Team Eight immediately began their discussion.
"As expected of Professor Jane," Claudia said with a quiet sigh. "A live monster battle right after the protection period ends… I'm honestly not surprised."
Cindy, on the other hand, looked delighted. "I love it. My heart's racing! Now it finally feels like I'm really at Kizen!"
Knox leaned back slightly. "Alright then, let's make a plan. First, we decide our roles—mid lane, top lane, bottom lane, jungler, carry, and support."
The three girls tilted their heads at him.
Knox blinked. "…Ehem. My bad. I mean our combat composition. Like Professor Jane said, one person will directly face the Cyclops, while the other three act as support. So… who's taking the front position?"
Cindy pointed at him without hesitation. "Isn't it obvious? You're the strongest. Shouldn't you be the one fighting the Cyclops?"
Knox shook his head. "That depends. This is a team evaluation. If I'm the one facing it, then unless I deliberately hold back, you three won't get the chance to demonstrate anything meaningful. It would turn into a one-man show."
"…Annoyingly logical," Cindy muttered. "Then who should fight?"
Merida lazily raised her hand. "Yaaawn… I'll pass. Don't pick me. I'll stay behind as support."
"Reasonable," Knox said with a nod. "But if possible, avoid using your Sleep Curse."
Merida squinted. "…Why?"
"Because ending the fight too quickly won't benefit us. We need time to show teamwork, control, and adaptability. Besides, demonstrating abilities beyond your specialty should earn you bonus points."
"…Huh." She shrugged. "Fine. I'll use other curses. Exhaustion, restraints… maybe some water-element magic if needed."
Claudia followed calmly. "I'll remain support as well. Poison isn't suited for direct confrontation. I'll focus on gradual damage—vials, whip control, poison fog."
Cindy blinked, then pointed at herself. "…Wait. Does that mean I'm the one fighting the Cyclops?"
Knox nodded. "That's what I was thinking. With your Ghost Form, you'll have superior mobility and evasion. You can avoid heavy strikes while applying continuous pressure. We'll handle debuffs and reinforcement."
Cindy fell silent for a moment.
"…Hehe." A grin formed. "Well, when you put it like that… I'll do it."
Claudia smiled. "Now that's the Cindy we know."
"Try not to die," Merida added lazily.
"Oi?!"
Knox chuckled softly. "Good. Then our frontline is decided."
Cindy crossed her arms. "Alright then… what will you do, Knox?"
Knox smiled. "Given our composition, I'll act as summoner and enchanter. First, I'll deploy summons to divide the Cyclops' attention. Then I'll focus on buffs, reinforcement, and battlefield control."
Cindy's eyes lit up. "Oooh… that actually sounds perfect!"
Claudia leaned forward slightly. "What kind of summons are you planning to use?"
"And what buffs?" Merida added.
Knox then smiled and said, "Hmm… I think I'll mainly use summons that can withstand attacks really well. Maybe… a Death Knight will suffice?"
He tilted his head innocently.
But what he just said was anything but innocent.
Claudia's eyes widened. Cindy froze mid-breath. Even Merida slowly lifted her head from the table.
"…I'm sorry, what?" Cindy asked.
Then her brain caught up.
"WAIT, DID YOU JUST SAY—"
Her voice shot up.
And was immediately cut off.
Knox's hand moved without hesitation, gently covering her mouth.
"Shhh."
At nearly the same moment, Claudia reflexively reached out as well—only to realize her hand landed directly on top of Knox's.
Both of them paused.
For a split second, their hands overlapped.
Claudia stiffened.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
Knox, completely unfazed, leaned slightly closer to Cindy. "Cindy, indoor voice please~ This is supposed to be confidential."
"Mmmph?!" Cindy protested behind his hand.
Claudia quickly cleared her throat, trying to act normal despite the warmth she suddenly became aware of.
"…I agree with Knox."
Cindy's face had turned red. Very red.
Not because of Claudia's hand.
But because Knox's hand was still covering her mouth.
Th-this kind of close contact with a boy…!
Knox blinked. "Cindy?"
Snapping out of whatever mental spiral she had entered, Cindy hurriedly pushed both Knox's and Claudia's hands away.
"I-I'm fine!"
She coughed, attempting to salvage her dignity.
Then leaned forward again, this time lowering her voice dramatically.
"…Did you really just say Death Knight?"
Knox nodded with a sheepish smile. "Hehe… yeah."
Cindy stared at him.
"Do you think Death Knights are some kind of common commodity?!" she whispered harshly. "And what was that nonsense about other groups copying our style? Copy us?! That's a Death Knight we're talking about!"
Claudia folded her arms, still visibly shaken. "She's right. I doubt many second-years even possess something like that."
Knox scratched his cheek lightly. "Hehe… sorry for surprising you all. But yes, it's really a Death Knight."
The three girls stared at him. Then sighed almost in unison.
"…Alright," Claudia muttered. "At this point, I shouldn't be surprised by anything you pull out."
Merida yawned softly. "Then what about your buffs?"
Knox's expression brightened instantly.
"Ah, that~"
He raised his hand, holding his thumb and index finger slightly apart.
"My specialty, you could say, just a little bit of music."
Cindy's forehead throbbed.
"A little bit?" she repeated flatly. "What's with that tiny measurement?! If your music skill is 'a little,' then every other musician might as well be called a pig randomly smashing instruments!"
Knox gasped. "That's extremely rude to pigs."
Claudia sighed.
Merida, now properly awake, looked at Knox with mild confusion.
"…What's the connection between buffs and your music skills?"
Knox answered casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Well… I can use music to buff you guys."
Silence.
Cindy's eyes slowly widened.
"…What?"
She blinked once. Then sighed.
"…Right. Sure. Why not. Color me surprised."
She leaned back in her chair, staring at Knox like he had just revealed yet another absurd secret.
"What kind of onion are you? Layer after layer, and there's still more inside…"
Knox tilted his head. "Now that you mention onions…"
He tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"…I'm suddenly craving onion rings. Nicely battered, deep-fried until golden, maybe with some dipping sauce…"
Another pause.
Cindy, Claudia, and Merida stared at him.
No one spoke.
Then—
"…I want some," Cindy said flatly.
Claudia nodded immediately. "I heard your cooking skills are good. Count me in."
Merida raised her hand weakly. "Same… Add sweets too…"
Knox grinned.
"Deal~"
Not too far away, several nearby groups who had been unintentionally—or very intentionally—eavesdropping twitched visibly.
"…Food?"
"…Are they seriously discussing snacks right now?"
"…Isn't this supposed to be a performance evaluation strategy meeting, not a picnic planning session?!"
Meanwhile, Team Eight continued their discussion with absolute composure.
As if nothing was wrong.
As if talking about fried food in the middle of academic crisis was perfectly reasonable.