The Extra is a Genius!? - Chapter 432

Chapter 432: Chapter 432: After Return
Daemar stopped pacing behind his desk.

The faint light from the tall window caught in the silver strands of his hair, softening the usual sharpness of his violet gaze. For a moment, he simply looked at Noel — not with reprimand, not with exasperation… but something quieter.

“…Exhausting,” he finally said.

Noel blinked. “Really? That bad?”

Daemar snorted — a sound so rare both Dior and Charlotte glanced up.

“The transition has been… dramatic,” Daemar admitted. “Nicolas ran this academy with more precision than any general. Replacing him was never going to be simple.”

He gestured at the piles of documents, sealed notices, and mana-stamped reports scattered across his desk.

“Now,” he continued, “half the families send letters demanding reassurance. Nobles request ‘status updates.’ New policies must be drafted before the semester begins. Professors want meetings. And the Imperial Family—”

His eyes flicked briefly toward Seraphina and Dior.

“—requires constant coordination.”

Seraphina nodded once, acknowledging without shame. Dior simply crossed his arms, pretending not to care — though his gaze stayed fixed on Daemar with interest.

Daemar let out a small breath.

“In short: it is chaos.” He paused. “Which, given your enrollment, Noel, is… appropriate.”

Daemar’s expression shifted from weary amusement to something more professional as he adjusted a stack of documents on his desk.

“Well,” he said, “complaints aside, the academy must be ready before the semester begins. Nicolas handled these matters alone, but I am not foolish enough to attempt the same.”

Seraphina lifted a brow. “Meaning?”

Daemar turned toward her — and the faintest smile tugged at his lips.

“I intend to involve the student council even more from now.”

Seraphina placed a hand on her hip, elegant and confident. “Naturally. That’s why I was elected. Consider it done.”

Dior scoffed softly but didn’t protest.

Charlotte hid a small grin.

Noel leaned back, arms crossed, watching the exchange.

Daemar then looked straight at Noel.

“And that includes you.”

Noel blinked. “Wait, me?”

Seraphina’s lips curved with a touch of satisfaction. “Of course you. Did you think I would let you slip through responsibilities forever?”

Noel raised both hands defensively. “I didn’t slip through anything! You just… never asked.”

Seraphina arched a brow. “Well, I’m asking now.”

Noel rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling. “Great. Fantastic. More work.”

Daemar cleared his throat lightly. “As a former trouble magnet—”

Noel groaned.

“—your insight into threat patterns and academy affairs will be… useful.”

Charlotte chuckled behind her hand.

Noel muttered, “Useful usually means ‘I’m going to regret this.'”

Seraphina stepped forward, her tone shifting from playful to firm.

“In seriousness, Noel — this year is different. We can’t afford to be passive. You’ve been at the center of too many incidents for us to ignore. So yes… we’ll need you. Actively.”

Her gaze softened just slightly.

“And I think you know that.”

Noel sighed, accepting the inevitable. “Yeah. Fine. I’ll help.”

Daemar nodded approvingly. “Good. Then we’re aligned.”

Seraphina tapped her finger against her arm thoughtfully. “In fact,” she said, “I think it’s time we start working as a real team. You, me, the council… and everyone here.”

Noel glanced at her sideways, a faint, reluctant smile forming. “Guess that means I’m stuck with you now, huh?”

Seraphina smirked. “Completely.”

And just like that — the new semester’s storm began to gather.

The moment Daemar dismissed them, the atmosphere in the room loosened. Dior left first with a faint scoff — though even that lacked his usual edge — and Seraphina followed with her calm, measured stride, discussing schedules under her breath.

Noel lingered a second, rubbing at the bridge of his nose.

“Great,” he muttered. “More work. Just what I needed.”

Charlotte nudged him lightly with her shoulder. “You could try sounding less dramatic.”

“That was me sounding less dramatic,” Noel replied.

Selene’s voice suddenly drifted in from the doorway. “So this is where you were.”

Noel turned — and there they were: Selene, Elyra, and Elena, standing in a neat line like they’d been waiting for him to finish with the adults.

Elyra stepped forward, arms crossed, grey eyes sharp as always.

“We saw Seraphina and Daemar leave. What happened? Did you break something again?”

Elena added with a soft, amused sigh, “Or someone?”

Selene tilted her head. “You’re not covered in blood, so that’s a refreshing change.”

Noel stared. “Why does everyone assume I’ve committed a crime?”

Elyra raised a brow. “Because you breathe.”

Charlotte snorted into her hand.

Noel exhaled. “Look, it’s nothing dramatic. Daemar just said…”

He gestured vaguely. “You know. They’re going to make me work this semester.”

Elyra rolled her eyes in solidarity. “He means helping the council. Again.”

Elena nodded. “We’re already swamped with preparation for the new term. Having someone who actually understands what happens outside the academy will help.”

Selene hummed in agreement. “And you’ve gotten good at problem-solving. Even if most of the problems chase you.”

Noel blinked. “You’re all way too comfortable insulting me.”

Elyra smirked. “It’s how we show affection.”

Elena stepped closer, expression softening. “But really — we’re glad you’re helping. It’s easier if we do it together.”

Selene nodded. “Much easier.”

Charlotte looked between them, smiling faintly.

Noel paused… then gave a small, reluctant grin.

“Yeah. Fine. I’ll help.”

