Lynn's magic grades were far from ideal.
Although he was known as a genius in his childhood according to the game's lore, years of neglecting his training had caused his already mediocre talent to fade completely into mediocrity.
Reasonably speaking, someone like him would find it difficult to enter the Imperial Royal Academy for further studies.
But that didn't account for him having a Duke for a father, a Tier 10 Great Warrior who held the prestigious title of State Protector.
《My Duke Father》
“So, what was bound to come has finally come...”
He sighed, resting his forehead in his hand, and slapped the luxurious invitation on the desk.
Elegant gold letters were written across it in a flamboyant script.
To Lynn von Reinhardt:
Our institution has approved your admission application. Please report to the campus on September 1st, Year 1763 of the Sacred Dragon Calendar.
—Liz Naya, Admissions Office of the Imperial Royal Academy
“September 1st...”
He leaned back into the soft leather lounge chair.
“In other words, there are only three months left...”
The Imperial Royal Academy.
It was undoubtedly the dream of every magic apprentice. But to Lynn, it was nothing more than a foul-smelling gutter.
As the starting point of the overpowered female protagonist Irene's legend, the deepest impression the Imperial Royal Academy left on him was—
‘The “impenetrable” academy security has been breached yet again.’
All sorts of classic conspiracies and academy invasions occurred in droves during the protagonist's school days. The villains rushed forward one after another to deliver experience packages to her.
As a veteran player of 《Dawn》 in his past life, he had naturally enjoyed this endlessly.
But now...
“I'm just a minor, background-character villain...”
Without the protagonist's halo, entering that Imperial Royal Academy where villains walked everywhere and bosses were cheaper than dirt—
What was the difference between that and parachuting naked into a war-torn Middle Eastern battlefield?
...
A week had passed since he saved the future Kingdom-Destroying Witch.
Who knew what the Head Maid had said to Lilian, but from that day on, she had taken up the role of Lynn's sole personal maid.
For the first two days, the girl would blush and mumble, unable to speak whenever she saw him. Lynn had fully utilized the essence of push-and-pull to farm a massive amount of Emotion Points. But soon, he realized...
‘The "push-and-pull" tactic doesn't seem to work at all anymore!’
No matter how much he tried to act dignified or aloof, that silly girl would always somehow fill in the blanks in her own mind to justify his actions, adopting a complete “whatever the Young Master says is right” attitude.
This was a bitter blow to Lord Lynn, who was eager to harvest Emotion Points and refresh his traits!
‘This isn't right, is it?’
‘Could it be that even I, the King of Galgames, have lost my touch?’
Fortunately, Lynn quickly discovered a new, efficient way to farm Emotion Points.
For instance, teasing the cute little maid with a couple of words or petting her fluffy head... the girl would blush furiously and yield a significant amount of Emotion Points.
But the price was...
“Sigh— phew.”
A cool, soft touch came from his shoulders.
“What is the Young Master thinking about?”
Someone was standing behind Lynn, her fair, delicate hands gently massaging his shoulders.
She leaned close to Lynn's face, her eyes curving into crescents.
The tips of her cherry-pink hair fell forward, brushing against Lynn's nose with every movement.
Her slender arms wrapped around his neck, preventing him from turning around.
“Guess... who I am?”
She was a bit too close; Lynn could even smell the faint scent of begonia radiating from her.
“That must be my loyal subordinate—the Head Maid!”
“Eh!!!?” Her playful voice rose by several octaves.
Lynn laughed. “Just a joke.”
He stood up from the lounge chair, turned around, and patted the dejected, cherry-pink head.
“Good morning, Lilian.”
...
That's right. The price was that this girl had grown far too familiar with him, gradually turning into a naughty girl who showed no respect for elders and only wanted to walk all over her master!
Her face puffed up like a pufferfish, the girl let out a soft “Hmph” and turned her head away.
“Really, Young Master is always so mischievous.”
She naturally stood on her tiptoes and carefully adjusted Lynn's slightly messy collar.
Then she took two quick steps back, raised her right hand, and saluted.
“Good morning, Commander Lynn! Corporal Lilian reporting to you!”
“Very energetic, Corporal Lilian! I order you to immediately run fifty kilometers this morning. I know it's hard, but it's an order!”
【Emotion Points +40】
Dropping gold coins for me first thing in the morning? You really are something, Hajili...
A somewhat deliberate cough interrupted their banter. “Ahem—”
The Head Maid stood by the door, performing a standard maid's bow. Her resentful gaze made Lynn feel a bit uneasy.
[What on earth have you been teaching Miss Lilian?]
[I'm merely liberating her nature.]
