From beginning to end, Horikita thought that she and Ayanokouji were partners with the same goal, or even close friends. However, to Ayanokouji, Horikita was merely a tool.
Everything Ayanokouji did was solely for himself. Regardless of the process or the sacrifices, as long as he was the ultimate winner, that was enough.
In Ayanokouji's eyes, although Emilia and Horikita had very different personalities, there was no difference to him. He could easily guess their inner thoughts.
❀❀❀
"Really?"
"Ayanokouji is that kind of person?!"
"You obviously don't have much presence in class!"
The students in the class were shocked by the image on the screen. Almost everyone couldn't take their eyes off Ayanokouji, who was sitting by the window.
In the eyes of these people, Ayanokouji was a transparent person in class. Whether in academics or sports, he was at an average level.
And for someone like that, who would disappear even if thrown into a crowd, could his mind be so terrifying?
At that moment, they realized they didn't know their classmate named Ayanokouji Kiyotaka at all.
Seeing the narrative on the big screen, Horikita's eyes suddenly widened, and the shock she couldn't hide was revealed in her eyes. She couldn't say a word for a long time.
Although she knew that Ayanokouji hid his strength at school, Ayanokouji had given her great help in several class incidents before, making Horikita think that Ayanokouji was a valuable person, even considering him her only companion in class.
In the video, Ayanokouji's inner activities revealed his true thoughts. From beginning to end, Horikita was just a tool in his heart.
When she thought about this, an inexplicable sadness came straight to Horikita's heart. Some tears welled up in her clear eyes, but being always proud, she slightly raised her head and held back from crying.
"Ayanokouji!"
Horikita turned and spoke to Ayanokouji, with a slight tone of accusation.
"It's just a video, it's not real."
Ayanokouji sighed slightly and spoke slowly, his tone a bit indifferent, and his facial expression didn't change at all. He had emphasized this matter to the girl beside him many times.
However, even though he said that, only Ayanokouji knew that what was said in the video was true from beginning to end, he never considered any of his classmates as friends, including Horikita Suzune.
And judging from the content of the video, Ayanokouji became more convinced that this video was very special, and the person on the screen was indeed his true self.
Ayanokouji's harmless appearance and attitude were his best disguise. With the label 'trouble-avoider,' almost no one would think that he had a cunning heart.
Meanwhile, Ayanokouji was puzzled by Horikita's current anger and sadness.
Although it looked very real and might be a preview of the future, it was just an unproven video, and the events in the video had not happened.
Why would Horikita feel angered by this?
And even if Horikita truly knew his real thoughts, at least both had the same goal. Everything he did was beneficial to her, and there should be no reason for anger.
How strange.
Ayanokouji had no emotions, couldn't empathize with Horikita's current feelings, but since he needed to use Horikita as a tool in the future, he didn't admit his thoughts about her in the video statement.
"I don't have time to think about many things."
Ayanokouji spoke slowly, seeming emotionless in his yellow eyes.
After hearing his words, Horikita's eyes fixed on his face for a few seconds, trying to find some clues on the other's expressionless face, but she couldn't find any hints on Ayanokouji's deadpan face.
In her heart, she hoped Ayanokouji would deny it more enthusiastically, but the other party always had an expression as if it had nothing to do with him, leaving Horikita unsure of what to say.
The rather strong girl pursed her lips, not wanting others to think she cared too much about Ayanokouji's thoughts, so she could only put on a 'whatever you want' expression, then lifted her head and focused her eyes back on the screen.
Was the person on the screen the real Ayanokouji Kiyotaka?
Was the seemingly unmotivated Ayanokouji Kiyotaka really such a person?
Horikita didn't know the answer, and she didn't want to think about it.
❀❀❀
In another world, Puck had a slight anger on her face, and her furry fist couldn't help but clench.
"This person actually uses Lia as a tool! If I see this person, I will definitely teach him a lesson!"
At this moment, Emilia remained silent, her eyes focused on the sky.
Seeing Ayanokouji in the image, Emilia didn't feel angry because the other party considered her a tool, but she was a little surprised inside.
This boy should only be sixteen or seventeen years old, but his heart was like this?
Could the person named Ayanokouji Kiyotaka have an unknown past? What made him become like this?
❰❱SKY SCREEN❰❱
The reason why Ayanokouji wanted to act with Emilia was very simple. It was easier to obtain information about this world by following each other.
Even Ayanokouji, who had rich knowledge, could be said to know nothing about this world, and the residents came to help him. It would be easier for him to learn more about the world.
To him, Emilia was a 'tool' for him to understand the world, and he had no ill intentions towards her. As a spirit, Puck could only sense that the other party had no ill intentions towards Emilia and was not sure what the other party was thinking.
