Chapter 226: HOW DARE THAT S##T TRICK ME!!
"Welcome~"
The group of students stood before the school gates, a line of bright uniforms and fluttering banners as they welcomed guests with cheerful waves and practised smiles.
Suddenly, a slick black car slid to a stop in front of the gates, its polished body gleaming beneath the shifting sunlight. The crowd instinctively fell silent, attention locked on the vehicle, breath held, as if sensing the arrival of something extraordinary.
The door swung open with a soft click.
A woman stepped out.... She wore mirrored glasses, their surface flashing with fragments of the sky. Her long, midnight-black coat swept around her like a cape, the collar turned just so.
Beneath, a silky onyx skirt clung to her hips and thighs, moving like liquid shadow with each step. Stockings... lace-trimmed, dark as night, ran the length of her legs. On her feet, gleaming heels clicked a confident rhythm on the stone.
She smirked, sly and seductive.
The people, men and women alike, stared in stunned awe, unable to look away from her—she radiated a mature grace, an elegance that seemed carved from legends, untouchable and alluring.
"Come out, guys," Azrael called. She beckoned with a gloved hand.
Hesitantly... well, more than a little embarrassed, Raphael stepped forward.
Her outfit was bold: a deep green blouse hugged her form, its collar sharp, sleeves cuffed with silver clasps shaped like tiny serpents. A long, crisp white coat trailed behind, tailored to perfection.
Her skirt, black and pleated, fell just below her knees, modest yet distinctly fashionable. Black stockings with faint, swirling patterns climbed her legs, shimmering in the light, while simple ankle boots added a finishing touch.
Raphael tugged at the hem, clearly self-conscious about the ensemble. "I’m not used to wearing things like this... It’s a little much, don’t you think?" she muttered.
"Wshhooo~ Whoss~" Azrael let out an exaggerated wolf-whistle, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Look at you, Raphael! You’re absolutely dazzling. Didn’t know you had it in you. Feeling bold today, aren’t we?"
Raphael’s face went scarlet. She shot Azrael a sharp glare. "You’re the one who picked these clothes—and now you’re teasing me? That’s not fair!"
Azrael grinned wider, shrugging innocently, "Sometimes a healer has to stun the world, not just save it."
Raphael might not have had Azrael’s natural flair, but to the students who had only ever seen her as the reserved, soft-spoken doctor in the infirmary, this transformation was nothing short of breathtaking... a revelation of grace, modernity, and subtle beauty.
Then Leo stepped out, adjusting the collar of his school uniform, the familiar fabric grounding him amidst the swirl of spectacle.
Of course, as a participant, he had to follow the dress code.
"Hmph~" Ophis made her entrance with characteristic flair.
She wore a short, curly pink dress that sparkled along the hem, catching the light in flashes of rose and gold.
Over her legs, thick, thigh-high socks—soft and fluffy. Polished heels clicked confidently as she landed with a practised twirl, her small twin tails bouncing. Her entire posture radiated haughty confidence, chin lifted, eyes daring anyone to doubt her status.
"She looks so cute~" one of the students couldn’t help but exclaim.
The words hit Ophis, making her cheeks flush with pride as she tossed her hair with extra flourish.
Her ego, always fragile and always hungry, swelled with the praise. She marched forward, every step grand.
"Follow me, guards~" she declared in a singsong voice, every inch the imperious princess. She waved a hand regally, expecting her loyal protectors to fall in line.
Raphael stifled a laugh and followed. Azrael’s lips twitched as she fell in step behind.
But—
"Azrael... I think you’ve forgotten something," Leo said, tapping on the roof of the car that was still blocking the front gate.
Azrael blinked, startled. "Shit!" she blurted, immediately looking sheepish. "Got a little carried away with the whole ’grand entrance’ thing..."
The crowd chuckled as Azrael scrambled back, quickly sliding into the driver’s seat. She spun the wheel, the car gliding away to the parking area. Then, with a playful wink, she jogged to rejoin the group.
The group walked inside the school... The building had transformed, no longer the quiet halls and echoing classrooms of ordinary days.
