Team villains except me

Chapter 540 New Guard

The winter wind is very strong.

It was just noon when Nolvia left the dean's office. Having mostly finished her work, she picked up her communicator, replied to the messages one by one, and then decided to go find Zhu's wife for lunch.

Julia wasn't ready to leave yet. She looked up at Nolvia, who had made some movement, and told her not to come that afternoon.

"Majik Pal doesn't understand a lot of things. What you'll be doing this afternoon is helping him familiarize himself with the duties of chairman. Oh, and I forgot to ask why you didn't want to choose him as your advisor. Do you have any grudges against him?"

Norvia shook her head.

"Not yet. Is his office the original chairman's office?"

Julia had returned to her work, her tone flat.

"No. Valerio has too much stuff. The new chairman's office is downstairs. I didn't choose him for any particular reason. He just returned to the academy, was previously unknown, and hasn't shown any clear inclinations yet. A neutral chairman is best for Abersgar at this stage."

Of course, I know you may have some opinions about him for some reason. I hope you can stick to your opinions and report to me immediately if he makes any moves.

Nolvia nodded silently.

Julia remembered something.

"Matia's funeral is tomorrow. Remember to dress formally. It's a private funeral, so not many people will be in attendance. The other three Beast Warriors will be there, and we need to discuss follow-up matters—make sure your last instructor, Musa, is also present."

"Who will officiate the funeral?"

"I."

Julia didn't look up. She wore a pair of somewhat worn silver-rimmed glasses when she worked.

All Norvia could see was the chain hanging from the silver-rimmed glasses, smooth as a silver snake, and sharp as a sword.

"Mattia and I have known each other for a long time. How do you think she ended up being a teacher in Abersgar? I didn't take on this task because there was no one else. I understand Mattia. It may not be the same as your understanding of Mattia, but I am qualified to stand here and mourn for Mattia.

And don't forget, I'm a bard."

Julia's words became more and more dense. Norvia didn't ask any questions, but Julia was already beginning to defend herself.

Only at these moments could Norvia feel the human side of Julia.

Nolvia said nothing, but her voice carried a subtle buzzing sound through her scarf.

"...Thank you for your hard work, Dean Julia."

Julia didn't respond. She continued working, not looking up until Norvia left the office. Silently, she took off her glasses and pulled her notebook from the drawer.

It was a half-written ode.

[This is the last winter reflected in the eyes of the warriors/

In the snow, she embraces her destiny

She did what she had to do and left us with hope.

-

Norvia and Zhue did not eat lunch in the cafeteria.

Liz invited her and Zhue to the restaurant managed by the Daluke family for a simple meal in the style of the Eastern Continent.

Liz still looked frail, her thick winter clothes draped around her, making her figure appear even thinner. The winter sun bleached her face. She walked slowly, unsteadily.

In response, Zhue curled her lips, quickened her pace, and moved further away from Liz.

Liz sighed softly, looked at Zhu's back, and turned to Nolvia.

"Laili, Zhuyi took down my office door again today. I had a brief sparring match with her. Several classrooms at the Wood Magic Academy need repairs. I think Zhuyi has been a little irritable lately."

Nolvia looked at Zhu's long dark green hair, her eyes were gentle.

"Sorry, teacher."

Liz saw the look in Nolvia's eyes. She was stunned for a long moment, then turned her head away.

"No wonder."

"What did you say?"

Nolvia didn't hear what Liz said clearly.

Liz covered her mouth with her hand and coughed twice.

"I say, I know why Zhuyi is so irritable. You probably also want to let her vent a little bit of stress this way."

Nolvia did not deny it.

Liz asked Nolvia.

"What about you? Laili, how do you relieve stress? You seem so calm. I remember how I felt when a friend of mine died. Back then, I was like a spider, smashing things everywhere and destroying an entire manor. But it didn't help. I still had nightmares at night. Later, I realized that life must go on, and the dead become an indelible stain."

"Why did your friend die?"

"...difficult labor."

Liz hadn't anticipated being asked this question, and it took her two seconds to react before reactivating her memories.

"That's my best friend. Families like ours often arrange marriages at a very young age. My friend got married first. The year I was about to marry my fiancé, she got pregnant. She had trouble giving birth, but her husband's family was rather ignorant, or perhaps they weren't happy with my friend, as her family gradually withdrew from the center of power and they wanted a better partner.

When I saw my best friend, her face was as white as the snow on the ground today. She begged me to save her. I was stopped by everyone, who told me about traditions, rules, and exchange of benefits... I really didn't want to understand any of this. They kept chattering on and on.

Finally, when I broke into the manor with the doctor, my friend was already buried. Her body was still warm... she was still alive when she was buried.

She's very timid. It must be terrifying to be alone underground. I sent her husband to be with her, along with her family and her husband's family. It would be so lively and wonderful. But I was seriously injured. I was bedridden for six months, and my family is punishing me.

I was so scared. I could only control my family."

Liz rubbed her chest, still feeling frightened.

Norvia looked at Liz in silence. From the number of deaths in each family, she realized what a ruthless person Teacher Liz was.

Liz smiled innocently at Nolvia.

"My sadness is compensated by anger, and my anger is released through the spurting of blood. Zhu Ya and I are the same. But I think Zhu Ya seems to have added some forbearance to it... Laili, perhaps you don't realize that you have changed Zhu Ya invisibly.

If you don't realize it, then Zhuyi certainly doesn't realize it either. The relationship between people is so wonderful.

