"Ugh! Ow, it hurts!"
A piercing pain surged through Seria's left shoulder.
Reflexively, her eyes widened in shock.
"Th-Theo?"
She looked at Theo, who was gripping her left shoulder.
His eyes were blazing with an intensity she had never seen before.
Those crimson eyes, burning with pure fury, reminded her of raging flas.
Swallowed by fear, Seria felt paralyzed.
It was terrifying.
She couldn't scream.
Reacting audibly in front of soone with such a look in their eyes would be too risky.
Especially when there was no one else around at this hour.
She had no idea what Theo might do to her next.
Her heart raced.
"I... I was just playing a prank... Aaah!"
"To you, this is a prank?"
Theo's grip on Seria's shoulder tightened even more.
'He's really mad!'
Fear shook Seria's core.
She was rely happy to see him and had thought to play a little trick.
With a desperate tone, Seria said,
"I'm sorry! I won't do it again! I apologize... Aaah!"
"It's too late. You've thoroughly soured my mood."
Cutting her off, Theo applied even more pressure to her shoulder.
It felt as if he was trying to crush her bones.
'Is he trying to make bleed?'
The pain was so intense that Seria bit her lip hard.
That's when she felt the mana supply from the mana stone in her possession end.
'A 6th-circle level spell... was negated?'
But that wasn't important at the mont.
Tears welled in Seria's eyes as she pleaded,
"I'm... I'm so sorry! I won't ever do it again! Please, let go... Ah! Ahhhh..."
Thud.
Theo finally released his grip on her shoulder.
Seria collapsed onto the ground.
She didn't dare touch her likely bruised shoulder, and looked up at Theo, her eyes filled with terror.
"I... I'm truly sorry, Theo. I was just so happy to see you and thought I'd play a little joke..."
"I don't take this as a re joke. Never do it again."
Theo's expression was now cold and distant, the fiery rage that was there monts ago now gone.
'He's truly insane.'
This only intensified Seria's fear.
She had never encountered soone like Theo before.
Being of noble lineage, countless individuals had fawned over her, always aiming to impress.
Thanks to this, she encountered a variety of characters.
'I thought he might have a wild side, but this...'
To Seria, Theo was an enigma, unlike anyone she had ever t.
Ever since discovering the true identity of the seemingly quiet Theo Lyn Waldeurk during yesterday's tournant, Seria had thoroughly investigated him.
His background was full of surprises.
Not only was he a direct descendant of the renowned Waldeurk family known across the continent, but he also wasn’t particularly well-regarded by anyone.
On the surface, he seed like the very embodint of a trashy noble.
However...
—Everyone at the academy knows about his disgraceful retreat during the first-sester combat evaluation, right? An utter embarrassnt for the prestigious Waldeurk family, a complete zero in mana.
—Well, things seem to have changed lately. He ranked first in the recent practical evaluations, and... he’s been getting quite famous. He’s been seen with the Elf Princess of the Great Forest and the academy idol Aisha, after all.
—Oh, and everyone knows he's friends with the orcs, right? As soon as a lecture ends, he always heads straight to the training grounds.
—After winning yesterday's tournant, he skipped the interview and left imdiately. Reporters and officials from various guilds and nations even booked lodgings nearby, hoping to snag a word with him.
—Even Taylor, the Branch Chief of [The Hilté], is said to have taken an interest in him. I'm jealous... I've always wanted to have a chat with him.
A deeper investigation revealed a myriad of different evaluations.
The drastic change in assessnts was so extre, it was as if he’d switched souls overnight.
'...This man is no ordinary, worthless noble.'
The Theo that Seria just encountered felt like a battle-hardened tiger.
His nature from their earlier days together wasn’t a façade; it was his genuine self.
She was, in truth, relieved.
Relieved that her image of him hadn't shattered.
"...W-what brings you here, Theo?"
A flustered Seria, rising from her seat, managed to stamr out the question.
"I need a mana recharge."
"And... what if I refuse?"
She asked, glancing at Theo.
It wasn't that she intended to decline, but she was curious about how he'd react.
"Then, I'll have no choice but to find soone else."
But Theo's deanor remained unchanged.
No hint of emotion, just unwavering calm.
"...Please, co in."
With that, Seria opened the door to her research room.
Raei Translations
I entered the underground lab room with Seria.
Seria's legs were still trembling.
Proof that she had been scared.
'I feel a bit sorry for her.'
But I have no regrets.
Seria is the top student of the Magic Departnt and the daughter of the Black Tower Master.
She's the object of admiration for countless hero departnt students.
Among them, I was the only one who could catch her attention.
I had to make her my aide.
First impressions are crucial.
Even more so in this case.
When we first t, Seria tried to unmask with debuff magic.
I was fortunate to have [Magic Nullification]; otherwise, I would've been helpless.
'Seria...'
There are things she should and shouldn't do.
She's the type who needs clear boundaries.
I need to continue playing the mysterious stranger I pretended to be when I approached her in the past while hiding my true identity.
Even after she knows who I am, behaving like the kind of man she's attracted to is beneficial for .
Being enigmatic, intriguing, resolute, and most importantly, not letting her control .
'The mont I'm at a disadvantage, she would take control.'
I learned just how exhausting unwanted stalking can be, thanks to Siena.
I wasn't prepared for Siena before, but with Seria, I'm fully prepared and even approached her on my own initiative.
'I won't let it happen a second ti.'
Seria becos obsessively attached to things she likes.
How much trouble did Neike face because of Seria in the original ga?
But I'm different.
I can't be swayed by her, especially since I'll be interacting with her until we graduate from the academy.
Had she resisted earlier, like trying to use more magic, I would've imdiately slapped her.
Once soone learns fear, they rarely repeat the sa mistake.
Of course, my heart sank a bit when she resisted earlier.
'I can handle this.'
Furthermore, she's a mage.
No matter how powerful she becos, as long as she relies on magic, she can't defeat .
I need to establish dominance from the get-go.
I can't buy her heart with money.
I have to steal it.
While I was pondering all this—
"Then please show the [Magic Cartridge]..."
Seria murmured, avoiding my gaze.
She seed like a hurt kitten, but she still gets the job done.
'Got her right where I want. Perfect.'
No need for pleasantries.
In the end, she was complying very well with my request.
"Understood."
I placed my robe on the table and lifted my shirt.
"...It really is you."
"What are you talking about?"
"At the tournant... I was 99% sure it was you, Theo. But not 100%. However, seeing it directly now... It's 100%."
Seria pointed at the mark on my left side, confirming my identity.
"Let's start the charging process then."
"Alright."
Three minutes later.
Normally, the mana charge would be done by now.
However, I was still looking down at Seria, who had her hand pressed to my left side.
"Did you recently upgrade your mana engraving? It seems your mana storage has increased?"
Feeling my gaze, Seria spoke without taking her eyes off my body.
'Ah, so that's why it stung a bit.'
I responded calmly,
"Yes, I’ve enhanced it quite a bit."
"It seems more than just 'quite a bit'. Looks like it has doubled... Whew, I'm a bit exhausted. Can we take a short break?"
"Sure, take your ti."
Seria finally took her hand off my side.
She appeared tired as she took a sip of a mana potion that was on the desk.
"It’s about 80% charged now. Just give a mont, and I'll start recharging again."
"Alright."
Without bothering to straighten my shirt, I leaned against the desk.
Seria looked at thoughtfully.
"By the way, Theo, can I ask you sothing?"
"What is it?"
She hesitated for a mont before speaking,
"What... what do you think of ?"
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