Chapter 87: She Heard…?

Now that my weapon was upgraded, I had another problem; I really can’t have enough of that now, can I?

While the new saber definitely kept the ability to absorb dark magic as it did with the darkyte, it had one downgrade.

It was bigger than a dagger.

Which meant the launcher I just spent a fortune on was now effectively useless.

And going back to Bree’s Mechanicum to make it larger to fit a saber would beat its entire purpose of being maneuverable and inconspicuous.

But…

“Can I also fuse this?”

I experimentally tapped on the object; even though it wasn’t an actual artifact in the novel, it was still a weapon.

It should still apply.

[Dagger Launcher (Crafted)]

And it did, it even came with a unique classification to boot.

But now the question was what should I even fuse it with? I’d rather not fuse it into the saber, too risky, and the new saber already does its job quite well.

Fusing it with a magical artifact also doesn’t make sense. I had it made for situations where I can’t use magic, and if close-range combat would be too risky.

The examination is also in just two days, and it includes its own set of practical and physical tests after the academic ones, just like the entrance exam.

That included one survival situation without magic.

Although… I guess throwing a saber around would be enough.

I swung the two Endless Fangs around, getting a good feel for their weight and grip.

I couldn’t complain; it was an incredible weapon that had all the positives of the two artifacts and none of their downsides.

[Profaned Fireball]

“Slightly off balance…”

I smirked, reducing the amount of dark magic I was siphoning into the new weapon to return the balance between light and dark.

My light magic was getting stronger than ever, and now at a faster rate than ever, with the help of my new realization.

At this point, I might no longer even need Julius to beat a future opponent…

*** Academy Lounge

While I was making my own preparations, Vivianne was busy too, quickly filling the entire lounge with followers eager to hear the latest gossip about the academy’s weird kid.

They all crowded around Vivianne at a table meant for about five students, and, well… there were definitely more than five squeezed in around her by this point.

“Oh my god? He healed you with light magic every time you got tired!?”

A female student scandalously shouted in a joking manner.

“He’s like a total prince!”

The comment was enough to make Vivianne shiver, while she was doing very well at changing Cael’s reputation… this was definitely not the best way she wanted things to go.

’Please! Shut up! I don’t want Evelina to hear about this…!’

She screamed internally in her mind, while outside, she was still smiling and sharing more about the time she spent on my estate.

Every word that came out of her lips was now more calculated than ever, not to increase my reputation even more.

But because if Evelina somehow bumped into them, she wouldn’t want to be the target of another abyssal lance…

“Maybe that’s a bit hyperbolic…” Vivianne nervously replied, but another interrupted before she could finish.

“Hyperbolic? Who even heard of a dark mage healing someone with light magic? That’s romantic as hell!”

Vivianne’s mouth twitched as she heard the ’r word’.

’Shut up! Shut up! Please shut up! This isn’t how I thought things would go!’

Vivianne had severely underestimated how popular the trope was…

She laughed a little too loudly, clapping her hands once to regain control of the table.

“O-Okay, okay, let’s not exaggerate things,” she said, forcing the conversation back on track. “He didn’t heal me every time. Just… a few times. And only because it was efficient.”

That last part was important. Efficiency sounded way less romantic.

Unfortunately, the damage was already done.

“So he cares about efficiency and you?” another student teased, leaning in way too close for comfort.

Vivianne felt her soul leave her body.

“I—That’s not—!” She stopped herself, inhaling sharply. Panicking would only make it worse. “He’s just… practical. Very practical. Cold, even.”

That earned her a chorus of doubtful looks.

“Cold guys are the worst,” someone sighed dreamily.

“They’re always secretly soft,” another added.

Vivianne internally aged ten years.

’Did everyone just forget that Lady Evelina exists?’

Vivianne thought to herself, then immediately realized.

’Right…’

’To them, the two of them being together were still just rumours…’

They didn’t get the firsthand experience she did when Evelina literally attempted to kill her just because she was training with me.

Vivianne forced another laugh, nodding along as if she wasn’t internally screaming.

“Anyway,” she said quickly, clapping her hands again, “that’s enough about him. What about you guys? I heard someone nearly blew up the alchemy wing yesterday?”

That successfully redirected the attention for about five seconds.

“That happens every week or so,” someone pointed out immediately.

Vivianne froze for half a beat.

“…But that’s still an interesting topic,” she added. “Right?”

“No,” the group replied in perfect, conspiratorial unison.

She felt her eye twitch.

Before she could attempt another escape maneuver, the chatter around the lounge subtly shifted. It wasn’t sudden, more like a gradual drop in volume, as if people were instinctively lowering their voices without knowing why.

Vivianne noticed it instantly.

The air changed.

A familiar pressure crept along her spine, cold and sharp, like the edge of a blade hovering just short of skin.

Her smile stiffened.

’No. No no no. Please no.’

The students nearest the lounge entrance slowly parted, heads turning one by one. Some frowned in confusion. Others straightened instinctively.

Footsteps echoed across the polished floor.

Measured. Unhurried.

Vivianne didn’t need to look to know who it was.

“…Why did it suddenly get quiet?” one student whispered.

Vivianne swallowed.

A shadow fell across the table.

“Crestwood.”

The voice was calm.

Too calm.

Vivianne turned her head, slowly, and looked up.

Evelina stood there, crimson eyes fixed on her, expression perfectly composed… except for the faint, almost imperceptible tightening around her gaze.

She smiled.

“I was just wondering,” Evelina continued gently, “what exactly everyone here seems to be discussing so passionately.”

Vivianne felt her soul leave her body, again.

And somewhere, right in the deepest part of her mind, she was certain she heard the sound of an offensive spell ready to wipe them all out.

’Surely she wouldn’t… right?’

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