《"What? I am supposed to become a Goddess? But I am a guy!"》


 Chapter 1: The beginning

    This book is different than the rest of the series that I am working on, it''s just a fantasy-fulfilling book, if ykyk. The update schedule for this one will be irregular.


    I had always wanted to write something different once in a while, so this one is fresh air for me to breath in, quite new to this type of trope. And it''s a light smut book, just a guy trying to survive by cross-dressing, and also getting himself in trouble while doing so.


    Ridiculous story line too, so yeah. Take note on that.


    Enjoy!


    <hr>


    The rain cascaded down in thick sheets, slicking the streets of the neon-lit city, the sound of droplets tapping against windows and pavement blending with the distant rumble of thunder.


    The clouds were a heavy, swollen mass, crackling with sparks, streaking across the sky like veins of light.


    Yet, despite the ominous weather, the city was far from dark.


    The neon glow that clung to every building, every sign, and every street corner illuminated the wet roads, giving them shimmer.


    Pinks, blues, and purples flickered, casting vivid reflections that danced in the puddles.


    The storm, fierce as it was, seemed a mere backdrop to the city.


    The streets below were alive, the gleaming cars slipping through the rain-soaked roads like sleek machines in a futuristic dream.


    Each brake light flared a deep crimson, casting a ghostly glow through the rain, reflecting off the glossy pavement like droplets of blood in motion.


    The city''s pulse was unrelenting, but the scene shifted, rising upward, zooming in toward a single apartment window that overlooked the bustling street below.


    As the perspective pushed through the glass, the soft hum of the rain outside seemed to fade, replaced by the quiet warmth of the room within.


    It was a small apartment, cozy but cluttered with the telltale signs of youth. The boy lay on a low bed, deep in sleep, his breathing steady, undisturbed by the storm.


    His room told a story all its own.


    The shelves on the wall were filled to the brim with action figures, comic books, and old gaming consoles, the dust collecting in the crevices of controllers that were abandoned long ago.


    A few trophies, some decayed, stood among the collection, likely from school sports or competitions. He was quite an active boy when he was in high school.


    Shoes were scattered across the floor in a chaotic array, sneakers mostly, some with their laces undone, others tossed carelessly under the bed.


    Near the bed, a simple wooden table stood, the surface cluttered with a mix of schoolbooks, half-done homework, and stray pens.


    A crumpled energy drink can be sat beside an open notebook, hastily scribbled notes visible under the dim light. A set of wireless headphones hung carelessly over the corner of the table, their blinking lights signaling they needed a charge.


    The closet, slightly ajar, revealed a row of hanging clothes, mostly hoodies, graphic tees, and jackets, all in muted tones of black and grey. This tells a lot of the boy''s character.


    A few pairs of jeans were folded haphazardly on the shelf above, while the lower section was packed with more shoes, stacked unevenly atop each other, some still in their boxes.


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    The window, which had let the perspective enter, was tall and wide, framed by thin curtains that hung loosely on either side.


    The glass was streaked with rain, blurring the view of the neon-lit city outside.


    The distant glow of billboards and streetlights filtered into the room, casting faint, multicolored patterns across the walls, a dazzling interplay of light and shadow that moved in time with the flickering lights beyond.


    The boy slept on, peaceful amidst the chaos of his room and the storm outside, wrapped in the quiet hum of the distant rhythm of the city.


    The moment''s tranquility was almost mesmerizing, just a boy, resting deeply, the rhythm of his breathing in sync with the patter of rain outside.


    It was the kind of peace that came after long, exhausting days at the Academy, the rush of commuting, and the relentless grind of assignments.


    His body was draped in thick, soft sheets, enveloped in sleep comfort.


    The hum of electronics, the distant noise of the city''s neon lights, and the steady rain all contributed to a world that felt momentarily frozen, peaceful.


    Then, without warning, a voice, not from the room, not from outside, but from somewhere else entirely¡ªshattered the stillness.


    "[Commencing awakening protocol, please host, wake up.]"


    The voice was mechanical, yet oddly soothing, with a strange human like tone behind it.


    The boy''s eyes snapped open in a heartbeat, wide with confusion.


    He lay there, disoriented, his body still caught in the transition from sleep to wakefulness.


    His mind struggled to process what had just happened.


    Or whatever he had just heard. Like a muffled voice that had called out from the other side of the mirror, he was oblivious and also half-aware of the words.


    "Huh?" he muttered, his voice low and groggy, still half-lost in the remnants of his dream.


    He blinked a few times, trying to orient himself.


    His body shifted beneath the weight of the sheets, his shoes, still on for some reason, dragging against the fabric.


    He rolled over to his back, the creaking of the old wooden bed frame cutting through the quiet room.


    The sound was sharp, as though even the furniture was reacting to the abrupt disturbance.


    He slowly pushed himself up, still tangled in his sheets, his mind racing between half-conscious thoughts.


    What had he just heard?


    It made no sense, none of it did.


    Am I still dreaming about Mr. David''s huge nose?


    Hell, why am I even dreaming about that?


    Is this dream still related somehow?


    The rain outside continued to fall, tapping lightly against the window, but inside the room, something changed.


    With a final creak from the bed, he sat upright, scanning the room cautiously.


    Everything looked the same, his cluttered shelves, the glowing lights from his gaming PC, the rain-slicked window casting neon shadows on the walls.


    The voice hadn''t returned yet, but he felt strange.


    "I was sure that I heard something... is it the same thing again?" he muttered, his voice barely louder than the soft patter of rain against the window.


    His breath, now visible in the dim room, turned into a thin, frosty vapor, hanging in the air like a whisper of winter creeping in.


    The temperature had shifted subtly, unnoticed until now, and his eyes flicked nervously across the room, first to the shelves filled with toys and books, then to the glowing window streaked with rain, and finally to the open door of his room.


    The old door carpet cradled below, with some gashes left on the old yellow plank beneath.


    It wasn''t unusual for the door to be open. He often left it that way without thinking, like most boys his age.


    The grogginess from his sudden awakening clung to him, pulling at the edges of his consciousness, and he was still too disoriented to fully grasp what was happening.


    He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, a half-hearted attempt to shake off the sleep as he muttered, "Probably just some random noise."


    The chill in the air and the strange voice faded into the background of his thoughts as he shrugged off his unease.


    He tugged at the thick sheets, pulling them back over himself as he shifted, preparing to sink back into the warm comfort of his bed.


    His body leaned sideways, elbow supporting him as he began to lay down, this time on his left side.


    His focus was dull, his thoughts fuzzy as he let himself descend back into the soft mattress.


    But just as his eyes grazed the open door, something stopped him.


    "[Unsuitable behavior detected, please host wake up.]"


    The voice returned, clearer this time, cutting through the fog of his mind.


    His body jerked as he froze halfway to lying down, a groan of frustration escaping his lips.


    "Huh?" he groaned, his breath heavy, the grogginess mixing with a growing sense of confusion.


    His long black hair, wild and unkept, fell into his eyes as he tried to make sense of what was happening.


    This time, though, something caught his eye.


    It wasn''t the door he had been looking at seconds ago, no, it was something else entirely.


    It hovered there, glowing softly against the dimly lit room, a strange, floating blue screen that seemed completely out of place.


    "What the hell..." he gasped, the words slipping out without thought.


    His body tensed instinctively, but despite the shock, he found himself still nestled in the warm cocoon of his sheets.


    The warmth mattered more, surprisingly so.


    It was as if the weight of the moment, of the bizarre hallucination, hadn''t fully sunk in, or perhaps he was simply too tired to react with panic.


    It was strange, almost unnatural, how calm he felt in the face of something so wildly out of the ordinary.


    Anyone else would have jumped out of bed, freaked out, or at least gotten to their feet in alarm.


    But not him.


    No, his body remained stubbornly wrapped in the comfort of the bed, his breath still slow and steady despite strangeness.


    There was no rush to flee, no urgency to understand what was happening.


    Instead, a dry chuckle slipped from his lips, the kind that comes when you''re too tired to be properly afraid.


    "Do I really have to do this?" he muttered, his voice filled with resignation.


    A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he stared at the floating panel, the light from the screen casting a soft blue glow across his face.


    [Yes host, it''s time to become a goddess] The system replied cheerfully.


    "Life sucks... "


    [I will make it brighter] :)

 Chapter 2: Acceptance after Denials

    A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he stared at the floating panel, the light from the screen casting a soft blue glow across his face.


    The smile wasn''t one of joy or excitement, it was the kind that only came when faced with something too absurd to take seriously.


    Yet, deep down, there was a quiet despair growing in his chest.


    "[The system is fully bound to the host for eternity.]"


    The words appeared on the panel, clear and unyielding, driving the message home with a cold finality.


    "Eternity, huh..." he mumbled, staring at the words with a bitter chuckle.


    "I wonder how long eternity is? Maybe a million years?"


    "I wonder if scamming is still legit at that time or not?"


    With a sigh, he let his head fall back onto the pillow, eyes still fixed on the screen.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to resist.


    It was that he felt utterly powerless to do so.


    Deep down, he knew this world was anything but simple. The blue screen before him wasn''t a new occurrence.


    It had first appeared on his fifteenth birthday, a day he had hoped would be special, even if he was alone in his room enjoying it on his own.


    He remembered the joy of unwrapping a gift to himself, a new game, a small celebration of one to practice his right hand.


    But that happiness had shattered in an instant when the screen flickered into view, bright and impossible.


    His initial reaction had been pure panic.


    He had screamed, calling out to no one, desperately hoping that someone else could see the absurdity unfolding in front of him.


    The fear had been overwhelming, a tidal wave crashing over the joy of the moment.


    He had rushed to check mirrors, glanced at his phone, and shouted for help, seeking validation in a world that felt suddenly surreal.


    In a frantic attempt to rid himself of this strange phenomenon, he had even sought the help of a shaman, spending hundreds of dollars in the hopes that the arcane arts of a liar could provide some solution.


    The shaman had muttered incantations and waved crystals, but no matter what he did, the system remained.


    Well, a shaman and a scammer, what are the differences?


    Hell, even if there''s a slight chance of it working out, he will try it without batting an eye to the consequences no matter how stupid it may sound to other people''s ears.


    That''s not only it, it would appear out of nowhere, constantly reminding him that his actions didn''t align with some bizarre standard of "certain behavior"


    Noises kept popping up, messages urging him to act, to change, but he brushed them aside with growing indifference.


    Over time, the constant barrage of reminders dulled his senses.


    He grew numb to the strangeness, shoving the reality of it deep into the recesses of his mind, denying the weight it added to his existence.


    Now, as he stared at the floating blue panel, a familiar sense of futility washed over him.


    He knew that this world wasn''t a normal place at hand, well to be precise this world wasn''t what he was used to.


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    It was as sudden as it was, a thunder that pierced the sky and a sleepless night of trying to win in a game on his pc.


    And the next morning, everything changed and also nothing changed.


    It must have sounded crazy right? Yes, the world is crazy.


    The number of the population has been boosted by a ridiculous amount, can you comprehend it?


    There are over 2.4 trillion humans that are currently living on this planet, how is that even possible?


    Wouldn''t that be an impossible feat to achieve, and we the human race did?


    As he looked outside the window, what came into his view was much more butchered urbanization and also modernization.


    Towering buildings are scattered throughout the view, and roads are layered repeatedly.


    The pace of the technology didn''t change much but somehow managed to hold this much population on god knows ways.


    Well, it''s a way if he must say so.


    In this world, some are called the awakeners, people with powers that could turn the sea and pluck the stars in the sky.


    It is as those words on the internet had said so.


    He had seen videos of humans fighting against monsters in the forest, in the sea, and in other places.


    As for more information, it was classified.


    The fact that this planet had expanded countless times to accommodate all of this strangeness was revealed to the public, and for more information, it was hidden by the government.


    Where did those monsters come from?


    Why did the world suddenly expand so much?


    How did humans gain the awakening power?


    The answers to these questions were hidden from public view. Perhaps only those awakeners knew the answer to these.


    The system did surprise him, but it died down almost gradually given the changes in the world that had taken place.


    "The world is weird, and a strange system is telling me to act like a girl every time it can" The boy messes with his hair in front of the mirror, combing his uneven terrace over his head, a deep black hue that mirrored before him.


    And to add to that, he will be entering the last week of his senior year tomorrow, and also the important day of awakener trials the on Wednesday.


    Where billions of students from all over the world will undertake an awakening test that will either change their lives for the most part or remain normal like the rest forever.


    "Hell..." he grumbled, his gaze drifting over the messy table, littered with crumpled papers and empty energy drink cans.


    It was a small refuge from chaos in a world that felt increasingly out of his control. "Can I not just go and just stay in my room all the time" The words slipped out, laced with a bitter humor that felt more like a defense mechanism than genuine hope.


    He is an orphan, losing both his parents in a certain mission that they had taken years before.


    Yes, their parents were an awakener, though he didn''t have that many feelings towards them as in his prior world, his parents were a bit too "physically abusive"


    And since they are gone, he felt nothing of their presence other than a simple thank you, since the government will pay him plenty every month as a means of payment incentive for his deceased awakened parents.


    His eyes wandered back to his reflection in the screen, taking in the face staring back at him, a spotless visage that many would envy.


    His skin was clear, almost luminescent like a crystal lake catching the sunlight.


    And then there was his hair, long and cascading down to his shoulders, framing his face in a way that felt strangely alien.


    It had once been a rebellious choice, but now it seemed as if the system was reshaping him without his consent, slowly morphing him into something he barely recognized.


    "It''s changing me, slowly," he muttered.


    No matter how many times he cut his hair, it always grew back, lush and vibrant, as if it had a mind of its own.


    Each snip of the scissors was like a fleeting rebellion, only to be undone in the blink of an eye, much like the fairy tale of Cinderella''s magical transformation.


    But instead of a glamorous change, he felt trapped in a narrative that blurred the lines between reality and some surreal fantasy he hadn''t chosen.


    "Fuck me..." he cursed, the frustration bubbling to the surface.


    It was the first curse of the day, and it felt oddly liberating, even if just for a moment.


    He ran a hand through his hair, fingers combing through the soft strands, but the dead look was apparent.


    "Might as well, just go along and live my life as it is... "


    "Becoming a girl, huh?" his eyes gleamed under the uttered words, with a single brush over his head that pulled his hair to the back, revealing a spotless face that was different compared to the years before.


    He leaned back against the headboard, feeling the weight of his newfound confusion rather appalling and also... exciting.


    But the latter would be hidden deep down inside his mind.


    The blue screen still hovered in his periphery, a reminder that there was no escaping this new reality.


    Despite its presence, he gave no attention to it and resumed his business.


    And after some time, he sighed heavily.


    With that, he finally let go of his resistance against the strange system that had invaded his life for the past two years.


    Denial had been his refuge, but it was time to face the reality that had become his existence.


    The system had haunted him, a relentless presence that refused to fade, and the weight of that truth settled heavily on his shoulders.


    But this system might also be the one key for him to climb higher in this strange world.


    If given the chance, who would refuse the opportunity to rise above the others?


    No matter how depraved and ugly the path might be, he is willing to take it.


    "It''s time for a stroll then," he muttered under his breath, pushing the comforting weight of the sheets aside.


    "I hope it won''t rain tonight"

 Chapter 3:Not gay though

    His legs dangled over the edge of the bed, barely brushing the soft quilt below.


    At 158 cm tall, he was shorter than most of his peers, something that occasionally gnawed at him, though he often told himself height wasn¡¯t everything.


    A small lie to keep the insecurities at bay, convincing himself that he didn¡¯t look too much like a sissy compared to his taller, broader friends at school.


    It was a fragile shield, but it worked most days.


    He trudged to the edge of the bed, feeling as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff, the warm, cozy bed beneath him like a haven he didn¡¯t want to leave.


    Kicking off his bed shoes, he rearmed his feet with a pair of bunny indoor slippers, soft and fluffy, a guilty pleasure he never spoke of aloud.


    They were absurdly cute, but the comfort they provided was unmatched, and he allowed himself this small joy, even as a slight nudge of embarrassment tugged at his mind.


    With a resigned sigh, he stood up, well, not too tall, then made his way to the closet on the far side of the room.


    The doors creaked as he opened them, revealing two distinct sections of clothing within.


    The closet itself was a project he''d crafted with his own hands: simple woodworking, a few screws, and basic tools lying around the house.


    It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was his, and that gave him a quiet sense of pride.


    To the left, a dense array of male clothes hung, tightly packed together, hoodies, shirts, jeans, all carefully folded or draped.


    Standard stuff, all of it plain and designed to fit in.


    To the right, however, was a different story. A set of clothing far more personal, far more true to who he was, hung there, almost untouched.


    Feminine, soft, vibrant, skirts, blouses, delicate fabrics that he had bought in secret and rarely dared to wear outside the confines of his room.


    Each piece was a quiet rebellion against the rigid image he projected to the world, a small sliver of freedom he''d kept hidden for far too long.


    "I wasn''t like this before... " He sighed.


    "But instead of wearing male clothes and being mistaken as a tomboy all the time... " He uttered, a faint hesitation tugging at the corner of his mind, but then it was forced and coerced away under an invisible hand.


    And he continued his usually unspoken thoughts "Might as well dress up as one and cheat idiotic men some money while pretending to like them"


    There is it...


    The other side of his that he usually doesn''t show on the surface.


    Well, he is afraid to do so. The fear of being rejected by society or even facing the consequences of the said act and many more he had in mind.


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    That was the final string that he feared might occur if he were to delve too deep into this closet identity.


    He stared at the right side of the closet, his reflection faintly visible in the door¡¯s glass panel.


    His long, unkempt hair framed his face, giving him an androgynous look that he had come to accept, even if reluctantly at first.


    The system had pushed him, no, forced him, to embrace this transformation, slowly and steadily.


    He had fought it, resisted the changes at every turn, but now¡­ he realized he couldn¡¯t deny it any longer.


    "It''s time to be true to myself, huh..." he whispered, his voice barely audible, as though saying it louder would make it too real.


    His hand hovered over the clothes on the right, fingers brushing lightly against the fabric.


    It was soft, inviting, and felt more like him*than the bulky, oversized hoodies on the other side.


    There was no going back now, not when the system had bound itself to him, not when he had already started to change in ways he couldn¡¯t control.


    Maybe, just maybe, accepting this side of himself wouldn¡¯t be as terrifying as he had once thought.


    "Enjoying life a bit won''t hurt, and also... maybe this system can help me on the path of the awakeners"


    Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the outfit.


    "Oh btw, I am not gay"


    ----


    ----


    ----


    ----


    Mize stood before the mirror, the weight of the dress settling around his slim frame as he adjusted the collar that hugged his neck.


    The black fabric was sleek, flowing down his body in elegant folds.


    The dress was long, reaching down to his ankles, its dark hue as deep and rich as the night sky.


    It clung to his slender form in just the right places, accentuating his graceful silhouette, while the subtle pleats at the waist gave it a soft, flowing movement.


    The collar, high and adorned with delicate silver embroidery, added a regal touch as if it had been plucked straight from the wardrobe of a medieval noblewoman.


    The shoes he had chosen, a short-heeled pair made of polished wood and smooth leather, were an odd, anachronistic choice in a world where fashion had evolved into a strange blend of medieval and modern aesthetics.


    The heels clicked softly against the tiled bathroom floor as he turned slightly, admiring the way they matched the elegance of the dress without detracting from its simplicity.


    Around his wrists were thin silver bangles, each one delicately etched with intricate designs that caught the light whenever he moved.


    A single black ribbon was tied around his waist, a small but striking contrast against the flowing fabric of the dress, cinching his figure.


    His long hair, smooth and dark, fell down his back in a cascade, brushing against the collar and framing his face with an effortless beauty.


    He ran his fingers through it, pushing it over his shoulders so it could fall more naturally, its silky strands adding to the femininity of his overall appearance.


    His face, however, was the centerpiece of the reflection that stared back at him. His skin was flawless, a porcelain-like smoothness that gave him an ethereal, almost doll-like beauty.


    His cheekbones were high, his lips full and naturally tinted with a soft pink hue. But it was his eyes that drew the most attention, their ruby-red irises glinting in the dim light of the bathroom.


    They gleamed with an unnatural vibrancy, a striking contrast to his otherwise serene expression, and gave him an alluring look.


    They were like two jewels set in the soft contours of his face, reminding him of the strange system that had changed him over time.


    He stared at himself for a long moment, taking in every detail.


    The transformation was undeniable. In this dress, with his long hair and soft features, he looked nothing like the boy he had been two years ago.


    One could easily mistake him for some random pretty girl on the street, just living her life normally, going to the mall, to the cafe, and so on.


    [Looks beautiful! Now get out of there and hook some men up]


    The familiar sound echoed in his mind, interrupting his thoughts.


    He hardly flinched at it now, having grown accustomed to the system''s existence.


    Over the last two years, without even fully realizing it, he had been accumulating points through these subtle changes, through this strange hobby of dressing up and embracing the feminine aspects of his appearance.


    He wasn¡¯t even sure how many points he had anymore, but the system had never made much sense to him in the first place.


    Mize sighed, deciding to open the system panel for the very first time.


    The translucent blue square materialized before him, hovering in the air with its cold, digital glow.

 Chapter 4: Points, appearance, changes.

    [Host: Mize Adhart]


    [Int]: 5


    [Str]: 3


    [Wis]: 6


    [Dex]: 5


    [Agi]: 5


    [Beauty level]: 65


    [Cute level]: 60


    [Charm level]: 64


    [Current points]: 32,100


    [Note: The exchange rate between points for appearance is 1,000 points for 1 increase. For physical attribute points, it is 10,000 points for 1 increase.]


    ---


    He glanced at his stats, eyebrows knitting together as he mulled over the numbers.


    His hand rested thoughtfully on his chin, contemplating what these attributes meant and how they might work.


    "What''s the basis of me earning points, really?" he asked aloud, hoping the system would provide an answer.


    [Anything that is from being a normal female habit and action to anything beyond the depraving and moral degradation line.]


    The response felt vague, unsettling even.


    Mize frowned.


    "That sounds vague."


    [As in, the closer the host''s nature and actions are to the goddess trait, the higher the points the host can gain.]


    [With points, the host can enhance the current appearance and even physical or spiritual attributes]


    [Through it is highly advisable to increase the appearance first]


    [And like the divine, there are good divine and evil divine, one of kindness and the other of deprivation, or one can be both]


    The answer hit him like a slow, creeping realization.


    He stared at his reflection, his ruby eyes glinting with a mix of intrigue and disbelief.


    "So, you¡¯re telling me I should be a whore?" he asked, his voice soft but laden with a dark curiosity.


    [The partner can be repeated, a sole partner, or anything that the host wishes. It is entirely up to the host''s decision]


    [If the host values pure love, then the host can go for a single target at a time]


    [And if the host values the opposite, the host can proceed to do so]


    [The path of the strong knows no line between the good and evil]


    Mize¡¯s lips curled into a small smile, his mind playing with the possibilities.


    His eyes glinted under the soft bathroom light, the reflection of his transformed self shimmering in the mirror.


    "I see..." he muttered, his soft hum escaping from the lip.


    Mize''s eyes flicked back to the last column on the panel, locking onto the number of points he had amassed over time. The smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth was apparent.


    "32,100 points..." he whispered to himself. "Enough for 32 appearance points or just 3 physical points according to the exchange rate"


    He mulled it over, the gears in his mind turning slowly. Physical points would be useful, no doubt about that.


    Having more strength, agility, or dexterity might come in handy for situations he couldn¡¯t foresee yet.


    But there was a catch, he had no baseline for these physical stats.


    He didn¡¯t know what a mere three-point increase in strength or agility would even feel like.


    Would it make him noticeably stronger, or would the change be so subtle it wouldn''t matter?


    His fingers tapped lightly on the translucent panel as he thought.


    "But appearance... that''s a known quantity," he muttered under his breath. "I already know what I look like, and if 32 points could push my beauty or charm to another level..."


    He trailed off, a gleam in his ruby-red eyes.


    The thought ignited something deep within him like a slowly growing flame, a kind of forbidden flame that he shouldn''t have harbored about in the very first place.


    He had always wondered what it would be like to wield the kind of power that came not from physical strength, but from sheer allure.


    Beauty as a weapon, charm as a tool to bend others to his will.


    The idea of using his appearance to manipulate situations... to watch as people fell over themselves trying to impress him, to bask in their admiration and then discard them like broken toys when they no longer amused him.


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    He smirked at the thought, a bit of self-blaming that such thoughts existed somewhere at the back of his mind.


    "How would it feel to go on a date and never have to pay... to make someone fall head over heels, only to ditch them the moment they¡¯ve served their purpose?"


    It was a twisted fantasy, but the thrill of it made his heart race.


    He had always been curious, what was it like to be adored by everyone, wanted by all, yet unattainable?


    To live in a world where every glance from a man was filled with longing, where every compliment was laced with desperation, knowing full well none of them would ever have the slightest chance with him?


    "Absurd," he muttered, shaking his head slightly.


    But the smirk on his lips said otherwise. The idea of it all was intoxicating, an exciting prospect that made his chest tighten.


    Though in reality, such beauty would be a curse instead of an advantage.


    He bit his lip as he weighed his options.


    Physical strength would be useful, but appearance, that was something he could exploit immediately.


    ¡°Beauty,¡± he whispered, almost to himself.


    It was a tool, a weapon, something that could open doors and control the narrative around him.


    "Well, now I sounded like a pervert huh, an evil one at that"


    [The divine of depravation sounds fitting, Host]


    His fingers hovered over the exchange option on the blue panel.


    The allure of those thoughts was extremely tempting, so tempting that he felt, the consequences could be thought later.


    He had always been a loner, discarded on the corner, and was raised in an abusive household that caused him severe depression even till now.


    He still remembered it, the moment the world changed, the first day of it was filled with excitement and also anticipation.


    Perhaps he has many friends in this different version of the earth?


    Perhaps a close friend?


    Perhaps even someone to talk to normally without being looked down upon?


    Perhaps not being sexualized or taken advantage of?


    Wrong, he was utterly wrong as everything else remained the same other than the changes in the world itself.


    As for him and his life, nothing much changes as he is and will always be the sole loner in the corner of the classroom.


    32 points.


    "I guess it''s time to see what 32 points of beauty look like" The thought of this ignited in an instant after the train of self-depreciating thoughts had occurred just now.


    Without any hesitation, he then hovered his fingers over the panel once again, his eyes locked onto a certain number of meters that highlighted the beauty words on it.


    "There is no indication that per points will increase as so, so I should pour 1 first to see how it changes" He murmured to himself, a voice that wasn''t loud nor quiet, just barely enough for him to hear within this confine of his room.


    And if his guess were true, then he had made the best choice not to invest in the physical increases first instead of this.


    Who knows how many points it will take just to increase it by one, given how hard it is to gain points?


    Thus it happened, as his finger tapped over the plus button on the side of the beauty column.


    Ding, well... it''s just a ding but the number remained the same.


    "As expected, no way it can be that easy to increase these points" Mize smiled knowingly as he had anticipated this situation to occur.


    "then... let''s see how many points are needed just to increase this beauty trait by one" His fingers kept brushing the column one after another, the noise that it made each time tingled his ears.


    Ding...


    Ding...


    Ding...


    That was not until this tenth press, that the number finally changed.


    [Beauty level]: 66


    "It increased!" Mize shrieked with a smile.


    Though...


    "Just by one point... " His smile faded into the dark shade on the side, as the light of the room didn''t reach far enough to cover the corner of this room.


    Well, it was to be as expected, but he can''t help but be disappointed over this revelation.


    He hoped for the impossible to be possible despite the low chance of it happening.


    "Well... that''s better than nothing. I guess... " He mused


    Mize watched as the blue panel flickered slightly, recalibrating the numbers after his exchange.


    His beauty points, which had sat comfortably at 66, surged forward, ticking up by 2 more points to reach 68. The changes were subtle yet undeniable.


    His reflection in the mirror shimmered as if the very air around him had shifted.


    He stared at his face, his ruby-red eyes more captivating than before.


    The contours of his features seemed slightly sharper, more refined as if an artist had taken a brush and perfected every angle.


    His skin, already smooth, now appeared flawless, glowing with a soft, radiant sheen.


    The cascade of hair falling over his shoulders looked fuller, with a shine that caught the light just right, each strand flowing like silk.


    The dress, too, seemed to fit him more perfectly than before, as though his body had subtly adjusted.


    Every fold of fabric, every accessory, seemed to highlight his appearance, amplifying his grace and elegance.


    His once-slightly awkward height now worked in his favor, giving him a delicate, ethereal presence.


    [A legal loli host, ah yes a loli coming of age]


    "..."


    He took a step closer to the mirror, marveling at the transformation.


    It wasn¡¯t a complete overhaul, he hadn¡¯t expected that, but the subtle enhancements were more than enough.


    ¡°I¡¯m close¡­¡± Mize murmured, admiring the way his features had subtly adjusted.


    "And I can control the length of my hair at will? that''s convenience"


    "Let''s go for a walk, shall we?"


    Mize smiled effortlessly at his reflection, a beauty so carefully sculpted it now felt surreal, even to him.


    His ruby-red eyes flickered toward the window, capturing the dazzling city lights that stretched beneath the dark sky, casting a neon glow over the towering skyline.


    The chaotic dance of cars and pedestrians below seemed distant as if it were another world altogether.


    His world was far more serene and centered entirely on him.


    Turning away from the window, Mize strode toward the front door of his apartment, unlocking it with an elegant flick of his wrist.


    His other hand grasped the black heels he had selected earlier, modest by today''s standards, but still striking.


    With slow, deliberate movements, he bent to slide the heels onto his feet, feeling the unfamiliar weight pressing against his soles.


    It was cold...


    The discomfort was palpable, a jolt of realization that this current self would be his new self from now on.


    With a soft click, the door swung open, and Mize stepped out into the corridor.


    The hallway stretched long and narrow before him, bathed in a brighter-than-usual glow.


    The pale fluorescent lights buzzed slightly overhead, an almost imperceptible hum that cut through the otherwise quiet air.


    It was unusual, the landlord, notorious for cutting corners, had splurged on keeping the lights on longer than usual.


    A fleeting thought crossed Mize''s mind. Perhaps there was some sort of inspection coming up. He shrugged the idea away as quickly as it came.


    His heels echoed crisply against the concrete floor, each step slow.


    He moved with elegance, his small black bag, more a metallic-styled pouch than a true handbag, tucked neatly under his arm.


    It was sleek, understated, carrying only the essentials: his phone, a small wallet, and a tube of lipstick he hadn¡¯t even intended to use.


    Room 456. He passed the number without so much as a glance back.


    The number meant nothing to him, just a space where he lived, slept, and bided his time.


    The corridor stretched on, familiar in its mundanity.


    Apartment doors, all identical except for the tarnished brass numbers, lined the walls.


    It was a far cry from the glitzy nightlife outside, but it suited Mize.


    He didn¡¯t need the world¡¯s attention here, he needed it out there.


    As he approached the lift at the end of the hall, Mize briefly considered the stairs to his right.


    He had no intention of walking tonight, this stroll wasn¡¯t about exercise.


    Instead, he pressed the button to call the lift. The glowing numbers above the doors flickered and then began their descent from the 70th floor, slowly counting down to his level.

 Chapter 5: I was so cool just now!

    He stood poised, holding his bag with one arm while his free hand idly swiped through his phone.


    The screen lit up his face in a cool blue glow, reflecting in his crimson ruby-like eyes as he scrolled through news articles, messages, and notifications he had little interest in.


    His mind was elsewhere, seemingly to be lost in thought as he waited for the lift to come.


    A couple of moments later.


    ding...


    The lift finally arrived with a soft chime.


    As the doors slid open, the bright overhead lights revealed a man standing inside.


    He was average-looking, perhaps in his mid-twenties, with a casual shirt, shorts, and thick-framed glasses perched awkwardly on his nose.


    His hair, cut into a messy, almost nerdy style, did little to hide the nervous vibe evident in the air the moment he saw this beautiful girl who was standing still before the lift''s entrance.


    ¡°Umm... miss, are you coming in?¡± The man¡¯s voice cracked, his hand inside both of his pockets fidgeted.


    Mize¡¯s eyes lifted from his phone, locking onto the man without a word.


    ''How should I act?''


    ''Sassy?''


    ''Arrogant?''


    ''Bold?''


    ''Shy?''


    Mize was confused for a moment, unable to choose which reactions should his body and expression carry.


    There was a momentary pause, the silence between them stretching long enough for discomfort to settle into the man''s posture.


    His grip tightened inside the pocket, latched out in an instant onto the handrail inside the lift, his gaze flickering nervously between Mize¡¯s poised figure and the floor.


    Then, as if decided, Mize tried a brand new personality for testing today''s night.


    Mize stepped forward, his heels clicking softly against the concrete as he entered the lift, still not acknowledging the man¡¯s greeting.


    His posture remained, his hips swayed ever so slightly, emphasizing the smooth lines of his black dress as he moved.


    Once inside, he positioned himself against the wall, one hand casually resting on his hip, the other continuing to scroll through his phone as if the man beside him didn¡¯t exist.


    The man shifted awkwardly, fidgeting as he stood next to her. His eyes darted from the lift panel to Mize¡¯s reflection in the mirror.


    The silence hung heavily between them, broken only by the soft hum of the elevator as it descended.


    Mize, however, remained in his world, entirely unaffected by the awkwardness surrounding him.


    ''Good, keep the act''


    ''Be cool... Be cool''


    The man''s reflection stared back at him from the mirrored wall of the lift.


    The dress hugged his frame perfectly, its dark fabric contrasting with the soft glow of his pale skin.


    His collar gave him a touch of wild elegance, a strange fusion of style that only enhanced the overall look.


    His long and silky hair cascaded over his shoulders, framing his face perfectly as it went down to waist length, a rare one to be sighted, he must admit.


    ''But his eyes'' tose deep, ruby-red eyes truly captivated him.


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    They sparkled in the dim light, drawing attention to the sharpness of his features, the high cheekbones, and the soft curve of his lips.


    She was beautiful, but more than that, she was magnetic, impossible to look away from.


    The man beside him was struggling. He shifted nervously, his eyes occasionally flicking toward Mize before quickly looking away, as though he feared being caught staring.


    Mize smirked inwardly but continued to ignore him, letting the tension build.


    Mize wasn''t planning on anything right now, more focused on the night walk itself, experimenting with some of the plans he had in mind and coming back as early as he could, after all... ''Tomorrow is Monday'' He cursed..


    Mize smirked inwardly, his eyes still fixed on his phone, fingers idly swiping through the dating app as if he had no care in the world.


    The man beside him was practically radiating nervous energy, his subtle glances not going unnoticed by Mize.


    Despite the man¡¯s awkwardness, Mize found the situation mildly amusing.


    The guy wasn¡¯t bad-looking, not by traditional standards, but he was wrapped in such a thick layer of self-doubt that it was almost painful to witness.


    Reminded him of his true self. ''Pity...''


    ¡®He¡¯s not that bad,¡¯ Mize muttered to himself, his gaze flickering for a moment toward the man before shifting back to his phone.


    He scrolled through the dating app as though bored, not particularly invested in anyone he saw but keeping up appearances.


    On the other side of the elevator, the man was mentally spiraling. His eyes darted toward Mize and then quickly away, only to return seconds later.


    Each stolen glance added to the growing tension in the confined space.


    ''She¡¯s beautiful, but... Argh! Should I ask for her number? No, that¡¯ll make me look like a creep. I don¡¯t want to come off as weird''


    The man¡¯s thoughts churned relentlessly. His fingers fidgeted with the hem of his shirt.


    He tugged at his collar, adjusted his glasses, and shifted from one foot to the other as if the very act of standing still was a challenge.


    ''But... I probably look creepy already. Who would even want to talk to someone like me? She¡¯s way out of my league, and I¡¯m just... this''


    Mize could sense the internal struggle, even without directly acknowledging it.


    The air in the elevator felt steamy with the man¡¯s nervousness.


    He could practically hear the gears grinding in the guy¡¯s head, each thought spiraling deeper.


    It was fascinating, watching someone so caught up in their mind, especially when the solution was so simple.


    ''Confidence'' Mize thought. ''That''s all it takes. Most people don¡¯t realize how little it takes to tip the scale in their favor''


    ''Though I am one to say about this, I am the same myself as this guy''


    ''Well... dressing differently makes up most of the confidence that I didn''t have''


    He wasn¡¯t exactly sure why he cared enough to even notice the guy¡¯s inner turmoil, but something about the situation tugged at him.


    The lift began to slow, signaling that their descent was nearly over.


    The man¡¯s anxiety seemed to reach its peak, his breathing just slightly more erratic than it had been before.


    He swallowed hard, his hand trembling as he adjusted his glasses for the third time in the last minute.


    Without thinking, Mize tapped a message to himself on the dating app, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.


    Then, as if he had decided his next course of actions, he nodded with a hum.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t overthink it if I were you,¡± Mize said suddenly, his voice cutting through the thick silence.


    The man jerked slightly, clearly startled that Mize had spoken at all, let alone directly to him.


    ¡°W-what do you mean?¡± the man stammered, his eyes wide and a little unsure.


    Mize¡¯s eyes flicked up from his phone, locking onto the man¡¯s for the first time since they entered the lift.


    He tilted his head, a smile curling his lips.


    ¡°You keep looking over,¡± Mize continued his tone light, almost teasing. ¡°I¡¯m not going to bite, you know. If you want to talk, just talk.¡±


    The man¡¯s face flushed a deep shade of red, his nervousness hitting a new level. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to¡±


    Mize chuckled softly, cutting him off before he could spiral further. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Really. I¡¯m just saying, you¡¯re overthinking it¡± He glanced at the man¡¯s flustered expression and then back at his phone. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry so much about how you come across. Confidence goes a long way.¡±


    The man blinked, clearly taken aback by the comment, as if he hadn¡¯t expected someone like Mize to offer such straightforward advice.


    For a moment, he seemed to be grappling with how to respond, his mind racing to process the conversation.


    ¡°I just... I didn¡¯t want to bother you,¡± the man muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Mize shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re not. But hesitating like that, constantly second-guessing yourself, it shows. People pick up on that.¡± He paused, his gaze softening slightly. ¡°Just be more sure of yourself. It makes a difference.¡±


    The man nodded slowly, absorbing the words like a student listening to a teacher.


    His shoulders seemed to relax just a bit, the tightness in his posture loosening as he took in Mize¡¯s advice.


    The lift dinged softly as it reached the ground floor.


    Mize stepped out first, his heels clicking against the tiled floor with a practiced grace. Before the man could exit, Mize turned back for a moment, a glint in his eyes.


    ¡°By the way,¡± he said, ¡°if you want my number, you could just ask.¡±


    The man froze, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly as Mize¡¯s words sunk in.


    But before he could say anything, Mize gave him a playful wink and continued walking, leaving the man standing dumbfounded in the lift as the doors began to close behind him.


    A smile tugged at Mize¡¯s lips as he walked out into the cool night air.


    ''I was so cool!!!'' He inwardly shrieked inside. His heart beating wildly after all, he had never thought he would be able to pull it off in the first.


    "First man, check. Though he''s an ordinary one. Gotta find more harder target to see whether I could pull the same act or not"


    [It would be impossible to do the same in front of those "people" host]


    "Huh?"


    [You will understand soon]

 Chapter 6: Derek guy, another personality test.

    Derek Nolan was the kind of guy who always flew under the radar.


    To most, he was just another face in the crowd, a bit of a nerd with a passion for gaming.


    People didn¡¯t know that Derek had built a successful career as a day trader.


    He had a keen eye for the market, pulling in more than enough to live comfortably, but his social skills, especially with women, left much to be explored.


    With no love life to speak of, he buried himself in the virtual world, particularly in League of Mythic, where he¡¯d earned the nickname ¡°The King of Laning¡±.


    He majored in several tournaments before, the name resounded loud and far, but really... no one other than those who were the same as him would care.


    He wasn¡¯t exactly a looker. Average height, a bit of a paunch from too many late-night snacks, and perpetually tousled brown hair that seemed immune to the concept of styling.


    His rectangular glasses often sat crooked on his face, and his wardrobe was as basic as it got, jeans, old graphic tees, and hoodies.


    Tonight was no different.


    Derek sat in his usual spot at the cyber caf¨¦, hunched over his keyboard, his fingers flying as he guided his character through another match.


    His headset was glued to his head, the mic in front of his mouth as he let loose a string of frustrated curses.


    ¡°Are you serious, you brain-dead idiot?!¡± Derek shouted into the mic, his voice thick with irritation. ¡°You missed the stun! How hard is it to click?! I swear, I''m playing with a bunch of chimps!¡±


    "Even a monkey can do better than most of you!"


    "What are you doing! Spatial awareness please!"


    "Use your god damn skills properly!"


    The rest of his team could hear him loud and clear, but Derek didn¡¯t care.


    This was his outlet, his way of releasing the tension.


    ¡°Top¡¯s feeding again! What are you doing up there?!¡± he continued, the rage in his voice loud and clear.


    He barely noticed the other people in the caf¨¦, he was so focused on the screen.


    His champion darted around the map, and for a moment, it seemed like his team might pull off a comeback.


    Suddenly, a hand nudged his shoulder from the side.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Derek muttered, his eyes still glued to the screen, fingers mid-action.


    His champion had just landed a perfect ability chain, and the game was too tense to be distracted now.


    He didn¡¯t look up, assuming it was just some random person trying to get his attention.


    "Why are you bothering me right now?"


    Derek growled, his voice a mix of confusion and annoyance. Then, his eyes turned and immediately was stunned for a good sdcond.


    Derek¡¯s eyes widened as the words left her lips, echoing in his head.


    "Umm, are you the so-called King of Laning that I heard about?"


    For a second, he froze. The voice, soft, delicate, and somehow carrying that crisp charm, hit him like a ton of bricks.


    He wasn¡¯t used to beautiful women approaching him, much less talking about his in-game achievements.


    A shaky smile forced itself onto his face, but it quickly became genuine as he nodded furiously.


    "Y-yes, it¡¯s me. It¡¯s me!" He repeated himself, almost stammering, his heart racing like he was mid-game.


    ¡®No way¡­ no freaking way! This can¡¯t be happening. Someone like her¡­ is talking to me? Is this a joke? A dare from her friends?''


    His mind was in overdrive, the usual nerves that twisted his stomach returning tenfold, but this was a different kind of excitement.


    She wasn¡¯t asking for directions.


    She wasn¡¯t even brushing him off like so many had before. She was interested in the game, his game, and that sent waves of shock through him.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Then she smiled, a soft, enticing smile that made him almost dizzy with disbelief as he turned his head.


    "Would you mind if I played a game with you? I¡¯ve been hearing a lot about you, and I think I could learn a thing or two." She tilted her head, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, and Derek felt his knees go weak, though he was already sitting down.


    "A-a game with me?" Derek¡¯s voice cracked slightly.


    He cleared his throat and glanced around nervously at his team still playing on screen, feeling the importance of the request sinking in.


    "Yeah... yeah! Of course! I¡¯d love that!" His hands darted to the keyboard, quickly opening the party menu and scrolling to the bottom of the team list.


    One teammate in particular had been underperforming for the past few rounds anyway.


    "Sorry, buddy. Owe one for the man!" Derek whispered under his breath as he kicked the unfortunate player from his team.


    Without missing a beat, he gestured to the empty seat next to him. "You can sit here. I¡¯ll walk you through the basics."


    Mize smiled warmly and shyly as she slid into the chair beside him.


    Her movements were graceful, deliberate, everything about her radiated elegance, and Derek, for all his gaming prowess, felt awkwardly clumsy next to her.


    He adjusted his glasses, trying to focus on the screen, but her presence was tickled him somewhere he doesn''t know or even aware of.


    As the game loaded, Derek explained the basic mechanics, pointing out the map, her character¡¯s abilities, and how landing worked.


    "So, in League of Mythic, you¡¯re going to want to stay in lane and get as much gold as possible while denying the enemy team their gold. I¡¯ll keep an eye on you while you¡¯re learning. I¡¯ll play jungler, and you can go mid-lane, okay?"


    Mize nodded, her eyes seemingly glued to the screen, but Derek couldn¡¯t help but notice her leaning in slightly, her shoulder just barely brushing against his. His heart skipped a beat.


    It was a classic game, the account was borrowed from him to her for free, and the two began to play.


    The match began, and Derek, despite his nervousness, quickly got into his usual rhythm.


    His character, an armored knight wielding a massive lance, charged down the middle lane, engaging in a furious back-and-forth with the enemy mid-laner, helping Mize to ward off the enemy from gaining the upper hand.


    Meanwhile, Mize had chosen a mage, a princess-like character, wielding a staff that glowed with a radiant light.


    She was a support class, despite being in the mid-lane, and as Derek took glances at her screen, he noticed she was doing surprisingly well for a beginner.


    "You¡¯re a natural," Derek commented with a chuckle as he watched her mage land a stunning spell that immobilized an enemy.


    Mize turned to him with a soft crips laugh, her eyes twinkling. "Oh? Well, I have a great teacher. Thank you"


    That laugh. It sent a strange warmth flooding through him. He smiled, genuinely this time.


    In the game, Derek¡¯s knight dived into a skirmish near the bottom lane where Mize¡¯s princess character was cornered by two enemy champions.


    Without hesitation, Derek charged forward.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got you!" he yelled, his knight crashing through the bushes, knocking the enemies back with his lance.


    Mize¡¯s mage cast a barrier around herself just as Derek¡¯s knight blocked a powerful spell aimed at her.


    Another teammate spoke up in voice chat. "Yo, Derek¡ªwho¡¯s the new girl? She¡¯s killing it!"


    Derek tried to keep it a cool, despite the tinge of red on his cheeks "A friend... she¡¯s just learning."


    The match continued, with Mize throwing out occasional compliments, and Derek, in turn, found himself explaining more than necessary just to keep the conversation going.


    She laughed at his jokes, listened intently to his tips, and, at one point, leaned over to give him a teasing nudge with her elbow.


    Derek could barely concentrate on the game.


    Toward the end, the two of them had won their lane and were closing in on the enemy¡¯s base.


    The final team fight broke out, and Derek¡¯s knight leaped in front of Mize¡¯s mage to tank all the damage, allowing her to cast a devastating ultimate spell that wiped out most of the opposing team.


    "Nice work!" Derek exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.


    "All thanks to you," Mize responded with a smile, her voice smooth and sweet as silk.


    His teammates couldn¡¯t help but notice the dynamic. "Yo, Derek¡¯s got a princess!" one of them teased over the mic, causing the rest of the team to burst into laughter.


