Chapter 23: Morning Chaos and New Faces

Seia washed herself in the river, then went ashore and changed into clean clothes.

“Benefactor…the Giant Magic Boar meat is roasted…”

The Armored Girl looked at her a little nervously.

“Oh, thank you.”

The freckled beauty Seia nodded, took the roasted meat, and bit into it fiercely.

The savory taste surprised her, so she took two more big bites.

“Benefactor, even though this Armored Girl is terrible at fighting, her roasted meat is pretty good, right?”

The Magic Staff Girl teased from the side.

“It’s really not bad.”

Seia licked her thumb and gave a thumbs up.

“It tastes a lot like Joey’s cooking.”

“Joey?”

The Armored Girl pressed.

“Sounds like a boy’s name. Is he your lover?”

Seia nodded expressionlessly.

“You could say he’s my childhood friend…”

“They say heroes are matched with beauties. Your childhood friend must be cute, right?”

The Magic Book Girl asked, gossiping.

“Very cute…”

Seia’s eyes grew a little cold at that.

“Speaking of which…”

The Armored Girl looked at Seia’s Bone Greatsword lying on the ground.

“Benefactor, if you can kill a Giant Magic Boar barehanded, using that greatsword you carry would be even faster, right?”

“Why don’t you use your sword?”

“Because…”

Seia thought for a moment.

“This sword shouldn’t be stained by such low-level monsters…”

“It was forged for Joey…”

“Eh? Can a boy even lift such a heavy sword?”

The Magic Staff Girl asked curiously.

“Lift?”

Seia looked up, a murderous glint flashing in her eyes and a twisted smile forming at her lips.

“This sword…”

“Is for tormenting him…”

The next day…

Morning Sun Academy, inside Joey’s Dormitory.

“Young Master, it’s time to wake up…”

Aiki stared coldly at little Joey, who was sleeping soundly across from her.

“Huff…let me sleep for ten more minutes…”

No one knew if the shota was talking in his sleep or awake.

He waved at Aiki, then turned over and went back to sleep.

“Ten minutes? There won’t be time for breakfast then…”

The cool beauty Aiki looked at Joey’s sleeping face, a little conflicted.

After all, time was tight. Aiki still had to help Joey get dressed and washed.

But…

The Young Master’s sleeping face…is just too cute…

“Just…two minutes, okay…”

Even in sleep, Joey’s voice was so soft and sweet, Aiki felt her heart melt.

Her expression remained icy, but motherly affection welled up in her eyes.

Aiki hesitated for a moment…

Watching Joey’s little mouth open and close as he slept, she swallowed unconsciously.

Then…

She gently leaned toward Joey’s ear, her cherry lips parting to reveal little vampire fangs.

She whispered:

“Young Master…”

“If you don’t get up, a vampire will eat you…”

“Mmm…”

Joey felt a tickle in his ear and pleaded in a soft voice:

“It’s ticklish…”

“Don’t do that…”

Uwah…

Aiki hurriedly covered her reddening face.

Looking at Joey’s cuteness, she almost burst out laughing…

Really…

Too cute…

Usually, the Young Master is so arrogant…

But now, he’s whining softly in front of me…

Big sister really loves Joey…

Can’t stand it, can’t stand it…

Like, like, like, like, like, like, like!

Aiki took a few deep breaths, pressing her hand to her chest to calm her heart.

But it only made her bolder…

“Little lazy Young Master…”

“If you keep being so naughty…”

“Aiki will have to eat you up…”

The usual cold white-haired beauty suddenly spoke like a carnivore.

“No…no…Joey…don’t get eaten!”

Joey mumbled in his sleep, his little hands starting to struggle.

“You…can’t escape…”

Aiki narrowed her eyes, pinning Joey’s restless hands to the bed.

Then she began to graze his ear with her fangs.

“Ugh…ee…it’s so ticklish…stop…”

The shota wriggled desperately.

“It’s not over yet…”

Aiki said, sticking out her tongue, preparing to attack Joey’s eardrum.

“No…Joey doesn’t want to be eaten…”

Aaah…

Young Master…

If you act like this, it only makes me want to bully you more…

Just as Aiki was lost in bliss…

“Eh…this looks fun…”

Beside them, the clueless Chiyang stood, watching the two with her chin in her hand.

“…”

Aiki’s face instantly turned cold again.

