Chapter 561: Casual Dates 3

“So… this girl is the great magus Lavine.”

“That’s right.”

“Hm.”

Lavine tilted her head, lips curving faintly. “What is it, child? Are you so surprised to learn my true identity?”

“Not really.” Seo’s voice was flat, her gaze unreadable as it rested on Lavine. “But it is hard to believe a figure like you is just… here. Still, since it’s Riley, I’ll trust you really are Lavine.”

Her words carried no warmth, just a matter-of-fact acceptance.

Lavine, who had clearly expected awe or at least a spark of curiosity, blinked at her.

For someone used to being revered—or at least acknowledged—Seo’s apathetic tone was almost insulting.

Her smile wavered, ever so slightly, and that dissatisfaction bled through the edges of her expression.

After that unexpected reunion, I laid everything out for them.

No half-truths, no tricks.

A straightforward explanation, though only the surface-level summary of what happened.

The dungeon, the battle, Lavine’s reappearance—it was enough to make things clear without opening every locked door.

Of course, there were details better left unsaid, at least for now.

Revealing everything all at once would only bring confusion or suspicion.

If I was going to walk this path with the girls I loved, then they deserved the truth… but piece by piece.

Slowly. Carefully.

Besides, even if I did lie, Rose would see right through it.

Altered memories or not, she had still met Lavine—both in her true form, and in the guise of that little fairy.

Trying to deceive her would be meaningless.

“So… the grand magus really became your familiar,” Rose mumbled, sitting close beside me. Her voice was low, almost cautious, as her eyes lingered on Lavine, who was still chatting idly with Seo across the table.

“That’s the gist of it,” I replied.

“And… that I’ve already met her before?”

“Yes.”

“I see. That explains why she feels oddly familiar…” Rose’s expression tightened faintly, as if a memory brushed against the edge of her mind. “I suppose she tampered with my memories when I first met her, didn’t she?”

“Well, not exactly tampered. She didn’t do anything bad. If anything, it was all for your potential.”

Rose studied me for a moment, then shook her head lightly.

“Don’t worry. I can tell. I always wondered why my affinity for celestial arts suddenly spiked out of nowhere. I suppose it all stemmed from her influence…”

She leaned back slightly, her shoulders easing as a faint look of understanding softened her gaze. Rose was sharp—she didn’t need me to spell it out.

The moment she laid eyes on Lavine in her fairy form, she’d probably already pieced together who she really was.

“Did anything else happen that day, Riley?”

“Besides us spending time together? Nothing of real note.”

“I see…”

Her eyes lowered slightly, her voice carrying a quieter tone than usual.

So that’s it.

She’s not exactly worried about me being with Lavine now—she just wanted to be sure she hadn’t forgotten anything from the day we spent together back then.

…She’s too cute.

It was rare to see her like this, without slipping into those obsessive tendencies of hers. She really has matured.

Hm. Maybe later, I should try to give her exactly what she wants.

And speaking of rare chances… Seo.

How in the world did she end up in this state?

My gaze was drawn to her almost instinctively.

Seo had always been beautiful—sharp features, a naturally graceful figure, the kind of person who turned heads without even trying.

But now… it was different.

She wasn’t just beautiful; she radiated something beyond that, a quiet divinity that could steal the breath from an entire room.

It wasn’t only the natural gift she carried—it was the subtle care she had put into herself, the way her clothes highlighted her form, the way she carried herself with a composed elegance.

With even a little effort, she had transformed into something close to untouchable.

Combined with Rose at my side and Lavine nearby, we were less a group of students and more like dazzling jewels put on display.

No wonder every pair of eyes in the shop was glued to us.

“Did you dress her up?” I asked quietly, turning to Rose.

“Yes,” she replied, following my gaze for a moment before turning her eyes back to me. “How is it?”

“She’s beautiful,” I said without hesitation.

“I see… then what about me?”

Her voice carried a subtle edge of vulnerability, a rare glimpse beneath her usual confidence.

I turned to her fully, smiled lightly, and answered, “You’re very beautiful as well, Rose.”

A faint blush touched her cheeks, her lips curving just enough to betray her satisfaction. “Good answer. You’ve still got a lot of explaining to do afterwards, but… I’ll let you go for now.”

