Back in the Archery class private room after the unexpected end of Tania Elizabeth's Conference.
"Whoa! Is that true, Ares? Are you really Mika Amami's disciple?" Ayla said with a surprised expression.
"...."
I was speechless as I saw Ayla pretend surprised when she already knew about that.
But Having heard Ayla. Livia, Lucas, and Diana all turned to face me, waiting for my response.
"...Yeah, it's true," I agreed, smiling.
After hearing my confirmation, there was a brief silence between them.
And, in the midst of it all, I noticed Ayla cheekily smirking.
"...Ziona, you didn't appear surprised at all; did you already know about it?" Ayla questioned Ziona.
"Yes, he revealed that in our first advisor's training class," Ziona replied.
"...I see, then Livia was probably aware of that as well, right? Given how close she is to Ares," Ayla said, turning to face Livia.
Livia remained silent without responding, and seeing Livia's expression, Ayla spoke again.
"W-Well, he wasn't under any obligation to tell us everything anyway.
What am I saying? I apologize for interfering in your affairs, Ares."
"...."
'I know exactly what this crafty bitch is up to,' I thought to myself as I shifted my gaze to Livia, who remained silent after hearing Ayla.
Ziona spoke out when she saw the uneasy silence as if to get me out of this predicament.
"I, too, am an unofficial disciple of Miss Mika Amami," Ziona stated quickly.
Hearing Ziona's declaration, everyone's attention was drawn away from me and turned toward Ziona, and even Ayla appears to be hearing about it for the first time.
"...Though she didn't take me in as her pupil, she was the one who inspired me to use a sword, and she was also the one who helped me with my sword foundation, so even if she didn't take me in as her disciple, I will always see her as my first teacher," Ziona explained with an awkward smile.
"...Wow, I never expected to see two disciples of the infamous Mika Amami in the same class, one official and one unapproved," Diana remarked.
"Yeah, and I really like how you guys are still getting along well, rather than being wary of each other," Ayla added and returned my gaze with an innocent smile as I continued to just stare at her.
Ring!—
However, a sudden phone ring brought me out of my daze, and when I looked at the caller ID, I could see that it is from Aegis.
I decided to call her after I left this place, so I didn't pick up her phone and instead put it on mute for the time being.
"I'll take my leave as well; let's meet here again tomorrow before we go to that so-called meeting," I said as I walked away, while Livia stood up and followed behind me.
"It's time for my training, so I'll be leaving as well," Ziona explained before departing.
"Why don't you leave as well, Brother? I have things to talk about with Diana," Ayla said, smiling.
"...All right," Lucas replied as he walked away, leaving Ayla and Diana alone.
"What do you want to talk about?" Diana asked, her brow furrowed as soon as Lucas left.
"I'll get right to the point,...you like Ares, right?" Ayla stated bluntly.
"...."
"...Why are you interested in that? And even if I do like him, it's none of your concern," Diana responded sternly.
"Yeah, I know it's none of my business, but I feel you and Ares would look great together, and I'd rather see Ares with you than Livia.
So I simply wished to assist you. But I guess you don't need my assistance, do you?" Ayla said with a regretful expression.
"You can't deceive me with that innocent face of yours, and I know you just wanted to set me up against Livia," Diana said and smirked.
'Well, I guess she isn't so stupid after all,' Ayla pondered.
"If you believe that's the case, then disregard what I just said,...and I wish you luck competing with Livia who is already a step ahead of you," Ayla stated as she got up and exited the room.
Diana's face twisted as she saw Ayla's departing figure since she didn't appreciate her demeanor.
"This sly little bitch! What exactly is she up to?" Diana whispered angrily.
***
Ares and Livia were sitting in a cafe after leaving the Archery grounds.
"It's like what you said, that Ayla girl was up to no good," Irethiel explained telepathically as she arrived after spying on Ayla and Diana's conversation.
"I suppose it's to be expected of Ayla," Ares responded telepathically.
"...How did you find out she was planning something?" Irethiel queried, perplexed.
"There was nothing complicated, I knew it just by observing her behavior, only idiots like you wouldn't have found anything odd about her behavior, And it's too early for her to outwit me,"
Ares answered and began to eat the sandwich that Livia had been shoving in his mouth with her own hands.
'She seemed to be irritated,' Ares thought to himself as he chewed the sandwich Livia had just fed him.
"...."
"Well, the Elven Princess didn't fall for her tricks, so it didn't work out very well for her anyway," Irethiel remarked.
"Nah, Ayla already knew it wouldn't work so easily either, she merely intended to sow a small seed of doubt that will eventually grow over time.
So I believe she succeeded in achieving what she wanted," Ares replied.
"...So, what do you intend to do with her now?" Irethiel inquired, curiously.
"Nothing...," Ares stated.
"Huh? What exactly do you mean by 'Nothing'?" Perplexed, Irethiel inquired.
"Exactly what I said, I will do nothing and wait to see how circumstances unfold," Ares replied.
"...."
"Seriously?" Irethiel was taken aback when she heard Ares's response.
"I'm interested to see how Livia handles them, If she wanted to stay by my side, she had to be able to at least deal with these petty schemes," Ares added.
"What if she isn't prepared to deal with them?" Irethiel was curious.
"...Well, I think that will be an enriching lesson for her, and she will learn from it and become more decisive...I guess," Ares replied, smiling at Livia.
"Why are you smiling like that?" As she noticed Ares' expression, Livia asked.
"Are you upset that Ziona knew about my master but you didn't?" Ares inquired.
"...No, I am not," Livia said quietly.
"It was our adviser who recognized Mika being my teacher just by seeing my techniques that were identical to hers, and eventually Ziona and Kevin learned about it as well," Ares explained.
"I-I see," Livia replied.
Ares flicked Livia's forehead and continued,
"And let me emphasize this, I trust you more than anyone else in this academy, so don't let these minor things get to your tiny head."
"I-I'll keep that in mind and I-I also want you to know that I have the utmost trust in you as well," Livia replied, her cheeks flushed, as she stroked her forehead.
"...."
"She's so simple to persuade that all you have to do is beat her up...which is what you're good at anyhow.
I now understand why you two get along so well," Irethiel remarked.
"Hmm, I guess it's time for me to leave," Ares said ignoring Irethiel's remark as he checked the time on his phone.
"Eh? Do you have any other commitment somewhere?" Livia was curious.
"Yeah, I have a class with Miss Roselia now; first I'll contact Aegis to find out why she phoned, then go for Miss Roselia's mansion," Ares explained casually while remaining on the phone.
"...."
"...Forget what I said before about having complete trust in you," Livia stated.
"Huh?" Ares gazed at her, puzzled.
***