Celicia walked into the classroom, and the first thing she saw was Mu’en, hands outstretched as if trying to grasp something, while in front of him, Teacher Fulan was shrinking beneath the blackboard, saying something like, “Though the Duchess is very alluring, teacher-student relationships are unacceptable.”
This scene…
Celicia raised an eyebrow and looked at Mu’en, saying, “Am I coming at a bad time?”
“…”
No, you arrived at just the right time…
Although Mu’en wanted to say this, how could he? If he did, Celicia might very well chop him into minced meat.
“Well… that…”
Mu’en forced a smile from his stiff face and said to Celicia:
“I mean, this is a misunderstanding. Do you believe me?”
“A misunderstanding?”
Celicia glanced at the other students in the classroom.
At this moment, the classroom had turned into complete chaos.
The male classmates were dumbfounded, looking at Mu’en in shock, as if he were a model of behavior they needed to learn from.
As for the female classmates… they had already taken out their recording stones to capture the magical moment, excitedly chattering about “The fourteenth ship, the fourteenth ship has appeared.”
“I see, it really could be a misunderstanding.”
Celicia’s voice grew a bit cold.
“To be misunderstood by the entire class, you really are something, Mu’en Campbell.”
“Although it sounds hard to believe, the truth is just like that!”
Mu’en tearfully explained:
“It’s just a misunderstanding!”
Who knew that Teacher Fulan had such a wild imagination? He only wanted her to give him a lesson from the beginning, but she thought he was trying to flirt with her?
How did those two ideas connect?
“…Fine, Mu’en Campbell.”
Celicia lowered her eyelids and said,
“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or whether you’re really unable to change and confess to anyone, it doesn’t concern me, does it?”
Celicia stopped paying attention to Mu’en and walked to the podium, sweeping her gaze over the entire classroom.
“The introduction to the basics of magic… There should be one hundred and three students present, and there are indeed one hundred and three present. Hmm, all accounted for.”
“Let’s go, Wei Er, to the next classroom.”
“Wait, Celicia, you’re not angry, are you? Just let me explain!” Mu’en tried to salvage the situation.
“Why would I be angry?”
Celicia suddenly turned back, her expression icy, like an ancient iceberg, completely unchanged.
“What kind of person are you to me, Mu’en Campbell? Why would I be angry at you?”
“…” Mu’en opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.
Fiancé?
If those words were spoken, they would only make Celicia more disgusted.
After that incident, Celicia was already enough of averse to him.
“Let’s go, Wei Er.”
Celicia turned around.
Without looking back.
Just as she stepped out the door, the girl behind her with her hair styled in a bun suddenly turned her head and spat.
“Eh—tui! Scumbag!”
“…”
Mu’en weakly extended his hand, wanting to plead, but he couldn’t even find a reason to save the situation. He could only watch Celicia’s back, feeling a pang in his heart.
Something felt off.
…
…
“Hmph, I told you, that Mu’en Campbell is nothing but a scumbag. He already has such a perfect fiancé like the President, yet he still has the audacity to fool around outside.”
Back in the student council room, Wei Er was shaking her little fists in frustration.
In her eyes, Mu’en Campbell was completely an unreasonable guy.
If anyone else had someone as perfect as Princess Celicia as their fiancé, they’d be laughing in their dreams.
Yet that Mu’en Campbell just didn’t know how to cherish such a blessing earned over several lifetimes. He was juggling thirteen boats, and no octopus could do it as ruthlessly as him!
He wasn’t afraid he would end up splitting himself one day!
“President?”
Wei Er tilted her head in confusion because Celicia was sitting behind the desk, unusually daydreaming.
“Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought. Did you say something?”
Celicia came back to her senses, apologetically.
“What were you thinking, President?” Wei Er asked curiously.
“…I was recalling what just happened.”
“Eh? Just now? What’s there to think about?” Wei Er said, pouting in confusion. “Could it really have been that Mu’en Campbell was wronged?”
“…”
Celicia fell silent.
