The students behind Seana paused for a moment, panic and fear flashing across their faces.
The ice bullet was only inches away from Lothe’s forehead when it suddenly froze in midair before dropping harmlessly to the ground.
Silence filled the entrance.
No one moved.
The rescued girls held their breaths, afraid that a single movement would start another battle.
Lothe’s spear flew back into his hand as he glanced at the shattered ice beneath his feet before looking ahead.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Quite the welcome."
A silver haired girl stepped through the broken entrance, frost spreading beneath every step she took. Several ice bullets and long ice spears floated around her, all aimed at Lothe.
Behind her walked Adrian.
The broken pieces of the shattered metal door answered his will, rising into the air until dozens of razor-sharp metal shards hovered above him.
Daniel followed behind them calmly, though there was boredom in his eyes.
The ground trembled as earth rose around him, forming countless earthen hands ready to grab anyone who stepped forward.
"Wow." Lothe chuckled.
"What a wonderful team you make there."
"And that’ll be the last sentence you ever say if you dare take another step forward," Nyren replied coldly.
Standing in the chilly wind, her silver hair fluttered behind her like flowing snow.
She looked every bit like an ice beauty.
Before Lothe could answer, Seana stepped forward.
She had spent the entire day running. Fighting.
Saving herself.
Watching others die.
All she wanted now was a place to rest.
"If you don’t get out of my way..." She slowly pointed her sword at Nyren.
"I’ll make you." Red Qi flowed into her sword until the blade glowed with a crimson light.
Her obsidian-black hair danced gently behind her, reaching all the way to her waist.
Even Lothe could feel the frustration she had been holding back.
Looking at the girl standing beside Lothe, Adrian and Daniel couldn’t help but stare.
They had always believed Nyren was the most beautiful girl in the academy.
Yet Seana possessed an entirely different kind of beauty.
It was calm. Fiery. Elegant.
But the strange thing was...
Neither she nor Lothe seemed familiar.
You couldn’t blame them. One was a quiet librarian who preferred spending her days hidden among books.
The other was a runaway heiress from the second most powerful family in the world, as well as a medical genius who rarely interacted with students.
"Look," Lothe finally spoke, his voice carrying little emotion.
"I don’t care who you are or what you want with my place."
"But this library is off-limits." Those words stunned all three of them.
Nyren’s cold expression cracked slightly.
Adrian frowned.
Daniel’s eyes widened.
The three of them had expected these two to recognize them immediately.
After all, they were among the most popular students in the academy.
Even lecturers and professors treated them with respect.
Yet these two looked at them as though they were complete strangers.
Adrian quickly understood. They genuinely had no idea who they were.
He stepped forward, raising a hand to calm everyone.
"Fellow student, let’s calm down."
"We arrived here before you did."
"So how is this library off-limits?"
Lothe nodded slightly. "First of all..."
"Sorry for blasting the door open."
"I thought intruders had occupied the place."
"And why should we believe that?" Nyren asked coldly.
Lothe looked at her for a second. Nyren Ashford.
The genius of the Ashford Family. One of the strongest families in the world.
He recognized her. But that was all.
"My belongings are inside."
"So are my provisions."
"We didn’t find any supplies when we searched the library," Adrian replied.
"They aren’t downstairs."
"I stored everything inside the Upper Archive... just in case." He deliberately dragged out the last sentence.
Daniel immediately frowned. "And what’s that supposed to mean?"
Lothe simply smirked. "Come on."
He turned toward Seana. "Let’s go inside."
The coldness in his eyes disappeared the moment he looked at her.
He walked beside her as both of them calmly passed the three students.
The rescued girls quietly followed behind them.
None of them stopped. None of them even acknowledged the famous trio.
For the first time in years... Adrian, Nyren and Daniel were completely ignored.
It felt strangely uncomfortable.
Daniel clenched his fists.
Nyren remained silent.
Adrian let out a helpless smile. "Well..."
"I guess we shouldn’t dwell on that."
"We’re all trying to survive now."
"We’ll rest here tonight, gather our strength, fight our way out of the academy tomorrow and hopefully find a way to contact our families."
"We’ll have to get used to sharing spaces from now on."
"Oh..." Seana suddenly stopped at the entrance before turning around.
"You can use every room on the lower floor."
"But the Upper Archive..." She paused.
"It’s off-limits."
Without waiting for anyone’s reply, she continued walking.
Her steps remained calm, as though their opinions meant nothing to her.
Hidden behind a collapsed bookshelf, Professor Sy quietly adjusted his glasses.
He had watched everything from beginning to end.
It would be a lie if he said he wasn’t shocked.
His gaze shifted from Lothe and Seana to Adrian’s group.
"The coming days..."
"They certainly won’t be peaceful."
...
Seana settled the rescued girls inside one of the rooms on the upper floor.
"There isn’t enough water for everyone to properly clean themselves," she said apologetically.
"And I don’t feel comfortable letting you all sleep while you’re still covered in sweats and dirt."
"Well..."
"Who said we dont have water?." Lothe’s voice sounded from behind her.
He quietly entered the room where he had stored their belongings.
After making sure no one was watching, he shut the door.
With a thought, his consciousness entered the Space Ring.
Two large bottles of water appeared in his hands.
Then clean clothes. Some preserved food.
A bucket.
Everything had originally belonged to the Boss and his followers.
Now...
They would be put to better use.
Walking back outside, he placed everything before the girls.
Seana stared at the pile in surprise.
She wanted to ask where he had gotten all of it.
But looking at his calm expression... She chose not to.
"This should be enough for tonight," Lothe said.
Then he looked at Seana. Without another word, he gently grabbed her wrist and led her away.
She blinked in surprise. "W-Wait."
"I’m not done helping them."
"But you’re exhausted." Lothe answered calmly.
"You need to rest."
She looked at him suspiciously. "...Fine."
"But we’re sharing the same room." Lothe almost laughed when he saw her serious expression.
"We are."
"But we’re sleeping on different beds." Her eyes widened.
He quickly entered the room.
Broken bookshelves and scattered books were pushed into one corner.
With another thought, two large beds appeared inside.
"You can choose whichever one you want."
"I’ll wait outside until you’re done cleaning up."
"Oh..."
"I got all this from the Boss." With that, he closed the door.
Left alone, Seana wasted no time.
She removed her torn and dirty uniform before using the clean water and fresh clothes Lothe had brought.
After washing herself, she immediately felt lighter.
A few minutes later she opened the door. Lothe was leaning quietly against the wall.
"Your turn." He lazily opened one eye.
"I’ll pass."
"I’m too tired to bathe."
"You will." She folded her arms.
"You’re not sleeping in the same room as me after everything we’ve been through today without taking a bath."
Lothe sighed dramatically. "Okay..."
"Okay..."
"I’m going."
As they brushed past one another...
A faint scent of roses drifted into his nose.
For a brief moment... He almost forgot they were living through an apocalypse.
Not long afterward...
"I’m done," Lothe called from inside.
Seana entered without saying anything. She walked straight to the nearest bed and collapsed onto it.
The soft mattress welcomed her aching body.
"Goodnight..." She murmured sleepily.
"Goodnight." Lothe replied with a faint smile.
They both covered themselves with their blankets.
The room became quiet.
Listening to Seana’s calm breathing, Lothe slowly closed his eyes.
Only he knew the password to enter the Upper Archive.
For tonight... They were safe.
Outside...
The crimson clouds slowly gathered once again.
And before long...
Sleep claimed them both.