    "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Derek replied.


    As the game ended, Mize stretched his arms languidly and slid off the headset. He had enjoyed himself more than expected, but he¡¯d gotten what he came for attention and, more importantly, points.


    Now, it was time to move on.


    ''Test two completed, cute and approachable personality seems to suit me too''


    "Well, that was fun," Mize said, his voice light and casual.


    "Y-yeah! You were amazing," Derek stammered, his fingers nervously fidgeting with the mouse.


    He¡¯d been watching Mize closely the entire game, caught in a strange mix of admiration and disbelief.


    She was beautiful, out of his league, honestly.


    But here she was, talking to him, playing games with him.


    He couldn¡¯t let this chance slip through his fingers. Who would want to end it just like that? He wanted more!


    And perhaps, money and car can buy it for him?


    Mize began gathering his things, the movement signaling that he was about to leave.


    Derek¡¯s heart raced, he had to say something, ask for something more, or lose this moment forever.


    Taking a deep breath, he summoned his courage.


    "Uh, h-hey!" Derek blurted out, standing abruptly as Mize slung the strap of his small, stylish bag over his shoulder. "Before you go¡­ I mean, uh¡­ would it be okay if I¡­ you know, got your number?"


    Mize paused, turning slowly to face Derek.


    ''Ohhh? Should I?'' It was just a short hesitation.


    "My number?" Mize echoed, feigning hesitation.


    His ruby-red eyes widened just enough to appear innocent, his lips parting slightly as if he were considering the offer. "I suppose... sure, why not?"


    Derek nearly exploded with joy. His hand shook as he fumbled to open his phone, and Mize, with a graceful flick of his wrist, recited the number smoothly.


    As Derek typed it in, it felt like he was etching a miracle into his contacts list.


    A dream come true, he thought.


    "Thank you! I¡ªI¡¯ll text you later if that¡¯s cool?" Derek¡¯s face was flushed.


    Mize nodded, offering a soft smile. "Sure, I¡¯ll look out for it."


    Just as Mize turned to leave, Derek¡¯s voice caught him again.


    His words were hurried, and awkward, but there was something urgent in his tone. "Uh, wait¡ªbefore you go¡­ are you, um¡­ single?"


    The question hung in the air for a moment. Mize raised an eyebrow, letting a small laugh escape. "Single? Well¡­" He tilted his head, savoring Derek¡¯s anticipation. "Yes, I am."

 Chapter 7: to the store

    The pace is slow, just bear with it. And the update schedule depends on my free time, I am a student still...


    <hr>


    The effect was instant, Derek¡¯s face lit up like a kid who¡¯d just found the winning ticket in a candy bar.


    She was single!


    He could hardly keep himself from grinning ear to ear.


    Though he hurriedly tried to keep his composure, coughing away his embarrassment...


    But still, he couldn''t help himself...


    "Wow! That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s great!" Derek blurted out, his voice barely able to contain the excitement.


    Mize smiled at him, one eyebrow raised. "Yeah, guess it is."


    And with that, he headed out the door, job done for now.


    The experiment was deemed to be a successful one for tonight, Mize had gotten the results that he wanted, and to tell the truth... ''It is rather exciting... I never thought a beautiful girl could have this much pull just based on appearance'' Mize hummed silently within, making his way toward the entrance.


    ''I suppose the cute and naive personality suits my appearance best compared to the other''


    Moments before he stepped out, he sent a casual glance towards the neon sign at the top of the entrance''s door.


    ''It''s like playing a game, the more beautiful or attractive a person is, the easier the game difficulty will get'' He shook his head with a wry smile, thinking back to those days in the past. ''it''s quite addictive... '' taking a deep breath.


    He then walked out... ''Let''s hope that I won''t fall into this bliss too easily... a corrupted goddess huh?''


    The night air was cool, a soft breeze weaving through the streets as Mize strolled out of the caf¨¦, heels clicking against the pavement.


    He checked his phone, looking over the time that had just reached 9:00 pm, ''There''s still so much time left'' he thought inwardly, closing the phone yet again as he made his way towards the busier part of the town.


    ''I am hungry, better find a convenience store and eat noodles there''


    But as he turned the corner, a breathless voice called out behind him.


    "M-Miss! Wait!"


    He turned just in time to see Derek practically sprinting toward him, chest heaving like he¡¯d just run a mile.


    The clothes were soaked, and the wet patches under his armpit were quite evident.


    Mize frowned for a split second but then hurriedly regained his normal expression the next moment.


    ¡°You¡­ do you have any transportation?¡± Derek asked, still gasping for air, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.


    "Transportation?" Mize echoed, feigning innocence. "I was just going walk, my house is close by after all.."


    Derek¡¯s eyes lit up, practically shouting with excitement. "No! I mean, you shouldn¡¯t have to walk. It¡¯s late and¡­ let me give you a ride. No trouble at all!"


    ¡°Oh?¡± Mize cocked an eyebrow, doubtful at first, but nodded. "If you insist."


    Derek¡¯s face beamed as he ran off to get his car.


    Mize crossed his arms, waiting, figuring he¡¯d see a beat-up sedan or something low-key.


    But when Derek pulled up a few minutes later, Mize¡¯s eyes widened but only for a split momeny.


    It was a sleek, high-end sedan, the kind with polished rims and tinted windows.


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    Not exactly what he¡¯d pictured for caf¨¦ boy.


    Derek jumped out, still slightly nervous, but trying to look confident as he held the door open for her. "Hop in. I¡¯ll take you wherever you need to go."


    ''This is a surprise'' Mize muttered within, his eyes glancing over the car for a brief moment.


    But then, he shook inwardly... ''It''s just a mortal mean, my goal is those awakened men. But... '' His eyes hovered over the face that was filled with expectation and anticipation for a moment, ''Playing around for a little bit won''t hurt''


    Sliding into the plush leather seat, Mize allowed himself a small smile. "Nice car," he commented, looking around casually.


    Derek blushed a little. "Thanks. I, uh¡­ work in trading. It¡¯s been good to me."


    "Trading?" Mize asked, his voice a low hum as he observed the interior design of the car.


    "Yes, it''s kinda complicated... but it''s a stock market thing" Derek tried to explain, one hand over the steering wheel with the other hand making gestures on the topic.


    Though Mize seemed to be uninterested so he shut his mouth and began to drive.


    The car moved smoothly onto the street, and Derek¡¯s grip on the steering wheel was a little too tight, knuckles white as he sneaked glances at Mize.


    She looked out the window, hair framing her face perfectly in the glow of streetlights.


    He was mesmerized and couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was wildly out of his league.


    Silence hung in the car until Derek blurted out, ¡°Uh, do you want to go to the mall? I mean, just to hang out, or¡­ you know, whatever. I¡¯ll pay for everything.¡±


    Mize¡¯s lips curled, almost like a smile. "You don¡¯t have to," she murmured, voice soft.


    She adjusted her seatbelt, pulling it snug across her waist, highlighting the curve that had never been there before.


    Mize noticed this but still kept a straight face nonetheless.


    Derek¡¯s heart kicked up a notch, catching a glimpse of the movement just now. "No, really, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯d love to. You¡¯re still in high school, right?¡±


    ''If you know, you should be running already Sir'' Mize complained though on the outside.


    Her eyes flickered, catching his gaze for a moment before returning to her hands.


    Her fingers twisted together, and her hair spilled over, hiding her face.


    ¡°Well¡­ yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine.


    Derek felt something rise in him. He didn¡¯t know why she seemed so hesitant, but he wanted to try his best tonight.


    After all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be this close to a real beauty.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled,¡± he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll cover it all, no strings attached.¡±


    As for the legal age of consent issue, it is 16 nowadays for people to date so as not to be looked at weirdly. Mize was still used to the old world laws, 18 there.


    She hesitated, glancing at him briefly with an unreadable expression, but then she gave a small nod.


    ''Well... It''s not my money anyway. Might as well buy some brush, and toiletries along the way''


    Derek exhaled, relief flooding him.


    As they drove on, neon lights flickered across her face, illuminating the soft curve of her cheek and jaw.


    She was beautiful, almost unreal, like a dream.


    It didn''t take long as soon enough, they parked their car before a community supermarket that was the closest to the area.


    A supermarket that Mize was a frequent customer of, but then...


    He noticed that Derek was oddly quiet while looking over the entrance of the store with a strange gaze, a kind of gaze that seemed to be filled with... memories?


    Lost in thought, Derek hadn¡¯t noticed Mize stir beside him.


    Her voice, soft and unexpected, pulled him back to the present. ¡°You seem very fond of this place?"


    Derek blinked, startled. ¡°W-what? How do you know?¡± His cheeks flushed, an embarrassed laugh slipping from his lips.


    He hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d been watching him.


    He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, the other hand still gripping the steering wheel like it was his lifeline.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been smiling the whole time,¡± she whispered, her voice so gentle it barely rose above the purring of the car engine.


    Derek froze.


    He hadn¡¯t realized. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The words caught in his throat.


    Was it that obvious? He glanced sideways at her, then quickly looked away, suddenly feeling too exposed in the small space of the car. ¡°It was that obvious?¡±


    Mize let out a soft laugh, her smile widening as she rested her hand on her lap. And she nodded, ¡°Mhmmm¡± Her voice was smooth.


    Derek cleared his throat, the heat rising from his chest up to his neck. ¡°Yeah, I guess this place means a lot more than I realize,¡± he muttered, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.


    He coughed to cover his awkwardness. ¡°I spent a lot of time here back in the day. The old owner... he helped me when I had nothing.¡±


    Mize turned in her seat, her gaze settling on the store''s darkened windows. ¡°Is that why you keep coming back?¡±


    He hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Yeah. Every time I come here, it¡¯s like I¡¯m visiting him, in a way. You know, paying my respects.¡± He laughed again, but this time it wasn¡¯t awkward, just a soft, wistful sound.


    ¡°It¡¯s silly, right? He¡¯s not even here anymore. But I feel like if I stop coming, I¡¯ll be forgetting what he did for me. And I can¡¯t forget.¡±


    Mize said nothing for a long moment, her eyes distant as if she were searching for something in the darkness outside.


    Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°It¡¯s not silly at all.¡±


    Derek blinked, surprised by the tenderness in her tone. She wasn¡¯t teasing him, nor was she pitying him.


    Derek smiled, not the awkward, flustered kind, but a genuine smile. He glanced at Mize, who returned his look.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, not sure if he was thanking her for listening.


    Mize nodded, her eyes gleaming under the soft glow of the streetlights. ¡°Anytime.¡±


    Derek¡¯s face felt hot as he fumbled to open the car door, his words stumbling out, ¡°T-then, let¡¯s go buy what you want.¡±

 Chapter 8: The end of Derek guy

    As he started to step out, Mize¡¯s soft, almost embarrassed voice stopped him.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know how to open this door,¡± Mize said, his eyes darting away as if too ashamed to meet Derek¡¯s gaze.


    His long, dark hair fell forward, hiding his face like a shield. ''And I was acting so cool and chic too just now! I ruined it!'' Mize could only silently weep within...


    Derek paused, chuckling softly to himself as he turned to look at her. ¡°Oh, right. Let me get that for you,¡± he said.


    He quickly rounded the car, his hands fidgeting nervously as he approached her side.


    When he opened the door, his hand hovered there for a second, unsure if he should offer it to help her out.


    The gesture felt old-fashioned, but before he could second-guess himself, Mize looked up at him from behind that curtain of hair, her cheeks tinged with a soft pink.


    She hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out and took his hand.


    Derek¡¯s breath caught. Her touch was light, almost delicate, and yet, something about it sent a jolt of electricity through him.


    As she stepped down from the car, her hand in his, he tried not to let his nervousness show.


    ¡°Ahem,¡± he cleared his throat, smiling sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.


    The two of them started toward the mall entrance, their hands still loosely held together, neither of them willing to let go but too shy to acknowledge it.


    For Mize, this was one hell of an experience...


    kill me


    Kill me


    Kill me


    [Host, stay calm. Weren''t you the one who was so confident that mortal men are easy?]


    ''Shut up'' Mize cursed directly.


    ''What am I doing here? Where am I? How did I get here?'' It was a bunch of questions, and he was unsure of how to answer this.


    But really, only he and he alone could answer these questions and no one else could.


    As they passed through the automatic sliding doors, Derek was the first to break the silence, though his voice came out more flustered than he¡¯d intended.


    ¡°S-so, um, what do you want to buy?¡± His eyes darted around, pretending to scan the aisles and store signs, though, in truth, he was just avoiding looking at her directly.


    Mize had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze, the height difference between them almost laughable, him standing at 1.8 meters, and her barely reaching 1.5 meters.


    ''despite being a nerd, this guy sure is a tall one huh'' Mize curled his lips at the thought of this.


    She looked up, her chin lifted, and her hair fell to the side, revealing more of her face.


    Something was mesmerizing in the way her hair framed her, like a wave parting to reveal a delicate shore.


    ¡°Just some daily stuff¡­ a toothbrush, face wash, shampoo¡­ I guess,¡± she said softly, her voice trailing off, each word deliberately hesitant as if testing the air before she spoke.


    "Ah, right, that stuff,¡± Derek nodded, still scratching the back of his awkwardly while replying so,


    He could handle that. ¡°The aisle¡¯s this way,¡± he said, holding her hand just a little more firmly as he started leading them deeper into the store.


    He took larger strides at first, but quickly matched her pace, the two of them walking in quiet sync.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    There was a strange harmony in it, his larger steps, her smaller ones, their hands locked together like they¡¯d done this a hundred times before.


    But Mize had sworn he had never done this before, each second was like a whole new world to him, and also...


    ''This is quite addictive... '' Alas, the slowly degrading goddess...


    Every so often, Derek¡¯d glance down at her, catching glimpses of that soft blush still staining her cheeks, and it sent a flutter through his chest each time.


    As they turned down an aisle, the bright fluorescent lights overhead cast long shadows, and the rhythmic hum of the store¡¯s ambiance filled the air.


    ¡°Do you¡­ come here often?¡± Derek asked awkwardly, trying to break the silence.


    His voice sounded stupid in his ears, but he was desperate to keep the conversation going.


    Mize looked up at him, her lips curling into the smallest of smiles, the kind that barely reached the eyes but still felt genuine.


    ¡°Not really,¡± she said simply, her voice soft.


    He wasn¡¯t sure what to say next, so he just nodded, his thumb brushing against the back of her hand as they walked.


    They reached the personal care aisle, and Mize¡¯s eyes darted toward the shelves, her hand slipping from his as she moved to pick out the items she needed.


    Derek hovered beside her, watching as she carefully selected a toothbrush, a small bottle of face wash, and a shampoo that smelled faintly of lavender.


    As she dropped the items into the shopping basket, Derek couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay,¡± he said again, his voice a little steadier now.


    She glanced up at him, and for a second, he thought she might argue, but instead, she just gave a small nod, her eyes softening.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered.


    ---


    The car hummed softly as it glided through the stillness of the night, the streets washed in dim orange light.


    Derek barely noticed the world outside, his mind was too wrapped in the silence that had settled between him and Mize.


    The tall apartment building loomed ahead, a modern tower with hundreds of rooms.


    The closer they got, the more his chest tightened, and by the time they pulled into the parking lot, he felt like the night was slipping away from him.


    He glanced sideways as Mize started gathering her things, methodically placing her belongings into her bag.


    She moved quickly, not wasting a single motion, but in Derek¡¯s eyes, each second dragged on.


    ''Is this the end?''


    He hesitated, his fingers tapping nervously on the leather of the steering wheel.


    The light tapping sound filled the car, but Mize didn¡¯t acknowledge it, didn¡¯t look up, just packed in that strange, stifling silence.


    Derek shifted, resting one hand on the gearshift, nudging it just enough that he felt the faint tension under his palm, but not enough to move the car.


    His other hand fidgeted with the armrest, where a few crumpled wrappers of emergency chocolates lay hidden.


    He glanced at Mize, opening his mouth to say something, anything, to stop her from leaving, but the words tangled up in his throat.


    Instead, he just sat there, trying to act like the confident guy he wasn¡¯t.


    Her delicate movements seemed entirely unconcerned with whatever awkwardness he was radiating.


    Mize was close to leaving, and Derek felt like he was losing something.


    He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that when she left the car, she¡¯d be gone from his life for good.


    He coughed to fill the quiet, his eyes flicking toward her small, frail frame.


    She seemed so fragile, bent over her bag, the light casting long shadows over her hands as she worked.


    ¡°M-Miss?¡± he stammered, his voice cracking slightly.


    Mize paused, blinking as if surprised to hear him speak. ¡°Yeah?¡± she answered, her tone calm as she placed a small bag on her lap.


    She still had more things to pack, but for a moment, she turned her full attention to him, though her expression remained unreadable.


    Derek swallowed, his fingers tightening around the gearshift. His mind raced, trying to form words that didn¡¯t sound pathetic.


    ¡°I... I was just wondering if, uh, you¡¯re okay walking to your room... alone, I mean.¡±


    Mize¡¯s ruby eyes flickered downwards for a moment, her long dark hair spilling over her shoulder like a cascade of ink in the dim light.


    The shadows carved around her eyes made them glisten, almost like she was about to cry.


    Derek¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was crying, but the way she looked at him reminded him of something small and vulnerable, like a kitten caught in the rain.


    He laughed nervously, waving his hand like a fool. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t mean anything weird, hah... I¡¯m just, you know, worried. Want to make sure you¡¯re safe.¡±


    Mize nodded, her gaze dropping back to her bag.


    She clutched the string closer to her chest, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°I-it¡¯s fine... I can walk alone.¡±


    Derek¡¯s heart sank a little. He wasn¡¯t sure what he had expected, but the quiet rejection still stung.


    He glanced away, trying to hide the disappointment creeping into his expression.


    ¡°Right, yeah... of course,¡± he muttered under his breath.


    She opened the door, stepping out into the cool night air. ¡°Goodnight then,¡± she said softly.


    He watched her go, her slender form disappearing into the entrance of the apartment building.


    For a second, he sat there, the car suddenly feeling a little too big and a little too empty.


    As the door closed behind her, Derek let out a sigh, his fingers loosening their grip on the steering wheel.


    He leaned back into the seat, staring at the empty passenger side where she had been just moments before.


    He glanced at his phone, the faint glow of the number was still on the screen. A small smile crept onto his face.


    <hr>


    Slow pacing, slow update, but a lot in stock...


    Oh btw, this Derek guy is just an episode, don''t dwell on him too much... or else I will kill him...


    ...


    jk...


    Maybe? Idk... let''s see.

 Chapter 9: It was a win win, yeah... A win win

    Mize heaved a deep breath, tossing his bag onto the soft mattress with a thud.


    His body followed right after, collapsing onto the bed as the springs beneath him creaked and coiled.


    He bounced slightly, the plush surface catching him like a warm embrace.


    His long black hair, sleek and dark like ink, fanned out beneath him, spilling over the edges of the bed.


    His eyes, those pitiful, watery eyes, gazed up at the ceiling, wide and shimmering as if they were always on the verge of tears.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was about to cry, of course. It was just how his eyes looked, large, glistening, designed to stir something in the people who stared into them.


    A natural gift that could evoke pity, protectiveness¡­ or even darker desires.


    It was an appearance fine-tuned for seduction, and just now, Mize had put it to good use.


    A small smile crept onto his lips, subtle, barely visible.


    But as he replayed the evening events in his mind, the smile grew wider, stretching across his face until it became a full-blown grin.


    His soft laugh broke the silence, a high, almost girlish sound that echoed in the small room.


    Mize kicked the air excitedly, his legs flailing as he rolled onto his back, unable to contain his glee any longer.


    His eyes crinkled into crescents, shimmering with satisfaction.


    The laughter kept coming... light, airy, and filled with triumph.


    He¡¯d done it.


    Tonight wasn¡¯t just any night. No, this was his first time pulling off something like this.


    Mize had always been confident in his abilities, but it had never occurred to him that he would be able to perform such an act tonight.


    From the lift to the cafe and finally to the mall, everything seemed to be so surreal or even unreal.


    Derek was one hell of a person, more like a surprise ticking bomb for Mize''s judgment.


    He tried his best to keep everything under his control, ''But... sometimes my acting would falter, and I was acting so cool too, and then I ruined it'' Mize rolled all over the bed while thinking of this, his cheeks red.


    The thought made Mize¡¯s smile widen again as he kicked his legs into the air once more.


    And it wasn¡¯t just about playing Derek for the fool, either.


    Mize had gotten exactly what he wanted or unexpectedly craved for, that is to be paid for at the mall.


    He had filled his cart in the store with branded items, essentials that he would never have been able to afford on his own.


    He had picked up everything he needed without even a second thought, his fingers grazing each item, and instantly snatched them on the spot into the shopping cart.


    Hundreds of dollars worth of goods, all neatly packed into plastic bags.


    Mize¡¯s heart raced just thinking about it.


    He had caught a glimpse of the total when they were at the register, watching the cashier scan each item.


    Four hundred and twenty-three dollars. His eyes had widened slightly at the sight of the final number, but Derek?


    Derek had simply swiped his black-and-gold card without batting an eye.


    The way the card had slipped effortlessly through the machine, the way the transaction went through without a pause.


    It had left Mize almost breathless. ''That is a lot of money, he just spent a month''s worth of allowance that I am used to'' Mize wailed internally, if only I could have that much money for myself''


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Even now, lying on his bed, he could still hear the sound of that card swiping.


    ''But then, in the future money wouldn''t matter much to me. My goal is bigger than that! Be an awakener, have someone to be my sugardaddy to protect me and then become stronger through someone''s else money!''


    He laughed again, softer this time, as he rolled over, clutching a long pillow to his chest.


    His fingers dug into the fabric as he hugged it tightly, his mind spinning with possibilities.


    Derek had money. Real money. The kind of money that could change things for Mize if he played his cards right.


    But it wasn''t for a long-term prospect as he too had to target other men in the future.


    And the best part? Derek was interested. There had been no mistaking that look in his eyes, the hesitant, hopeful way he had asked for friendship.


    It was almost too easy, "Despite being embarrassed a couple of times, my acting breaking up and all... ultimately the result is satisfactory"


    [It won''t be that easy when the host met those figures in the future]


    "Yeah yeah, I know who you are referring to, but let me have my victory celebration tonight, can''t I?"


    [Understood host]


    ¡°I can play with him a little more" Mize whispered to himself, his voice barely audible, as if speaking the words out loud might solidify something unspoken.


    His smile deepened, and a soft chuckle escaped his lips.


    The excitement bubbled inside him, a giddiness that made him squirm against the sheets.


    He rolled onto his side, eyes gleaming.


    But then, as if to temper the thrill, he paused, tilting his head thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m being a jerk or anything¡± he muttered, trying to convince himself.


    His fingers trailed absently along the pillow, drawing invisible patterns. ¡°Right, I will just use him a little, and it''s not like I will ask too much from him. And in return, I will give him the attention that he has been craving¡±


    His voice dropped to a near whisper, but the conviction was there. This wasn¡¯t just manipulation for the sake of it, this was a mutually beneficial arrangement, wasn¡¯t it?


    Derek would get something from this too, attention.


    The way Mize saw it, he was providing companionship, attention, and maybe even a little affection if it came to that.


    In return, Derek would offer his wealth and his resources.


    It was a win-win situation. And it''s just for a short bit while the he was still bored right now.


    Mize cackled softly, a grin spreading across his face again as he buried his face into the pillow, hugging it tighter. ¡°Yeah¡­ a win-win,¡± he repeated, his voice muffled by the soft fabric.


    Mize lay sprawled on the bed, grinning ear to ear, his legs kicking playfully as if he were some giddy kid who¡¯d just won a prize.


    His hair fanned out around him, his thoughts bouncing between his success tonight and the satisfying weight of it.


    Because, beneath all the schemes and lies, Mize was still, in essence, a child.


    He craved attention, validation, and yes, even a bit of envy from those around him.


    Rolling over, his laughter broke the silence of the room.


    He kicked his legs higher, enjoying the rare feeling of control, control over his situation, his image, and especially over Derek, the man who had walked so easily into his web.


    But then, a familiar ding echoed from his phone.


    The notification sounds from Talktie, the government-supervised app that connects the entire world.


    Mize lazily reached over to the bedside table and grabbed his phone, unlocking it with a quick swipe.


    At the top of his chats, a message flashed on the screen. A familiar profile picture, paired with a simple text: ¡°Hi, it¡¯s me, Derek.¡±


    Mize¡¯s grin deepened.


    How quick, this guy probably didn''t take a bath yet just to chat with me. He typed out a quick response, sending back an emoji with a wide, innocent smile, one that mirrored the innocent expression he so often wore.


    Derek, on the other hand, had not expected such a quick reply.


    He was prepared to be ignored, or at the very least left on read for a while.


    His heart raced a little as he stared at the screen, surprised by the immediate response.


    A nervous excitement bubbled up in him, and his thumbs fumbled as he typed.


    "W-well... are you free tomorrow?" Derek sent, feeling the thrill of taking a bold step forward.


    He knew Mize had school, but he couldn¡¯t help himself. It was like tossing a hook into the water, hoping the fish would bite anyway.


    Mize raised an eyebrow as he read the message, instantly recognizing Derek¡¯s clumsy attempt to make more time for them.


    It was almost amusing, the way he was trying so hard to push things along.


    But while Derek was trying to orchestrate his plans, Mize wasn¡¯t stupid enough to fall into any traps that didn¡¯t benefit him.


    Well, not usually. Mize may have been clever in some ways, but there were gaps in his knowledge, he wasn¡¯t always as sharp as he liked to think he was.


    "No," he typed back, still smiling to himself, "I have school tomorrow, and on Wednesday, I¡¯ll have to do the Awakening Ceremony."


    He paused before hitting send, knowing the mention of the ceremony would shift the conversation.


    It always did.


    Derek¡¯s next message came through quickly, exactly as Mize had anticipated.


    "Ah, yes. The Awakening Ceremony." The message was short, but the tone was clear.


    Derek knew all too well what Mize was facing.


    He hesitated for a moment, memories of his ceremony resurfacing.


    The weight of that day, the hope, the crushing disappointment, it all came back in a wave.


    He remembered vividly the hope that the ceremony inspired in young students, the promise of becoming something more than just ordinary.


    Derek¡¯s fingers hovered over the keyboard, carefully crafting his next message.


    He didn¡¯t want to sound bitter or pessimistic, but he also knew the odds.


    Most people didn¡¯t awaken. Most people didn¡¯t become anything more than what they already were.


    Well, at least this only applied to commoner, people like them.


    "You must be hoping to become an Awakener too, no?" Derek finally typed, his tone neutral but with a hint of caution.


    He didn¡¯t want to crush the young girl''s dreams, but he knew reality could be harsh.

 Chapter 10: night talk

    Mize, reading the message, smiled softly to himself.


    "He''s acting like I am unaware of the harsh reality of the upcoming awakening ceremony, how cute... "


    However, even from the perspective of other people... such a kind and innocent-looking girl perhaps wouldn''t have much deeper thoughts about this issue.


    Like a naive child that is...


    But...


    He knew the odds as well as anyone. In fact, he knew the fact and the cold reality of the ceremony better than any of his peers at the same age.


    The Awakening Ceremony was an enormous gamble since it involved the future of a person''s life.


    Even with his lineage, even with two awakened parents, there was no guarantee that the same fate awaited him.


    "Mhmm," he responded, his tone light as if the weight of the ceremony hadn¡¯t fully hit him. "I¡¯m hoping to become one. I¡¯ll follow the same path that my mother once took"


    The mention of his mother was deliberate. He knew that would tug at Derek¡¯s curiosity, maybe even evoke sympathy.


    And, to Mize¡¯s satisfaction, it worked. It worked too well, that he began to doubt a little, the authenticity of everything, but this tiny thought was kept at the back of his mind.


    "I see... then you should be prepared thoroughly and mentally" Derek¡¯s question came, his voice sounding thoughtful, perhaps even a little nostalgia in Mize''s head.


    "Yup, I will. I will definitely succeed" Mize replied, his voice crisp and innocent through the text.


    He made sure to sound confident, unbothered by the uncertainty of the ceremony.


    But deep down, Mize knew the reality all too well. The chances of awakening were slim for most, even for someone with an impressive lineage like his.


    All the rumors, all the ancient myths about bloodlines and genetics, they meant nothing when it came down to the ceremony.


    In the end, it was about luck.


    And Mize knew that his luck, in most things, had been precarious at best.


    Still, that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t play along with whatever was to come.


    Derek stared at his phone, his fingers trembling as they hovered over the screen.


    The words ¡°I am sure you will be a great sorcerer one day!¡± stared back at him, hesitating whether these were the right thing to say at this time.


    ''Several days before the time would come, a time where hundreds of millions of people''s dreams and hopes would be crushed into ashes''


    ''And I wouldn''t want her dream to be crushed too''


    He was bad at this, terrible. Comforting someone, especially about something as monumental as the Awakening Ceremony, wasn¡¯t his strong suit.


    And yet, he wanted to believe the words he typed. He wanted to believe that Mize, this fragile-looking girl with a quiet smile, would defy the odds.


    Maybe... it was just a tiny hope of seed that he was praying for. ''Perhaps, she might have a chance''


    But the truth lingered in the back of his mind, heavy and unshakable.


    The odds of awakening were so slim, so cruelly stacked against most people, that the thought of Mize walking away disappointed, crushed even, twisted something deep in his chest.


    Before he could overthink it anymore, Mize responded.


    "I am sure I will! I¡¯ll be one of the greatest awakener in this world!" She punctuated her message with an emoji, bright, hopeful, and everything Derek couldn¡¯t be right now.


    A soft smile curled at the corner of his lips as he read the message.


    Childish?


    Innocent?


    Naive?


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    But wasn¡¯t that what made it so pure?


    And Derek, despite all his cynicism, found himself wishing for that kind of certainty again.


    Yet, there was a growing pit in his stomach.


    He didn¡¯t want to see Mize''s bright, ruby-like eyes fill with disappointment when reality came crashing down.


    The thought of her crying, of her soft voice cracking under the weight of failure, made him feel... bad.


    And yet, he barely met her today, but it was as if, he had known her for years.


    He had seen many of his peers cry, and break into pieces even when it was on that eventful day.


    Some were even in absolute utter shock, then till this day, they could never recover. Imagine training your life, under the horrible expectation of your parents to become the pillar of light in your family lineage.


    To escape from the chain of being a mortal into something extrodianary, but in the end... it failed.


    Dissapointment


    What should I do? he thought, his hand absentmindedly running through his messy hair.


    "It''s so hopeless at times, that I couldn''t stop something from happening despite knowing it would"


    He hated how powerless he felt. He knew the truth, only one in a hundred would awaken.


    Those odds haunted the common people, especially now that Mize had placed so much hope in something so uncertain.


    Derek¡¯s mind raced, trying to find a way to help her. And then it hit him, like a flash of memory resurfacing from some distant, almost forgotten corner of his mind.


    The Luck Potion.


    He had heard about it before, seen it even, at the Awakener auction house.


    A rare concoction that was rumored to increase someone¡¯s chances of awakening.


    It was insanely expensive, of course, something only the wealthiest could afford.


    After all, this luck potion involves in the idea of tampering with luck and fate, naturally it would be expensive.


    But Derek had connections. He could make it happen.


    His hand froze mid-motion, his fingers tangled in his hair, as the idea solidified in his mind.


    He glanced at his phone on the seat beside him, ''Old friend, please help me this one time''


    Meanwhile, Mize, unaware of the storm of thoughts swirling in Derek¡¯s head, continued with his night as if nothing were out of the ordinary.


    He moved around the kitchen in his small apartment, preparing his usual meal, noodles.


    A simple dish, but one that he loved more than anything. In this world, and even the version of it that existed before the awakening, noodles were his constant, his comfort.


    And his favourite flavor would be BBQ spicy chicken, the one that would make his stomach ache in the next morning, churn and twist...


    As he boiled water and stirred the noodles, he thought about Derek¡¯s message, his innocent excitement.


    "He''s the type that would try his best to impress me... " Mize began, his eyes fixed on the boiling water on the stove, absent minded a little.


    "It''s like those romance drama, where the guy is obsessed with the girl, willing to do anything at the cost of everything"


    Mize had been playing this game long enough to know that Derek was the kind of person who desperately wanted to fix things, to protect people like Mize from the inevitable harshness of reality.


    He smiled faintly, stirring the noodles in the pot. If only Derek knew just how aware Mize was of the world¡¯s cruelty.


    He wasn¡¯t some naive little girl waiting for a miracle.


    But Derek didn¡¯t need to know that.


    No one need to know this.


    As the noodles cooked, Mize leaned against the counter, tapping his foot lightly on the tiled floor.


    The steam from the pot curled into the air, soft and comforting, much like the quiet simplicity of his routine.


    He caught his reflection in the kitchen window, the dim light casting a soft glow over his pale skin and delicate features.


    His black hair fell like dark silk around his face, framing his doll-like appearance. People always said he looked fragile, like porcelain, something to be protected, cherished, or even broken.


    Mize smiled softly at his reflection.


    He didn¡¯t mind the comparisons. After all, it worked to his advantage. Let people think what they want.


    Let Derek think he was just some delicate flower in need of saving. It was easier that way.


    As the noodles finished cooking, he drained them, his movements smooth.


    Derek lay on his bed, phone pressed to his ear, still caught up in the conversation that had already drifted past him.


    His words flowed easily now, stories and jokes tumbling out, each one an attempt to keep Mize engaged.


    He''d learned so much tonight, bits and pieces of her family, the struggles she''d faced, and even small details about her day-to-day life.


    And while Mize never came across as seeking pity, Derek felt that familiar tug in his chest, a need to protect.


    Mize, though Mize was a master of subtlety. She had woven a tapestry of vulnerability so well that Derek didn¡¯t even realize how expertly he¡¯d been drawn into it.


    Every word she shared seemed delicate, every pause filled with just enough emotion to make Derek think he was being let in on something deeply personal.


    It was all an illusion, of course, a carefully crafted act that Mize had honed to perfection.


    He played the role of the fragile flower, and Derek, unknowingly, played the role of the knight in shining armor.


    ¡°...and then,¡± Derek chuckled, finishing his latest story, ¡°I ended up spilling coffee all over the conference table. Can you imagine? The first day at work, and I¡¯ve already made a mess.¡±


    Silence greeted him on the other side.


    ¡°Mize?¡± he called softly. ¡°You still there?¡±


    Nothing but the faint sound of breathing. It was so light, so steady, that it took Derek a second to register what had happened.


    A soft smile spread across his face as he listened. Mize had fallen asleep.


    He could hear the gentle rhythm of her breaths, slow and even, each one a whisper in the quiet of his room.


    It was almost endearing, how easily she had drifted off in the middle of their conversation.


    Vulnerable, like a child, he thought. His heart warmed at the thought.


    ¡°She¡¯s so vulnerable,¡± he whispered to himself, a strange kind of contentment filling him.


    He wasn¡¯t entirely sure why, but knowing that she had fallen asleep while they were talking made him feel... needed.


    Trusted, even.


    He lay there for a while longer, just listening.


    Eventually, Derek gently placed his phone down, careful not to end the call too abruptly, as if hanging up would disturb her sleep.


    He lay back, staring at the ceiling with a smile that wouldn''t fade.


    And as he lay his back on the bed, his eyes staring towards the ceiling... "I will help you, don''t worry"

 Chapter 11: Mondays morning

    The first morning light crept in like a quiet visitor, slipping through the gap in the curtains and spilling soft golden rays across the room.


    It touched everything gently, the corner of the bed, the scattered bags on the floor, and eventually, Mize¡¯s sleeping face.


    The warmth from the sun was subtle at first, a soft invitation to wake, but soon it grew persistent, coaxing him out of the deep sleep he had drifted into during the night.


    Outside, the city had already begun its daily hum.


    The faint sound of cars moving on the street below was a distant backdrop, mixing with the occasional honk of a horn, muffled conversations of early risers, and the low rumble of buses making their rounds.


    Life was moving on, like it always did, while Mize lay curled up in the quiet sanctuary of his apartment.


    His long lashes fluttered for a moment, reacting to the warmth of the sunlight that now rested on his cheek.


    He shifted under the blanket, his hair spread like ink against the pillow, still half-lost in the fantasy.


    His body felt heavy, almost reluctant to move, as if the weight of dreams still clung to him, pulling him back into that comforting haze.


    But the sunlight wasn¡¯t having it.


    Mize scrunched his face a little, turning his head to escape the brightness, but it was no use.


    The morning was calling, and the day had already begun without him.


    He groaned softly, a mix of frustration and sleepy resignation, before finally letting his eyes crack open.


    Just a sliver at first, peeking out through the blur of sleep to make sense of the world around him.


    The room was calm, bathed in that early morning glow. The air felt cool and fresh, with a faint hint of the night still lingering as the city¡¯s warmth slowly began to seep in.


    Mize let out a long, slow breath, his body stretching beneath the sheets.


    His arms reached above his head, and his legs straightened, toes pointing outward as he groaned again, this time with the sweet relief of a good stretch.


    The muscles in his back loosened, and the sleepiness that had weighed him down started to lift.


    His phone buzzed softly from the bedside table, messages and messages coming in... but Mize like always wasn''t one to reply.


    He didn¡¯t check it right away, though. Instead, Mize sat up slowly, letting the blanket fall away as he ran a hand through his tousled black hair, pushing it out of his face.


    He blinked a few times, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he let out a soft yawn.


    His mind was still fuzzy, lingering in the in-between space where the remnants of dreams mixed with the reality of the day ahead.


    He glanced toward the window, where the sunlight filtered in, dappling the room with soft shadows.


    The city outside was already alive, but inside, everything still felt quiet, like the day hadn¡¯t quite reached him yet.


    Mize pulled himself out of bed, his bare feet touching the cool floor, and he padded softly toward the kitchen.


    Mize sat there, staring at his phone in disbelief, the screen glowing faintly in the soft morning light.


    The message from Derek and the bank notification confirming the transfer made his breath hitch for a second.


    A thousand dollars, just like that.


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    He blinked, then let out a disbelieving laugh, his body slumping back against the chair.


    His loose, oversized clothes slipped further down his shoulder, exposing the pale, flawless skin underneath.


    Mize caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror across the room, his reflection capturing the mix of bewilderment and amusement on his face.


    His ruby-like eyes glistened in the light, sharp and beautiful, but cold as ice.


    "He''s for real... he sent it," he murmured to himself, running a hand through his long black hair.


    A soft smile curved on his lips.


    Sipping from the glass of water, he savored the moment.


    He put the glass down and picked up his phone again, scrolling through the messages he had sent earlier.


    A whole string of protests, polite refusals, and exaggerated confusion about how to return the money, though it was all an act of pretense.


    To make the picture of his personality in Derek''s eyes more perfect... or not too perfect.


    "Alas, what a perfect performance, no?" he mused, tapping the screen lightly, savoring the moment of his brilliance.


    He could almost see Derek¡¯s face on the other end of the phone, probably feeling all warm and fuzzy for helping someone so "innocent." The thought made him chuckle.


    It was all a game, "Well a short one at that"


    Mize stood up, his bare feet making soft sounds against the wooden floor as he paced around the room, still shaking his head in disbelief.


    His long hair swayed behind him like a dark shadow, and his oversized shirt clung loosely to his thin frame.


    He walked over to the window, pulled the curtain aside, and let the sunlight pour into the room.


    The morning outside was bright, the city already bustling with life, but Mize wasn¡¯t focused on that.


    "Ding."


    Another message from Derek. Mize raised an eyebrow, tapping the screen again.


    ¡°Make sure to go to school, and here¡¯s another $1000.¡±


    "Huh?" Mize''s eyes widened again. "Another thousand?"


    The second bank notification buzzed in almost instantly after the message.


    He couldn¡¯t help but laugh, a high-pitched sound of disbelief and amusement escaping his lips.


    ¡°Is this for real?¡± he muttered, shaking his head as he slumped back onto the bed.


    His long sleeves slid further down, but he didn¡¯t bother fixing them this time.


    Leaning back, he let out a long sigh, staring up at the ceiling.


    "He¡¯s falling for this," he said, almost to himself. "Hook, line, and sinker."


    "Well, whatever it might be the case, I will have to prepare to go to school before the bus departs without me" Mize stood up, his eyes fixed on the table watch arrow for a moment.


    It was exactly at 10 am, an hour before 11 when the bus would depart at that time.


    Then the class would start at 12.


    The schooling time system for the human race had been synchronized into one, with more ample time in the morning for the kids to prepare themselves, and the school time, no matter what must end before 7 at night.


    A total of 6 days of school, except Sunday. It was to honor those warriors and legends of important human figures that had served the human race, more or so a day for remembrance.


    Knowing that he had over one hour of preparation, Mize then began to select the fit for the school day.


    He is in his senior year, and despite so many years studying in this school, barely a few know him well.


    He was the kid at the back of the class that is as unpopular as he was invisible.


    Not much was known about him, having few acquaintances, and the rest were just a mystery.


    And this loophole of many people not knowing much about him.


    Mize planned to take advantage of it.


    "System, sum up all the points that I gained last night"


    [1200 points in total, host]


    "I see... that''s quite a lot"


    [Yes host, half of these points came from the target''s emotional fluctuation, and the other hand was due to the physical contact that the host and the target had done]


    To this, Mize''s reaction wasn''t much as he simply kept on searching for a proper set of clothes.


    "Just holding hands gave me that many points, huh?" Mize muttered under his breath, eyes scanning the cluttered closet, rifling through piles of clothes.


    His fingers paused briefly, grazing over the fabric, as his mind replayed the scene from last night.


    A smirk curled at the corner of his lips.


    "It¡¯s like you''re practically suggesting I should just commit the forbidden act next," he murmured, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he leaned deeper into the closet.


    The system¡¯s voice chimed in, its response monotone and clinical.


    [Host, this system is simply detailing the source of each point you gained from your actions.]


    "Yeah, sure, sure¡­" Mize straightened up, finally pulling out the set of clothes he had in mind.


    The black jeans were almost cargo-like, rugged, and functional, while the oversized white jersey had a sleek black flower logo on the back.


    Stylish, and simple, but just enough to catch attention without looking like he tried too hard.


    He glanced at himself in the mirror, sizing up his small frame. His long black hair, now reaching his back, gave him that delicate look that had always worked to his advantage.


    Pulling the shirt over his head, he smiled to himself, the faintest glint of amusement in his eyes.


    "Let¡¯s see how far I can push this game."


    Mize stood in front of the tall mirror, carefully tying his long black hair into a ponytail.


    His ruby-like eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he admired his reflection.


    "There..." he whispered, observing the final look.


    He patted his cheeks, making a few playful pouts and expressions, adjusting his features.


    His appearance, even to his critical eye, was mesmerizing.


    Despite being male, he carried a beauty that many would envy. "A pity... that I can¡¯t do anything about my height yet" he sighed, tugging at his oversized shirt, which hid the slight creases at his waistline.

 Chapter 12: going to school.

    The pacing is slow...


    <hr>


    The outfit... black cargo-style jeans and an oversized white jersey, highlighted his delicate frame and amplified his cuteness.


    It was like a child wearing loose clothes, but in a way, this appearance made him appear to be more... alluring than normal.


    He was still deciding or even, hesitating whether to let the hair tied up at the back or let it fall naturally and over time...


    The purpose defeated his will, as he untidied his hair and let it fall at the back like a long black curtain.


    He smirked at the thought of showing up at school like this, well... it was mostly just thoughts but in reality, he might just act naturally.


    Attracting attention and gazes was the main goal, but if doing so could lead him to unnecessary trouble then the cons defeats the purpose.


    "I wonder whether there would be anyone of those second rate villain rich kids would be falling for me or not" His lips curled into a mischievous grin, a spark of deviousness dancing in his eyes.


    He was mainly mentioning those bully-rich second-generation boys at the school, the ones that he would often avoid in the past, fearing that he might be bullied too like the rest.


    Mize appearance before this wasn''t one where it could induce or even attract bullies, but due to his weak appearance, he was called a sissy or even worst, people mistook him for a girl and he would constantly get harassed.


    "Nah, I should just stay lowkey all the time, only strike for those valuable targets only " he mused.


    For now, he won''t just go around and flirt with random boys given that they would provide him with little benefits, he isn''t that hungry or even dumb to that point.


    His goal would be those men with a somewhat similar protagonist halo, or even a powerful background that could provide him with protection and whatever he wished for.


    ''You know... like a princess being doted on by all the big bosses in the world. That sounds fun'' Mize thoughts churned inwardly, his hand brushing against the back of his hair, pushing it sideways to his ears.


    ''But... I wonder what it would feel like if one of these men... were to force me into doing those things?'' Well... it was just a thought, a sudden one at that as his cheeks went red in an instant.


    He was slipping further into the role he had once despised, becoming the very thing he used to hate.


    There¡¯s a saying: hate something long enough, and you¡¯ll eventually become it.


    With that thought lingering in his mind, he slung his round, cat-shaped plush bag over his shoulder, picking it up carelessly from where it had been tossed the last week''s Friday school day before.


    The bag, cheap and from a dollar store, only added to his overall innocent appearance.


    It was almost too perfect, a pale-skinned, porcelain doll with a cute ponytail and eyes like shining rubies, veiled by the soft fringe of his bangs.


    Anyone who didn¡¯t know better would easily mistake him for a beautiful young girl, an innocent one.


    The morning light poured through the hallway windows, casting a faint glow on the polished tiles beneath Mize¡¯s feet.


    His footsteps echoed softly as he walked, the casual shoes he¡¯d chosen for school scuffing with each step.


    He wore them intentionally, every aspect of his appearance today crafted to turn heads.


    He imagined the glances that would follow him, the whispered remarks, the silent admiration.


    But that''s it... he wanted attention and gazes alone, after all... ''I gotta grind points you know''


    It''s quite weird he must admit it... He craved attention, longing, and admiration from those around him but at the same time, he despised it when they disturbed him under these emotions that he had been yearning for.


    ''A bit hypocritical huh?'' He touched his nose for a moment as he was making his way towards the door, his steps light.


    With a smirk, he stepped out of his apartment, the door clicking shut behind him.


    The key turned in the lock smoothly, and there was a faint clink from the special mechanism that secured it.


    He pocketed the key with one swift motion, his hand brushing the soft fabric of his shirt.


    As he strode down the corridor, the faded paint of the walls passed by in a blur, the narrow space stretching before him.


    The building wasn¡¯t luxurious, just a typical high-rise with its share of imperfections, but it was home for now.