Indeed, the chance of being wronged was very low, because that scene earlier looked like a despicable scumbag reaching out to innocent and pitiful Teacher Fulan.
However…
Excluding the atmosphere at that time and the subjective emotional factors, Mu’en Campbell’s actions did seem a bit unnatural.
Was that really the gesture of a confession?
And that expression he had at that time…
“Slap.”
Celicia suddenly slapped her cheek hard, leaving a clear red palm print on her fair face.
It startled Wei Er.
“Celicia Leopold, why do you still let your emotions affect your thoughts? How unbecoming.”
Celicia lowered her head, her silver lashes fluttering like twinkling stars.
She would go back and properly ask Teacher Fulan about it.
…
…
“Sigh, what a situation.”
After class, Mu’en walked alone down the path to the cafeteria.
He felt a bit sad.
Not only because he was misunderstood by Celicia but also because his long-planned first step as a freshman, the first class, ended up inexplicably distorted and ruined.
After Celicia left, the class descended into even more chaos. The girls shrieked, the boys whooped; the only teacher who could maintain order… was cowering behind the podium, trembling.
Until Professor Plon, who had finished handling things, returned.
And then he erupted in fury.
He berated everyone thoroughly.
He ordered every student to submit a ten-thousand-word self-reflection within three days, or they would have their credits deducted.
Except for Mu’en.
That’s right, Mu’en was exempt.
Although Professor Plon looked like he wouldn’t be satisfied unless Mu’en wrote a hundred thousand-word confession, when he understood the ins and outs, he found…
Mu’en really was innocent.
Even though he was the main culprit… he really hadn’t done anything wrong.
He just wanted to seek knowledge; he only wanted the teacher to start from the beginning with the content in the book. What could be wrong with that?
Such a thirst for knowledge was something Professor Plon valued highly.
So the usually strict and staid Professor Plon, at this time, found it hard to pick at Mu’en and could only let him leave with a face that looked like he’d eaten a fly.
As for Teacher Fulan, after Mu’en’s explanation, she also realized everything was her misunderstanding.
However, afterward, her face turned even redder, looking completely unable to face Mu’en.
“It seems impossible to learn this subject well in class now; I must think of another way.”
Mu’en rubbed his face, boosting his spirit.
This little setback wasn’t enough to make him back down.
…
After having lunch in the cafeteria, Mu’en went straight to the college library.
The librarian was a beautiful upperclassman with a well-endowed chest and a teardrop beauty mark at the corner of her eye, exuding a touch of charm.
As Mu’en passed by, he briefly glanced at her but didn’t dare to look any longer.
Study! Study! Eliminate distractions!
He arrived at the magical book section.
The library’s vast collection was a bit overwhelming for Mu’en, but with the help of some seemingly thoughtful little signs on the shelves, he found the book he wanted.
“I wonder who wrote these.”
Mu’en looked at the elegantly written little icons and couldn’t help but smile:
“It must be someone very gentle.”
…
He brought the book to the reading area.
“Detailed Explanation of the Basics of Magic.”
This was the book Mu’en found.
Since it was a detailed explanation, the content would naturally be more straightforward and detailed than what was in the textbook, making it more suitable for a novice like Mu’en to learn.
“Since there’s no teacher to teach me, I’ll self-study!”
Determination shone in Mu’en’s eyes.
Nothing could stop his pursuit of knowledge—nobody!
…
“Ah, I can’t do it anymore.”
Half an hour later, Mu’en gave up.
Not that the self-study method was ineffective, but suddenly he realized…
This way was just too slow.
After spending half an hour, he had only just figured out who the ancient-level Grand Sorceress Meladomir from a thousand years ago was and how monumental her achievements were. He suddenly realized that he had only learned the prologue of the prologue.
And it was also the part of the entire book that required very little understanding, just memorization.
Like the biographical introduction of a mathematician in a higher mathematics book.
But the biography of a mathematician was not really an important thing; that kind of stuff was hardly tested.
What mattered were the formulas, theorems, and symbols they left behind.
And those formulas, theorems, and symbols were the things that would drive people to baldness while learning.
