Leah.
In her century-long life, she had rarely spoken or acted according to her true feelings.
She had discovered early on that by being slightly rude or distant, most people would naturally avoid her. By keeping her interactions with ordinary humans minimal, she wouldn’t have to endure the pain of parting.
They described her as “arrogant,” “unyielding,” “eccentric,” and “unapproachable.”
This habitual disconnect between her heart and her words acted as a protective barrier, keeping her safe in her comfort zone.
But…
The buildup of sensations from yesterday, hidden deep within her magical circuits, broke through that barrier in this mont. It traveled from her circuits to her nerves, reaching her brain.
A witch’s magical circuits differed from those of ordinary humans.
They provided witches with highly efficient control over magic but also connected deeply to their blood, nerves, and senses.
This was why the blood-red mint, which stimulated magical circuits, had given Leah such an extraordinary experience.
The ever-proud Leah, who could never admit her feelings, now found herself staring at the glowing coin in Will’s hand. The strong scent of mint filled her senses. For the first ti, she acted according to her true desires—
Timidly, in a soft and delicate voice, she asked:
“Then… what do I need to do?”
Her face flushed red as she lifted her stunning crimson eyes, now filled with a hint of longing. Her gaze was fixed on the coin in Will’s hand, her nose twitching slightly as she inhaled its scent.
“Uh…?”
Will was montarily speechless as he watched Leah’s behavior.
He hadn’t expected the blood-red mint to work this well.
Although the original story had described its effects as intense, seeing it manifest like this in front of him was beyond his expectations.
Will had initially thought the mint would attract Leah like catnip to a cat—making her playful and eager to reach for it.
But now, seeing Leah’s dazed eyes, her soft voice, her pliant body, and her slightly parted lips…
Will felt as if he had hypnotized her, as if he were controlling her mind.
Had he…
Gone too far?
The original story had assured him that the mint had no harmful side effects, but this situation made Will a little uneasy.
Still, they had co this far. If there were any adverse effects, he could deal with them later.
“Good, Leah. First, you need to learn… honesty.”
“...Honesty?”
Leah, her mind clouded by the mint’s scent, tilted her head slightly.
Her gaze remained fixed on the coin, and a voice in her head whispered that she needed to have it, no matter what.
“Yes. From now on, you have to answer every question I ask truthfully.”
“...Okay.”
“Alright, then tell —last night, using this coin, did it feel good?”
“It… it felt good. Really good. I’ve… I’ve never felt anything like it before.”
“Good. Next question—do you want it?”
“I… I want it. I really want it. For my experints, for my body… I just want it.”
“Mm. Now tell …”
Will hesitated.
He had asked enough about the coin and last night. What else could he ask?
He looked down at the witch before him—her oversized mage’s robe, her large hat, her petite fra that looked no older than twelve.
She tilted her head up, her dazed and expectant eyes locked onto him, her body limp and unresisting.
Yesterday, this sa girl had pushed him out of her office, trying to protect him from the powerful forces behind her mysterious client. Yet, that also ant she had stood alone, shielding him with her small fra.
The little witch was always alone.
“...Do you want to love soone? Do you want soone to love you, to stay by your side? Do you want to not be alone anymore?”
“...”
Leah paused.
If this had been the Leah untouched by the blood-red mint, she would have imdiately denied it three tis over, crossing her arms and declaring she didn’t need anyone.
But…
“I… I do. I do!!”
Each word was spoken with increasing conviction.
Will smiled faintly, loosening his grip on Leah slightly.
“If that’s what you want, then… the second step is to learn to be direct, Miss Leah.”
“D-Direct?”
“Say what you an. Do what you want. If you like soone, go for it—”
This was the Leah Will wanted to cultivate.
“Listen, with your strength and long lifespan, there’s nothing you can’t have if you go after it, Leah.”
He twirled the mint-coated coin in his hand, and Leah’s crimson eyes followed its every movent.
“Especially if it’s soone you like… once you learn how, it’ll be so easy to have them.”
“...So easy?”
“Listen carefully. You’re the strongest, the cutest, the most dazzling—”
Leah’s eyes widened.
Her heart raced, her magical circuits spun faster, and her gaze, which had been fixated on the coin…
Shifted to Will himself.
“—When you stand before them, you’ll be the only one they see…”
Through Will’s glasses, Leah saw her reflection in his left eye—her golden twin-tails, her crimson pupils.
In her ears, she could only hear the sound of her own accelerating heartbeat.
“I… I understand…”
The strongest, the cutest, the most dazzling?
Was this the first ti soone had praised her like this?
Slowly, Leah felt her awareness returning.
And as her vision cleared, Will’s face beca sharper.
He…
Will’s blue eyes were actually quite beautiful, though they were often hidden behind his glasses. Now, he was staring directly at her, his gaze unwavering.
To make his eyes see only her?
“Then, the final step. If you accept as your student—if you beco my ntor—this coin is yours.”
Student… ntor?
She could only take on one student at a ti, and this would be her first…
And it would be…
Him?
…Will Hysterm?
The young master she had dismissed as a spoiled brat, but who turned out to be sharp and assertive…
A boy she didn’t entirely dislike…
In that mont, Leah’s heart raced for an entirely different reason. A strange shyness broke through the euphoria of the blood-red mint.
She jolted.
“N-No, no, no, no—absolutely not! I refuse!”
Leah shook her head frantically, her twin-tails whipping back and forth like a trono.
“W-What’s wrong…”
Will was startled. This was like thinking soone was asleep, only for them to suddenly open their eyes when you tried to draw on their face.
Why had her tsundere personality suddenly returned?!
“Y-You, you, you—what are you trying to do, catching off guard like this?!”
“I-I wasn’t doing anything! I just asked you a few questions!”
“I… I didn’t lose my mory. Ugh! Wait… what did I even answer…”
Leah’s face turned beet red.
“This is none of your business! I’m going back to my lab to think—”
“Wait… hold on?”
Will stood there, watching Leah’s pink twin-tails disappear down the hallway, scratching his head.
He couldn’t figure it out.
Why had Leah, who had answered all his questions under the mint’s influence, suddenly snapped out of it for the last one?
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