I was very weak as a child, and my family's circumstances were not good. A weak body led to a weak spirit, but it was my friend who showed me another way of life. She didn't want to change me; she simply protected me as a friend. She was able to go to my family with weapons and take me, even though I had a high fever, for treatment. So many years later, even though my value in the family was only marriage, even though I wasn't brave enough at the time, I dared to fight my way out to save her.

It's just too late. It shouldn't have ended that way. I've regretted it for years, and even now, I still don't think I can let it go."

Liz sighed, her voice cold and eerie as she weakly blocked out the scorching sun.

"We should have killed everyone present at that time..."

Liz's face was a bit scary, and all the pretense of weakness was taken off. When she reacted, she was a little surprised.

"Ah, I thought I had let it go after all these years. I thought that after so many years, I would forget the pain and resentment, and I would talk about these old things in a calm tone - it seems that it still doesn't work."

Liz turned to Nolvia, apologetically.

"I originally wanted to use this reason to persuade you, but in the end I couldn't convince myself."

"Teacher Liz, everyone deals with death differently."

Norvia did not expand on the subject.

"We'll be fine, Ms. Liz."

Liz hummed, and she remembered something else.

"The Academy League is about to start, right? Hittie and her teammates have been preparing for it lately. What are your plans? If you need special training, I can help, just like we did in the previous cooperative competition."

"We don't have any plans yet. Thank you, Teacher Liz, you can discuss this with Zhuyi."

Liz nodded, walked forward and patted the spider with her wood magic.

As Liz and Zhu Ying talked, Nolvia looked at them and recalled the time before the cooperation competition.

Her teacher at the time was Kalitan. In that tavern-like theater, she was trained by Kalitan to conjure up the Water Rabbit over and over again.

At that time, Kalitan was still alive, Kalan was still trapped in Chachas, Teacher Valerio had not yet fallen into a coma, and Matija was not yet their instructor.

Nolvia felt like a prisoner trapped in time.

-

After lunch, only Norvia returned to Abersg.

Liz didn't have classes; she needed to cross continents to handle some special circumstances. Zhu'er was helping Sana set up her new home on Elliott's behalf. Elliott needed to work hard for his final exams. He wasn't aiming for a good grade, but rather to avoid repeating a grade.

Nolvia returned to 1206 and changed into a guard uniform. Today she and Siren were on patrol together.

The atmosphere in the Security Department was also quite low. Teacher Matija was the deputy director of the Security Department. The director was an elderly member of the academy's management, who cared only about whether the Security Department's traditions could be carried out. However, it was Teacher Matija who truly kept the Security Department running smoothly.

But Norvia noticed that there were slightly more people at the guard post today. Some excited magical elements danced in the air.

Norvia asked Siren hesitantly.

"Any changes today?"

Simanen moved her wrist.

"Guard selections are happening today. We'll go on patrol first, and then we can go on the field after that.

Nolvia, that’s enough.

Many of the students who registered this year were in the first and second grades. Strangely enough, there weren't many third and fourth graders, and very few outsiders applied either."

Norvia wore a cape and adjusted her guard hat. Her eyes were a deep blue.

"I understand."

She should meet Jialian, the earth magician junior who is trying hard to escape her fate.

……

By the time she and Si'en finished their patrol and returned to the security office, Jialian had already passed the ring competition and become a quasi-guard.

Seeing Nolvia, Jialian stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of her lips, and walked towards Nolvia while controlling her excitement.

"Senior Norvia! I...I passed!"

Nolvia's eyes swept over Jialian's swollen face and the wounds on her body. She used water magic to clean the dust from the wounds, then she reached out and touched Jialian's head.

"Well done, Jialian."

Jialian raised her head, her eyes shining.

"No... I didn't do anything, Senior Sister. I know I'm not as good as you... I will work hard!"

Jialian dragged her legs and skipped away.

Nolvia's gaze was fixed on Jialian's twisted legs, and her expression turned cold.

Siren noticed it too. Frowning, she asked around, and when she finally returned to Norvia, her tone was extremely negative.

"Being a guard is like that. If you're lucky, you'll have fewer opponents. If you're unlucky, it's like you. Your condition looked bad, but I know what to do. You'll be fine after two days of rest."

Jialian was the first to enter the match. Blue was the first to fight her. Jialian lost her strength, and Blue was overpowered. Feeling humiliated, he attacked Jialian with a heavy blow. But that was the process.

What's wrong with Blue? He's usually pretty stable and has a good temper."

"……maybe."

Norvia remembered that Blue was quite cautious. Even if provoked, he wouldn't rush into an attack. In other words, Jialian's deformed and twisted legs were intentional on Blue's part.

Nolvia searched for Blue, but Blue seemed to know that he had gone too far, and he did not stay at the guard post.

"... Stop it! Stop it! I don't want to be a guard anymore! Oh my god, please stop hitting me!"

Familiar voice.

Nolvia was stunned. She raised her head and met Jerry Wan's eyes on the ring.

Jerry Wan seemed to see hope.

"Save me! Save Sister Nuo! I don't want to be a guard anymore! Why are you taking turns beating me? This is too unreasonable!"

Nolvia stopped Jerry Wan's ring match and saved him.

She didn't quite understand.

"Did you come to sign up without understanding the process?"

Jerry hugged himself weakly and helplessly, nodding with tears in his eyes.

"I thought the hats your guards wore looked pretty cool, so I came."

Norvia:......

She wanted to sigh, but soon she found that the person standing on the ring was still very familiar to her.

Royta.

She turned to look at Jerry who started to cheer Roita up.

"...Is Royta applying for the security guard position for the same reason as you?"

Jerry said loudly.

"Of course not!

He doesn't like the guards' hats, and he came to get beaten because he thought your cloaks were nice and warm!"