“Ah, I really hate this class. Always things exploding and burning—why do we even need to study magical pharmaceutics?”

“That’s why this class has the fewest students.”

The magical potion-making class was unpopular. Compared to classes where students could directly use magic, this one required more memorization and didn’t allow students to earn points through talent alone. It was a class typically avoided unless you failed to secure a spot in the better courses or had mediocre magical abilities.

Rael fell into the latter category. Without exceptional talent, she needed to diligently attend classes that didn’t depend solely on magical ability to avoid early dismissal from the academy.

“What’s with the complaints on the first day of the semester?”

Professor Yulberten entered the classroom.

“Hurry up and take your seats!”

“Professor, since it’s the first day, couldn’t we just have a fun conversation instead of a real class?”

Thud. Professor Yulberten placed a frighteningly thick book on the podium. The strong impact sent dust particles flying sideways.

“If you want to memorize all of this by the end of the semester, every minute will count.”

“Ugh.”

“How are we supposed to memorize all that?”

The classroom filled with students’ grumbles. Having taken this class for two years already, Rael wasn’t particularly bothered by the book’s thickness.

“It’s actually better than last time.”

She was rather satisfied with it. Just as she resolved to aim for average grades this semester, the classroom door slid open.

“I apologize for being late.”

It was Rubellan, greeting Professor Yulberten with a composed face.

“Oh my, Rubellan is taking this class?”

“Isn’t he top-tier? Why would he take a class like this?”

“Maybe he couldn’t register for classes fast enough?”

“Come on, the professors would create a spot for Rubellan even if none existed!”

Students murmured about his presence in this unpopular, nearly forgotten class. After all, he monopolized the professors’ affection with his extraordinary talent.

“Hurry up and find a seat.”

Rael noticed Professor Yulberten’s lips curling up slightly.

Rubellan turned around, his eyes slowly scanning the students. He seemed to be looking for a place to sit. There were plenty of empty seats—this unpopular class was fortunate to be half-filled.

Thump, thump.

His slow footsteps stopped.

“May I sit here, Senior?”

Rubellan gestured to the seat next to Rael.

“Ah…”

What was this about? Rael was taken aback. Why would he choose to sit next to her when there were so many comfortable empty seats elsewhere?

Honestly, it made her uncomfortable. But since the seat didn’t belong to anyone, she couldn’t really refuse.

“Go ahead.”

Despite her lukewarm response, Rubellan sat down next to Rael with a slight smile.

“Now, let’s open our books.”

The classroom settled down and class began. Rael tried not to be conscious of Rubellan’s movements beside her.

While she did find something strange about Rubellan, she had no intention of digging into his suspicious points. It was simply too bothersome. If given the choice between concerning herself with others’ business or getting more sleep, she would choose sleep. Rael scratched the back of her head, which felt strangely prickly, and focused on the lesson.

Rubellan sat comfortably in his seat, leaning back slightly. He slowly observed Rael sitting next to him.

His first impression was that she looked ordinary—a common face you might have seen somewhere before, unassuming and plain.

Yet strangely, he couldn’t take his eyes off that ordinary, plain face.

Her light flour-colored hair was white and clean, followed by a round, convex forehead. Her pale eyelashes fluttered with each blink. Her clear cheeks, still covered with soft down, looked temptingly plump enough to poke.

Occasionally, she ran her tongue over her lower lip, perhaps because the dry classroom air made her lips chapped. He found this gesture extremely sensual.

How long had he been observing her?

With such an obvious stare, she should have looked his way at least once. But she never turned her eyes toward him, seemingly deliberately trying not to pay attention to him.

This attitude further stirred Rubellan’s curiosity.

* * *

“Rael!”

When class ended and Rael stepped into the hallway, her classmates Vivien and Edwin greeted her.

“Vivien, Edwin.”

“See how late your class ends! I told you to take the natural magic class with us.”

Vivien said, pushing out her lips. She strongly disapproved of Rael taking the magical pharmaceutics class, primarily because she couldn’t be with Rael all the time.

“How would I ever get passing grades there?”

