Immediately afterward, that figure charged straight toward Freya like a whirlwind!
It was a tall, alluring young woman wearing a fifth-year student’s deep blue academy uniform with gold trim.
She had dazzling, fiery reddish-brown long curly hair tied into a high ponytail that bounced cheerfully as she ran.
Her honey-toned skin was healthy and radiant, her features were bright and bold, and her amber eyes were currently curved into delightful crescents.
Most striking of all was her curvaceous, impressively proportioned figure, especially her chest, which swayed like surging waves as she ran…
It was truly impossible to ignore.
This was Senior Sophie Teka, one of the star students of the fifth year at the Central Magic Academy, famous for her powerful Melee Magic and her fiery personality.
Though she came from a commoner background, she had risen to the top ranks of the Academy through extraordinary talent and hard work.
She was cheerful and enthusiastic, showing unreserved intimacy toward those she acknowledged.
She especially loved — or rather, loved “teasing” — her junior, Freya, whom she viewed as “both cute and powerful.”
“Freya, sweetie, it’s been so long! I missed you to death — !”
Sophie completely ignored the various gazes from the surroundings.
She didn’t even see, or perhaps didn’t care, that a strange white-haired girl was sitting next to Freya.
She opened her arms like a large dog pouncing on a favorite doll and dove in.
Without a word, she pulled Freya — who had just looked up from her seat and hadn’t yet reacted — into a firm, tight embrace!
“Mmph — !”
Freya felt her vision go dark as her entire face was instantly buried in an exceptionally soft, warm, and elastic “ocean.”
A familiar scent of soap, carrying the essence of sunlight and a faint hint of sweat, mixed with the slight singe of Fire Magic Power to envelop her entire being.
The overly intimate and “full” sensation caused Freya, who always prioritized etiquette and personal space, to go blank for a moment.
The tips of her ears were instantly stained a faint red.
“You-you-you-you-you — ! Let go of my Boss!!!”
A sharp exclamation, nearly breaking into a screech like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, exploded next to Freya’s ear!
Lyra bounced off her chair like a spring.
Her red eyes were wide and round, filled with shock, anger, and a brand of hostility resembling a beast whose territory had been invaded.
She pointed at Sophie, her finger trembling.
She had never expected someone to be so “bold” and “shameless” as to carry out such an… “attack” on her Boss!
However, Sophie was deaf to Lyra’s roar.
She simply hugged the “fragrant and soft” junior in her arms even tighter, even vigorously rubbing her smooth cheek against Freya’s fluffy violet hair, letting out a satisfied purr like a large feline.
“Ooh~ Freya, sweetie, you always feel so good. So fluffy, so cute, so cute~ *nuzzle nuzzle*~”
“Se… Senior Sophie…”
Freya’s voice was muffled by that “softness,” making it weak and strained.
She struggled in vain, only to find that the Senior’s arm strength was incredible; she couldn’t break free at all. Instead, she was held tighter, her cheeks forced to endure the pressure of that overly “generous” softness.
“I… I can’t breathe…”
“Ah! Sorry, sorry!”
Sophie seemed to realize she had overdone it. She hastily loosened her grip slightly, but her hands remained wrapped around Freya’s shoulders. Her amber eyes sparkled as she looked down at Freya’s flushed, slightly oxygen-deprived, and dazed face. The smile on her face grew even more brilliant.
“I was just so happy to see you, Freya! I heard you weren’t feeling well a while ago. Are you better now? Did any of those blind fools bully you? Tell me, and I’ll help you beat them up!”
As she spoke, she brandished a fist in a show of force.
Sparks faintly flickered on the surface of her fist, displaying her genuine Fire Magic Power.
Freya finally managed to breathe fresh air.
She clutched her chest, steadying her racing heart and the heat in her cheeks, as she looked at the overly enthusiastic Senior with some helplessness.
“I… I’m fine now. Thank you for your concern, Senior.”
“Good to hear!”
Sophie slapped Freya’s shoulder hard, the force causing her to wobble slightly.
Only then did she finally seem to notice the white-haired, red-eyed girl standing nearby, who was still in a bristling state and staring at her like a hawk.
“Eh? Who’s this little shrimp?”
Sophie tilted her head curiously, sizing up Lyra. Her gaze lingered on the girl’s unusual hair and eye color, then shifted to her fierce expression that screamed, ‘Try touching my Boss again.’
“A new junior? Or… Freya, sweetie, is she your little lackey?”
Her tone was teasing, as if she found Lyra’s huffing and puffing quite amusing.
“I am the Boss’s assistant! Lyra!”
Lyra stepped forward, nearly wedging herself between Freya and Sophie. She looked up at Sophie, who was much taller than her, like a puppy guarding its litter. Despite the vast difference in size, her momentum did not falter.
“You! Stay away from my Boss!”
“Assistant?”
Sophie raised an eyebrow, followed by an even more interested smile.
“Wow, Freya, sweetie, you finally found an assistant? And such a cute, feisty little thing!”