    His pace was unhurried until he reached the elevator, where he came to a halt, fingers hovering over the button for a moment before pressing it.


    ¡°Why did my parents rent a place this high up?¡± he muttered, a slight frown tugging at his lips. ¡°Could¡¯ve bought something cheaper in the suburbs with their old finances. Awakeners job makes you rich, sure, but it¡¯s dangerous too.¡±


    He shoved his hands into his pockets, leaning against the cool wall as he waited.


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    The numbers above the elevator doors counted down slowly, too slowly for his liking.


    The pot of plants on the two sides of the lift door seemed to be quite pale today, "Oh wait, these are made out of plastic. As expected of the cheapskate owner of this building"


    Tick.


    Tick¡­


    Tick...


    A soft but incessant dripping sound broke through the relative silence. Mize stiffened, his ears tuning to the familiar noise.


    He turned his head slightly, spotting the source at the far end of the hallway, a dark, damp stain creeping across the ceiling, droplets of foul-smelling water hitting the concrete floor below.


    The stench hit his nostrils almost immediately, sharp and unpleasant, like urine left to fester.


    His nose wrinkled in disgust, his gaze lingering for only a moment longer before he shifted his weight and took a few steps to the side, distancing himself from the source.


    The elevator still hadn¡¯t arrived. He cast an irritated glance upward.


    The digital display continued its agonizingly slow descent, the numbers ticking down floor by floor.


    He sighed, flipping his phone out of his pocket. His other hand slipped into the side pocket of his shirt, fingers curling into the soft fabric, finding warmth.


    The familiar ding of a notification pulled his attention back to the screen.


    He scrolled through the messages absentmindedly, his thumb moving in a lazy rhythm.


    His gaze flickered over the exchange with Derek.


    [Derek: If you need anything, just ask me. I will buy it for you.]


    The messages were filled with attempts at humor, little gestures to win his favor, and, Mize had to admit, more often than not, they worked.


    He chuckled under his breath, a low, almost inaudible sound. The thought of his reaction made him cringe slightly, though.


    The playful giggles from the night before, those fleeting moments where his guard had slipped, they were genuine, and that¡¯s what unsettled him.


    God, I must¡¯ve looked like an idiot, he thought, rubbing the back of his neck as a goosebump ran down along the back of his neck.


    He shook his head.


    ¡°If there was a hole with no end,¡± he muttered to himself, his voice low, ¡°I¡¯d be the first to jump into it.¡±


    With a sigh, he turned the phone off and slipped it back into his pocket.


    His eyes drifted up just in time to see the elevator¡¯s display finally nearing his floor.


    Ding.


    The doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a dimly lit interior. He stepped inside without much thought, giving a cursory glance to the person already inside.


    A student, he noted, without much interest. Their eyes met briefly, and Mize gave a small, polite nod, nothing more.


    He moved to the back corner of the elevator, leaning his back against the cold, metallic wall.


    His fingers brushed against the smooth surface as he made himself comfortable, his posture relaxed, casual.


    He flipped his phone open again, diving back into the familiar world of messages and notifications, his focus already drifting away from his surroundings.


    The faint hum of the elevator¡¯s machinery filled the silence as the floor numbers counted, but Mize was lost in his thoughts, paying little attention to the presence beside him.


    Mize''s fingers scrolled absentmindedly across his phone screen, his focus on the tiny device sharper than it seemed.


    He was well aware of the boy standing next to him, even without looking.


    The subtle shift in body language, the stolen glances, Mize had felt that kind of attention many times before.


    This one was no different.


    The boy''s gaze flickered up and down, unsure but undeniably curious, his expression caught somewhere between confusion and something else, flustered, maybe?


    Mize could see the awkward, hesitant vibe radiating off him, like a person on the verge of saying something but lacking the courage to speak.


    Too bad, Mize thought, his lips twitching in the slightest curl. I¡¯m not interested in a kid. The boy, no matter how intrigued, was of no use to him.


    He wasn¡¯t looking for empty admirers or shallow crushes. Even Derek despite his appearance, gave him benefits in terms of money.


    His posture, rigid and dismissive, said everything the boy needed to know.


    With his eyes glued to his phone, Mize broadcasted his lack of interest clearly:


    The boy must have caught on, too. His earlier boldness seemed to dissolve into awkward silence, retreating inward.


    He shuffled in place, his gaze now glued to the floor as the elevator continued its slow descent.


    The hum of the machinery filled the space between them, punctuated only by the soft taps of Mize¡¯s fingers on his phone.


    A flicker of hunger passed through Mize¡¯s thoughts, his mind wandering to the meal he¡¯d had the night before.


    ''Now that I have money, might as well have a good meal at the canteen later'' Mize mused to himself.


    He glanced at his wristwatch briefly, one hand reaching up to lazily twirl a lock of hair, twisting it absentmindedly between his fingers.


    His other hand held the phone with little interest, it was outdated, old-school. ''What was this version again? Max 5?'' He frowned slightly, inspecting the worn-out design. ''Guess it¡¯s time for an upgrade, I will stop by the tech store after school ends''


    The elevator finally chimed with a soft ding, and Mize¡¯s gaze snapped to the front.


    Without a second thought, he shoved his phone into his pocket and stepped forward as the doors slid open.


    His movements were quick, and he didn¡¯t bother to glance back at the boy still standing behind him.


    But as Mize exited, he could sense the boy''s last grasp at courage.


    He heard the soft shuffle of footsteps, the hesitant movement of someone about to speak.


    The boy¡¯s voice, or whatever words he might¡¯ve planned to say, died in his throat.


    Mize''s brisk pace was too fast, his steps deliberate and unrelenting.


    ''Give up. Give up. Give up'' The mantra echoed in Mize¡¯s mind, his hand tightening around the strap of his bag.


    His steps were light but swift, almost as if he were half-skipping to avoid any further interaction. ''Just let me get to school in peace''


    Outside, the air was humid and clung to his skin, the remnants of the early morning fog still hanging in the atmosphere.


    Mize arrived at the bus stop, his gaze flickering across the empty street before he sat down on the long steel bench.


    The seat, like everything else in the area, was poorly designed, cold and uncomfortable.


    His loose jeans bunched awkwardly in the gaps between the metal beams, making the experience even worse.


    Whoever designed this must¡¯ve been a complete idiot, Mize thought, shifting uncomfortably on the bench.


    The water stains from the damp morning hadn¡¯t fully evaporated yet, leaving patches of moisture that clung to his clothes. Or maybe they were just a maniac.


    The thought sent a small shiver down his spine, though he smirked at the absurdity of it.


    Maniacs, those were far more dangerous than incompetent designers.


    His mind drifted to rogue awakeners, those rare but terrifying cases where someone lost control of their abilities.


    Mize had seen some of it himself, photos leaked onto shady websites, images burned into his brain that he could never unsee.


    The bodies. The blood. The sheer madness is etched into every scene.


    Corpses piled high, limbs scattered like broken dolls, intestines spilling out across the pavement.


    And always, at the center of it all, a rogue awakener, deranged, eyes wild, muttering incomprehensible things.


    Mize shuddered, his fingers gripping the cold edge of the bench.


    He hadn¡¯t expected much when he stumbled upon those images late one night, browsing out of morbid curiosity, but what he¡¯d found was nothing short of a nightmare.


    Deranged... crazy... He could still see it in his mind¡¯s eye, the blood, the destruction, the raw chaos of someone who had lost their grip on reality.


    And there had been whispers, too, barely audible in some of the clips, as if the rogue awakeners were talking to someone, or something, only they could hear.


    ''That¡¯s why I need to find someone strong'' Mize reminded himself, shaking off the lingering unease.

 Chapter 13: Shady fateful encounter with a "protagonist"

    I need a protagonist, Mize mused again, but this time the thought settled deep within him.


    He needed someone with the kind of tragic backstory and raw potential that would inevitably lead to greatness or someone to support, build up, and then reap the rewards once they hit their stride.


    The perfect hero for him to latch onto.


    A hero...


    It must be a hero, the goodie guy...


    But usually, they would face countless life and death challenges at every turn... but... they would become stronger too.


    It was a bit of a dilemma, but Mize focused on those op protagonists with overpowered power or something else.


    ''A grandpa who hides inside the pendant around his neck?''


    ''Yeah, the one that will become op quite quickly so I doesn''t have to worry about him not being able to protect me early on''


    Yes, he thought, the plan crystallizing as the bus approached in the distance.


    Find a hero when he''s at his lowest, be there for him, and when he¡¯s powerful¡­ I¡¯ll have a front-row seat to the rewards.


    It was a beautiful dream, almost too perfect.


    And this world?


    Oh, it was more than what it appeared to be on the surface.


    Mize knew that much already. The deeper he dug into the internet, the more twisted and bizarre the truth became.


    The world wasn¡¯t just chaotic, it was a storm of madness swirling around, and if you weren¡¯t careful, you could easily drown in it.


    As the bus neared, its quiet hum drawing closer, Mize straightened up on the bench, a bit of grunting as he stretched his body a little.


    The bus was already closing in from the other side, and little did he know, a particular boy had seen him stretching with wide eyes, a bit of longing even in the boy''s eyes.


    System, Mize called silently, his posture casual, are there children of destiny in this world? You know, the ones who are super OP and favored by heaven, the kinds who end up badass?


    The system responded immediately, the words appearing in his mind like a digital echo:


    [Yes, host. There are many in this world.]


    Mize¡¯s pulse skipped a beat. Oh? He stood up, smoothing his jeans as the bus pulled to a stop.


    No smell of oil or gas, just a clean, efficient hum as it ran on battery, the radiator hissing softly.


    He felt the warmth of steam brush against his face for a moment before it dissipated into the cool morning air.


    The doors opened with a faint hiss, and Mize stepped inside, his usual nonchalant stride leading him toward the back of the bus.


    His attention split between finding a seat and pursuing his next thought.


    Then, he asked the system, ''Find me a super OP one who¡¯s closest to me right now''


    [Yes, host. Searching...]


    His eyes scanned the back, settling on an empty seat in the far corner next to a person slouched over, hood up and head down, seemingly dozing off.


    Mize approached quietly, keeping to himself as he gave the hooded figure a gentle nudge.


    "Hey, mister," he murmured, "can I sit here?"


    The guy stirred, blinking groggily before tilting his head just enough for their eyes to meet.


    "A-ah... yeah, go ahead," he muttered, shifting slightly to make room.


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    Mize hesitated for just a second, caught off guard by the faint spark in the guy¡¯s deep black eyes.


    It was so dark and deep, more like a bottomless gaping hole.


    And then, right on cue, the system¡¯s voice rang again in Mize¡¯s mind, almost as if fate had written the moment for him.


    [The protagonist that suits the host''s needs is directly in front of you, possessing a ''golden finger''¡ªalong with several other powerful traits.]


    Mize¡¯s heart skipped. His body froze for just a split second.


    No way. Of all the people in the world, of all the moments, this kid, sitting right here next to him, was the one?


    And it was too abrupt at that!


    No way that this just happened because he wished fot it.


    It seemed so deliberate that he began to suspect that this was the system''s doing.


    Th boy in front of him waved his hand, eyes full of concern, breaking Mize¡¯s momentary trance. "Miss? You okay?"


    Mize blinked, quickly regaining his composure.


    "Ah, yeah, I¡¯m good." He gave a quick nod before sliding into the seat, his movements smooth but casual.


    As he sat down, his gaze flickered back to the boy¡¯s face for just a second longer, taking him in.


    Well, he thought, this one¡¯s got potential. The boy had that look, the kind of person who could be hiding something extraordinary under layers of awkward shyness.


    He wasn¡¯t bad-looking either, with a face that would probably draw attention once he shed the hood and gained some confidence.


    A diamond in the rough, Mize mused, already plotting in his head.


    Not knowing that this boy will be his biggest nightmare and also the soon to be terror of the world and beyond.


    He leaned back against the seat, settling into the shared armrest between them.


    His hair cascaded over his shoulders, loose and freshly washed, with the faint scent of lavender lingering in the air.


    It wasn¡¯t on purpose, but Mize could tell that the boy had noticed, his arm had twitched slightly the moment their elbows brushed.


    It wasn¡¯t much, just a small touch, but Mize could feel the subtle tension between them.


    The kid was trying hard to act like it didn¡¯t happen like he hadn¡¯t noticed, but the slight tremor in his movements betrayed him.


    Mize smirked inwardly.


    Too easy. But he wasn¡¯t here to intimidate the guy or make him uncomfortable.


    Small gestures, subtle moves to build rapport.


    That¡¯s what would work best or at least that was the way he thought would work the best.


    He relaxed further into the seat, one arm resting lazily on the armrest, fingers lightly grazing the edge of the seat.


    His other hand twirled a strand of his hair, a casual gesture as he let the silence stretch between them, comfortable in its ease.


    There was no rush. No need to force anything. The boy, the protagonist, Mize corrected mentally, was already hooked, whether he knew it or not.


    The plan was simple, build trust, be the one person this kid could rely on, and then reap the benefits as he inevitably rose to greatness.


    Small gestures, Mize reminded himself. Keep it cool.


    Unbeknownst to him, his plan was destined to fail. Logic couldn''t be applied to a protagonist or these group of people since they operated outside of logic itself.


    The bus rattled forward, each bump providing Mize with a small window to observe the boy¡¯s reactions with a few other touches here and there, test his plan, and execute his every move carefully.


    The fifteen-minute ride to the school would give him just enough time to make an impression, and he had no intention of wasting it.


    Small gestures, he reminded himself. Don''t scare him off too early.


    Mize casually adjusted the bag on his lap, subtly leaning to one side.


    His posture was deliberate, the slight turn revealing a sliver of his neck, smooth, almost translucent pale skin, accentuated by the dark collar snug around it.


    Against his soft appearance, the collar hinted at a wild, untamed quality that was anything but innocent.


    The exposed veins only added to the effect, and it didn¡¯t take long for the boy next to him to start fidgeting, retreating further into his side of the seat, his gaze flickering nervously away from their shared armrest.


    Other boys scattered throughout the bus had taken notice too, and Mize was keenly aware of it.


    He could practically feel their stares, sharp, questioning, a bit envious as they glanced at his seatmate, clearly wondering how this nobody had ended up next to someone like her.


    Their interest was blatant, and it amused Mize to see them practically shoot daggers his way.


    He gave them a quick, challenging glance, letting his lips curl just a little in a smirk.


    Then, as if addressing them directly, he muttered, just loud enough for their ears, ¡°What are you perverts staring at? Wanna die?¡± The words sounded harsh, especially coming from his soft, almost doll-like voice, but that only made the statement more unsettling, and amusing.


    With his delicate features, red eyes that gleamed almost mischievously, and puffed cheeks tinged with faint irritation, he looked more like a pouting cherub than anything truly threatening.


    One of the boys blinked, caught off guard. ¡°A-ah, sorry¡­we weren¡¯t¡­uh,¡± he stammered, quickly grabbing his friend by the shoulder and turning away with a hurried mutter, cheeks flushed.


    Satisfied, Mize settled back, a victorious smile playing on his lips.


    He crossed his arms with a little nod of triumph, letting his attention drift back to the boy sitting beside him.


    From his vantage point, Mize could see the boy¡¯s face turning a shade pinker, his eyes wide and hesitant, as if he¡¯d been watching something both mesmerizing and terrifying all at once.


    He quickly looked away, hunching in on himself, trying to shrink his presence down to nothing.


    Interesting, Mize thought with a flicker of amusement, catching the boy¡¯s behavior from the corner of his eye.


    Leaning over slightly, Mize let his hair fall forward, brushing softly against his shoulders as he reached out and tapped the boy on the shoulder.


    ¡°Hey, you.¡± His voice was soft but clear, each syllable designed to keep the boy on edge.


    The boy stiffened, the corners of his mouth twitching into an awkward, almost pained smile as he forced himself to meet Mize¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Y-yes?¡± he replied, stammering, the nervousness evident in his expression.

 Chapter 14: the journey on the bus

    Mize leaned in a little closer, his hair falling like a dark curtain around his shoulders, accentuating his narrowed gaze.


    Up close, the boy seemed to notice more details he¡¯d missed before, the way Mize¡¯s hair reached down to his waist, framing a subtle curve to his collarbone and that dark collar around his neck.


    ''Almost like a leash'' The boy thought inwardly.


    With a casual tilt of his head, Mize gestured with his finger toward the boys who had been staring earlier, his tone dropping on a lower end, but nonetheless... It was still a crisp and cute voice to the boy''s ears. ¡°Why are you fidgeting, are you okay?"


    The boy¡¯s eyes darted nervously, glancing everywhere but at Mize, clinging to the phone as if it were some kind of shield.


    Then, he seized his lifeline. Holding the phone up to his ear, he put on the bravest voice he could muster, though it wavered with nerves.


    ¡°A-ah yes, Mom¡­¡± he said a weak, flimsy cover that was neither loud enough to draw attention nor quiet enough to mask his discomfort.


    ''Even though I am basically an orphan but this must be extremely believable to her, right?''


    Mize¡¯s lips quirked as he watched this clumsy act play out.


    With a slow, unimpressed blink, he rolled his eyes, the hint of a smile vanishing into something else. ''The play must goes on''


    He leaned forward, reaching out with the faintest touch, a gentle flick against the phone in the boy¡¯s trembling hand.


    ¡°Here,¡± he murmured a soft, crisp tone that hung just on the edge of teasing. ¡°Your phone was upside down.¡±


    The boy froze.


    His fingers tightened as he looked down, heart dropping in horror at the simple, devastating fact.


    The phone was, indeed, flipped the wrong way up, its blank, inactive screen giving away his bluff in the most humiliating way possible.


    Mize leaned back casually, pulling out his phone and directing his gaze to it, as though nothing particularly remarkable had happened.


    A ringing silence fell between them, heavy and all-consuming, punctuated only by the hum of the bus¡¯s engine.


    The boy sat rigid, back plastered against the seat as if he¡¯d become part of it, each muscle locked in place.


    The embarrassment filled through him, seeping into every bone, every thought.


    He¡¯d been caught in the act of trying to fish out of the problem and now being exposed for his pathetic attempt to escape in front of such a beautiful girl at that!


    Beside him, Mize¡¯s soft, restrained giggles floated through the air like invisible needles, pricking at his every nerve, only deepening his sense of helplessness.


    Heat crept across his cheeks, burning in tandem with the shame swirling inside him, and he could practically feel himself shrinking, melting into a puddle.


    ''This is it'' he thought, a hollow sigh escaping as he slumped back in his seat, defeated.


    ''This is the end''


    ''My social life is over'' He muttered it under his breath, barely a whisper as if releasing that small confession could somehow lessen the weight pressing down on him.


    His fingers slackened, and the phone, the phone that had been his last-ditch effort to save face, slipped from his grasp, falling uselessly onto his lap.


    He glanced outside the window, gaze empty, fixated on the passing buildings he no longer registered.


    The world outside blurred, shifting like a dream, and he could do nothing but sit, crushed under the weight of his embarrassment.


    Then, as if the bus itself conspired against him, a faint chuckle drifted over from the row in front, someone laughing at his expense, their whispers stinging like tiny thorns.


    ''Oh no, they heard it too'' he thought miserably.


    He wanted to vanish, to disappear completely into the fabric of his hoodie.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    If he could just pull his hood over his head, if he could just sink low enough, maybe, just maybe, no one would notice him anymore.


    But as he slouched lower, a futile attempt to hide in plain sight, Mize¡¯s quiet presence beside him refused to fade.


    Instead, Mize sat with unbothered ease, scrolling through his phone like he had all the time in the world.


    The boy stole a glance, catching only a glimpse of that cool, unreadable expression before quickly looking away.


    The bus rolled on, the cityscape outside a blur of shapes and colors, carrying them both toward a destination the boy felt both too eager and too afraid to reach.


    And Mize, for his part, sat quietly, unmoving the whole time.


    After all, the soft and small gestures that he wanted had already happened. As for more, it would depend on the situations at hand.


    One at a time...


    One at a time.....


    I must take it slowly...


    Mize could practically see the boy''s spirit leaving his body, and it was all he could do to keep his expression neutral, though he couldn¡¯t quite hide the tiny smirk that danced on his lips.


    The boy slumped down in his seat, glancing out the window like it was the only escape route he had left, staring so hard at the passing buildings you¡¯d think they held the secrets of the universe.


    The steady hum of the bus engine seemed to mock him, a soundtrack to the boy¡¯s self-diagnosed social demise.


    ''Poor guy'' Mize thought, glancing his way.


    The boy seemed to be trying to disappear entirely, pulling the hood of his black sweatshirt up and sinking further as though he could just merge with the seat and become part of the bus.


    Mize wondered how much more flustered he could get him without breaking him completely.


    There was a certain appeal in that: how far could he press before the boy¡¯s shyness turned into something else?


    Defiance, maybe, or better yet, dependence.


    Someone who would follow him, the way a lost dog might latch on to the one person who gave it any attention.


    But what he doesn''t know was that, this boy wasn''t one to just latch, he was one that would be crazy for him, obsessed even.


    The one that would defy the world just because he would shed a single drop of tear.


    Back to the scene.


    With a casual air, Mize leaned over again, making sure his voice was soft, just loud enough to reach the boy but not the others.


    ¡°You alright there?¡± he asked, his tone almost gentle, though his lips quirked into an amused grin.


    He could see the boy¡¯s shoulders tense up, his hands fumbling to hold onto his phone again, anything to distract from the awkward mess he was now hopelessly entangled in.


    The boy hesitated, glancing Mize¡¯s way with a mix of gratitude and mortification. ¡°Y-yeah,¡± he mumbled, gripping the phone tight in his hand. ¡°Just... didn¡¯t sleep much last night.¡±


    ''Cute excuse'' Mize thought.


    But he only nodded, as if taking the boy¡¯s answer at face value, before turning his attention back to his phone, letting the silence settle in again.


    This time, though, the boy seemed to relax just a fraction.


    Mize let him breathe, leaning his head back against the seat, but he kept an eye on him from the corner of his vision.


    As the bus rattled on, Mize decided he¡¯d pushed enough for now. There was time, plenty of time to dig his claws in deeper.


    The bus finally slowed to a stop in front of the school¡¯s main gate, this huge, gleaming marble thing that looked like it was plucked right out of a palace.


    The place was packed with different ways to get around, bus stops, bike racks, you name it.


    The government didn¡¯t just build a school here, they built a kingdom, investing every penny into making this place the ideal training ground for ¡°awakeners¡±, students who¡¯d be more than your average kid once they, well, awakened.


    With their curriculum packed with everything from science to history to some bizarre ¡°enlightenment¡± classes, it was clear that they weren¡¯t just looking to create smart students, they were cultivating human weapons.


    But back in the bus, Mize was already getting ready to leave, throwing his backpack on and giving a nod to the awkward kid beside him.


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ll get going,¡± he said with a quick smile, leaving the guy there still half-frozen, probably blushing.


    Mize chuckled to himself as he stepped off the bus.


    Targeting this kid wasn¡¯t exactly rocket science, he was the main menu of the whole world, for now, at least.


    Mize was sure he¡¯d made the kind of impression that was hard to shake.


    ''Left him with some good memories, huh?'' he thought, stepping away as he felt the boy¡¯s stare still lingering.


    And as if he remembered something, Mize turned around for a moment.


    Their gazes meeting in between and he chuckled a soft laugh from his mouth. "By the way, stand straight a little would ya? You have the looks but a pity you are a shy boy"


    With those words muttered, Mize spun on his heel and left the scene in a hurry.


    He headed through the marble gate, glancing up at it.


    ¡°Entrance¡± didn¡¯t do it justice; it felt more like a gateway to some over-the-top palace.


    With his hair loose, casually falling over his shoulders, he walked ahead, noticing the eyes on him as he went.


    It was hard not to smirk as he caught a few glances in his direction. ''Beauty privilege?''


    Yeah, it¡¯s real, all right'' he thought, shrugging as he continued, letting the attention slide off him like water.


    Ahead, the cobblestone path cut through the campus grounds, wide and lined with big trees casting shade over everything.


    Even with the summer heat, it was cool here, the air heavy with the smell of wet earth and leaves.


    Mize took a deep breath and relaxed his stride, letting himself take in the scene for once.


    This place was more than big. ''Not just big, it''s humongous'' he thought, watching the crowd of students all around him.


    Over five thousand kids in this place, are all primed to become ¡°assets¡± someday.


    Checking his watch, he saw it was only 10:45. ''Still sometime before class started at 12'' he thought, sighing.


    Unfortunately, his first period was with none other than Mr.Thompson. The name alone made Mize¡¯s skin crawl a bit.


    "That pervert, urk... " But if he were to skip Mr.Thompson class, then the issue would be even bigger.


    ''The chances of me getting harassed in class is low rather than being called to his office, then it would be the death of me'' Mize secretly thought within, his steps light and yet fast at the same time.


    ''I must not let that man have the chance to call me there'' He had been there once, and he doesn''t want to experience it twice.

 Chapter 15: The palace like Academy.

    Thompson had been acting weird for weeks now. He was always watching him in a way that was not teacherly.


    He¡¯d even started calling him over after every class, pretending he needed to talk about grades or some ¡°future goals¡± thing.


    Mize was no fool, though.


    Something in Thompson¡¯s eyes screamed, ''Pervy.'' He didn¡¯t trust the guy one bit.


    ''Total creep'' Mize thought, brow furrowing. He clenched his fist a little, shaking off the thought.


    This wasn¡¯t the first creep he¡¯d had to deal with, and, sadly, probably wouldn¡¯t be the last.


    His job now? Keep his head down, get through the class, and stay on guard.


    No way he was letting his guard slip around that guy.


    Lost in thought, Mize barely noticed the wave of students around him.


    The murmur of their conversations was just white noise as he kept walking, step after step, down the cobblestone path.


    The campus, the fancy buildings, the spiraling towers in the distance¡­ all of it faded, leaving just the path in front of him and his determination to make it through another day.


    Lost in thought, Mize somehow found himself drifting toward the cafeteria, a massive, pulsating hub smack in the center of this campus-palace hybrid.


    The place was like something out of a fantasy artist¡¯s fever dream, with four huge wings radiating from it, each dedicated to a specific purpose.


    One for administration, another for food, one for entertainment (complete with an actual concert hall), and yet another packed with classrooms.


    Mize almost whistled out loud at the sight.


    ''Whoever designed this place must¡¯ve had some crazy ambitions'' he mused, his gaze tracing the huge spiraling towers jutting up and around like giant, twisting fingers.


    It was like Hogwarts met some futuristic cityscape, all flowing marble, glass, and twisting metal arches.


    Honestly, calling it ¡°palace-like¡± was almost underselling it.


    There were gates here that practically pulsed with some rhythm only they knew, swiveling and swaying like they were alive.


    The whole effect was captivating. Even now, with how often he came here, Mize couldn¡¯t shake the awe of it.


    As he wandered through the main gate, he brushed his fingers over the cool metal, its gears humming faintly beneath his touch, rotating ever so slowly as though the gate itself was part of some massive, living mechanism.


    ''Feels like magic'' he thought, half-smirking.


    But then again, what was normal here?


    Between schools like this and people like him, this place was about as close to ordinary as a theme park was to real life.


    Inside, the cafeteria spread out like a little world of its own, with stalls and tables covering every inch of the circular space.


    The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with something fried, a hint of spiced meat, maybe a little coffee somewhere too, it was sensory overload in the best way.


    You wanted sushi, burgers, whatever... you can find it here.


    Kids moved in groups and pairs, laughing, eating, barely caring about the fact that class was about to start in twenty minutes.


    Mize moved into the crowd, immediately swallowed by the mass of people.


    Everyone around him seemed to have shot up a foot overnight, he could barely see past the shoulders and heads looming around him.


    ''Great'' he thought, eyes darting around as he tried to peek through gaps in the crowd.


    All he caught were glimpses of neon signs and stall names.


    ''Curse of being short'' He shoved his hands into his pockets, narrowing his eyes.


    If he could just get a view of one menu or something without standing on a chair or craning his neck like a total weirdo...


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The hint of a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. ''Maybe I should just knee every guy here and clear a path for myself. There¡¯s an idea'' he thought, a little too pleased with the image.


    Mize held back, stifling the impulse to act out.


    ''I¡¯ve got an image now, gotta keep it clean'' he reminded himself, forcing his gaze to stay soft and unassuming.


    He''d only just started here, and every move mattered, especially since his reputation was still a clean slate.


    With the protagonist''s target still on his list, he couldn¡¯t afford to ruin that before things even kicked off.


    The crowd around him buzzed, and Mize caught himself on tiptoe, trying to peer over his shoulders to catch a glimpse of the stalls.


    Each time, whispers floated his way, with curious glances following, some admiring, some just intrigued.


    But that¡¯s what he needed, just enough notice to create his presence without overwhelming himself.


    Finally, he spotted a less crowded stall off to the side. Making his way over, he caught sight of the sign above.


    Fiery Flame Hall, emblazoned with a guild insignia that practically glowed.


    ''Fiery Flame Hall?'' Mize frowned, half amused. ''What kind of name is that? Sounds like it¡¯s trying too hard to be edgy'' He crossed his arms, eyes drawn to the emblem that was boldly carved into the sign.


    Stepping forward, he couldn¡¯t help but notice that the counter was annoyingly high, towering over him, though it was meant to be at eye level for most.


    With only his eyes barely clearing the desk, he tapped his foot, half-annoyed. ''Did they make this counter tall just to mess with people like me?''


    Then he looked up and froze, taking in the intimidating figure behind the counter, a giant of a man, easily pushing seven feet, with a muscular build and a long scar slicing across his cheek.


    This was the kind of guy parents warned their kids about.


    ''Oh, no wonder no one¡¯s lined up here'' Mize thought, blinking up at the imposing figure as the man looked down with an expression that matched his gruff voice perfectly.


    ¡°Order?¡± the man asked, his voice scraping through the air like gravel in a blender.


    Mize¡¯s heart almost stopped right there.


    He instinctively curled his hand in front of his chest, suddenly aware of how small he probably looked.


    He was used to pulling off an innocent look, but this was¡­ intense.


    His fingers gripped together, and he felt a lump in his throat as he tried to meet the guy¡¯s eyes without flinching.


    The man blinked, thrown by Mize¡¯s wide-eyed look.


    His face softened a bit as he scratched the back of his head, suddenly looking awkward for someone so intimidating. ¡°Miss? Are you okay?¡± he asked, the fierce edge dropping from his voice.


    His awkwardness was almost charming, and it softened the intensity in his eyes, making him seem like someone struggling to handle delicate things without breaking them.


    Swallowing his nerves, Mize decided it was time to play this up a little. ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± he said, his voice coming out softer than intended.


    The man relaxed a bit more, visibly trying to keep his intimidating presence in check.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, here,¡± the man said, pushing a large A3 paper menu across the counter toward Mize.


    It slipped toward him, a thick, glossy sheet covered in vibrant images of dishes with their names in bold.


    Mize reached up, just barely managing to pull it over the edge of the counter.


    The man noticed the struggle and kindly leaned forward to bring it closer.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Mize said, his voice soft and almost too sweet, a tone that, whether intentional or not, seemed to melt a bit of the man''s rough edges.


    The man paused, studying him with a look that seemed almost paternal.


    After a moment, he sighed, his rugged face softened in a way that didn¡¯t fit his scar and stern brow. ''Why is there a little angel here?''


    He thought, glancing away with the look of someone almost sad. ''The world out there¡¯s so brutal¡­hope she doesn¡¯t lose that innocence after the awakening ceremony''


    Mize, oblivious to the internal monologue, scanned the menu.


    The dishes were strange to him, each one sounding like something out of a fantasy: roasted spirit fowl, elemental crystal dumplings, and, at the top of the menu, something that looked like an elaborate rib cage dish, encased in what seemed to be shimmering, golden broth.


    He looked up, catching the man¡¯s eyes watching him, arms crossed and nodding as he waited for Mize¡¯s decision.


    ¡°Anything you like?¡± The man tried a smile, but with his gruff face and scar, it came off a bit more like a menacing grin.


    Mize, always on cue, let out a tiny shiver, stepping back, his hand hovering over his chest in a reflex of guarded innocence.


    He glanced back down, quickly pointing to the elaborate rib dish at the top. ¡°I...I want this one,¡± he said, eyes wide and blinking.


    The man leaned in, following Mize¡¯s finger to the highlighted menu item.


    ¡°This one?¡± he repeated as if questioning his hearing.


    He glanced back down at Mize, a mix of doubt and sympathy in his eyes. ¡°Are you sure you can afford it?¡±


    Mize¡¯s cheeks went a little pink, and he shook his head. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know the price.¡±


    The man let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head as if to say, ''Well, that figures'' He looked back at the menu and explained, ¡°That right there is spiritual beef rib, comes from a rare beast. It¡¯s loaded with energy, too. For non-awakeners like you, it¡¯d be a strong boost.¡± His voice softened, his gaze sweeping over Mize with a bit more kindness.


    Mize¡¯s curiosity sparked. ¡°Does it taste good?¡± he asked, his big, innocent eyes blinking, making him look every bit the naive kitten he was.


    The man chuckled, genuinely this time, a warm and honest sound from deep in his chest.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s good. Real good,¡± he replied, glancing away for a moment as if he were embarrassed by Mize¡¯s almost too-cute enthusiasm.


    ¡°Then I want that one,¡± Mize said, nodding eagerly, clearly unaware of the hefty implications of such a choice.


    But before he could get too far, the man put up his hand, waving in gentle protest. ¡°W-wait!¡± he stammered, holding the menu back up with urgency.


    ¡°The price is over ten thousand dollars!¡± His voice was almost pleading as if he didn¡¯t want to be the one to crush Mize¡¯s hopes.


    He leaned closer, face softening, clearly just trying to protect Mize from a shock he was sure would be coming.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Mize mumbled, glancing back down at the menu with a look that was half-defeated, half-stubborn.


    But he nodded, managing a sheepish grin. ''Well'' he thought, ''back to reality''


    There was a reason people avoided this stall. The man behind the counter was built like a tank, with that hardened look that sent most students scurrying to more cheerful vendors.


    And then there was the price. To even consider ordering from here, you had to either have family money or awakened parents.


    These weren¡¯t your everyday student snacks; they were high-tier meals, and the kind of prices that could buy a second-hand car or even a new one.

 Chapter 16: Stuck in a short drama

    Hearing the man¡¯s flat response about the price, Mize¡¯s face fell, but only briefly.


    His cheeks puffed out in an adorable pout, arms crossed, with his small fists clenched at his sides.


    He wanted to stomp his foot in frustration but stopped himself, knowing it¡¯d make him look a bit too bratty.


    So instead, he glared up at the man with fierce eyes, like a kitten trying to scold a tiger.


    The man couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the sight, fighting the urge to ruffle Mize¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Look, Miss¡­¡± he said, trying to keep a straight face. ¡°Pouting won¡¯t get you that dish, no matter how cute it is.¡±


    He gave her a wry smile, looking like he¡¯d rather help but couldn¡¯t risk it.


    His boss had been crystal clear about staying out of trouble at the school, and he knew better than to bend the rules, no matter how much he wanted to help this girl get her dish.


    With a sigh, he folded the menu and placed it on the counter, waiting for Mize to finish her sulking.


    Around them, other students had started to notice.


    Some stopped mid-stride to watch the unusual scene, curious and entertained, while others exchanged amused glances.


    No one dared to approach... anyone in city recognized the insignia on the stall. Guild vendors weren¡¯t exactly known for being approachable.


    Meanwhile, Mize wasn¡¯t planning on throwing a full-blown tantrum, he just liked testing the man¡¯s patience a little, adding some color to his day.


    Besides, he figured a bit of playful drama couldn¡¯t hurt.


    Just as he was about to push things further, someone else stepped into the scene, a hand reaching in from the side.


    It was the same hooded boy from the bus, now walking up with a stride that was surprisingly confident compared to earlier.


    His face was no longer tucked under his hood, instead... he faced openly.


    All eyes turned to the boy as he approached, his shoulders back, no longer hiding or shuffling.


    The boy had this aloof, almost stoic look on his face, though Mize caught the faintest flicker of something¡­ familiar.


    Longing.


    Maybe?


    Just for a second before he turned to the stall vendor, his voice suddenly loud enough for the whole area to hear.


    "Let me pay for her, anything she wants," he muttered softly. Mize barely kept himself from wincing.


    ''Eh?'' Mize started to speculate, ''isn''t this too sudden? What kind of development is this?''


    [An illogical one, host]


    ''No way... ''


    ''Is this for real? Just half an hour ago, this kid had been practically hiding under his hood, avoiding eye contact, and now he was swaggering up, ready to throw cash around''


    Mize¡¯s face was a mixture of shock and... confusion, mainly trying to decide what expression even made sense right now.


    The guy behind the counter wasn¡¯t hiding his surprise either, and he took a second to let the words sink in.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure, kid?¡± The vendor¡¯s tone dropped to something more ominous, giving the boy a hard stare. ¡°You do realize how expensive her meal is?¡±


    He folded his arms across his massive chest, and any friendliness from before evaporated into a distant, unforgiving look.


    But the boy held his ground, unfazed.


    As all this unfolded, Mize¡¯s mind was spinning with something else entirely.


    He shot a thought inward, almost like a routine reflex by now.


    ''System, don¡¯t tell me¡­ did this kid¡¯s powers awaken today? Right after I met him?''


    He figured it had to be impossible, just one of those wild thoughts.


    But what if¡­?


    The system answered promptly, its tone almost mechanical but with an edge of urgency.


    [Yes, host. The protagonist¡¯s ¡°golden finger¡± was activated directly under your influence. There¡¯s a new development too, a mutation in the system due to your interference.]


    ¡°Mutation?¡± Mize¡¯s brow arched, intrigued.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ''So a mutation somehow can turn a shy boy into a daring man in a mere 30 minutes time?''


    [The protagonist¡¯s system has been enhanced, extending his growth potential far beyond what it originally was. Initially, he would have peaked within this world¡¯s boundaries. Now, his strength may evolve without limits, to an undefined scale, possibly beyond this universe.]


    [And please host, do not judge these protagonist with the same logic applied to everyone else]


    [They were meant to operate outside of logic. Fate seems to favour these type of people deeply]


    [One moment they can be weak, and another moment, they might suddenly turned into a world destroying creatures, anything can happen when it comes to the son of destiny]


    Mize took that in with a hint of unease. ''And that¡¯s¡­ good, right?'' The system¡¯s tone, though clinical, felt oddly ominous. h


    [The protagonist is no ordinary hero, host. He is a villain, a protagonist with a dark destiny, driven by forces counter to yours. But it also can accommodate yours]


    The realization hit like a cold splash, and for a split second, Mize¡¯s gaze shifted to the boy, a flicker of wariness seeping through his otherwise composed look.


    ''I am cooked aren''t I?''


    [Yes host, if the villain were to know your true gender, you are sure to cease to exist]


    If he was going to survive, he¡¯d need to tread carefully, maybe keep playing along¡­ for now.


    With a delicate step forward, Mize let his face soften, eyes shimmering in a feigned vulnerability that looked all too real.


    He brought a hand up to his chest, hair cascading in loose waves as he stared at the boy.


    ¡°Are you doing this out of pity?¡± he asked, voice trembling just slightly.


    His tone shifted as if he were wounded by the implication. ¡°Or are you mocking me for being poor?"


    The question hung in the air, sounding more genuine than he¡¯d intended.


    Then as if the universe were mocking his effort to break free from this curse, a voice came from the crowd, as a group of students headed by a red-haired boy came through the crowd.


    "What do we have here? A toad wanting to get close to the swan?"


    "Oh? Liam the loser is so brave today? huh... "


    The sudden shift in the crowd was as predictable as it was exhausting.


    The loud voice, calling out Liam¡¯s name with so much smugness, almost made Mize groan.


    Here it was, the face-slapping scene, a cringe-worthy classic.


    Mize fought the urge to roll his eyes, cursing himself for getting trapped in a predictable setup like this.


    He glanced around, desperately scanning for some excuse to leave, maybe the heroine swooping in with her predictable intervention.


    But, of course, she was nowhere in sight.


    The boy who stepped up was the picture-perfect stereotype: fiery red hair, smug smirk, and a troop of followers tailing him like some entourage in a cheesy teen drama.


    He had that swagger of someone who was used to being adored, practically dripping with cockiness as he made his way over.


    ¡°Is he bothering you, miss?¡± he asked with a mock concern that barely masked his arrogance.


    His eyes flickered to Mize, sharp and calculating, waiting for a cue to jump in.


    And sure enough, when Mize gave an awkward response, looking anywhere but at him, the boy¡¯s smirk deepened.


    ¡°Oh, come on, there¡¯s no need to be shy. You don¡¯t need to put up with someone like him.¡± He looked back at Liam, sizing him up with that same lazy contempt, then turning back to Mize.


    He closed in, his hand moving towards Mize¡¯s waist, the whole scene teetering on the edge of a bad soap opera.


    Out of pure reflex, Mize took a subtle step back, eyes widening slightly. ¡°Uh, no¡­ really, it¡¯s fine,¡± he murmured, keeping his tone small, even though his mind was screaming for a way out.


    He felt Liam¡¯s gaze still on him, probably just as baffled by all this as he was.


    But for now, he had to keep up the harmless act, to keep both these peacocks from throwing down over some manufactured misunderstanding.


    The crowd watched, eager for the drama to unfold, some already chuckling under their breath.


    Mize couldn¡¯t help but think how absurd it all was.


    Liam, the once-quiet loner, suddenly played the knight in shining armor, and this redhead stepped in as if he owned the place.


    What had he gotten himself into?


    But then something shifted in Liam¡¯s expression.


    That longing, that flicker of¡­ understanding? It resurfaced, just for a moment, breaking through the bravado.


    He took a step forward, his voice low and oddly steady. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me here, I¡¯ll go. But¡­¡± he trailed off, a half-smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t think you do.¡±


    Mize blinked, caught off guard.


    ''What the hell? Is this a tv show with a script?''


    ''Am I suppose to blush or something?''


    But before he could puzzle it out, Redhead scoffed, louder than necessary.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I make myself clear, loser?¡± He glared at Liam, clearly reveling in his role as the knight.


    Liam didn¡¯t even flinch. He stood there, totally unfazed, his eyes locked on Mize with this cool, unreadable stare.


    Meanwhile, Redhead looked like he was about two seconds away from blowing a fuse, that arrogant smirk slipping as his eyes narrowed.


    Then, Mize finally decided to take this matter into his own hand.


    ''Man up or so''


    He took a breath, moved forward a little, and then did his best to channel every ounce of shy but brave energy he could muster.


    One hand pressed to his chest, eyes looking a little shiny, he spoke just loud enough for everyone to hear: ¡°Stop this... at once.¡±


    The whole crowd froze like someone had hit a pause. Mize felt every single stare turn his way.


    Even Redhead looked thrown for a second, his usual cocky mask slipping into surprise.


    It was there and gone in a flash, but Mize caught it, a spark of something new, like maybe he¡¯d gotten Redhead¡¯s attention a bit more than he¡¯d planned.


    And not in a good way.


    ''Well, he will be gone on his own anyway. No one can escape alive after insulting a villain, no one... According to novels that is.''


    Mize¡¯s cheeks burned, and he quickly dropped his gaze, feeling about as tiny as possible under the weight of all those eyes.


    Out of nowhere, Liam let out this low chuckle, soft but way too amused, and somehow that just made Mize feel a hundred times more embarrassed.


    He could feel the flush creeping up his neck, and he wanted to scold Liam right there, but he knew better.


    Keep it together. Just keep the act going.


    Without another word, he spun on his heel and walked away, his steps as quick and steady as he could manage.


    His hands were balled into little fists, his whole body practically buzzing with the effort to hold it together, and he could feel that damn blush spreading across his face.


    A few tears gathered in his eyes, right on cue, and the effect was perfect.


    Mize had nailed the ¡°damsel in distress¡± look whether he wanted to or not...


    Behind him, everyone was still just... standing there, dumbfounded.


    His little ¡°performance¡± had worked a little too well.


    They just watched him go, in complete shock. And he could feel it.


    He¡¯d just earned himself a reputation as one of the school¡¯s ¡°flowers¡±, delicate, sweet, and, unfortunately for him, now unforgettable.


    No one stepped forward to stop him. The crowd just parted, letting him pass like he was some fragile glass figurine that might shatter at any second.


    Liam and Redhead shot each other one last nasty look as Mize disappeared around the corner.


    Once he was out of sight, Mize let out a long, shaky breath and hurriedly ran with his little feet.

 Chapter 17: Adrian

    Mize dashed through the park, every muscle in his legs screaming at him as he reached the sprawling garden hidden at the heart of the palace grounds.


    The chaotic mix of trees and wildflower beds spilled over the paths in that careless, almost lazy arrangement that had somehow become his refuge.


    He took a deep breath, leaning forward with his hands braced on his knees as he tried to slow his heartbeat.


    Finally, peace.


    He straightened up, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.


    With its overgrown plants and shady spots, this park had been his little escape for as long as he could remember.


    He moved toward his favorite bench tucked by the small waterfall, muttering to himself as he went, ¡°I¡¯ll skip Mr. Thompson¡¯s class, avoid the drama for a bit.¡± He sat down with a sigh, massaging his aching feet and rolling his shoulders.


    ¡°Ugh,¡± he murmured, noticing how his legs throbbed from just a short run.


    The changes in his body over the past few years, making him more delicate, more¡­ everything was making it hard to even jog without feeling wiped.


    ¡°At this rate, breathing will become hard too,¡± he muttered, rubbing his calf and letting his head fall back against the bench with a groan.


    Around him, the park was alive, students roaming in little clusters, mostly from high-end families who used this garden as their private escape.


    But Mize¡¯s corner, tucked so far back, was undisturbed, a place few dared to wander.


    That was what he liked best about it. As for why the masses avoided this place, he doesn''t know and doesn''t care.


    Until today, that is.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡± a voice sounded nearby, and Mize¡¯s body jolted as he whipped around.


    His heart stumbled as he caught sight of the speaker, a tall figure in a pristine white windbreaker, embroidered with elaborate patterns.


    The face was cold, intimidating even, with an expression that made him look untouchable.


    ''Ahhh, another cold ceo character and probably not bran dead?''


    ''Wow... that jawline is insane'' Mize secretly thought within.


    But on the outside.


    ¡°W-who?¡± Mize blurted, voice a mix of nerves and surprise.


    The stranger approached slowly, eyes narrowing as if trying to place him.


    ¡°You¡­¡± he muttered, scrutinizing Mize like he was a mystery.