Today, the school was utterly different... alive, blazing with colour, almost like a festival.
Well, it was a school festival, but still... the banners, the vibrant paintings stretched across every wall, the stalls crowded with students hawking magical trinkets, the echo of voices—shouting, cheering, laughing, marching bands parading past—the whole place pulsed with wild, joyful energy.
It was surely alive...
Raphael glanced at Leo, "When is your competition?" she asked.
Leo tilted his head, pausing mid-step. Actually, he didn’t know exactly when his event started.
Everyone looked at him with the same deadpan expression... somewhere between disbelief and silent accusation.
Leo coughed, an awkward smile flickering over his face, "I... might’ve forgotten to check the schedule..."
Raphael let out a breathy sigh, "Well, I’ll go and ask your classroom teacher, then," she said, her tone softening as she turned and walked away.
"Wait—" Leo started, but before he could follow after her, Azrael was suddenly behind him, her hand sliding over his mouth. She pressed herself close, her voice lowering to a sultry whisper. "It’s our time~" Her fingers traced a slow, deliberate line down his jaw, lingering just long enough to make his heart thump.
Before he could stammer a response, Azrael turned with a snap toward Ophis, eyes glinting. "Oi, brat, don’t you have class too? I’m sure your teachers are missing their favourite disaster."
Ophis shrugged, folding her arms, "Huh? The hell would I do there? I’d rather stick with Leo than sit with those shitty, snot-nosed brats!" Her tone brimmed with annoyance—just thinking of the other children clearly tested her patience.
Azrael clicked her tongue, tapping her finger against her lips as if pondering some clever plot.
She caught Leo’s gaze and winked, a silent message—watch and learn. Then, like a fox catching a scent, she spotted a nearby stall selling sweets, pastel colours piled high on silver trays, the sugary scent floating in the air. Her expression twisted into something wickedly clever.
She tightened her grip on Leo’s hand, "I want to eat something sweet... Can we try those first?"
She nodded toward the stall, "Ophis, you like sweets too, right? Maybe something pink and soft?" as she nudged Leo.
Leo had a shocked expression... what pink? What soft?
Ophis blinked... before turning to the stall. She could practically taste it already.
She nodded, her twin tails bouncing.
As Leo tried to pull his hand free, Azrael leaned in, lips nearly grazing his ear. "Don’t run off, hero. You’re mine for now," she whispered. Then, loudly to the vendor, "Three of your best! Make it extra sweet!"
Leo flushed, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. Several students—girls and boys alike—were openly staring, a few giggling behind their hands at the spectacle.
Ophis, meanwhile, stared at the stall, captivated. Every shelf overflowed with fantastical sweets: enchanted marshmallows that glittered with tiny stars, candied fruits swirling with rainbow sugar, sponge cakes as pink as cherry blossoms, cotton candy twisting in impossible shapes.
She licked her lips, excitement flashing in her eyes. "Are you... Are you really going to buy those for me?"
Azrael nodded with a dazzlingly gentle smile.... In that moment, she seemed almost goddess-like, radiant and benevolent.
"Of course. Anything for you, darling. It’s my treat, okay?~"
Ophis blinked, taken aback. For a second, she was speechless, overwhelmed by Azrael’s unexpected generosity.
Her hands clenched at her sides, and her heart fluttered in her chest. Guilt flickered across her face... she couldn’t believe she’d ever called this incredible woman a bitch.
Ophis felt a pang of regret for every mean thing she’d ever said.
Her voice trembled, soft and earnest. "I won’t forget this, Big Sis... I really won’t." She clung to Azrael’s sleeve.
Azrael smiled, warmth in her eyes, but inside, she was grinning wickedly. ’Yup, you’ll never forget this,’ she thought to herself, amused. She snuck a glance at Leo and squeezed his hand, tracing her thumb up his palm in a slow, deliberate motion. "Don’t worry, Leo. You’ll get your treat too... Eventually."
Her tone left little doubt what kind of treat she meant, at least for his ears alone.
