"What did you want?"
"I was just curious about what you were doing. But I quickly understood when I remembered the delicate situation of the Isra Faction. Nothing but cowardly underhanded tactics. He's sunk pretty low."
"Don't insult the MoonShade!" I clenched my teeth.
"Kara's faction isn't any better. If you're so confident, why don't you face the heir of Arcadia."
He snickered as he walked past me, then stopped.
He snickered, passing close to me with deliberate slowness before coming to a halt. His scent invaded the space between us. "I don't need anyone to achieve my goals." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"Go home, little one. This is the last time I'll give you this advice. The next time I sense your aura near the dormitory…" A chilling pause. "I won't move for nothing."
"..."
His fingers brushed my temple, gently pushing a strand of red hair behind my ear. "Red hair…" he commented to himself. "Longer, it would suit you better."
And then, there was only darkness. He had vanished into the hallway, leaving behind an oppressive silence.
"What just happened, exactly?!" My heart was beating too fast, my confusion mingling with a dull alarm. I had no measure of his real power… and that was dangerous. Better not to push it.
But one certainty imposed itself: I must warn Isra. Indivar wasn't just an arrogant rival—he was unpredictable. And if we ever had to fight him, we'd need more than a plan. We'd need a strategy, and maybe even an alliance with someone else.
*End of POV.*
***
*POV Daemon*
"I was so eager to leave that I took the opposite direction from the elevator." Daemon sighed as he took the stairs. He had put all his strength into playing his role well, but Scarlett's aura was so powerful that his entire back was covered in cold sweat.
"I even thought about death when she gripped her axe. Luckily, she's not impulsive. Bluffs like that against Ingrid or the impulsive Fox Setsuna would be too risky."
'At least it worked.' I thought as the system appeared.
[Quest 2: Completed.
Reward: 150 Y]
[Do you want to unlock the store? 100 Y required!]
"Unlock."
[You have 50 Y left]
I mentally clicked on the store. The hologram expanded, divided into two large categories.
Heroines / Villainess
In the Heroines category, there was only Kara, and for the villains, Scarlett.
"Only the characters I've met are available." I noted mentally.
[In the store, you can only buy skills related to the characters.]
I clicked on Kara Geb Bentham.
And there, a list of skills opened. Four in total.
[Kara Geb Bentham
Relationship Level: Rivalry (25%)
- Recalcitrant (A): 200 Y
- Mana Sensitivity (S): 500 Y
- Genius Mage (S+): 1000 Y
- Geb Lineage (SS): 5000 Y]
"Rivalry? So she sees me as a rival, and that percentage?"
For now, I couldn't buy anything, and except for [Recalcitrant], all the others were pale, as if they were unavailable for the moment.
[Recalcitrant: Kara is naturally rebellious and will never let things slide!
Immunity to illusions from mages below your level.]
"Ah, yeah, that's powerful. On the Misty Continent, a skill that counters illusions is essential."
This system is really interesting; I can even get the Geb lineage, control earth and metal.
[Increase the relationship level to unlock the other skills]
"That's what I thought, to get her lineage. I first need to turn this lesbian into a hetero Yandere."
I laughed: "This is fucking exciting!"
*Rumbling*
"I almost forgot. I need to take a piece before going to sleep."
***
*Knock-Knock*
I stretched lazily on the bed when sharp knocks on the door abruptly pulled me from my torpor.
"Who is it?" I grumbled, my voice still hoarse.
"It's me, Erwan. Young master."
'This cheap bodyguard…' A dull irritation crossed me. My father insisted on imposing this "protection" on me, but we both knew it was more about surveillance.
"Come in, it's not locked."
I sat up, pushing the sheets away with a lazy gesture before leaving the bedroom. Erwan was already in the living room, my uniforms neatly folded in his hands. He placed them on the sofa with almost excessive precision.
"I apologize for my absence yesterday," he declared, bowing slightly. "I had to prepare new uniforms. I couldn't let you wear last year's."
"Fine." I nodded, feigning indifference.
A heavy silence fell. His eyes scanned the room, too quick, too observant. *Spy or useful idiot?* Hard to say.
"I suppose you didn't eat anything this morning. Sit down, I'll make coffee."
"Young master, let me do it!" he exclaimed, hurried, as if the idea of me serving anything terrified him.
I shot him a look that instantly silenced him, then disappeared into the kitchen without waiting for his reaction.
'I really can't let my guard down.'
My grandmother was my only ally, and even then… her schemes had their own limits. As for Erwan, he could pretend to be here to protect me, but I wasn't fooled. My father Darian openly hated me, and the Archduke turned a blind eye. An accident? Subtle poisoning? Nothing was off the table.
'Not like it's going to happen…' Well, not today.
Erwan had surely already filed his report yesterday, noting my movements, my associates. I needed to get rid of him. Not now—too risky. But soon.
For now, better to play along.
'Anyway...'
I finished preparing the coffee, my mind already elsewhere. "Today, let's go observe the antics of the first years." It was always fun to see these newcomers fight for crumbs of power.
And who knows? Maybe I'd find some useful pawns.
*End of POV*