The AI did the driving and Anna went off to another room to inform the Academy staff about Varian's return.
The two of them relaxed in the luxurious interior of the shuttle. Even though it was not an expandable space, it was expensive to the boot.
It was similar to luxurious interiors of Old Earth's private jets, just multiplied by a hundred.
Varian sipped the high value wine and slumped onto the comfy couch made of a Level 6 beast's leather.
'Boo, we're broke. Go make some money in stock or something.'
'But master, you can't buy any of these for the money in stock market. It needs karma points or merit points.'
'Fuck. Then add to my To-Do list. The first item. Get rich enough to flaunt my wealth.'
'...how much would that be?'
'I don't know. To buy this space shuttle or two?'
'Master, this space shuttle would easily cost a 40,000 merit points. With interior added, 10,000 more. So, total 50,000 merit points, give or take.'
'...Fuck. Then how did she gain so many merit points?'
'It's left by her late mother, it seems. Besides, the ownership is shared between Sarah and Anna.'
'I can't even afford half of a spaceship.' Varian sighed.
'B-But,' Boo stuttered.
'I know, I know. No amount of merit points can buy you.' He coaxed.
Wait, when did he start doing this?
'Hehe.' Boo let out a soft laughter and fell silent.
Meanwhile, Sarah continued talking excitedly. "Enigma is on fire. She literally took down the three great clans of Earth herself. I wish—"
Suddenly, she stopped.
"Huh?"
Varian saw her lying down on the couch. Her breathing slowed down and a peaceful expression surfaced on her face.
'Just how tired was she to fall asleep like that as a Level 6 Awakener?' Varian wondered.
The couch transformed into a bed and covered Sarah. She hugged the pillow subconsciously and smiled lightly.
An opaque wall materialized between them.
"..."
'Master, I think they're treating you as a pervert who peeks at sleeping women.'
'Shut up!.' Varian had an urge to beat up Boo.
"She was not sleeping properly." Anna appeared in front of Varian and said with a light bow.
"I see."
"From the day she returned." Anna added.
"What?!" Varian turned to Sarah in surprise, but the opaque light wall blocked his sight.
"It's not good manners to peek on a sleeping maiden, Mr. Varian." Anna said.
"You guys peeked at my sleeping photos in the hospital."
"...I'm impressed by your audacity to equalize the situations." Anna's face was first surprised, then she answered in her calm tone.
"I'm not trying to peek."
"I know."
"But you—"
"It's just a joke." Anna said with the same calm expression.
'Just smile a bit when saying that. At least that totally fake professional smile.'
Seeing Varian's slightly resentful look, Anna smiled lightly before sighing. "Miss was trying to find out the traitors who leaked her team's whereabouts."
Varian's expression condensed.
Traitors were too dangerous to forget. What if the same thing repeated in the next mission?
"She took care of them already. Now we have evidence of the mastermind, Astor Clan betraying humans." She explained patiently.
Varian turned silent before recalling the scene of her escaping the Astor Clan. It was too risky.
Even with a Level 8 maid, she could've lost her life.
"She should have informed the higher ups. It's too risky to confront Astor Clan." Varian said with a complicated expression.
"I agree. But she wants to avenge you." Anna blamed him.
'Avenge me? I see. She felt personally responsible. That was what it was all about.' Varian smiled bitterly. He wasn't sure what he was feeling at the moment.
Gratitude? A sense of closeness?
But at least she could be trusted more.
"Actually, I frequently encounter near death situations." Varian scratched his cheek and said in a rather embarrassing tone. "I kinda almost die every time. But somehow, I come out alive. You could say I'm even tougher than cockroaches."
Anna tried to stifle her laughter. And failed.
"Pfft."
Varian rolled his eyes.
Really, he was almost dying too many times.
"Anyway, unless you see my corpse, do not believe I am dead." He said seriously.
Anna looked at him seriously and nodded. "You're… special."
"You meant to say 'weird'." Varian corrected.
"Yes. Ah, I mean, no." Anna fell into the trap, but hurriedly composed herself.
'Tsk.' Varian snickered.
(Tick) A notification arrived on Anna's comm.
She looked at it and glanced at Varian. Under her breath, she muttered. "Xanders are too much."
She and Sarah were both concentrated on finding the traitors for the past fifty days. So they didn't know Varian was 'expelled' for not taking the test.
But everyone would know it was just an excuse.
If a cadet was in mission they can't return from, tests could be taken at a later date.
Of course, skipping tests while being available was not acceptable.
But the only thing that mattered was passing every test in the semester by the end.
But to reinforce fear and disciple, the first year cadets were told they shouldn't miss the test.
Anna didn't inform Varian of his expel notice.
She would solve it with her influence alone. Besides, she wasn't doing anything illegal.
'Miss, I hope he can make your life a little better. Make you smile a little more.' She sighed and glanced at Varian.
Jet black hair, a handsome face and a lean physique with perfectly chiseled muscles that carved his body to perfection.
Everything seemed to be fine, but—
She recalled something, and her face turned weird. She couldn't help but ask.
"You're handsome and fit. Why are you still a virgin? You… have a problem?"
"Pffft",
Varian spat the wine and glared at the unruly maid. He also scolded Kyle for the thirty-seventh time.
For the hundred and fifth time, he prayed no one else visited his tomb.
But still, this question was too much.
So he stood up and reached for his trousers. "Whether I have a problem or not, I can prove it to you now."
"Kya~." Anna's face blushed like a ripe tomato as she turned her face.
Varian chuckled at her response and slumped back onto the couch with pride.
'Hmph!
Didn't you laugh at me just now? What about you? I dare, but do you?
I'm single by choice, not by fate.'
Anna gritted her teeth. While mentally raising his evaluation to 'Skin is thick enough,' she wrote down the grudge.
'I'll let you suffer a bit with your expel notice. Let's see how you'll ask me to help you out.' She thought with a smirk.
Poor Varian didn't know the maid bore grudges.
As they entered the campus' premises, Sarah slowly woke up.
The light wall guarding her vanished as she sat up on the bed and rubbed her eyes.
It was a short nap, but she was rejuvenated.
As she chatted with Varian about the recent events, the device on her wrist shone.
Sarah gaped and rubbed her eyes to confirm she wasn't dreaming. After she read the notification once again, she cheered.
"You're in great luck! He can you see in an hour!"