Ophis was too enchanted by the sweets to notice, but Leo could feel every word.
Azrael leaned closer, speaking with gentle encouragement. "You can order anything you want, Ophis... Oh! Look at that—Pink sponge candy! See how it’s made?" She motioned at the candy vendor, who was skillfully spinning thin threads of pink sugar, wrapping them into a fluffy sphere around a wooden stick, the threads glistening like fairy hair in the sunlight.
"It’s... a candy?" Ophis breathed, her eyes huge, sparkling like a child’s on the morning of a festival. She pressed her palms to her cheeks, unable to hold back her joy.
’Sometimes I really wonder if she’s actually an adult...’ Azrael couldn’t help but think as she watched Ophis. She hid her smile behind a hand, then spoke aloud, "Yes, Ophis, what colour do you want? Name anything."
Ophis tilted her head, lips pursed in deep thought, her twin tails swishing behind her as if she were a cat. After a moment, her eyes lit up.
"Rainbow!"
Azrael grinned at the vendor, lowering her voice to a strict, "Listen closely—give her anything she asks, alright? I’ll settle the bill later." She flashed a sly, confident wink that left the vendor a bit flustered but eager to please.
The vendor nodded, hands already busy as he began to pour heaping scoops of bright, colored sugar into the spinning machine. As the motor hummed to life, fine threads of molten candy spun out, twirling and growing in shimmering layers.
Ophis’s eyes widened, her entire attention locked on the spinning treat. "Oh my goodness... it’s red!" she gasped, her nose almost pressed against the glass.
It was her first time seeing the candy spun before her, the creation unfolding like some festival magic... She watched, utterly captivated, her breath fogging the window.
She wondered how this was happening without magic at all!
So, for once, she was completely engrossed, forgetting everything else.
Azrael leaned over, voice teasing but oddly gentle. "Yes, first it’s red... now orange, yellow, green, and just wait—blue and purple too. Keep watching, Ophis. If you blink, you’ll miss the magic, understand?"
Ophis nodded eagerly, never taking her eyes off the spinning rainbow. The colours layered atop each other until the candy looked like a tiny enchanted planet, delicate and impossibly beautiful.
She bounced on her toes, unable to contain her excitement.
Finally, the candy was finished. The shop owner, grinning, slid it off the stick and handed it to Ophis with a little bow, as if offering a treasure.
Ophis clutched the big, round, rainbow-colored candy, her fingers sticky with sugar. Her eyes sparkled, cheeks flushed with wonder.
She turned, bursting with joy, and shouted, "Look, it’s candy—!" But her voice broke off as she spun around.
Leo and Azrael were gone?
"Huh?"
Ophis’s smile faltered. For a heartbeat, she stood frozen, confused and small among the swirling crowds.
She looked left and right, searching for any sign of her friends. Faces blurred past, none familiar, laughter and music echoing in her ears.
Slowly, her confusion twisted to anger. A vein popped on her forehead, tiny fists balling in frustration.
"THAT FUCKING BITCH! HOW DARE THAT SLUT TRICK ME!!!—" she roared.
But as a dozen faces turned to stare, Ophis froze again.
Her cheeks reddened as she remembered herself. She stammered,
"Haha... I.. I’m just performing an act! Candy-themed improv, y-y-you know?" She waved the rainbow sweet around as if she were on a stage.
Still holding the sticky candy, Ophis muttered to herself, "Just you wait, Azrael... Just you wait..."
Meanwhile, several stalls away, Azrael walked briskly, dragging Leo by the hand with unmistakable possessiveness. She looked over her shoulder, lips curling with satisfaction as she watched Ophis vanish into the crowd.
She slowed her pace, drawing Leo closer to her side.
Azrael’s fingers interlaced with Leo’s, her thumb tracing little circles over his skin. She leaned in, her hair brushing his cheek, and whispered in a low, velvety voice,
"Let’s go on our first date~ Just you and me, no brats, no aunts... no distractions~"
She grinned, eyes shining with victory and a hint of something dangerous, and pulled Leo deeper into the heart of the festival!