The Smiling Death

Chapter 464: Show Off

The four of them continued walking together through the Academy grounds while chatting casually beneath the bright afternoon sunlight.

The atmosphere around Arcadia Academy had become much livelier compared to the last several days. More and more students had started returning for the new academic year.

The pathways were no longer empty as groups of students could now be seen walking around while carrying luggage, talking excitedly with friends, or heading toward the dormitory buildings.

Amon walked with his hands behind his head while looking completely relaxed.

Beside him, Marcus still carried his usual annoyed expression as if merely standing near Amon was already exhausting for him.

Meanwhile, Seraphina quietly walked beside them with her usual calm demeanor while Eliana remained visibly excited after meeting Amon again.

Even now, she occasionally glanced toward him as if checking whether he was truly real.

After reaching the Administration Building, Eliana first needed to complete her return registration for the second year.

The large building remained busy with students and Academy staff moving everywhere.

Inside, several counters were lined up neatly while magical crystal devices floated above them displaying student information.

Eliana walked toward one of the counters while the others waited nearby.

The female staff member behind the counter smiled politely after seeing her.

"Welcome back to Arcadia Academy, Princess Eliana."

Eliana smiled gently and nodded politely.

"Thank you."

The registration process didn’t take very long.

Her information was updated, and soon she received her new second-year student ID card along with the number for her dormitory room.

After finishing everything, the group headed toward the dormitory area.

The second-year dormitory buildings stood tall and elegant beneath the afternoon sky.

Compared to the first-year section, everything here looked far more luxurious.

Eliana looked around curiously while holding her luggage.

"So this is the second-year dormitory area."

Amon proudly crossed his arms.

"It’s amazing, right? My room is also huge."

Marcus immediately looked at him with irritation.

"Why are you acting proud? You didn’t build it. And everyone have same kind of rooms."

Amon ignored him completely.

"I even have a separate bedroom now."

Eliana blinked in surprise.

"Really?"

"Yes," Amon replied proudly. "Second-year students are treated way better."

Seraphina quietly nodded beside them.

"That’s because stronger students receive better facilities. Second years are stronger."

Eliana soon headed upstairs to organize her belongings while the others waited outside the building.

About half an hour later, she finally returned.

This time, she no longer carried her luggage.

Her platinum-blonde hair swayed beautifully behind her while her long pointed ears twitched lightly as she walked toward them.

"I’m done."

Amon immediately smiled.

"Good. Let’s go eat."

Honestly, he had been waiting for lunch for a while already.

The group soon headed toward the Academy cafeteria together.

Students could be seen entering and leaving constantly now that more people had returned.

The large cafeteria remained noisy and lively with conversations echoing everywhere.

After taking their food, the four of them finally sat together at one of the tables near the large windows.

Amon sat beside Marcus while Seraphina and Eliana sat opposite them.

Several dishes were arranged across the table while warm sunlight poured softly through the windows.

Eliana quietly looked at Amon for a moment while holding her spoon.

Then finally she asked the question she had clearly been wanting to ask since earlier.

"So... where were you, Amon?"

Her blue eyes carried genuine curiosity and concern.

"What exactly happened to you during all these months?"

Marcus immediately looked toward him too.

Even Seraphina quietly lifted her gaze toward Amon.

Amon awkwardly scratched his cheek.

"Hehe... I do want to tell you."

Then he sighed dramatically.

"But it’s honestly a very long story."

Marcus narrowed his eyes.

"You told me the exact same thing yesterday."

Amon shamelessly nodded. "Because it’s true."

Marcus clicked his tongue. "Tch."

Amon smiled lightly before continuing, "When Aisha comes back, I’ll tell everyone together."

Eliana puffed her cheeks slightly. "You are making it sound mysterious on purpose."

Amon grinned. "Maybe a little."

Marcus rubbed his forehead tiredly. "This idiot."

Despite his words, Marcus himself was clearly curious too.

The four of them slowly continued eating while talking casually.

After several minutes, Amon suddenly looked toward Marcus.

"Hey Marcus."

Marcus immediately frowned suspiciously.

"...What now?"

Amon leaned slightly closer with a grin.

"You are from a noble family, right? A ducal family."

Marcus narrowed his violet eyes.

"Yes. So what?"

Then Amon’s smirk widened mischievously.

"So... don’t you have a fiancée or something?"

PUFF!

Marcus nearly choked on his drink. He immediately coughed several times while glaring at Amon with disbelief.

"Cough—! Why does that matter to you?!"