    Mize swallowed, feeling as if the world had shrunk down to just this spot, this moment.


    There was something vaguely familiar in the guy¡¯s gaze, something that made Mize¡¯s stomach twist.


    He turned to leave, but just as he stepped back, the man seemed to realize something.


    In the blink of an eye, he¡¯d moved right next to Mize, capturing his wrist with a firm but surprisingly gentle grip.


    ¡°AH!¡± Mize gasped, wide-eyed, but then the man brought his hand up, covering Mize¡¯s mouth as if to hush him, keeping their faces close.


    The two were frozen, locked in that heartbeat of silence, with the man studying him intensely, blue eyes like shards of ice cutting right through him.


    Too close! Too close! Mize¡¯s face went beet red, not from breathlessness but pure mortification.


    This was the exact type of ¡°intense confrontation¡± that he¡¯d read about in novels, where the dashing prince finds the girl in a vulnerable moment, only this time¡­ well, he was not a ¡°girl,¡± and not enjoying being the star of this all-too-familiar scene.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    His eyes darted from the man¡¯s face to the hand still on his mouth.


    ''How is this happening right now? This is exactly like¡­ one of those scenes!''


    ''Please not be the routine... I am just a dude in a girl''s dress ''


    ''I got a sword on my own''


    [Hidden in the crevices of spaces]


    "..."


    The stranger''s eyes softened for just a moment, and his gaze settled as if something he¡¯d suspected all along had finally clicked.


    With a hint of a smirk tugging at his mouth, he whispered, ¡°Mize?¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm¡­ Mmhm!¡± Mize tried to respond, voice muffled against the guy¡¯s hand.


    Finally, the guy seemed to realize what he was doing. "Ah, yes... pardon me."


    He let go, pulling back his hand, though his gaze lingered.


    Mize rubbed his lips, trying to shake off the awkwardness, but he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this guy wasn¡¯t about to just let him go.


    Mize swallowed, his mouth dry. ¡°Look, I¡ªI didn¡¯t mean to take your spot.¡± He gestured weakly at the bench, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll leave if you want.¡±


    But the guy didn¡¯t move. He studied Mize like he was some rare artifact in a museum, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to run off,¡± he said, his tone calm but carrying an edge.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you around before. And yet¡­¡± He hesitated, eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°You seem familiar.¡±


    Mize¡¯s heart stuttered. ¡°Uh¡­ maybe I have that ¡®average¡¯ kind of face?¡± he tried with a shaky laugh, desperately wanting to shift the topic, though he knew it was probably too late for that.


    The guy tilted his head, still not buying it. ¡°Average? I don¡¯t think so,¡± he said, his lips curling into a faint, almost teasing smirk.


    ¡°You know, most people wouldn¡¯t dare sit here. I¡¯d even say they avoid it¡­ for good reason.¡±


    Mize gulped, laughing nervously as he took a step back. ¡°Maybe I missed the memo¡­¡±


    But before he could make a clean getaway, the guy took a step forward, closing the distance again.


    "So," he murmured, his voice soft but probing, "what¡¯s your name?"


    Mize glanced at the path he¡¯d come from, considering whether he could bolt.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think you¡¯d remember it even if I told you,¡± he mumbled.


    But the guy only leaned in further, a glint of intrigue in his eyes.


    ¡°Try me,¡± he said, his gaze steady, like he wasn¡¯t going to let Mize out of this one without an answer.


    Mize¡¯s thoughts were spinning as he mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s Mizu.¡±


    The guy¡¯s eyes widened, just barely.


    A flash of realization crossed his face, his calm composure cracking for a split second.


    ¡°Mizu¡­¡± he repeated, the name sounding heavier in his voice.


    Mize¡¯s face burned, and he tugged at his sleeve, looking anywhere but at him.


    Please, just let this end¡­


    [Mizu]


    ''Shut up''


    The guy didn¡¯t press further, though his expression remained serious, his gaze flickering back and forth across Mize¡¯s face as if searching for a clue.


    Finally, he straightened up, giving a nod that seemed both resigned and¡­ satisfied.


    ¡°Alright then, Mizu,¡± the man said with a smirk, stepping back slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you keep this spot¡­ today.¡± Then, with a casual motion, he pulled out a book, who knows from where, and sat down, already absorbed in its pages like Mize wasn¡¯t even there.


    Mize hesitated, foot twitching as he debated bolting for real this time.


    He turned to leave, but.


    ¡°I did say this spot is yours today, didn¡¯t I? Where are you off to¡­ Mizu?¡± The man¡¯s tone was teasing, the name exaggerated as he gestured to the empty spot beside him with a flick of his fingers.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­ Yes.¡± Mize sighed, helplessly giving in and plopping down on the very edge of the bench, sitting as far as possible from him.


    His back was straight, one hand resting tensely on his thigh.


    The guy.


    This guy.


    Mize knew exactly who he was. After all, this hidden spot wasn¡¯t just his.


    It had been their unspoken hangout since the beginning. They weren¡¯t quite friends but were something more than acquaintances.


    Like poetic buddies, meeting in shared silence, enough to give Mize¡¯s otherwise lonely days a hint of color.


    Though most of the time, they never really spoke to each other.


    ¡°Mizu, huh? Interesting name,¡± the man teased, chuckling softly.


    Mize just laughed it off, his face heating up.


    ¡°S-so then¡­ what¡¯s your name?¡± he stammered, looking in the complete opposite direction.


    As much as he knew him, he couldn¡¯t break character now, couldn¡¯t let anything slip.


    The man just smirked, setting his book on his lap. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± he replied, looking like he was considering his answer. ¡°Well¡­ let¡¯s just say you remind me of someone.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Mize thought to himself, ¡®That¡¯s not an answer at all!¡¯ He shot the man a quick look, only to find him grinning, chin propped on his hand as he looked at Mize sideways.


    ¡°You¡¯re so similar to this person,¡± he continued, ¡°it¡¯s like you¡¯re his female double.¡±


    He let out a low laugh, shaking his head. Mize could only chuckle awkwardly, eyes darting down as he fought to keep his cool.


    ¡°Yeah, um¡­ strange,¡± he managed, forcing a nervous smile.


    Then, suddenly, the man stood up, closing the distance between them.


    Mize¡¯s pulse quickened as the man moved closer, leaning over him while Mize stayed rooted on the very edge of the bench, his eyes flicking everywhere, searching for an escape.


    The man bent lower, his face inches from Mize¡¯s own, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.


    ¡°Same watch¡­ same bag¡­¡± he murmured his gaze intent, piecing the puzzle together as he observed Mize¡¯s every twitch and blush. ¡°You are something, you know?¡±


    Mize¡¯s cheeks flamed, his breath catching as he stared up into those sharp, knowing eyes.


    Too close, too intense¡­ he could hardly keep his thoughts in line, could barely breathe as he sat there, heart pounding and face burning.


    Mize¡¯s mind was in meltdown mode. ''Let me die... let me die... let me die,'' he chanted internally, squeezing his eyes shut and flailing a hand to push Adrian back.


    ¡°O-okay, stop it! Adrian, alright? I get it¡­ you know.¡±

 Chapter 18: Rooftop drama

    Adrian only grinned wider, unbothered, straightening up but not budging an inch as he sat beside Mize, slinging an arm over his shoulders and pulling him close.


    ¡°Why even bother lying?¡± he said, amusement dripping. ¡°I already knew it was you¡­ but surprise, I never guessed you were a girl this whole time.¡±


    Mize squirmed, his cheeks blazing, desperately trying to scoot away, but Adrian¡¯s grip was unbreakable.


    ¡®Dear god, please let me just disappear,¡¯ he prayed silently, feeling the guy¡¯s warmth radiating through his uniform, way too close to handle.


    ¡°Well¡­ you never noticed,¡± Mize mumbled in defeat, his voice almost a whisper.


    He gave up, just letting Adrian¡¯s arm stay where it was, their shoulders practically glued together.


    The heat from Adrian¡¯s body was something he couldn¡¯t ignore, and the humiliation that he was sure was written all over his face made him feel like hiding in a hole.


    And if anything, Adrian was having the time of his life.


    He was none other than the dean¡¯s son, after all, and it hit Mize with a jolt that he had been unknowingly hanging out with an awakener this entire time.


    ''Trying to fool an awakener with super memory'' Mize smiked wryly to himself.


    ¡°A surprise, alright,¡± Adrian murmured, turning his face toward Mize.


    His breath grazed Mize¡¯s neck, sending a shock down his spine as he nearly jumped out of his skin.


    And then Adrian''s hand slid down to Mize''s waist, pausing for a split second.


    ¡®Unexpectedly¡­ slim?¡¯ He blinked, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Mize up close, taking in every tiny reaction, every twitch.


    ¡®And soft¡­¡¯ he mused, feeling that mischievous glint surfacing in his eyes.


    ¡®If I¡¯d known sooner¡­ you¡¯d have been mine already.¡¯ His gaze turned predatory, a dangerous interest flaring up beneath his casual facade.


    ''Ummm sir, this considered sexual assault'' Mize wailed within, and yet... He was just frozen shut, unable to refuse.


    ''Why¡­ why does every hot guy I meet turn out like this?'' Mize thought, barely able to hold back a wry smile.


    ''I curse you whoever is playing with my fate! I hope you will forever be a virgin!'' Mize cursed silently under his breath.


    He was practically immobilized in Adrian¡¯s hold, pressed so close he could feel every breath the guy took against his neck.


    The waterfall behind them seemed to fade into the background, drowned out by the wild rhythm of their heartbeats.


    ''I swear I¡¯m not gay¡­ but who could resist this?!''


    ''I hope the points gained from this should be worthy enough for the sacrifice I am doing!_


    Every tiny squirm, every attempt to escape, only seemed to draw Adrian''s arm tighter around his waist, practically molding him into place.


    Mize¡¯s patience was wearing thin, his nerves frayed from the overwhelming heat between them.


    Turning his face to the side, he mustered a shaky smile, his cheeks burning as he managed a soft, ¡°C-can I go now?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm?¡± Adrian¡¯s gaze lifted from his book, his eyes locking onto Mize¡¯s with a bit too much intensity.


    ¡°Go where?¡± And, as if making his point, Adrian tightened his grip, pulling Mize even closer, until he was practically on his lap.


    That finally broke Mize¡¯s composure. He squirmed, smile faltering, before letting out a dramatic sigh and a small cough, his last shred of courage bubbling up.


    ¡°Let go of me¡­ pervert!¡± he said, his face flushed and his voice wavering.


    For a moment, silence fell.


    The word "pervert" hung in the air, and the two of them froze.


    Adrian¡¯s face registered complete shock, while Mize blushed furiously, realizing just what he¡¯d just called him.


    ¡°Oh, I see¡­ you think I¡¯m a pervert, huh?¡± Adrian¡¯s tone dropped as he slowly loosened his grip, letting Mize slide away just a bit, almost giving him room to escape.


    But then.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Mize barely got an inch before Adrian grabbed him again, this time pulling him fully onto his lap.


    Mize¡¯s heart nearly stopped. ¡°W-what are you doing?!¡± he stammered, his voice choked with panic, but Adrian only grinned, leaning in even closer.


    Adrian¡¯s face was inches away, closing in with that infuriating, teasing slowness, his eyes half-lidded, his hand on the back of Mize¡¯s head.


    Mize couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t think, couldn¡¯t do anything but scream internally.


    ''Nooo! Not the routine!'' His thoughts were a desperate mess, everything moving in slow motion as Adrian''s lips closed in, leaving him with absolutely no escape.


    ''This left me no choice but to use the super secret technique'' Mize sighed...


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Serious series, series techniques!"


    "Serious Headbutt slam!"


    PAK


    "Ah!"


    Mize''s head connected with Adrian''s forehead in a satisfying, blunt crack that sent him stumbling backward, hand clutching his head.


    Without a second thought, Mize darted away, muttering under his breath, "Hope I don¡¯t see you again, bye pervert!"


    He didn¡¯t wait for Adrian''s reaction, already booking it down the red-tiled path as fast as his sore legs would carry him.


    Adrian blinked, still clutching his forehead, the shock melting into something almost¡­ amused.


    A chuckle slipped out as he watched Mize''s retreating figure disappear toward the school buildings.


    ¡°Quite the little spitfire,¡± he mused, straightening his posture.


    "Mize, was it?" He smirked, murmuring to himself, ¡°I won¡¯t let you out of my sights so easily. No background, no connections¡­ just beauty and fire.¡±


    But from a distance, someone else had been watching.


    Liam''s jaw clenched, his gaze locked on Adrian, a cold fury brewing in his narrowed eyes.


    Veins popped up along his neck and clenched fist as he glared down from the hillside.


    His mutter barely escaped him, "An awakener, huh? Looks like there''s one more pest to deal with."


    Meanwhile, Mize dashed toward the towering glass buildings of the academy, the complex sprawling like an entire world within itself.


    Classrooms stretched on in loops and circles, some round like futuristic orbs, others climbing into the sky with sleek, geometric elegance.


    Mize cast a nervous look toward Building 12-A, where his next class, Mr. Thompson''s, no less, was in full swing.


    If he dared walk in late, looking as flustered as he did, there was zero chance Mr. Thompson would let him slip away unnoticed.


    ¡°Nope, not happening,¡± Mize decided aloud, his face flushed from all the running.


    Better to dodge the lecture now than face the inevitable office summons later.


    He checked his watch: 11:13. Plenty of time to kill before the next class.


    He could already picture the perfect spot. "The rooftop," he muttered to himself, glancing up at the building¡¯s sleek curves.


    "that¡¯ll be a nice place to hang out." And with a final nod to himself, he set off down the red path, making his way to the one place he knew he could be alone.


    The rooftop was the second best choice of place for him to hang out at, a perfectct hiding spot as few would even bother coming up here to hang out.


    But of course except for those couples that seemed to be in heat and had nowhere else to vent.


    And such, Mize spent the rest of the time there, leaning his back against the railing as eventually, everything went into a complete darkness.


    <hr>


    Mize jolted awake, his head aching from where he¡¯d been slumped awkwardly against the railing.


    He rubbed his eyes, grimacing as he felt a line of dried drool on his cheek.


    One blurry glance at his watch, and it hit him like a truck.


    ¡°Did I?... "


    "..." He gazed around for a moment.


    "Ah... I overslept didn''t I?"


    The words slipped out in a dazed mumble, but realization crashed in fast, and the haze of sleep dissolved.


    He was a goner. Skipping Mr. Thompson¡¯s class was bad enough, but skipping Miss Ada¡¯s and Mr. David the Killer¡¯s?


    Mize could already picture the creative punishment they¡¯d whip up for him.


    Mr. David didn¡¯t just punish you, he turned it into an art form.


    His heart sank as he pictured it: forced public dancing, maybe some sort of ¡°grovel before the class¡± ordeal.


    The last person who missed Mr. David¡¯s class had to stand in the courtyard singing like a bird in front of everyone.


    Mize could already feel the shame curling in his gut.


    Hugging his knees, he let out a pathetic little wail, ¡°Why did I fall asleep¡­ I¡¯m so dumb¡­ so dumb¡­¡± His legs were pins and needles from sleeping in that crunched-up position, so he just sat there, crying silently like some tragic ghost on the roof of the school.


    The sun was setting, casting the entire sky in hues of red and gold, and the city below was a noisy blur.


    Mize¡¯s eyes caught sight of a few birds flying over, their wings silhouetted against the sky as if mocking him.


    He sniffed, wiping at his nose with his sleeve as he slowly massaged the sensation back into his legs.


    Finally, after what felt like ages, he managed to haul himself up, his legs wobbling as he limped over to the glass door.


    He caught his reflection in the glass, a rumpled mess with bed hair, drool marks on his cheek, and red eyes from crying.


    Lovely.


    Taking a deep breath, he scrubbed his face with his sleeve, trying to make himself presentable again.


    But then, just as he grabbed the door handle to finally make his escape.


    clak.


    The handle didn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°Wait¡­ what?¡± Mize¡¯s heart dropped.


    He jiggled it again, harder this time. The door rattled stubbornly, mocking him in its refusal to turn.


    ¡°No¡­ no way,¡± he whispered, his voice breaking as he looked down at the locked door with horror.


    His grip on the handle slackened, and he slumped against the door, his head thumping gently against the glass.


    ¡°I¡¯m locked in¡­ I¡¯m locked in.¡±


    A single bird cawed somewhere above him as if the universe was enjoying his misery today.


    What a goddess he is... a goddess of misfortunes...


    Mize let his hand drop from the doorknob as he sank to the floor, utterly defeated.


    ¡°Today is such a sad day,¡± he whimpered the tears that he¡¯d fought off before starting to pour freely now.


    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna sleep here,¡± he pleaded softly, his voice small and desperate.


    But as he looked around at the empty rooftop, the reality settled in.


    It was almost six, and everyone would have cleared out by now. He was well and truly alone.


    He rubbed at his eyes, red-rimmed and swollen, and hugged his knees, sniffing softly.


    He caught a glimpse of himself again in the glass door. His long black hair fell around his face, wild and unkempt from his nap, and his wide, red-rimmed eyes shimmered with fresh tears.


    In the fading light, his reflection looked haunting, like a little lost ghost with nowhere to go.


    He slumped back, pressing his cheek against the cool glass, and sighed, resigned. ¡°Guess I¡¯m stuck here till morning¡­¡±


    He took a few shuddering breaths, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tried to get a grip on himself.


    Why did it all have to go so wrong today? The encounter with the weird pervert, the trouble with the ¡°redhead menace,¡± as he¡¯d nicknamed him, and that almost slapstick rooftop nap¡­


    it was like fate had decided to pick him out of the crowd for a personal brand of misery.


    Mize slumped back, letting his head rest against the door, knees hugged tight to his chest, staring out at the sky as it darkened slowly over the city.


    The whole day had been one big mess, without a doubt, the worst day ever.


    He sighed, long and loud, the weight of his bad luck sinking into his bones.


    ¡°The path to the goddess is hard,¡± he mumbled, trying to find some twisted logic in the chaos that had been his life today.


    [The path of a miserable goddess]


    "Shut up"


    He sat there for a while, lost in his pitiful thoughts until the door behind him gave a soft click.


    "huh?"


    "Someone is here?"


    He jolted upright, already grinning, ready to launch into a flood of thank-yous for his unexpected savior.


    He spun around and swung open the door.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± he said, voice bright with gratitude.


    But then, his face froze.


    Standing in the doorway, with that same disconcerting, lazy smile, was Liam.


    The very last person he wanted to see right now. The guy leaned casually against the door frame, his black hoodie pulled low over his dark eyes, half-lidded and gleaming like he¡¯d already won whatever game they were playing.


    That calm, smug smile made Mize¡¯s stomach do a weird, nervous flip.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Mize¡¯s hand was still on the doorknob, his body halfway between running for the hills and sinking into the floor in mortification.


    His earlier relief turned to dread in an instant.


    Of all people, it had to be him, he thought. But he forced a shaky smile, one he knew was more pathetic than grateful.


    Liam¡¯s lips quirked into an amused grin. ¡°You called for help¡± he asked, his tone all casual as if they were old friends and not two people who barely knew each other, or at least, who Mize barely knew.


    "Ah, I was planning to sleep here tonight" Mize forced a smile


    "Really?" Liam smiled


    "Reallyyy" Mize smiled back.

 Chapter 19: M-my name is Mize, call me Mize

    Afterward, an awkward silence ensued between the two.


    The once lost emotion became still as one had a playful smile on his face and the other lowered his head, looking towards the ground as if he was searching for a coin, perhaps scattered randomly.


    "..."


    "Not gonna tell?"


    "...."


    ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ I got locked up here by accident,¡± Mize stammered, nudging the door awkwardly as if it would back him up.


    Liam nodded, eyes still fixed on Mize¡¯s face.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± he said, seemingly in deep thought.


    He continued to study Mize with those half-shut eyes, his head tilted just enough to make Mize even more nervous.


    Then, out of nowhere, Liam leaned in and reached a hand toward Mize¡¯s face.


    Mize stiffened, caught off guard, his brain short-circuiting as Liam¡¯s thumb gently wiped something off the corner of his mouth.


    Before he even registered what had happened, Liam pulled back with a tiny, unreadable smile.


    ¡°There. Got it for you,¡± he said, casually brushing his hands together as if wiping something off.


    Mize¡¯s cheeks went scarlet, the blush spreading fast from his neck to the top of his head, the shame flooding over him in a tidal wave.


    There was no hiding it, his face was heating up like he¡¯d just been cooked over an open flame.


    The mortification was so strong it almost felt like a physical weight.


    OH GOD, KILL ME NOW, he thought, barely keeping himself from curling up in a ball right there.


    He¡¯d been caught with drool on his face, by Liam of all people, and now he was ready to sink into the floor and disappear.


    ''And I was acting so chic and cool too back then on the bus''


    [Told you host, when it comes to these certain group of people, any type of personalities would instantly crumble before them]


    ''Huhuuu''


    On the outside.


    ¡°Th-thanks,¡± he managed to mumble, looking down, gripping the door handle like a lifeline.


    He tried to muster up some pride, but he was sure he looked more like a dying fish than someone trying to appear cool. ¡°W-whatever¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Liam¡¯s smile just widened, a glimmer of mischief flashing in his eyes as if he was enjoying this little exchange far more than he should.


    ¡°Oh?¡± he said, his tone dripping with mock surprise.


    ¡°Then let me show you.¡±


    And before Mize could even blink, Liam lifted the finger he¡¯d just used to wipe his mouth, then licked it, his gaze still locked onto Mize¡¯s with an expression so smug it was maddening.


    The shock of it hit Mize like a freight train.


    His mind went completely blank as he stared, his mouth half-open in disbelief, the blood pounding in his ears.


    The embarrassment was too much, he felt his face grow even hotter, his whole head practically steaming.


    He wanted to say something, do something, anything to stop the humiliation, but all that came out was a strangled, awkward laugh.


    ¡°W-what a nice weather,¡± Mize blurted, his voice squeaking at the last word.


    He desperately looked up at the sky, as though the clouds could provide some kind of escape, but even he knew it sounded ridiculous.


    ¡°Ha, yeah¡­ very, uh, nice weather we¡¯re having!¡± He faked a laugh, the sound so forced it made his skin crawl, and he immediately regretted it.


    Liam chuckled, and the sound was smooth, almost¡­ pleasant.


    He leaned back, hands in his hoodie pockets, seemingly enjoying every second of Mize¡¯s flustered meltdown.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, his voice rich with amusement, ¡°beautiful night"


    Mize clenched his bag tighter, gripping the strap until his knuckles turned white.


    Of all the people I could¡¯ve been stuck with, he thought, why did it have to be this guy?


    It was becoming increasingly clear that whatever game he¡¯d thought he¡¯d been playing, these guys were miles ahead of him.


    He¡¯d started thinking he was the one pulling the strings, but now, looking at Liam¡¯s calm, amused face, he realized he might¡¯ve been the one getting played all along.


    [It seems the host is not the predator... but the prey instead]


    ''Shut up''


    ==


    ==


    Mize shifted awkwardly, swallowing the lump in his throat as he tried to muster even a scrap of dignity in front of Liam.


    The guy was staring at him which made his whole body go stiff, the amused, predatory glint in Liam''s eyes all too obvious.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Mize felt like a little rabbit desperately trying to play it cool in front of a wolf, an utterly futile effort, judging by the smirk on Liam¡¯s face.


    "Um... I-I¡¯ll just get going now," Mize stammered, glancing at his plush backpack slumped on the floor beside him.


    He grabbed it, strapping it onto his shoulders, hoping he could slip away from this little scene as if nothing had happened.


    He spun slightly on his heels, heart pounding, ready to bolt down the stairs and escape this humiliating, disastrous encounter.


    But then he felt a soft tug on his backpack. Liam''s hand, firm, gripped one of the straps, pulling him back before he could take even a single step.


    Mize froze, his stomach doing flips as he tried to imagine what was going through Liam''s head right now.


    The idea of facing him, of looking into those calculating eyes, felt unbearable.


    Oh god, he thought, maybe I could wear a paper bag tomorrow, anything, so he doesn¡¯t recognize me.


    "W-what is it?" he managed to mumble, his voice barely more than a whisper, and he kept his gaze fixed on the edge of the steps just inches from his feet.


    Every instinct was telling him to get out of there as quickly as possible, to make himself disappear.


    But Liam wasn¡¯t exactly the type to just let someone slip away.


    ¡°Let me walk you home,¡± Liam said, his voice unexpectedly low, a quiet, almost magnetic sound that sent a shiver down Mize¡¯s spine.


    It wasn¡¯t a request.


    The way Liam said it was more like a command, wrapped up in an offer.


    Mize coughed, fumbling with the straps of his bag as he tried to think up an excuse, any excuse to get out of this.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s fine! Really¡­ I can walk on my own,¡± he stammered, wincing as soon as the words left his mouth.


    Even he could tell that he sounded ridiculous, weak, and unsure like he couldn¡¯t even convince himself he was being honest.


    He cast his gaze down the staircase, a winding spiral of glass and chrome that stretched down in sleek, elegant twists, a nightmare of a design for anyone not wanting to be seen.


    Who on earth thought glass stairs were a good idea? he wondered, briefly distracting himself with a thought that only added to his growing discomfort.


    ''If anyone else was around, they could see everything''


    His heart raced faster at the thought of trying to escape while looking this pitiful, with Liam staring him down.


    But before he could find his footing, Liam took hold of the backpack strap again, pulling him in with a steady, unyielding pressure.


    Mize stumbled slightly, and before he knew it, he felt Liam¡¯s arm wrap around his shoulders.


    Drawing him close, while the other hand moved down, too close, honestly, to the small of his back, like Liam was taking a little too much pleasure in closing the gap between them.


    ¡°W-what are you doing?¡± Mize squeaked, his voice rising a bit too high, and he instinctively tried to step back, but Liam''s grip tightened.


    And then, without any warning, Liam leaned down and scooped him up, one arm slipping under Mize¡¯s legs, the other firm around his back.


    In one smooth motion, Mize was lifted off the ground, cradled against Liam¡¯s chest like he was some sort of fragile princess.


    His whole body froze, every nerve alight with panic and confusion.


    ''This¡­this isn¡¯t normal'', he thought, a mixture of terror and something else altogether clouding his mind.


    ''I¡¯m not into guys'' but... Liam¡¯s firm grip and his calm, confident expression were stirring something that felt almost... too intense, too confusing.


    Mize¡¯s heart was thundering in his chest, his thoughts spiraling as he tried to make sense of what was happening.


    Liam looked down at him, and their eyes met.


    Mize¡¯s face flushed a deeper red than he thought was possible, feeling heat rush to his cheeks.


    The world seemed to narrow to just the space between them, Liam¡¯s unreadable gaze pinning him in place, leaving him helpless, with no escape in sight.


    He knew he was blushing like crazy, his eyes darting away from that dark, piercing gaze, but there was nowhere to hide.


    He could feel the weight of Liam¡¯s stare, like he was memorizing every detail of Mize¡¯s flustered expression, enjoying every second of it.


    The silence stretched, unbearably thick.


    Mize felt as though he¡¯d combust if he didn¡¯t say something, anything to break the tension.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ um... nice weather today,¡± he stammered, his voice sounding absurdly small.


    He let out a strangled, nervous laugh, trying desperately to act like everything was normal like he wasn¡¯t being carried like a damsel by someone who knew far too well the effect he was having.


    Liam chuckled, the sound soft and rich.


    ¡°Yeah, beautiful night,¡± he agreed, a faint smile on his lips that only made Mize¡¯s blush intensify.


    Mize clenched his hands into fists, trying to stay calm, to keep his composure.


    But with Liam looking at him like that, as though he was some sort of fascinating puzzle, his mind was blank.


    ''How did I end up in this mess?'' He thought, biting his lip to keep from squirming in Liam¡¯s arms.


    Every second that passed was torture, the humiliating awareness that he was at Liam¡¯s mercy sinking deeper.


    And to make matters worse, Liam¡¯s arms weren¡¯t just strong.


    They were annoyingly comfortable, holding him in a way that felt both protective and, somehow, possessive.


    The firm grip around his waist was too steady, the hand supporting his legs too sure.


    The subtle warmth radiating from Liam¡¯s body only made Mize¡¯s thoughts grow foggier, the strange, confusing pull between them making it impossible for him to think straight.


    Liam¡¯s expression softened, his gaze lingering on Mize¡¯s face. ¡°Relax,¡± he murmured, his voice low and almost gentle. ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to bolt.¡±


    Mize¡¯s eyes went wide, his cheeks practically on fire. ¡°I¡ª I¡¯m not¡ª!¡± he spluttered, trying to wriggle free.


    But Liam just held him a little tighter, not letting him get so much as an inch.


    Mize glared up at him, trying to muster up some kind of resistance, but the expression on Liam¡¯s face stopped him cold.


    Mize¡¯s face burned as he buried it into Liam''s chest, hands clutching the fabric of his hoodie like it was the only thing grounding him to reality.


    ''This is too much, Way too much'' He kept his eyes tightly shut, every nerve on edge as he felt the steady beat of Liam''s heart beneath his cheek.


    ''My head¡¯s on fire. I just want this over with''''


    A low, amused hum vibrated in Liam¡¯s chest, and he said softly, ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll take you home?¡±


    Mize''s face flushed deeper, a small, embarrassed hiccup escaping him.


    "D-do whatever you want," he mumbled, barely keeping his voice steady. "Just... take me home already."


    Liam chuckled, warm and rich, and began to descend the stairs with a confidence that made each step sound out in the quiet space, echoing off the walls.


    With each gentle jolt, Mize tried to steady his racing thoughts, but the calm, controlled rhythm of Liam¡¯s footsteps and the warmth of his hold made everything around them feel strangely serene, almost peaceful in a way Mize had never felt before.


    There was something safe about being held like this, about letting himself lean into the quiet as they moved down the glass staircase.


    Mize couldn''t help but sneak a glance at Liam¡¯s face, half-lit under the ceiling lights above.


    He had this calm, collected expression, almost as if this whole ridiculous situation was nothing but a small amusement to him.


    And, well, Mize had to admit it, Liam was... good-looking.


    The sharp angles of his jaw, the way his lips curved up in that half-smile¡­ it was all a bit too much.


    ''He¡¯s the villain and also the protagonist, huh?'' The thought floated up, unbidden, as Mize took in every detaila.


    Almost unconsciously lingering on the strong line of Liam¡¯s jaw and the way his dark eyes seemed to hold a hidden glint.


    If there was any truth to this guy¡¯s future potential, Mize thought, he might just be a limitless powerhouse.


    ''And hey¡­ that wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing'', he mused. If he¡¯s strong enough, I won¡¯t have to waste my time with other men.


    The thought made him smile, almost fondly, like some distant hope for an easy life as a goddess, one where he didn¡¯t have to navigate endless rivals.


    After all¡­ being fought over for all eternity might sound glamorous, but it¡¯s bound to be exhausting, he sighed to himself, allowing himself a final, tentative glance at Liam¡¯s face, half-hoping and half-dreading he¡¯d look down and catch him.


    But Liam just kept walking, that faint, calm smile lingering, his steady pace pulling Mize gently, inevitably, down the staircase.


    [Host, please calm down the little brother down there]


    ''Shut up!''


    ''And it is calm!''


    [Denial is the first step of acceptance]


    "By the way" Liam suddenly stopped, his voice low and yet charismatics. Then, he turned his gaze down, "my name is Liam... Formally introducing myself"


    "Mhmm" Mize''s face burned for a moment, but then, he smiled... "Mize... Call me Mize"


    -

 Chapter 20: Sleepless and accompanied

    The school was practically a ghost town at this hour.


    Silent, empty.


    No one stayed overnight, everyone had somewhere to go, a warm bed in a little corner of the city.


    Even the orphans got taken care of. It was the 21st century, after all, and homelessness here was unheard of.


    But maybe that¡¯s what made Mize feel so oddly¡­ at ease being carried princess-style through the school corridors and out toward the gate.


    It was quiet, weirdly peaceful even.


    Liam¡¯s grip around his waist was firm but gentle, and the warmth of his body was almost¡­ comforting.


    Still, one question kept nagging at Mize¡¯s brain like an itch he couldn¡¯t scratch.


    ''Why is he doing all this for someone he barely knows?'' As the horizon faded into night and the moon rose higher, that question burned stronger.


    Finally, Mize tilted his head, his eyes catching the moonlight as he looked up at Liam "say"


    "Hmmm?" Liam hummed back, his eyes and movement remained unabated, and yet his attention had focused entirely on Mize''s call.


    "why are you doing this?¡± he asked, voice quiet but clear.


    ¡°We met like, barely this morning. It¡¯s weird, you know? One moment you¡¯re shy, and the next¡­¡± He shook his head, flustered.


    ¡°You¡¯re just¡­ all of this. It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡±


    Liam met his gaze, cold and calm, but the second he looked into Mize¡¯s eyes, a flicker of something softer broke through, just for a second.


    Then his face cooled back down as he looked forward and muttered, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know.


    But just remember¡­¡± he paused, his voice dipping lower, ¡°you¡¯re mine.¡±


    The words hit Mize like a brick.


    ¡°I-I see¡­¡± His face turned crimson as he buried it back into Liam¡¯s chest, feeling like steam was practically whistling out the top of his head.


    ''If he ever finds out I¡¯m a guy, I¡¯m so dead'', he thought, praying this little secret would stay buried.


    Because if it didn¡¯t¡­ ugh, he didn¡¯t even want to imagine the fallout.


    They reached the school entrance. Mize felt like his heart might just leap right out of his chest.


    ¡°Y-you can drop me here,¡± he mumbled. ¡°You don¡¯t even know where I live anyway.¡±


    But Liam just shook his head, a faint, almost¡­ chilling smile on his face.


    Mize felt a shiver crawl up his spine. ¡°W-what?¡± he asked, shrinking back a little.


    Liam only held his gaze, smile lingering in a way that had Mize ducking his head to hide again in Liam¡¯s chest.


    That low, familiar chuckle escaped Liam¡¯s lips as he answered, ¡°I know¡­¡±


    Mize peeked up, brows furrowing. ¡°You know?¡± he echoed, hoping he¡¯d misheard.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Liam said, a little too casually. ¡°I know where your house is.¡±


    A cold, creeping feeling spread through Mize¡¯s chest.


    ''Why is he smiling like that?'' he thought, panic flickering in his mind.


    ''How does he even know where I live?'' Mize bit his lip, trying not to hyperventilate.


    This week had already been wild enough.


    First, he¡¯d met the normal school delinquent, then the random redhead freak, and now this guy, a calm but utterly terrifying pervert who somehow knew way too much.


    Mize squeezed his eyes shut, practically melting into Liam¡¯s chest. ''This guy is on another level of creepiness. I¡¯m doomed.''


    ''Please, someone, end this, he thought, suppressing a groan''


    ¡°W-why do you know where my house is?¡± he asked, his voice barely a whisper, practically lost in Liam¡¯s hoodie.


    He thumped a weak fist against Liam¡¯s chest, hoping some show of protest might make this guy think twice about being a total creep. But Liam didn¡¯t even flinch.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Knowing your address is important,¡± Liam said simply.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°In case something were to happen to you,¡± he went on, voice as calm as ever. ¡°I¡¯d be there to take care of it.¡±


    ¡°HUH?¡±


    ''Please, just kill me already''


    And he¡¯d said it with a straight face, leaving Mize half-sure he¡¯d somehow slipped into a nightmare.


    ''Holy crap'' Mize wailed internally, feeling his heart pound as they approached his apartment building.


    The familiar facade looked so close, yet every step seemed to draw out the moment.


    Around them, people were casting amused glances, a few even whispering things like, ¡°What a cute couple!¡±


    Mize was desperate.


    He¡¯d tried everything, shoving, protesting, even a few barely biting attempts on Liam¡¯s shoulder, but nothing fazed this guy.


    ''He¡¯s unstoppable'' Mize thought miserably, his eyes darting back and forth from the looming entrance to Liam¡¯s icy, resolute face.


    ''I get that the protagonist¡¯s system boosts confidence, but¡­ this is insane!''


    This isn''t just a confidence boost, but a whole new personality or even a different person using the same body.


    Liam¡¯s grip around Mize¡¯s waist tightened, almost possessively, as he asked casually, ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s your apartment number?¡±


    Mize practically recoiled, his voice sharp. ¡°No! You¡¯re not coming inside my place.¡±


    But Liam didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°Can¡¯t do. I need to make sure you¡¯re safe"


    ¡°No,¡± Mize said firmly, his voice louder than before. ¡°That¡¯s my private space¡­ you don¡¯t get to invade that.¡±


    Liam¡¯s expression darkened, his voice a low murmur.


    ¡°So you don¡¯t trust me?¡± He pulled Mize closer, leaning in just enough that Mize could feel his breath, warm against his neck.


    Mize¡¯s face flushed red, hot as a furnace. But he knew he had to stand firm.


    He could practically see the moment Liam would start camping out in his apartment if he didn¡¯t set boundaries.


    Swallowing his nerves, Mize spoke up, awkward but determined. ¡°Look¡­ I get it. I know I¡¯m¡­ yours.¡± He cringed as he said it, and sure enough, Liam¡¯s gaze sparked with a glint of satisfaction.


    Mize barely managed to keep his cool, swallowing as he tried to ignore that intense look in Liam¡¯s eyes. ¡°But I need my own space. If you start trampling on that¡­ I¡¯ll hate you.¡±


    ¡°Hate me?¡± Liam¡¯s brow lifted in surprise, his arms still holding Mize snugly. ¡°You¡¯d hate me?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Mize blurted, his grip tightening on Liam¡¯s shirt. His eyes were set with the best determined look he could muster.


    In that moment, though, Liam saw something different.


    He gazed at Mize with a knowing smile, thinking, ''She¡¯s something''


    Those wide, ruby-like eyes, the cascade of hair catching in the moonlight, that fierce little pout, Liam found it hard to look away.


    ''No wonder the system chose her'', he thought, suppressing a grin.


    ¡°What are you smirking at?¡± Mize demanded cheeks puffed out in defiance.


    Liam just chuckled, reaching out to tap his nose before finally letting him go.


    Mize blinked in surprise, feeling the lingering warmth on his nose as he watched Liam step away.


    Without another word, Liam strolled off into the night, casting a final, amused glance over his shoulder as he disappeared around the corner.


    As soon as he was gone, Mize let out a deep breath, a triumphant smile creeping onto his face. ¡°Good, that creep finally left.¡±


    He turned and hurried inside, relieved beyond measure.


    What he didn¡¯t notice, though, was the faint shadow that lingered behind him, watching silently as he disappeared into the building.


    ===


    Mize didn''t remember much about what had happened last night, groggily making his way towards his apartment on godforsaken floors high up above the sky.


    He barely remembered whether he had taken a bath or not, or he just slipped into his house by locking the door, and he knew nothing of it.


    But what he didn''t know was that, yes... he did enter his house exhausted, the door unlocked, and he not taking a bath.


    He was directly slumped on his bed as he slept there peacefully, and God knows what would happen to a young boy like him with the door opened just like that.


    And his door was closed... by no one else but Liam himself.


    He was tucked into bed but no one else but Liam himself, and he was accompanied throughout the night by no one else but Liam himself.


    If he were to know this, his heart would drop, or even he might directly die on the spot.


    After all, there might be some clues that he was a boy in his house.


    Luckily enough, he was the type that would always clean and tidy up his house almost every single moment that he got out.


    The closet was closed, and most of his male clothing was just plain oversized shirts, hoodies, and oversized jeans and pants.


    And the other half of his closet was filled with female clothing, so there was nothing to be worried about.


    In his bedroom, the shoes were clustered in the corner in an orderly manner. Most of them were just common daily wear suitable for both women and men.


    The decoration of his room was monotone, but he was fond of plush toys, as he had bought a lot of them and piled them up on the top corner of the bed against the wall.


    If he were to realize how foolproof his house is, there would be no need to worry about his real gender being exposed to this freak king yama of a freak lord show.


    And also, Liam was too busy looking at his cute sleeping face throughout the night, as he sat down next to his bed, one hand over his chin as he observed the way Mize slept for the whole night until the next morning arrived.


    What a dedicated pervert lover he is...


    Especially the occasional cursing and murmurs that were directed at his name from Mize''s mouth during his slumber... it was... ''Cute'' In his perspective.


    "Go and have a talk with that Derek guy" Liam suddenly spoke, and with a swish, a cold voice responded as a shadow lurked and vanished into the window.


    "Yes, my lord"


    It was early in the morning, the light seeped through the crack of the opened window on the side, slowly falling onto the soft cheek of the figure below, lying on the bed still, unmoving.


    The blanket wrapped his body in full, leaving only the head and the legs dangling open.


    The sunlight that fell onto his face braced against his soft skin a little, like a prickle against a soft hand that eventually awoken him from his deep sleep.


    He grumbled, head groggy with the long hair that fell beyond his legs shuffled under his body ever so slightly.


    The white sheet of the bed beneath, the contrast of the skin color, the pale of the paper, and the white of the fabric beneath his skin.


    The red veins cruising through his neck and hands, the collar was still there, undetached...


    And under the bath of the soft sunlight from the window on the side, the dust particle of the early morning swirled, as Mize shuffled yet again, his body turning sideways, overlooking the human-sized mirror on the corner of the room, reflecting the scene that was occurring on the bed.


    It was a doll-like looking figure, a girl even if one didn''t know his true identity. With the porcelain-like skin, pale white as the cold snow in the winter.


    The long black hair was unusual, at least by conventional length, it wasn''t normal or even common to be said so.

 Chapter 21: morning stalker

    Reaching until beyond the length of his feet, like a long black curtain and also wide, and in a sense, such a scene only made him look ethereal.


    Mesmerizing even, coupled with his ruby-like pair of eyes, a deep hue of red that glistened under the gentle ray of the sunlight, it made the person that was secretly spying on him breathe a little quicker.


    "urk" Mize grumbled in a soft crackling voice, albeit even crisp to one''s ears.


    Pushing his body upwards as the hair alongside the sheet followed along from behind, trailing the curve of his body as he sat on the bed with his thighs enclosed together.


    The hair sprawled behind like a black waterfall, and the ruby-like eyes innocently looked around the room as he was slowly regaining his dull senses.


    "Morning... to myself" he yawned, one hair over the mouth with the other hand stretched.


    The stretching was a bit more sensual than what the stalking figure had anticipated, the grunting and soft moaning as Mize stretched and pulled his body, the curves that were highlighted while doing so, and the soft blush on the face.


    ''This girl is driving me insane'' muttered the mysterious figure that was hidden in the shadows.


    And who else could the mysterious figure be other than the freak yama Liam himself, hidden in the shadows of the room as he was silently observing the beautiful doll-like figure that was slowly stretching.


    "Huff... " Mize hummed, more like a gust of breathing as he exhaled slowly, slowly rising to his feet as he approached the mirror in the corner of the room.


    Overlooking the current appearance with a sense of appreciation.


    ''Now then... '' He murmured within, his eyes trailing off towards the hustle and bustle of the city outside of the window.


    ''Should I skip school for today and just come on Wednesday for the ceremony?'' After all, he doesn''t want to be hunted and reprimanded by the teachers of all the classes he had accidentally skipped yesterday.


    And the most obvious reason was to avoid the freak yama from last night, Mize shuddered at the thought of meeting that guy.


    It wasn''t the feeling of disgust or anything, but more like flustered as whenever he was with him, he would have no control over the situation.


    ''T-though... '' He hesitated for a moment, his ruby-like eyes faltered over this sudden unwanted thought that he shouldn''t have. ''I kinda like... being dominated?''


    AYO


    Mize suddenly hunched down, hands clasped against his head as he whimpered under these sudden strange thoughts.


    His eyes spun around his face flustered in red over this bizarre perverted thought that just occurred in his mind.


    ''W-who would be like to be dominated like an idiot... hahahah'' He brushed it off with a single thought.


    But really, this thought was like a seed, slowly sprouting at the back of his mind and in the future, it might become a part of his whole personality.


    And despite seemingly he had gotten rid of that thought, he still buried his face in between his knees on the ground, while hunched over squatting before the mirror, shifted his gaze slightly towards the mirror, and what glistened back would be the moist pair of eyes that stared back at him.


    ''Crying easily had become my new personality huh... now I am more like a damsel in distress 24/7 rather than a princess'' He mused at the thought of this, shaking his head slightly.


    Slowly rising to his feet yet again, and as he was doing so...


    Ding Dong


    The front door of his house rang, catching his thoughts at the moment as he stared towards the front door from his room.


    The door of his room was opened, and down the hallway, he could easily see the front door from there.


    "Who? the landlord?" Mize mumbled to himself, confusion etched onto his face as he was slowly walking down the hallway towards the door.


    He didn''t bother to check the door camera, unlocking the door from within as he flung it open gently.


    It was a small crack at first, trying to discern who it was, but when he saw the strange piece of clothing as the door was slowly unfolding itself before him until its full view, Mize''s mind went blank for a moment.


    Discerning the unmoving calm smile on the man''s face that still hasn''t changed since last night...


    "Good morning... " Liam smiled, with a bouquet of flowers in his hand, and the plain black shirt that he wore alongside the casual pants, made him look more like a model compared to his usual self from yesterday.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "..." Mize couldn''t say anything, well... he can''t.


    He could just wryly smile as he forced himself to calm down.


    Calm down to what exactly?


    Well, to the fact that this guy was aware of what his room number was...


    Mize shoved the door slowly, trying to close it down on the guy''s face.


    But it was futile as Liam simply held the door with one hand, and smiled innocently...


    "What are you doing, Mimi? Are you trying to close the door on me?" He said pleadingly.


    But in Mize''s eyes, this bastard is just a vicious snake in sheep''s clothing...


    "YES," Mize smiled back, an innocent smile too in response to Liam''s sheepish act.


    "I would love to close the door on a stalker who now somehow knows where I live and my exact room number"


    Gasp!


    Liam made a shocked face, one hand over his mouth as he hurriedly responded with a worried look.


    "Who could that stalker be?" He shook his head, his eyebrows frowning...


    "What a bad security this place has... I wonder, Mimi... how about you come and live at my house... it''s much safer there..."


    Thud


    Mize simply closed the door on the man''s face, not wanting to hear the full sentence of what he had to say.


    Turning his gaze from the door he began to slowly make his way back to his room while stretching... "I am too lazy to deal with that"


    But then...


    Ding... clicked


    "..."


    The door password was unlocked from the outside, a hand reaching in to push, as Liam slowly made his way in under the deadpan gaze that came from Mize.


