Chapter 470: Simultaneous Leave Request

He was staring at Yuanban Ying's back.

(Tohsaka… Tohsaka…)

In his mind, twisted thoughts churned wildly.

Ten years ago, after the Fourth Holy Grail War ended, his "grandfather"—Jiantong Zangyan—died.

Those so‑called "winners" retreated unscathed.

Yuanban Shichen, that self‑righteous fellow, continued his and his wife's and daughter's comfortable Magus life as if nothing had happened.

(Why?)

Jiantong Shen'er's fingers clawed the edge of the page, creasing the paper deeply.

(Grandfather was so kind to me, taught me principles, told me what "justice" is… yet those scoundrels killed him with despicable means!)

His breathing grew heavy, and a suppressed, barely audible laugh rose from his throat.

(Yuan Ban Lin… after returning from the Clock Tower, she acts all high‑and‑mighty. Her gaze looks down on everyone, as if they're all inferior… how ugly, so ugly!)

His gaze shifted to Yuanban Ying's back.

(And this Yuanban Ying… she's clearly the Yuanban family's daughter, yet she's always all gentle and soft—who is she putting on a show for? She must be a hypocrite too!)

His sight moved toward another spot in the front row—Tengcun Lixiang's seat.

(Tengcun Lixiang…)

His eyes grew complex.

(Why be so good to everyone? Why help every person? Why can't you just focus on me…)

He recalled the few acts of kindness Tengcun Lixiang had shown him—lending notes, reminding about assignments, occasional greetings.

Those everyday things that seemed ordinary to other classmates, in Jiantong Shen'er's twisted Cognition, were read by him as some kind of "special treatment."

(You… should be mine.)

He lowered his eyes, a grim smile curling his mouth.

(But it's fine.)

He lifted his gaze to the sky outside the window.

(Once I've cleared the Yuanban family and fulfilled grandfather's last wish… I'll deal with you slowly.)

His body trembled slightly from suppressed excitement, about to give way.

At the podium, Tengcun Dahe was still lecturing with fervent passion.

"—So! The key to this construction lies in grasping the regret embedded in would‑have‑done! It's the lament for things that never happened! You must feel that 'if only I'd known…' sensation!"

She swung the teaching rod vigorously, chalk dust swirling everywhere.

Below the stage, four people each harbored ulterior motives.

Bai Hang was thinking about guns.

Lixiang was pondering whether to ask for leave.

Ying was thinking of her sister.

Jiantong was contemplating murder.

"Ding—ling—ling—ling—"

The class‑end bell rang.

Tengcun Dahe set down the teaching rod, inhaled deeply, about to say "That's all for today"—

"Teacher!!!"

Three almost overlapping shouts rang out together.

Bai Hang sprang up from his seat.

Ying stood up from her seat.

Jiantong rose from his seat.

The three raised their hands in unison, speaking with one voice:

"I want to ask for leave!"

The whole classroom fell silent instantly.

The classmates who were about to pack up stopped, all turning toward the podium.

Tengcun Lixiang's motion to stand froze mid‑air, mouth slightly open, a bewildered expression.

(... What's happening?)

She stared blankly at the three people standing before the podium—Bai Hang (the white‑haired transfer student), Ying (her good friend), and Jiantong Shen'er (the always‑odd male classmate).

These three… want to ask for leave at the same time?

The three of them were also stunned.

Bai Hang's pupils contracted slightly.

(Oh no! What a coincidence! These two also want leave?! Why are they taking leave? It won't affect my plan, will it?!)

Ying's brows knit slightly.

(Huh? Classmate Bai Hang and classmate Jiantong also want leave? Do they… have something going on?)

Jiantong Shen'er's face remained expressionless, but the corner of his eye twitched slightly.

(These two women… why request leave at the same time as me? What are they planning? Could it be… they discovered my plan?! Impossible… absolutely impossible…)

The three exchanged a glance.

That glance was filled with:

"What are you asking for?"

"Don't block me."

Make way, let me go first.

But on the surface, all three maintained polite smiles.

On the podium, Tengcun Dahe froze for three seconds.

Then her originally stern face instantly burst into a brilliant smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Oh——!!!"

She slapped the podium with one hand, shouting excitedly:

"You three! You're here to ask questions, right?! Isn't that so?! You definitely came to ask questions! Ah, I said it, my lecture is so lively and interesting, how could no one come ask questions! Come on, come on, come on, come on, come up front! I'll answer each of your questions!"

She waved enthusiastically, gesturing for the three to come forward.

Bai Hang: "..."

Ying: "..."

Jian Tong: "..."

The three steeled themselves and walked forward, lining up in front of the podium.

Tengcun Dahe sat on the chair behind the podium, legs crossed, arms crossed, looking at them with full anticipation.

"All right! Who's first? Ask away! Any question is fine! Fujimura teacher, I know astronomy above and geography below, and I'm versed in English grammar!"

The surrounding classmates gradually packed up and rested, and the classroom grew quiet.

Lixiang remained seated in her original spot, hesitantly watching this scene.

(Should I… also go ask for leave?)

(But… wouldn't going now be too awkward?)

(Or… wait until they finish asking their questions?)

She wavered, lifting her butt half a centimeter off the chair, then sat back down.

On the podium.

The three stared at each other.

Bai Hang indicated with her eyes: you speak first.

Ying shook her head slightly: no, you speak first.

Jian Tong, expressionless: it doesn't matter who speaks first, just finish quickly and leave.

Tengcun Dahe waited a long time, but no question came; she tilted her head in puzzlement:

"What's wrong? Don't be shy to ask? It's fine, the teacher is very gentle!"

The three remained silent for three seconds.

Finally, Bai Hang took a deep breath and spoke first:

"Um… teacher, I'd like to request leave."

Fujimura teacher's smile froze.

The corners of her mouth rotated from upward 180 degrees, inevitably bending down to negative 180 degrees.

"Huh?"

Her voice sounded like a deflated balloon.

Bai Hang steeled herself and continued: "Yes, there's something urgent at home that I need to go handle."

Fujimura teacher remained silent for three seconds.

Then she slowly turned her head toward Ying, her eyes filled with a desperate plea that read, "You're not here to ask questions, right?"

Ying scratched her face, her purple eyes somewhat evasive, but she steeled herself to speak:

"Um… teacher, I… also want to request leave."

Fujimura teacher's mouth corners bent down another five degrees.

She then turned her head toward Jiantong Shen'er, her eyes already numb with the thought, "You're not also going to ask for leave, are you?"

Jiantong Shen'er remained expressionless, gave a cold snort, and spoke in a toneless, reciting tone:

"Me too."

Fujimura teacher's expression completely froze.

Her whole body was like it had been hit with a pause button, frozen in place.

Three seconds later——