noveldrama
[Vol. 5] Chapter 176 - The Regular of Non-Human Origin
[Vol. 5] Chapter 176 - The Regular of Non-Human Origin
[Vol. 5] Chapter 176: The Regular of Non-Human Origin
To be honest, Violet didn’t care much at all.
Rather, as a divine being, she didn’t have a strong need for food, eating was just an occasional indulgence to satisfy her cravings. It was true that she preferred light and refreshing dishes and didn’t particularly like meat.
Eudora was quite similar. Having grown up poor, she wouldn’t be picky about food. She generally ate whatever was available and was very well-behaved and sensible about it.
The reason she remained silent was simply that the priestess was curious about the ?Bamboo Lodge? and especially about the unique owner, Awen. This curiosity led her to think about certain things.
One thing was certain.
Awen was definitely not an ordinary human, or rather, she wasn’t human at all.
There was no sensation of blood flowing through her body like a normal creature, and Violet couldn’t hear her heartbeat or breathing. Though she appeared human in terms of her limbs and features, a normal human wouldn’t lack those characteristics.
Since she was present in the Holy Empire’s Holy Academy, it was impossible for her to be an undead creature. She resembled a Spirit Puppet, but even magical puppets required a fluid to lubricate and operate, so that could be ruled out. In that case…
The ?Bamboo Lodge?… could it be some kind of creature related to bamboo? An illusion or a transformation of some sort?
Whatever the truth was, Violet was sure she had encountered a “being” like Awen for the first time.
While pondering this, Violet casually reassured the slightly embarrassed Holy Knight, then handed the menu to Eudora, allowing her to choose her dishes according to her preferences before returning it to the now somewhat impatient Awen.
The three women then temporarily left the counter, found a nearby table to sit at, and began to chat casually while waiting for their food to be prepared.
Whether it was the arrival of Violet and her companions that brought some life to the secluded cabin or if it was simply mealtime, a few more students gradually started arriving at the ?Bamboo Lodge? to dine, making the atmosphere much livelier than before.
From Violet’s earlier observations, it seemed that Awen was the only staff member in the entire ?Bamboo Lodge?, without even a half-time helper.
This piqued the curiosity of Miss White Fox about how the somewhat mysterious owner managed to maintain the cooking pace while attending to the coming and going of guests.
Soon, she got her answer.
The newly arrived students approached the ordering station and skillfully shook the bamboo bell hanging on the counter, producing a crisp sound. Within a few seconds, Awen’s figure appeared at the front once more, engaging in conversation with them in her usual indifferent manner.
Huh? Doesn’t she need to keep an eye on the stove? Is she that confident in her skills? But what if more guests arrive…
Wait…
Miss White Fox felt a slight stir in her heart, having already keenly noticed something unusual.
This Awen… is not the same Awen as before.
They were wearing different clothes.
The Awen who had just yawned at the counter should have been wearing an apron, with a bamboo-leaf-like hairpin in her bright green hair, tied up in a bun.
But this newly appeared Awen was dressed in a more formal and clearly designated outfit for serving guests, a fitted green dress that resembled a uniform, with her long green hair cascading down freely without any restraints.
For a normal person, there would be no reason to change clothes so drastically in such a short time, especially since Awen should have been busy cooking the food they ordered earlier.
Awen… does this bamboo lodge have two owners?
Noticing the surprised glance Miss White Fox cast toward the counter, Edwina, sitting opposite her, immediately understood and spoke up to explain.
“Oh… Miss Dawn has also noticed that the current Awen is different from the previous one. The answer is quite simple: neither the one we saw before nor the one we see now is the real Awen. They are both… well, calling them duplicates might be easier to understand, right?”
“It’s so Awen can run this lodge on her own that she’s taken such measures.”
As if afraid of being overheard, the Holy Knight covered her mouth with her hand and added in a hushed voice.
“Awen, she actually…”
“Edwina? What are you doing here?”
“…?”
A sudden male voice interrupted the conversation between the two girls at a crucial moment.
Edwina frowned in annoyance and turned to the newcomer, and even Eudora, sitting beside Miss White Fox and ready to listen, looked upset, her lavender eyes glaring angrily.
Violet glanced at the figure standing by their bamboo table, a young man in a Holy Academy uniform with a four-winged emblem on his chest.
Is he someone Edwina knows?
If not, he wouldn’t have been so rude, calling her by name. Judging by his appearance, he seemed about the same age as Edwina.
Edwina, matching the blond boy’s gaze, calmly responded with a neutral expression.
“Oh, it’s you, Arlin Ulysses. What do you want?”
“I’m asking why you’re here!” he demanded, his tone aggressive.
Even Edwina, usually mild-tempered, showed irritation. Eudora shrank back in surprise, leaning into Violet, who gently patted her back to comfort her.
Seeing his attitude, Edwina retorted sharply.
“I, Edwina Cecilia, don’t think I need to report to your Ulysses family about where I appear. If you came here today specifically to pick a fight, you can leave now. It’s been a long time since we last met, and in front of our esteemed guests, I don’t want to escalate things to the Arbitration Office or the Discipline Committee. I advise you to mind your manners.”
Hearing the blond girl’s sarcastic yet somewhat threatening response, the boy named Arlin did not react as Violet had imagined. Instead of retaliating with an even louder voice, he appeared slightly taken aback and nodded thoughtfully.
“Such sharp words. It’s hard to believe they came from the little recluse, the ‘Little Miss Rigid’ I used to know. It seems these past two years of experience have helped you grow a lot. No wonder you excel in your abilities, becoming the acting leader of the ?Scales of Judgment? and the Deputy Commander of the Holy War at such a young age. You haven’t let your family or your surname down at all…”
Wait? Does everyone use the nickname ‘Little Miss Rigid’ for Edwina? Or does this guy actually have a good relationship with Edwina?
Just as someone was pondering these strange thoughts, Arlin suddenly shifted the subject.
“But, since you still know your surname is Cecilia, that you received the supreme grace of the goddess, and that you are now a leader of the Holy War! Why, at such a critical moment, on the eve of a storm, are you not focusing on preparing for the Holy War? Instead, you’re here at school, laughing and having fun with this strange woman wearing an odd mask?”
“Don’t you know that the army is leaving in a few days? How do you think others will judge you?”
“?”
Wait a minute…
No, I was just quietly eating popcorn over here! Why am I being dragged into this!?
So what exactly is so strange about it?!