    "I... " Mize wanted to say something... anything... hell... he wanted to curse even.


    But Liam simply shook his head, shoving the door left and right, "What a bad security system for the door, it''s broken!"


    "..."


    sigh


    ''Do whatever you want then... but... Mize turned around, his gaze fierce, "Don''t you dare come into my room, go and sit in the living room while I am taking a bath"


    "Okay," Liam smiled, striding forth towards the right passage as if he knew the house better than he should''ve.


    Mize couldn''t say anything about this, ''This guy is a maniac... a maniac with a golden finger!''


    ''And also... '' Mize paused for a moment upon the door that had been closed by Liam just now. ''The security of this place is bad, that''s unfortunately true... ''


    Mize then went to take a bath, it didn''t take long after all who knows what that freak would do if he left the guy unattended for a long time.


    Since he wasn''t planning to go out today, he simply wore an oversized shirt that covered until half of his thigh, and the rest was left for the people''s imagination.


    Of course, he wore a short pant, but from the outside, it looks like he only wore a shirt with no pants.


    Coming into the living room, he then sat down on one of the two couches that existed there, with one leg over the other, he began to twirl his hair absent-mindedly, completely oblivious to the smiling figure that sat on the other couch, looking over him with interest.


    The two didn''t speak, Mize wasn''t interested in speaking anyway since he would always be on the losing side.


    And for Liam, he would occasionally steal glances towards Mize''s thigh and whatever was under it, as if his eyes could see through the fabric.


    And from the look that he was giving, it looked more like a predator that was ready to pounce on its target.


    Mize naturally noticed this, his frown for a moment, with a tinge of red on his cheeks, pulling the shirt below a little. "Can you not look here and look at my face instead"


    "Oh... well" Liam''s gaze was caught, but he wasn''t the one to get embarrassed easily, instead he enjoyed the thrill. And he commented, a casual glance towards where Mize''s half-exposed thigh was...


    "I can''t help it, you know"


    "Huh?"


    "You wearing like this... " He leaned in forward, one hand over his chin with his other hand placing the flower bouquet on the table... "it''s like you are inviting me to eat you whole right now"


    Hiccc


    Mize shuddered upon his words, his face turned to the side for a moment as he fanned his face with his other hand.


    Seemingly to blow away the invisible steam that was radiating from his face. "You are talking nonsense... "


    "Well... I am just being honest, Mimi" Liam smiled innocently.


    "And please stop calling me, Mimi or whatever the hell you get that from" Mize added in, fanning his face as he turned his gaze back onto the table.


    He was looking towards the bouquet, it was red as his eyes, and the other half was black as his hair.


    He curled his lips for a moment, his eyes drifting to meet the guy''s unwavering deep as the abyss pair of gaze.


    "What is this for?" He pointed casually, almost like he were hinting that he doesn''t care what it is...


    "It''s a flower... " Liam said, one hand reaching forth as he plucked two flowers from the bouquet, one of red and the other of black... twirling it before his eyes as he gazed back towards Mize.


    And this time, the gaze was more of appreciating something...


    "I saw it in the flower shop, and it reminded me of you so I bought them"


    Mize crossed his arm for a moment, his lips curled under, though his eyes betrayed the so-called indifferences that he wanted to exude from his body.


    ''it must be within the line of acting'' He muttered within, closing his eyes for a moment before opening it back, his voice crisp and yet delicate... "Is this some type of confession, Liam?"


    "Well... " Liam paused for a moment, placing the flowers back onto the table and rearranging them into the bouquet back, and it looked as if it had never been touched in the first place. "Aren''t you already mine to begin with"


    "Bold words... " Mize replied curtly, though the curl from the corner of his mouth said something entirely different, and to this...


    Liam simply savored this adorable side of Mize that he wasn''t aware of.


    After all... ''You are my only target... but I can''t help but slowly adore you more and more''


    His eyes gleamed for a split second at the thought of this as Mize was oblivious to the quick changes that had just occurred.


    "Do whatever you want and don''t disturb me... " Mize said simply, waving his hand as if he were shooing a dog away from the gesture of it.


    Opening his phone with the swipe of his fingerprints and overlooking the messages that he had failed to reply to since last night.


    ''Oh... Derek messaged me?'' Mize raised his eyebrows for a moment, but it was to be expected...


    After all, this guy was quite the dog-licking person, even to the point that he was willing to send him thousands of dollars just to get his attention.


    ''A pity that if I were to chat with him more, it might bring him danger instead... '' Mize paused in his typing, his eyes glancing over from the corner, looking over the smiling and calm man on the other side, as he too was playing on his phone as of now...


    ''He''s playing phone too huh... he seems more like a normal guy now compared to him seconds ago'' Mize mused, thoughts flickering as his attention snapped back towards the phone, as he began to type...


    But then... Derek messaged first, seemingly to notice that Mize was typing as of now.


    [How are you doing?]


    Ding

 Chapter 22: Liam is angry

    The notification wasn''t loud or quiet, but it was more than audible enough for the two in the living room to hear it.


    Mize''s finger paused momentarily, secretly glancing over Liam''s figure, which remained unmoved from the sound just now.


    After confirming that he didn''t notice, Mize breathed a sigh of relief.


    One hand was over his lap, and the other held the phone, trying to make it as casual as possible.


    After all, what would happen to Derek if this freak Yama were to see that he was texting another guy...


    ''Well... a possessive Yama doesn''t sound that bad'' Mize thoughts churned internally within, his fingers over the phone began to type as the messages between him and Derek started for today''s morning.


    At first, it was just some simple greetings and questions, asking whether he had eaten, or taken a bath, and some other common questions.


    It was normal as far as one''s eyes could see, and Mize didn''t mind replying to him, after all.


    Given that the guy had sent him some money, tending to the guy''s message a couple of times wouldn''t hurt.


    But then, the conversation shifted. Derek was asked about his opinion on the awakening ceremony.


    Mize''s eyes turned slightly. The sticker that he was about to send paused momentarily as he deleted it and began to type.


    [Well... I am unsure. But I hope I will become what I wanted]


    To this, Mize waited for a moment, waiting for Derek to type. It was much longer than usual, quite a few minutes at that.


    ''Is this guy inside the toilet or something?''


    But then, not too long after, the typing ended as a whole passage of words came into his view.


    [I had been thinking for a while, regarding the chance of the ceremony to siding with the person''s wishes. And for the most part, I was once a high schooler myself, in the same position as you, filled with hope for the hopelessness. And I had seen and felt the true despair that I would be that one normal guy without any talent for the remainder of my life. And also, dreams are nothing but a bubble of water, waiting to be evaporated under the glare of the sun]


    [Well... to get straight to the point, I want to help you... for you to achieve your dream]


    [and you might refused it, but I had already sent it to your mailbox. It''s a handy item, but as long as you don''t accept it from the mailbox, it won''t be delivered to your house. It''s just a potion that can substantially increase your luck on the ceremony day... It isn''t a 100% increase in luck, but more than enough to guarantee that you will be able to attain the awakener title]


    [And I know, I might be the type of guy that you will brush it off any other day in the future, so I hope, at the very least you will remember me, even if it''s just the name, then I will be more than happy enough in this life, sincerely Derek]


    Mize read the whole passage of text with care, and once he finished doing so, the words he wanted to type before were stuck at the back of his throat.


    His eyes lingered on the profile picture of the Derek guy, who had gone offline the moment he sent these texts just now.


    ''I... '' Mize was speechless... dumbfounded even. Not knowing how to reply to this message, but still... it touched him, he must admit that.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ''He was willing to go this far for a person he barely knew''


    ''...'' Mize has nothing to say about Derek''s guy personality but to thank him. After all, Mize knew what the potion that he had mentioned was.


    ''Could it be... '' He scrolled to his mailbox and with a swift gesture of his fingers, he trailed it towards the newest message at the top of the chain.


    And there it was, the potion that Derek had mentioned, ready to be delivered on moment''s notice.


    The moment he opened the mailbox of the said message, discerning the appearance of the potion that had been mentioned and said to increase a person''s luck by a large margin, Mize confirmed it on the spot.


    ''It''s the luck potion... no way that guy bought it for me. Is he crazy?'' Mize was utterly speechless at this time, completely blown away after all.


    He knew just how expensive this potion could be at the auction house.


    Yes, you heard it right. This potion has no direct purchasing channel other than buying it through the auction house, which means even if you have a lot of money, you will have to compete against others to win it.


    It sounded powerful, yes, but there are restrictions on the use of this potion.


    ''It can only be used by the mortals, which was suitable for those rich second generation to take during the awakening ceremony... as one of the many guarantees for a successful awakening chance for them'' Mize secretly thought within, his mind trailing off towards the implication of him using this potion on the day tomorrow.


    ''It seems, the chances of me being an awakener tomorrow is quite high huh'' He mused, happy even as a smile was slowly etched on his face.


    And again, his gaze hovered over the Derek profile icon, rethinking some of the decisions that he had made.


    ''Maybe... '' He began, ''I should give him a reward as the last parting gift''


    While Mize was deep within his thoughts, Liam chimed in from the front, with one leg over the table and the other below, his eyes that were filled with curiosity carefully observed Mize from top to bottom, as if he was assessing what Mize had been doing.


    "Say, Mimi... "


    "Don''t call me that, and what?" Mize regarded it casually...


    "Are you going to school or not... it''s 10:45 already" Liam remarked, one hand hovered before his eyes as he discerned the watch on the wrist.


    And to this, Mize shook his head, the hand holding the phone shifted to the side, with his gaze slightly twisted to the right, the hair falling beneath like a black waterfall...


    "Because I skipped class yesterday, you could''ve guessed the reason right? Mister Prince Charming that carried me all the way here"


    "Well... " Liam mused for a moment, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he beckoned with a casual tone "Is it because of Mr.Killer?"


    "Hum... part of it" Mize replied half truthfully, but then... he remembered something, his eyes met Liam''s for a moment, and the lump in his throat was quite heavy to be said, but then as if he had decided to go with it... he muttered


    "Actually, I am scared of Mr. Thompson more than Mr. Killer class"


    "Ohhh?" Liam was intrigued... and when Mize saw that he had taken the bait, he then went on to explain.


    "You see... that guy had been constantly harassing me, looking at me weirdly, and even tried calling me into his office a lot of times these days"


    "It was really weird, one time I simply was looking at the bird nest next to the class from the window, and he called me out for it, labeling me as a bad student who didn''t want to pay attention to his class, and called me to his office... " Mize explained thoughtfully, his hand gesturing here and there in full motion, not noticing that Liam''s expression was slowly changing, darker and darker.


    "And so I went there in the evening after all of the classes, he held me down onto the chair, kept rubbing my legs for quite a while, and told me that I could come to him if I needed anything... but luckily enough he didn''t do anything creepier than that and I managed to go home safely"


    "But from that day onward, I never dared to heed his call whenever he called me to his office, each time it was his class, he would reprimand me in every single thing he could pull off"


    And seemingly to notice that Liam''s gaze was hung long towards the floor, Mize called out, thinking that this freak guy wasn''t paying attention to what he was saying just now.


    "Liam... hey, are you ignoring me? And I thought I was yours right?" Mize pouted, a bit dissatisfied with how Liam treated his story so far...


    "You don''t care about me huh?"


    "No No... I am listening" Liam smiled, the flash of darkness from his face just now vanished in an instant as he lifted his gaze upwards, his eyes meeting the cute puffed cheek of Mize''s face.


    With his arm crossed and his cheek pouted, Mize didn''t want to believe whatever this guy had to say now... turning his gaze away to pretend angry with the guy.


    Liam could only sigh, stood up from his seat under Mize''s surprised gaze, and sat next to him, with their proximity close, so close that they were touching against each other.


    As for what would happen to Mr.Thompson and Derek, the shadows that just vanished from Liam''s side just now weren''t meant for anything.


    Especially for that Derek guy, even for a dying man like him, he''s still quite daring to do this one last ride.

 Chapter 23:the lord path?

    Mize blushed for a moment but continued with the act of wanting to be angry, turning his head in the other direction so as not to meet''s the guy mischievous gaze.


    Liam knew what game Mize was playing, a childish game even... but really, he quite enjoyed it instead.


    He savored it even...


    With one hand slowly reaching in from the back around Mize''s waist and the other reaching out towards Mize''s head, he grabbed him quickly.


    Mize, with all of his power, tried his best not to scream, but the eyes spun, the face red as a tomato, and the smoke rising from his head was evident in his true reactions.


    "C-can you not grab me whenever you want to do something weird... " Mize squeaked in a tiny voice, his hands covering his face as he was not daring to open his eyes at this moment.


    ''This guy is crazy... he pulled me onto his lap just to appease my angry tantrum''


    let me die


    Mize screamed internally, not knowing how to respond with his body stiff on Liam''s lap, his back leaning against one side of Liam''s broad shoulder and chest, and his buttocks seated on Liam''s right lap, he was small enough that he looked like a child when seated there.


    "Are you still angry, Mimi?" Liam whispered his question, his voice a soft and yet deep magnetic tone that sent a tingle of electricity down Mize''s back, "I am not... can you put me down please?"


    Mize whimpered, his hand still clasped against his face, shielding his view from whatever was in front of him.


    Seeing this, Liam gently twirled Mize''s body sideways a little, twisted over his lap as he held Mize''s back with his other hand, making the direction where Mize''s face was facing fixed into his eyes.


    He leaned closer, his other hand brushing the hands-on Mize''s hands only, revealing the red beet tomato face that was flushed with steam hidden inside it... and he whispered again... this time, deeper.


    His eyes a deep pool of darkness seemed endless in Mize''s sight, and then the voice came... "Are you still angry, Mimi?" Mize couldn''t stand it, and just let feign his death on the spot. Too shy to speak, too shy to exist, ''Might as well die right now... ''


    ''A protagonist charm sure is a whole new level itself''


    ''And a Villain protagonist charm had gone beyond the level of what a mortal like me can handle''


    Mize didn''t respond, which made Liam laugh, and he leaned in even closer, their eyes met, one was of utter shock and shyness, and the other was just pure and stagnant ocean, bottomless water with no depth.


    "Tell me... are you still angry" It wasn''t just voiced this time, more like a heavy thump of air against Mize''s cheeks, his mind rushing inside... and he could only nod foolishly on the outside...


    "I-I am not... so please don''t tease me this much... I will die" Mize blurted out, buried his face onto Liam''s chest without any further words, and whimpered there in embarrassment silently.


    To be honest, he doesn''t know what he is to Liam.


    The way they are acting, interacting, and now cuddling even... seems more than just a normal acquaintance relationship.


    But it was because... ''It happened too fast, in a single day even... I don''t know what are we... ''


    But one thing for sure that he was well aware of... Mize silently contemplated inside...


    ''With the system that I have, the more points I have, the more beautiful I get... to keep me, he will either have to die trying or else I will be robbed by someone stronger... ''


    And that is a fact that Mize had accepted from the very beginning.


    He wasn''t expecting a pure love story with a single man throughout his life, the world is limitless, who knows how many more sons of heavens, children of destiny that could stand toe to toe against Liam or even beyond Liam out there?


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    From the system explanation before, the chances of there being more do exist.


    Mize''s ultimate target isn''t just love, but beauty... eternal beauty that he would be crowned as the infinite world''s ultimate goddess.


    ''But being delulu with this guy for a bit won''t hurt'' Mize silently thought within, resting peacefully on Liam''s chest with his head buried deep, not wanting to move anymore...


    ''Let''s just hope he will get stronger quickly, I don''t want to change my man too early''


    Ah yes, the degraded goddess...


    Noticing that Mize had ceased his angry pretense, Liam chuckled for a moment, his hand patted Mize''s back gently, brushing the long black hair at the soft touch of his hand.


    He was quite delighted, surprised even.


    ''Each time, I held her within my grasp... it''s always so soft... so fragile... and so adorable... '' Liam mused to himself...


    ''As for Mr. Thompson... I now declare that he will be sentenced to death... '' Liam said as casually as if it was drinking and eating.


    Sentencing someone''s death as easy as it is just from his mouth. And under these sentences that he randomly spouted inside his mind, a shadow flickered from beneath his feet, moving elsewhere and leaving the building in the swift motion of a split second.


    Mize wasn''t aware of what was happening, or what would be bound to occur in the future.


    But judging from the template of a villain protagonist, Mize was sure that Liam wouldn''t let Mr. Thompson off just like that...


    But what he doesn''t know, even the innocent little guy that he had met before might be implicated in this man''s jealousy.


    A woman''s jealousy can be as deep as the ocean, but a freak yama Lord''s jealousy can be as deep as the void of the stars, the black hole, and the never-ending dark matter that existed in between everything of the world.


    ''After all... this guy is extremely possessive... '' Mize mused, smiling despite his face being buried in Liam''s broad chest.


    ''And I kinda like it... harsh, is this how those female heroines felt each time they are being teased by a super hot villain guy... it is so addicting... ''


    [But host, you are not the heroine]


    ''Shut up''


    [Noted]


    While they were cuddling so, Liam then asked out of a whim, more like trying to start a conversation, and it was a normal one at that. "Say, Mimi. What are your plans for the day if you are not going to school?"


    Hearing this, Mize lifted his eyes from the chest, heaved a puff of breath slightly, and muttered back, "I want to go to the millennia house"


    "For what purpose exactly?" Liam raised his concerns over this, quite disturbed by the strange request from Mize''s mouth.


    The Millenia house, a giant mall to be more precise was prepared for the awakener and soon-to-be awakeners of those rich second-generation children.


    From there, you can buy equipment, weapons, potions, a book of skills, anything that you could think of.


    Usually, awakeners came here as a resting station, supply station even to replenish their supplies before going back to the warp...


    And from this, Liam frowned even more, his eyes looking towards Mize''s innocent and also naive face with a guess... "You are planning to go to the warp?"


    "Yes, I am" Mize beamed, excitement filling his eyes.


    "I want to go to the battlefield of the infinite races, I want to become stronger! I want to become the greatest awakener and also the to have the greatest territory too!"


    "Where did you learn all of this?" Liam frowned, this information wasn''t supposed to be accessible to the general view this easily.


    To this, Mize chuckled with a mischievous grin on the corner of his mouth, "I know a way or two within the internet, it''s quite hard to find this information you know... but it sounded so cool and exciting!! No wonder there are not that many awakeners on the planet. Because almost all of them are busy in the warp!"


    sigh


    "It''s too early for you to know these, you need more time to prepare even after the awakening ceremony," Liam said with a serious face, this time he appeared to be more normal than his usual freak yama king self. Which undoubtedly took Mize by surprise.


    But Mize wasn''t one to be outdone so easily, he wanted so badly to see what the warp battlefield world was like, It sounded like it just came right off the fantasy world. How can he not be excited...


    "There''s a partner system right for the territory lord in the warp?"


    "this... " Liam paused for a moment in his words, his eyes overlooking Mize''s serious face for a moment, "You even know this?"


    "Yes... then be my partner and let''s have a territory together" Mize smiled, a naive smile, a ridiculous smile.


    This sudden request sent Liam absent-minded for a moment, and then without a second left wasted, he nodded, a low hum of his deep voice.


    ''The plan changes a little since she knew everything a bit too early, but the results remained the same'' Liam mused, a bit more interested in Mize''s cunningness and also this personality that wanted to explore the unknown with such excitement.


    ''I barely established the territory, let''s use mine as the basis for our partner territory to develop together then'' With that decided, Liam wasn''t one to shy away from a challenge if it were to be silver-spooned into his mouth like this...


    ''Then to become stronger... so strong that all races will whimper under my feet as I beheld her around my hand to witness the glory of the highest dimension'' It was a crazy wish, a bizarre wish even... but he was one to do it...


    "So are we going now or not?" Liam asked, slowly placing Mize on the side as he began to stand.


    "Well... I was just waiting for you to agree" Mize grinned.


    "Because you have no money right?" Liam smiled back, a knowing look on his face.


    "Yup" Mize wasn''t one to be embarrassed about this fact, but instead he embraced it boldly, running towards his room with a cheerful stride.


    "You said I am yours, so be responsible for my financial spending too... and don''t peek or else I will kill you"


    Seeing this, Liam simply stood there with a smile, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he crossed his arms simply with a shake of his head. "It seems I have gotten myself a gold digger"

 Chapter 24: Changes in appearance

    In the room, Mize hurriedly closed the door, leaning his back against it as he had something important to check first before going out to the Millinea house.


    ''System... check for my points right now''


    After all of those events yesterday, and the cuddling this morning... Mize doesn''t believe that he won''t have enough points to raise his beauty to a whole new level today.


    [Current points]: 23000


    And looking over this, Mize was excited for a moment.


    He sprinted to the bathroom, and without waiting much longer, he directly used the 20 thousand points to exchange for 20 appearance points, which would allow him to increase any of the beauty, cute, or even the charm gauge by a large margin through the conversion method.


    Mize didn''t dwell on which one to choose too long, he had a clear goal in his mind. ''Let''s focus on the beauty gauge for now''


    Which in turn will be increased to 70 points.


    And without any further dwelling around, he pressed the invisible plus icon over the panel in his mind. It was like a warm rush of heat at first, cruising through his body and also his veins.


    It felt so similar to the feeling of taking a hot steaming bath, your body just felt like it wanted to float in this sea of clouds. But really, he couldn''t float here or else he would fall in real life.


    This process didn''t take long, as the rush of heat came and went in the split of seconds that his finger pressed over the plus icon on the panel, and eventually, he regained his senses.


    His eyes overlook the brand-new changeover in the mirror before him.


    It was foggy, perhaps due to the heat his body emanated just now, and alongside the new changes that had occurred... he smiled... wiping the mirror with a wave of his hand.


    And there it was, the subtle increase in the overall appearance value of his appearance.


    "The jawline looks more rounded or a bit sharper now? The eyes became a bit... crescent-like. And the skin became paler and also white in luster" Mize touched his face for a bit, assessing the new changes that had taken place just now.


    Pinching his cheeks for a bit with his hands, the skin became a bit more prone to redness if he were to pinch it even a bit tiny harshly than normal.


    "And also... " He looked down to his waist, his gaze turned to the side.


    The curve on his body had become a bit more finely sculpted, like a peach hourglass built, it was slowly turning in that direction... but with the fact his little brother was still down there hiding away from the world''s knowledge.


    "Well... without the little brother being exposed, I am a full-blown-out beauty now huh?"


    Mize smiled, an amused grin across his face. Patting his cheeks a little bit more, feeling the plump sensation from the touch of his hand.


    Satisfied with the changes that had taken place with the points increased just now, Mize then came out of the bathroom, heading towards the closet as he began to choose the set of clothes he wanted to wear outside for today.


    And of course, ''Let''s grind a little bit more point with Liam today, wearing slightly enticing today won''t hurt no''


    It took a while for Mize to prepare before going out, he had to make it as believable as possible for this whole thing to work out, but he wouldn''t dwell on the time for that long.


    His bare face alone is enough and adding some light make-up won''t hurt. As for where he had learned to do these things, well... let''s just say he got a lot of free time back then during his boring days at the house.


    On the outside, Liam was waiting on the couch, his legs crossed over the other as he patiently waited for Mize''s emergence from the door of his room.


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    He wore a plain white short-sleeved t-shirt, with simple and long black slack pants but they looked more like outdoor pants for a jog instead.


    But overall, he would nail it on the stage of a model if he were to be one.


    Coupled with his messy black hair, styled in the slick back comb, and the black pair of eyes that were as deep as the ocean, his height had increased substantially since the last time Mize had seen him.


    He is now worthy enough to bear the title of villain protagonist...


    But this so-called villain protagonist would pale in comparison to the person who would soon come out of the door later.


    It didn''t take long for the suspense to build up, the anticipation was there, he must admit it. After all, this woman was chosen to be his through his golden finger, it was odd, weird even.


    But Liam must admit that he wasn''t one to complain after a day of interaction with her.


    He then overlooked the system panel inside his mind momentarily, lost in his thoughts with the obvious main target column etched at the top of the panel, and surprisingly, the name of the target alongside the picture of the target was Mize...


    Yes, due to Mize''s butterfly effect by adding himself into Liam''s storyline, the system had changed and evolved even to the point that it had become a whole new system with a higher potential limit that seemed to reach the concept that goes beyond the scope of this planet.


    But it was with a tiny twist, the system had bounded itself onto Mize as the main source of points for Liam to gain from.


    But from the looks of it, he could gain points through other means, and he wasn''t one to focus on one entirely.


    But teasing Mize was just that fun for him, and it also made him realize that in just one day, he might have fallen for this girl''s silly charm.


    ''To develop the territory together huh'' He mused, leaning his back against the couch with his arm crossed over his chest.


    It was such a funny twist of the story, that both of them were now relying on each other to grind for points.


    Both are parasites and also a cuddly lover, oblivious to one''s intentions.


    And soon enough, under his half-focused gaze and thought, the door to Mize''s room opened slowly with a dull creaking sound, marking the end of the waiting, and the results of Liam''s anticipation.


    What came next was a total of what he was hoping for... as Mize slowly walked out from the room with a graceful stride, one step at a time with his head lowered, the red on his cheeks evident from this one''s sight.


    Liam stood up, striding a little bit closer but somehow, he had to keep his distance away a bit more this time, fearing that he might ruin her image if he were to stand too close, and without much thought, he blurted out, one hand rubbing the top of his head. "You... wearing like this"


    He was a bit hesitant about what words to say, one was of excitement that he got to see her in this way, in a way that she had never dressed before after all, they barely knew each other for one day.


    But there were also some insecurities, a beauty without strength to back it up is just a meat on the chopping board, ready to be slaughtered...


    But after contemplating for a brief moment, Liam conceded to the idea of being this weak, ''I am quite strong now, it shouldn''t be a problem to deter most awakeners in this city'' He silently thought within.


    And there within his view, Mize full bloom in the dress that he had chosen was fully presented in its full glory.


    Coupled with the smug face on the corner of his mouth, Mize was satisfied with the way how Liam reacted to his current appearance.


    To put it in simpler perspective, each ten points is a threshold of a whole new appearance realm for him, he had asked about this before to the system and the explanation was brief, short even.


    60 points mark the entry to the model level beauty, 70 points mark the top-level beauty gauge in this world, 80 points have entered a whole new appearance realm, with only the word ethereal that could describe them, and the list goes on.


    As for the limit of these points, the system didn''t clarify, but from the gist of how the exchange rate is working... and also some subtle hints from the system tone from time to time... Without a doubt, 100 points isn''t the limit.


    "How... " Mize twirled around in his dress, his hand holding the hem of it.


    He bought this dress at a high price from a high-end store, so naturally, it was very beautiful to look at. Especially with the hourglass curve that he has now, and the plumpness that was hidden before, the dress was simply tailored for him.


    [Ignoring the flat front of the vehicle]


    ''Shut up or else I will beat you for sure this time!''


    It was almost similar to the long black dress that he had worn before, but this one was subtly different in the design which highlighted the curve on the waist, falling beneath layered over the other, and reaching beneath the foot like a black curtain.


    But that was not it, the color was simply a match made in heaven alongside his long black hair that fell like a waterfall at the back.


    Mize purposedly lets the hair fall to the length of his shoes, he doesn''t worry about it being dirty.


    And also, the hair was thick and lush, coupled with the necklace around his neck, more like a collar that added the wild touch of an untamed kitten from the urban world.


    And the pair of ruby-like eyes that shone through from the bang of her hair, the oval perfect face, the white pale skin that seemed to glisten even under slight tremor. It was just too beautiful to be looked at...


    Liam was stunned momentarily, a wry smile etched on his face as he shook his head. "Yes... very beautiful, I must admit"


    Hearing Liam''s words, Mize grinned like a fool, as if he was even drunk.


    The spin within his dress became a bit more cheerful, like a princess in the sea of flowers. Except for that smug on his face that is...


    "Let''s go... shall we" Mize smiled, striding purposedly to Liam''s side as he held Liam''s right arm over his chest. "And make sure to pay for anything that I asked for"


    [Host, make sure to buy some supplement]


    -__-

 Chapter 25: Bad chapter

    Liam could only laugh and shrug his shoulder helplessly, ''I barely sold that treasure I found last night in the warp wilderness at the auction house, let''s just hope she won''t ask for anything ridiculous'' He silently prayed within as he forced the same calm smile on his face.


    Letting Mize take his right arm with a smile as they strode towards the door, sliding out as Mize slid on the black heel from before. And with a spin, he came right back into Liam''s arm and let him direct the two''s direction towards the lift.


    Reaching the ground floor, Mize muttered with a smile, one hand holding his phone as he had his camera out, inverted... seemingly to be taking selfies of himself.


    "Let''s take the train, it''s much faster than taking the bus"


    click


    the shutter noises from the phone clicked, as Mize hurriedly closed the screen towards his face, discerning the picture he had just taken excitedly.


    Liam took a short peek from the corner of his eyes as they were slowly walking forward, he commented slightly "I have someone preparing a car for us already, and also..." He paused in his gaze, overlooking Mize''s phone for a moment as what Mize was currently doing was editing the picture that he had just taken... "You don''t have to edit anything, you know... you are already beautiful enough"


    "slick tongue... "Mize rolled his eyes to his words, but inwardly... he was delighted for being praised.


    The more Liam adored him, the greater the results are in the future. If possible, be obsessed with him even, as long as Liam would be willing to protect him from future danger then it would be no problem for the two to keep this relationship up.


    "Having a slick tongue won''t get you anything from me... " Mize added in, the hand that held Liam''s right arm tightened a bit more around his chest, as the two kept on walking towards the entrance gate of this community residential building, Liam didn''t respond much, but the tightening grip of his arm around Mize''s waist said something entirely else.


    There weren''t many people early in the morning, most people who lived here were either orphans, part-time workers, or even, old people.


    But that was not to say there weren''t any people at all. The receptionist at the front table smiled at the two when they walked past. Liam wasn''t one to smile at strangers, his gaze cold and aloof, but Mize had to keep the friendly act, he smiled back innocently at the receptionist before leaving the entrance door of the building.


    Stepping out, the fresh breath of the morning air hit the two like a soft fan tickling against their skin, Mize pushed his hand upwards, shielding his eyes from the sunlight up above as he half squinted his eyes, trying to see the sun.


    "So... " Mize began, his voice trailing off as the two stood at the edge of the pedestrian path on the side of the road, right in front of the building. "Where is the so-called car that you had prepared, Mr. I can do anything"


    The floor tiles were white, and the inches of gap between the road and the prior was roughly 20 centimeters, so a person better watch out while walking, if you were to stumble when cars are driving by, it would spell death for whoever that is.


    Hearing Mize''s remark that seemed to question his words just now, Liam didn''t mind it too much, he simply held his hand to his sight, his eyes hovering over the watch on the wrist as soon enough. A black luxurious SUV and a couple more black cars drove in front of the two.


    It was a bit of a fright, Mize took a step involuntarily and held Liam''s arm tightly as he hid behind the tall frame of the man''s body. "What''s this? Kidnapping?"


    "No... " Liam shook his head, leading Mize forth towards the most luxurious car in the convoy line-up, and he simply muttered casually, "It''s our ride... "


    "With the government plate? you prepared this?" Mize noticed these tiny details from the get-go, these types of cars won''t be sold to the common people that easily, and the only ones who could buy it or even use it are the governors of the city. And to clarify one thing, to become a governor, you will have to be an awakener first.


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    This set of cars line-up naturally attracted a lot of gazes from the crowds on the side of the road, whispers escaped the people''s lips. After all, the cars that only the governor of the city can use, who wouldn''t be surprised by these car''s presence?


    "My Lord... " Came a guy in a black suit from the driver seat, beckoning for the two to enter the car respectfully with a polite gesture.


    "Cough" Liam coughed suddenly.


    And as if to fix the words, the guy in the black suit hurriedly corrected the words just now.


    "Y-young master" The guy in the black suit forced a smile, a cramped smile even.


    ''I am dead'' He thought inwardly.


    But to Mize''s eyes, ''This guy doesn''t look human'' No way he does, but it seemed no one else among the people in the crowd noticed this. Liam naturally discerned the subtle changes on Mize''s face for a moment, but he didn''t care or even bother to explain.


    If it''s a mystery, then let it remain a mystery...


    Once the two got in the backseat of the car, the driver started the engine and the convoy kicked off into the road, Mize shuffled himself against the side, both hands plastered against the window as he gaped upon the scenery of the roadside with mild interest.


    Then, out of the blue... from the other side of the seat, Liam''s deep and magnetic voice thundered in like a low hum of a dragon. "You won''t ask?" He said casually, one leg crossed over the other, with the hands resting over his lap.


    A gentleman''s politeness and posture one must admit it. Especially the calm smile that he wore 24/7, if one didn''t know his origin, they might have suspected him as the son of a certain rich second generation or something, a noble even.


    Hearing this, Mize didn''t turn but kept his gaze fixed on the scenery outside, "No... I am not interested" his hand tapping against the window, as he pictured a ninja in black running alongside the car from the side of the street, it was his childhood dream so why not imagine it again...


    "Not interested... huh?" Liam was amused, reaching in from his side as he wrapped Mize''s waist from the back.


    Hicc


    "Can you not do this now?" Mize flushed, being pulled away from the window as Liam hugged him tightly from the back. And for the very first time, he felt something else tugging at his buttock.


    At first, it was small, negligible even... but over time as Liam hugged Mize''s body quite close, letting Mize rest directly in the center of his lap on the two legs, Mize confirmed something with his face turning red at an alarming rate.


    "Liam... " He squirmed from the hand that held him dearly from the waist.


    "Yes?" Liam playful gaze twirled to the side from this perspective, overlooking the tiny and adorable figure that he had grasped over in his embrace with a cunning look in his eyes.


    "I-is what I am feeling down there right now is exactly what I think it is?" Mize took a deeper breath, trying to calm himself as much as possible. But his head was spinning, his eyes darting around at a flustered rate, he couldn''t believe it, ''The pervert is back to his original self''


    Wuhu


    Mize could only cry silently, this is considered assault, right?


    "I don''t know... " Liam began, his voice paused for a moment as he added next, "How about you find out"


    "Hmmmm... " Mize could only hum silently, his head hung low with his hand placed on his thigh, like a child trying to hide from something.


    But this time, he couldn''t hide, the tugging feeling that came from beneath was slowly becoming more and more apparent, up until one point, Liam''s grasp around Mize''s waist was so firm that their bodies were skin-to-skin in contact if it weren''t for the clothes bordering it.


    He could hear the slowly heavy breathing at the back, the heat that was slowly rising between the two''s bodies, and the flushed face coupled with the little excitement that he was hiding... the smell of the air within this car had turned quite sweet at this time.


    Sour...


    Sour...


    Wouldn''t it usually smell rather salty?


    BAH!


    The driver at the front pretended as if he saw nothing from the backview mirror in the middle, as Mize tried his best to calm down as much as possible.


    He tried blurting out a single word... "L-liam" His face breathless under the two heavy breathing of theirs... "Can I?" But Liam interjected otherwise, begging even as Mize could only curl his lips downward, closing his eyes as the steaming rod down there was practically begging to squeeze through the dress towards the clasp of Mize''s thigh.


    And seeing that Mize didn''t dare to respond, as he just sat on his lap in a stiff posture, Liam smiled, a grin even... leaning his body forward with his head rested on Mize''s right shoulder, his breath blowing a gentle hot steam onto Mize''s neck... which caused the ruby-like princess to whimper a little in a weird voice.


    hicc


    It was in an instant, that he realized the weird noise that he made just now, holding his hands against his mouth as he turned his head sideways, ignoring the fiery gaze from the side of his shoulder from the other side.


    And once again, Liam''s deep voice trickled the air on the side of Mize''s ears, "Mimi, can I? I promise I will clean up"


    "J-just finish it quickly!" Mize could only resign to fate and this perverted guy''s course of action.


    ''I wanna die, I wanna die, I wanna die'' Mize was swearing continuously within, his body trembling under each gentle thrust in between his thigh against the steaming heat rod that came out of nowhere from beneath his buttock. Luckily enough his little brother was extremely small and well hidden, but this is just... ''Way too much sensation... my thigh is becoming wet right now''


    ''It''s good that he doesn''t do a direct skin contact... but please make this quick, I am dying from embarrassment right now'' Mize bit his lower lips, his eyes closed as he turned his head sideways.

 Chapter 26: Millennium house

    The black car slid into the underground executive parking lot, joining a long row of luxury sedans and armored SUVs.


    The whole lineup screamed money and power, drawing plenty of looks from the passersby, but nobody dared to linger for too long. This was not a place for common folk.


    Not that any of that mattered to Mize.


    Because right now, he had bigger problems.


    "Look at what you did," he grumbled, furiously dabbing a suspicious white stain off the back of his dress with a handkerchief. His lips pressed into a thin line, his grip on the fabric tight as he worked to erase the evidence.


    From across the seat, Liam watched with the kind of relaxed amusement that made Mize want to kick him in the shin.


    His ruby-red eyes snapped up, sharp like twin blades, glaring daggers at the perpetrator.


    Liam? Still smiling. Completely unbothered.


    Mize cursed under his breath. Bastard.


    "I''m sorry," Liam said suddenly.


    Mize blinked, caught off guard. He wasn¡¯t expecting an apology.


    He almost felt bad about snapping.


    ¡°¡­W-well, just¡­ be careful next time," he muttered, looking away, the tips of his ears a little red.


    Liam¡¯s smile widened. "Next time, sure."


    Mize froze.


    Wait.


    Wait.


    "...No! I didn¡¯t mean it like that!" he blurted out, backpedaling immediately.


    Liam tilted his head, so damn pleased with himself.


    "Understood"


    Then, without another word, he reached over, pulled a tissue from the seat¡¯s pocket, and gestured toward Mize.


    "Turn around. I¡¯ll do it."


    Mize hesitated. The logical part of his brain screamed DANGER, DANGER, DO NOT ENGAGE, but¡­ the stupid stain wasn¡¯t coming out.


    With a sigh, he begrudgingly turned his back to Liam, crossing his arms.


    The scene zoomed out.


    The car sat still, an air of silence wrapping around it.


    And then¡ª


    "ARGH! DON¡¯T TOUCH THERE, YOU PERVERT!"


    A furious shout rocked the enclosed space, followed by a very sharp bite to the hand.


    A minute later, the car doors opened, and two figures stepped out.


    One looking completely grumpy and flustered.


    The other? Sporting a very obvious bite mark on his hand¡ªred, irritated, and thoroughly earned.


    Still, the smile never left Liam¡¯s face.


    "You look grumpy, Mimi."


    Mize barely shot him a glare before Liam casually took his hand¡ªfingers intertwining like it was the most natural thing in the world.


    Mize wanted to swat him away, but¡­ well. He didn¡¯t.


    Instead, he let out a small hum, his grip tightening just a little before pulling Liam along, heels clicking sharply against the pristine marble floor.


    "...Idiot," he mumbled.


    Liam? Oh, he was definitely enjoying this.


    The elevator hall was eerily quiet. Not because it was late, but because¡ªfrankly? Nobody normal came to this place.


    The Millennium House wasn¡¯t just expensive. It was exclusive.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Only awakeners, top-tier businessmen, and old-money bastards had any reason to be here.


    Basically? "Rich place, poor people we don¡¯t like."


    "Yeah, that about sums it up," Mize huffed as they stepped inside the elevator, the polished walls reflecting their figures back at them.


    [Small steps, little girl and his father.]


    ¡­


    Mize¡¯s eye twitched.


    ¡®I swear to the heavens above, I will beat the sh¡ª¡¯


    But he held it back.


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    The elevator ride was quiet. Too quiet.


    Mize wasn¡¯t sure if it was the kind of quiet that let his thoughts wander peacefully, or the kind that made him want to throw hands with the universe.


    Probably the second one.


    His eyes flicked around as they stepped out. The whole place had a strange mix of old-world elegance and futuristic sleekness¡ªpolished floors, soft golden lighting, massive displays showcasing high-grade items for sale.


    And of course, rows of shops catering exclusively to awakeners.


    Basically? A place where filthy rich people threw their money around like candy.


    Liam walked beside him, silent and smiling, as if this whole place was beneath his notice.


    Mize, on the other hand?


    He was already making plans.


    There were too many options. High-grade equipment, rare potions, special skill orbs¡ªyou name it. But he had one thing in mind today.


    "Liam, be the man," Mize suddenly announced, grabbing Liam¡¯s sleeve and yanking him closer.


    Liam arched a brow. "Hmmm?"


    Mize looked up, ruby eyes blinking innocently. The picture of a helpless porcelain doll.


    Liam''s instincts screamed "trap."


    And rightfully so.


    Because the moment he let his guard down¡ª


    CHOMP.


    Mize bit him again.


    Liam flinched, but barely. If anything, his smile deepened, like he was actually enjoying this.


    "You¡¯re getting too bold," Liam mused, inspecting the fresh third bite mark of the day. "Should I be worried?"


    Two from the car and one from this. Ohh? You didn''t notice the other one? Lucky...


    Mize only huffed, cheeks puffing slightly. "Serves you right."


    Liam, completely unbothered, let his gaze drift over the bustling floor. "What do you want?"


    "Summoning cards," Mize stated immediately.


    Liam blinked, a little surprised by the choice. "Oh?"


    Mize nodded, serious.


    "Dungeon Lord?" Liam asked, his voice dipping just slightly, as if testing the weight of those words. "You sure?"


    "Yes," Mize replied without hesitation. His cheeks puffed out a little, as if daring Liam to question it further.


    Liam exhaled a soft chuckle. "So, this is a business venture, then?"


    Mize nodded enthusiastically. "It sounds fun too!"


    Liam gave him a long look. One that clearly said ¡®I know you¡¯re up to something, but I¡¯m too entertained to stop you.¡¯


    "You act cute when you want something," he finally said, voice deep and way too amused.


    Mize did not dignify that with an answer.


    Instead, he grabbed both of Liam¡¯s hands, clutching them tightly while looking up at him with big, expectant eyes.


    Doll-like. Fragile. The absolute peak of manipulation.


    "...Sure," Liam sighed.


    Mize beamed.


    Mize then tugged at the corner of Liam¡¯s sleeve, his ruby eyes flickering up. "Then, any suggestions, Mr. Mysterious?" His voice was light, crisp, teasing.


    Liam savored the moment, as if that small touch alone was amusing him to no end. He smiled. "Well¡­ come with me."


    Without waiting, he took the lead, weaving through the massive shopping district like he¡¯d done it a hundred times before.


    Mize blinked, suspicious.


    For someone who supposedly wasn¡¯t an awakener, Liam sure moved with a little too much familiarity.


    Mize followed behind, hand still clasped in Liam¡¯s, feeling the soft warmth of his palm against his own.


    His eyes flickered to the sides, scanning their surroundings not out of curiosity, but calculation.


    Something was off.


    The guards aren¡¯t human.


    Not even a little.


    Mize¡¯s gaze caught the shadowy figures that were trailing them for afar¡ªblack-suited men, stiff in posture, eyes too empty, too unblinking. The same ones Liam had called his workers.


    Mize made a mental note. Liam wasn¡¯t normal.


    But that wasn¡¯t exactly new information.


    He had never been normal in the first place.


    They skimmed through the vast shopping mall, moving from one extravagant storefront to another.


    For a city that was considered secluded in the grand scheme of things, there were still plenty of wealthy people parading around like peacocks.


    Occasionally, Mize caught glimpses of the other shoppers¡ªeach dressed in a way that made his lips twitch.


    It¡¯s like a cosplay event where everyone secretly hates each other.


    The women? Draped in extravagant fantasy-style dresses, ranging from magical girl aesthetics to full-blown royal gowns.


    The men?


    Mize tried not to stare.


    And then, a hand covered his eyes from the front.


    "Don''t look," Liam''s voice murmured near his ear.


    Mize turned his head, brows raised, questioning.


    Liam didn''t immediately answer, but instead tapped his own lips, his expression oddly relaxed.


    "Those are awakeners," he finally said, nodding toward the groups of elaborately dressed men moving through the halls. "And there¡¯s a rule."


    "A rule?" Mize rubbed at his cheek absently. He thought he felt a slight itch there.


    Liam nodded. "Yes. The weak should respect and be in awe of the strong. If not, it¡¯s considered provocation."


    Mize blinked. Then blinked again.


    "...That?" He deadpanned.


    "I know." Liam sighed, patting Mize¡¯s head like he was some tiny creature in need of comforting. "It¡¯s barbaric at times, so be careful with your gaze."


    Mize narrowed his eyes, but he obediently nodded.


    It was a mishap on his part.


    He had too much confidence in the information he had. But in reality? He barely knew anything.


    Liam guided Mize further down the expansive shopping district, leading him toward a more secluded section.


    The shop at the very end stood out. Not in design, but in presence.


    Mize¡¯s gaze flicked up, catching sight of the golden, intricately carved letters above the doorway.


    "The Path of the Dungeon Lord."


    The words left his lips in a soft whisper.


    Interesting.


    Stepping inside, Mize took a moment to glance around.


    "...It looks empty?"


    Liam shook his head. "Not exactly."


    Mize shot him a questioning look.


    "It¡¯s more like an inquiry stall," Liam added, watching as Mize''s brows furrowed slightly in mild confusion.


    A sigh left Liam¡¯s lips. "You¡¯ll understand soon. Just follow my steps."


    Mize didn''t argue. He simply nodded and let himself be led forward.

 Chapter 27: Looks shady, you totally shady

    They approached the reception desk, where a well-dressed woman stood behind a polished counter.


    Her posture was perfect, her uniform crisp, but there was something off about her expression.


    Liam didn¡¯t even pause.


    With a casual flick of his wrist, a card slipped out from his sleeve, landing neatly on the counter.


    The receptionist¡¯s gaze dropped to the item.


    And then, something changed.


    Mize watched, intrigued.


    The woman had started out indifferent, her professional mask firmly in place. But the second her eyes landed on the card, her entire demeanor shifted.


    From absolute neutrality.


    To something like confusion.


    No.


    Not confusion.


    Fear.


    Her hand twitched against the desk, fingers gripping the edge so tightly her knuckles turned white.


    Mize tilted his head. Now that¡¯s interesting.


    A beat of silence stretched between them.


    Then.


    The receptionist straightened, her movements a little too stiff, too forced.


    "Um, L-Lord and Miss," she stammered, smoothing her skirt before stepping out from behind the desk. "Please, I will see the two guests to the room."


    Mize glanced at Liam.


    Liam? Still smiling.


    "Of course," he said smoothly.


    The woman swallowed hard before turning on her heel and guiding them toward a side door, half-hidden behind a large decorative display.


