The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　This also means that the so-called rumors are under control.

　Professor Hoddle Bode is not an enemy.

　However, he couldn't reveal this information to Robert, which troubled him again.

　Seeing his predicament, Dak laughed and said, "Going to take a look isn't a big problem."

　Witt breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Want to come along?"

　Dark thought for a moment and said, "If it's nine o'clock, wait until eight-thirty."

　Witt immediately replied, "Half an hour is enough. So where shall we meet?"

　Dark looked at the castle and said, "Let's go to the bridge."

　Witt's expression changed slightly; his memory of that Lovers' Bridge wasn't very good either.

　After waving goodbye to the two men, Dak returned.

　But as soon as he squeezed through the crowd, he saw that his seat had already been taken.

　"So, did she figure something out?"

　Dark frowned and looked at the back of Emma Metis, the person who had taken his seat.

　Since forming his club in second grade, he has reduced his visits to the library, and therefore his interactions with Emma have also decreased.

　It's become less and less common, and now it's only among classmates with a slightly better relationship.

　Of course, deep down, he still longed for Emma's golden land—

　Emma Metis, who was sitting next to Rose at the moment, appeared to be talking to Rose, but Dark immediately recognized her.

　Zhen immediately realized that her true intentions were not what they seemed, and that her eyes were only on Ergany.

　Dark shook his head and chuckled, then walked over unhurriedly, bending down beside Emma and saying, "Good evening, Emma. Where are Lucy and Susan?"

　Emma turned her head, trying her best to hide her guilt and embarrassment, and said, "Please, today is Valentine's Day, there's no way I can keep them all by my side."

　But she's really not the kind of person who's a good actress—even her tone of voice doesn't sound like her usual self.

　Dark suppressed a laugh and said, "What brings you here?"

　Emma's eyes darted around: "Can't I even come out and look at the campfire?"

　“Of course.” Dark glanced sideways at Ergani, who seemed oblivious to everything around her and focused solely on her studies, and said meaningfully, “Would you like me to introduce you?”

　Emma immediately realized her intentions had been seen through. She tensed up, but her expression returned to normal, remaining stern.

　She stood up and said, "I don't understand what you're talking about. Here, this is for you. I have to go to the library, so I won't chat any longer."

　As she spoke, she shoved something into Dak's hand and ran away without looking back.

　Dak shook his head, sat down in the empty seat she had made, and then picked up what he was holding.

　"Yes, it's chocolate!"

　Even though the box hasn't been opened, what else can I give as a gift at this time?

　"It's Valentine's Day chocolate!"

　Rose nudged Dark's shoulder and grinned mischievously.

　Dark said with a hint of helplessness, "We can't just return it, can we?"

　Rose teased, "Aren't you going to take it apart and see?" Dark, curious, began to disassemble it as well.

　Anyway, I've already opened enough boxes today, so this one won't make a difference.

　He opened the box and found inside were round chocolates wrapped in gold paper and a gold coin.

　chocolate!

　"They really love gold coins!"

　Dak was speechless. He picked up a chocolate, unwrapped it, and took a small bite.

　Emma probably added some hawthorn or similar flavoring to the chocolate, making it taste sour and astringent.

　It's astringent, with a strange taste, but not unpleasant; it's quite peculiar.

　After he finished eating one, he put it in his backpack.

　"How does it taste?" Rose asked with concern.

　Dark said, "Surprisingly good."

　Rose was a little curious: "If it weren't Valentine's Day chocolate, I would definitely take one to try."

　Dark chuckled inwardly, trying to figure out how to maneuver, when Ergane suddenly looked up and called out, "Hey."

　Dark turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"

　Ergani looked at him, stretched out her hand towards him, and spread her fingers.

　Dark understood immediately and took out a box of dark chocolates from his backpack, placing it in Ergani's palm.

　"Mmm," Ergani responded, then put the chocolate away and continued reading.

　The bonfire roared, the light and shadow intertwined, as if time itself had shifted.

　Before 8:30.

　Dark handed the backpack to the reliable Gatomon and then left.

　He inquired about the rumors from Ergani, but the Goddess of Wisdom only said that Kazel had mentioned them.

　I don't care about this at all.

　Dak then used the [Menka] to inquire with Professor Kazel.

　Professor Cazell only sent four words: "As you expect."

　Dak felt relieved and prepared to go with Witt and Robert.

　Lover's Bridge is packed with people during this time of day—couples lean against the bridge whispering to each other, seemingly unconcerned about being seen.

　Hearing the cheesy parts.

　But if you think about it carefully, if everyone around you is being cheesy, it's actually the other way around if you're not.