It wasn’t that Mu’en couldn’t do it; it was just that if Mu’en tried to tackle this entire Basics of Magic book alone, by the time he looked up…
“Congratulations, student! Six years have flown by, and you’ve managed to graduate! Here’s your degree certificate; take it and get lost.”
Professor Plon would surely say such things to him and mercilessly kick him out of the school.
What was the point of learning magic then?
“No, I must find a teacher to teach me.”
But who to find?
Teacher Fulan wouldn’t want to see him, and Professor Plon… He probably would have his blood pressure rise the moment he saw Mu’en, and given his temperament, if Mu’en didn’t understand anything and went to him for class, it would either result in a casualty or the education sector would lose a pillar.
But what about other magic teachers… he wasn’t familiar with them.
Wait a minute.
Why does the person who teaches me have to be a teacher?
Mu’en suddenly had a flash of insight.
As long as someone could teach him this subject, anyone would do, right?
For example…
Mu’en’s sharp gaze swept through the library, finally landing on a female student in the corner diagonally across.
She was wearing large black-framed glasses, her hair styled in braids, and was engrossedly reading the book in front of her.
At a glance, she looked like the perfect obedient student.
“Hmph, such a student seems easier to tempt.” Unconsciously, Mu’en revealed a villainous smile.
…
“This classmate.”
Shali Fland was totally immersed in her favorite book when she suddenly heard a gentle voice.
Is someone calling me?
She looked up in confusion and found herself staring into a pair of sapphire-like gentle eyes.
As she was about to be captivated by those eyes, her gaze widened, and she finally saw the full profile of the person in front of her.
Her pupils trembled!
Mu’en Campbell!
That scion of the Duke and the ultimate scumbag!
What is he doing here?
Shali was stunned for a moment and immediately stood up.
No… no, I must run away quickly, or else… or else…
“Wait, wait, wait, don’t go, don’t go yet…”
Mu’en gave a helpless smile and stopped Shali.
“Rest assured, I’m not trying to scam you or hit on you; I just have one thing I need your help with.”
“W-what is it?” Shali hugged her book, shrinking back.
“Um, it’s just…”
Mu’en thought for a moment and then carefully asked:
“Classmate, do you need money?”
“Need… need money?”
Shali was slightly taken aback, and her hands instinctively tightened around her clothes.
It wasn’t that she was in dire need of money.
After all, her family was just ordinary commoners. If it hadn’t been for a chance discovery of her talent by a certain teacher at St. Maria, she might not even have the opportunity to study here.
But St. Maria was not an ordinary academy, and even though she had the teacher’s support, her everyday life was very tight.
But even if I’m in need of money, what does it have to do with you, the duke’s son born with a silver spoon in your mouth?
Commoners also have their dignity.
Shali’s expression turned slightly cold.
She pushed her oversized black-framed glasses and said:
“My need for money has nothing to do with Young Master Campbell. If you have nothing else, I’ll take my leave; I have class soon.”
“No, no, no, I didn’t mean to offend you; what I mean is, would you like to earn some extra money while studying at the academy?” Mu’en hurriedly clarified.
“Extra money?”
Shali’s footsteps that were about to leave suddenly halted, and she turned back to look at Mu’en, her eyes clearly showing a hint of suspicion.
As a child from a poor family, who wouldn’t want to earn some extra money to help support their family while studying?
However, St. Maria was ultimately just an academy, and opportunities to make money were few and far between, and even if there were, they were mostly controlled by upperclassmen, not accessible for someone like her in the lower grades.
Yet, the rumors about Mu’en Campbell still kept her on guard.
“So… Young Master Mu’en, what’s it about then?”
“Actually, it’s not a difficult task at all.”
Seeing the girl showing a hint of interest, Mu’en couldn’t help but smile and said:
“I just don’t know if you have time after class or in the evenings to give me some private tutoring.”
“Private tutoring?”
Shali’s eyes widened suddenly, “One-on-one? Alone?”
“Exactly, one-on-one.”
Though Mu’en didn’t understand why the girl was stressing this aspect, he obediently nodded.