Amon innocently shrugged. "I just asked for fun."

Marcus looked genuinely speechless. After calming down slightly, he coldly replied, "No. I don’t have one."

Amon nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm."

Then he immediately turned toward Eliana. "What about you, Princess Eliana?"

Eliana blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"Do you have a fiancé?"

Her beautiful face immediately turned slightly red. "W-What kind of question is that?!"

Amon shamelessly continued smiling. "Just answer."

Eliana crossed her arms proudly before replying, "No, I don’t."

Amon nodded again.

Then his eyes slowly moved toward Seraphina.

The moment their eyes met, Seraphina stared at him with a completely deadpan expression.

She already knew exactly what kind of nonsense he was about to say next.

Amon coughed lightly. "...What?"

Seraphina calmly spoke. "You already know the answer."

Amon grinned awkwardly. "Hehe."

Marcus looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you suddenly asking everyone this?"

Amon slowly leaned back in his chair. Then he raised his chest proudly.

"Well... that just means I am the best among the four of us."

Seraphina sighed softly while closing her eyes briefly. She already knew where this conversation was going.

Meanwhile Eliana looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Amon proudly pointed at himself.

"I have a girlfriend now."

Silence came on the table. Complete silence.

Marcus was frozen. Eliana froze too. Even nearby students could probably feel the sudden shock around the table.

Marcus slowly turned his head toward Amon.

"...You what?"

Amon proudly smiled.

"I have a girlfriend."

Eliana’s blue eyes widened greatly. "W-Wait really?!"

Amon nodded happily. "Her name is Scarlett."

Marcus stared at him with complete disbelief. Then suddenly. "BULLSHIT."

Amon immediately looked offended. "Hey!"

Marcus pointed at him accusingly. "There is absolutely no way someone like you has a girlfriend."

Amon looked deeply wounded. "What do you mean someone like me?!"

Marcus spoke with complete confidence.

"You are literally the kind of man who talks nonsense twenty-four hours a day."

Eliana still looked shocked. "You actually have a girlfriend?"

Amon proudly nodded again. "Yes."

Then he placed one hand dramatically over his chest. "And she is extremely beautiful."

Marcus looked even more suspicious now. "Did you make up some imaginary woman while disappearing for months?"

Amon gasped. "How dare you insult my love!"

Eliana leaned forward curiously. "What kind of person is she?"

Amon’s expression softened slightly.

"She has long blood red hair and beautiful amethyst color eyes.."

For a brief moment, his voice sounded surprisingly genuine. "She is really beautiful."

Marcus stared at him silently. Then he looked toward Seraphina. "...Is he serious?"

Seraphina calmly nodded. "Yes."

Both Marcus and Eliana froze again. Eliana covered her mouth slightly.

"It’s actually true..." Seraphina confirmed it one more time.

Marcus still looked unable to accept reality. "You... actually managed to get a girlfriend?"

Amon proudly brushed his hair back. "Of course."

Marcus muttered in disbelief, "What kind of world are we living in..."

Eliana suddenly looked curious again. "So where did you meet her?"

Amon smiled lightly. "...That’s part of the long story too."

Marcus immediately pointed at him again. "You keep saying that."

Amon shamelessly shrugged. "Because everything that happened to me really is complicated."

Eliana’s ears twitched lightly while she stared at him curiously.

Honestly, she really wanted to know what exactly had happened to Amon during these missing months. Not just her. Marcus and even Seraphina quietly looked toward him too.

Amon noticed their gazes and laughed awkwardly. "Don’t look at me like that."

Marcus narrowed his eyes. "You better explain everything once Aisha comes back."

Amon nodded. "I will." Then he smiled slightly. "Honestly... a lot really happened."

For a brief moment, his expression became quieter.

But soon his usual grin returned again. "Still... I survived."

Seraphina quietly watched him. Then softly she said, "...Yes. You did."

Her golden eyes carried faint warmth.

Eliana smiled brightly again. "Then let’s celebrate once everyone returns."

Amon immediately raised one hand dramatically. "Good idea."

Marcus sighed tiredly while eating again. "I already feel exhausted just sitting with you people."

Amon immediately wrapped one arm around Marcus’s shoulder. "Come on brother, don’t be shy."

Marcus’s face twitched instantly. "Take your hand off me."

Amon completely ignored him.

Meanwhile, Seraphina quietly watched the scene while lightly shaking her head.

A faint smile rested on her face.

And beside her, Eliana softly laughed while watching the two boys argue like idiots in the middle of the cafeteria.