Yan Yi should’ve been basking in admiration after defeating Juben. Instead, crushing pressure weighed on him…

Yan Yi stepped into a room and froze under the sharp glare of Luris’s mother. He retreated one step; she advanced two. Back pressed against the wall, he had nowhere left to run.

Cornered, Yan Yi stared at the raven-haired beauty before him—though "beauty" was the last thing on his mind. Her golden eyes radiated overwhelming pressure. He hadn’t expected her to heal Juben’s wounds so swiftly… or track him down with such ease.

“Alright, Yan Yi,” she began. “Let’s talk—”

“It was the young lady’s idea! I’m a victim too! Please investigate fairly, Madam!” Yan Yi blurted out before she could finish, his face crumpling into wounded innocence. His trembling lower lip screamed: *Push me further, and I’ll burst into tears right here.*

Luris’s mother blinked, utterly failing to reconcile this pitiful boy with the powerhouse she’d witnessed earlier. She squinted, but no—she hadn’t mistaken him.

“Who said I wanted to discuss *that*? I need to know what Luris is truly planning. Don’t tell me she didn’t know your strength.”

*Ah, magic really is a lifesaver,* Yan Yi thought with relief. *Heal the injured, dodge the blame.* But Luris…?

“I wouldn’t know,” he shrugged. “The young lady’s always been carefree at the academy—well, more like a troublemaker. Never thought she’d get tangled in romance.”

Luris’s mother pinched the bridge of her nose, utterly baffled. With a weary wave, she dismissed him.

Yan Yi eyed her cautiously, almost quipping about wrinkles from worry—but her sharp gesture sent him bolting out the door. *Avoid trouble whenever possible. Old habits die hard.*

…

In the guest room—now Juben’s temporary quarters—Luris watched him sleep.

Physical wounds could be mended with magic. Mental exhaustion? That demanded quiet rest.

She sighed, recalling Yan Yi’s words:

*“He’s not invincible.”*

True. She’d genuinely hoped Juben would win. Yet… if he lost, perhaps it proved he wasn’t so distant after all. Not an untouchable genius. Just human. Someone who could lose.

Her fingers brushed Juben’s cheek. “Why must you like *me*?” she whispered. “Girls far stronger than me exist. I don’t deserve to stand by your side.”

Luris knew the truth: her C-rank peak status and mastery of high-tier spells meant little. Juben stood at B-rank peak, wielding full-fledged magic incantations. Noble families had daughters matching his caliber—among them, she felt painfully weak.

Juben would keep growing stronger. He might reach the Realm of Magic’s pinnacle… even challenge the next domain. But her? She’d struggle. *So much.*

She wished someone worthy could walk beside him on that path. Someone who wouldn’t hold him back.

A soft sigh escaped her as she slipped from the room.

Moments later, Juben’s eyes fluttered open. Staring at the ceiling, he pieced together what happened—the final flash he’d seen.

“So… I lost.”

He sat up. The pain was gone, but exhaustion clung to his bones. Frustration swelled. Fingers clawed into his hair, teeth clenched tight as he fought back tears.

After a long moment, he exhaled sharply, wiped his eyes, and roared:

“So what if I lost?!

I’ve lost before! I’ll just get stronger—beat him again!

Then… I’ll confess once more!”

The boy who once vowed to protect a distant figure now fought to shield the one he loved. Juben had never given up. Not once.

Yan Yi, about to check on his defeated opponent, paused at the door upon hearing the roar. He froze—then burst into silent laughter, turning away.

*“Good. I’ll be waiting.”*

…

Next morning, Yan Yi woke promptly. Dressing quickly, he gave himself a quick tidy-up. His hair remained slightly messy, but he almost looked the part of a butler.

“Day one as a human Gundam—begin!”

He swung the door open—and froze. A green-haired youth stood bowing perfectly before him. *Ninety degrees?! Who’s the servant here?*

“Please take me as your disciple!”