“Then… what will the lesson be about?” Shali asked, trembling.
“Um, it’s obviously about studying. Although I personally want to learn a bit more comprehensively, I must take your status as an exemplary student into account. I’m just wondering… eh? Classmate, are you all right?”
Mu’en suddenly noticed that the girl’s cheeks had turned bright red.
What’s going on? Is it hot in the library?
“Le-learning… exemplary student…”
At this moment, it was as though the primordial universe had exploded in Shali’s mind, countless thoughts spilling forth.
Learning?
That studying Mu’en Campbell mentioned… could it be proper studying?
Moreover, private tutoring, after class, one-on-one?
In this instant, various unspeakable stories and fantasies flickered through the innocent girl’s mind.
After-class of the exemplary student.
Secret Tutoring
Glasses girl’s temptation.
Student uniform
Sure enough! That Mu’en Campbell must have ulterior motives!
“Uh… if you’re worried about compensation, it’s actually not an issue.”
Perhaps feeling his sincerity wasn’t sufficient, Mu’en said earnestly:
“You can name any price, as long as you agree to help me with lessons.”
“…”
He even wants to corrupt my soul with money!
“I’m not that easy, you know!” Shali shouted excitedly.
“Eh?”
Mu’en was taken aback.
Easy?
What’s easy about it?
Giving him a class, is it that easy?
But before he could ask, Shali suddenly raised her foot and kicked Mu’en on the calf.
“Money isn’t everything, you pervert!”
“Ah?”
Before Mu’en could react, a sharp pain surged through his mind.
“Ugh—so painful!”
“Pervert! Scumbag! Go die!”
After scolding Mu’en a few times, Shali hugged her book and hurriedly ran away.
Leaving Mu’en crumpled on the ground, clutching his leg and writhing in pain, his face a mix of agony and confusion.
Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?
Why am I being called a scumbag again?
What did I do to that girl? Why does she hate me so much?
Mu’en’s expression was dazed, his eyes filled with the confusion of someone who, despite not having a girlfriend, was being scolded as a scumbag every day.
Just then, a fragrant breeze approached.
A figure blocked the light.
Mu’en instinctively looked up and was stunned.
A mature girl stood in front of him.
Her hair, casually tied back, fluttered over her voluminous waves. Her eyes were as clear as crystals submerged in water, slightly lifted at the corners, and just below her right eye was the perfectly placed teardrop beauty mark. So when her eyes curved slightly, it exuded an indescribable charm.
Her figure was also exceptional, her waist slender like a serpent, especially the curve of her hips hidden under her tightly fitted uniform, which sparked a myriad of fantasies.
And on the silver nameplate at the chest of her uniform, it read her name.
Anna Cabin.
“Anna Senior…”
Looking at the figure in front of him, Mu’en couldn’t help but swallow.
Though he had just glanced earlier, such an eye-catching beauty was hard to forget.
She was the librarian!
“This classmate, you know that loud noises are prohibited in the library.”
The girl gazed at Mu’en, her lips curling into a gentle, neighborly smile.
But in that moment, Mu’en felt a chill.
…
…
“Oh my, oh my, is that so?”
After hearing Mu’en’s account, the gentle librarian girl propped her chin and chuckled:
“It seems I misunderstood you, junior. Just now I thought you were sexually harassing that poor girl and was contemplating whether I should quickly call a teacher over or sneak up on you in a righteous surprise attack.”
“Of course not!”
Mu’en rubbed his leg with a pained expression, almost in tears:
“I was the one who was victimized!”
This kind of thing has happened multiple times; he hadn’t done anything wrong but was seemingly always met with fate’s iron fist.
Something was off; in most stories, did the villain not usually punish innocent and pure little girls? Why was he always being punished by innocent and pure little girls?
Fortunately, after enduring it so many times, he had become somewhat resilient.
It was just a kick from a little girl, right? He could tough it out.
“Eh? Anna Senior?”
While Mu’en was deep in thought, he suddenly saw Anna crouch down in front of him, her delicate fingers gently rubbing his calf, softly kneading the muscles.
