The kitchen echoed with the rhythmic sound of chopping and the gentle bubbling of something simmering, releasing a series of strange, enticing aromas that crept into Kefi’s nostrils.
It was a complex fragrance she had never smelled before—rich, savory broth with a deep meaty aroma, mingled with a faint toasted grain scent, and an indescribable freshness beneath it all.
Sefina was making ramen, one of her favorite dishes from her original world. But Kefi wondered if she would even like it…
At this moment, Kefi sat upright at the dining table, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, her mind restless.
What should I do? What should I do?
What exactly is Teacher Sefina trying to do? She went through the trouble of bringing me home and cooking for me…
This is too abnormal! Could those rumors Mia mentioned be true? Is she really interested in female students…
No, no! Kefi, stay calm! Teacher Sefina only looks stern, but she’s actually quite kind. She even encouraged me to come this morning.
But… but this atmosphere of being alone together is just too strange!
This smell…
No, no!
I can’t be tempted by food! I have to stay alert—what if there’s something strange mixed into it?
Just as Kefi struggled internally, Sefina emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray.
On the tray were two steaming bowls of food, from which that rich aroma was radiating.
“I just threw this together, have a taste.”
Sefina placed one bowl in front of Kefi and sat down opposite her.
Kefi looked down and saw a large white porcelain bowl filled with milky-white broth, glistening faintly with oil on the surface. Inside were thin, curved noodles topped with a few thin slices of meat.
Nestled on the side was a soft-boiled egg with a slightly runny yolk, accompanied by several vibrant green vegetables and a sprinkle of chopped scallions.
The colors were inviting, and steam rose from the bowl.
What… what is this?
It didn’t look like bread, nor porridge, and certainly not any noodle dish she’d ever eaten. Yet the scent alone made her mouth water uncontrollably.
“How’s the taste?”
Sefina asked as she watched Kefi cautiously take a bite of the ramen.
The moment the noodles touched her tongue, Kefi’s eyes widened sharply.
The noodles were incredibly smooth and springy, infused with a rich wheaty fragrance and a distinctive alkaline water taste.
They absorbed the incredibly delicious broth fully, creating an indescribably complex flavor.
The soup was thick and rich—the savory meat, fragrant bones, and sweet ocean essence blended perfectly, sending a warm sensation radiating from her stomach throughout her entire body.
“Mm, mm, mm! So good!”
Kefi answered vaguely, no longer caring about manners or caution. Her instincts took over her reason, and she began slurping the noodles loudly, nodding repeatedly as if pounding a mortar.
As a commoner, her past meals had mostly consisted of dark bread, simple stews, and meat broth. She had never experienced such a refined and explosively flavorful delicacy.
In less than two minutes, Kefi’s bowl was emptied completely—the noodles, toppings, and broth vanished like a whirlwind.
“Another bowl!”
The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them, her cheeks flushed with satisfaction. But the moment she spoke, regret flooded in, her face turning crimson as she lowered her head awkwardly.
Oh no! What am I doing?! Asking the teacher for seconds is so rude! Am I doomed…
However, the scolding she feared never came. Sefina simply smiled faintly, apparently finding Kefi’s reaction amusing.
“Alright,” Sefina said, naturally taking Kefi’s empty bowl, standing up, and returning from the kitchen with a freshly filled, steaming bowl.
Kefi stared blankly at Sefina’s back, then at the steaming bowl in front of her again, a wave of emotion stirring inside her.
Did Teacher Sefina just… just smile?
In Kefi’s mind, Teacher Sefina was the type of teacher who never smiled—a rigorously stern woman.
But just now, she actually smiled, and so gently refilled her bowl?
Is this really the same cruel, merciless “devil teacher” who threw people out of windows during class?
She’s being so kind to me… is there an ulterior motive?
Kefi’s heart jumped again. But thinking back, aside from asking about the taste, Teacher Sefina hadn’t done or said anything inappropriate. There were no probing questions—just a normal meal together…
Could it… really be that she’s overthinking? Maybe Teacher Sefina is cold on the outside but warm inside?
For now, it seemed she could only take things one step at a time…
With mixed feelings, Kefi picked up her chopsticks once more.
Little did she know what awaited her next…
***
The Underground Training Room of Sefina’s Villa.
“Ah—! Teacher…”
“Teacher, it hurts so much, I can’t take it, please…”
“Waaah… Teacher, please have mercy on me…”
Kefi let out cries of pain, her arms aching from the sustained high-intensity magical output.
She felt as if all the magic inside her was being drained dry, her spirit pushed to the brink of exhaustion.
She was practically begging Sefina now, tears welling in her eyes.
Yet Sefina stood expressionless, her voice cold and hard as steel:
“Aim at the target, condense light element attacks, 100 times! Finish one set and start the next immediately, don’t stop!
“Don’t stop! Keep casting! Precision! Watch your precision! Your energy is dispersing again!”
“Before your magic runs dry, no stopping! Feel the condensation of the light element! Imagine it as an extension of your arm!”
Sefina was like the strictest overseer, relentlessly pushing Kefi without mercy.
She had originally planned to guide her using a more sophisticated “programmed magic” approach, but with limited time and Kefi’s relatively weak foundation, she had no choice but to resort to this simplest and most brutal training method.
Extreme training to squeeze out her potential, forcibly enhancing her control over the light element and her magical output strength.
As for whether Kefi could endure it…
In Sefina’s eyes, whether she could or not, she had to! Since she had recklessly accepted the Runaway Bet, she must pay the corresponding price.
Kefi’s heart ached bitterly. Her earlier illusion of Teacher Sefina’s “cold exterior but warm heart” was completely shattered.
It was a delusion! That smile had definitely been a delusion!
Teacher Sefina was still the same stern, cold, merciless demon teacher!
After nearly two hours of grueling training, Kefi was exhausted to the point of collapse, her body feeling as if it had been disassembled and reassembled.
Her magic reserves were nearly depleted, and her spirit was foggy.
Only when Sefina glanced at the slightly reddened bullseye scorched by Kefi’s light beams did she finally nod and utter the liberating words:
“That’s enough for today.”
Upon hearing this, Kefi’s legs buckled, almost causing her to collapse to the ground. She barely managed to steady herself by leaning against the nearby wall.
She glanced at the Magic Clock hanging in the basement; the hands were nearly pointing to eight o’clock.
Panting, she carefully said, “It’s getting late, so… Teacher Sefina, I should go back to the dormitory, or I’ll miss curfew.”
But the next words from Sefina hit her like lightning, freezing her in place.
“You’re not going anywhere. Take off your clothes and go take a bath.”
Sefina’s tone was calm, her wine-red eyes fixed on Kefi on the floor.
Kefi:!!!!!
Isn’t curfew not over yet?! Why is Teacher Sefina…
Could it be that all pretenses are dropping?!