Juben had analyzed it thoroughly: Yan Yi’s techniques were bizarre, clearly holding back. Only someone steeped in blood-soaked battlefields could radiate such power. After much thought, he concluded the fastest way to defeat Yan Yi was… to learn from him.

If Yan Yi truly possessed Class S—or even Realm of Magic—strength, only under his guidance could Juben close the gap swiftly. Even if it took ten years. He’d waited since dawn outside Yan Yi’s door, bowing the instant it opened to prove his sincerity.

Yan Yi’s mind went blank. An image flashed: that drunken old master, swigging wine while chanting *“disciple…”*

*“Heh. Must’ve opened the door wrong.”*

Yan Yi covered his face, chuckling. Then—*WHAM!*—he slammed the door shut and bolted for the window…

…

Interle finally escaped her family. She teleported to Aite City at dawn, striding confidently toward Luris’s home without guides. Many greeted her warmly—she’d used expensive Teleportation Arrays since childhood to visit Luris, making her a familiar face.

Servants rushed to welcome her at the gate, eager to summon Luris.

“No need,” Interle waved them off. “She’s probably still asleep. I’ll find her myself.”

She navigated the mansion effortlessly, exchanging nods with maids she knew. Snatches of their chatter revealed yesterday’s drama.

*“Poor Juben… really got wrecked.”*

Interle had watched their relationship blossom since childhood—she’d even sparked their first meeting. She understood Luris’s feelings but never expected her to play such a ruthless hand.

*“Did she learn that from me?”*

Sighing, Interle changed course. *Better check on Juben first.*

He wasn’t in the guest room. *Maybe training?* But the training grounds were empty too.

Instead, she found Yan Yi sweeping a hallway.

“That outfit’s actually decent.”

“Functional. Still prefer uniforms.”

Yan Yi stretched, making Interle giggle. Dressed casually, her pink hair and playful pink-and-white dress turned heads wherever she went. *Almost* everyone fell for her charm.

*Almost.* Yan Yi knew better. *Don’t be fooled—that’s a devil girl.*

“Where’s Juben? Did he limp off after you crushed him?” Yan Yi asked, still sore from the bowing incident.

“Down the hall. My room.”

Interle’s eyes widened—but she wasn’t the type to imagine scandal. *He only has eyes for Luris.*

“Carry on then, Yan… *Butler*.” She leaned forward with a teasing grin, nearly making his heart skip.

*Steady. Devil girl.*

Interle laughed, waving as she headed toward Juben’s room—curious what chaos awaited.

She found him bowing rigidly at a door. So focused, he didn’t notice her approach. She slapped his back—sending the sore-backed boy sprawling.

“Wow. If *I* can knock you over, yesterday’s beating must’ve been brutal.”

Recognizing that voice, Juben choked back his angry retort. Survival instinct kicked in. Only Interle could make a B-rank mage who’d unleashed magic incantations—and the man who defeated him—both back down instantly.

“Interle…” He groaned, struggling upright, hand clutching his aching waist.

*Is this Luris’s room?* Interle wondered. *Why else would he bow like this? Unless… another confession?* She almost admired his persistence—getting beaten yesterday only to confess today—but it made no sense.

“What are you doing? Luris doesn’t live here.”

At Luris’s name, Juben’s eyes dimmed briefly before brightening again. “I want Yan Yi as my master. I’ve been bowing for hours—he only opened the door once.”

Interle burst out laughing, recalling the butler sweeping nearby. Tears streamed down her face.

“H-How…? You want *him* as your master?”

Juben frowned, confused. “Yeah. You know him, right? Any advice?”

Interle wiped her eyes, pulled a gold coin from her pocket, flipped it, then slapped it into her palm. She held it out for him to see.

“Oh, I know exactly what works. *This* will do the trick.”

Juben stared at the coin. A chilling thought struck him: *Maybe… I shouldn’t become his disciple after all.*