The incredible sensation made Mu’en feel a slight itch in his heart; his cheeks immediately flushed, and he instinctively struggled a little.
“Don’t move.”
Anna Senior said gently.
Her soft voice seemed to possess a powerful charm.
Mu’en immediately forced himself to stop his trembling calf and allowed Anna Senior to touch him.
“Such a good boy.”
Anna Senior smiled slightly.
At the same time, a warm light glowed in her palm, and a wave of warmth flowed deep into his muscles, even to his bones.
Within a few breaths, Mu’en felt the pain in his calf completely disappear, leaving him with a sense of lightness he had never experienced before.
“What is this…?”
“Just a simple healing spell.”
“Thank you, senior, but it really wasn’t necessary…”
“Take better care of your body; it’s important.”
Anna interrupted Mu’en with a serious expression.
But immediately after, her lips curved into a playful smile:
“Otherwise, if you hurt your body, you won’t be able to be a scumbag.”
“…”
Mu’en’s smile, which had just begun to form in response to Anna Senior’s smile, immediately froze. Rubbing his nose, he awkwardly laughed:
“So you recognized who I am too.”
“Mu’en, you’re quite a celebrity.”
“I thought I was only famous in the second year.”
Mu’en scratched his head, and right as if remembering something, he looked at Anna Senior in confusion and asked:
“But since senior knows who I am, why do you still dare to approach me? Didn’t you hear that girls who heard my name would run far away, just like that girl did?”
“Of course, they run, because in their eyes, you, Mu’en, are the very definition of a scumbag. They fear being deceived by you, which is why they naturally keep their distance.”
“But—”
Anna Senior sat down in the chair next to Mu’en, suddenly leaning closer as her warm breath brushed against him.
She leaned in close to Mu’en’s ear, exhaling like orchids, and asked softly in a voice laced with allure:
“Do you think, just because of that… you can trick me?”
“Ugh—”
Mu’en couldn’t help but lean back, taking a sharp breath.
This Anna Senior was on a whole other level!
“Pfft.”
Seeing Mu’en’s awkward dodging, Anna covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes slightly curved; that beauty mark enhanced her allure:
“How strange, clearly a legendary scumbag, yet why do I feel that you, junior, are quite innocent? You certainly don’t act like a scumbag at all.”
“Because I’m not a scumbag at all!”
Mu’en exclaimed angrily:
“Those are just rumors spread by others! I’ve never even had a girlfriend!”
“Really? That’s quite a pity.”
“A pity?”
“Actually, I find it quite interesting to experience what it’s like to be a top-notch scumbag that makes half the academy’s girls feel frightened.”
Anna licked her lips, her gaze shifting playfully.
“… To be honest with you, senior,”
Mu’en suddenly puffed his chest, unbuttoning one button of his uniform, and with a charming smile, said, “My handsome face hides a heart of a beast. Becoming a top-notch scumbag is certainly within reach, so, senior, you…”
“Nice fantasy, huh.”
Anna rolled her eyes at Mu’en. “I’m just joking; I’ve never had a boyfriend either~”
“You! Bad woman!”
Mu’en had an expression of heartache from being deceived.
“Senior, are you really playing with my pure heart? How can you live with yourself?”
“I’m a bad woman,”
Anna said with her chin resting in her hand, smiling.
“Bad women have no hearts.”
“…”
It’s over.
This woman is certainly on a different level. He couldn’t win this round.
Just as Mu’en was preparing to retreat and wait for another chance to fight another day, his peripheral vision caught sight of the little icons on the bookshelf that had helped him find the target books.
He suddenly asked:
“Those little icons…?”
“Hm?”
“Did you make those, senior?”
“Yes,”
Anna glanced over casually and said, “I made them when I was bored.”
“Senior, you’re really gentle.” Mu’en sighed.
“Hmm?”
Anna looked surprised at Mu’en’s compliment, “You think I’m gentle?”
“Of course.”
