Huh? What the hell!?

A Glory Fan Club for the Violet Count’s Young Master?

Damn it! What is this?

Maur froze—his own portrait stared back from the application form.

So this so-called “Violet Count’s Young Master” really *was* him!!!

“Damn it, what is Mavis up to?”

Only a week apart, and that guy was already stirring trouble. Sure, it was called the “Glory Fan Club,” sounding like some fan group set up by Maur’s admirers.

But the founder was *Mavis*—no way this was above board!

And another thing.

“Mavis is a third-year! How did her application end up mixed with the freshmen’s?” Maur gritted his teeth.

If he hadn’t seen it, fine. But *of course* he spotted it.

Damn it… he couldn’t stop wondering what this Glory Fan Club really was.

“Eep!!!” Tabitha ducked her head guiltily, as if trying to vanish into the floor. “I-I’m so sorry, Master Maur! I saw Master Mavis’s recruitment notice… got curious… and copied it without thinking!”

Th-That was *Master Maur’s* fan club! To Tabitha, joining it felt like stepping straight into heaven.

She was already his follower—but to share every little detail of his life with like-minded companions, basking together in Master Maur’s gentle, heartwarming glow…

*Sniffle*… Just imagining it made her dizzy with joy.

Maur stared at his little follower in disbelief. “D-Damn it! You’re not actually planning to join this shady group, are you?”

No way! No way!!

“You’re *my* follower—how could you betray me to join something Mavis founded?!”

Aaargh! Infuriating! That damn Mavis was poaching his follower!

“N-No! I’d never betray you!” Tabitha’s tail swished anxiously; her amber eyes welled with tears. “No matter what happens, I’ll follow Master Maur forever! *Sob*…”

Crying.

Crying!

…Tch. What a hassle.

Maur waved irritably. “Forget it. I’ll let it slide. Too noisy—stop crying.”

“*Sob*…” The timid fox girl kept weeping, drowning in sorrow.

Her tears gave him a headache. He shot her a fierce glare.

“I said *stop*! Too noisy, too noisy—stop crying!”

“Cry again, and I’ll toss you out!”

“Eep!”

The crying ceased. Only faint sniffles remained.

After a moment, Tabitha calmed. She glanced shyly at Maur—then shifted into beast form.

A palm-sized fox with fiery-red fur, soft as velvet. Maur could cradle her in one hand.

She nuzzled his feet like a kitten seeking affection, head rubbing his ankle, tail looping his calf.

“Hmph. Such a flattering fox.”

Maur bent down, palm hovering near the floor.

Tabitha leaped onto it without hesitation.

“Why so tiny?”

Even for a fox, her size was abnormal—smaller than a house cat.

He lifted her closer. Her fur shimmered with subtle golden light under the sun, smoother than ordinary animals. Fluffy. Plush. Adorably petite.

“Not bad. Kinda cute,” he muttered offhandedly.

Held too high, the little fox trembled slightly, front paws clinging tight to his palm.

As Maur brought her near, Tabitha lifted her head.

Their eyes met.

Maur blinked—was that *adoration* in a fox’s gaze?

“M-Master Maur…”

He set her down, losing interest.

The application for Mavis’s Glory Fan Club still lay on the desk.

He still couldn’t shake his curiosity.

Mavis definitely had ulterior motives.

Before, he’d have confronted her instantly.

But after *that* incident… every time Mavis looked at him, a chill ran down his spine—as if watched by a ravenous monster. Unsettling.

No way he’d go near her.

Yet… this fan club nagged at him.

Maur tapped the desk, thinking.

A swaying fiery-red tail entered his view.

“Ah—got it!” He waved. “Follower. You wanted to join Mavis’s fan club? I permit it.”

He couldn’t go—but he could plant a spy.

“From today, you’re my mole. Infiltrate that Glory Fan Club. Watch their every move.”

“If they plan anything shady, report to me *immediately*.”

Perfect.

…Though, would this timid follower mess up?

He eyed her doubtfully. “You’ll be fine, right?”

Tabitha’s mind spun.

W-What a turnaround!

Master Maur was *allowing* her to join *his* fan club!

Yay! Master Maur is the best!!!

A flush spread across her face. “I absolutely, *absolutely* won’t fail you, Master Maur!”

She could join Master Maur’s fan club!

…Though the president was Master Mavis. It sh-should be fine, right?

…Right?

Reassured, Maur nodded. “Go submit your application. Stay undercover until the festival.”

He added firmly, “Report *anything* suspicious the moment it happens.”

Tabitha bowed deeply. “Yes, Master Maur!”

*(…What counts as ‘suspicious’?)*

Unaware of her doubt, Maur skimmed the freshmen’s activity forms, flagged a few, then dove back into the magic notebook gifted by the Forest Fey.

…This notebook cost him a grueling week. He *had* to crack it.

Damn it. Being targeted again and again… all because his magic wasn’t strong enough.

Once he hit Lv.4 and stepped through transcendence’s door—he’d make those bastards pay.

First: master this spatial teleportation magic.

Days passed. Maur buried himself in research; Tabitha settled into the fan club.

Yet no reports came—almost as if the club truly was ordinary.

Time flew.

The night before the Initiate Festival.

At Violet County Manor, Maur was drifting toward sleep.

A knock. Daina entered, holding four uniquely styled envelopes.

Names on them: Lilith. Mavis. Tabitha. Even… Evelyn!?

“Invitations, young master—four total,” Daina said, handing them over with a wry smile.

“You’re so popular. Everyone wants a date with you. So… who will you be seeing tomorrow?”