In front of these two “sticky rice cakes,” all pride vanished into thin air!
The surrounding whispers and snickers became even more obvious.
“Pfft—look at Senior Freya’s expression! She looks so pitiful, yet I really want to laugh!”
“Are Senior Sophie and that white-haired assistant competing for her favor?”
“I never thought Senior Freya would have a day like this… I guess even the most powerful genius can’t withstand a senior’s passion and an assistant’s clinginess?”
“They seem to get along really well…”
Listening to the surrounding discussions, Freya felt her face grow even hotter.
She took a deep breath, trying to use her last bit of logic to maintain an image that was on the verge of collapsing.
“…I can eat by myself. You two… should eat properly, too.”
She tried to make her voice sound calm and steady, but the slight tremble at the end of her words betrayed her embarrassment.
Perhaps her “order” finally had some effect, or perhaps Lyra was distracted by other delicacies on her plate (she had her eye on a cake drizzled with thick chocolate sauce), or perhaps Sophie felt she had teased her enough.
The two finally loosened their grip slightly, giving Freya a bit of breathing room.
Freya took the opportunity to quickly pull back her hands and pick up her knife and fork. She buried her head in her work, focusing on cutting the roasted lamb leg on her plate as if it were the most important task of her life. She tried to use the food to isolate herself from the overwhelming “passion” and “attachment” on both sides.
However, the peace was only temporary.
When Freya finally finished the food on her plate and prepared to take a sip of black tea to catch her breath, Sophie leaned in again, lowering her voice mysteriously.
“Freya, dear, I heard that Raymond got scolded by Professor Mabel this afternoon. He was even punished and sent to clean up the Magic Residue on the outskirts of Whistling Canyon. He won’t be back for 3 to 5 days. But with his vengeful personality, he definitely won’t let this go. You and your Little Wolf Cub really need to be careful lately.”
At the mention of serious business, Freya’s expression turned serious, and she nodded. “Thank you for the warning, Senior. I’ll be careful.”
Hearing Raymond’s name, Lyra’s ears immediately perked up.
She even forgot to swallow the cake in her mouth, saying unclearly, “That big guy still dares to come? Next time, I’ll definitely beat him until he can’t get up!”
As she spoke, she waved her small fist.
Watching her fierce yet cute appearance, Sophie couldn’t help but want to reach out and pinch her face again.
“Oh, the Little Wolf Cub has ambition! But Raymond’s strength isn’t just about his size; his Berserk Thunder Sword actually has some merit. Do you want me to teach you a few moves specifically for dealing with that power type?”
“I don’t want you to teach me!” Lyra dodged nimbly and shrank behind Freya again, but her eyes involuntarily drifted toward Sophie’s arms and waist, which looked full of power.
‘Is she a little tempted?’
After all, the understanding of combat Sophie had shown that afternoon, combined with Professor Mabel’s effortless Space Magic, had made her realize that the fighting styles in the Academy might be different from the Black Market Fighting she was familiar with.
Freya watched the interaction between the two, and the irritation of being stuck to “sticky rice cakes” dissipated quite a bit without her realizing it.
Although their methods were suffocating, Senior Sophie’s concern was sincere, and Lyra’s protectiveness came from the heart.
In this crisis-ridden environment, having such wholehearted—even if sometimes overly passionate—supporters…
‘Perhaps… it’s also a form of luck?’
Of course, it would be even better if they could find a way to express it that wasn’t so “hands-on.”
“Alright, is everyone full?” Freya put down her teacup, trying to regain control.
“It’s getting late. It’s time to head back.”
“Mmm… I still want to eat a pudding…” Lyra looked at the dessert area longingly.
“Let’s go. We’ll come back tomorrow,” Freya stood up, her tone brook no argument.
Only then did Lyra reluctantly put down her fork, but she immediately stuck to her again, clutching Freya’s hand tightly.
Sophie also stood up with a smile and naturally walked to Freya’s other side.
Thus, under the complicated gazes of numerous students in the canteen, Freya was once again “sandwiched” between two vastly different but equally clingy “sticky rice cakes” as she walked out with heavy steps.
The night wind was slightly cool, blowing away the noise of the canteen and the smell of food on their clothes.
Freya looked at the two figures on either side of her—one tall and bright, full of vitality; the other small and alert, yet full of attachment.
The road ahead might still be full of thorns, with conspiracies and dangers lurking in the shadows.
But at least for this moment, the feeling of being stuck to these two “annoying” but “warm” sticky rice cakes…
‘Doesn’t seem too bad?’
‘Probably.’
Freya sighed silently in her heart, tightened her grip on Lyra’s hand, and accepted Sophie’s company by her side.
The night wind was gentle, and the streetlamps along the Academy path cast a warm yellow glow, stretching the shadows of the three long and thin.
Just after escaping the suffocating “sticky rice cake pincer attack” in the canteen, Freya hadn’t even had time to breathe a sigh of relief when she heard Sophie speak enthusiastically.