Mu’en blinked: “You helped me heal my injuries, and you’re the one who put up these helpful little icons on the shelves to help classmates find books. Also… you must have been using a soundproofing spell to avoid disturbing others in the library.
Isn’t that gentle?”
“Gent… gentle?”
Anna laughed lightly. “No one has ever said that before.”
“Oh? Then how do others usually describe you?” Mu’en asked, intrigued.
“They say…”
Anna spoke slowly, but at the crucial moment, she changed her words and flicked Mu’en’s forehead with a finger, mockingly saying:
“You’re trying to get me to spill my secrets, you little rascal.”
“Tsk.”
Mu’en clicked his tongue in regret.
“So close!”
“However,” Anna suddenly tilted her head and said, “since you complimented me for being gentle, I could tell you, too.”
“Cut it out; do you think I’ll fall for it? I’ll tell you, the Holy Warriors…”
Mu’en was stunned.
Because Anna suddenly leaned forward.
Very close.
Close enough to sense each other’s breath.
Close enough to peek through Anna Senior’s clear eyes into the extremes of darkness.
“Snake.”
“They say I’m a snake.” Anna’s red lips moved as she said this.
“Oh.”
Mu’en nodded dumbly, but when he came to his senses, Anna had already returned to a normal distance.
As if she had never been close.
“Snake, huh.”
Mu’en nodded.
“Not bad.”
“Not bad?”
Anna showed a slightly surprised expression for the first time: “Snake is not a good title for a woman, you know.”
“Is it?”
Mu’en crossed his arms and seriously nodded: “But I think it’s good because… snakes eat mice, and I’m most afraid of mice.”
“…”
Anna scrutinized Mu’en until his serious expression became somewhat stilted. She suddenly burst into laughter.
“Mu’en, you’re really an interesting person.”
“Is that so? If I can make you smile; that’s wonderful,”
Mu’en excitedly rubbed his hands together. “There’s something I want to tell you, actually…”
“You want me to tutor you, right?” Anna said as if she had anticipated it.
“Eh?”
Mu’en was taken aback, then awkwardly scratched his head:
“Senior knows?”
“I’m not deaf. I heard your conversation with that junior girl, and also…”
Anna fixed her gaze on Mu’en, a teasing smile appeared:
“When a man actively talks for so long with a strange woman, it’s either that hormones are taking over, or there’s definitely another goal, don’t you think?”
“Nonsense.”
Mu’en straightened his face and slammed the table to voice his protest.
“Perhaps I was attracted by your charm, senior?”
“… Mu’en Campbell.”
“Hmm?”
“Perhaps you really have the potential of a scumbag.” Anna Senior’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and she said.
…
…
“So then, what’s the answer from senior?”
Mu’en looked awkward, like a primary school student ready to answer questions, and asked expectantly.
“Well…”
Anna tapped her lips, considering:
“It can be done, but… I can’t just help you for free, can I?”
“I have money!”
Mu’en declared boldly:
“One million!”
Anna was taken aback, then looked at Mu’en with a strange expression:
“Mu’en, do you know that even the best private tutors in Bairland wouldn’t cost that much?”
“Knowledge is priceless.” Mu’en asserted.
“Hahaha… I’m surprised you said something so naive,”
Anna chuckled lightly, propping her chin and scrutinizing Mu’en.
Until her captivating gaze made Mu’en feel a bit uncomfortable, she finally stood up and said:
“Let’s forget about money. Since you called me senior, it feels a bit odd to charge you.”
“Then what is the compensation I should pay…?”
“Just owe me one for now.”
“Owe?”
“Yes, owe.”
With her hands behind her back, Anna suddenly leaned down to look directly into Mu’en’s eyes.
The charm from her beauty mark was mesmerizing.
“So, when I want it someday, you can’t refuse, okay?”
With a tempting tone, it felt like a devil’s contract.
But inexplicably, Mu’en nodded.
“Alright, senior.”
…
…
“Alright, we’ve arrived.”
Once the librarian’s work was done, Anna took Mu’en to a corner of the club building.
Mu’en looked up at the nameplate above the door.