Elyra clapped once. “Good. Now we can get to the real reason we came.”

Selene crossed her arms. “Your room.”

Elena nodded, calm but firm. “We have updates.”

Noel squinted. “Why do I feel like that’s code for ‘interrogation’?”

“Because it is,” Elyra said bluntly, already turning toward the hallway.

Noir padded out of Noel’s shadow, tail flicking once. ‘Told you they wouldn’t let you rest.’

Noel sighed internally. ‘Yeah… I know.’

The walk back to Noel’s dorm felt like a procession — one where he had no say in the destination.

Elyra pushed the door open without hesitation, acting like she owned the place.

Selene and Elena followed, calm as ever.

Charlotte slipped in behind Noel, closing the door softly.

Noir hopped onto Noel’s bed instantly, curling her tail around herself with a smug I-live-here-now energy.

Noel looked around at the four girls taking positions around the room like a tactical unit.

“…Okay,” he muttered. “This is definitely an interrogation.”

Elyra sat on his desk chair and spun it toward him, eyes sharp. “Correct.”

Noel had barely stepped fully inside the room when Elyra crossed her arms with a smile that was far too satisfied.

“Sit.”

He raised a brow. “Seriously?”

“Well,” she said, “you two looked very relaxed when you got back.”

Charlotte instantly turned bright red. “E–Elyra!”

Selene leaned against the wall, tone flat but warm beneath it. “That was the whole idea.”

Elena nodded gently. “You both needed a break. After everything with Elarin… it was the right moment.”

Noel froze. “Wait— you planned that?”

Elyra rolled her eyes. “Of course we did. Someone had to drag you out of your own head.”

Selene muttered, “And you’re terrible at resting. Truly terrible.”

Charlotte hid her face behind her hands, though she was smiling. “So you all… actually did it for us?”

Elena laughed softly. “Mm. And it clearly helped.”

Noel opened his mouth, but Elyra lifted a finger with a dangerous, playful grin.

“But—” Her eyes glinted with pure teasing. “Try not to get too ahead of yourselves, okay? We don’t need you making a child before finals.”

Charlotte choked on air. “ELYRA!”

Selene sighed. “You’re unbelievable.”

Elena pressed a hand over her mouth, laughing softly. “She… isn’t wrong about being careful.”

Charlotte was red to the ears. Noel too.

Elyra brushed her hair back proudly. “Besides, I already said I can financially support all of us. So don’t worry.”

Charlotte squeaked in mortified horror.

Noel raised both hands. “Can we not plan my entire future family before breakfast?”

Selene smirked. “We’re just saying… don’t be reckless.”

Elena nodded. “We’re happy for both of you. Truly. Just—take it slow.”

Charlotte took a steadying breath, finally lowering her hands. “I… understand.”

Elyra clapped once. “Perfect. Now that that’s out of the way—”

Her tone shifted.

“What’s next, Noel? We know this isn’t over.”

Selene’s eyes sharpened. “The First Pillar moved. The Second one won’t stay quiet.”

Elena stepped forward. “Tell us the next step.”

Charlotte, calmer now, took Noel’s hand. “We’re ready.”

Noel inhaled slowly. The air turned heavier.

“The next target is the Second Pillar.”

The girls stiffened.

Elena whispered, “Do we know where?”

Noel shook his head. “Not exactly. But the last trace we have… leads to the Northern Islands.”

Selene clicked her tongue. “That place is a nightmare.”

Elyra squared her shoulders. “If that’s where they are, then that’s where we’ll go.”

Charlotte squeezed his hand tighter. “You won’t be facing this alone.”

Noel looked at the four of them — really looked. “…I know,” he said quietly.

The room quieted again, the weight of the Northern Isles still hanging in the air when Noel leaned back against his desk.

“Well,” he began, exhaling slowly, “for now the system hasn’t given me any mission. Nothing concrete.”

Selene raised a brow. “That’s… unusual.”

“Yeah,” Noel said, shrugging lightly. “But now that I can actually talk to you about it, when something shows up, you’ll know immediately. All of you.”

Charlotte gave a small, relieved smile at that.

“So what do we do until then?” Elyra asked, hands on her hips.

“For now?” Noel answered. “We prepare. Train. Live our day-to-day lives like always. If the system stays quiet, it probably means the next move isn’t immediate.”

Elena looked thoughtful for a moment, then spoke gently.

“And Marcus? Roberto? Clara? Garron? Laziel? Shouldn’t they know? Even a little?”

Noel’s expression hardened — just slightly, but enough for all of them to notice.

“No,” he said firmly. “As much as I’d like to tell them… we can’t.”

Selene frowned. “Because of Noctis’s warning?”

“Exactly.” Noel nodded. “He told us not to trust anyone. Even those we trust the most. I hate it, but… we can’t risk dragging others into this without certainty.”

Elena lowered her gaze, understanding. “That’s… unfortunate.”

“Yeah,” Noel murmured. “But necessary.”

Charlotte’s fingers brushed his lightly, her voice quiet but steady. “Then we move carefully. Just us.”

Elyra crossed her arms, resolute. “Fine. If this stays between us, then we don’t break that trust.”

Selene smirked faintly. “Besides, the fewer people know, the harder we are to predict.”

Noel let out a small breath — something between tension and relief.

“Exactly,” he said. “When the system speaks again… we’ll be ready.”

The four girls exchanged glances — a silent pact formed without a single word.