Luris Aite, the only daughter of the Aite family, had a father who was a Demon Summoning-level powerhouse—and whose daughter obsession rivaled his combat prowess. Her mother, an SSS Rank light-element mage, wielded healing magic with godlike finesse.

Thanks to her fiercely doting father, Luris got whatever she wanted. He’d even ventured into lethal zones to hunt Demon Summoning Magical Beasts, crafting their bones into jewelry for her. Her mother, though prone to sending her father flying with a punch, treated Luris with tender warmth—except when she misbehaved. Then, she turned terrifying.

Luris inherited her father’s golden hair and her mother’s azure eyes, blending innocent blue with regal gold. Yet her magic talent leaned entirely toward her father’s side: she mastered water magic so swiftly even he marveled. Healing magic, however, baffled her completely. Her mother would sigh, "This girl’s only good at breaking things..."

Blessed with stunning beauty, Luris drew crowds of admirers at every gathering. Boys swarmed around her, but she found them dull—weak, shallow, captivated only by her looks.

Until one person caught her eye at a party.

...

"Luris! Time to go! The Interle family gathering!" Her mother’s voice cut through the air. Luris groaned.

"No way. It’s boring. Just invite Interle over here."

"Don’t be difficult. Meeting peers your age is good for you."

Knowing she couldn’t win, Luris trudged along reluctantly.

"Luris, hello!"

"Miss Luris, good day!"

...

Flatterers and admirers clustered around her. Luris gave curt replies, bored by their desperate attempts to grab her attention. *So tedious.*

"Yo, Luris."

Her troublemaking friend Interle finally surfaced after who-knows-what mischief. *First time at a party, and that cute face must’ve drawn a crowd,* Luris thought, though she shot Interle a wounded look. "Where’ve you been? Ignoring your bestie?"

Interle’s smile hypnotized every boy nearby. Luris scoffed inwardly. *You’d flirt with a demon in human skin? Brave souls.*

"Just... uh... asked someone for a favor," Interle said, coughing mid-sentence.

*You almost said ‘used’!* Luris rolled her eyes. As greetings flooded Interle, Luris felt a twinge of rivalry mixed with relief.

"Hey, Luris? Could you grab a red fruit for me? North side of the garden. I’m... stuck here."

*Translation: You’re bored. Go fetch.*

"Honestly, Interle—even if there’s no good fruit here, you don’t *have* to crave red fruit."

*Translation: These idiots annoy me. What’s my payment?*

"Luris! You know red fruit tempts me more than Magic Stones!" Interle chirped, waving off others. "Everyone, just chat! Don’t trouble yourselves for me."

*Translation: One Magic Stone. And I’ll clear your admirers.*

"Fine. Friends help friends, right?"

They exchanged knowing smiles. Luris dashed off; Interle resumed chatting. None there would ever guess a demon’s smile could mirror an angel’s...

Outside the villa, Luris sprinted north. *Interle’s up to something. Nothing’s ever this easy with her.*

At the red fruit tree, a green-haired boy stood frozen, his eyes wide with retreat.

"Someone’s here?"

*Seen him at parties before,* Luris noted, unimpressed by his timid aura. *Another of Interle’s pawns. Weak. Boring.*

"So this is the red fruit tree? Interle’s just too lazy to come herself."

She ignored him completely. His silence earned her faint contempt.

*Can’t climb it. Magic then—but catching it’ll be messy.*

Her gaze landed on the boy.

"Hey!"

"W-what is it?"

*How can anyone be this jumpy?*

"I’ll knock it down with magic. You catch it."

She braced for protest. He simply nodded and stepped under the tree.

Luris almost pitied him.

"Water Jade."

A beginner’s spell, cast wordlessly. Her aim was perfect—the fruit plummeted.

"Wah—ah!"

He caught it, then collapsed onto his rear. Luris sighed. *You’re a boy. Seriously?*

"Pathetic. Couldn’t even hold it? Is the fruit intact?"

He lifted it shakily. Unbruised. *One Magic Stone, free and clear.* She grinned.

"Interle owes me now. Hey—you. Grab the fruit. Let’s go."

His lack of flattery irked her less than his spinelessness. She commanded him like a servant.

He nodded, trailing behind her.

A black dog, over a meter long, burst from the woods—eyes bloodshot.

*Damn! Red fruit juice attracts low-tier Magical Beasts!*

Luris frowned. *Interle set this up. Wants me to clear her pests.*

As a peak E-Rank mage, she’d trained on E-Rank beasts. This mutt? Child’s play.

*Not playing your game, Interle.* She turned to leave—then froze.

The dog lunged not at her, but at the boy. He hadn’t moved.

"Ahhh—!"

He shrieked, paralyzed by fear.