“Ancient—Magic Potion Society? Our academy has this kind of club?”
“We do, but it’s normal that you haven’t heard of it.”
Anna pushed the classroom door open.
In that moment, a strong wind rushed towards him, and sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows directly, making Mu’en squint for a moment.
As his vision slowly recovered, in a hazy daze, he vaguely saw that little devil-like Anna Senior, in that moment, tidying up her messy hair, exposing a somewhat desolate expression:
“After all—this society only has me.”
“Only one person?”
Mu’en exclaimed in surprise:
“Isn’t one-person clubs not allowed to exist?”
“Not allowed, of course, but the termination period for a club is one year. That means if I don’t find new members within this year, then this club will be disbanded.”
“I see…”
A one-person club… It felt rather lonely.
“So…”
Anna turned back to him, smiling:
“Junior, do you want to join our Ancient Magic Potion Society?”
“Me?”
Mu’en was taken aback but quickly became serious.
“Is this the compensation that senior wants from me?”
“No, this is a choice.”
Anna’s expression was unusually serious as she stared into Mu’en’s eyes and said:
“Even if the Ancient Magic Potion Society is on the brink of dissolution, I won’t force anyone to join. So, Mu’en Campbell, you should experience it yourself and then decide whether or not to join our Ancient Magic Potion Society.”
…
…
“The Ancient Magic Potion Society, huh?”
Walking the path back to the dorm, Mu’en sighed lightly while holding his head.
“I have no idea what it’s all about.”
Due to time constraints, Anna only took him to see the location of the Ancient Magic Potion Society, and as for what the club activities were… Mu’en hadn’t had any contact at all.
Just from the name and those intricate instruments seen in the classroom, he could roughly guess it was a club focused on crafting ancient magic potions.
Quite serious.
“But what the clubs do isn’t important for now.”
What’s important is…
“I finally found a teacher who can teach me the basics of magic!”
If it weren’t for the other passersby on the road, Mu’en wouldn’t have been able to restrain his joy and shout.
Finally!
Finally!
After working so hard, he had resolved the biggest obstacle on his path to becoming a good student!
From subsequent communications with Anna Senior, it was known that even in the fifth grade, Anna was among the top students. With her teaching him, how could he not improve his scores?
The only worry was that Anna Senior was so beautiful that it might distract him from studying.
“But for me, Mu’en Campbell, that’s all minor details.”
Mu’en couldn’t help but smile confidently:
“A man who truly loves learning doesn’t get distracted by mere beauty!”
Watch me maintain my focus without faltering for a second.
“Hmph, hmph—”
With that thought, Mu’en hummed a tune on his way back to the dorm.
…
Today, I’m really happy.
Nothing can stop my joyful heart.
…
“Please, Mu’en Campbell, report to the student council.”
“Repeating, please, Mu’en Campbell, report to the student council.”
“Huh?”
Upon hearing the voice from the magical announcement, Mu’en was instantly stunned.
His happiness vanished in an instant.
“Why am I being called to the student council at this time… It doesn’t feel like good news.”
Thinking about the events that occurred today, Mu’en felt an ominous premonition in his heart.
…
…
“I’ll cut to the chase.”
In the student council room, Celicia sat behind the desk, hands clasped under her chin, looking at Mu’en, who was shivering a little in his seat, and asked seriously:
“Mu’en Campbell, do you have any information regarding the report about the sexual harassment incident that was filed recently?”
“None! Absolutely none!”
Mu’en firmly denied it: “I was focused on studying hard all afternoon and had no idea such a heinous act had occurred.”
“Really?”
“Of course it’s true!”
Mu’en nodded vigorously, then indignantly said:
“How could someone dare to sexually harass a little girl in broad daylight? If I had witnessed such a thing, I would have taught the offender a lesson about what justice is with my own hands!”
“Is that so?”
Celicia’s tone suddenly turned somewhat meaningful.
“It really makes me glad that you have that conviction, Mu’en Campbell.”
“Haha, it’s only right…”
“But…”
Celicia fixed her gaze on Mu’en, her expression becoming slightly cold:
“Did I ever say that the victim was a little girl?”
