## Chapter 105 – Reclaimed Youth
The social hall was more bustling and full of cheerful energy than any other place.
The advantage this location offered was nothing short of a godsend for our surprise attack route.
With a rumbling sound, Vivian and Lanie gently broke through the floor of the clothing store, stuffing a few outfits each into the bags they had with them.
After adequately repairing the floor, they entrusted themselves back into the Kernel Worm, and I drove the Kernel Worm, which was causing near-earthquake-level vibrations, as deep into the ground as possible.
Thanks to the loud music and lively dancing atmosphere of the social hall, we were able to infiltrate the corner of Count Proden’s social hall without the sounds and vibrations being detected.
– Kyuiiiiiing!!
The giant Kernel Worm, emerging from the floor of a secluded storage room where no one would come, spat Vivian and Lanie onto the floor with a majestic(?) sound, and Vivian scolded the Kernel Worm, slapping its head with her palm.
“Be quiet!! Are you trying to ruin the operation?”
– Kyuing……
Anyway, after wiping off the Kernel Worm’s fluids that had thickly coated them from inside the Kernel Worm’s body with a suitable cloth, and changing into the clothes they had prepared in their bags, they were able to step into the social hall without any sense of incongruity.
But the real problem started from here…
“Hoo… where should we start…?
We’re supposed to help someone, but…”
“Shouldn’t we find the target first?
That girl from back then? The one who defeated Arachnella.”
“Right. She’s cute, so I remember her…
I heard these things would react if we got close.
I guess we’ll have to wander around and find her…
And while we’re looking, let’s search for that medal or whatever it is.”
At Vivian’s words, as she gently touched her lower abdomen where the spider was lodged, Lanie nodded.
“Yes!! Bi… Helen-nim!!”
“Get a grip!! Alma is your senior, not Helen!!”
“Oh… then should Helen-nim use honorifics with me…?”
“Ugh… Alma-sunbae…”
At Lanie’s surprisingly insightful question, Vivian was momentarily speechless and groaned, eventually accepting the current situation.
“Yes, yes!! What’s wrong, Helen?
Ahaha!! This is fun sometimes!!”
“Um… Alma-sunbaenim…
You don’t usually talk like that… gritting teeth…”
“Heeik!!”
“Enough with the jokes, let’s find the target first…
If you find her, come straight back here. Got it…?”
The two women split up to find their target.
They seemed a little excited by the sight of civilized society after so long, but their eyes were filled with a passion that arose without them even realizing it, as they began to move busily to meet Enic’s expectations of them.
And just then, a figure passed between them, seemingly in a blind spot.
“This way, please.
The young master and his friends have a private room assigned to them.
Of course, your accommodations are the same, so you can visit them later if you have an appointment.
I believe they are having refreshments there for a while.”
“I see… thank you.”
The girl with the flowing crimson hair nodded, listening to the explanation of the Count’s servant who was guiding her.
In the end, she chose to try to shake off her current mood somehow.
“It may be presumptuous of me, but… please cheer up.
This social gathering is prepared for you.”
Even the oblivious servant noticed her mood and said such things, and she herself knew it clearly.
She knew that in her current mood, she would only become more depressed no matter what she tried to do.
“Thank you…”
Based on her year of living away from her family, the daughter of a Baron, who was in reality only a noble in name in this wide world, could not do much.
Because she had stood up for her pride in front of the daughter of a Marquis, she was cruelly bullied throughout her entire first year as a new student at the academy, which should have been the most enjoyable time.
And to make matters worse, even her family was still being swayed by that influence.
She couldn’t possibly tell her family, who knew nothing, that all of this was because of her.
If she were to be rude to the daughter of a Duke this time, what would happen?
Until just a moment ago, Anne had been trying to find Lucia because she felt sorry for having been enjoying herself alone, but now she was afraid to see her face.
She was afraid that her emotions would overflow after seeing her.
She was afraid that she would do something truly irreversible this time.
‘If I shake off this mood, I’ll feel better.
Surely… I will…’
The people who had made her feel so happy when she had been dazed and oblivious.
If she spent time with these people, she would surely be able to overcome this miserable feeling.
With that thought, Anne slowly moved her feet, and soon she was able to reach the front of a large door.