“Freya, dear, Little Wolf Cub, do you have any other plans? Do you want to go to the Training Ground for some activity? I can guide you—”
Before her words could finish—
“SO—PHIE—!!!”
A roar like that of a wounded bear, carrying rolling rage, suddenly exploded from behind them! The voice was thick and rough, full of unquestionable authority and… burning anger!
Sophie jumped in shock, her neck shrinking as the smile on her face froze instantly.
She stiffly and slowly turned around to look at the source of the sound.
Freya and Lyra also turned back at the same time.
At the end of the path, where the lamplight met the shadows, a man as towering as an iron tower was standing there.
He wore the deep brown uniform of a Practical Combat Department instructor, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing bronze arms with bursting muscles and faint veins.
He was about a 40-year-old man with a buzz cut, a square face, and a wide mouth.
His chin was covered with short, steel-gray stubble.
At this moment, his weathered face was flushed red with anger, and his thick eyebrows were knitted into a tight knot.
A pair of copper-bell-like eyes glared fixedly at Sophie, the jumping anger within them almost ready to burst out!
Lyra believed that if anger could turn into physical flames, the man in front of her would definitely be burning from head to toe, becoming a walking human torch!
The overwhelming pressure, mixed with the scent of gunpowder, sweat, and violence, made her subconsciously lean closer to Freya, her red eyes narrowing alertly.
Freya also recognized the newcomer—one of the Practical Combat Department’s famous Devil Instructors, Kanaya Park.
He was known throughout the Central Academy for his strict, almost cruel training methods and his explosive temper.
He was also Senior Sophie’s main instructor in the Practical Combat Department.
It was said that he had a love-hate relationship with Sophie, a student who was exceptionally talented but had a flighty personality.
At this moment, Instructor Kanaya was clearly dominated by the “hate” side.
A smile that was uglier than crying appeared on Sophie’s face, filled with a hundred and twenty percent guilt.
Her voice dropped several octaves. “In… Instructor Kanaya… Good… good evening… Have… have you eaten?”
“Eat your head!”
Instructor Kanaya took a step forward, his heavy boots making a dull thud on the ground.
He took three steps in two, instantly crossing the distance of more than 10 meters, arriving before the three of them like a moving mountain.
More accurately, he blocked the path of the retreating Sophie.
He looked down, his copper-bell eyes almost spitting fire as he stared at Sophie, who was more than a head shorter than him.
His voice squeezed out from between his teeth with a dangerous low tone.
“Did I tell you this morning—Sophie Teka! That after you got back, immediately, right now, at the first moment, you should crawl to my office to give a detailed report on your combat status, magic consumption, special circumstances, and all your gains from this field mission! You! This morning! You were already back, weren’t you?!”
The last few words were practically roared out, with spit almost flying onto Sophie’s face.
Sophie shrank her neck again, her eyes darting around as she tried to find an excuse. “That… Instructor, I… I just got back and needed to rest and adjust my state… And look, I ran into my cute Junior Freya and her little assistant, so we’re bonding… Tomorrow! First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll definitely find you! I swear!”
She held up three fingers, sounding determined, but her shifting eyes clearly showed she was making it up.
“Tomorrow? I’ll believe you when ghosts appear!” Instructor Kanaya’s mouth twitched violently, and the veins on his forehead popped out.
“When have you ever not said ‘definitely tomorrow’? And then you turn around and disappear to who-knows-where! Bonding? I think you’re trying to take your junior along to cause trouble! Enough talk! Now! Right now! Immediately! Get over here!”
After saying that, he didn’t give Sophie any more chances to argue.
He reached out with his large, fan-like hand covered in calluses and scars, and with incredible precision, grabbed Sophie by the back of her collar like a hawk catching a chick!
“Ouch! Instructor! Gentle! The clothes are going to tear! I can walk by myself!” Sophie was lifted until her feet were almost off the ground, her hands and feet flailing in struggle, but Instructor Kanaya’s arm was like an iron pincer, unmoving.
“Shut up! One more word and tomorrow’s training volume will be tripled!” Instructor Kanaya threatened fiercely, hauling the struggling Sophie away as he turned to leave.
However, even while being carried through the air like a little chick, Sophie stubbornly twisted her head and gave a brilliant but slightly distorted smile to the dumbfounded Freya and the gloating Lyra, waving her hand forcefully.
“Freya, dear! Little Wolf Cub! I’m leaving now! See you tomorrow! Remember to miss me—!”
Instructor Kanaya’s eyelids twitched.
He put more force into the hand carrying her, practically dragging her away from the scene.
All that remained was a string of Sophie’s exaggerated “ouches” and Instructor Kanaya’s irritable scolding, gradually disappearing into the depths of the night.
The path returned to silence.
Only Freya and Lyra remained, along with the lingering anger left by Instructor Kanaya and the overly energetic aura left by Sophie.
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