“Don’t you just need to avoid failing?”

Edwin chimed in.

“I need to take this class to avoid that.”

“Sometimes I wonder how you even got into the academy.”

That was something Rael wondered about too. Her magical power was somewhat unusual. She had a rare condition where her magic manifested abnormally. On one particular day when Rael’s magic was surging, she met Giber, the academy’s principal, and received special admission.

“I wonder that myself.”

Rael, tired of explaining, simply laughed it off. Regardless, she had been fortunate to enter this place. Graduating from the Magic Academy meant she could work in public service regardless of her magical ability. If she could just graduate, she might secure a position as a junior clerk in some department.

“Senior.”

Just then, Rubellan called out to Rael as he exited the classroom.

“Oh? Isn’t that Rubellan? Why are you coming out of this class?”

Vivien asked Rubellan. Her green eyes sparkled brightly.

“I’m taking this class too. Senior Rael, I have something to discuss with you.”

After briefly answering Vivien’s question, Rubellan’s gaze returned to Rael. When Rael turned her head, the corners of his mouth curved up like a painting. Seeing this, Rael’s expression hardened slightly—or rather, crumpled.

Rubellan clearly noticed her reaction. Had anyone ever shown such obvious dislike when he called out to them?

“What is it?”

A dry voice without any expectation. It strangely grated on Rubellan’s nerves. She had been smiling so brightly at those mediocre pink-haired and yellow-haired companions just moments ago.

“The group project Professor mentioned earlier—do it with me.”

At his words, Rael visibly frowned.

“I’ll think about it.”

Of course, Rael had no intention of working with him. And Rubellan immediately recognized her reluctance.

“Alright. See you in the next class.”

Nevertheless, Rubellan turned away with a deliberately casual smile. The smile that had been fixed on his face disappeared completely once he turned. With a coldly hardened expression, Rubellan walked down the corridor.

“Oh my, Rael. Are you doing the project with Rubellan?”

“No. I don’t plan to.”

“Why not? Everyone would want that opportunity!”

“…I just feel uncomfortable about it.”

Rael had previously hinted to Vivien and Edwin about her suspicions regarding Rubellan, but they clearly knew him. They spoke about him as though they had been watching him for a long time. Seeing this, Rael decided she shouldn’t share her thoughts—they would just think she was crazy.

“I shouldn’t get involved with him.”

Rael’s gaze fell on Rubellan’s back as he disappeared at the end of the corridor. He had been watching her throughout the entire class. She instinctively felt that his attention wasn’t well-intentioned. So she made a promise to herself.

Never get involved with ‘that thing.’

* * *

“Please sit down, Senior.”

Of course, that promise shattered completely in the next class.

After chatting with Vivien and Edwin, Rael arrived slightly late to her next class. This class was relatively popular, so seats were just enough for everyone. When she hurriedly sat in the last available seat, Rael suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Rubellan was sitting right next to her.

“Why are you here?”

“What do you mean?”

“Ah, nothing… hmm.”

Had Rubellan ever taken the same class as her before? No, considering Rubellan’s very existence had appeared overnight, he couldn’t possibly have shared classes with her. There was no need to rack her brain over this.

“Did you take this class before?”

“What are you saying, Rael! Rubellan has been taking this class since he enrolled!”

Kuran, a classmate sitting behind them, answered instead. She hadn’t directed the question at him.

“Ah… right.”

Rael’s memory didn’t matter anyway. Everyone here believed what Kuran said.

Rael’s gaze shifted to Rubellan. Their eyes met as he was watching her with his chin resting on his arms on the desk. Simultaneously, Rubellan smiled, his eyes crinkling.

“That’s right. You were always here.”

Rael articulated the lie clearly while looking into his red eyes.

Heh.

A small laugh escaped Rubellan’s lips. His languidly lowered eyes showed he was enjoying the situation.

“That’s right, Senior. I’ve always been here.”

Rael didn’t respond further and turned to open her book. She couldn’t understand why Rubellan had developed an interest in her, but this was definitely not a good sign.