“Young master, your guest has arrived.”
“Oh, let them in.”
Anne bowed her head to the servant who smiled politely and bowed his head, and then slowly stepped into the room, passing through the door that opened wide with a creaking sound.
And what greeted her was a group of students.
A group of students, both male and female, were smiling cheerfully, and the sound of their chatter filled the room.
“Wow!! Hello!!”
“Who is it? Who is it?”
“I don’t know, but she’s cute!!
What’s your name?”
“Ah…”
Anne was momentarily frozen by the sudden outpouring of reactions, but then it seemed as if a lifeline appeared to save her.
“Ask questions one at a time!! This is Anne.
It seems like it’s her first time at a social gathering, so let’s all treat her well!!”
“Welcomeeee!!”
“Whoo-hoo!!”
“You really came? Then let’s have fun together!!”
Lucas, who had been sitting somewhere and stood up, stepped forward, and cheers poured out along with him.
Anne, surprised by Lucas’s welcome and the way he put his hand on her waist and led her, followed him into the middle of the room and was able to sit among the other students as he seated her.
“So, we have one more person!! What should we do then!?”
“Self-introductions~!!”
“Then let’s have a refreshing round of self-introductions!!”
Lucas, who was proceeding with the event in an amazing way, as if he had experience in a youth training camp, and his friends, who were perfectly responsive to him.
Anne, feeling a little withdrawn as if she was somehow isolated, but then she felt someone firmly holding her hand.
“It’s okay! You’ll get used to it soon!
All you have to do is play like a fool together, you know?”
“Ooh!! Is she going to show us? Is she going to show us?”
“Is something big coming?!”
Anne, looking at the girl who was talking to her with a confident expression, and whose face seemed familiar, was stunned, while the girl, who was slightly rising and roughly tidying her clothes amid the cheers around her, was getting up from her seat.
In the meantime, she even received a spoon from someone.
“I’m Karla Sterben!!
What’s my name!?”
“Karla!!”
“Then what’s your name!?”
“Ah… Anne…!! Monehen…”
When Anne, startled by the spoon that was suddenly thrust at her, inadvertently said her name, Karla, who was watching the scene, seemed to have discovered something and her expression brightened.
“She’s a Monehen!! Ah, that…!!
It’s definitely a folding greatsword, right? I’ve seen it!!
Ah!! My hometown is Barmhausen!!
Anne was in the swordsmanship club?”
“Waaaa!! Swordsmanship club!!”
“Only the swordsmanship club members don’t come to social gatherings…
The few who do are playing in other groups…”
“Ahaha!! Actually, there are the most alchemy students here.
As we played, the number of students from other departments gradually increased, you know?!
Now it’s almost half and half!
So don’t worry about departments!!
Let’s all get along!!”
“Waaaaaa!!”
If anything, the atmosphere was so full of fighting spirit that it was almost tiring.
Another female student was blowing wind into Anne, who was still just watching the atmosphere that she couldn’t get used to.
“Anne. It’s okay!! Just shout it out once!!”
“I’m… I’m…”
She closed her eyes tightly and hesitated for a moment.
‘If I let go… will I feel better…?’
All the realities, worries, and everything that was tormenting her.
“Monehen!! Monehen!!”
When she inadvertently opened her eyes, she saw the students around her chanting as if they were cheering her on.
‘Wouldn’t it be okay to take just one step?’
Her lips twitched, then she closed them tightly.
And then, she took a small breath and opened her mouth.
“I’m!! Anne Monehen!!”
A voice that was so energetic that it was almost foolish burst out.
As if she really wasn’t thinking about anything else.
“Anne!! Anne!!”
“Whoo-hoo!!”
As Karla sat her down again next to her with a laugh, other students began to flock to Anne’s side.
It was truly a scene that felt ‘intimate’.
Unlike the friends in the swordsmanship club who were indifferent to her and only focused on ostracizing her, these people only wanted to have fun together.
‘Maybe… I can do well this time…’
Anne’s expression also gradually relaxed and blossomed brightly.
The pair of eyes that had risen between the crack in the door were quietly watching the girl’s lively appearance as she naturally began to blend into the new group.
Whose pair of eyes 👀 are those, I wonder… Sus.