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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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Suddenly?
That was Ethan’s first thought.
Followed by, Why? But even he couldn’t understand Sepia.
‘Is she trying to manipulate me again?’
Did she want him to return as her servant?
“Why the sudden change of heart?”
“What do you mean, sudden? I can teach you if I want to.”
She was offering to teach him her family’s secret techniques and her own personal knowledge.
It was rare for a mage to share their secrets so readily.
It was suspicious.
Ethan had planned to learn magic properly from Professor Cassia.
“There has to be a reason. Why are you doing this?”
‘Because… I want to turn you into a powerful mage. Then you’ll come back to me. Not as a servant, but as a true hero.’
She would rather be engaged to Ethan than be forced into a political marriage.
Sepia had been touched.
A year ago, when Ethan had told her he was taking the Neydia Academy entrance exam, she had been surprised.
Ethan had been a swordsmanship prodigy as a child, but he had hit a plateau.
And he had worked tirelessly to overcome it.
‘Ethan really does love me.’
Sepia clenched her hand.
She wanted to help him.
“What’s the catch? What are you planning?”
She couldn’t tell him that she was doing this to avoid an arranged marriage. That would be like confessing her feelings.
So, she used the lines Vivian had prepared for her.
“I want you to graduate.”
“What?”
“You might not understand, but you’re like family to me.”
Ethan’s eyes wavered.
Sepia didn’t miss the subtle tremble in his eyes. He might have been trying to hide it, but he looked like he had just received a confession.
Sepia’s heart fluttered.
“If graduating will make you happy, then I’ll help you.”
She felt her face flush.
She had practiced these lines countless times with Vivian.
“Sepia.”
Sepia looked at Ethan, his voice soft and low.
She felt embarrassed, despite having practiced the lines so many times.
“So… let me teach you magic. You have a large mana pool.”
Ethan’s mana control was poor, despite his large mana capacity.
He was like an athlete with great physical abilities but lacking technique.
“And you’ve been targeted by demons way too many times. It’s strange. So, let me teach you magic. It will help protect you.”
Sepia was awkward and clumsy when it came to interpersonal relationships.
Even Ethan knew that.
‘For Sepia to go this far…’
He was touched.
“Okay, I understand. Thank you, Sepia. Teach me magic. I’ll work hard and won’t disappoint you.”
Sepia beamed.
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Tia stood outside the club room.
She could see Sepia and Ethan through the glass window in the door.
Sepia was talking, and Ethan was nodding and smiling.
‘Are… Sepia and Ethan that close?’
Tia couldn’t understand.
She knew Sepia had feelings for Ethan.
But she didn’t think Ethan felt the same way.
He wouldn’t have left the Logness family if he did.
Tia’s mind quickly analyzed the situation.
The magic textbook on the table.
Sepia, who was doing most of the talking.
It was clear what was happening.
Sepia was teaching Ethan magic.
She wasn’t sure why.
But she could guess how Sepia had approached Ethan.
‘Sepia is trying so hard… It’s almost pathetic.’
There was only one reason why Sepia would be so proactive.
‘Sepia will be forced into an arranged marriage, following the Logness family tradition. Wait… could it be?’
Was she trying to avoid an arranged marriage?
To Tia, Ethan was like an idol.
After witnessing his noble character and actions, she had decided to become his fan.
And she was content with being his fan.
She didn’t care who he ended up with.
She would support him and his chosen partner from afar.
That’s what a true fan should do.
She didn’t want to be a clingy, obsessive fan, interfering in his love life.
She would be cool and supportive.
That’s what she had decided.
But what if… what if Ethan really did fall for Sepia?
The thought filled Tia’s mind.
A heavy weight pressed down on her chest.
‘Ethan, I’m sorry! But… I can’t let you end up with Sepia!’
If Ethan and Sepia got married…
Tia couldn’t breathe.
How could such a noble person like Ethan end up with such a spoiled brat?
She couldn’t accept it.
‘I can also use magic. Learn from me, Ethan…’
Tia opened the door and entered the club room.
Sepia and Ethan looked at her.
“Oh, Ethan, Sepia! What are you doing here on the weekend?”
The lesson came to an abrupt halt.
Sepia didn’t bother hiding her hostility.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was going to study in the club room since I didn’t want to go to the library on the weekend.”
It was a lie.
Sepia’s eyebrows furrowed.
‘She probably forgot something and came back to get it.’
