Even halfway through their conversation, Lynn had sensed a faint, elusive gaze lingering on them.
The sharp perception granted by his multiple traits allowed him to sniff out a trace of subtle malice.
'Something is hiding nearby.'
And so, the moment he pretended to lean in close to Anna, he struck like lightning, catching the hidden lurker completely off guard.
“Clack—”
The struck monster fell to the floor with a splat, revealing its true form.
It was a bizarre clockwork bird. The gears and parts across its body groaned under the strain of the slash.
With a loud screech, it fell completely apart, and a fist-sized core rolled out from the wreckage.
“Why is there something like this in the Imperial Academy?”
Lynn muttered with a frown, then froze for a moment.
Wait, why did this thing look more and more familiar?
He felt like he had seen it somewhere before. It was...
“That is a prank puppet made by Master Kazer,” a faint voice rang out from behind Lynn.
“It's also the post-banquet entertainment for tonight. A large number of these puppets are hidden in various corners of the academy, and as for those who find and destroy them—”
Anna picked up the fallen core and threw it at Lynn with a huff.
The deep blue core slowly displayed the number 20, emitting a cold, mechanical voice.
【Eliminator: Lynn; Academy Points Gained: 20; Please head to the Star-Gazing Hall before 12:00 AM tonight to exchange this core for academy points. Offer expires after the deadline.】
He remembered now!
Wasn't this a major event from one of the game's updates? Players could search for hidden prank puppets around the academy and exchange their cores for rewards.
But the crucial point was that these puppets—they were completely harmless!
So, didn't this turn his heroic rescue of a young maiden into a perverted attempt to take advantage of her?!
Lynn suddenly broke out into a cold sweat.
A sweet voice echoed from behind, and a soft hand rested on his shoulder.
“So... Student Lynn, could you please explain why you suddenly grabbed me like a creep, and then drew your sword to attack?”
She pinched a small lock of severed aqua-blue hair in her hand, her expression none too pleasant. “Surely, it wasn't just to get the twenty academy points from this completely harmless puppet, was it?”
“If I said... I had absolutely no idea about this... would you believe me?”
“Of course I do~ Why wouldn't I~”
...
A quarter of an hour later.
The tables had turned.
Now, it was Anna who looked down from above at Lynn, who was slumped on the bar counter, looking utterly listless.
“So, in the end, this whole thing was just a misunderstanding?”
“Yes, yes. A total misunderstanding.”
“This banquet event was supposed to be explained to the freshmen by the seniors guiding them, but because the senior guiding the Primordial Department... has a very unique personality, she forgot all about it?”
Thinking of that Primordial Department senior sleeping soundly face-down on the dining table, Lynn's eye twitched.
“Still... even if it was a misunderstanding, my heart has suffered a massive shock~”
Anna put on a cloying, high-pitched act, her voice trembling exaggeratedly.
“Spare me, please...”
“Ah, whatever shall I do~”
“Please forgive me, Miss Sasha, you who are drop-dead gorgeous, gentle, kind, generous, and utterly beast-hearted!”
“There's absolutely no sincerity in that... And what on earth do you mean by 'beast-hearted'?”
“Tsk, you caught on.”
“As if I wouldn't!”
“Fine, fine~” Anna waved her hand with a giggle, then sat down, resting her chin on her right hand. “How about this? I'll give you a chance.”
She tapped her chin, giving him an easy way out.
“I see that... aren't you quite good at coaxing girls?”
“How about you show me that trick you used to fool that kid on Traveler's Street earlier?”
“...How can you call that a cheap trick?” Lynn retorted weakly. But meeting Anna's menacing glare, he waved his hands and immediately switched into business mode.
“No problem, leave it to me, Boss Sasha.” He rubbed his hands together with a fawning smile. “What kind of flower would you like me to make? Chinese roses, roses, daisies... Reinhardt Flower Shop is at your service!”
“And the price isn't 999, nor is it 888. All we require is a satisfied smile from you, Miss Sasha.”
“Hmm... Smooth-talker. A rose, then.”
“Coming right up~ Just you wait.” Lynn rolled up his sleeves, preparing to show off his skills.
“Wait~” The girl in front of him suddenly drew out her words, flashing a cat-like, sly smile.
“I don't want those fake flowers made with fire magic. I want a real one that I can hold in my hand.”
Lynn's face immediately fell.
He tried to reason with her earnestly, “Come on, big sister. Magic tricks require props. If you won't let me use fire magic, where am I supposed to find a real flower for you?”
“So you can't do it then~”
Lynn's troubled expression shifted, as if he had made a difficult decision. “Fine, fine. If you promise not to hold what happened earlier against me, it's not entirely impossible.”
“And if you can't do it—”
Anna's eyes darted around, and she pointed at the alcohol being served on the table.
“You'll have to drink all of these.”
Those were four bottles of highly concentrated, enhanced Water of Life—unquestionably strong liquor.
“I'm just a frail mage. That'll literally kill me.”
“I don't care~”
“Fine, fine, my lady, whatever you say. Close your eyes first while I prepare myself.”
Anna obediently closed her eyes, but after waiting for quite a while, she heard nothing except the clattering of bottles.
When she impatiently opened one eye, she saw Lynn with his hands pressed together, sweating profusely.
He was pressing his hands together very, very tightly.
“Boom~” He made an exaggerated explosion gesture, then spread his palms open.
They were completely empty.
“...Where is the rose?”
“The rose of freedom, you see, is hidden within everyone's heart. Only by breaking free from the thorns in one's soul can one...”
Lynn put on a theatrical performance, while Anna simply stared at him flatly, without saying a word.
“Alright, alright, I knew you'd react like this.” He waved his hand in defeat, then pointed at the bottles on the table.
“That's why I already drank them.”
The four glasses of high-concentration Water of Life were now completely empty.
“I must say, they tasted pretty good~”
Of course they tasted good. That was premium stuff worth thirty academy points a glass! After drinking several glasses, his recently upgraded Physique immediately stabilized!
Thank you, my generous benefactor, Mother Anna!
“I didn't see it. Who knows if you actually drank them.”
“Then order a few more bottles~” Lynn said, acting completely shameless.
“Waiter, four more bottles!”
As the four bottles of alcohol were served, Lynn boldly raised a glass and downed it in one go, before picking up another.
“Alright, alright, stop drinking. I believe you, I believe you—drinking too much of this will really make you sick~”
“Pfft, this is nothing. Back in Tidevoice Domain, my nickname was 'Little Dionysus.' Let alone this tiny...”
Suddenly, a cold sensation brushed against the side of Anna's face.
She froze slightly.
Lynn smiled as he pressed the glass to her lips.
“I bet you were craving some yourself. Lucky for you, I saved a bottle for you.”
He laughed, raising the glass in his other hand.
“Come on, cheers!”
Anna rested her chin in her hand, quietly gazing at the grinning youth before her.
She suddenly smiled, looking incredibly, incredibly happy.
The goblets clinked together with a crisp sound.
“Alright, cheers~”
【Emotion Points +400】
Rate on N.U.
