“That man actually kept His Highness awake all night!”
“He acts like a brother on the surface, but in secret, he must be trying to seduce His Highness with honeyed words, throw her into confusion, and then lure her back to his room…”
“There’s no way he could see through His Highness’s disguise… That’s it, he must be bent!”
In the shadows, Annie gritted her teeth, her prejudices multiplying in her mind like the frenzied growth of an ancient god’s tentacles.
Yet she still had to restrain the urge to sneak up and drive a knife through Lomio’s heart.
Scum! Utter scum!!
Scheming against His Highness with nothing but lies and tricks!
His Highness is such a noble existence!
Annie couldn’t help but recall those endless days and nights curled up in the basement, waiting for salvation.
If Her Highness Karenina hadn’t cleaned out the corrupt nobles one last time in the name of the Empress before leaving the royal capital and rescued her from captivity—
She would probably have ended up as a plaything for those degenerates.
Such a most beautiful, most virtuous, most exalted Highness, must be protected by me!
At that moment, Karenina spoke to Lomio, “I have a companion I’d like to introduce to you.”
Last night’s scene had already been a hint from the examiner.
If she kept having Annie stalk and watch from the shadows, it would likely annoy the other party, which would do no good for the assessment or the alliance.
It would be better to switch roles and become official companions who could help one another openly.
“Oh?”
Lomio was a little taken aback by her use of “you” in the formal sense.
But then he thought, she’s a royal after all, always disciplined and formal—using an honorific made sense.
Such manners, honestly.
This group of lowbrow women in a matriarchal world has even forced such a high-class, handsome man into acting cold. How the world has changed.
“Come out, Annie.”
At “Kafnir’s” call, Lomio turned his head.
At the edge of a massive hallway pillar’s shadow, the air shimmered like ripples on water.
A petite figure peeled away from the darkness, silently manifesting.
It was a young girl in a gothic maid outfit.
“Greetings, Lord Kafnir… and Student Lomio.”
She lifted her black-and-white skirt and executed a flawless curtsy.
The lace at the hem fluttered lightly, revealing a pair of long, straight thighs encased in over-knee socks—the perfect “absolute territory” between skirt and stockings.
Her shoulder-length black hair was meticulously trimmed, making her doll-like face even more exquisite.
Yet her aura was completely at odds with her attire.
Rather than a maid serving her master, she was more like a deadly weapon sheathed in elegant scabbard—sharp and unapproachable.
Meeting her gaze, Lomio sensed an intense, stubborn emotion.
This feeling—he was all too familiar with it.
Another hunter-type woman.
“…”
A bead of cold sweat formed at Lomio’s temple.
Is this… also part of the [Charisma Aura]?
“She looks like a very reliable companion.”
Lomio reached out, took a sip of black tea, and maintained a calm exterior.
Come on, lady.
I haven’t even spoken a word to you, and you’re looking at me like that?
Just don’t sneak into my room at night…
Come to think of it, she looks kind of familiar?
Lomio searched his memory for a few seconds, then stopped worrying about the maid’s identity.
She definitely wasn’t in the SSR lineup, nor did she have any exclusive plotlines.
She couldn’t be farmed for magic crystals or credits, so he had no interest in remembering her. Good. That meant she had nothing to do with the protagonist.
Safe!
Approved for the party!
“Since she’s someone you trust, of course I agree.”
“But as there’s still one slot left, I’d like to choose that member myself.”
Lomio asserted his right at just the right moment.
Of course, with Lomio’s memory, he could dodge most teams, grab the “King” ahead of everyone, retreat early, and pocket two hundred credits.
But when it came to the party composition, there was still a crucial person he needed to “collect”—someone vital to the Credit Loan Plan.
For that, some small, controllable accidents were indispensable.
“All right.” Karenina nodded, a thoughtful gleam in her eyes.
Another test.
Her instincts and intuition told her so.
On the surface, “one slot left” was just asserting a right.
But bringing it up at this moment meant he had already targeted the specific talent the team needed.
“Who could it be?”
Karenina tried to follow that line of thought, mentally reviewing everyone she’d encountered thus far.
Given her own status as an “Frost Mage,” Lomio’s “Heir Examiner,” and Annie the “Royal Spy,”
Even without anyone else, they were more than enough to crush any other freshman team.
What’s more…
Karenina raised her eyes slightly, observing Lomio.
She clearly sensed that his aura had become even more enigmatic and powerful.
His secret trip out last night had definitely not been meaningless.
“Don’t overthink it. It’s not going to be anyone strange.”
Lomio, watching Karenina’s expression, spoke up:
“But when the test begins, I need you both to wait for me at the designated spot for ten minutes. You absolutely must not leave.”
“Student Lomio, are you in your right mind?” Annie’s suspicion was plain as day. “The exam lasts only an hour, and you want us to wait ten minutes in place?”
“To my knowledge, this is not a normal strength test. We might face other teams, and wild magic beasts as well.”
“If you can’t give a reason, I will refuse to cooperate.”
Her tone was icy; Annie was already restraining herself to finish speaking.
Ordering His Highness around!
I really want to stab him!
“Annie…” Karenina sighed, but didn’t rebuke the maid’s loyalty. “I have concerns as well. Please explain.”
“Understandable.”
Lomio nodded, having pretty much figured out the relationship between the two.
No wonder this Annie maid had disliked him from the very start.
She looked at her “brother” like she was ready to melt!
Total fangirl behavior!
“As for this test, your information is mostly correct, but as I mentioned earlier, there will be variables.”
“And I need time to set things up so the team can reach the loot’s location safely.”
“I’m asking you to wait because the new member won’t be joining us from the start.”
“Won’t join from the start?” Karenina realized something. “Are you waiting for another team to have an accident, or is someone entering midway?”
“For now, it’s just speculation.”
Lomio shook his head.
“I’ll do my best, but whether it works out or not is up to fate.”
He said that, but inside, Lomio was perfectly calm.
Up to fate?
If I can see the future, doesn’t that make me fate’s own chosen?
They’ll just have to watch my performance!
“Setting things up? Are you planning to set traps, or track magic beast activity?”
Annie just thought Lomio was selling a pipe dream.
“Even if you could, ten minutes wouldn’t be nearly enough.”
“You’ve hit the key point, but unfortunately…”
As he spoke, Lomio no longer concealed anything. With a flick of his wrist, he swept lightly across the table.
“Shhh—”
A thick stack of cards appeared out of thin air, neatly stacked on the table and glowing faintly with magical light.
“I never do anything unprepared.”