    If Mize hadn¡¯t been paying attention, he wouldn¡¯t have even noticed it.


    Interesting.


    The second they stepped through the hidden door, the entire atmosphere changed.


    The warm glow of the chandeliers? Gone.


    Replaced with dim, cold lighting that stretched down an endless corridor, lined with rows of identical doors, each with thick glass windows set into the frame.


    Mize¡¯s first thought?


    Interrogation center.


    And then, a whisper.


    "Hey, Liam," Mize tiptoed slightly, voice dropping into a hushed tone as he leaned closer to the man beside him.


    Liam barely glanced down.


    "What?"


    "Did you threaten her?"


    "Hm?"


    "The receptionist," Mize clarified, nodding toward the woman leading them. "Why does she look so scared?"


    Liam paused mid-step.


    Then, he smiled.


    "Umm¡­" His eyes trailed lazily over the walls, as if considering the question. "Well¡­ I didn¡¯t threaten her."


    Mize squinted suspiciously.


    "I¡¯m not that kind of person," Liam added smoothly.


    "...Really?" Mize gave him a long, slow look, his gaze piercing right through Liam¡¯s little act.


    Liam?


    Still smiling.


    Still looking completely unbothered.


    Doubting me? Go ahead. I¡¯ll just keep smiling.


    After a few more seconds of silence and still zero explanations, Mize finally gave up.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    His eyes drifted toward the rows of doors instead.


    "So many rooms¡­"


    "For customers," Liam supplied.


    "Then why aren¡¯t we there yet?"


    The receptionist stiffened.


    "Sorry for the inconvenience of the distance, dear guests," she said quickly, her voice a little too tight.


    Mize caught it. The faint sweat on her forehead. The way her fingers trembled slightly when she reached for the hem of her uniform.


    And the way her entire body tensed whenever Liam so much as looked at her.


    "But please, follow me," she continued, forcing a smile. "The appointed room and the manager have been called to serve the two of you."


    Mize exhaled softly, eyes half-lidded.


    Hah.


    Liam was hiding something.


    And Mize was going to find out what it was.


    <div>


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    The corridor stretched on, long and seemingly endless. It had been at least five minutes since they started walking, yet there was no sign of reaching their destination.


    Mize frowned. This place wasn¡¯t that big from the outside. How the hell did they fit all of this inside?


    His brows furrowed as his mind ran through possible explanations before finally landing on something that almost made sense.


    "Space-related formation," he muttered under his breath, recalling something he¡¯d once read online.


    Beside him, Liam chuckled. "It is."


    Mize¡¯s ears twitched. So he heard that.


    He turned his head slightly, curiosity flashing across his eyes. "Is it a special ability?"


    Liam shook his head, lips curving. "No."


    He lifted a finger into the air before them, drawing a single stroke midair.


    A deep purplish glow followed the movement, like ink bleeding into the fabric of reality itself.


    Mize¡¯s breath hitched.


    "It¡¯s a side profession," Liam explained smoothly. "I¡¯m an example myself."


    Even the receptionist had to pause for a moment, her gaze flickering toward the floating mark with barely concealed surprise.


    Mize stared, fascinated. His eyes flicked from the trace of energy back to Liam, then back again.


    "Amazing¡­" Without thinking, he grasped Liam¡¯s arm, wrapping himself around it like a koala.


    Liam stiffened for half a second, but quickly recovered, amusement flashing in his gaze.


    "Teach me, teach me, Liam!" Mize beamed, blinking up at him. "Can you teach me later?"


    Liam sighed. "I can."


    Mize pumped a fist internally.


    "But¡ª"


    Mize froze.


    Liam gave him a side glance, voice dipping just a little. "You¡¯ll need talent. It¡¯s hard for normal people to even begin."


    Mize¡¯s lips parted slightly.


    Normal people?


    Was Liam¡­ calling him common?!


    His expression darkened immediately.


    "Well, I¡¯m not," Mize huffed. His hand curled into a tiny cotton punch, which he delivered straight to Liam¡¯s side.


    Liam barely reacted, looking more entertained than anything.


    "Sure, sure," he said, tone dripping with playful mockery. "I¡¯ll be sure to adjust my expectations."


    Mize¡¯s eye twitched.


    Ah yes. The classic joke about looking down on a short person.


    [Host, I think he¡¯s mocking you. Please be aware.]


    ¡®I KNOW.¡¯


    [Really?]


    ¡®YOU SHUT UP NOW!¡¯


    Before Mize could launch a proper counterattack, the receptionist finally came to a stop.


    Mize tilted his head.


    This¡­ wasn¡¯t a normal door.


    It was a wide passageway, veiled by thick crimson curtains. Two medieval-style blue torches flickered on either side, their flames giving off an unearthly glow.


    Mize wrinkled his nose.


    "Looks shady."


    Liam only chuckled. "Come on." With an effortless push, he swept aside the curtain, pulling Mize in with him.


    The moment they stepped inside, Mize¡¯s gaze darted around, scanning the interior.


    It was¡­ different.


    The room felt old, filled with antique decor, an elaborate wooden table, two expensive-looking couches, and various antique vases scattered across the shelves.


    Mize let out a whistle. "Woah, the dollar store really stepped up its game."


    Liam choked on a laugh.


    "Now, now," he mused, one finger gently tapping Mize¡¯s nose. "Don¡¯t say that."


    He pulled Mize onto the couch beside him, a little too close.


    Judging from the posture and distance, they looked less like business partners and more like a newlywed couple.


    Mize didn¡¯t notice at first. He was too busy rearranging his bangs, his ears twitching slightly.


    Then, something clicked.


    "Wait." He straightened. "You said don¡¯t say that because¡­?"


    Liam smiled meaningfully. "Because the man in front of you might take offense."


    Mize blinked.


    A man?


    Before he could ask, Liam reached out, placing one hand on Mize¡¯s shoulder while extending his other hand toward the air.


    His fingers glowed once again, that same deep purplish light.


    And then.


    "W-wait, dear customer!" A flustered voice cut through the room.


    Mize jerked.


    The air in front of them wavered, like a rippling bubble, before suddenly distorting and dissipating.


    A hidden illusion.


    And behind it?


    A lavishly dressed old man materialized in the seat opposite them, looking extremely uncomfortable.


    One hand tugged at the collar of his robes, as if he was letting out steam from pure nervousness.


    The old man immediately analyzed the two, his eyes wary.


    ''He¡¯s not a regular awakener¡­ Tier 2? Tier 3?''


    His breath caught for half a second before he forcefully shoved the thought away.


    Nope. Not thinking about it. Not my problem.


    The old man cleared his throat, struggling to keep his composure.


    "I apologize," he said stiffly, hands spreading to his sides in a formal gesture of regret. "It was my mistake to be so disrespectful just now."


    Then, without hesitation.


    "As an apology, I will be offering a 30% discount on all purchases today."


    Mize blinked.


    Oh. A bribe.


    Smooth.


    Liam leaned back, arms crossed, his gaze unreadable.


    Mize, on the other hand? He wasn¡¯t planning on doing the talking.


    This was Liam¡¯s scene.


    Sure enough, Liam¡¯s voice finally broke the silence, deep and commanding.


    "Summoning cards," he said lazily. "All of them. Bring them here."


    The old man visibly flinched.


    "...Ah?"


    His expression twisted for a split second before he quickly recovered, forcing a nod.


    "Of course," he said, snapping his fingers. Immediately, the workers outside the door rushed in, carrying stacks of inventory.


    The wait after that?


    Awkward.


    One person sat like a pampered little princess, waiting to be served.


    One person stared down the old man with absolute, soul-crushing indifference.


    And one person?


    Dripping with sweat, wiping his forehead with a tissue every two seconds, internally screaming.


    ¡®Please, dear customer, don¡¯t look at me like that as if you¡¯re about to kill me,¡¯ the old man wailed inside.


    Liam did not blink.


    Mize found this hilarious.


    A small chuckle slipped past his lips.


    The old man did not react, but deep inside?


    ¡®Hah. His wife finds my suffering amusing''


    ¡­Wait.


    Wife?


    A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.


    ¡®Endure. Endure and wait for a raise from headquarters later. Endure¡­


    ......


    ¡®I wanna go home.¡¯


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 Chapter 28: Summoning cards.

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    The workers moved quickly, stacking the boxes of summoning cards neatly onto the table before stepping back.


    The weight of the items made the table creak slightly, but the room remained silent.


    Just as the last worker turned to leave, one of them hesitated.


    He bent down beside the old man, back lowered, lips moving in a barely audible whisper.


    Mize caught the slight twitch in the old man''s fingers.


    Something was up.


    Seconds later, the manager rose abruptly, hands clasped together in a classic merchant¡¯s pose, a bright, forced smile stretched over his shiny bald head.


    "Dear customers," he announced smoothly, his voice now dripping with renewed enthusiasm, "all of the summoning cards have been brought per request. Please, feel free to take a look."


    He gestured toward the table grandly, like a magician revealing a treasure trove.


    Liam?


    Didn¡¯t move.


    Instead, his body shifted forward, no longer leaning back lazily, but now fully engaged.


    His eyes scanned the rows of sealed cards with a gaze so piercing that even Mize, sitting right next to him, felt a shift in the air.


    Liam¡¯s fingers drummed against the armrest.


    Then, he spoke.


    "Guess?"


    The old man visibly flinched, his confident mask cracking like cheap porcelain.


    "A-Ah¡­?" A horrible, forced smile pulled at his lips. "Is there¡­ something wrong, dear customer?"


    Liam didn¡¯t answer immediately.


    Instead, his fingers skimmed lightly over the surface of the boxes, tracing the edges before casually picking one up.


    A single glance. A flick of his wrist.


    Then, his voice dropped.


    "Is four-star the highest grade you have?"


    The question hung in the air, deceptively light.


    The old man froze, his breath catching for a fraction of a second.


    Mize, who had been idly watching, perked up slightly.


    "Oh?" He blinked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.


    The old man hesitated, his merchant¡¯s smile tightening. But he recovered quickly, smoothing a reassuring grin over his face.


    "There are indeed higher-grade summoning cards, dear customer," he admitted, "but as you yourself should be aware, such items have very strict requirements and restrictions."


    Liam¡¯s lips curved faintly.


    "I meet the requirements."


    The old man went stiff.


    "...Ah?"


    A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.


    His mind raced, fingers nervously rubbing against each other.


    "Pardon?"


    "You heard me," Liam said smoothly, leaning back into the couch, his arms crossing over his chest. His voice was calm, but the weight of it dropped like a guillotine.


    "I meet the restriction requirements for higher-grade items."


    A split second of silence.


    Then.


    A mountain fell.


    Or at least, that¡¯s what it felt like.


    The air collapsed in on itself, a suffocating weight crushing down on the old man¡¯s figure alone.


    The defensive mechanism embedded in his lavish robe flared to life, golden runes glowing brightly in a desperate attempt to counter the unseen force.


    But then.


    CRACK.


    The enchantment shattered like brittle glass.


    The old man¡¯s face drained of color instantly.


    Mize, seated beside Liam, felt nothing.


    Because Liam wasn¡¯t directing his presence at him.


    Mize, completely oblivious, tilted his head slightly. "Huh?"


    ¡®Why does he look like he¡¯s about to pass out?¡¯


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Meanwhile, the old man was drenched in cold sweat, his vision spinning, body trembling violently beneath the now-ruined robe.


    He remained standing, barely, but his breath was ragged, like someone who had just seen a ghost.


    Then.


    Liam¡¯s voice came again, deep and absolute.


    "Do you understand, manager?"


    The words fell like an emperor¡¯s decree.


    The old man jolted violently, snapping out of his frozen state.


    "Ah¡­ Y-yes, Senior!" He blurted out immediately, his voice cracking slightly.


    And then, without waiting for another word, he turned and bolted.


    "Please wait for a moment! I will return shortly with the item you need!"


    His frantic footsteps echoed down the hallway, the door slamming shut behind him.


    Silence filled the room once more.


    Mize blinked slowly.


    Then, he turned toward Liam.


    "Liam."


    "Hm?" Liam hummed, nonchalant.


    Mize squinted at him.


    "...What the hell was that?"


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    "Well, it was magic," Liam said, smiling innocently.


    Mize wasn''t buying it.


    He scooted closer, his soft hair brushing against Liam¡¯s shoulder as he leaned in.


    His ruby-red eyes narrowed slightly, lips curving as he spoke in a light, almost dangerously cute voice.


    "Did you threaten the old man too?"


    Liam¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter, but he leaned back slightly, his body shifting into a lazy sprawl.


    One arm draped over the armrest, his palm resting against his cheek as he observed Mize¡¯s expression with quiet amusement.


    "Am I really that bad of a person to you?" he mused, tilting his head slightly.


    Then, his lips curled.


    "And don¡¯t try to be serious. It doesn¡¯t suit you."


    Mize rolled his eyes. "I was just asking."


    Dropping the subject, he let his gaze drift over the summoning cards stacked neatly on the table.


    He reached out, picking one at random.


    The design of the creature on the card immediately caught his attention, a fearsome, almost mythical-looking beast with glowing eyes and intricate markings running across its body.


    "Say," Mize asked absently, tilting the card.


    "How were these creatures caught in the first place? Is it like a Pok¨¦mon Pok¨¦ball?"


    Liam¡¯s brows arched slightly.


    "Pok¨¦ball?"


    Mize nodded, expectant.


    Instead of answering, Liam plucked the card from Mize¡¯s fingers, flipping it between his knuckles before twisting the box slightly.


    "All formation work," he explained, turning the package so Mize could see the shimmering words etched into the back.


    They fluctuated in brilliant, shifting colors, the same type of inscription Liam had casually drawn midair earlier.


    Mize blinked, intrigued.


    "Formations do all of this?" He gestured toward the entire pile of boxes.


    Liam placed the card down and, without hesitation, reached out to lightly tap Mize¡¯s forehead with his fingers.


    "Formation can do almost anything," he said simply.


    Mize¡¯s eyes flickered. Interest piqued.


    "Really?"


    "Yes," Liam confirmed easily. "Even resurrection is possible."


    Mize¡¯s eyes widened slightly.


    "You mean, like¡­ dead people coming back to life?"


    "Zombie!"


    Liam exhaled through his nose, clearly entertained by Mize¡¯s immediate jump in logic.


    "No," he corrected, reaching out to rub Mize¡¯s cheek in amusement.


    "Not like that. A literal resurrection. The person would return completely alive, exactly as they were before."


    Mize¡¯s jaw dropped slightly.


    "Woah¡­"


    His hands clasped together over his chest, eyes shimmering as he turned toward the rows of boxes stacked before them.


    "That¡¯s amazing."


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    The moment he stepped back into the room, it was obvious he¡¯d been in a hurry.


    His face was flushed, breath slightly ragged, and behind him, several workers trailed in, each carrying distinctively larger boxes than the ones already on the table.


    A total of five.


    Each one was placed down with careful precision, the weight of them audibly creaking the table¡¯s surface.


    The old man straightened, quickly regaining his professional posture before gesturing toward the arranged boxes.


    "Here they are, Senior," he announced, forcing a polite smile. "Four five-star summoning cards, and one¡­ a six-star summoning card. The last one is particularly special."


    Mize¡¯s gaze flickered over to Liam, expecting him to make another imposing demand, but to his surprise, Liam simply lifted a hand and gestured toward him instead.


    "Go ahead," he said smoothly. "Pick whichever you like."


    Mize stilled.


    "...Whichever? Really?"


    His tone carried a hint of skepticism, and worry.


    Because these things? Did not look cheap.


    The boxes alone looked like they were made from rare materials, probably worth more than an entire house in the city.


    Mize hesitated, but then.


    Pat.


    Liam¡¯s hand landed gently on his head, fingers ruffling his hair just slightly.


    The effect? Immediate boost to motivation.


    Mize puffed out his cheeks slightly before turning his full focus to the selection.


    One by one, he examined the cards, his ruby eyes skimming over the designs.


    Each card depicted a creature on the front, likely representing what was inside.


    Some looked fierce. Others monstrous. Some even borderline divine.


    But¡­


    None of them really caught his interest.


    Until.


    His gaze finally landed on the last box.


    Mize tilted his head. "Nothing?"


    He pointed toward it, before glancing toward the old man.


    The old merchant responded with a polite smile, his hands coming together as he explained.


    "This is a random summoning card, Miss," he said patiently. "Its outcome is entirely dependent on the luck of the person using it. While it may be a six-star card, its popularity is one of the lowest among all other options."


    Mize blinked.


    "And why¡¯s that?" He rested a hand on his hip.


    "Shouldn¡¯t this kind of card be in high demand? With a luck potion, wouldn¡¯t people just pull strong summoned creatures for their dungeons?"


    His voice was light, carrying across the room without effort.


    The old man¡¯s brows lifted slightly.


    ¡®Hoh¡­ She¡¯s quite informed about the Warp already.¡¯


    He smiled, though inwardly, he was reevaluating the young lady before him.


    "To explain that, we need to first understand the nature of this card," the old man continued. "Unlike the others, where creatures are captured and stored inside, this particular type of card is obtained through only one channel, a secret realm drop."


    Mize froze.


    "...Huh?"


    ''What¡¯s with the sudden game-like mechanics?''


    He was already confused, but the next words?


    They unlocked a whole new level of bewilderment.


    "This card," the old man went on, "is a byproduct of an unknown civilization."


    Mize¡¯s ears perked up immediately.


    "Perhaps, Miss, you¡¯re still unaware of the true nature of the Warp," the old man continued, adjusting his sleeves. "But allow me to explain.


    "The Warp isn¡¯t just a battlefield. It¡¯s a dimension of its own, an infinite expanse that exists everywhere, filled with countless races, lands, treasures, and of course the ongoing competition between civilizations."


    Mize¡¯s breath hitched slightly.


    "Even the greatest formation masters of our human race have yet to decipher how this card operates," the old man added. "Its origins remain¡­ completely unknown."


    Mize¡¯s fingers tightened slightly around the box, bringing it closer as his curiosity spiked.


    "So it¡¯s that mysterious?"


    "Yes, of course," the old man confirmed with a nod.


    Then, he hesitated.


    His merchant¡¯s instincts kicked in, and he quickly added.


    "That being said, Miss, I would advise against purchasing it."


    Mize blinked up at him.


    The old man coughed lightly into his fist. "Do not be greedy," he advised, tone light but firm. "Buying that card is a gamble. More often than not, people walk away with nothing."


    Mize stared at him.


    And then, slowly glanced at Liam.


    Liam?


    Still smiling.


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 Chapter 29: Avoiding unnecessary trouble.

    "It''s up to you," Liam said, his voice as deep and smooth as ever.


    But there was a softness in it, one that only ever surfaced when he spoke to Mize.


    Mize hesitated, fingers brushing over the mysterious six-star card as he glanced between the two men before him.


    "I¡­ uh¡­"


    He trailed off, caught in thought, until something clicked.


    Wait.


    Something about the old man¡¯s words just now.


    His brows furrowed slightly before he turned his gaze back toward the bald head, eyes narrowing.


    "Wait¡­ why are you using so many words just to convince me not to buy this card?"


    The room stilled.


    The old man visibly faltered.


    It was barely a crack, just a split second of hesitation, but Mize caught it.


    His eyes sharpened as his lips curved slightly, a look of mild amusement flashing across his face.


    "Now you look even more like a shady old man, creep."


    "Creepy bald man"


    "Creepy bad man"


    The merchant opened his mouth, then closed it immediately.


    His gaze darted between Mize¡¯s expectant expression and Liam¡¯s complete, unwavering indifference.


    Then, his pupils shrank.


    Because suddenly, he noticed it.


    The shadows.


    They were everywhere.


    They flickered at the edges of the room, twisted in places they shouldn¡¯t be, stretching unnaturally across the floor and walls, as if something unseen was lurking just beyond the veil of human sight.


    His palms turned clammy.


    His heartbeat pounded against his chest.


    ¡®The shadows¡­ why are there so many?¡¯


    ''Hundreds?


    ''No, thousands!''


    His fingers twitched against his robe. He couldn¡¯t move, or rather, he didn¡¯t dare to.


    His mind reeled.


    A summoner. And a very rare one at that.


    What should I do?


    Mize wasn¡¯t angry.


    If anything, he was just curious.


    He could tell the old man was terrified of Liam, which meant he could press further without issue.


    So, he did.


    "Stop beating around the bush," Mize huffed, arms crossing over his chest. "Tell me, Smelly Fart Old Man"


    The old man flinched.


    Liam, sitting beside him, let out a quiet chuckle.


    Seconds ticked by. The old man''s arm twitched, his throat working as he struggled to find the right words.


    He was usually good at talking his way out of situations. It was practically a merchant¡¯s survival skill.


    But right now?


    He had nothing.


    His status as a tier 1 awakener meant absolutely nothing in front of the man seated on the couch.


    And the worst part?


    He knew, without a doubt, that it would be impossible to escape himself before this figure.


    Because he wasn¡¯t alone.


    The old man knew.


    The weight of the aura he¡¯d felt earlier. The countless presences hidden within the shadows.


    ''Ahhh... I should''ve taken the leave today'' he swallowed hard, body trembling.


    ''This man isn''t just powerful, he''s a whole army himself. Damn it, why didn''t anyone informed us that a very powerful summoner had entered out city!''


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    He was something else entirely.


    A drop of cold sweat slid down the side of the old man¡¯s face.


    Then.


    "One way or another," Liam finally spoke, voice calm, almost lazy.


    His eyes flickered toward the old man.


    "You choose."


    Crack.


    Something in the old man¡¯s mind snapped.


    He slumped against the couch, shoulders heavy with resignation and despair.


    A long, tired sigh escaped his lips.


    It was over.


    He had no choice but to tell the truth


    The old man exhaled a long, weary sigh. His ashen face looked like he¡¯d just eaten a mouthful of dirt, his complexion growing even worse by the second.


    "Alright¡­" he finally spoke, voice low and hoarse. "I¡¯ll tell you the truth."


    Mize perked up slightly, fingers idly twirling the six-star card between his hands as he waited.


    ''Could this card be a heaven defying secret?''


    ''A remnants of god?''


    Mize''s mind started to run around aimlessly trying to guess.


    The moment of hesitation from the old man was enough to tell him whatever this secret was, it carried the same level of threat as Liam¡¯s presence.


    "This summoning card was¡­ pre-booked," the old man admitted, rubbing his forehead as if speaking the words physically pained him. "By a certain figure."


    Mize¡¯s brows arched.


    The merchant swallowed hard before continuing.


    "We don¡¯t know who he is. He never gave us his identity. But he specifically ordered us not to sell it, no matter what."


    Mize squinted.


    ''That''s it? All of the actions just now for such a lame revelation?''


    "That makes no sense," he said bluntly, standing up from the couch as he brought the card closer to his eyes.


    Why would someone buy it, leave it behind, and then make sure no one else could buy it either?


    He tilted the card under the light, watching the intricate inscriptions flicker faintly.


    Suspicious.


    "And yet," Liam¡¯s voice broke the silence, his tone laced with faint amusement, "you still put it on the table."


    A short chuckle escaped his lips.


    Mize clicked his tongue, placing the card back down as he shot the old man a look.


    "You should¡¯ve just kept it hidden in the back, Smelly Fart Old Man," he huffed, cheeks puffing slightly in mild irritation. "If you did, I wouldn¡¯t have even known it existed."


    The old man winced.


    "And," Mize continued, his expression turning playfully smug, "you read people wrong. I¡¯m not interested in this item."


    "I know best to steer away from problems when I see one. Taking this card might add in several unnecessary chapters of trouble, so no thank you"


    The shift was immediate.


    The old man, who had looked seconds away from collapsing, suddenly brightened up like a man who had just been saved from execution.


    Liam, ever still and quiet, remained unbothered. He had no say in Mize¡¯s choices, he was just here as her guardian and her wallet.


    So if Mize wanted something? He would buy it.


    If she didn¡¯t? He wouldn¡¯t push.


    "So," Mize finally concluded, "I¡¯ll take the remaining four five-star cards instead."


    The old man almost collapsed in relief.


    "Great! Great!" He nodded so fast it looked like a chicken pecking at rice. "That is a wonderful choice, Miss!"


    "Avoid problems, seek benefit! Truly is a worthy skill for a future powerful awakener!"


    And with newfound enthusiasm, he scurried off to the back of the room.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the merchant to return.


    "Here," he extended his hand.


    Resting in his palm was a sleek black ring, a deep blue, star-like jewel embedded at its center.


    Mize¡¯s eyes glimmered when he saw the design of the ring.


    "A storage ring?"


    "Indeed," the old man nodded, placing it carefully in her palm.


    Liam hummed, his gaze flickering toward the ring before offering a short praise.


    "High quality," he noted, his voice calm as he leaned back against the couch, one hand draped over the armrest.


    His gaze slid toward the old man, assessing.


    "A blue quality ring¡­" he murmured. Then, after a pause, "And judging from its aura¡­"


    "It¡¯s mid-stage, Senior," the merchant quickly added, his tone respectful.


    Mize raised a brow.


    "Mid stage? Blue quality?" Though after Liam''s explanation on the side, he finally understood.


    "Quite the gift?" She tilted the ring between her fingers, inspecting the fine craftsmanship.


    Her lips curled slightly.


    Not bad.


    The division of the grades for equipment was rather simple.


    It was like a color guessing game, with rankings starting from white, then progressing through green, yellow, blue, purple, red, and finally, golden.


    Each grade was further divided into three stages, early-stage, mid-stage, and peak-stage.


    An interesting system, really. But more importantly.


    Who decided this grading system in the first place? Liam didn''t tell him further about its origin, but when he asked, Liam simply smiled and ask him to guess instead.


    ''Law...''


    ''Who designed law?''


    Mize tapped a finger against his lips, mind racing.


    This wasn¡¯t something humans had come up with. It was something the Warp itself had established.


    Which meant.


    The Warp is an intelligent entity?


    A faint shiver crawled up his spine.


    Probably like Gaia, the spirit of Mother Earth, but infinitely bigger and stronger.


    That wasn''t a comforting thought.


    Still, now wasn¡¯t the time for existential theories.


    Mize twirled the cool metal ring between his fingers, letting the smooth surface glide over his skin.


    "Alright, so how do I use it?" he finally asked, eyeing the old man expectantly.


    The old man straightened, hands folded behind his back as he explained, "Just inject a small wisp of your divine consciousness into the ring, Miss. Once you imprint your owner¡¯s mark, it will recognize you as its master, and you¡¯ll be able to use it at will, just like breathing."


    Mize blinked.


    "That¡¯s it? That simple?"


    His brows lifted slightly, half-expecting some overly complicated ritual.


    But before the old man could confirm, Liam¡¯s voice cut in.


    "Not now."


    Mize turned just in time to see Liam push off the couch, standing to his full height before striding forward.


    Without hesitation, he plucked the ring from Mize¡¯s hand.


    A faint purplish energy surged at his fingertips, flowing smoothly into the ring.


    Then, the turned his gaze toward the summoning cards still sitting on the table.


    With a small flick of his wrist.


    All the items disappeared.


    Mize¡¯s eyes widened in amazement.


    "Wait¡­ that was"


    "Formation," Liam corrected smoothly.


    "More than magic."


    Mize blinked rapidly, still processing what just happened.


    What the hell? This is literally space magic.


    Before he could press further, Liam suddenly extended a hand toward him.


    "What?"


    "Your hand," Liam said, his tone casual. "Give it to me."


    Mize immediately narrowed his eyes.


    "You mean like¡­ cut my hand?" He leaned back, clutching his wrist dramatically. "No thank you."


    Liam stared blankly.


    "...You''re impossible."


    Without another word, he yanked Mize¡¯s right hand forward, fingers locking firmly around his wrist.


    Mize squawked in protest, but Liam ignored him completely.


    In his other hand, the storage ring flickered, engulfed in a strange purplish fire.


    And then.


    The flames dissipated.


    A brand new ring emerged, its jewel now a deeper, richer shade of purple.


    Mize¡¯s pout deepened.


    "Stop playing," Liam muttered, pulling Mize closer as he effortlessly slid the ring onto his finger.


    The cool metal settled perfectly against his skin.


    "A gift," Liam said, voice low.


    Mize paused.


    Then, after a beat.


    "Not my birthday," he quipped.


    Liam smirked. "Yet."


    Mize¡¯s lips curled slightly.


    "And I don¡¯t celebrate birthdays."


    A pause.


    Liam said nothing.


    Just smiled.

 Chapter 30: Is this real?

    The moment they stepped out of the shop, Mize¡¯s heel slammed down onto Liam¡¯s foot with full force.


    Liam barely flinched.


    But Mize? Absolutely furious.


    "Why would you do that?!" he hissed, face flushed red like a steaming hot potato, his tiny fists clenched at his sides.


    Liam tilted his head, feigning pure innocence, arms spreading wide as if he had no idea what Mize was talking about.


    "Do what?"


    Mize¡¯s eyes twitched violently.


    The evidence was right there, bite marks littered across Liam¡¯s neck and hands, faint red impressions of his own teeth.


    "You¡ªYOU BIT ME ON THE NECK IN FRONT OF PEOPLE!"


    Mize stomped down again, but missed completely as Liam smoothly retracted his foot at the last second.


    Instead of apologizing, Liam smirked.


    "You fought back"


    "And you moaned quite delicately too, Mimi."


    "YOU¡ª!"


    Mize jabbed a furious finger at Liam¡¯s chest, completely red-faced.


    There was no escape.


    No argument, no excuse, nothing could erase what had already happened.


    He could only endure it.


    ¡®God, give me strength!!!¡¯


    Mize let out an internal scream of suffering.


    Liam, ever composed, crossed his arms.


    "Then," he said smoothly, "where do you want to go next?"


    Swoosh.


    Mize lunged for an attack.


    Liam effortlessly dodged.


    Mize muttered darkly under his breath before huffing sharply. "I want to buy clothes."


    "For tomorrow?" Liam asked, sidestepping another sneak attack as if it was routine.


    "Yes," Mize nodded, bending forward with his hands on his knees, panting slightly. "It¡¯s a big day¡­ so I want to look good."


    Ugh. I should exercise more.


    Liam hummed. "I know a shop, if you want."


    Mize immediately perked up and nodded, falling into step beside him.


    ¡­Though not without launching the occasional sneak attack from behind.


    But then.


    A sudden cooling sensation glided across his neck.


    A lick.


    Mize¡¯s entire body locked up.


    Stiff.


    Frozen.


    Brain short-circuiting.


    What!


    Before he could even react, Liam smoothly wrapped an arm around his waist, lifting him effortlessly.


    Mize didn¡¯t struggle.


    Didn¡¯t resist.


    Didn¡¯t even breathe.


    He simply buried his face into Liam¡¯s chest, completely shutting down from sheer embarrassment, as Liam carried him away peacefully.


    The ceiling lights shimmered softly, casting a golden glow over the polished marble floor as Liam walked through the shopping district, Mize princess-hugged securely in his arms.


    It wasn¡¯t an unusual place, but the scene they made? That was an entirely different matter.


    People turned their heads, some with mild curiosity, others with outright disbelief.


    Whispers floated through the air, barely concealed.


    "that guy is quite bold, romantic I would say''


    "Looks like a cold looking ceo and the soft rabbit, am I in a book?''


    "Damn, couples! Get out of my sight and stop feeding me dog food!''


    Mize pretended he didn¡¯t hear a single thing.


    Instead, he kept his face hidden, his fingers lightly curled against Liam¡¯s chest, refusing to lift his gaze even as the cool night air brushed against his exposed skin.


    The place were empty, yet the moment felt oddly slow, as if everything had faded into the background, except for the two of them.


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    A soft sigh finally left Mize¡¯s lips.


    "Say," he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.


    "Why do you like me so much? It feels like a dream to me. One moment you were shy... Can easily be teased, weak, and now... I am the one getting bullied back by you"


    "Perhaps it''s karma?"


    Liam¡¯s pace didn¡¯t change, his footsteps measured as he adjusted his grip slightly, making Mize even more comfortable in his hold.


    "Who knows," Liam mused, his lips curving faintly. "Love sure is blinding, illogical, and sometimes it doesn''t even feel real"


    Mize lifted his head slightly, finally looking at him.


    "It¡¯s strange, you know," he said softly. "We barely even know each other. Not even two days. And yet you¡¯re already acting like this."


    "We even went quite far at certain times"


    His ruby-red eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Did I do something to you?"


    Liam chuckled.


    "Perhaps when you teased me on the bus," he admitted smoothly. "I kinda fell for you."


    "I fell hard, and it would be impossible for me to untangle myself... From you"


    "Love had always been elusive, far and distant for me. But perhaps due to how ridiculous our story is, that would the reason for why I love u dearly"


    Mize¡¯s brows twitched.


    This guy.


    Smooth talker is in his genetic or something?


    "Hm." He hummed softly, not confirming nor denying anything.


    Liam smiled down at him, his expression gentle yet unwavering.


    "Your charm works wonders," he murmured. "I¡¯d love to have you around me all the time..."


    "It''s oddly peaceful... "


    Mize huffed.


    "I¡¯m not sure," he grumbled, shifting slightly in Liam¡¯s arms. "It¡¯s abrupt. And yet¡­ we¡¯ve already broken so many stages. I-I have many secrets that I didn''t tell you"


    "Many more... Perhaps you would then hated me for it"


    Liam¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, his grip tightening just a little.


    "And I will take everything from you" he said suddenly.


    "I am young, so does you. Just two completely oblivious fool walking down this path that leads to nowhere"


    "So... Are you willing to go down this path with me?"


    His voice was deep.


    Unshaken.


    Mize froze.


    His breath hitched slightly, his fingers unconsciously gripping onto Liam¡¯s sleeve.


    "I- I am willing"


    His heart, for some reason, skipped a beat.


    ''If only this moment would last forever'' He thought inwardly, lips curled, ''I hope he can be strong enough to protect me, I love the current situation just being myself and not having to chase another guy''


    [Host, there are many other protagonist that is the same or even exceed the current one]


    ''And like I said, I choose him because he treats me right. Inform me if the other protagonist is close by, I want to avoid them''


    [If that''s your decision, then this humble one will comply]


    The rest of the day passed in a blur of luxury and excess.


    One shop after another, Liam spent freely, while Mize¡­


    Well, Mize relished every second of it.


    His original wallet? Tossed aside.


    The money from that Derek guy? Still untouched.


    He¡¯d probably spend it later on a whim. After all, money was money.


    And now, since he had a new protector, cough King Yama freak who would do anything for him, life had never been easier.


    "What do you mean, choosing clothes? I want them all!"


    "What do you mean, I can look at the jewelry? I want them all!"


    With an air of absolute arrogance, Mize emptied shop after shop, sweeping through entire collections like a true tyrant.


    And why not?


    The storage ring Liam had given him had been optimized, allowing him to store and retrieve items at will with nothing more than a flick of his fingers.


    He didn¡¯t know how Liam had done it, normally, storage rings required awakener-level consciousness to operate.


    But one thing was very, very clear.


    Liam was an all-rounder expert.


    Every question Mize asked, he had an answer to.


    It was infuriatingly impressive.


    To him, Mize. This was just another walk of the day, and it was closing in for the nighttime.


    The final destination for the day?


    For Liam, it was a date.


    For Mize?


    Just a casual walk to take a breather.


    At least, that¡¯s what he told himself.


    The place Liam had chosen wasn¡¯t just any restaurant, it was one of the most high-end dining establishments in the city, towering over the skyline.


    The moment they arrived, Mize¡¯s eyes widened slightly, taking in the lavish details of the reserved suite.


    A private dining area, enclosed with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offering an uninterrupted view of the entire city.


    The table was set perfectly, adorned with handcrafted silverware, a single flickering candle, and a pristine white tablecloth.


    Soft golden lights hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow across the room, while faint instrumental music played in the background.


    It was¡­


    Elegant.


    Opulent.


    A place meant for the elite.


    ''I am now considered elite right?''


    But Mize¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t on any of that.


    His gaze had already turned toward the window.


    ¡°Woahhh!¡±


    His entire face was practically squished against the glass, ruby-red eyes gleaming with childlike fascination.


    From up here, the city stretched endlessly, a sprawling sea of neon and steel.


    Distant skyscrapers flickered like stars, the humming veins of traffic below weaving through the streets like glowing arteries.


    It was beautiful.


    For the first time, he was seeing the true scale of the city.


    And for the first time¡­ he realized he had never actually left it.


    His entire life had been spent here, in this one massive concrete jungle.


    His voice softened, breath fogging slightly against the glass.


    "Despite the dystopian vibe¡­ it really is beautiful," he murmured.


    Slowly, he pulled away, palm pressing lightly against the cold surface.


    A thought slipped through his lips, barely above a whisper.


    "I wonder¡­ what lies beyond this sea of concrete?"


    But before Mize could spiral any further, his feet suddenly lifted off the ground.


    A soft whoosh of energy curled beneath him, gently carrying him away from the window.


    "H-hey!" Mize shrieked, flailing slightly as his body floated mid-air.


    Liam, still seated, smiled lazily, waving his fingers in a slow, practiced motion.


    Effortless.


    Graceful.


    And infuriatingly smug.


    Mize was gracefully seated in his chair before he even realized it, his protests completely ignored.


    His mouth twitched.


    "Can you not use magic on me?!"


    Liam leaned against the table, resting his chin in his palm.


    "It¡¯s formation."


    Mize rolled his eyes.


    "Again with the formation. So magic can¡¯t do the same thing?"


    Liam hummed. "Every path can do the same," he admitted. "But to what extent it can be used¡­ depends on the person"


    "Summoner is my main profession, and formation master is my side profession"


    His fingers tapped against the table, eyes glinting slightly.


    "And, honestly? It¡¯s quite a surprise that you want to become a Dungeon Lord."


    Mize blinked, then quickly corrected him.


    "Business Lord."


    He ran a hand through his hair, trying to fix the slight mess from all the shopping.


    Liam¡¯s eyes curved in amusement.


    "Yes, that."


    Then, after a pause.


    "But do you even know the full extent of what a Dungeon Lord is?"


    "I¡­ I know that I could have a piece of land inside my divine consciousness," Mize started, tapping his lips thoughtfully, his eyes drifting to the ceiling as if staring hard enough would jog his memory better.


    "And then I can develop it to act as a dungeon¡­ and project a gate into the real world so that other awakeners can enter and use it¡­"


    He recalled every piece of information he had read online, listing them one by one.


    Liam listened quietly, a small chuckle slipping past his lips before he finally moved.


    With a simple twist of his fingers, a projection of deep purple energy flickered into existence on the table before them.


    Mize¡¯s gaze snapped to it immediately, curiosity flashing in his ruby eyes.


    "Take this picture as an example¡­" Liam began, gesturing toward the floating image.


    The projection shifted, forming a detailed three-dimensional map, showing a sprawling world divided into territories, dungeons, and towering fortresses.


    Liam continued, his voice smooth as he narrated.


    "¡®Awakener¡¯ isn¡¯t just a name," he said. "It¡¯s a title, one that carries far more meaning than most people realize."


    Mize tilted his head slightly, intrigued.

 Chapter 31: The Lords path.

    Liam¡¯s fingers traced a single glowing point on the projection.


    "¡®Awakener¡¯ is just a general term for people like me, those who have gone to the Warp dimension," he explained. "But in actuality, we are all called Lords."


    Mize¡¯s brows furrowed slightly.


    "So once you enter the Warp¡­ you become a Lord?"


    "Exactly," Liam nodded. "When you first arrive, you¡¯re randomly assigned to a specific area. Usually, this means the outer edges of our human race controlled territory"


    "This also means that we would be bordering against our sweet neighbouring territories, and the same rules of their new lords applied to them too"


    Mize hummed in thought.


    "And then what?"


    "You¡¯re given a plot of land and a territory path to build your power" Liam continued, shifting the projection to show various landscapes, forests, deserts, fortresses, and vast cities.


    Mize¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.


    "Ohhh, that makes sense!" he exclaimed. "No wonder you have so many weird workers! They¡¯re your territory¡¯s troops, right?!"


    Liam chuckled.


    "Not quite," he corrected. "I¡¯m a Summoner. We can¡¯t bring troops back from the Warp into the real world."


    Mize blinked.


    "Wait¡­ so they¡¯re not your troops?"


    "Profession-wise," Liam shrugged. "They¡¯re my summoned creatures."


    "It''s different than the territory path"


    Mize processed that for a moment before nodding, filing that information away for later.


    Liam continued.


    "There are many types of Lords in the world, both within the human race and among the other races in the Warp. For example"


    He counted off on his fingers.


    "Dungeon Lords, sword Lords, Cultivator Lords, Farming Lords, Technological Lords, Business Lords, Summoning Lords, or what I can say is that, everything and even elements can become a path of the lord"


    "Wait... wait, there¡¯s actually a Farming Lord?!"


    Liam nodded.


    "Yes. And every Lord has a profession tied to them. Some even take on multiple professions after the awakening, though mastering more than one is¡­ difficult."


    Mize¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    "That¡¯s so cool!" He clasped his hands together, leaning forward with excitement. "Then I want to become a Dungeon Lord! And, I want a Summoning Profession too!"


    Liam sighed, rubbing the top of Mize¡¯s head from across the table.


    "It¡¯s not that easy," he said.


    Mize pouted.


    "Why not?"


    Liam smirked, enjoying the slight pout before answering.


    "If you want to become a Dungeon Lord, you¡¯re going to need an astronomical amount of money. It¡¯s a long-term investment, which is why so many people avoid this path."


    Mize blinked once.


    Then twice.


    And then.


    "But¡­ I have you... As my wallet."


    Liam¡¯s eye twitched.


    "..."


    A moment of silence stretched between them.


    Then.


    "¡­Well," Liam exhaled, face completely deadpan, "that¡¯s true."


    Mize beamed victoriously.


    Liam continued, his voice returning to its usual smooth cadence.


    "Awakeners don¡¯t actually use a Dungeon Lord¡¯s services," he said. "Think about it, why would a Lord, someone who can grow stronger on their own, ever rely on someone else¡¯s dungeon?"


    Mize tilted his head slightly, beginning to think.


    Liam tapped another point on the projection, shifting the map to show populated cities inside the Warp.


    "There are native humans in the Warp," he explained. "Countless times more than the number of people we have on our planet."


    Mize¡¯s eyes widened slightly.


    "And there are also other races."


    Liam¡¯s gaze turned sharp.


    "Those¡­ are your real customers."


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Mize nodded slowly, processing everything.


    Then.


    "Wait."


    His head shot up.


    "Then how do Lords actually get stronger?"


    "There are multiple ways," Liam said smoothly, "but the most common one? Upgrading the heart of the territory."


    Mize¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, his legs dangling off the chair as he kicked the air idly.


    "You mean those tiers I read about? They refer to the heart of the territory, not the strength of the awakener?"


    "Precisely," Liam nodded. "The heart of the territory and the Lord are one and the same. It¡¯s both an energy container and a core of power, possessing myriad attributes"


    "As long as the Lord collects the required materials and upgrades it, their strength will rise accordingly."


    Mize nodded slowly, absorbing the information.


    At that moment, the door quietly swung open.


    A waiter entered, moving with silent efficiency, a silver tray balanced in his hands.


    Liam barely acknowledged him, continuing to speak as if the presence of another person was completely irrelevant.


    Mize, on the other hand, was half-distracted, his stomach growling faintly as he eyed the elegantly plated dishes being set down before them.


    Still, he tried his best to stay focused.


    "So these materials," Mize asked, reaching for a fork from the side as he speared a thick piece of meat, "where do we even get them?"


    Liam¡¯s eyes glinted faintly, amusement flickering across his face.


    "You catch on fast," he said, giving Mize a complimentary look before answering.


    "The materials required to upgrade a territory¡¯s heart?" Liam leaned back slightly, fingers tapping against the table.


    "They can only be obtained from the battlefield of a myriad races. This battlefield is quite a hassle to explain now, how about next time?"


    Mize paused mid-bite.


    Then, he let out a long sigh, dropping his fork with an audible clink.


    "Knew it. Clich¨¦ setting."


    Liam chuckled, his smile turning slightly mischievous.


    "You better watch your words," he mused, swirling his glass lightly. "Rumors say the Warp is¡­ conscious."


    Mize¡¯s brows twitched slightly.


    "Well¡­"


    ''That¡¯s a problem for future me''


    Click.


    Liam picked up his utensils, one hand smoothly grabbing a spoon, the other a fork.


    "That¡¯s enough information for you," he said, cutting off the topic entirely. "Let¡¯s wait until you¡¯ve successfully awakened first. Then, I¡¯ll tell you more."


    Mize hummed, unimpressed.


    "Alright," he shrugged, lifting his fork again.


    "As long as you¡¯re the one paying for everything, then I¡¯m fine with it."


    ---


    Shortly after, the two made their way back to the car.


    Mize walked noticeably slower, his feet sore from the hours of shopping.


    "It hurts," he muttered, rubbing his calves. "But then again, today¡¯s outing was done with someone else¡¯s money."


    His flat stomach received a satisfied pat.


    Liam, walking beside him, narrowed his eyes, an amused glint flickering through them as he leaned in closer, lowering his voice into a hushed whisper.


    "¡­Wanna do it in the car?"


    As if!


    Mize immediately chomped down on Liam¡¯s hand, again.


    A sharp flinch.


    A low hiss of pain.


    But as always, Liam still smiled.


    "Can you not be a pervert for one day?" Mize shot him a murderous glare, stomping toward the car and sliding inside.


    Liam, standing by the open door, murmured just loudly enough for him to hear.


    "But that¡¯s how I make a living¡­ being perverted on you."


    Mize¡¯s eye twitched violently.


    The drive home was uneventful.


    Mostly.


    Aside from Liam¡¯s occasional attempts to be a menace, of course.


    Mize, by now an expert, blocked them all professionally, dodging a wandering hand, swatting away a sudden poke, even shoving his face away when necessary.


    It became an unspoken game.


    One attacked.


    The other defended.


    And in the driver¡¯s seat, a deadpan man who looked less like a person and more like a zombie wearing human skin.


    At one point, he let out a single, tired cough.


    Neither of them noticed.


    Eventually, the car pulled up in front of Mize¡¯s apartment complex.


    Mize exhaled softly, grabbing his bags while checking himself in the rearview mirror, fixing his hair.


    Liam, of course, was still smiling.


    He reached out, giving Mize¡¯s cheek a light poke.


    "I¡¯ll fetch you early tomorrow morning. How does that sound?"


    Mize rolled his eyes, stuffing a comb into his bag.