Sepia could see right through her.
Tia might have thought she was being discreet, but she couldn’t fool Sepia.
“So, Ethan and Sepia… you’re studying?”
“Yeah, don’t interrupt us. We’re in the middle of an important lesson.”
Sepia drew a line.
She didn’t care if Tia studied there, but she didn’t want to be interrupted.
Tia wasn’t stupid. She understood.
“Oh, right. Ethan, about what happened last time…”
Tia’s gentle tone caught Sepia’s attention.
‘What happened last time?’
She was probably talking about the time they were stranded together.
Sepia hadn’t spoken to Tia properly since then.
“Ah, never mind. I’ll tell you later, when we’re alone.”
“What? What is it?”
“Fufu, I’ll tell you later, Ethan.”
Tia tucked her hair behind her ear and chuckled.
Sepia’s eyes narrowed.
‘That… that sly fox! She’s doing this on purpose!’
When the enemy attacks with a clever strategy, counter with a straightforward approach.
“Ethan, let me control your mana.”
“Mana control? Now?”
“Yeah, it’s a surprise test. Give me your hand.”
Sepia, suppressing her anger, took Ethan’s hand.
Their fingers intertwined.
“Now, Ethan, try releasing your mana. Just a little bit.”
Sepia’s voice was soft and gentle.
She even smiled at him.
‘Mana control? Why is she suddenly interested in my mana control?’
Ethan was nervous.
‘She won’t discover my secret, will she?’
If she could, Professor Cassia would have already discovered it.
But even if she did, he had an excuse prepared.
He could just claim he had a ‘mana-compatible body.’
Even Sepia wouldn’t know about that unique trait.
That thought calmed him.
“Okay.”
Ethan released a small amount of mana.
Sepia closed her eyes and focused on his mana.
Tia was seething.
‘That spoiled brat…! What is she doing to my hero?!’
Tia struggled to maintain a neutral expression.
She couldn’t let Sepia see how annoyed she was.
“Ethan’s hands… rough, but warm… and his mana… it’s so pure…”
Sepia, lost in the sensation, mumbled to herself.
Ah…
Sepia realized her mistake and cleared her throat.
Thankfully, she had mumbled quietly enough that Ethan hadn’t heard.
“Ahem, good. Now, try using telekinesis. I’ll control your mana. Try lifting that pen.”
Ethan focused his mana on the pen.
Yesterday, the pen had shot towards the ceiling.
But this time, it floated gently in the air.
‘Cheating… she’s cheating! I haven’t even held his hand yet!’
Tia wanted to cry.
Sepia had no intention of letting go of Ethan’s hand.
She tightened her grip.
A wave of defeat washed over Tia.
‘I just… I just admire him… I didn’t want to hold his hand or anything…’
Ethan was someone she admired.
He was too good for a materialistic person like her.
She was content with admiring him from afar. Or so she thought.
But she couldn’t help but feel annoyed by Sepia’s actions.
“That’s it, Ethan! You’re doing great! Remember this feeling.”
Beads of sweat formed on Sepia’s forehead.
Even for a magical prodigy like her, controlling Ethan’s immense mana was a difficult task.
‘What is with his mana output…?’
A drop of sweat trickled down her cheek.
Mana control was like riding a bicycle.
Once you learned how to balance, you could ride without falling. Similarly, once you learned how to control your mana, it became easy to manipulate.
Sepia gradually decreased her control over Ethan’s mana.
“Okay! Ethan, now try moving the pen.”
The pen, as if imbued with its own will, began to move through the air.
Ethan smiled.
Tia was the only one who wasn’t happy.
‘You… you sly fox! Sepia…!’
Tia gritted her teeth.
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The next day.
I was practicing telekinesis in the club room.
I had gotten the hang of it yesterday, and I wanted to master the skill.
Sepia was giving me another magic lesson today. She had promised to teach me every weekend. I wanted to practice before the lesson.
‘Rise.’
I released my mana, recalling the sensation from yesterday.
I had to focus.
I lifted a pen into the air with my telekinesis.
Success.
The pen floated around the room, following my commands.
I lifted another pen, and then another.
Three pens were now floating in the air.
I smiled.
Then the door to the club room opened.
“Oh, Ethan, you’re here?”
Tesha asked, her voice cheerful.
My attention shifted towards the door.
And the pens, no longer under my control, shot towards Tesha.
My concentration had been broken.
Oh, shit.
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Oh boy