Though Lilithia had considered sneaking off, fortunately the academy’s assessment began right after the speeches ended. With a massive backpack slung over her shoulders, she entered the forest, debating whether to simply vanish into the woods and never return. Fiore would protect her, of course—but women were such unpredictable creatures…

Especially after her earlier, outrageous provocation. Lilithia thunked her forehead against a tree trunk and sighed.

Then she noticed a triangular green head beside her.

“…Blood sacrifice.”

Her crimson blade sliced off the serpent’s head in an instant. Lilithia dug a hole, buried the head, then picked up the lower half of the snake.

Now then…

“Waterflow.”

She rinsed the snake thoroughly with clean water, then gutted it with practiced ease. Setting down her backpack, she pulled out a small iron pot.

Next came an iron rod to build a rack.

She gathered dry firewood.

“Spark.”

The snake began to simmer.

Her mood lifted—poisonous snakes were rare finds. The more toxic the creature, the richer the flavor. Half for soup, half for stir-fry.

But for the broth…

She scanned the surroundings. Thanks to her alchemy studies, she recognized edible ingredients: “Hmm, these mushrooms should complement the soup nicely.”

…

“Is that the girl you like, Fiore?” Lisanna watched as Lilithia decapitated the venomous snake without hesitation, then calmly skinned it by hand, gutted it ruthlessly, and washed the meat with a water spell—all with unsettling composure.

A strangely terrifying child.

Fiore nodded. “Just as I expected of Lilithia. I knew this trial would be child’s play for her. But that snake soup—what kind of mushrooms did she add? I can smell the aroma from here.”

As Lilithia waited for the soup to boil, a thought struck her.

She retrieved the snake’s innards she’d set aside earlier—for alchemy components, after all. But staring at the pungent gallbladder…

Would this subtly boost her mana? In novels, such things always enhanced inner energy or vitality—

Though it reeked terribly.

A small golden-haired girl tugged Fiore’s sleeve. “Wh-what is she planning to do?!”

Even Fiore shook his head in shock, baffled. Then they saw Lilithia squeeze her eyes shut, pinch her nose, and swallow the gallbladder whole.

She gagged but forced it down.

Summoning water, she rinsed her mouth repeatedly.

*That was intense!* If only it actually increased mana… She sighed, glancing back at her soup. At least the broth would comfort her.

Timing it perfectly, Lilithia stir-fried the other half of the snake.

She sat down to eat, sipping soup and nibbling the meat. But a whole snake was too much for an eleven-year-old—even with her hearty appetite, over half remained.

Instead of packing up, she arranged three wooden bowls and spoons.

As if sensing hidden observers, she smiled faintly. “Help yourselves~”

Then she shouldered her pack and headed deeper into the forest.

Lisanna scowled. “Fiore, this kind of dish is everywhere. The taste is probably mediocre at best—Fiore?!”

She turned to the little girl beside her.

“Brother Fiore already went after her.”

Lisanna gritted her teeth, then crouched with a gentle smile. “Listen, Luna. Don’t you want to keep your Fiore brother from becoming someone else’s?”

Just as she’d predicted, Luna tensed. “Fiore brother is *mine*!”

*Not yours either,* Lisanna thought dryly. “But right now, that silver-haired woman might steal him away~”

“What…?!”

“So we should join forces.”

“Join forces? Huh? What do you mean?” Luna tilted her head, confused.

Lisanna’s expression darkened. “Luna, an outsider’s interfering. Stop pretending. This will only end in mutual loss.”

“Lisanna sister, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Hmph. If you don’t understand, don’t blame me for going ahead first. I only warned you out of old friendship.”

Luna blinked. “I don’t get it… but I once read a fable. It said defying fate always leads to tragedy.”

“Fate…? What did you see?!”

“Nothing~ Because Fiore brother is a Saint now.”

A Seer cannot glimpse a Saint’s destiny.

When Lisanna caught up to Fiore, he handed her a bowl of Lilithia’s soup. “Lisanna! This is amazing!”

“Oh? Is it?” She accepted it with a smile and took a sip. Undeniably delicious—and uniquely flavored.

Still, she frowned. “Aren’t you chasing after her?”

“She doesn’t want me to.” Fiore’s voice was firm. “I respect her wishes.”

“Hah—how rare. You usually ignore everyone’s opinions to follow your own will.” Lisanna’s tone turned acidic.

Fiore seemed oblivious. “What? I always respect your opinions!”

*Only when things are calm.*

Fiore was gentle by nature, but in crises, his will dominated. That was part of his charm.

“Didn’t Luna follow? This really is good.”

“That kid said, ‘Snake meat? Gross! Absolutely not!’”

Fiore laughed. “She’s still a child! She’ll regret it when she grows up. I’ll have Lilithia cook it for her then.”

Lisanna’s breath hitched. Fiore was already imagining a future with Lilithia.

Swallowing her discomfort, she pressed, “You like that girl—Lilithia, right?”

“Yes.” Fiore answered openly.

Lisanna’s lip curled in disgust. “Disgusting, Fiore. If I recall, she was only nine two years ago. Are you seriously attracted to a nine-year-old? You belong in an imperial prison.”

Fiore clamped a hand over her mouth. “Hey! Don’t say that! My feelings for Lilithia are pure—no vulgar desires! I’m waiting for her to grow up!”

Her contempt deepened into pure revulsion.

Fiore flinched as if struck. “Am… am I really that creepy?”

“What else would you call it?” Lisanna glared. “Luna’s ten now. Two years ago, you liked a girl *younger* than her!”

“!”

“Fiore… I’m disappointed. Write me a formal apology later.”

“…Yes.”

Sword Saint Fiore, utterly defeated by his childhood friend’s moral reproach, fled in shame.

*This should make him reflect…*

…

Lilithia finally spotted a magic automaton. Crouched in the grass, she studied its movements. Earlier, she’d thrown a stone—no reaction.

*Sound-insensitive.* She rigged a spare shirt onto a wooden frame, waved it from the bushes. Still no response.

*Magic-detection type, then?*

Easy enough.

Lilithia stilled her mana, drew her sword, and stepped out. One clean strike severed the automaton’s head.

“Tch!”

She examined the cut—expensive alloy. Ordinary iron conducted magic poorly, she knew. Like electrical wiring, it needed special materials. *Should I steal it? The academy did put it here to be destroyed…*

Nah. Taking repair commissions later would be safer. *Don’t get greedy, Lilithia. Small profits aren’t worth it.*

“Well done!”

Lilithia froze. Whirling around, she stormed over and punched the man’s shoulder twice. “Idiot! What are you doing here? Now everyone’ll think I’m a nepo baby!”

Fiore’s face fell. He opened his mouth to speak—

But Lilithia grabbed his hand, cheeks flushed. “Still… since you’re here… stay and play with me?”

Only Lilithia would say this. After two years, she remained utterly captivating.

“As long as you don’t fight,” Lilithia added cheerfully. In this world, Fiore was the only one she truly considered human.

She pointed to a distant automaton. “You’ve seen my swordsmanship. Now witness my magic!”

Aiming at the target: “Blood Transmutation!”

The automaton stood unharmed.

Lilithia’s smile stiffened. “Right… it’s probably a mage-tier dummy. Too much to expect a novice spell to work?”

Fiore’s mood, soured by Lisanna’s lecture, brightened. He smirked. “Need help, Lilithia? Without ambushing it, that automaton’s tough even for your sword skills.”

“?!” Lilithia had never been so insulted. “Watch closely, Fiore. Just *one* automaton!”