Several days after, Hainanese chicken rice and Aiyu jelly had become very popular.

The academy examinations were drawing close.

On that particular day Li headed to the clubroom of the Rosenkreuz of the Rose Maiden Cross as usual.

“Lady Li!”

With an expression as if a murder had just occurred Lady Alberta rushed toward her.

Seeing that intense and almost frightening expression Li felt slightly taken aback.

“W-what happened?”

“All of us in the Rosenkreuz of the Rose Maiden Cross have a request for you Lady Li!”

Looking around Li saw that everyone had stood up from their seats and was staring at her.

For some reason the classroom had emptied unusually quickly today.

So this must have been the reason, Li thought.

“What kind of request is it?”

“Lady Li—no, Teacher Li! Could you please become that version of yourself once again for our sake?”

That version—

Li quickly realized they were probably referring to the cosplay she had shown during the study session at her townhouse.

“So you want me to wear that outfit again?”

She wanted to ask why.

“Because we lose our motivation!”

“That’s right! If we see you like that again Sister Li we’ll feel motivated!”

“Li, these girls are already completely obsessed so just give up.”

Lady Alberta and Lady Patricia both turned their eyes toward the saint.

“Erika, you’re not in a position to act superior.”

“You muttered ‘Teacher Li looks nice’ yourself!”

Faced with the two girls’ fierce accusations the saint swallowed her words.

Apparently they were not going to allow her to pretend she had nothing to do with it.

“Does everyone else feel the same?”

Ignoring the three arguing girls in front of her Li called out to the young noble ladies behind them.

““Yes!””

A cheerful answer immediately returned.

If Li dressing up increased everyone’s motivation she personally did not mind.

However, that outfit was stored at the townhouse.

So she did not have it with her.

If it was something she currently had on hand...

“I see. I’m sorry but I don’t have it with me right now. If another day is acceptable...”

At Li’s answer the noble ladies clearly looked disappointed.

Seeing that expression made Li instinctively want to help them somehow.

“Mmm.”

Letting out an ambiguous sound, Li looked around at everyone.

“Well then. This is still under development so please keep it a secret.”

Li took out a certain item.

It was something like a headband with brown cat ears attached.

The noble ladies’ gazes instantly locked onto the item.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Li felt slightly embarrassed but since things had already reached this point she decided she might as well commit.

She turned around and placed the headband on her head.

The cat ears changed color to match Li’s hair becoming a faint bluish silver.

Then they began twitching.

Gulp.

Without exception the noble ladies swallowed.

If she was going to do it she would do it seriously.

That was Li’s motto.

She spun around and faced them.

“Meow meow.”

She curled her hands into little circles and raised them near her face like a cat.

At that very moment.

Time stopped inside the clubroom of the Rosenkreuz of the Rose Maiden Cross.

Every noble lady stared with her eyes wide open completely motionless.

Not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

It felt as if even smell itself had vanished.

That kind of atmosphere filled the room.

However when there was no reaction at all Li began to feel anxious.

After all she had steeled herself and even struck a cat pose.

Had she done something wrong?

That thought started creeping into her mind.

So in desperation Li struck the pose once more.

“Meoow.”

Exactly nine seconds after Li became a cat.

““Guh!””

Every noble lady suddenly dropped to their knees and collapsed onto all fours.

Looking closely Li saw drops of blood falling onto the floor.

“Eh? Wait? Everyone, are you alright?”

“Li, that’s going too far!”

The saint stood up straight while bleeding from her nose, placing her hands on her hips and pointing at Li.

Li tilted her head.

She genuinely did not understand what she had done.

“Erika, what do you mean by going too far, meow?”

Without realizing it Li delivered the finishing blow.

She struck the pose again toward the saint emphasizing the “meow.”

With a loud pffft the saint sprayed blood from her nose.

Still pointing her finger she slowly fell backward.

It looked exactly like something from an old comic.