Colt cut through the ropes binding Seila and slipped the necklace into his inventory.
She didn't wake up right away, and he didn't try to wake her.
"Sorry about this," he murmured, gently pulling another strand of her hair.
Then, with practiced calm, he used it to reseal his powers.
***
They were on the far side of the academy city, and the sun was beginning to set.
Colt carried Seila in his arms, heading back toward the cafe.
But suddenly, he jumped back with her in his arms just as the ground where he had been standing split apart.
The impact left a wide crack, deep enough to surprise even Colt.
It was a sword impact.
A rough-looking man with black hair landed in front of him, a sword gripped tightly in his hand. He looked ready to strike again when a voice called out from behind.
"Uncle Landon, wait! He's our friend!"
Colt turned and saw Hei and Myrin rushing over.
The black-haired man locked eyes with Colt, and Colt stared back. He recognized the man instantly.
Count Landon Springold. Seila's father. And with a level of 203, that kind of damage made sense.
"Colt! You found her!" Hei said, out of breath.
Colt lowered his head in a respectful bow. "Count Springold, I apologize for the misunderstanding."
Of course, it was Landon who had attacked the man who saved his daughter. But Colt didn't care. He needed to earn his favor anyway.
Landon took Seila from Colt's arms, and his expression softened almost instantly.
"You must be the first rank everyone's been talking about lately," he said, his voice still stern despite the shift in his face.
"I'm honored that you know my name," Colt replied.
"Tell me what happened."
"I'm not sure about the details. I was sweeping the area with a sensory spell when I picked up her presence in a closed room.
I rushed in, but she was the only one there, tied to a chair. She fainted right after seeing me."
"No one else?" Landon asked, his voice sharpening again. Then he called out, "Paira!"
A woman appeared as if from thin air. "Sir!"
She was one of the Springold household's strongest guards who were scanning the area, looking for Seila.
"Search the place where she was found. Find the one responsible. I'll make sure they pay for this."
"Yes, sir." Paira vanished just as quickly as she had appeared.
Landon turned back to Colt. "I need to take her back now, but I'll thank you properly at Seila's birthday party."
He turned back to the left, but Colt said, "Sir, I'm only a commoner."
"Hm. That's true. Don't worry, I'll take care of it. Just come on Friday with the others."
"Yes, sir," Colt replied.
It turned out the whole ordeal was a blessing in disguise.
---
Colt returned to the academy while Hei and Myrin accompanied Count Springold and Seila.
He needed to inform one of the teachers that the trio wouldn't be back in their dorms tonight.
Well, the staff probably already knew, since all entries and exits from the academy district were closely monitored.
Still, he wanted to be sure.
So, it was the Maguire household… Just wait until this weekend.
Colt was genuinely angry now.
Since Seila hadn't said anything about this in the future, he was certain it hadn't happened in his past life.
Which could only mean one thing—she had been abducted because he was here.
He had changed the flow.
Of course, that didn't mean it was his fault. A criminal was a criminal, no matter how much the timeline shifted.
Even so, he would handle this himself—at least the one directly responsible.
---
When Seila woke up, she was in her own bed.
Am I at home? What happened?
At first, she couldn't remember anything.
But as she remembered what had happened, she sat up instantly.
When she left her room and stepped into the living room, she found Hei and Myrin sitting with her father.
"Father!" she shouted.
"Seila! You're up!" He stood and hugged her. That rough, intimidating aura he carried vanished completely when he was with his daughter.
"What happened? Why am I here? Where's Colt?" she asked.
"Your friend said he found you in a locked room, tied to a chair. He brought you straight to us.
But according to him, there was no one else there. Do you remember anything, Seila? Did you see who did this to you?"
Colt brought me? Her cheeks flushed a little as she imagined how he might have carried her.
But why did he lie? And how did he defeat Charles, a fourth-year?
"I don't know, Father. I blacked out. When I woke up, I was already tied up."
At least for now… as a thank you, I won't say anything.
"Sigh… Don't worry. I'll find out who was behind this." He stood up and walked off to speak with the guards.
"How are you, Seila? They didn't do anything to you, did they?" Myrin asked, concern in her voice.
"Don't worry. They just tied me up. They probably ran when they heard my father was looking for me," she said, lying again.
"Here," Hei said, handing her the bear-shaped mini purse.
"Ah, you found it? Thank you, Hei!"
"No… Colt gave it to me when he brought you back. He handled everything."
Hei's expression dimmed.
He was relieved Seila was safe, but he hadn't been able to do anything—not even find her purse.
Instead, Colt, someone they barely knew, had found and rescued her, his own childhood friend.
There was no guarantee Colt hadn't arranged the abduction to win favor with Seila or the Count.
Of course, Hei didn't think this was such a case. He had seen the concern on Colt's face.
I need to change, he thought.
Myrin, on the other hand, felt even worse. Since the time they traveled together, she hadn't done anything useful.
Her magic wasn't strong enough. She'd only gotten into the academy as 7th rank because she was an elf, and her compatibility with green magic was high.
She hadn't worked hard enough to deserve her spot. And when Seila vanished, she'd felt nothing but helpless.
"Should we head back to the dorm?" Seila suggested.
"What are you saying? No! Stay here this week." Even if Hei hadn't said anything, his father wouldn't have let her leave until the culprits were found.
"But I need to check—I mean, I need to thank Colt."
She was worried. Colt had likely fought Charles. Even if he won, there was no way he'd come out unscathed.
But she couldn't say that aloud.
"You can thank him at your birthday party. He's coming," Myrin said.
"What? How?"
"Uncle Landon invited him. He said he'd handle everything," Hei added.
"Really? Okay then." A bit of pink rose to her cheeks. "I'll see him then."