The intense silent exchange of glances ended with the Head Maid's helpless defeat.
“Honestly, I give up on you, Young Master.” The Head Maid pressed her forehead, then said seriously, “The matters you instructed me to handle have been settled.”
“For the next few days, no trivial matters will disturb you, Young Master. Now, please excuse me.”
She bowed slightly, while simultaneously pressing down on Lilian's head, who also wanted to leave.
“Lilian, you stay.”
“M-Me?”
Walking to the door, the Head Maid suddenly winked at them suggestively. “Rest assured, Young Master, the soundproofing in the study is excellent. No matter what happens...”
She paused, enunciating each word clearly: “No~ one~ will~ hear~ a~ thing~”
With that, she closed the door.
A sharp click of the lock turning followed.
Wh-Wh-What does that mean?!
Lilian turned around stiffly.
White steam practically rose from her cherry-pink head, her face flushing crimson.
C-Could it be... that the Young Master wants to do that sort of thing with me?
No, no, no, Lilian. You must be overthinking it. How could the Young Master possibly...
Just then, Lynn clapped his hands together and said cheerfully, “Alright! Lilian, let's do something delightful~”
It-It-It's true!
Receiving no response for a while, a puzzled Lynn repeated, “Lilian?”
The girl turned her head, looking utterly dazed. Her index fingers twirled nervously, and her eyes spun like dizzy spirals, unable to focus.
“Y-Young Master, I think this kind of thing is still a bit... too early. At... at least let me get... mentally prepared...”
“Lilian, what are you talking about?”
Lynn furrowed his brows in confusion and pulled open a storage cabinet.
Crash! A massive cascade of books poured out.
He picked one up, flipped it open, and said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “Delightful things—”
“—is studying, of course!”
“????”
【Emotion Points +80】
...
A week had passed since Lynn saved Lilian and copied her trait.
But since that day, Lilian had become the personal maid in charge of Lynn's daily life.
“Though she's a sight for sore eyes, still...”
Lynn, oh Lynn, how can you be so depraved!
Have you forgotten the death flag main storyline starting in three months?
“Before that, I must at least possess enough strength to protect myself.”
He had to get stronger quickly! Therefore, he had to train!
He looked at the mountain of magic books piled up beside him.
In this era where productivity was not yet fully developed, books on spells were worth a fortune. Many of them were even rare, one-of-a-kind manuscripts.
Yet, this massive pile of books had been dumped out of a sack by the Head Maid like garbage.
“Please look through these first, Young Master. If you're not satisfied, I'll bring another carriage-load from the warehouse.”
Just how powerful and wealthy was the Reinhardt family?!
He had asked the Head Maid to filter out Tier 1 to Tier 3 fire spells. Even so, there were a whopping seventeen books.
“Yesterday... I remember I read up to here.”
Lynn took out his bookmark and continued reading.
Beside him, Lilian, realizing she had completely misunderstood, buried her entire face in her book in sheer embarrassment.
But soon, her innate, extraordinary talent allowed her to lose herself in the world of books.
Coming from a commoner background, magic had always been an unattainable luxury for Lilian.
Yet now, a massive library of precious books was laid out right in front of her, quietly waiting for her to read them.
This was a privilege that would make countless mages green with envy and scramble to obtain.
So, why exactly is Young Master Lynn treating me with such kindness?
She was clearly just a commoner girl who had nothing to offer except a somewhat pretty face.
Lilian couldn't help but recall the conversation she had overheard.
“Because I think highly of her.”
Those brief words conveyed a natural, unreserved trust and expectation.
It was so genuine that even she herself felt a sense of trepidation.
Thinking highly of her.
Simply turning those words over in her mind seemed to fill her limbs with endless motivation.
Her heart pounded excitedly, as if it would leap out of her chest along with her uncontrollable joy.
In the face of such trust, any evasion or doubt would only betray it.
So, Young Master...
Lilian will work hard to become the person you expect, the person you need!
She focused all her attention on reading.
‘A beginner's magic power is like a tiny puddle. Only through continuous meditation and cultivation can it grow.’
‘Relax your mind, feel the throbbing in your chest. Feel the flow of tiny elements in the air currents, and look inward.’
Lilian followed the guidance, moving forward without a single hitch. It was so smooth that she even felt a bit panicked.
She gradually sensed the magic power within her body.
Am I really a genius?
But soon, her little head drooped.
“I messed up... It's completely different from what the book says.”
“A puddle formed of magic power... where on earth is the puddle?”
She looked troubled as she gazed at the boundless, infinite lake inside her body.
Rate on N.U.
