The Extra is a Genius!?
Chapter 205: Keys, Shadows, and Kings

Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Keys, Shadows, and Kings

The sun cast lazy rays through the tall windows, bathing Noel’s room in a golden summer haze. He was sitting upright in bed, a thick theory book balanced on his knees, trying to focus on spell formation diagrams. His brow twitched.

’It’s been a week since I got sick. I’m finally better. Tomorrow I’m going back to training with Daemar and Rauk...’ He sighed. ’Guess I’ll need to pace myself more. This is the second time I’ve collapsed like that from overdoing it.’

He flipped the page, then immediately forgot what he’d just read.

Not because it was boring.

Because he had no privacy.

Ever since Elyra gave in to pressure from the other two girls—yes, they begged her for copies of his key—his room had become something of a public park. Charlotte, Elyra, even Elena herself would waltz in and out whenever they damn well pleased. If he was in bed, reading, eating, showering, or even taking a shit—they didn’t care.

Charlotte had once walked in mid-sentence, rambling about a bird she saw, while Noel had just stepped out of the bath with only a towel.

And Elena—sweet, gentle Elena—had turned out to be the boldest of them all. She didn’t knock anymore. She didn’t ask. She just came in.

’Elena who should be an image of purity and innocence, is the one who is doing the worst in all of this.’

He groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

Tomorrow he’d return to training.

Tonight, he just wanted peace.

But of course—

Tok tok tok.

He didn’t even lift his eyes. "You have the key. Just come in."

Tok tok tok.

The knocking continued.

’...Huh?’

That was odd.

The girls never knocked more than once. Hell, they usually didn’t knock at all.

Noel frowned, shut the book, and stood.

’Classes should be on break right now. Either lunch or chore time. So why knock?’

He walked to the door and opened it.

His eyebrows lifted in surprise.

A girl stood there, framed by sunlight. Short blue hair, eyes like sharpened cyan crystals.

Selene.

"...Selene?"

Selene stood calmly, arms crossed behind her back, wearing the summer uniform of the academy—black shorts and a sleeveless white blouse buttoned all the way to the collar. Her expression was unreadable, as always.

"Hello," she said simply.

Noel blinked. "...Hey. How are you?"

"Fine. Can I come in?"

He hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the room. Thanks to the girls invading it every damn day, it was actually spotless. Charlotte had rearranged his books by color two days ago. Elena had dusted the shelves while humming some elven lullaby. Elyra had refolded his shirts, even the ones he didn’t ask her to touch.

’Not that I could stop them.’

"Yeah. Sure. Come in."

Selene stepped inside, her movements precise. She glanced around once, nodded to herself, and sat in the chair by the desk. Her gaze rested on the book Noel had left on the bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Better. I’ll be back to training tomorrow."

She gave a curt nod. "Good."

Noel leaned against the wall, arms folded. "So... you came to check on me?"

"Yes." A beat. Then, without missing a step, she added, "Also, aside from you, only Marcus offers decent sparring. The others in Class S aren’t really a challenge."

Noel snorted. "So I’m your favorite punching bag?"

Her lips twitched slightly. Barely. Almost imperceptible—but it was there.

"Maybe."

He pushed off the wall. "Well, then. Tomorrow it is. Don’t hold back."

"I never do."

She stood, her movements clean and unhurried. Then, after a short pause, added in her usual icy tone, "Get well. I need you at your best."

"Thanks... I think?"

Selene turned to leave. But right at the door, she stopped.

Noel raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

She glanced over her shoulder. "Don’t let them wear you down."

Then, just like that, she walked out.

Noel stared at the door for a few seconds.

’Was that her way of saying take care?’

He scratched the back of his neck and looked around the room.

"...What the hell was that visit?"

The door clicked shut behind Selene, and silence reclaimed the room. Noel exhaled and dropped back onto his bed, one arm thrown over his eyes.

’What the hell is happening to my life?’

He rolled onto his side. Noir, the little shadow wolf pup, was curled up at the foot of the bed. Her sleek black fur shimmered faintly, streaked with subtle purple highlights. The small creature twitched once in his sleep but didn’t wake.

Noel reached out and gently scratched behind one of Noir’s ears.

"At least you don’t talk."

But even as he said it, he heard the familiar creak of the door—again.

He didn’t even bother lifting his head. "You already have the key. Just come in."

Elyra’s voice floated through the room. "So grumpy today. That’s not like you."

Noel finally sat up. Elyra stepped in, wearing her academy skirt with a light blouse tucked neatly into it. Her long black braid swung behind her as she approached, a basket of food in one hand.

"You’re not supposed to walk around alone. I thought you were still resting," she scolded, setting the basket down on his desk.

"I was. Then Selene knocked."

Elyra raised a brow. "Knocked? How polite."

"Yeah, weird, right actually someone has manners?"

She smirked. "Unlike some people who just barged in and claimed the room as their own."