As she spoke, she actually reached out, seemingly wanting to pinch Lyra’s puffed-up cheek.
“Come, let your Senior get to know you…”
“Don’t touch me!”
Lyra dodged nimbly, her red eyes nearly spitting fire.
This sudden ‘Big Chest Monster’ (the code name Lyra had given Sophie in her heart) had not only “attacked” the Boss but now wanted to lay hands on her, too?!
“Senior Sophie, Lyra is my assistant and also… a friend.”
Freya spoke up at the right time.
Her voice had regained its composure, though the flush on her ears had not yet fully faded.
She gently pushed away Sophie’s hand, which was still resting on her shoulder, and took half a step back to create some distance.
“Senior, did you just return?”
“Yeah! I just got to the Academy this morning!”
Sophie’s attention was successfully diverted. She put her hands on her hips with a proud expression.
“Cleaning up that group of troublemaking Goblins and those few blind Rock-Armored Beasts took quite a bit of effort this time! But the harvest was good; I found a few high-quality Fire Crystals!”
She couldn’t help but lean in toward Freya again, lowering her voice secretively.
“By the way, Freya, sweetie, I heard… things haven’t been peaceful in the Academy lately? It seems some blind fools are targeting you? Do you want me to help you ‘stretch your limbs’ a bit?”
Her words were pointed, clearly indicating she had heard the rumors about Freya rejecting the Crown Prince and being intercepted.
Freya felt a warmth in her heart, knowing Senior Sophie truly wanted to protect her.
But she didn’t want to drag more people into this mess, especially someone like Sophie, who had a relatively simple background and a bright future.
“Thank you, Senior, but there’s no need for now.”
Freya shook her head, offering a reassuring smile.
“I can handle it.”
“Fine! I know you’re capable!”
Sophie didn’t push it. She ruffled Freya’s hair again — naturally, under Lyra’s gaze, which looked ready to pounce and bite someone.
“But if anything happens, be sure to find me! If anyone dares bully our Central Academy’s precious genius, I’ll be the first to refuse!”
Just then, the school bell rang clearly.
Professor Mabel walked into the classroom with a composed gait, her lesson plans tucked under her arm.
Seeing Sophie standing by Freya’s seat, she pushed up her glasses and offered a gentle smile.
“Sophie, you’re back? It seems you had a good harvest.”
“Professor Mabel!”
Sophie immediately straightened up and gave a salute, her smile bright.
“Yes, Professor! I just got back and came to see my junior, Freya, first!”
“Mm, return to your seat. Class is about to start.”
Professor Mabel nodded. Her gaze swept over Freya, Lyra, and Sophie. She seemed to deduce something, but she didn’t say much more.
Only then did Sophie reluctantly wave to Freya. She made a face at Lyra, who was still glaring at her, before walking back to the fifth-year section in the rear with light steps.
Order was restored to the classroom, but many secret glances toward Freya’s side remained full of gossip and curiosity.
Senior Sophie’s return, along with her unmasked intimacy and protectiveness toward Freya, undoubtedly added new fodder for the rumors surrounding the Genius Maiden.
Lyra sat back in her seat, fuming. She leaned toward Freya’s ear and spoke through gritted teeth in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“Boss! Who is that ‘Big Chest Monster’?! How could she… how could she hug you like that! And even rub against you!”
Her tone was filled with the indignation and anger of someone whose territory had been violated.
Freya rubbed her temples, feeling a bit of a headache as she explained in a low voice.
“Senior Sophie is a good person. It’s just that… her personality is very enthusiastic. She used to look after me a lot.”
Although that method of “looking after” her was indeed a bit much to handle sometimes.
“Hmph! I don’t like her anyway!”
Lyra puffed out her cheeks like a hamster that had hoarded too much food.
“If she dares to do that again next time, I… I’ll bite her!”
Freya: “…”
On the podium, Professor Mabel had already begun the lecture.
Freya forced herself to concentrate, pulling her attention back to the complex magic formulas.
However, her cheeks seemed to retain the sensation of being squeezed by that softness, and Lyra’s exasperated grumbling echoed in her ears.
The afternoon sun was warm, shining on the open pages of her book. Academy life was truly always full of “surprises.”
Lyra, meanwhile, had lost all interest in the lecture.
She hadn’t missed the faint red on the tips of Freya’s ears.
For some reason, she just didn’t like Freya having that kind of reaction. Or rather, she didn’t like Freya feeling shy because of that kind of person.
‘I’m not one bit inferior to that Senior at all!’
‘I’m the Boss’s person! I have a close relationship with the Boss!’
‘That Senior can’t compare at all!’
However —
Recalling Senior Sophie’s “surging waves,” Lyra self-consciously felt her own chest.
It seemed… the gap was a bit too large.
But Lyra quickly attributed this difference to the fact that she was still young.
She believed that once she reached Freya’s age, she would definitely be just as curvaceous!
‘I’ll be even bigger than Senior Sophie!’