[6/30 (Monday) – Morning]
[Vale – Zone 8 (Commercial)]
"I know we agreed to tail Clerval today after class..." Blake muttered, keeping her head low behind the corner of a building as she watched him stroll down the street with his hands tucked into his pockets.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Seven people were crammed behind the very same corner, somehow managing to turn a perfectly good hiding spot into the exact opposite of one.
"... But didn't I say we should only bring a handful of people?"
"If Blake goes, then Team Ruby goes!" Ruby whispered with absolute conviction.
"Yeah!" Nora nodded enthusiastically. "And if Team Ruby goes, then Team Nora goes too!"
Ren sighed.
"... Shouldn't it be Team Juniper?" Jaune added.
"Tomato, tomahto!"
"Still," Weiss whispered, anxiously biting her thumbnail. "We've been following Clerval for almost an hour since we got off the same Bullhead, and all he's been doing is... collecting miscellaneous items."
First, he stopped by a random café to pick up several bags of coffee beans.
Then, he had lunch at some obscure diner whose signature dish was boldly advertised as 'guaranteed to make you smarter.' Personally, Yang thought the Seafood Platter had succeeded—she felt that she had grown a bit smarter after finishing it.
Afterward, he made his way through several Dust stores, purchasing crystals of every variety imaginable, from standard civilian-grade Dust to high-grade elemental crystals.
He even bought military-grade Dust.
Military-grade!
In the middle of a supply shortage caused by the White Fang and Roman Torchwick! That alone must have cost thousands of Lien!
Then he walked into a cosmetics store and came out carrying bags full of makeup.
Next came a movie rental store.
Then an electronics shop.
"What even is this schedule of his?" Weiss groaned, clutching her head. "None of this makes any sense!"
"Are you certain you saw him returning from Vale covered in injuries?" Pyrrha asked Ren.
Ren nodded.
"His routine has remained remarkably consistent." He folded his arms thoughtfully. "I've spoken to everyone who's been in regular contact with him—professors and academy staff included. They've all noted that he's appeared increasingly tired and exhausted over the past few days while assisting with their various requests."
He shifted his gaze back toward Clerval.
"It seems logical that today's itinerary will follow that same routine."
Jaune quickly motioned for everyone's attention.
"Whatever he's up to, Clerval's moving!" he whispered urgently. "Come on!"
============================================
"The old district of Zone 8?" Yang muttered as the group crammed themselves behind a single trash bin. Somehow, all eight of them managed to fit, though it was far from comfortable.
A short distance away, Clerval strolled leisurely down the sidewalk, his arms weighed down by a mountain of plastic and paper bags.
He paid no attention to the puzzled looks from passing pedestrians, who couldn't help but stare at the sheer number of purchases he was carrying.
"Seriously, what's his angle?" Weiss narrowed her eyes, glancing between Clerval and the map displayed on her Scroll. "There aren't any notable attractions in this part of the district, yet this is where he's headed?"
"I don't know," Jaune offered. "Maybe he's going to catch a movie? The theater nearby is showing some decent films..."
Ren shook his head.
"But with all those bags? Wouldn't it make more sense to watch the movie first before shopping?"
"Guys, he's turning the corner!" Ruby whispered far louder than a whisper should have been.
The group immediately abandoned their hiding spot and awkwardly tiptoed across the street, squeezing into a nearby alleyway just in time to watch Clerval disappear around the bend.
"... I hear voices," Blake murmured, a slight furrow crossing her face as she loosened the ribbon concealing her ears.
Her cat ears twitched as she closed her eyes, focusing on the faint conversation beyond the alleyway while the seven others watched her intently.
Using her heightened hearing, she concentrated on the conversation between Clerval... and someone else who was waiting just out of sight.
A few seconds passed.
"... Why was he talking to himself?"
She relayed what she heard to the others.
"Good afternoon."
"Yes."
"That's it," Blake said, turning back toward the two sister teams. "Those were the only sentences I heard."
Nora, who was peeking out from the alleyway where they had been hiding, suddenly let out a confused sound.
"Wait a second..."
Everyone turned toward her.
"Where'd he go?"
"""WHAT?!"""
Panic immediately erupted.
The eight of them scrambled out of their hiding spot, rushing toward the alleyway where Clerval had disappeared.
"She's right, he's gone!" Ruby exclaimed. She activated her Semblance, becoming a blur as she zipped through the entire alleyway before returning moments later.
"I didn't see him anywhere!"
"Did he notice us?" Pyrrha wondered, scanning the area for any possible clues. "But how could he have escaped?"
Yang turned toward her sister.
"Ruby, did you see any way he could have gotten out through the back?"
"Nope." Ruby shook her head. "It's a dead end after the turn on the left."
Ren looked around the empty alley.
"Even all the bags he was carrying have disappeared."
"Drat!" Weiss cursed under her breath. She looked around the empty alley.
"Where did he go?"
"Maybe we missed him while we were all focused on Blake," Jaune suggested, glancing back toward the street. "Team Juniper will check around the district."
"But I didn't hear any frantic footsteps..." Blake frowned, her ears twitching as she scanned the rooftops above them. "It wasn't like he ran away. It sounded more like he disappeared in an instant."
============================================
High above the alleyway, while Team Ruby and Team Juniper searched the surrounding area for any clue of Clerval's whereabouts, a familiar attendant dressed in velvet blue sat atop the rooftop railing.
Her legs dangled over the edge as she hummed softly, a book resting comfortably in her hands.
"It seems there will be even more things to worry about once he returns to Remnant."
Mary tilted her head slightly, contemplating whether her Wanderer should be informed of such a dilemma.
A moment later, she let out a quiet chuckle.
"Well... it would certainly be more amusing if I kept quiet about it."
Decision made, she lifted the book and continued reading where she had left off.
"Now, where was I...?"
Her eyes scanned the page.
"Ah, yes. Chapter Three of 'How to Seduce a Man: The Right Way.'"
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Such marvelous literature. I must remember to thank Sister Lavenza for the recommendation the next time she visits."
============================================
A/N: You guys have been going crazy. We're now at 3 / 5.
Two more members and we have another bonus chapter! Join to help the community out!
============================================
If you're enjoying the story, please consider supporting me on Patre0n! Your support helps me dedicate more time to writing, and you'll get early access to chapters and exclusive story ideas.
patre0n.c0m/damaine_n
(replace the zero with "o")
$3 – Proficient Rank: 3 advanced chapters
$5 – Advanced Mastery: 5 advanced chapters and more
$10 – Ultimate One: 10 advanced chapters and much, much more
(Almost Fully Implemented!)
Community Bonus Chapter:
Every 5 new paid members unlock 1 bonus chapter, with the fanfic chosen by a poll for paid members.
Progress: 3 / 5 (28/8/2026)
Pending Bonus Chapters: 3
============================================