*F-Rank?!* Luris didn’t think. She tackled him aside.

"Idiot!"

He flew backward. Heavy weight slammed onto her back.

*Pain!*

Worse—the dog’s jaws clamped her shoulder.

"AHHHH—!"

Blood soaked her clothes. Mana surged to the wound, but teeth sank deeper. Tears blurred her vision. She looked to the boy, desperate.

But his trembling terror choked her plea.

"What are you waiting for?! RUN!"

"I-I..."

His voice cracked. Pain drowned out his struggle. Her free hand clawed the dog’s face—useless. Jaws tightened.

*Done for. Interle... you really killed me this time.*

Just as hope faded, a roar shattered the air.

"RAAAAAAH—!"

The boy hurled the red fruit at the dog’s head.

*THUD!*

"Let her go! LET HER GO! DIE! DIE!"

"Whine... whine..."

The dog’s grip loosened. The boy smashed its skull again and again. The fruit burst. He switched to fists.

*Thud. Thud. Thud.*

Blood—hers, the dog’s, his—splattered Luris’s face. His hands bled freely. He didn’t flinch.

Luris stared, stunned. *This isn’t the same boy.* A fierce, self-destructive will radiated from him. *Only Mom, Dad... maybe Interle would do this for me. No one else.*

He knew he was weak. Yet he fought anyway.

Warmth flickered in Luris’s chest.

The dog’s weight went limp. Dead.

"Stop! It’s dead! Just—pull me out!"

Her shoulder throbbed. Mana drained fast. Without healing, blood would gush. *Need Mom. Now.*

He shoved the carcass aside. Relief washed over her. He lifted her up, face frantic. Luris had no words.

"I’ll carry you. Stabilize the wound with mana. We’re almost back."

Before she could react, he hoisted her onto his back and sprinted—faster than she’d ever run alone, let alone while burdened.

She watched the boy in silence, sensing he was different now. He wasn’t small or weak at all—he was strong, powerful…

Luris’s cheeks flushed slightly as she gently leaned her head against the boy’s shoulder…

Back at the villa, Luris’s mother rushed to treat her wounds. Interle was startled too; this time, he didn’t cause trouble and wore a deep look of regret.

The boy, however, paid no mind to his own injuries. After handing Luris to her mother, he simply left.

At every gathering afterward, Luris never spotted that boy again. Even after learning his name, she never saw him.

Not until she turned ten, at a Sloth family gathering, did she see him once more. He seemed popular, surrounded by chattering girls.

He looked troubled, then suddenly noticed Luris. Ignoring the girls, he brushed past them and walked straight to her.

Luris was stunned—his mana level nearly matched hers! Both had reached the peak of Rank D!

He stopped before her, visibly excited. Taking a deep breath, he blurted out:

"Luris, go out with me!"

Her heart surged. Joy bubbled up, her lips almost curling into a smile—but thinking of the other girls, her words twisted:

"Hmph. You’re not even as strong as me. Why would I date you?"

His expression dimmed instantly—then brightened again just as fast.

"Fine. I’ll get stronger!"

With that, he left the gathering without sparing the girls a glance.

Warmth filled Luris’s chest. He really did like her.

A year later, he broke into Rank C while Luris still hadn’t advanced. When he confessed again, shyness flooded her—but she refused once more. Undeterred, he pushed harder.

Slowly, Luris realized: his talent far outshone hers. He was pulling further and further ahead…

By the time she reached mid Rank C, he’d already hit Rank B. Noble girls began surpassing her too.

Luris finally understood—she was the weak one. Her rejections weren’t about him; they were about herself. She wasn’t worthy of him. Staying would only chain him down.

When she remained stuck at peak Rank C for two full years, he’d already reached peak Rank B. Even the lazy Interle had caught up to her, while she still saw no path to Rank B…

For six years, he confessed endlessly. She refused every time. Fear gripped her—she couldn’t stay in the West. What if her very existence held him back?

So she ran. Choosing Central Magic Academy over the Western one he attended…

…

Under the Bone Dragon’s oppressive aura, Luris’s body trembled. This helplessness dwarfed even that day the black hound had mauled her.

*Just give up…*

Suddenly, she saw Juben step in front of her. His own frame shook with fear—but he stood between her and the beast!

Luris’s eyes snapped wide.

*How much longer will I run?!*

Juben never stopped fighting. So what if she was stuck at peak Rank C? Step forward!

*Liking him—letting him find someone else—that was all lies. Don’t I want to stand by his side more than anyone?!*

*Liking him—I won’t let go! I won’t keep hiding!*

*Only I belong at his side!*

The trembling stopped. Luris walked to Juben’s side and slowly wrapped her right hand around his left.

His trembling hand stilled instantly.