I chuckled inwardly, amused at her restraint. She wasn’t wrong, though. I did have a lot to explain—no, not just to her. To all of them.

After all, I had told them I wouldn’t be returning to the academy once the dungeon evaluations ended. And yet, here I was.

“Also, since I’m a very understanding kind of lover…” Rose whispered, leaning closer until her breath tickled my ear, “I’ll let you spend a bit of time with her. But—you’re going to have to promise to focus on me later~.”

“Alright. I promise.”

That was all it took for her to smile in triumph, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

Without another word, she leaned in further and kissed me.

Bold.

Shameless.

And though we were in a public space, surrounded by dozens of staring eyes, I didn’t push her away.

I accepted it.

When she finally pulled back, the shop had gone silent.

Every conversation had died, every clink of glass and spoon had stilled.

“Master… you really are a sick maniac, huh…”

Lavine’s dry voice cut through the silence, her gaze at me carrying the same disgusted amusement one might reserve for a depraved beast.

Dozens of eyes pinned me at once.

The attention, the stares, the whispers—it wasn’t even my fault this time.

…

Later, in the commercial district, I walked past a line of familiar shops, my presence still dragging countless stares wherever I went.

It had only been about thirty minutes since we’d finished that unexpectedly long snack together in the café, but the weight of all those gazes hadn’t lessened one bit.

This time, however, it wasn’t Rose or Lavine at my side. It was Seo.

Our hands were interlocked as we walked quietly together, side by side.

For reference—Rose had taken Lavine with her the moment we finished eating.

She claimed it was to “let me spend some time” with Seo, though it was obvious she was just as intrigued by Lavine’s case as I was.

Her curiosity was sharp; she’d want answers, and Lavine wasn’t the type to give them easily.

Which left me here, on what could only be called… another date.

Unexpected, yes. But I wasn’t about to complain.

“Hey, wasn’t he loitering around with a pervious woman a while ago?”

“Did he already switch to another?”

“Shhh, shut it—he’ll hear you.”

“That guy… he’s the scandalous senior, right?”

“Yeah, but isn’t he already engaged to Princess Snow, Lady Rose, and Senior Alice?”

“Don’t tell me he’s adding more to his harem…”

“I saw him with some blue-haired beauty not long ago, too…”

“Last I heard, he even had… relations with Lady Seo. Guess that rumor was true?”

The murmurs slithered through the crowd, each whisper louder than the last, as though the entire commercial district had decided to pile onto the same narrative.

I’d gotten used to it by now.

No matter how absurd the rumors grew, some part of them always seemed to stick—and this time, a portion of it probably would.

Still, I was here with Seo.

That was enough.

Whatever the world wanted to say, I would make sure her day became brighter than the shadows trying to cling to us.

“Riley.”

Her quiet voice pulled me from my thoughts.

Seo stood just ahead of me, closer than I realized.

We’d reached the central square, where the fountain’s steady streams arched high before falling in glittering sheets of water.

The sound masked the chatter of the crowd, just enough to make the moment feel private.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Do you like kissing in public?”

“Huh?”

’What’s with the sudden question…?’

“Since we’re in public right now… can I kiss you as well?”

I blinked.

“…Seo, I think you’re misunderstanding something—”

“But you kissed Rose openly earlier,” she pressed, her eyes locked on mine. “And even back at the grand ball, you kissed Snow and Alice in front of everyone too. So, as your best friend… doesn’t that mean I can kiss you as well?”

“Seo, you’re rushing things a bit too fast. And also… I don’t know where you heard about all that, but—You’re supposed to only kiss someone you like. Someone you love.”

Her voice trembled just slightly. “But I do like you, Riley. Do you… not like me? Back then, you said you did. Was that a lie?”

Why is she… more talkative than usual today?

Before I could respond, her hand moved.

Slowly, gently, she pressed her palm against my chest, her fingers curling against the fabric of my shirt as if trying to anchor herself.

“Please… like me as well, Riley.”

I froze.

The words lingered in the air—but what struck me harder was the tear that slipped down her cheek.

….HEAVY.

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

A bunch of stares was already stabbing me in the back.

Shit…

’What the fuck did I do?’

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