“…N-no, was I wrong?”
Mu’en’s expression stiffened as he asked.
“Of course, you were wrong.”
Celicia pushed a document in front of Mu’en. When he turned to look, he was shocked to see it documented recent incidents of underwear theft occurring in the boys’ dormitories.
Men?
Underwear theft?
Why do those two words sound so jarring when paired together?
“I thought you lived in the boys’ dormitory, so you might know something, which is why I called you here, but now it seems…”
Celicia narrowed her eyes, her gaze scrutinizing Mu’en:
“Mu’en Campbell, it seems you’ve done something else wrong as well.”
“… No, of course not.”
Mu’en shook his head emphatically, then forced a smile:
“Why would I do something bad? I’m a good student now.”
“A good student?”
Celicia raised an eyebrow. “That term is quite rare to see associated with you.”
“Not rare, not rare! Haha…”
Mu’en awkwardly chuckled in response, but then saw Celicia suddenly leave her seat and walk toward him.
This made Mu’en tense up.
What’s happening?
Did she discover my lie?
Is she finally going to unleash her wrath and chop me into pieces?
Help, my spouse is plotting against me…
“What would you like to drink?”
“Eh?”
“Eh what?”
Celicia walked past Mu’en and shot him a cold glance:
“I asked what you wanted to drink. By the way, I don’t have any black tea here.”
“… If you don’t have it, that’s good. I don’t drink black tea.”
Mu’en gave an awkward smile: “Coffee, coffee will do.”
“Alright.”
Celicia lightly nodded and walked aside, skillfully preparing the coffee.
Before long, two steaming cups of coffee were placed in front of Mu’en.
When he picked up a cup, he could smell the enticing aroma wafting through the air.
“Wow, it smells great.”
Mu’en exclaimed in surprise:
“I didn’t expect you to know how to make coffee.”
“It’s just brewed coffee using boiling water on ground beans. Anyone can do it.”
Celicia stirred her coffee and added a generous amount of sugar that made Mu’en’s eyelids twitch.
“Do you want sugar as well?” Celicia asked.
“No, no, no, I’ll just have it black.”
“Is that so?”
Celicia continued adding sugar to her coffee.
After Mu’en felt that Celicia’s stirred coffee was getting a bit thick, she lifted her cup and took a small sip.
“Ah…”
In that moment, Mu’en noticed genuine delight for the first time in Celicia’s expression.
So you like your coffee this sweet, huh? This wasn’t mentioned in the original narrative.
Mu’en thought to himself while silently lifting his coffee. Just as he lowered his head, he heard Celicia say:
“Sorry.”
“Hmm?”
Mu’en looked up in surprise: “What did you say?”
“I said, I’m sorry.”
Though it was an apology directed at someone she had once looked down upon, Celicia’s expression didn’t show a hint of emotion or embarrassment. She looked seriously into Mu’en’s eyes.
“I apologize for not having heard your explanation earlier. I truly am sorry.”
“…”
Mu’en was somewhat taken aback. He hadn’t expected Celicia to apologize over this matter.
“It’s… it’s nothing. I truly didn’t take it to heart.”
“It’s not about whether you did it or not; if I made a mistake, I must apologize.”
Celicia returned to her seat. “Earlier, I went to find Teacher Fulan and Professor Plon again and learned the truth from them. You didn’t do anything wrong today. On the contrary, you were a victim yourself. The cause of all of this was simply the prejudice surrounding you.”
“Right…”
Mu’en gave a wry smile.
He didn’t even know when he would be able to shake off the “scumbag” label.
At least he hoped it wouldn’t be a case where a little girl would run away upon seeing him.
“So in light of this, I have a suggestion.”
“Hmm? What suggestion?”
“It’s very simple.”
Celicia set her coffee down, gazing at Mu’en sincerely:
“Mu’en Campbell, would you like to join the student council?”
Mu’en was taken aback: “Is this an order?”
“No.”
Celicia replied:
“This is a choice.”
