Book 7: Chapter 15: Meanwhile in Another Place, Cyril Ashley Sneezed (1/2)

The match between Serendia Academy and Minerva in the chess tournament resulted in a winner for Monica between the front players and a winner for Minerva between the middle players. With one win and one loss, the match between the two captains will settle the final winner.

Although the match between captains was about to end, Lana was more concerned about Monica than the chess match.

Not long after Barney Jones was defeated and ran out of the venue, Monica also left the venue. Probably chasing after him.

Lana was worried that Barney would lash out at Monica and say something awful to her again.

But since Cyril and Neil seemed to have gone to the waiting room to check on her, she thought it was unlikely, but some uneasiness still lingering in her mind.

After a while, Neil returned with a hurried pace. He didn't walk back to his seat but went over to Felix to inform him about something.

…he is not with Vice President Ashley?

The absence of Cyril and the sight of Neil's grim face made Lana even more anxious.

At that moment, the captains' match had come to an end. The winner was Elliot Howard. With two wins and one loss, the Serendia Academy side emerged as the winner.

There would be a short break after this, and then the matches between Temple and Minerva would take place, but…

Felix stood up and said, ”I'm terribly sorry to interrupt when the match has just ended. Everyone, I have some information to announce” in a loud volume, where the usually gentle and kind smile was missing from his face.

”I've just received a report that an intruder had infiltrated into this school.”

Lana was taken aback by the unexpected announcement. The surprise was shared by everyone in the venue. Followed by the anxious feeling crept up in their mind.

As if to calm the apprehension, Felix softened the tone of his voice slightly.

”Please rest assured. We've already detained the intruder and have the guards standing by outside this venue. However, just to be safe, I'd ordered the guards to make a sweep of the school, so I hope everyone could stay here for a while.”

When Felix finished with his words, everyone was abuzz. Still, no one panicked, probably because they had been told that guards were standing outside.

Wait a minute. What about Monica? She's not in the venue right now!

Just as Lana was about to speak up, a figure quietly approached their seats. It was Neil.

”May I have a moment?” He beckoned to Lana, Claudia, and Glenn and whispered, ”I've been told Miss Norton was at the scene when the intruder was subdued.”

”Wha—!?”

Neil quickly covered Glenn's mouth when he was about to scream. These days, Neil seemed to be getting better and better at covering Glenn's mouth. He then added, ”Shhhh,” reminding him before continuing with his words.

”Fortunately, Miss Norton wasn't injured, but I imagine she's in shock, so… can you guys please stay by her side?”

”Where's Monica right now?”

Lana quickly inquired, and Neil replied in a whisper so that the others could not hear.

”She's in the infirmary.”

Thus, at Neil's request, Lana, Claudia, and Glenn sneaked out of the venue and headed for the infirmary, escorted by guards.

”Monica, are you there?”

After knocking on the infirmary door, she peeked inside. Instead of the school nurse, she was confronted by the sight of Monica sat on a chair.

——In her underwear, where she was wearing nothing but a male coat.

Lana quickly elbowed Glenn, pushing him out of the infirmary, and slammed the door shut, leaving Claudia and herself alone inside. She could hear Glenn's scream, ”That's mean!” from the hallway, but that was not important right now.

Monica didn't seem to feel anything in particular about being seen in her underwear by Glenn, as she only glanced up at Lana saying, ”Ah, Lana” still sitting nonchalantly.

Lana approached Monica with large strides and asked in a quivering voice.

”…Monica, whose coat is that?”

”Oh, this? Lord Cyril lent it to me…”

Lana face-palmed with both hands and looked up at the ceiling.

”Vice President Ashley! I totally misjudged you! ”

”Eh? L-Lana…?”

”What's more, how could he leave a girl dressed like this and go off somewhere? He's just horrible!”

Looking at how upset Lana was, Monica became flustered. While the calm Claudia, alone, looked at the wet uniform hanging in the corner of the room and seemingly had a general idea of what was happening.

”…I don't think that blockheaded man has the guts to leave a girl alone in this state.”

”I mean! that's the only thing I can think of after looking at her appearances!”

As Lana yelled in bloodshot eyes, Claudia pointed to a uniform hanging in the corner of the room. She was surprised when saw it when Monica spoke in a whisper.

”Well, um… I got my uniform soaked and it was cold, so I took it off to dry it off. But I didn't know how to take off the corset by myself… so I was glad when I saw you coming here…”

”………….”

Lana was silent for a while, but then she turned her head and looked at Monica with serious eyes.

”…You're not injured, are you?”

”No.”

”Does anything hurt?”

”Uh-uh.”

After Monica gave several curt nods, Lana crouched down and let out a heavy sigh of relief.

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