"By the way, what was stolen from you?" Ayanokouji directed his gaze at Emilia and asked.
"A badge, with a gemstone in the center..." While Emilia spoke, she stretched out her hand and drew with both hands, afraid that Ayanokouji wouldn't understand.
"Is the gemstone special? Or does the badge have special significance?" Ayanokouji asked after listening to Emilia's somewhat awkward introduction.
According to his observations, Emilia was really different from ordinary people around her in terms of clothing and demeanor. She was clearly from the upper class and must have far more wealth than most people. She didn't need to search anxiously.
"The badge... Anyway, to me, it's very important!"
Emilia's body trembled slightly, trying to emphasize the content of her words, but she still didn't say what the badge was missing.
What role did the badge play?
Because the badge was a symbol of her status as a candidate for the throne. If she lost, she might be disqualified from the candidacy.
❀❀❀
"Ah!?"
Emilia quickly stretched out her hand, fumbling around her waist for a while, and finally sighed in relief when she finally touched the badge at her waist.
"Lia, why are you so careless!"
Puck beside her turned to Emilia and immediately blamed her.
"Can you lose the royal selection badge?"
"No, no, the badge is still in my hand!"
Emilia immediately replied, her voice stuttering because of anxiety.
If it was what she guessed, then the illusion projected into the sky was a picture of the future. Her badge would be stolen in the future, and this had not happened yet.
When she thought of this, Emilia immediately took off her badge and hid it in a place where others could hardly touch it.
❀❀❀
Among the slums.
A giant man over two meters tall looked at the sky in shock, then quickly turned to the girl standing next to him.
"Felt... That person is you!"
The girl next to him had short golden hair, under which was a somewhat childish face.
Her mouth was slightly open in surprise, showing small tiger teeth. Her bright and large eyes were like a curious wild cat's. Tight black pants with only one leg on the lower part of her body. She had a red scarf tied around her ankle and a red scarf on her neck fluttering in the wind.
She looked exactly the same as the girl suspected of stealing Emilia's badge in the picture just now.
"Rom grandpa... I-I haven't started stealing yet!"
The girl named Felt immediately replied,
"Although someone contacted me and wanted me to steal that girl's badge, I didn't know what it was... But I haven't started stealing it! Recently, I just stepped into that place..."
While talking, the clever Felt almost guessed in her mind that the picture playing in the sky was a scene of the future.
"You actually want to steal that thing. That's the royal selection badge. Do you know what impact it would have if you steal this thing!"
Rom scolded firmly.
In fact, he didn't care at all about the badge or Emilia. What he was most worried about was whether Felt would get involved in the whirlpool of the kingdom's future.
"Quickly cancel this commission, listen to me!"
"I know!"
Felt stuck out her tongue and replied playfully, but even if she didn't reject the other's request, now the whole world, including the person involved, Emilia, had remembered her appearance, and even if she wanted to take action, it would be difficult.
But at that moment, Rom felt a tinge of doubt in his heart. Who was the person who entrusted Felt with stealing the emblem?
"Do you remember what the person who commissioned you looked like?"
"She was a very beautiful woman with a mole on the left side of her face... I don't remember anything else."
Felt lifted her head, extended her slender finger, and gently placed it on her lips. She began to think, but could only recall a vague impression.
"Forget it, don't worry about that and keep watching!"
She put her hand down and continued to focus her gaze on the sky.
❰❱SKY SCREEN❰❱
At this moment, Ayanokouji knew that Emilia had many doubts about him, but seeing that she had no intention of saying anything, he wasn't ready to ask further.
"Do you have paper and a pen?"
"No, but we can go to the market to buy some!" Emilia immediately said, then took him to the nearest market to buy paper and a pen.
During this process, Ayanokouji continued to gather information about this world and learned that the currency in circulation was called holy gold coins, as well as silver coins and copper coins.
He couldn't read the words of this world, which made him clearly realize that he needed to learn to read the language of this world as soon as possible.
Not only that, Ayanokouji also noticed that the people around them looked at Emilia with a bit of disdain and hostility, and he faintly heard passersby mentioning terms like "Half-Elf "silver-haired and "Witch."
These words, combined with her unique appearance, made him wonder if she was being discriminated against because of her identity as a Half-Elf, or if there was another reason.
"Here are the paper and pen! Ayanokouji, do you want to draw the thief?"
Emilia handed the paper and pen she had just bought to Ayanokouji, and he nodded.
"But I didn't expect that Ayanokouji could draw."
Emilia's eyes shifted to Ayanokouji's hands, filled with curiosity.