academy. My name is Glonas, and I serve as the Representative of the Society of Friends of the Night."