Chapter 360: Speechless

Suiqun Yuan Academy Affiliated Kindergarten·Teacher Office

Afternoon sunlight filtered through the louvered windows, carving alternating light and shadow stripes on the polished floor.

Black Tower sat behind the spacious desk.

She wore a light‑gray fitted shirt today, layered with an off‑white knit cardigan; her brown hair was meticulously tied low at the nape, revealing the gracefully curved neck and ears.

Her violet‑black eyes were calm and still, gazing at the comic book in her hand.

She appeared competent and crisp.

A knock sounded.

"Come in." She didn't even lift her head.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu pushed the door and walked in.

Both were dressed in Suiqun Yuan Academy uniforms, each holding the symbolic Volunteer Work Record Board.

But compared with their earlier thorough preparation, facing Teacher Black Tower, who radiated an invisible aura merely by sitting there, Tengwan Lixiang unusually felt a hint of… nervousness.

It was an instinctive alarm triggered by confronting an unknown presence.

Mashu also quietly straightened her back, her expression more focused than usual.

Black Tower finally lifted her gaze from the report, scanning the two of them.

"Tengwan, Mashu."

Her voice was steady, revealing no emotion, "As volunteers sent from the high school division to assist, you should be checking the playground equipment in the courtyard now, not here…"

She paused, her violet‑black eyes narrowing slightly, "Staring contests waste each other's time."

Though her tone wasn't harsh, the intangible pressure—perhaps her overly rational gaze, perhaps the unquestionable aura surrounding her—sent a chill through both Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu.

They now fully understood why Chang Ye Yue and San Yue Qi hadn't come in person.

Facing this teacher, the pressure was indeed extraordinary.

Tengwan Lixiang inhaled deeply, trying to make her smile look natural, "Teacher Black Tower, sorry to disturb you. We… actually wanted to confirm a few things with you."

She spoke while, appearing a bit nervous, pulling a folded sticky note from beneath the Record Board.

It was the "key" that Chang Ye Yue had given them, written on it as the means to awaken Black Tower.

"Oh?"

Black Tower raised an eyebrow, leaned back slightly, hands clasped on the desk, assuming a listening posture, "Confirm what?"

Tengwan Lixiang unfolded the note, cleared her throat, and read aloud the words on it in a clear yet slightly hesitant tone, "Regarding… xxxxxxxx…"

Before her words finished—

The air in the office seemed to drop ten degrees in an instant!

A near‑tangible pressure, like a tsunami, erupted explosively with Black Tower at its center!

The papers on the desk moved on their own without wind, and the pen holder beside them quivered slightly.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu felt their scalp tingle, their hearts clenched by an invisible hand, and their breathing stalled.

They involuntarily lowered their heads, unwilling even to glance at Black Tower's expression, fearing that her gaze would freeze them completely.

Instinctively, Mashu stepped half a pace forward, subtly shielding Tengwan Lixiang behind her.

Dead silence.

A few seconds stretched out, feeling as long as a century.

Then the terrifying pressure receded like a tide, vanishing without a trace.

"Heh…"

A cold‑tinged snicker rang out.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu cautiously lifted their heads.

They saw that Black Tower, at some point, had picked the comic book up again, leaning relaxed against the chair back, and even lifted the thermos on the desk with her other hand, sipping water leisurely.

Her face showed no sign of anything, as if the suffocating scene moments before had never occurred.

"Look how you're scared."

She set the cup down, her violet‑black eyes flicking them, her tone as flat as if discussing the weather, "Your mental resilience needs improvement."

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu stared at each other, unsure how to react.

Was that just… an illusion?

Just as they relaxed a bit, thinking the matter was over, Black Tower suddenly spoke again, asking an unrelated question:

"Do you know destiny?"

Tengwan Lixiang was startled, instinctively shook her head, her face showing genuine confusion, "Destiny? What's that?"

She was about to ask further, but Black Tower had already averted her gaze, as if the answer surprised her not, or rather, she didn't need their answer at all.

"Alright, I get it."

Black Tower cut off her unfinished words, tapping a finger lightly on the report paper, eyes turning outward, her tone firm, "Is it that pink‑haired girl who always wears that 'I know everything but won't say' expression, who sent you here as a messenger?"

Tengwan Lixiang instinctively nodded.

"Alright, I know everything now."

Black Tower interrupted again, a faint hint of impatience in her tone.

She refocused on the comic book in her hands, waved her hand, indicating they could leave.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu exchanged glances, each seeing deep bewilderment in the other's eyes.

They had prepared for half a day, nervous to death, yet after only a few words, the other seemed to have seen through everything?

Both helplessly gave a slight bow, "Then… Teacher Black Tower, we'll take our leave now."

"Mm." Black Tower replied without lifting her head.

Just as they turned, hand touching the door handle, Black Tower's cool voice sounded again from behind:

"By the way, give me a line."

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu stopped immediately and turned around.

Black Tower still didn't look up, his gaze fixed on the comic book, as if muttering to himself, yet also issuing an unquestionable command:

"The method is correct; it deserves affirmation."

"And also—"

She finally lifted her eyes; deep within her violet‑black irises flickered a cold glint, and the corner of her mouth curled into an almost flat, tiny smile.

"Tell that guy behind you, the one who steals other people's stuff and seems to enjoy role‑playing…"

"Let her wait for me."

Tengwan Lixiang: "……?"

Mashu: "……?"

The two were completely bewildered.

But seeing Black Tower's "I've said all I need to say, don't disturb me" farewell demeanor, they dared not ask further, and left the office with a head full of confusion.

The door closed softly.

The office fell silent again.

Perspective shift.

Unlike the office's chill, the air here was tinged with a faint, lingering awkwardness.

San Yue Qi gently pushed open the ward door, poking her head in halfway, her face lit with a lively smile: "Uncle Tohsaka, good afternoon! I'm bothering you again!"

Inside the ward, Yuanban Shichen lay on the hospital bed in an extremely uncomfortable posture.

Due to a "severe hip contusion and complications," he could only stay like that, a thin blanket covering him.

The once‑elegant and composed Tohsaka Patriarch now looked a bit pale, his hair a little disheveled, and upon seeing San Yue Qi, he forced out a smile that still retained some grace.

"It's San Yue, come in quickly. I'm bothering you again to look after me."

His voice was a bit weak, yet he kept his manners, "Sakura and Rin, those two children, have truly benefited from you and your sister's care lately; thank you for the trouble."