"I didn’t ask for that, by the way," Noel muttered. "Also, what happened to privacy?"

Elyra sat beside him on the bed and leaned closer with a knowing look.

"Charlotte begged me for a copy. She said it was for emergencies. Then Elena said it wouldn’t be fair if she didn’t get one too. They ganged up on me, Noel. I held out as long as I could."

He stared at her flatly. "You’re the one who made the copies."

"I never said I didn’t cave." She grinned.

Noel groaned and slumped back onto the pillow. "I should just move into a cave in the mountains."

"Already taken. By dragons."

Noel turned his face to the side, ignoring her teasing. "They don’t knock either, I bet."

She reached out and gently brushed a lock of hair from his forehead.

"You’re warm again."

"I’m fine. Just residual heat. I’ll be back to training tomorrow."

Elyra didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press. Instead, she opened the basket and handed him a neatly wrapped sandwich.

"You better eat. If you’re planning to push yourself again, you’re going to need strength. And I don’t want you collapsing in the middle of an arena."

Noel accepted it, muttering a thanks.

As they sat in comfortable silence, Noir stretched, yawned, and rolled onto her back with her tiny paws twitching in the air.

Elyra smiled softly. "She’s getting bigger."

"She eats like a bottomless pit."

"You two have that in common."

He glared at her. She just smiled wider.

—---

Far across the sea, beneath the towering black spires of Velmora, the demon continent, three men sat in a stone chamber built into the heart of the mountain fortress. No light from the sun reached this place, only the faint violet glow of embedded crystals humming softly within the walls.

King Deyrion Neral, ruler of Velmora, sat at the head of the obsidian table. His skin gleamed like polished stone, his towering horns casting long shadows across the chamber. A faint red aura pulsed from them in rhythm with his breath, and his crimson eyes betrayed an ancient mind burdened with secrets.

To his right sat King Alveron IV, sovereign of the Valor Empire. Broad-shouldered and imposing even while seated, his golden hair was tied back with a crimson ribbon, and his blood-red eyes scanned the room with quiet suspicion. He radiated presence—less king and more storm in waiting.

On the opposite side, leaning back with arms crossed, was Nicolas Von Aldros, archmage of the Imperial Academy. Though he looked to be in his forties with sharp features and silver hair cropped close, everyone in the room knew better. Nicolas had lived over eighty years, and few in the world matched his mastery of magic. He wore violet robes embroidered with arcane sigils, the air around him tingling faintly.

They had been here for over a month. The investigation into possible demonic involvement in the attacks on both the Holy Capital and the Academy had yielded little.

Nicolas broke the silence.

"We’ve searched through most of your black-market channels, your underground ports, your forbidden cult archives—still nothing that ties Velmora to the attacks."

King Alveron leaned forward. "You told us you’d help us find the truth. So far, all we’ve found is silence."

King Deyrion, ever composed, spoke in his deep, resonant voice. "And I did help. I gave you access to my elite agents. Shadows even my own court doesn’t know exist. I let you move freely through my cities and vaults. If you found nothing, perhaps that’s because there’s nothing to find."

Nicolas scoffed, tapping a finger against the obsidian table. "Or perhaps it’s just buried too deep. Either way, something is off. We’ve ruled out most of your factions. But the trail ends too neatly."

’Noel said the same... and the Saint confirmed the one responsible for the Holy Capital wasn’t a demon,’ Nicolas thought. ’Then at least that part checks out.’

He clicked his tongue audibly, drawing a glance from both kings.

King Alveron didn’t bother hiding his irritation. "So what’s left? Either they’ve stopped because the last three attacks failed... or they’re hiding and waiting."

Deyrion nodded. "There is still one thread left unpulled."

Nicolas raised an eyebrow. "The boat."

Deyrion turned toward him. "Correct. The only stable route in or out of Velmora is through the ocean crossing. We have a single trade ship—enchanted and reinforced—that sails from the southeastern edge of the Elarith continent, from a Dwarf-controlled port."

Alveron frowned. "You said it’s captained by a Dwarf loyal to your court?"

"Not to me directly," Deyrion clarified. "But we have a longstanding agreement. He runs the ship, I protect the waters. That’s how the world keeps turning."

Nicolas folded his arms. "Then that’s where Kaelith must’ve slipped through. Over ten years ago. He couldn’t have crossed the mountains, and teleportation that far is suicide without a direct anchor or without the skill."

Deyrion gave a slow nod. "If he came, it was on that vessel. But we’ll need to contact the Dwarf King to access the manifest records. Only he has the authority."

Alveron stood from his seat. "Then do it."

Deyrion didn’t flinch. "It will be done."

Nicolas looked between the two monarchs. "This is our last lead. If this falls through... then either our enemy has already moved elsewhere—or we’re walking blind into something bigger than we thought."

The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the soft hum of magic in the walls.