    "Well, you¡¯re already my wallet," he said dryly. "Might as well add personal chauffeur to the list."


    Liam chuckled. "A fair deal."


    Mize reached for the door.


    But just before stepping out, without looking back.


    "I had fun. Thank you."


    Then, he was gone.


    Dashing off into the building without waiting for a response.


    Liam sat completely still, his expression frozen for a brief moment.


    Then.


    A soft chuckle slipped past his lips.


    "I too had fun," he murmured, eyes lingering on Mize¡¯s retreating figure.


    The door closed.


    The car pulled away.


    As soon as the building disappeared from sight, Liam¡¯s entire demeanor changed.


    The warmth in his face vanished, replaced by something cold.


    Detached.


    His eyes darkened, stripped of their usual amusement, empty, godless.


    "As for the task?" he inquired, his tone smooth, casual, as if he were discussing business over coffee.


    A voice answered from the shadows, hoarse and respectful.


    "The man has been disposed of."


    Liam tapped his thigh lightly, waiting.


    "And the awakener?"


    "¡­Couldn¡¯t be killed," the voice admitted. "Multiple experts were guarding him. It was a hard-fought battle, we managed to eliminate half of them and injure their strongest, but¡­ they¡¯ve been completely alerted."


    "Many were lost, my Lord... "


    Liam closed his eyes briefly, inhaling slowly.


    "Our numbers can be replenish... No matter"


    A faint, rhythmic tap-tap-tap of his fingers echoed in the silence.


    "Focus on their movements," he ordered. "We¡¯ll likely be seeing them tomorrow. Try not to get exposed."


    "Yes, my lord," the voice answered swiftly. Then, after a hesitant pause.


    "And¡­ may I request further support from the other monarchs under the Lord?"


    Liam¡¯s lips barely moved.


    "Agreed."


    The air stirred.


    And in an instant.


    The shadows shifted.


    A thousand unseen figures melted away from the car, vanishing into the night.


    -


    On the other side.


    Mize stepped into the apartment building lobby, his movements a little sluggish from the long day.


    Reaching the elevator, he pressed the button, then leaned against the cool metal frame.


    Bored.


    With a small sigh, he slid out his phone, unlocking it with a quick tap before opening his gallery.


    Rows of pictures filled the screen, snapshots of today¡¯s outing.


    Some were of himself, a few casual selfies, some taken in front of mirrors, others capturing random scenery from their walk.


    Then, of course, Liam.


    A few were accidental shots where the man had sneakily photobombed, his smug smile always present.


    Mize¡¯s lips twitched slightly before he brushed a hand through his long hair, tucking a stray strand behind his ear.


    Ding.


    The elevator doors slid open.


    Stepping inside, Mize positioned himself toward the back, phone still in hand as the doors closed with a soft hiss.


    The ride up was slow.


    Mize barely noticed, his attention glued to his screen as he swiped through a famous social media app.


    Then.


    A breaking news alert popped up.


    <hr>


    [Breaking News]


    A battle has occurred in the central district of Z City involving multiple awakeners and a group of unidentified monsters. Hundreds have been wounded, with dozens confirmed dead.


    Officials have yet to release the identities of those involved but have issued a public advisory, all citizens are urged to remain indoors during nighttime hours until further notice. The perpetrator is still at large.


    <hr>


    Mize¡¯s brows lifted slightly.


    "Huh."


    It was today¡¯s biggest headline. Thousands, no, millions of people in the city were talking about it.


    He scrolled down, eyes skimming through tweets, comments, and speculation.


    Yet¡­


    "Why won¡¯t they state who was involved?" Mize murmured to himself.


    From the way the news was being handled, it felt too vague, like it was being deliberately filtered.


    If a battle this big happened in the middle of the city, someone important must¡¯ve been involved.


    Then, his gaze flickered to the background image in one of the reports.


    His stomach dropped.


    "¡­Wait a minute."


    That place

 Chapter 32:Awakening ceremony

    ''Wasn¡¯t that the Academy?''


    Mize¡¯s eyes widened slightly.


    ''A battle broke out there?''


    A small, nagging feeling crept up the back of his mind, and before he could stop himself, he was already swiping over to the Academy¡¯s official forum.


    His fingers tapped quickly, scanning the latest updates.


    Then.


    He let out a small breath of relief.


    The awakening ceremony was still scheduled to take place. Security measures would be tighter than before, but everything was still on track.


    Mize leaned back slightly, muttering under his breath.


    "Don¡¯t care, don¡¯t know¡­ as long as I can peacefully awaken, then nothing else matters."


    Besides.


    "The attacker wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to go back to a highly protected area, right?"


    He comforted himself with that thought.


    Soon enough, the elevator reached his floor with a soft chime, the doors sliding open smoothly.


    But the moment he stepped out.


    His nose wrinkled instantly.


    A strong, unpleasant odor hung in the air.


    Mize frowned deeply, pinching his nose.


    "The hell?"


    His eyes flickered toward the corner of the elevator door, then up toward the ceiling of the corridor.


    There.


    A dark stain, almost unnoticeable against the dim lighting, stretched along the upper pipes.


    "¡­Why is it so smelly up there?"


    "No one else complained about this?"


    His expression twisted in mild disgust.


    "Is the pipe leaking or something?"


    Whatever it was, he wasn¡¯t sticking around to find out.


    He hurried down the hallway, escaping the foul scent  quickly.


    <hr>


    The next morning.


    The city was eerily quiet.


    The once-bustling streets, normally filled with morning rush-hour chaos, lay empty, a stark contrast to their usual energy.


    Shops that would have opened their doors by dawn remained shuttered, and the towering skyscrapers stood silent, their reflective windows mirroring the gray morning sky.


    Even the air itself felt heavier, as if the city was holding its breath.


    Today was Wednesday.


    And today was the Awakening Ceremony.


    The government had urged citizens to stay indoors, limiting unnecessary movement for the sake of security.


    As a result, the entire metropolis, a place that never truly slept, now stood in an unnatural stillness.


    Only the occasional drone patrols hovered above the skyline, sweeping the streets below with cold, mechanical eyes.


    The scene zoomed in, shifting from the vast, silent city to a single dimly lit bedroom.


    It was a familiar space, one that exuded both scattered mess and a quiet neglect.


    In the middle of the bed, Mize lay sprawled out, his body half-covered by the tangled silk sheets.


    The alarm clock on the bedside table had already ticked past 9:00 AM.


    Two hours left until the ceremony.


    Yet, Mize remained motionless, still cocooned in the remnants of sleep.


    He had spent almost the entire night preparing for today, checking and double-checking every little detail.


    At one point, he had even received a small package in the mail.


    The lucky potion.


    A gift from Derek.


    It was supposed to enhance one¡¯s fortune for twenty-four hours, a little boost for the upcoming ceremony.


    Mize had downed it immediately, expecting nothing more than a bitter medicinal taste.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Only to be hit with the sharp tang of rainbow tarts, followed by an aggressive cough that nearly had him choking on air.


    ''Well, it worked''


    Probably.


    Soft beams of morning sunlight began to seep through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room.


    At first, the light was gentle, barely noticeable.


    But then, as the sun continued its gradual ascent, the rays shifted, sliding through the thin gaps in the fabric, inching closer.


    Until they finally reached the bed.


    The warm light spilled over delicate, pale skin, illuminating the faint blue veins beneath.


    His long, ink-black hair cascaded over the pillows, a silken waterfall flowing down the mattress.


    Every breath he took was soft, his chest rising and falling in a slow, rhythmic motion.


    The sheets were loosely draped over him, exposing one slender shoulder, while the rest of his body remained tangled in the fabric.


    There was something fragile about the way he slept, like a porcelain doll, pristine, untouched, yet carrying an air of subtle fragility.


    Then.


    A faint twitch of his fingers.


    A slow, unconscious shift in his breathing.


    The light crept further up his face, brushing against delicate lashes, coaxing them into the slightest flutter.


    Until, finally, Mize stirred.


    A soft groan escaped his lips as he turned his head slightly, brows furrowing in mild irritation.


    The warmth of the sunlight was persistent, teasing him out of sleep¡¯s embrace.


    Then, slowly.


    His ruby-red eyes cracked open, glistening faintly in the morning.


    "It¡¯s bright¡­"


    Mize lifted a hand, shielding his eyes from the invasive morning sunlight.


    A small grumble left his lips.


    "I should¡¯ve shut the window."


    With sluggish movements, he pushed himself up, sitting on the edge of the bed.


    The mirror on the bedside table reflected the scene before him.


    A breathtakingly beautiful girl, or rather, someone who should have been a girl, judging from the delicate silhouette.


    Mize¡¯s long lashes fluttered like falling snowflakes, ruby-red eyes slightly hazy with sleep.


    A tiny, sleepy yawn escaped his lips, his expression soft, fragile, and utterly charming without even trying.


    Then.


    A stretch.


    His toes curled, arms reaching high above his head, body arching slightly as his muscles relaxed.


    The fabric of his nightwear slid down his shoulder, revealing a stretch of milky white skin, the gentle morning light giving it the faintest tint of strawberry warmth.


    Mize exhaled, shaking off the last remnants of grogginess, and his hovered the alarm clock on the side.


    "Two hours left¡­ enough time to prepare."


    Rubbing his eyes, he swung his legs over the edge, slipping his feet into a pair of soft bunny slippers.


    "Bath¡­ bath¡­"


    Still half-asleep, he shuffled toward the bathroom, pushing the door open and stepping inside.


    The cool morning air mixed with the lingering warmth of steam, causing a thin layer of fog to coat the bathroom mirror.


    Mize lazily splashed water on his face, the coldness jolting him fully awake.


    Then, with a hand wiping away the condensation, his reflection slowly became clearer.


    He blinked.


    Staring back at him was.


    Perfection.


    Or at least, something dangerously close to it.


    ''70 points gauge... What level was it again? Top beauty among the human race? And then once I reach 80, the beauty will reach inhuman?''


    ''Sounds crazy... '' he mused.


    His once soft, boyish features had refined into something enchantingly delicate, his rosy lips, pale complexion, and large, expressive eyes exuding an almost doll-like quality.


    With his long black hair framing his face, he truly looked like a porcelain beauty.


    Mize poked his own cheek, feeling the coolness of his skin.


    "Amazing¡­ 70 beauty points really did change me a lot, huh?"


    His head tilted slightly, studying himself with mild fascination.


    Even this small movement, the way his hair gently swayed, the soft press of his fingers against his face, was naturally adorable.


    A thought crossed his mind.


    "I wonder how many point I currently have"


    Mize summoned the status panel, and the moment his eyes landed on it.


    A sharp gasp slipped past his lips.


    "Quite the changes?"


    <hr>


    [Personal Status Panel]


    [Name]: Mize


    [Race]: Human


    [Title]: Goddess Awakening


    [Awakening Status]: Unawakened


    [Attributes]


    <ul>


    <li>Strength: 4</li>


    <li>Agility: 6</li>


    <li>Endurance: 5</li>


    <li>Spirit: 9</li>


    <li>Luck: 10 + (15) (Boosted by Lucky Potion ¨C Expires in 24 Hours)</li>


    </ul>


    [Beauty System]


    <ul>


    <li>Beauty Points: 70</li>


    <li>Cute: 60</li>


    <li>Charm: 64</li>


    </ul>


    [Inventory]


    <ul>


    <li>Storage Ring (Mid-Stage Blue Grade) [10 cubic meters] ¨C Holds various high-end fashion items, accessories, and four 5-star summoning cards.</li>


    <li>Lucky Potion Buff (Active) ¨C Enhances luck for 24 hours.</li>


    </ul>


    [Current Points]: 41,100


    (Note: The exchange rate is 1,000 points per 1 Beauty increase. For physical attributes, 10,000 points per 1 increase.)


    <hr>


    Mize stared hard at the screen.


    He blinked.


    Then, just to be sure, he splashed another round of cold water on his face, rubbed his eyes, and checked again.


    Yep.


    Still there.


    His mouth tightened, eyes narrowing as he glared at the panel like it had personally insulted his ancestors.


    "Yeah, it changed."


    Then, without missing a beat.


    "Hey, old fart, care to explain?"


    [Host, it is rude to address this system in such a way.]


    The system¡¯s voice was as calm as ever, but Mize could practically hear the judgment.


    He snorted, brushing his wet bangs aside with mild annoyance.


    "And you have been picking on me every chance you get."


    Tch.


    Mize spat into the sink, glaring at his own reflection.


    What should have been an intimidating display lost all credibility when his reflection stared back at him with a loli mafia face.


    The system coughed.


    <hr>


    [Answering the host, the changes were made in preparation for the Awakening Ceremony.]


    [Once the host successfully awakens, the system will detect it and update accordingly.]


    [The old version was outdated, so this humble one has done the host a favor.]


    <hr>


    Mize¡¯s lips twitched.


    He was still giving the gangster glare, but even he had to admit.


    "Yeah, but now I got another question for you."


    He jabbed a finger at the screen.


    "70 Beauty Points. How many per point is needed now?"


    [¡­]


    Silence.


    Mize cracked his knuckles, eyes narrowing further.


    "You understand what I¡¯m asking, right?"


    A tense pause.


    Then.


    [It¡¯s a slight increase, Host.]


    Mize¡¯s brows twitched violently.


    "How much."


    [¡­Slight.]


    He inhaled deeply.


    "Before my inner Asian comes out"


    His sleeves rolled up, his stance dropped, and suddenly.


    He started bouncing on his feet, throwing mock punches into the air.


    Loli Gangster Mode: Activated.


    The system finally caved.


    [100 points per increase, Host.]


    "..."


    A long, defeated sigh.


    Mize already expected this.


    He could smell it.


    The faint, rancid scent of capitalism.


    "Enough of that," he huffed, waving a hand dismissively.


    "Care to tell me why my title is ¡®Goddess Awakening¡¯?"


    A brief pause.


    Then.


    [Yes, Host. Please listen carefully.]


    [It is confirmed with 100% certainty that there will be a mutation during the host¡¯s Awakening Ceremony.]


    [The host is advised to remain calm at all times.]


    Mize froze mid-motion.


    His hands, which were undoing the last button of his shirt, paused.


    "¡­Huh?"


    Mutation?


    [However, the system has already adjusted the Awakening Point.]


    [The host¡¯s Awakening will now be classified as a Rare Initial Lord Profession.]


    Mize relaxed slightly, returning to undressing.


    "So¡­ everything¡¯s been taken care of, huh?"


    [Affirmative.]


    Mize sighed.


    "Good."


    Then, without hesitation, he stepped into the bath.

 Chapter 33: The start of the ceremony

    fresh from the bath, Mize poured out every clothes from the ring onto the bed.


    Silks, lace, intricate patterns, all black.


    An entire arsenal of princess-like outfits, each one exuding a different type of dark elegance.


    Some had layered skirts with lace trimmings, while others had flowing, bell-shaped sleeves.


    There were corseted dresses with intricate embroidery, and even gothic lolita styles adorned with delicate pearl chains and tiny silver charms.


    Mize sifted through them, one by one, holding each piece before the full-length mirror, hovering them in front of his small frame.


    Would it fit?


    Would it be too much?


    Would it be too little?


    He cycled through each option with mild scrutiny, occasionally tilting his head in thought.


    Then.


    His fingers brushed against the perfect one.


    A long, dark dress.


    Its fabric was smooth, flowing like ink, pooling slightly at the hem in a graceful cascade of midnight black.


    The bodice was intricately designed, adorned with subtle silver embroidery that shimmered faintly under the light.


    A delicate choker-style neckline framed his porcelain collarbones, with small gemstones scattered like stars across the sheer overlay.


    The sleeves?


    Elegant, slightly puffed at the shoulders, tapering down into lace cuffs that wrapped around his wrists.


    But the true highlight.


    The folds of fabric over his chest, arranged like delicate flower petals, concealing his flat frame in a way that added a touch of ethereal softness.


    Mize stepped before the mirror again, slipping into the crystal-black heels that clicked faintly against the wooden floor.


    With a small tilt of his head, he grabbed the hem of his dress and.


    With a swift twirl.


    He spun.


    The fabric flared around him, catching the light just right, his raven hair flowing with the motion.


    A soft, pleased smile tugged at his lips.


    Or at least, it would¡¯ve been fittingly elegant.


    If not for the words that followed.


    "Damn. I look like one of those cosplay girls from the underground con."


    Mize twirled again, this time cheerfully, his ruby eyes glinting with amusement.


    After several more dramatic poses before the mirror, Mize finally pulled out his phone.


    [30 minutes before the ceremony]


    [Students are advised to come early]


    "Hmm."


    Satisfied, he decided against bringing his bag.


    Instead, he packed everything neatly into his storage ring, a comb, makeup, a water bottle, all essentials for city survival.


    Then, with a mischievous grin, he stuffed one last item inside.


    A taser.


    ¡®If that Yama Lord dares to do something stupid again¡­ I¡¯m aiming straight for his private place.¡¯


    Cruel.


    But Mize wasn¡¯t joking.


    A loli with a taser, sounded like a good combination.


    Hair neatly arranged, dress smoothed down, Mize made his way toward the front door.


    As he reached the entrance, he murmured to himself, "Don¡¯t forget the key¡­"


    Bending down, he carefully tucked a spare key beneath one of his shoes on the rack.


    Satisfied, he slipped into a pair of stunning black crystal heels, a metallic, obsidian-like shimmer catching the light with each movement.


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    Liam had spent $20,000 on them.


    The contrast between his milky white, jade-like ankles and the dark, glass-like shoes was almost hypnotizing.


    With a final inhale, Mize reached for the handle.


    Click.


    The door swung open.


    And the first thing he saw.


    Sent a chill down his spine.


    "S-since when have you been squatting here, Liam?"


    Mize groaned, pressing a tired hand to his face.


    Too early.


    Too early to deal with this man.


    Before him, Liam remained in his crouched position, a picture of patient amusement.


    Then, in one fluid motion, he rose to his full height, bending slightly forward.


    One hand hovering over his chest, gloved in pristine white fabric, the other resting elegantly atop the cane at his side.


    His black cloak billowed slightly with the movement, lined with subtle gold embroidery that matched the intricate chain of a pocket watch dangling from his waist.


    The monocle over his left eye gleamed faintly under the morning light, a reflection of something both dangerous and charming.


    His deep greenish eyes squinted slightly, his expression one of pure delight.


    "Not too long, Mimi."


    His voice.


    Deep. Guttural. Like an echo in the abyss, smooth as velvet yet carrying the weight of a hidden restraint.


    Mize felt it.


    A small, involuntary shockwave ran through his body, cheeks burning slightly against his will.


    This man.


    Mize exhaled sharply, composing himself.


    "Well¡­ I suppose you¡¯re becoming more worthy of me with such dedication."


    Liam¡¯s smile deepened.


    "Always, Mimi."


    He held out a hand, fingers extended.


    Mize hesitated, just for a moment before reaching out and grasping it gently.


    Then, he took another glance at Liam.


    A good, long look.


    This man was dressed to kill.


    He looked like a noble from another era, exuding a dangerous elegance that bordered between aristocracy and an assassin from the underworld.


    With a black cloak draped effortlessly behind him, a golden pendant watch at his waist, and a monocle resting over his left eye, he was the very definition of refinement.


    And yet.


    He held an undeniable edge, the kind that hinted at secrets too deep to comprehend.


    Mize sighed.


    Mize cast Liam a questioning look, his ruby-red eyes glinting with curiosity.


    "What¡¯s with the get-up?"


    Liam¡¯s lips curled into a smile, ever smooth, ever composed.


    "For you, no?"


    As if to prove his point, he lifted Mize¡¯s delicate hand, his gloved fingers brushing lightly against porcelain skin, before pressing a soft, gentlemanly kiss upon it.


    Mize barely reacted.


    It was a harmless gesture, refined rather than perverse, so he let it slide.


    "A gentleman¡¯s demeanor," Mize remarked, turning on his heels, his own hand now grabbing onto Liam¡¯s.


    "Good."


    Then, with a pointed glance, he added.


    "But I hope you won¡¯t be a pervert today."


    Liam¡¯s laugh was quiet, yet unmistakably mischievous.


    "Occasionally, I would."


    He followed Mize¡¯s pace as they neared the elevator, his eyes flicking upward to take in the surroundings.


    His brows furrowed.


    "Nasty apartment."


    Mize, catching his gaze, followed suit.


    And saw exactly what Liam was looking at.


    The water-stained ceiling, dark patches spreading along the edges, the scent of dampness clinging faintly in the air.


    It was the same leak from last night.


    One that had been there for¡­ probably longer than he cared to admit.


    "Yeah," Mize hummed, stepping into the elevator as it slid open.


    "But I¡¯m used to it."


    Liam followed him in, leaning casually against the metal railing, arms crossed over his chest.


    "Why not live with me?"


    Mize barely glanced up, thumb flicking across his phone screen as he took several selfies, the morning light casting a soft glow against his doll-like features.


    "How big?" He asked, casually.


    "A mansion, just one night" Liam answered effortlessly.


    "Then, once you awaken, let¡¯s just live in our territory."


    Mize finally looked up, sliding his phone back into his storage ring.


    "Sounds good."


    His reflection in the elevator¡¯s metal walls gleamed back at him, distorted by the shine of the polished steel.


    The black fabric of his dress flowed elegantly, the hem swaying gently as he shifted. His heels clicked softly against the floor, the faint shimmer of obsidian-like crystals catching the light.


    His porcelain skin glowed faintly, enhanced by the contrast of his deep black hair, which cascaded in soft waves down his back.


    His eyes, ruby-red, piercing, beautiful yet unreadable, stared back, carrying an air of both cuteness and mystery. A doll...


    Mize took a moment to admire himself.


    Then.


    His gaze flickered back toward Liam.


    "I want a huge room."


    Liam grinned.


    "Our room?"


    Mize¡¯s expression didn¡¯t shift, but his tone?


    Dipped several degrees colder.


    "My room."


    A silent moment passed.


    Mize had zero intentions of sleeping in the same room as a man who practically screamed ¡®dangerous¡¯ from every pore.


    ''A potential assault waiting to happen.''


    ¡®Nu uh. Not doing it.¡¯


    Not until he figured out how to get rid of the ¡®little brother¡¯ downstairs or at least found some workaround for this entire situation.


    Better safe than sorry.


    "Say¡­"


    Mize changed the topic skillfully, eyes flickering toward Liam.


    "Are you confident that I¡¯ll succeed today?"


    Liam¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver.


    "100%."


    Ding.


    The elevator reached the ground floor, the doors sliding open smoothly as they stepped out.


    Mize didn¡¯t drop it.


    "How so?"


    His voice was light, but curiosity lingered beneath the surface.


    Ever since meeting Liam, his entire demeanor had shifted, from a timid and harmless assistant to a man drenched in quiet authority.


    Mize had a theory.


    A dangerously accurate one.


    Liam¡¯s transformation¡­ had to be connected to a change in his system. The mutation that the system had mentioned before.


    In fact, the truth was far more absurd than what he would have expected.


    Their systems weren¡¯t that different.


    One was a Beauty System.


    The other?


    A Conquering System.


    And it just so happened that Mize¡­ was Liam¡¯s most sought-after target.


    Liam, sensing the subtle scrutiny, simply smiled.


    "Instinct."


    His pace quickened, leading the way outside.


    The moment Mize stepped out of the apartment building.


    His eyes widened.


    Before him.


    Rows of black SUVs and luxury sedans were lined up in perfect formation, engines humming softly, windows tinted to complete darkness.


    And standing before them.


    Dozens of men, clad in black suits, black sunglasses, all exuding the presence of high-level security personnel.


    It looked like a secret service operation.


    "Are we shooting men in black?"


    Mize blinked.


    "So many?"


    Liam casually stepped forward, opening the car door with a smooth gesture.


    "Just a small upgrade from last night¡¯s adventure."


    Mize¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    "You went to the Warp?"


    Liam merely smirked, stepping into the car as he responded.


    "If not?"


    "It''s hard to maintain the consumption of a princess level figure, I needed to work hard"


    The moment they both settled into the seats


    The convoy of blacked-out vehicles rolled forward, disappearing into the empty streets.

 Chapter 34: The Vip venues

    The convoy cruised through the streets, moving at a steady, unhurried pace.


    Mize glanced at Liam.


    ¡®Weird. Not acting up today?¡¯


    Usually, this freak Yama Lord would have pulled some kind of stunt by now, a stolen touch, a teasing remark, something.


    But right now?


    He was just sitting there, quiet.


    ¡­Which was suspicious, too suspicious for comfort that Mize was the one that started to feel uncomfortable out of nowhere.


    ''I don''t like him being quiet! But I don''t like the noisy him too!''


    ''...''


    What Mize didn¡¯t know was that, as the car moved through the city, thousands, if not tens of thousands of shadows were already spreading out, moving fast and covering ground in every direction from the car.


    Liam was clearly up to something, but Mize?


    Blissfully unaware.


    Ignorance is key.


    "Worried?"


    Liam¡¯s voice was light, like he already knew the answer.


    Mize glanced up, only to find Liam watching him, legs crossed, one hand resting lazily on his knee, expression unreadable.


    "A bit."


    Mize bit his lip, flipping open a small pocket mirror to check his face.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was nervous about awakening, not exactly. But something about today just felt¡­ different.


    ''Maybe I should''ve eaten first before coming'' Mize thought inwardly.


    Liam chuckled.


    "It¡¯s normal."


    Then, he moved in.


    Mize¡¯s grip tightened on the mirror. He tilted it slightly, angling it just enough to block Liam¡¯s approach without saying a word.


    The reflection showed Liam¡¯s grinning face, amused as always.


    Liam hummed, then plop.


    He reached over and snapped the mirror shut.


    "You," he said, "are destined for something far greater than this place."


    Mize rolled his eyes.


    "Yeah, sure."


    "But it¡¯s true."


    A hand landed on his head, ruffling his hair in that annoyingly gentle way that Liam knew he liked.


    Mize didn¡¯t react, but the way his body subtly leaned into the touch? Yeah. That gave him away.


    Liam noticed.


    But he let it slide.


    For the rest of the ride, they sat in bittersweet peace.


    Bitter for the occasional bite marks on Liam¡¯s hand when he got too bold.


    Sweet for the safe, rhythmic pats that Mize secretly enjoyed.


    It didn¡¯t take long before the convoy pulled into the Academy¡¯s VIP parking lot.


    "What''s with this place?" Mize asked, gaze flickering to the surrounding. "Doesn''t look like the awakening venue where I am supposed to be?"


    "Just follow my lead" Liam smiled, not explaining.


    By this time, the place was already lively, students walking around, some chatting, others just standing awkwardly and scrolling through their phones.


    And then came the black SUVs and sedans.


    Naturally, they got a lot of attention.


    "Who is it this time? Some second-generation rich kid?"


    "I dunno¡­ but that¡¯s a lot of security."


    "Wait, look, they¡¯re pulling into the VIP lot."


    "Damn. Rich people."


    "Cursing them won''t make you rich, you know"


    "..."


    The cars rolled in smoothly, entering a mostly empty lot, which made sense.


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    This city had wealthy families, but only a handful were rich enough to qualify for this parking area.


    The second the cars stopped, Liam was already stepping out, adjusting his cuffs and straightening his cloak.


    Meanwhile, Mize?


    Still sitting in the car, checking his reflection in the pocket mirror like it was the most important thing in the world.


    Liam let out a small sigh, shutting the door behind him as his security detail followed suit dozens of men in black suits and sunglasses, standing perfectly still like they were fresh out of some spy movie.


    It wasn¡¯t just for show.


    They were all his summons. Some were weaker than him, and few were equal to his strength.


    If he wishes so, no one here would be able to escape alive.


    Among the other families waiting in the lot, people were starting to whisper.


    A well-dressed man in a gray suit nudged his wife.


    "Who the hell is that?"


    His wife squinted slightly, taking in the fleet of expensive cars and the way the men carried themselves.


    "I don¡¯t recognize their crest," she murmured. "But judging by their presence¡­ they¡¯re not normal"


    "Looks like an awakener family from outside of the city?"


    Nearby, a younger student muttered under his breath.


    "¡­All of them are awakeners, huh?"


    That realization was enough to make them all uneasy.


    Being rich was one thing.


    But being rich and awakened?


    That was a whole different level.


    And the guy leading them, dressed in black, cane in hand, monocle glinting under the morning sun, was definitely not someone to mess with.


    So, one by one.


    They all looked away.


    Not because they weren¡¯t curious.


    But because some things were better left alone.


    Thud.


    The moment Mize stepped out of the car, the weight of countless eyes fell on him.


    It was inevitable.


    His long, flowing black dress, the way the sunlight hit his porcelain-like skin, the sharp yet delicate features of his face, it was the kind of beauty that made people stop and double-take, unsure of whether they were looking at a person or a painting.


    The murmurs started immediately.


    "¡­And who¡¯s that?"


    "His wife, probably?"


    "Figures. A man like that would have a woman this stunning by his side."


    "If I didn¡¯t know who he was, I might¡¯ve actually gone after her myself."


    "Dad, I think she¡¯s underage."


    "Shut up."


    The whispers didn¡¯t bother Mize.


    People talked. That was just how it was.


    But Liam?


    Liam had zero patience for this kind of attention.


    Before Mize could even react, his guards moved, forming a tight, impenetrable perimeter around them, their presence alone enough to send a silent warning to anyone lingering too long.


    Liam, meanwhile, closed the distance, stepping so close that Mize could feel the faint warmth of his breath against his cheek.


    His voice dipped low, almost a murmur.


    "I don¡¯t like the way some of these men are looking at you."


    Mize barely had time to roll his eyes before Liam¡¯s fingers reached out, brushing against his hair, not in a casual, fleeting way, but with the deliberate slowness of someone savoring a moment.


    Then he lifted a strand of it, bringing it up to his face.


    And sniffed it.


    Mize¡¯s entire body stiffened.


    His expression stayed neutral, but deep inside.


    What the hell is this freak doing?!


    Still, his voice remained as flat as ever.


    "Then be better."


    Liam hummed, clearly enjoying himself, fingers still absentmindedly playing with the lock of hair.


    Mize let out a slow breath.


    "The rules are simple," he muttered. "Awakeners are nobles. And stronger awakeners? They¡¯re just nobler than the rest."


    Liam¡¯s fingers finally stilled, his grip shifting instead to Mize¡¯s hand.


    His gaze, sharp, piercing, unreadable beneath the usual amusement.


    "So, to claim you¡­" his voice dropped lower, "¡­I have to conquer you with strength?"


    The way he said it, so serious, so deliberate, Mize felt a small shiver crawl down his spine.


    His instincts screamed at him to look away.


    And he did.


    "If that¡¯s how you see it," he mumbled, "then you may do so."


    He paused, then added, almost as if convincing himself.


    "Treasure must only be won through strength, no?"


    Liam¡¯s grin widened.


    "That is the rule."


    Not long after, the eventually arrived before a venue, a totally whole different one than what was told on the school''s forum.


    "Huh?"


    And under Liam''s explanation from the side, he then finally understood the whole situation.


    Mize hadn¡¯t realized there was a separate entrance for VIPs.


    Had he been on his own, he would¡¯ve just lined up with the rest of the students, unaware that there was a whole different level of privilege built into this ceremony.


    The side path led them into a garden, enclosed under a massive glass dome.


    Sunlight streamed through, casting a soft golden hue over the area.


    Flowers of every color bloomed along stone pathways, neatly arranged around fountains that trickled with clear water.


    Despite it being close to midday, the temperature remained perfect-cool and fresh, as if the air itself had been carefully regulated.


    Mize¡¯s fingers, tightened around Liam¡¯s arm.


    "There¡¯s¡­ a lot of people here."


    Liam glanced around.


    It wasn¡¯t just random rich kids, these were the children of high-ranking officials of this city, some were even awakeners descendants, each carrying themselves with an air of arrogance.


    Mize wasn¡¯t the type to feel out of place, but there was something about this crowd, the way they observed everything, the way they measured each other with their eyes.


    ''Yeah, smells like a high end place, looks like a high end place''


    And even among them, Liam¡­ stood out.


    Several people gave him quick, assessing glances, but none dared to stare too long.


    Some awakeners even turned solemn when they looked at him.


    An expert!


    Liam, as usual, acted like he didn¡¯t notice.


    Mize, however, had his mind on something else.


    "Hey, Liam¡­"


    Liam¡¯s attention snapped to him immediately.


    "Hm?"


    Mize¡¯s voice lowered.


    "We¡¯re the same age, aren¡¯t we?"


    Liam nodded, waiting for the real question.


    Mize didn¡¯t make him wait long.


    "Then how did you awaken so early?"


    He paused.


    "And judging from how people react to you, it¡¯s obvious you¡¯re strong."


    Liam was silent for a beat, his gaze flickering toward his two guards, one on his left, one on his right.


    The rest of his security detail had stayed behind, but these two had been brought in for a reason.


    After a moment, he answered.


    "I¡¯m a special case."


    His voice was calm, but Mize noticed it.


    That slight, barely perceptible shift in his expression.


    "It¡¯s not uncommon, considering the scale of the population."


    Mize¡¯s brows furrowed slightly.


    "Forced awakening?"


    Liam¡¯s lips curled into a slow smile.


    "You did your research well."


    Then, before Mize could react.


    Pinch.


    Liam reached out and gently pinched Mize¡¯s nose.


    Mize let out a tiny shriek, swatting his hand away.


    He glared up at Liam, suspicious, but didn¡¯t press further.


    It had just been a passing thought, a small curiosity.


    But now?


    It felt bigger.


    Like something he wasn¡¯t supposed to touch.


    Because deep down, he had a feeling.


    If he somehow broke past that barrier, if he dug too deep.


    Liam would still love him.


    Would still adore him.


    But it would be on another level entirely.


    A level where Mize might never be allowed to leave.


    Like being locked in a cage.


    Mize shuddered, shaking the thought away.


    Then, almost instinctively, he reached out to his system.


    ''System. Just how dangerous is he right now?''


    There was a pause.


    Then, the system¡¯s voice answered, as emotionless as ever.


    [If he wished to, everyone in this city would die. Except for the city lord.]


    Mize¡¯s breath hitched.


    ¡®That bad?¡¯


    [It is advised for the host not to know too much.]


    Mize exhaled slowly.


    Yeah.


    Maybe that was for the best.

 Chapter 35: Meeting Adrian, T-this is my boyfriend!

    With some time left before the ceremony officially began, Mize and Liam wandered to the side where a long banquet table was set up.


    The Academy had spared no expense, the table was practically overflowing with dishes upon dishes of food, each one arranged with the kind of artistic meaning that made it almost a crime to eat them.


    But for Mize?


    It was a fatal attraction.


    ''As expected, she eats a lot'' Liam complimented from the side, his eyes gleaming slightly under the rim of his glass.


    Without hesitation, Mize grabbed a plate and immediately got to work.


    Liam, naturally, followed along.


    And just like that.


    A journey of eating with no end began.


    Liam sat back in his chair, fingers idly twirling his fork as he observed the scene before him.


    Plate after plate disappeared at a rate that was almost inhuman, the once carefully arranged food now reduced to empty porcelain and scattered utensils.


    Mize, in contrast, looked completely unbothered, reaching for another dish with the kind of grace that directly contradicted the scene before him.


    Liam exhaled softly, amusement flickering in his eyes.


    ''How can such a small body accommodate this much food?''


    His thoughts remained internal, but his hands moved on their own.


    Every now and then, he took out a handkerchief, reaching over to gently wipe the corner of Mize¡¯s mouth.


    Mize barely reacted at first, too focused on his next victim, a delicate fruit parfait.


    But then.


    He caught the strange gaze from the corner of his eye.


    Mize paused, spoon halfway to his mouth.


    "...What¡¯s with that look?"


    Liam¡¯s lips twitched slightly.


    "Well¡­"


    He opened his mouth, as if he was about to say something, then closed it again.


    "...Nothing."


    He smiled, too casually.


    Mize narrowed his eyes, not buying it for a second.


    "It¡¯s like you¡¯re thinking something bad about me."


    Liam, ever composed, simply tilted his head with a look of pure innocence.


    Mize squinted, but when nothing more was said, he huffed softly and went back to his plate.


    Not long after.


    Another one was emptied.


    Then another.


    Then another.


    Liam, still watching in quiet amusement, rested his chin against his hand.


    ''Queen of the Empty Plates.''


    A title secretly bestowed upon Mize.


    He made a mental note to allocate a portion of his budget to Mize¡¯s¡­ intake after this.


    Just in case.


    But this peace didn''t last long.


    The peaceful or rather a huge meal continued, until suddenly.


    A voice from the side called out.


    "Mize?"


    Liam¡¯s entire expression shifted in an instant.


    His features didn¡¯t change, he still held the same calm, easy smile, but the temperature around him seemed to drop ever so slightly.


    Mize, completely unaware of the shift, turned toward the voice.


    His eyes widened immediately.


    "A-argh, yes?"


    The words stumbled out of his mouth, his face instantly flushing red.


    Of all people, why did it have to be him?


    Approaching them, clad in his usual silver windbreaker, was Adrian.


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    His silver hair was neatly styled, his deep blue eyes sharp yet unreadable, and his tall stature, just about equal to Liam¡¯s height, only added to his naturally charm.


    For a moment, Adrian seemed¡­ stunned.


    Like he had just seen something that didn¡¯t make sense.


    At first, he had barely recognized Mize, he almost brushed past without a second glance.


    But then, the more he looked, the more he realized the truth.


    ¡®This beauty¡­ has been next to me all this time? And I actually missed it?¡¯


    His gaze deepened.


    A flicker of something almost possessive crossed his eyes as he observed Mize¡¯s face, taking in the subtle rosiness of his cheeks, the way his lips parted slightly, his delicate posture.


    And then.


    Mize, in his infinite wisdom, chose that exact moment to hurriedly shove the last bite of food into his mouth.


    Barbaric.


    Unwomanly.


    A complete contrast to the way Adrian had been admiring him just seconds prior.


    Adrian¡¯s lips twitched.


    Mize swallowed harshly, fidgeting slightly, before giving a small, awkward, "Umm, yeah¡­"


    And then.


    From the corner of his eye.


    Liam.


    Still smiling.


    But something about it felt¡­ wrong.


    Too calm.


    Too fake.


    Too deep.


    A chill ran down Mize¡¯s spine.


    ¡®Nope. Not dealing with that.¡¯


    In a desperate attempt to diffuse whatever situation was about to explode, Mize did the only thing he could think of.


    He grabbed Liam¡¯s hand, forcing the most affectionate expression he could muster.


    And smiled.


    "T-this is my boyfriend!"


    Silence.


    For a second, Adrian didn¡¯t react.


    His gaze flickered, once, twice, before finally shifting to Liam.


    Until now, Adrian had been so focused on Mize, he hadn¡¯t even registered the man sitting beside him.


    Now, though.


    He noticed everything.


    The way Liam¡¯s presence filled the space effortlessly, the calm yet unwavering control in his expression, the unspoken hostility and the way he held himself towards him.


    Their eyes met.


    And just like that.


    It was as if two forces had collided.


    Adrian took a single step forward, closing the distance between them.


    His tall frame passed the seat, his figure now standing directly before Liam¡¯s as he extended a hand.


    A smile.


    Polite. Friendly. Artificial.


    "Hello," Adrian said smoothly. "It¡¯s nice to meet you, Mize¡¯s boyfriend."


    The way he deliberately pressed the word ¡®boyfriend¡¯ made Mize¡¯s stomach twist painfully.


    From the outside, it was a perfectly normal greeting.


    But to Mize.


    It felt like the start of a war.


    The tension was thick.


    Too thick.


    He swallowed hard, fingers tightening around Liam¡¯s hand as he fought the urge to sweat profusely.


    ''I should''ve eat more''


    ¡®Crap.¡¯


    His face paled slightly.


    This was not going to end well, for me that is!


    Liam¡¯s expression remained as polite as ever, his lips curling into a pleasant, practiced smile.


    "Hello," he greeted smoothly. "Nice to meet you."


    His hand extended, fingers wrapping around Adrian¡¯s in a handshake that was firm, steady, controlled.


    It lasted only a few seconds.


    But in that brief exchange, something subtle passed between them.


    A moment of quiet evaluation.


    Neither tightened their grip nor attempted to overpower the other.


    It wasn¡¯t that kind of contest. Instead, it was a silent weighing of presence, an instinctual measurement of the man standing before them.


    Liam¡¯s greenish golden eyes flickered slightly, the corners of his lips lifting just a bit more, something unreadable slipping into his gaze.


    Adrian, in contrast, held his usual calm, unreadable expression, his deep blue eyes assessing but not revealing much.


    Then, just as quickly as it began, the handshake ended.


    Liam pulled his hand back at an unhurried pace, fingers briefly brushing against his sleeve before he reached for a glass of wine from the nearby table.


    "I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re a classmate of Mize?" he mused, swirling the deep red liquid in his glass before taking a measured sip.


    Adrian tilted his head slightly.


    "Well¡­ not exactly."


    A pause.


    Then, his lips quirked, his tone lighthearted, yet pointed.


    "Alas, it¡¯s hard to describe our relationship properly."


    Mize internally groaned.


    Of course, this was where it was heading.


    This wasn¡¯t just a conversation.


    These two adults were playing a linguistic game that made it''s hard for him to understand.


    And Mize had zero intention of sitting between two men trying to one-up each other over him.


    Stepping forward, he clasped his hands before his chest, his long black hair shifting behind him as he moved.


    "Liam," he said, voice light but firm, "let¡¯s go somewhere else for now. Can we?"


    There was no hesitation in his words. No glance toward Adrian.


    And Adrian noticed.


    His expression didn¡¯t shift, but there was a brief flicker of something, like a crack in a calm lake¡¯s surface.


    Then, just as quickly, it vanished.


    But something else surfaced in its place.


    Adrian wasn¡¯t sure why, but seeing Mize so naturally brushing him off for someone else, it irritated him in a way that didn¡¯t make sense.


    It wasn¡¯t like he ever thought about owning Mize before.


    But right now, watching him lean so effortlessly into another man¡¯s presence, it made his fingers twitch slightly at his side.


    He had always been the one to reject others, and such an action caused him to be dissatisfied.


    Then.


    He smiled.


    Not a normal, friendly smile.


    Something lighter, something easier on the surface, but underneath, there was something weighted.


    "What¡¯s the hurry, Miss Mize?" he asked, his voice as smooth as ever.


    "Stomach ache?"


    Casual words. Spoken in an innocent, almost teasing way.


    But Mize wasn¡¯t stupid.


    He could hear it.


    The words weren¡¯t actually meant for him.


    They were meant for the man beside him.


    And from the corner of his vision.


    Liam¡¯s smile twitched.


    Just a tiny movement at the corner of his lips, so subtle it could almost be missed.


    But Mize had spent enough time around him to know.


    That was never a good sign.


    Liam¡¯s fingers shifted slightly, tapping once against the glass in his hand before he responded, tone calm.


    "Well," he murmured, his gaze barely shifting, "as her boyfriend, I¡¯d naturally be responsible for her, no?"


    Mize¡¯s stomach twisted.


    ''Oh no. Oh no, oh no¡ª''


    Adrian let out a quiet chuckle, adjusting the cuff of his silver windbreaker, his posture staying casually relaxed.


    "Well," he said, still smiling, "I¡¯m just concerned about her health."


    His words were easy. Light.


    But the way he held himself, the way his shoulders squared ever so slightly, the way his chin lifted just a fraction higher.


    It was a clear provocation, Mize hated this game but as a Goddess intern, this situation will eventually come anyway.


    He knew his identity well, the Goddess of beauty. Such a scene had been warned already by the system, as such he will have to handle it well.


    A few of Liam¡¯s men, still standing at a distance, subtly straightened their backs, glancing at each other as if quietly acknowledging the shift in atmosphere.


    Liam, however, didn¡¯t react immediately.


    He simply took another slow sip of his wine, golden eyes glinting in the soft light.


    The silence stretched.


    Then, Adrian exhaled, as if deciding something.


    "It seems I have other things to attend to for now," he said, voice smooth.


    And with that, he turned toward Mize.


    Not Liam.


    Just Mize.


    Liam wasn¡¯t even acknowledged.


    "Let¡¯s meet again later, Mize."


    Then, without waiting for a response, he walked away.


    Mize didn¡¯t move.


    Didn¡¯t breathe.


    Didn¡¯t even dare turn toward Liam.


    Because he could feel it.


    The way the air beside him had dropped just slightly.


    The way Liam¡¯s smile hadn¡¯t changed, but something in the air felt heavier than before.


    He didn¡¯t need to look to know.


    Yeah.


    ''I am screwed''


    [Please host do not make any excessive attempts for now]


    [Just stay quiet until the Villain calmed himself down]


    [Rage percentage is at 679% currently, please wait host]


    !!


    Mize wanted to cry but had no tears.

 Chapter 36:Mimi beam!!!

    The once casual atmosphere had taken a sharp turn for the worse.


    Mize shifted slightly in his seat, adjusting the fabric of his dress as a strange discomfort settled in.


    His fingers fidgeted against the soft fabric, eyes darting around, anywhere but toward Liam.


    The venue was still lively, the murmur of conversation and occasional laughter echoing through the air.


    But somehow, once it reached them, the noise felt distant.


    The space around them had been drained of sound, leaving behind only a quiet ringing in Mize¡¯s ears.


    He swallowed, fingers curling into his lap.


    ''Alas, I should¡¯ve thought this through before coming here¡­''


    This was a VIP venue after all. It was obvious that the dean¡¯s son would be here, even if he was already an awakener.


    A wave of mild self-blame bubbled up inside him.


    Not that it helped now.


    From the corner of his eye, he sneaked a glance at Liam.


    The man still sat there, calm and composed, his fingers lazily spinning the stem of his wine glass.


    Then, he took a slow sip.


    A single trickle of red slid down from the corner of his mouth, stark against his pale skin.


    Mize froze.


    That was when Liam¡¯s gaze met his.


    His golden eyes locked onto him as if he had been waiting for Mize to look his way.


    "What''s wrong?" Liam asked.


    His smile was still there, but something was off.


    The tone was so unnatural that Mize felt this wasn''t him. More like a different person...


    Mize¡¯s stomach clenched.


    He didn¡¯t know what else to do, so he did what he did best.


    "I¡ªI¡¯m sorry."


    His voice came out softer than usual, almost instinctively shrinking in on itself.


    Slowly, he scooted closer, hands carefully tugging at the sleeve of Liam¡¯s coat.


    His head tilted downward, his gaze dropping to the floor, one hand lightly clasping over his chest, as if unsure of how to appease the man beside him.