She stared at Chiyang for a moment.

“You…”

“What are you doing here?”

“Huh? I just thought it was interesting…the way the usually arrogant little guy looks when sleeping is really funny.”

Chiyang seemed amused. She pushed Aiki aside.

“Alright, alright! My turn to play!”

“Hey!”

Before Aiki could react, Chiyang pushed her away.

The red-haired beauty cracked her knuckles and climbed onto Joey.

Imitating Aiki, she brought her mouth close to Joey…

Then…

She bit down on Joey’s ear with her teeth, gnawing like she was chewing pig’s head meat, stretching Joey’s face into a ghostly expression.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!”

Joey woke up in shock, eyes wide in pain, and saw Chiyang biting his ear.

“You stupid dragon! What are you doing?!”

He shouted and punched Chiyang’s nose.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaa!”

Chiyang rolled on the ground clutching her nose.

“You brat! Don’t you know the nose is a dragon’s weak spot?!”

“How is that my fault?! Who told you to bite my ear like a psycho?! It hurts!!”

The shota yelled, kicking his legs.

And so, the two started wrestling.

Aiki watched the two fools nearly tearing apart the dormitory and sighed.

“Haah…”

“This will definitely make us late.”

Five minutes later…

Joey raised his arms as Aiki stood behind him, helping him into his jacket.

“Ugh…that hurts…”

Chiyang muttered, rubbing her swollen face.

“That’s what you get, you idiot dragon! Next time you get near me with your gross mouth, I’ll throw you out of here!”

The shota said through gritted teeth.

Standing behind Joey, Aiki gazed dreamily at the shota’s pale neck.

The Young Master’s scent…

So nice…

And so, the morning passed in noisy chaos.

“Hmm? I thought, because of yesterday’s Prophecy about the Saint Child, you’d want to leave school.”

Aiki bit into a tomato from the cafeteria and looked at Joey.

“I didn’t expect you to stay.”

“Or do you really believe what that drunk Warrior Instructor said last night? That she’ll protect you from becoming the Saint Child.”

“Ah…I wasn’t thinking that much…”

The shota shook his head.

“I just thought, even if I become the Saint Child, so what…”

“It’s not like anyone can beat me anyway.”

“They’re all just small fry…”

“…”

Aiki’s face darkened at Joey’s words.

She suddenly remembered the Prophecy she saw in the Crystal Ball.

Saint Child…

Could it have something to do with the Young Master’s powers disappearing…?

Will the Young Master become a puppet to be controlled…?

Aiki thought for a long while, then replied:

“I hope so…”

“Eh?”

Such a vague answer made Joey scratch his head, but he kept eating.

Since Aiki was in the Mage Academy while Chiyang and Joey were in the Warrior Academy, the three parted ways after breakfast.

But before they split up…

Aiki pulled Chiyang aside for a talk.

“Magic Dragon…listen closely…”

The white-haired beauty grabbed Chiyang’s collar.

“If you try anything against the Young Master during class…”

“Or if the Young Master ever says ‘no’ to you…”

I’ll twist your tail until it looks like a pig’s.”

“Huh? What are you talking about…I get along fine with Joey. You don’t need to worry.”

Chiyang didn’t get Aiki’s meaning and responded absentmindedly.

“Hey! What are you two dawdling for?! I’m going to class!”

Joey called out impatiently.

“Hmph!”

Aiki finally snorted and walked toward the Mage Academy.

Chiyang and Joey headed into the Warrior Academy.

The first class was a cultural studies session indoors.

Chiyang and Joey found seats in a stepped classroom.

“Eh? Aren’t you that kid from the other day?”

Just then, a familiar voice called out to Joey.

Joey looked up.

It was the lady from the training ground who had tried to play hero in front of him.

“Ah! It’s you!”

The shota waved and motioned for her to sit beside him.

“Hello! I’m Anya.”

The girl smiled warmly at Joey and extended her hand.

“Ah…I’m Joey.”

Joey shook her hand.

“The idiot…uh, this is Chiyang, my companion.”

The shota introduced Chiyang beside him.

“I remember. She’s the Outstanding Student this year.”

Anya turned to Chiyang, her expression becoming serious.

“…”

Chiyang stared at the girl, twitching her nose.

Then she looked at Joey.

“Joey, she smells like she wants to have ⭕ with you.”