“You want everything right from the start? Aren’t you greedy. The wager has only just begun.”
Lomio had already picked out the information.
“If I’m not mistaken, the reason you’re working so hard to rack up credits—even coming to first-years for help—is to use the Reincarnation Mechanism to resolve your race problem, right?”
“Heh… So you even know about reincarnation?”
“At first I thought Kafnir was behind you, but now it seems…”
Although Sylvia had anticipated that Lomio was far from simple—maybe even the core of that team—she was still shocked at his familiarity with the Academy’s deeper mechanisms when she heard this.
“Lomio Arkady, you’re not an ordinary freshman at all.”
“What do you mean by ‘ordinary’? All dolled up like a pretty boy, hoping to attract the attention of heiresses like you?”
Lomio went on,
“Please. They can’t compare to me. But if I had to become like that, I’d rather die early and reincarnate as soon as possible.”
“One thing, Senior. If you lose to me this time, the credits you need for reincarnation will go up in smoke.”
“I’ll lose? You really are arrogant.”
“I’m just stating the facts.”
Lomio reached out and filled the glass in front of him with water.
“The method you’re thinking of can indeed change your race, maybe even unlock two Blessing Talents. But I have an easier way.”
“While it can’t completely change your bloodline, if you use it right, when your emotions fluctuate, you won’t have to worry about those sudden dragon scales popping out again.”
“That’s what really matters to you, the reason you suppress your emotions, isn’t it?”
Lomio looked at Sylvia’s face.
“Just like now, living like a fake person.”
The beautiful, flawless girl who always wore a polite smile yet kept everyone at arm’s length—now, under the combined effect of the charm aura and provocation, her face began to break out in a cluster of fine, dense scales.
At Lomio’s words, Sylvia instinctively touched her cheek.
Sharp and hard, like armor—like scars.
Whenever these scales appeared, it meant Sylvia would have to shut herself away, spending hours to calm her mind until they disappeared.
Few people liked sly merchants; someone with scales on their face was despised even more.
In this world where gender boundaries blurred, and even women could bear children with each other, these scales were both the proof of the Valentine family and its curse.
A torment that would never end within her heart.
“I know you want the method, Senior. But before that…”
Before Sylvia could speak, Lomio waved his hand, sending the witness contract into the Talent Tree’s storage and heading for the door.
“We both need to prove our worth. Only then can we talk about the future, right?”
“You can’t win.”
“If it’s a duel in the arena, I certainly can’t win now.”
Lomio smiled as always.
“But when it comes to earning credits, I’m a professional.”
“Fine, very well…” Sylvia’s vertical pupils narrowed to slits. “Let’s see if you can keep that arrogant attitude two weeks from now.”
“Whether it’s selling your body or tricking people out of their money with sweet words, I’ll show you through the proper channels what happens to those who underestimate others.”
“Senior, you’re really confident.”
Lomio turned back, looked at Sylvia, smiled gently, and let the charm aura take full effect.
“I like that about you. That over-the-top confidence.”
“If you can pull it off, then make me your slave.”
“When the time comes—be it information or my body—whatever you demand, I’ll give it all to you.”
“I’ll devote everything I have.”
After saying this, Lomio saw a sudden patch of scales burst forth on the back of Sylvia’s hand. With a light, languid turn, he left the room.
The dragon-blooded girl stood alone, her hand clenched into a fist, those perfectly maintained, deliberately trimmed nails pressing deep marks into her palm.
“Good.”
After a long time, Sylvia whispered to herself, the sound of the scales on her cheeks softly scraping together in her ears.
She had to admit—when Lomio said those things, images flashed through her mind that she normally would never consider, things beyond description.
She always thought women obsessed with men were just fools ruled by their base desires.
But now, Sylvia felt her own defenses start to waver.
This man was certainly special enough.
He was like the largest, most dazzling gem lying at the very top of a pile, pouring forth his brilliance in every way possible.
Inviting her—the dragon—to break through that not-so-impenetrable barrier and claim him as her own.
“Then let’s see you try.”
She told herself so.
Clack.
The door closed behind Lomio.
“You seem quite pleased, Lord Lomio?”
From the shadows, Anne emerged and curtseyed, lifting her skirt.
“Do you need me to remove any lingering traces from your body?”
“No such deal was made.”
Lomio could easily hear what she was hinting at.
“I just invited our dear Senior to play a little game, that’s all.”
“Such boldness. Seems you didn’t lose your shorts this time.”
“Bold? Your move was the bold one—handing me two hundred credits in one go. Aren’t you afraid I’ll cheat you?”
“Don’t worry, Lord Lomio.”
Anne shook her head.
“Besides being a maid, I’m also quite skilled at causing accidents, cleaning up messes, and making people disappear in ways no one expects.”
“That’s very reassuring.”
Lomio was quite satisfied with this threatening reply.
The little wildcat hadn’t turned into a docile kitty overnight—it meant he’d paced his use of the charm aura well last time.
If Anne ever pounced, shouting ‘I can’t live without Lord Lomio!’ and started, say, epic-level inhaling of his clothing…
Just imagining it, Lomio almost lost his composure.
If she liked huffing things, so be it—it was much better than being a pervert.
“I’ve got a task for you: keep watch on Sylvia. Don’t let her notice, and report back to me in real time.”
“In two weeks, I’ll double your credits as payment.”
“By the way… Starting from the fourth week, it’s the prep period for the Academy’s second major exam. Don’t tell me you don’t need credits to improve yourself.”
“I’m doing this for His Highness, not—”
“For His Highness again? When will you stop lying to yourself?”
Lomio was blunt.
“If I were Kafnir, I’d realize it’s terribly improper for a maid to go care for an unmarried man early in the morning.”
“Come on, Anne, admit it. You’re just itching to try making your own decisions.”
“…”
Anne’s eyes widened for a moment, then she lowered her head, still stubborn.
“That’s not true, Lord Lomio.”
“Fine, have it your way.”
Lomio shook his head and walked toward the other end of the corridor.
“His Highness never asked you to spy on Sylvia. Whatever you do, don’t report to me, or you’ll have way too much free will.”
“Of course, you’ll still get your original credits back.”
“But whatever you do, don’t follow my orders. Got it?”
This guy!!
Anne’s face instantly flushed bright red.
She thought she’d hidden her feelings well, cautiously probing Lomio’s secrets, yet he’d seen right through her!
And now, he was threatening her with a mountain of credits!
She could have stayed calm, taken things slowly—there was time.
But he even knew when the next Academy exam was!
“Bastard…”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“…”