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

　How can I politely decline in a reply?

　……

　Claire's after-school tutoring ended last night.

　Although Darke still had many questions to answer, Claire, as a professor, had her own responsibilities, and she would be very busy the following week.

　Furthermore, regarding whether he will remain in his post, or even succeed as the head of the Fool's House...

　She still has many things to think about.

　For ten years after the war, Claire spent most of her time at the Duke's mansion, but she was always homeless, going wherever she could and fulfilling someone's wish to "wander around".

　→If the war ends, I'll travel around by myself, look at the mountains and rivers, and see if the things recorded in the books are really as magical as they seem.

　A waterfall flowing backwards, a giant tree growing upside down, a mysterious underground world, and a distant, unreachable island in the sky...

　She has traveled far too far.

　Perhaps it's time to stop.

　Take a break for a while.

　Let me summarize what I've gained over the past two years.

　Publish another book and earn some royalties.

　We can't always be accused of "eating, drinking, and taking things for free".

　"Go back and discuss it with her."

　……

　Still in solitary confinement, Witt and Robert, under the supervision of their instructor, Ms. Grace, had to devote all their attention to their homework.

　In their world, there are no Christmas balls or Christmas presents.

　The confinement period will last until the evening of December 23, when Ms. Grace, the instructor, leaves the college.

　December 24th was their last day.

　That might be Professor Sylph's kindness.

　Otherwise, they will suffer social death during their first Christmas in college because of "receiving gifts without giving back."

　……

　The weather in Saint-Marie is getting colder and colder.

　Every now and then, a junior mage would go to the infirmary to seek a special cough medicine because of a cold.

　Sister Carlian's work became very busy.

　It wasn't because more people had caught a cold, but because a "revenge incident" had occurred at the college, just like every year before Christmas.

　Not everyone can accept "rejection".

　The pranks and revenge that followed were as numerous as the stars in the sky.

　For example, making a pimple on a person's face as big as a finger.

　For example, making people's hair grow continuously.

　Or turn a person's skin into a deep, dark purple...

　Sister Carlian had to deal with all sorts of strange pranks that caused no real harm.

　"I'll have to stay at school for Christmas today."

　……

　Dak started brainstorming Christmas gifts on Friday night.

　In previous Christmases, he was always the type to receive gifts but not reciprocate.

　Of course, that won't happen again this year.

　Not giving Christmas gifts is a privilege reserved for children; students entering St. Marian have already outgrown that age group.

　He sat in the common room, writing down a list of gift recipients in his notebook.

　狄安娜

　Rose

　Pandora

　Professor Kazel

　Professor Claire

　Professor Lily

　Little Devimon...

　Emma

　Arvit

　In addition to giving each student in the academy a chocolate gift box, Emma and Alvitt were also included in the gift-giving list.

　Having received Emma's gift in the study of murals, I should at least return the favor in kind.

　As for the gift for the mother, Professor Claire can be asked to deliver it back.

　Before Christmas, most professors leave the academy to spend the holiday with their families.

　Dark has always spent Christmas with Arvit, so this year is the first time he's spent it alone.

　"I was shocked when I counted them; there were actually nine gifts that needed careful preparation!"

　Let's take it one step at a time.

　“As for Diana, although she might prefer to receive a candy gift bag, I happen to have a core ingredient here that suits her.”

　"Rose... um, perhaps we could get a signed copy of 'Claire's Travels'?"

　"I'll think about what you're saying, senior."

　“Professor Cazell, he never lets himself relax. How about giving him a novel? The Old Knight of the Frontier would be good.”

　"Professor Lily, hmm, let's go to Traveler's Street tomorrow and see what good wines they have."

　“Little Devimon, pick a scarf, you can use it as a hat.”

　“Emma, ​​I wonder what books she’s been reading lately? I could send her a case of homemade apple juice.”

　"Finally, there's my mother. Hey, I wonder if she'd be interested in snapdragons?"

Chapter 183 Little Devilmon Desperately Needs a Sense of Ritual

　"just kidding."

　"I almost forgot about Aunt Claire's gift."

　"Hmm, how about we give Professor Lily a bottle of good wine, just like we did?"

　"As for the gift for my mother, I'll just give her a regular cat grass plant."

　"You can't buy this outside."

　……

　So the next day, Saturday, after his morning exercise, Dark took a bath, drank a glass of milk, and then took Devimon to Traveler's Street.

　The streets are decorated with colorful ornaments, and all kinds of colorful lights hang from the eaves. The dolls and signs placed in front of the shops are also wearing Santa hats.

　The festive atmosphere arrived faster than expected.

　In the small garden in the middle of the food street, a Christmas tree that is not yet fully decorated already stands there.

　If you come at night, you'll see many couples whispering sweet nothings to each other here.

　Dak avoided peak hours, arriving early in the morning and intending to return before noon.

　When he passed by the candy store, he thought about it and decided to buy a "Christmas-themed candy gift set".

　After leaving the store, he had an extra Christmas card in his hand.

　It seems to be a joint event of Travelers' Street, where shop owners will give Christmas cards to different recipients.

　This saves the trouble of buying them separately.

　Next, he spent some time finding Claire's Travels and The Old Knight on the Frontier in two bookstores. Claire's Travels was unexpectedly a bestseller and was in short supply.

　So he bought a copy himself, intending to take a good look at where Aunt Claire had been over the years.

　As for "The Old Knight of the Frontier," it's an autobiography of a knight after the war, and he wasn't a famous figure. So, it didn't sell very well; I only found a rare copy in an old bookstore.

　They were pretty lucky.

　"Clap! Clap!"

　Devimon deliberately flapped its wings to make noise and flew around in front of Dark.

　Because Dak forbids it from speaking in front of outsiders, it can only express itself through sign language.

　"Okay, I'll go buy yours now."

　Dak exhaled and gave a helpless smile.

　Little Devimon suddenly started doing a figure-eight dance in the air.

　Dark added, "But it won't be ready until Christmas."

　Little Devimon nodded frantically.

　Who doesn't appreciate a sense of ritual?

　Of course, I, the little devil, have that too!

　This is the first holiday gift I've ever received in my life, so of course I have to open it in a grand way on the eve of Christmas, when the ceremony is in full swing!

　"Hoohoo!"

　Little Devimon couldn't help but laugh.

　……

　When they arrived at a clothing store, the little devil beast stopped at the entrance and refused to go in.

　Knowing it wanted to keep the surprise, Dak went in alone.

　As the weather gets colder, students are demanding more scarves and gloves, and as a result, more stores are selling these products.

　After careful selection, Dak finally chose a thick, coffee-colored scarf.

　In short, price is not an issue; the quality of the product must be good.

　He asked the waitress to help him wrap it up and put it into a gift box.

　The young woman couldn't help but tease, "What, is this a Christmas present for your girlfriend?"

　Dark smiled and said, "No."

　The young woman asked curiously, "Who is that for?"

　Darko: "AIBO".

　……

　Dark walked out of the store, held up the gift box, and waved it in front of Devimon.

　Little Devimon stared for a long time, resisting the urge to immediately tear it apart.

　It wants to spend the next whole week guessing the color and style of the scarf!

　……

　After securing the most important scarf, Dark went to the tavern where he had previously bought the fairy wine.

　But he seemed to have arrived too early; the dilapidated tavern on the corner of Travelers' Street was still tightly shut.

　"Then come later."

　After thinking about it, Dak decided to first buy some bottles and gift boxes for storing juice, and of course, apples.