"Uh, this..." Phyllis's voice stiffened as their head creaked around, seeing the black-haired girl approaching.
"Tilan's Place... President."
"Hmph." The girl passed by them, sitting down next to the burning barrel, propping up her chin with her hand, seemingly troubled by something.
"Can you help me think of a way to explain to everyone when we go back?"
"Well, let me think... I think..." Phyllis immediately seized this opportunity to atone, deep in thought.
"Perhaps we can say that we didn't know anything, just took a stroll around the city, and the other party suddenly ceased fire."
"But with such a big moon just now, it's hard to keep that from people, isn't it?" The girl rubbed her forehead with her hand.
"Then we could say that a mysterious and unknown person attacked the scene and then left. After all, it was so far away, people probably don't know it was Tilan."
"Really? Wouldn't it be awkward if it were exposed?"
"Maybe, we can say that although both sides fought, using powerful weapons, due to the substantial casualties on both sides, the fire gradually died down."
"It's barely plausible, but it still feels like there are a lot of loopholes." Honestly, Tilan didn't like lying because behind every lie there had to be even more lies to cover it, and being exposed in the end would hurt those close to her.
"Then say that we beat up both sides' higher-ups, and they finally accepted the proposal for reconciliation. Although it is incredible, it is also the answer closest to the truth." Valke seldom came up with a reasonably sound explanation.
"Like that? Isn't it still a bit too much?" The girl inquired cautiously of the two.
"Not at all, President, you have to believe in yourself. With your ability, doing such a thing is actually quite normal." Phyllis encouraged the black-haired girl, lacking in confidence.
"Our President Tilan is the perfect embodiment of a Gang's young lady!"
"Alright, shut up." The girl waved her hand dismissively and leaned back, but she indeed couldn't think of any more reasonable explanation at the moment.
"It can only be this way. If it really doesn't work, we'll have to tell the truth." She sighed, somewhat nostalgic for the peaceful and stable days of the past half-year.
She wasn't lacking in strength, but everything had developed too quickly, and in less than a year, it seemed as if the world had changed completely.
After deciding, the three didn't continue to stay there but headed back to the place from which they had come.
Entering the old mansion they had left mere hours ago, although it was a short time, it felt as though centuries had passed, silent and still, save for the courtyard where the bonfire was still burning. When the three of them arrived, they saw no other members.
"Don't bother looking, everyone's asleep." A voice came from the corner of the courtyard's shadows—Ying spoke up, and only then did they see his figure.
Subsequently, the teacher slowly emerged, stirring the fire brighter, then took out several warm cans from below and tossed them to the three.
"Have something to eat." After speaking, he returned to a pillar on one side, picked up his unfinished beer, gently swirled the chilled liquid, and then continued to drink.
"It's really something... Even in my wildest years, I was never as reckless as you guys," he commented, shaking his head and then glancing at the black-haired girl by the fire.
"I will help you cover up your identity with everyone, but you can't be so reckless in the future. Blocking the satellite surveillance of this area was quite an effort even for Edith Academy, and if there's a next time, we probably won't be able to hide it."
"Understood, um, thank you, Teacher, and everyone."
In the darkness of the night, the bonfire burned slowly, illuminating the pitch-black world.