　Therefore, it is most reasonable to appear cheesy at this time.

　In short, Lover's Bridge had become a place off-limits to outsiders, naturally forming a barrier that isolated it from the world.

　壁。

　Single men like Witt and Robert, of course, cannot cross that thick barrier.

　Dark Demon, who has both a single dog and a sea king, seems somewhat immune to this.

　He spotted Robert not far from the bridgehead, quickly approached, and called out, "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

　I've been waiting.

　“No, we just arrived too.” Witt emerged from behind Robert.

　Robert turned around and said, "We were just dancing around the campfire too. The atmosphere there was so nice, unlike here."

　Darke laughed and said, "Robert, don't you have someone you like?"

　Robert rolled his eyes at the bloated man in front of him and said, "Witt does have someone he likes."

　Witt looked embarrassed and quickly said, "Don't talk nonsense, I don't like her anymore."

　Dark's eyes lit up, and he asked curiously, "Who is she?"

　Witt said awkwardly, "That was a misunderstanding, don't say anymore."

　He then quickly turned around and said, "Let's hurry, or we'll be late."

　Robert chimed in, "Yes, yes, I heard it's nine o'clock, it might even start at nine. Entering the secret..."

　After finding the way, we still need to spend time searching.

　Darke questioned, "Speaking of which, weren't the entrances to the secret passages sealed off?"

　Robert shrugged. "Perhaps it's been cracked, or maybe a new secret passage entrance has been created."

　Dark asked, "Didn't you go and investigate?"

　Robert immediately said, "I wanted to go, but Witt kept stopping me. I told you we should go and investigate."

　It seems Darkl agrees with my opinion.

　Darko:

　I'm not, I didn't!

　Witt touched his nose, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I was just afraid of alerting them. Who knows who might go? But I've prepared a few [Costume Change Cards] here, I'll give them to you later."

　The three of them walked quickly up two floors.

　Once they were alone, Victor took out three [Costume Change Cards] from his card pack, unfolded them, and said, "Pick one."

　Dark casually picked up a card: "What kind of outfit is this? It's not some product from your club, is it?"

　Witt chuckled dryly and said, "It's just my prototype, an ordinary black robe."

　Dark then stuck the [Costume Change Card] on his body and activated it by injecting magic.

　His clothes had not been changed; he had simply put on a black robe over them.

　The black robe was quite large, but it didn't drag on the ground, and the hood completely covered the face.

　He turned around slightly and saw that Witt and Robert had also transformed into "men in black robes," which made him chuckle.

　"Wait a minute, I'll add another layer of insurance."

　As he spoke, he pulled out the Magical Spirit Card [Adventure Bird] from his card pack, a card he had never used since acquiring it!

　A parrot with a lotus mark imprinted between its brows flew out amidst the summoning light.

　He teased the bird's beak and then placed it on his shoulder.

　"Adventure Bird, activate the Eye of Record, the Feather of Concealment."

　The Eye of Recording can record and project what is seen within 24 hours.

　The Concealing Feathers can conceal one's aura and hide oneself. If the wings are spread, they can release—a power that uses one's own power to...

　A concealed barrier centered on the area.

　When the concealment barrier is cast, the Adventure Bird cannot move, but the Archmage can carry it.

　Come to my side.

　Dak waved his hand, and Victor and Robert were also drawn into the concealment barrier.

　He has never used the [Adventure Bird] in front of outsiders, so he has no worry about revealing his identity.

　The Adventure Bird can, to some extent, replace the Magic Book.

　"I really can't see it anymore!"

　Robert kept extending his hand out of the barrier and then withdrawing it, like a freshman just starting school.

　Witt said dismissively, "Alright, let's go. We're definitely not the only ones who know about this, so let's not let anyone find out."

　Robert then said, still wanting to continue, "Of course I know."

　As he spoke, he moved a few steps closer to Dak.

　Dark said expressionlessly, "Keep your distance."

　The three continued their ascent using the barrier of the [Hidden Feather], and soon arrived at the seventh floor of the castle.

　Although Robert said he hadn't explored it, he actually had a rough estimate of the location of the secret passage entrance, which required...

　This was due to his active relationship with Witt during their first year of high school.

　“A place marked with ‘a painting’ definitely won’t have a second painting. And there’s only one passageway on the seventh floor of the castle with just one painting.”

　Robert spoke with great confidence, and sure enough, he quickly found the right spot.

　It was a passageway that had almost nothing in it except for the painting on the wall.

　Dark looked at the painting, which depicted an orange garden bathed in the glow of the setting sun, with sparse figures moving about.