"You..."
Feeling the continuous stinging sensation on her cheek, Alice could only blankly cover her face, looking at Rozen, completely losing her composure.
Not only Alice, even Yaya and Shin never expected Rozen to suddenly slap Alice like this, and they were both at a loss.
Only Rozen, maintaining the posture of a swung palm, gazes at Alice with an unrestrained anger.
"Jealousy?"
Rozen speaks with an uncontrollable coldness.
"What right do you have to be jealous of them?"
The words, both icy and ruthless, make Alice hold her breath.
However...
"Just as you said, whether it's Frey or Charl, both have had difficult experiences. But compared to you, one was saved, and the other still has hope to redeem everything. Indeed, worth envying."
Rozen's voice, like arrows, pierces into Alice's heart.
"However, what have you done compared to them?"
Yes.
Compared to Frey and Charl, what has Alice done?
"Frey was trying hard even before being saved, facing unbeatable enemies at the Night Party to save a group of dogs she had considered family. Her heart went berserk, and her life was in danger."
"Charl has been striving all along. Despite her family being scattered and her house in decline, she didn't give up. Constantly striving just to become the Wiseman, she didn't fall into degradation, used any means necessary, and still held onto the duty and mission of being nobility, intolerant of unjust things happening before her eyes."
"It's because they never gave up, kept striving, that they have the value of being saved, reasons to be helped, the right to be cherished, loved, and unquestionably admired."
"And what about you? What have you done?"
Rozen's words are sharp and realistic.
"You've willingly fallen, given up on yourself, not making an effort, and being impractical. Despite having a brain smarter, sharper, and more agile than them, when facing adversity, you've done nothing close to their efforts. You don't even struggle, only continuously immerse yourself. I ask you, with you being like this, what right do you have to envy them?"
Blunt accusations, like blades, pierce one by one into Alice's heart.
But isn't it true?
Perhaps, Frey isn't as intelligent as Alice, and Charl isn't as adept at using everything to achieve her goals. From their perspective, both girls are too naive and immature, merely fortunate to be saved, with the possibility of recovery because they haven't fallen into despair. At least, those two girls haven't given up; they are still striving, struggling, and fighting.
Compared to them, Alice possesses an intelligent mind.
"If they had your intellect, they wouldn't need others to save and help them. They would have found a way out of trouble on their own."
Rozen continues to throw out his words.
"You clearly possess the weapon they need the most, yet there you are, willingly falling. So, it serves you right that you couldn't be saved."
—It serves you right that you couldn't be saved.
These words finally become the last straw that crushes Alice.
"————"
Alice tightly bites her lip, lowers her head, hiding her expression beneath her bangs, unable to utter a single word.
"Miss..."
Even Shin, seeing this scene, still can't say a single word. His expression is both pained and heavy.
The linguistic constraints on both individuals have been lifted.
However, whether it's Alice or Shin, both continue to kneel there, not able to move for quite some time.
Only Yaya remains, standing by Rozen's side, looking at Alice with some sympathy.
It can be said that, as Rozen said, Alice deserves such an outcome.
"If you don't want to struggle, then just wait for death obediently. Don't go from being a victim to becoming a perpetrator."
Rozen turns his head, no longer looking at Alice.
"Leave this place, and don't let me see you again."
This is the last bit of mercy Rozen can offer.
As he said, he has taken away everything from Alice, leaving her with no place in the academy, England, or even Germany. She has lost all her status and rights, and she will face pursuit and retaliation from the academy, England, and Germany. Her life won't be sustained for long.
So, the enmity between him and Alice ends here.
"If you want to be captured, climb back up, or wait for death obediently, it's up to you to choose."
"If you want revenge, whether through words or combat, I'll accompany you."
"But, don't direct your schemes toward those around me."
"Otherwise..."
Rozen leaves these words behind.
"Next time, I won't give you another chance."
After saying that, Rozen turns around.
"Let's go, Yaya."
"Yes."
Rozen and Yaya walk side by side, heading towards the direction of the field training ground.
At this moment...
"...Germany's goal in this Night Party is not just about dominating. It's not merely about making the 'Kreuzrittern' the winner and claiming the throne of the Wiseman."
Alice's voice, low and somber, reaches Rozen's ears from behind.
"Germany has another goal in this Night Party, and that is to intervene in the academy's research."
With this sentence, Rozen halts his steps.
Alice continues to speak in a low voice.
"You've seen it, haven't you? The underground facility of the academy..."
An unknown underground facility hides in the darkness, concealing mysterious secrets.
"That place is the academy's biggest secret."
Alice speaks softly.
"On the Night of Sevens, in the time of Six Buds, mankind shall become the agents of gods. Like flawless jewels. Authority shall be overthrown first, gathering those from foreign lands. Then unshackling the bonds of dominion, the city will be filled with purification. Thus, stars shall shower down, a prelude to the opening of the heavens and the earth. The youth arrives, reigning upon the throne of heaven. Behold, the one by their side is 'Machine doll.'"
From Alice's mouth, the foretelling of father time is chanted.
In other words...
"That place is the key to the birth of the Machine Doll."
Alice, as if prophesying something, speaks in a low voice.
"Although it's my personal belief, the Machine Doll will be born during the Night Party, and the reason it appears in this academy lies there."
And that is the academy's research, the reason Edward Rutherford wanted to keep it hidden, and the reason it appeared there.
"Germany wants to intervene in this research for its own gain."
Therefore, Alice had been keeping a close eye on that place.
"—Sanctuary of Fools."
Alice reveals the name of that underground facility.
"If you don't want to be manipulated, remember this name well."
Alice's words stop here.
"Swish..."
Behind him, a sound of breaking air suddenly rings out and gradually fades away.
Without needing to turn around, Rozen knows that Alice has completely left with Shin.
"Rozen..."
Yaya approaches Rozen, calling him softly.
Rozen doesn't respond, just lifts his head and looks ahead.
There, the security team and the Disciplinary Committee members are beginning to rush towards them amid the clamor.