**Chapter 2**
**Episode 23: Blessing of the World Tree**
(≈730 words – no nosebleed edition)
Eve's room.
Silence thick enough to cut.
She had just declared, calm as winter, that she would hunt a fairy-tale spell for decades if she had to.
"Yggdrasil Seibre"
The one resurrection magic that laughs at every known law.
I knew it was a myth.
I had broken into the Church's deepest vault and found nothing but dust.
Eve knew it too.
And still said:
"I'll find it.
No matter how many years.
No matter how many decades."
Her blank face didn't even flicker.
I exhaled.
"…If I ever hear anything, I'll tell you."
Eve's eyes softened a hair.
"…Thank you."
Then I remembered the real mission.
Serious face activated.
"Ticket?"
Eve actually sighed.
"…Forgot."
Golden pair tickets appeared.
I snatched them and vanished them into Item Box before fate could change its mind.
I turned to leave.
"Alright, I'm—"
The door exploded open.
A fluffy orange missile shot in.
"Miss Eve! Emergency! Jirei, why are you in a girl's room at night—wait, that's not important right now!"
Ardi, principal-shaped cat, skidded to a halt inches from my chest.
I didn't even flinch.
Physical reinforcement is always on when I'm outside my house.
The door might as well have kissed air.
I grabbed him by the scruff anyway.
"Explain. Fast."
Aldi's ears flattened.
"The students you were in charge of—Rudas and the other seven—are gone!"
Eve stood up instantly, staff in hand.
"…All eight?"
"Empty classroom. No struggle. No note. Just… vanished."
The temperature dropped ten degrees.
I let go of Aldi.
He landed neatly.
Eve looked at me.
I looked at Eve.
We didn't need words.
I cracked my neck.
"Looks like the detour home just got mandatory."
Eve was already at the door.
Ardi's tail lashed.
"You'll help?"
I stepped past him.
"Lead the way, furball."
The quiet night was officially cancelled.
Eight missing academy brats.
A heart-eating "demon" still on the loose.
And here I was dragged into the mess the second I secured the exhibition ticket.
Of course.
I glanced back once.
Eve walked beside me, expression unreadable, staff glowing faintly.
The bear tail in her bag poked out and wagged once—like it was excited for the hunt.
I sighed.
"Let's go bring some kids home."
Then, under my breath:
"…After this, I'm sleeping for a week."