    The movement was small but deliberate.


    The act of someone both fearful and confused, trying to make amends.


    Liam¡¯s fingers stilled against his wine glass.


    His chest rose with a slow inhale, and for a brief second, just the faintest flicker, his restless expression softened.


    [Good one, Host! The villain¡¯s rage is decreasing rapidly! Keep pushing!]


    The system voice sounded inside.


    Mize almost choked on the air.


    ¡®Weren¡¯t you the one who told me to stay still?!¡¯


    [Change of plan. Keep up the pace. Be cute. Be tearful. Your beauty was meant to make men feel pity toward you.]


    ¡®O-okay¡­¡¯


    Mize took a deep breath, closing his eyes momentarily as he gathered the courage.


    Then, he called out.


    "L-Liam¡­"


    A quiet, almost hesitant plea.


    And just like that, he had the man¡¯s full attention.


    Liam turned toward him, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    But before he could say anything, he froze.


    Mize tilted his face up, allowing the light to catch just right on his expression.


    Wide ruby-red eyes, teary and glassy, rimmed faintly with pink. A subtle flush of red dusting across his cheeks.


    His delicate brows stretched slightly, quivering just enough to look distressed.


    And when he tried to speak, his voice hitched, a small hiccup catching in his throat.


    Liam¡¯s breath stilled.


    His fingers twitched.


    For the first time, his usual smooth, composure cracked.


    Even if it was just for a second.


    Mize saw it all.


    The way Liam¡¯s throat bobbed as he swallowed.


    The way his grip on the wine glass loosened, as if he had forgotten it was there.


    The way something in his eyes flickered something that almost looked like guilt.


    "I¡­" Liam¡¯s voice faltered, slipping into his tone.


    His hand reached out, fingertips brushing against Mize¡¯s cheek, and then, with more confidence, he cupped his face gently.


    "I¡¯m sorry," he murmured, voice lower than usual.


    "Don¡¯t cry."


    His thumb moved lightly, wiping away a tear before it could even fall.


    Then, without hesitation, he pulled Mize closer, letting his warmth seep into the space between them.


    [Rage completely vanquished. Congratulations, Host!]


    ¡®Great.¡¯


    Mize internally cheered, but on the outside, he kept up the act.


    But oh, he was thoroughly enjoying this.


    ''Take that, bastard!''


    ''Mimi beam!!!''


    This, this was revenge. He savoured this very moment thoroughly, like a perfectly cooked steak, it must be enjoyed with the best way of tasting it, Cheese.


    A non-violent, completely harmless, but highly effective way of punishing Liam for all the times he¡¯d teased him.


    Mize had seen Liam smile through everything.


    Smirk. Laugh. Tease.


    But now?


    Mize had just witnessed a rare moment of vulnerability, and he was soaking in every second of it.


    ¡®Hehehe¡­ this guy keeps smiling all the time. Now take it. Pitiful attack!¡¯


    ''Cute attack!''


    ''Tearful beam!!!''


    ''Mimi beam!!!''


    And for the next few minutes, Liam did nothing but pamper him.


    His hand rubbed gentle circles on Mize¡¯s back.


    His fingers combed lightly through his hair.


    And at one point, he even pulled Mize into his lap, arms wrapping around him securely.


    In front of so many people.


    Mize?


    Mize thoroughly enjoyed it.


    ¡®I am just a big baby''


    After several more rounds of comforting, patting, and shameless pampering, Mize finally calmed down, or at least, pretended to.


    Not that Liam noticed.


    Because, as it turned out, Mize was extremely skilled at fake crying.


    An absolute master of deception.


    Not even the all-knowing, omnipotent Yama Lord had managed to see through it.


    ''Fufu¡­ not only am I a master of gender concealing, but I am also a master of fake crying! Truly a being of immense talent!''


    A smug grin threatened to slip onto his face, which would have been a problem, considering that his cheek was still pressed against Liam¡¯s chest.


    [Very talented, Host. Why not pursue another talent? How about mastering the non-existent sword method?]


    Mize¡¯s expression twitched.


    ''¡­''


    There was a fleeting urge to punch something, but unfortunately.


    He had nothing to hit.


    ''If only you could materialize.''


    [I can, but I choose not to. I do not support physical abuse, Host.]


    ¡®Shameless.¡¯


    Mize rolled his eyes internally.


    But he let it go.


    For now.


    Not long after, the venue became noticeably busier.


    Compared to the dozens of people from before, there were now hundreds, all dressed in refined, elegant outfits, their conversations filling the air.


    Everywhere Mize looked, there were small circles of people gathered around certain individuals, second-generation elites, no doubt, using this high-end event to form connections and alliances.


    He shifted slightly, bringing his head up, letting it rest against Liam¡¯s shoulder as he scanned the crowd.


    And that¡¯s when he noticed it.


    People were staring.


    More specifically, he was being stared at.


    Most of the gazes came from a handful of well-dressed young men and women, each carrying themselves with a distinct air of arrogance.


    They looked around his age, some maybe a little younger but their expressions were oddly familiar.


    Mize frowned slightly.


    And then.


    A terrible realization hit him.


    ¡®No way¡­¡¯


    His eye twitched.


    ¡®I think they think I¡¯m Liam¡¯s sister.¡¯


    The gazes were too familiar.


    It wasn¡¯t the usual admiration or envy that came from those who thought he was a love interest, it was the casual curiosity of people seeing the "younger sibling of an important figure."


    Mize had been mistaken for someone¡¯s daughter far too many times in his life.


    ''Damn it. My height really is a curse.''


    Still, he made a mental note of their faces.


    They might cross paths again, especially once he started looking into big institutions for future training.


    Or even he entered the warp in the future.


    It was a plan he had worked out with Liam¡¯s approval.


    After all, these institutions weren¡¯t just academies, they were massive military forces, operating independently from the human empire¡¯s sphere of influence.


    And there were an uncountable number of them, no one knew just how many human forces were there within and outside.


    Each one controlled a vast territory in the Warp, making them one of the few forces capable of standing on equal ground with the Empire¡¯s direct army.


    As for which one to join¡­


    He had no clue yet.


    ¡®Better to let Liam choose.¡¯


    Since, well¡­


    ¡®We¡¯ll be sharing a territory as partners soon anyway.¡¯


    He let that thought settle for a moment.


    Then, Liam¡¯s hand landed lightly on his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts.


    "Mimi," Liam¡¯s voice was low and smooth, his breath warm as it brushed against Mize¡¯s ear.


    "The ceremony is about to start"


    Liam gestured, the crowd of the young people slowly moving in towards the hall up ahead, and a man in a butler uniform stood at the gate, welcoming them.


    Mize blinked.


    "You need to go in alone," Liam continued, his tone careful. "Can you do that?"


    There was a brief pause.


    Mize¡¯s face didn¡¯t change.


    But internally.


    ¡®What do you mean, can I do that? Of course, I can! Do you think I¡¯m a kid?!¡¯


    He was secretly offended.


    But on the outside, he lowered his gaze, letting his lips press together slightly as if reluctant.


    His ruby-red eyes shimmered just faintly, not enough to cry, but enough to look pitifully conflicted.


    Then, in a small voice, he nodded.


    "Can."


    Liam¡¯s fingers tightened slightly against his shoulder.


    "Don¡¯t worry," he murmured.


    "My guards are in your shadow. No harm will come your way"


    Mize¡¯s lashes fluttered slightly at that reassurance, his expression softening just enough to make it look like he was touched.


    "Umm¡­" he hummed lightly, giving the faintest nod.


    And with that, the ceremony was about to begin.

 Chapter 37: Socialising

    Mize took a slow breath, squared his shoulders, and began walking away, Liam¡¯s watchful eyes following him from a distance.


    It was¡­ a bit awkward at first.


    He had gotten too used to Liam¡¯s presence, always lingering around like an overly attentive shadow, and now, being suddenly thrown into the crowd alone, he felt an odd sense of discomfort.


    ''But I¡¯m a big boy already. This much won¡¯t be a problem.''


    With that self-reassurance, he puffed his chest, patted his cheeks lightly, and strode forward with deliberately wide steps, as if increasing his pace would somehow make him feel more confident.


    The moment Mize blended into the crowd of young people, the whispers started.


    He could hear them clearly, but he pretended not to notice.


    "Damn, she¡¯s cute."


    "Yeah¡­ probably not much worse than those top beauties on the country list."


    "Hiss¡­ yeah, each time I steal a glance, she just keeps getting prettier."


    "She might even be worthy of getting into the top 10 most beautiful women in the country!"


    "Yeah, yeah, keep your glances down. Haven¡¯t you noticed her brother and the guards around them?"


    "Ah, right¡­ looks like she comes from a really powerful awakener family."


    "My dad told me that her brother might even be comparable to the city lord."


    "Are you serious?!"


    "A potential high lord?"


    Mize internally rolled his eyes.


    ''Gossipers.''


    Still, he kept his cute acting mode on.


    Because at the end of the day, he was farming.


    The more people gushed over his appearance, the more beauty points he could gather.


    And considering it now took 100 points just to increase by one, he wasn¡¯t about to waste any opportunities.


    So, he continued walking, maintaining his pitiful, soft aura, pretending he didn¡¯t hear anything.


    Anything for that one point increases into the next realm of beauty. By then, just by existing alone would provide him with points.


    It was a solid strategy.


    But sometimes, unfortunately.


    It invited trouble.


    Like, right now.


    Because some people weren¡¯t content with just whispering.


    Some people actually had the nerve to try and socialize.


    Mize, barely holding in a sigh, skillfully avoided each attempt.


    ''Nope. Not today. Not ever.''


    And soon enough, he finally stepped into the grand hall, blending into the crowd of participants.


    The hall was massive, an empty, circular space, with high concrete walls arching up toward an intricately decorated domed ceiling.


    In the center of the room, several government workers were gathered around a car-sized floating orb, adjusting various tools and mechanisms that surrounded it.


    ''Looks like a giant grave,'' Mize thought idly, his ruby-red eyes scanning the area. ''Smells like grave too'' he wrinkled his nose.


    His gaze eventually landed on a cluster of chairs near the front, where most of the participants were slowly being seated.


    Deciding to just go with the flow, he approached one of the male workers nearby.


    "Where do I sit, Mister?"


    The man turned, and immediately froze.


    For a second, his entire brain stalled.


    Because instead of just another participant, he was suddenly face-to-face with an angelic-looking girl, staring up at him with big, expectant eyes.


    The worker blushed instantly, rubbing the back of his head like some awkward teenager in a rom-com.


    "U-uh¡­ over here, Miss! P-please walk carefully, wouldn¡¯t want you to trip!"


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Mize barely held back a deadpan stare.


    ''Do I look like I¡¯m gonna fall at any second?!''


    Still, he nodded sweetly, following the worker as he led him toward the first row of seats, reserved for the students


    The moment Mize settled into his seat, he felt eyes on him.


    The first row already had a few other people seated, each of them carrying themselves arrogantly, you know the basic smug and cold face of rich people.


    And the second Mize sat down, they all turned, not subtly at all, and stared.


    It was the "who the hell is this?" kind of stare.


    A girl seated nearby took particular interest, her gaze lighting up the second she got a good look at him.


    "Hey, what¡¯s your name?"


    Her tone was bright, her expression friendly but her eyes were greedy.


    Not in a bad way, but in the way someone stares at a particularly cute kitten and has the uncontrollable urge to squeeze it.


    Mize could see it already.


    That overwhelming urge to pinch his cheeks.


    He hesitated for half a second before deciding to go all in.


    "Me?"


    He pointed to himself, eyes wide with an innocent, surprised look.


    And then, with a cute tilt of his head, he smiled.


    "My name is Mimi!"


    Blatant.


    Lies.


    But the straight-faced way he said it?


    Absolutely flawless, absolute cinema!


    And sure enough.


    The girl immediately melted.


    "Nice to meet you, Mimi! My name is Ailin!"


    "Mhmm, nice to meet you too, Ailin!"


    Mize squinted his eyes slightly, tilting his head just enough to exude maximum cuteness.


    "I¡¯m Mimi, you¡¯re Ailin, nice to meet you!"


    Ailin¡¯s entire body jerked.


    Then, without warning.


    She lunged forward.


    "Aaahhh!!"


    Mize barely had time to process before she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly and pressing her cheek against his like some sort of rabid fangirl.


    ''W-WHAT THE HELL¡ª?!''


    Her fingers poked at his soft cheeks, her eyes sparkling under the chandelier light as she let out small squeals of excitement.


    "You¡¯re soooo cute! I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t help it! I had to hug you!"


    Mize¡¯s soul left his body.


    "Uweek!"


    He squeezed his eyes shut, completely surrendering to his fate as Ailin continued to rub her face against his like he was a plush toy.


    ''Liam, help. This is harassment.''


    But Liam was nowhere near.


    Mize had to fend for himself.


    "U-Urghhh¡­"


    Mize squinted his eyes shut, tiny squeaking noises escaping from his throat as Ailin continued her relentless cuddling.


    She had been rubbing her face against his for the last few minutes without stopping.


    And honestly?


    He was starting to get dizzy.


    "Ailin¡­ air¡­!" Mize pleaded weakly, his voice barely above a breath.


    "Breath¡­ need to breathe¡­"


    Ailin paused mid-rub, finally realizing she¡¯d been suffocating the poor thing.


    "Oh¡ªhahahaha! S-sorry!"


    She quickly pulled back, letting go of him with a sheepish giggle.


    But the moment she took a step back.


    Her eyes immediately filled with stars again.


    Like she had just discovered the cutest thing on the planet.


    Mize, still slightly dizzy, blinked up at her warily.


    Being stared at so intensely like this made his spine tingle.


    He had seen hungry gazes before, but Ailin¡¯s?


    It was the kind of look someone gave a small, helpless bunny they wanted to squeeze to death.


    Just when Mize was about to escape the situation, Ailin suddenly gasped.


    "Oh! I almost forgot to ask!"


    Her expression shifted, regaining a sense of calm composure, though the excitement in her eyes never faded.


    "I saw your brother just now," she said, tilting her head slightly. "He was so handsome! And the aura he exudes, along with those guards¡­ you must have come from a very big awakener family."


    Mize¡¯s brain stuttered for a second.


    ¡®Brother¡­?¡¯


    Oh.


    OH.


    She was talking about Liam.


    He took a moment to process that information, before giving a small, well-practiced nod.


    "Mhmm. Brother brought many guards today."


    He kept his tone light, innocent, just vague enough to let her keep assuming what she wanted.


    And it worked perfectly.


    Ailin gasped dramatically, drawing the attention of several other people sitting nearby.


    Some even subtly perked their ears, pretending not to listen, but definitely eavesdropping.


    "Oh, could it be¡­ those guards in the parking lot were your family¡¯s personal guards?!"


    The question rang loudly, causing more heads to turn.


    Mize blinked, tilting his head cutely before nodding again.


    "Mhmm. They are my guards."


    The reaction was instant.


    Ailin¡¯s breath hitched, and her gaze subtly changed, from one of playful excitement to cautious respect.


    Because now?


    Now she knew there was a status gap between them.


    Ailin herself came from an awakener family in this city, but her family¡¯s power was limited.


    Only her father, aunty, and grandparents were awakeners.


    But Mize?


    If she really had so many powerful guards, and if the brother she spoke of was really as terrifying as she had seen outside.


    Then she was on a completely different level.


    And the rest of the people sitting nearby?


    They had the exact same thought.


    Whispers spread.


    Some stole quick glances at Mize, then immediately looked away, not wanting to draw attention to themselves.


    And just as the tension was starting to build


    Mize dropped another bomb.


    "Actually, there are several guards under my shadow right now."


    His voice was sweet, casual, as if he was talking about something as normal as the weather.


    "Don¡¯t worry, Ailin. Stay close to me, no one can hurt us."


    Then, he smiled.


    Pure. Innocent. Sweet.


    And somehow.


    That made it ten times more terrifying.


    A deep, uncomfortable chill settled over the surrounding students.


    It wasn¡¯t the words themselves that scared them.


    It was the way she said it.


    With such lighthearted confidence.


    Like it was normal for her to have an army of hidden assassins protecting her at all times.


    Keep your gaze down.


    Don¡¯t make trouble.


    Or else.


    They wouldn¡¯t even know how they died!


    Even Ailin visibly stiffened.


    Her fingers twitched slightly as she shifted in her seat.


    ¡®T-this is real, isn¡¯t it¡­¡¯


    She swallowed hard, her mind flashing back to the moment in the parking lot.


    How her father¡¯s face had drained of color the second they stepped near Liam¡¯s convoy.


    She had never seen him that nervous before.


    And now, sitting beside Mize, hearing this casually spoken confession.


    She knew why.


    ¡®I-I¡¯m lucky¡­¡¯


    ¡®Lucky that she seems to like me¡­¡¯


    ¡®Otherwise, even my family wouldn¡¯t be able to save me.¡¯


    Before Ailin could fully process her life choices, Mize suddenly leaned in closer.


    Then.


    Without hesitation.


    He latched onto Ailin¡¯s arm.


    Like a koala.


    Soft, small, cuddly.


    Ailin froze.


    ¡®D-DOES SHE THINK I¡¯M A PLUSH TOY?!¡¯


    She wasn¡¯t sure what to do, her body going completely rigid.


    ''Hehe, payback woman!'' mize grinned inwardly.


    And then.


    Her gaze drifted down toward the floor.


    And for just a second.


    She saw it.


    The shadows.


    Moving.


    Eerily.


    Like living things, shifting and rippling under the seats, stretching ever so slightly toward the people who had been eavesdropping too much.


    Ailin¡¯s throat dried instantly.


    ¡®G-GULP.¡¯


    She immediately forced herself to relax, laughing awkwardly as she carefully patted Mize¡¯s head.


    "H-haha¡­ of course, Mimi! I¡¯ll stay close to you!"


    ¡®Oh God, I don¡¯t want to die.¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t want to die¡­!¡¯

 Chapter 38: Reality shards?

    It didn¡¯t take long before a new presence filled the room.


    A group of people entered from the opposite side of the hall, their arrival immediately shifting the atmosphere.


    The buzz of conversation from the participants died down, and within seconds, the entire venue fell into silence.


    Even those arrogant second-generation heirs, the kind that usually acted above the rules, had the sense to shut their mouths.


    Because among the people who had just walked in.


    The city lord himself had arrived.


    Then, the city lord spoke, no one could see his appearance well. He was cloaked to the brim like a mummy, with only the long dark blue hair on the back.


    "The ceremony will begin in 10 minutes"


    ---


    For most ordinary people, the title of "City Lord" sounded grand, but vague.


    They understood it as a position of power, but the true weight behind it?


    Most had no clue, none does. It was just a title right? Wrong...


    But to awakeners and those with high status, the meaning was crystal clear.


    "It means this city is the city lord¡¯s personal territory."


    "The lord of the city... "


    "City lord... "


    "Repeat after me"


    "Cityy lorddd"


    Ailin cupped a hand to Mize¡¯s ear, her voice lowered to a whisper as she shared the information.


    The moment Mize had started asking even the slightest question, she had taken it upon herself to explain everything she knew.


    Mize blinked, caught off guard.


    ''Eh?''


    A sudden wave of confusion struck him.


    ''But Liam said nothing from the Warp could be brought back into reality.''


    That was what he had been told.


    And yet.


    If what Ailin was saying was true, then¡­


    No wonder.


    No wonder the human race was able to accommodate so many people on the planet.


    It was because of this. He had always wandered just how it was possible to have trillion of population and yet the human race still persist.


    A city lord¡¯s territory wasn¡¯t just some figurative concept.


    It was a real, tangible space, an entire landmass that existed within the shroud of a space formation, a space law derived by the warp.


    The higher the city lord¡¯s tier, the greater the size of their territory.


    And this wasn¡¯t just a minor convenience.


    This ability was one of the main reasons the human population had grown so explosively.


    With every city lord having their own personal space, the planet¡¯s population capacity had skyrocketed.


    Mize was both fascinated and unsettled by the realization.


    But at the same time.


    It raised an even bigger question.


    ''How did they manage to bring these territories into the human world?''


    Because if the laws of the Warp prevented awakeners from bringing anything back.


    Then how was this even possible?


    Hearing his doubt, Ailin turned and gave him a look.


    And not just any look.


    A ridiculous look.


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    Like she had just realized she was talking to someone so pampered and sheltered that they didn¡¯t even know the most basic facts about the world.


    Mize felt a chill run down his spine.


    Then, Ailin sighed, shaking her head before lifting her fingers.


    And pinched his cheek.


    "Mimi, you really shouldn¡¯t play around so much."


    Her voice was exasperated, but fond.


    "Even the basics, you don¡¯t know?"


    Mize jerked in surprise, eyes widening.


    "A-Ark¡ª!"


    His cheeks squished under Ailin¡¯s fingers, making him squeak involuntarily.


    "Uwee¡ª! Srry¡ª!"


    His protest was pathetically soft.


    Ailin sighed again, finally letting go of his squished face, before turning her attention back to the city lord and the other important figures at the front.


    Her gaze flickered between them for a moment, before she returned to Mize.


    "Alright, listen carefully."


    She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice.


    "There¡¯s a certain item in the Battlefield of Myriad Races, it¡¯s called the Reality Shard."


    Mize perked up instantly.


    "The what now?"


    "It¡¯s extremely rare, one of the hardest optional materials to obtain."


    Mize furrowed his brows.


    "Optional?"


    "Yeah. A lord doesn¡¯t need one to survive," Ailin explained. "But if they ever want to leave the Warp and bring their territory into the real world, they need a Reality Shard."


    Mize¡¯s lips parted slightly in realization.


    Ailin nodded, continuing.


    "A single piece is already heavily sought after, but the higher the tier of the lord, the more Reality Shards they¡¯ll need to fully transfer their land."


    Mize let the information sink in.


    So that¡¯s how it worked.


    That¡¯s how awakeners were able to expand their presence in reality despite the supposed laws of the Warp.


    They weren¡¯t breaking the rules.


    They were using a loophole.


    The Reality Shard was the key.


    Or... The warp itself allowed for the loophole to exist.


    While Mize was still caught up in conversation with Ailin, the important figures at the front finally began to take their seats.


    Their purpose here was obvious.


    They weren¡¯t just here as guests, they were here to observe and recruits.


    Unlike the commoner¡¯s awakening ceremony, where most would gain mediocre or standard professions, the awakenings in this venue had a far higher chance of producing rare professions or even higher.


    And in a world where power meant everything, that made this event something worth watching.


    Among the figures seated at the front, a familiar presence settled into his chair, Adrian.


    He carried himself with his usual calm demeanor, posture relaxed as he surveyed the crowd before him.


    And beside him, seated, was a majestic-looking middle-aged man.


    A long white beard, hair cascading like silk threads, and a frame so massive that at a glance, one might mistake him for a small mountain.


    That man.


    Was the Dean himself.


    The Dean¡¯s sharp gaze didn¡¯t miss the way Adrian¡¯s eyes kept darting through the crowd.


    As if searching for someone.


    "What are you looking for in the crowd, Adrian?"


    His deep voice rumbled as he turned slightly toward his son, brows furrowed.


    Adrian, still resting his arm on the chair¡¯s armrest, tilted his head lazily.


    Then, his lips curved slightly.


    "Well¡­" His tone was casual, but his eyes gleamed with interest.


    "Someone caught my eye, Father."


    The Dean blinked.


    "Someone? A rival?"


    The assumption made sense.


    Adrian wasn¡¯t the type to pay attention to just anyone, if he was interested in someone, it usually meant they were strong enough to be worth noticing.


    But Adrian simply shook his head, amused.


    "No."


    Then, after a slight pause, he added.


    "It¡¯s a girl."


    "A girl?!"


    The Dean¡¯s voice rose slightly, startled.


    But the surprise lasted only a moment, because in the next second, his entire face lit up in pure excitement.


    "Hahahaha! Good, good!"


    He clapped a massive hand against his knee, eyes gleaming with fatherly enthusiasm.


    "Which one is it?"


    His head turned sharply, scanning the sea of young participants like a predator seeking prey.


    Adrian, enjoying his father¡¯s reaction a bit too much, tilted his fingers slightly and whispered.


    The Dean¡¯s gaze followed the subtle gesture.


    Then.


    His eyes landed on Mize.


    "¡­Ohh?"


    A brief moment of silence.


    Then.


    His eyes widened.


    His throat dried.


    And he swallowed hard.


    "OHHH?!? THIS ONE?!"


    The reaction was immediate and dramatic, his entire massive frame straightened, his hand gripping the chair¡¯s armrest tightly.


    Then, he whipped his head back toward Adrian.


    "I APPROVE!"


    The words boomed louder than necessary.


    The surrounding important figures stole a glance, some clearly amused while others subtly rolled their eyes.


    But the Dean didn¡¯t care.


    "You two would give me the most beautiful grandchildren! Hahaha!"


    He smacked Adrian¡¯s shoulder proudly, voice filled with booming laughter.


    "That¡¯s not even swan meat anymore! That¡¯s a whole goddess!"


    "You damn brat aimed so high that I almost choked!"


    Then, giving Adrian a knowing look, he grinned.


    "Good eyes, son. Good eyes."


    Adrian only chuckled.


    "Of course, Father."


    But just as the Dean was drowning in his future-grandchild fantasies, Adrian sighed.


    "But there¡¯s a small problem."


    His father¡¯s brows furrowed immediately.


    "Just ask."


    The Dean¡¯s tone hardened instantly.


    "Who dares to stand in my son¡¯s way when it comes to love?"


    His fist clenched, and for a second, the air seemed to shift.


    "Whoever it is, I¡¯ll deal with them myself."


    Adrian smiled faintly.


    "Well¡­ thank you, Father."


    Then.


    As if sensing Mize¡¯s gaze drifting toward him.


    He met it.


    And waved.


    Mize stiffened instantly.


    He had accidentally looked in Adrian¡¯s direction for a single second, and now, suddenly, the guy was waving at him?!


    ''Shit.''


    Panicked, Mize hurriedly turned his face away, pretending not to see anything.


    But unfortunately.


    That action did not go unnoticed.


    Everyone who had been silently observing the situation had also seen Adrian wave.


    And now.


    They had questions.


    Many.


    Because this wasn¡¯t just anyone.


    This was Adrian.


    The prodigy of the region.


    One of the most dazzling young men in the entire country.


    And he had just waved at this girl.


    "OHHH¡­"


    The Dean, still watching closely, squinted.


    Then, a small chuckle rumbled from his throat.


    "She seems reluctant."


    He observed the way Mize subtly shifted, how she deliberately looked away, a hint of flustered hesitation in her body language.


    Adrian?


    Adrian only smiled, unbothered.


    "That¡¯s fine."


    His voice was calm, but there was a quiet confidence in it.


    "I¡¯ll make her mine."


    The Dean grinned.


    "Any way works!"


    "Capture, forced, or even kidnapping. It''s up to you. Laws don''t apply to people like us, as long as you wants it then just take it. Who dares to say no to my face in this region?"


    He laughed heartily, his massive hand slamming against the chair.


    "As long as I get cute grandchildren! Hahaha!"

 Chapter 39: its my turn

    "Mimi, do you know Sir Adrian?"


    Ailin ducked her head slightly, voice lowered to a whisper, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she looked at Mize.


    The tone was clearly expectant, like she had just stumbled onto a juicy secret and was hoping for confirmation.


    Mize, still feeling deeply uncomfortable, shook his head immediately.


    "Ummm¡­ no."


    His lips curled slightly, as if he was on the verge of tears.


    It was subtle.


    But Ailin caught it.


    And the moment she did.


    Her entire demeanor shifted.


    "Ah¡ªit''s that kind of situation?"


    Her voice softened, her expression quickly turning sympathetic.


    Mize nodded, pouting slightly, his dislike toward Adrian written all over his face.


    And that was all it took for Ailin¡¯s eyes to widen in shock.


    Her hand flew to her mouth, muffling her gasp.


    Because.


    This was Adrian.


    The Prodigy of the Region.


    A young awakener who was already ranked among the country''s top rising talents.


    A future powerhouse.


    A genius.


    Most people would jump at the chance to associate with him.


    And here was Mize, blatantly rejecting him as if he were just another annoying guy in the crowd.


    It was crazy.


    Unbelievable.


    And yet¡­


    Ailin glanced at Mize again, properly taking in her appearance.


    Then, suddenly.


    It made sense.


    ¡®Well¡­ this one has the capacity to say no on her own.¡¯


    ''Mimi is so beautiful... I think she''s worthy enough to be on the top 10 list already''


    Mimi, or rather, Mize, was absurdly beautiful.


    She wasn¡¯t just "cute" or "pretty", she was on the level of someone who could easily appear on international beauty rankings.


    ¡®It¡¯s natural for someone like Adrian to try and pursue her.¡¯


    And if she was this stunning, then she had every right to be selective.


    Just as the murmurs and thoughts were beginning to spread, a sudden movement came from the front.


    The mysterious City Lord slowly stood from his seat.


    Then, with an almost weightless grace, he descended downward, landing gently beneath the massive spinning blue orb at the center of the hall.


    And then.


    His voice rang out.


    Like a deep, resonant bell.


    A voice that cut through the air, as it attracted everyone''s attention.


    "The ceremony begins now." The entire hall fell into silence.


    On cue, one of the officials standing among the students gave a nod.


    Then, he turned, motioning for the first participant to step forward.


    A young man stood from his seat, taking a steady breath before carefully walking toward the orb, guided by the officials.


    Mize¡¯s eyes lingered on him for a moment.


    The guy looked young, average-looking, maybe around Mize¡¯s age.


    He had a medium build, short black hair, nothing about his appearance stood out much, except for the fact that he clearly came from a wealthy family.


    When he finally reached the center of the hall, he gave a respectful salute toward the City Lord before stepping beneath the orb¡¯s glow.


    The City Lord¡¯s voice echoed once more.


    "The rules are clear. Each profession awakened will have a grade, determined by its rarity."


    His voice was calm, steady, and yet strangely difficult to place.


    Neither fully masculine nor feminine.


    As if the sound had been deliberately distorted, making it impossible to guess the speaker¡¯s identity.


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    "The grading system is as follows:"


    "White rarity"


    "Followed by Green, Blue, Purple, Red, and finally¡­ Golden."


    As he spoke, the massive orb began to spin, glowing with an increasingly intense radiance.


    The young man standing beneath it.


    His expression flickered between anticipation and fear.


    Even though he was from a wealthy awakener family, he knew.


    Bloodline meant nothing when it came to awakening professions.


    The Warp¡¯s selection process was fair¡­ but ruthless.


    Your background didn¡¯t matter.


    Only fate and luck determined the outcome.


    And despite having a potion to boost his luck, he still felt tense.


    After all, there had been cases before where even the best luck potions failed to influence the results.


    He clenched his hands tightly, lowering his head slightly.


    "Please¡­ let it be something good."


    His voice was barely above a whisper.


    "If I get a worthless profession¡­ I won¡¯t be able to inherit my father¡¯s company."


    The orb spun faster.


    Wisps of light began to descend, slowly merging into the young man¡¯s body.


    His muscles tensed, his breath held.


    Waiting.


    Then.


    The color of the wisps shifted.


    From blue¡­


    To white.


    The moment the color locked in, a sudden gust of wind erupted from beneath the young man¡¯s feet.


    A powerful force surged outward, but before it could disrupt the surroundings, a hidden formation activated, suppressing it immediately.


    For a full minute, the light continued to glow, the wind swirling within the contained space.


    Then.


    The City Lord spoke.


    "White grade. Common profession. Wind Elemental"


    The moment the words left the City Lord¡¯s mouth.


    A wave of exclamations swept through the crowd.


    "Oh! It¡¯s white grade! But it¡¯s an elemental type! That¡¯s still good!"


    "Yeah, getting a combat profession at all is already a win."


    "Even if it¡¯s just white, having an elemental profession gives him an edge."


    "Exactly. If I can get even a white-grade profession, I¡¯ll be satisfied."


    "Mmhmm. Aiming too high isn¡¯t for people like us."


    "We¡¯re just a lower-end city, after all."


    Despite being only a white rarity profession, the young man¡¯s expression visibly brightened.


    It could have been worse.


    Much worse.


    At the very least, it wasn¡¯t useless.


    He quickly bowed toward the City Lord, his steps much lighter as he left the orb¡¯s glow and returned to his seat.


    With that.


    The ceremony had truly begun.


    One by one, the students took their turns, stepping beneath the massive orb under the watchful eyes of the crowd.


    For a while, the results were consistent.


    White-grade professions, one after another.


    The streak continued, and it was enough to keep the mood light.


    Even the City Lord himself seemed pleased.


    It wasn¡¯t that white-grade professions were particularly impressive, but for a city of this level, it was still a steady success rate.


    At the very least, it meant that no one had failed so far.


    But then.


    A sudden shift occurred.


    A new student stepped forward.


    This time.


    It was a tall, handsome young man with a confident stride.


    The kind of person that, at first glance, looked exactly like the typical second-rate villain in a novel.


    Mize gave him a brief glance before losing interest almost immediately.


    ''He¡¯s got the smugness of an extra.''


    He was ready to ignore this one like all the others.


    But then.


    Something changed.


    The mist around the boy¡¯s body churned violently.


    It swirled and shifted.


    Then darkened, twisting inwards.


    Most people were expecting it to turn white, just like the others before him.


    It would have been the ideal outcome.


    But instead.


    BOOM.


    A sudden, fiery aura erupted from the boy¡¯s body, bursting outwards in a surge of heat.


    And above him.


    A faint silhouette emerged.


    Three times his size. The room gasped collectively.


    "No way!"


    "Green grade?!"


    "And it looks like a rare profession at that!"


    "Look at the figure behind him, is he a summoner?!"


    "No, it looks like a projection."


    Mize¡¯s attention, previously detached, finally snapped into focus.


    His eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze locking onto the faint figure hovering behind the boy.


    "Projection? Summoner?" he murmured, curiosity piqued.


    "And it¡¯s a green grade at that."


    It wasn¡¯t just a good result, it was rare.


    As he observed the projection, another thought drifted into his mind.


    ''I wonder what Liam¡¯s profession grade is¡­''


    ''Blue? Purple?''


    It was just a passing thought.


    But somehow, he had a feeling it was much higher than that.


    The City Lord¡¯s voice rang through the hall once again.


    This time, his tone was noticeably more pleased.


    "Green grade. Fire Dharma profession. Not bad."


    There was a hint of approval in his voice.


    And the important figures at the front?


    They immediately stirred.


    Even though none of them outwardly reacted, it was clear they were paying closer attention now.


    Some were already evaluating their chances of recruiting the boy.


    Many of these individuals were recruiters from major forces in the Warp.


    They had been sent to various cities, tasked with scouting potential talent.


    And now, seeing a green-grade awakening, they were already mentally preparing their offers. The boy, basking in the newfound attention, let his gaze sweep across the crowd.


    He was proud.


    Proud to be the first in this ceremony to break the white-grade streak.


    And as his eyes wandered, they suddenly landed on Mize.


    For a moment.


    A flicker of something unreadable flashed through his expression.


    A mix of longing¡­ curiosity¡­ desire.


    But it was only for a brief second before he quickly masked it and turned away, returning to his seat.


    Mize sighed internally, he naturally noticed the gaze.


    ¡®Alas¡­¡¯


    ''Being a big beauty really is a profession of its own.''


    ¡®Coveted by everyone.¡¯


    He wasn¡¯t thrilled about the newfound attention, but at this point.


    He was used to it.


    The ceremony continued.


    One by one, more students stepped forward.


    For the most part, the streak of white-grade awakenings persisted.


    Occasionally, there would be another green-grade profession, but still, no blue.


    By now, the recruiters and important figures had already tempered their expectations.


    This was a lower-end city, after all.


    Finding even a handful of green-grade professions was already considered lucky.


    With proper training, these green-grade awakeners could grow into respectable powerhouses.


    That was good enough.


    Finally.


    It was Ailin¡¯s turn.


    She stood up, taking a steady breath before stepping beneath the orb.


    Mize watched as the process unfolded.


    The light swirled, descended, and then.


    It settled into a white glow.


    White-grade profession.


    "Sword Controller."


    Ailin¡¯s face brightened instantly.


    It wasn¡¯t spectacular, but it was more than enough.


    As long as she wasn¡¯t stuck as a mortal, that was all that mattered.


    With a cheerful smile, she returned to her seat, clearly satisfied with her result.


    And then.


    Finally.


    It was Mize¡¯s turn.


    A worker approached carefully, their professionalism momentarily faltering as they took in Mize¡¯s appearance up close.


    But they quickly corrected themselves, resuming their duty with a polite tone.


    "Miss, please follow me."


    Mize nodded lightly.


    "Mmm."


    Then, as he rose from his seat.


    The entire hall reacted.


    The moment Mize stood up, dozens of gazes snapped toward him.


    Some subtle.


    Some not so subtle.


    But either way, all eyes were drawn to him.


    Mize pretended not to notice.


    His expression remained cute, innocent, natural.


    His steps were light and graceful, the fabric of his dress swaying softly behind him.


    The cascading waterfall of his dark hair shimmered under the light, glossy, smooth, weightless.


    And as he walked.


    His eyes occasionally drifted around the hall, unintentionally meeting the gazes of several young men.


    Each time.


    They would instantly look away, flustered.


    Some even visibly blushed.


    It was such a brief, natural interaction, but the effect was deadly.


    ¡®Tch. The princess effect is still going strong.¡¯


    Mize kept his expression perfectly neutral, though inwardly.


    He was already sighing.


    He didn¡¯t have time to deal with more admirers right now. But having some points farming here and there wouldn''t be bad.


    For now.


    His focus was on one thing only.


    The awakening.


    With a final step, he exited the seating area.


    Gradually approaching the orb.

 Chapter 40: The path of a Goddess!

    Mize walked toward the orb, each step light, slow, almost hesitant, though not from fear.


    The act was second nature by now.


    Soft, fluttering movements, delicate expressions, an air of innocent uncertainty.


    He¡¯d perfected it.


    And from the way the room quieted, from the way eyes lingered just a second too long, he knew it was working.


    ''Farming points, farming points... ''


    ''I am such a hardworking farmer'' he sighed within.


    ''It''s hard to be a farmer nowadays''


    His gaze flickered to the City Lord for a brief moment before he gave a small nod, just enough to seem respectful but not overly stiff.


    Then, he stepped beneath the glowing orb, letting the light wash over him.


    Just to make it more seem believable and staying true to his acting, he began to act timid.


    And then, something completely unexpected happened.


    "It¡¯s okay, child. Do not be afraid."


    Mize nearly flinched.


    ?


    Not from fear, but because, since when did the City Lord reassure people?


    That hadn¡¯t happened for anyone else.


    ''It''s totally a dude right?''


    Mize briefly opened the panel just to see the points increasing for a short moment, and then turned his gaze back towards the cloaked figure before him.


    ''Yep, a dude... Totally a dude''


    The reaction in the hall was immediate.


    A few students whispered to each other, others looked on with a mix of envy and curiosity.


    Even the recruiters sitting at the back of the hall seemed to pay a little more attention.


    And, of course, Mize didn¡¯t let the moment go to waste.


    ''Mimi beam! Pitiful attack!''


    He lowered his gaze slightly, pinched the hem of his dress, and let his lips curve in a small, uncertain smile.


    His eyes shimmered, not quite crying, but just enough to make people¡¯s hearts ache a little.


    "Mhmm¡­" A soft, obedient hum.


    It was almost funny, really.


    He could practically hear some of the onlookers sighing, probably thinking something like, Poor, fragile thing. She must be so scared.


    The City Lord, after waiting for Mize to settle, extended a hand toward the orb, guiding the energy himself.


    A slow, careful release.


    It felt different from what he had seen with the others.


    The wisps of energy descended, curling around him like threads of light, slipping into his skin.


    It didn¡¯t hurt and why would it in the first place?


    He doesn''t know, It was just¡­ strange. Cool at first, then warm, then almost weightless.


    Like it was testing him.


    [Relax your body host, whatever happened after this, stay calm Host]


    ''Mmm''


    Mize didn¡¯t react much, simply closing his eyes and clasping his hands in front of him.


    His knees bent slightly, his shoulders tensed, just enough to maintain the illusion of unease.


    As expected, the crowd wasn¡¯t anticipating much.


    A white-grade profession, maybe.


    Green, if he was lucky.


    That was the best they thought he could get.


    But then.


    The energy inside him shifted.


    Twisted.


    Warped.


    The soft glow surrounding him deepened, darkened, then burst outward.


    Not into white.


    Not into green.


    Not into any color that people had seen before.


    Deep blue.


    Shimmering violet.


    Blinding, iridescent white.


    The room went dead silent.


    Then.


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    "What the?"


    "What grade is that?!"


    "What¡¯s happening?!"


    The reaction was instant.


    Chairs scraped against the floor as recruiters shot up from their seats.


    Even the figures from powerful forces, people who had spent the ceremony barely paying attention, were now focused entirely on Mize.


    This wasn¡¯t normal.


    This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen.


    Someone in the crowd sucked in a sharp breath.


    "That color¡­ could it be¡­?"


    And then, someone else, louder this time, shouted.


    "Special grade!"


    "Gradeless profession!"


    "Unknown profession!!"


    "In this city?"


    The entire hall exploded in chaos.


    Mize, meanwhile, stood completely still.


    His mind raced.


    He wasn¡¯t sure what he expected, but it definitely wasn¡¯t this.


    And just as the noise reached its peak, the City Lord finally spoke.


    One simple word.


    Carrying a weight that made the entire room fall silent again and it cut through the air.


    "Special grade... "


    "Incredible"


    Mize felt it before he even registered what was happening.


    A sharp, uncomfortable pressure pressing against his skull, his thoughts growing hazy, his vision unfocused.


    His body swayed slightly, knees nearly giving out beneath him.


    Such a sudden shift of changes were caught by the City Lord''s eyes.


    "Child? Are you okay?"


    The City Lord¡¯s voice cut through the murkiness, clear and laced with a rare trace of concern.


    Heavy footsteps approached.


    But before he could reach.


    Mize stopped.


    His body stilled unnaturally, his head lowered, strands of dark hair slipping over his face.


    Such a strange occurrence, everyone waited for what would happen next. After all, the profession type is still a mystery.


    This was the revelation moment but what''s with this sudden action?


    The City Lord halted mid-step.


    "¡­Child?"


    No answer.


    Then, he began to rise.


    Gasps filled the hall as Mize¡¯s feet lifted off the ground, his entire form slowly ascending into the air.


    A ripple of waves spread outward, brushing against the walls, the floor, the people.


    An eerie, palpable shift swept through the room.


    One that sent a shiver racing down every spine.


    A deep oppression, an abyss like sense of wrongness. The kind that clawed into instincts, screamed at them from the depth of their soul.


    "What''s¡­ what''s this feeling?"


    "Strange¡­ "


    "I feel¡­ suffocated¡­"


    "Fear? From her?"


    "Just from an awakener that had just began learning to walk?"


    It wasn¡¯t just pressure.


    It was something else.


    And whatever it was, they had to wait first before making further actions.


    The powerful figures in the VIP seats, those who had remained composed throughout the ceremony, shot to their feet.


    Even the City Lord stiffened, his posture turning rigid.


    Beneath his hood, the faint glisten of sweat trailed down his cheek.


    ''What is this? Troublesome awakening''


    ''She''s haven''t went to the warp, and yet her aura is almost comparable to mine? And still climbing?''


    ''Could it be... That profession?''


    The orb, dimmed abruptly, as if something had forcefully drained its brilliance. The room went dark as a swirling of brilliance energy pusled around him.


    And then.


    Mize raised his head.


    Slowly, almost as dramatic as it gets.


    The moment his gaze swept across the hall, the world seemed to hold its breath.


    Deep, crimson eyes gleamed with an unnatural glow, pure, luminous ruby, as if they had been cut from divine gemstones.


    His expression was eerily blank, devoid of anything remotely human.


    Indifferent.


    Untouched.


    Distant.


    And an ancient saying crossed their mind.


    ''Why would the human lives freely? If not for the god''s mercy that allowed them?''


    It was only a glance.


    Yet, it crushed them.


    Boom!


    !!!


    A silent, invisible weight pressed down upon every soul present.


    A sensation unlike anything they had ever experienced.


    This wasn¡¯t just fear.


    It was incomprehensible.


    The overwhelming feeling of being seen by something vastly superior, something that should not exist in the same plane as them.


    Boom!


    The weak collapsed, knees buckling under an unseen force.


    The strong remained standing, but only barely. Faces pale, bodies stiff, cold sweat dripping down their necks.


    "What the hell?"


    "It seems to be apart of her awakening process, endure... "


    The City Lord¡¯s hands clenched into tight fists, his hand waved, gesturing to the crowds.


    Mize¡¯s lips parted.


    And then, in a voice that wasn¡¯t entirely his own, he spoke.


    "Mortals"


    The word rang through the hall like a divine decree.


    Chilling.


    A delicate, slender hand slowly lifted, fingers extending, pointing downward.


    "Why aren¡¯t you kneeling before this goddess?"


    ?


    "Wha-?"


    Boom!


    The entire hall shook.


    The moment Mize¡¯s words rang through the hall, bodies dropped like marionettes with cut strings.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    One after another, knees hit the floor with a resounding impact.


    It wasn¡¯t voluntary.


    It wasn¡¯t a choice.


    It was as if an unseen force had slammed down upon them, an unbearable weight pressing into their very existence.


    A mountain came...


    Why would the mortals live if not because the divine pardoned them?


    Bones creaked, muscles trembled, and sweat drenched their backs.


    Even the City Lord was not spared.


    In fact, he felt it the worst.


    ''Damn it!''


    Boom!


    Being the closest, the pressure was like a mountain collapsing onto him, dense, suffocating.


    His cloak billowed as he struggled, his boots grinding against the cracked floor beneath him.


    "Humph!"


    "Infinitely close to tier 3? And these traits... There''s no doubt about it"


    A guttural sound tore from his throat as he fought back, his foot stamping down with sheer force.


    The stone beneath him shattered, web-like cracks spreading across the floor. His face, hidden beneath his hood, flushed.


    This level of suppression, ''It''s a transformation state, trouble. I will need to get her snap out of it before she injured anyone and worse, overdrawing herself''


    His fingers trembled as they slowly lifted, forcing themselves into a hand seal.


    A diagram ignited in the air before him, layers upon layers of intricate symbols woven together in an instant.


    "Order... "


    "Clear¡­"


    "Control..."


    His voice was strained, but his will was unshaken.


    The air around him crackled, space distorting as the diagram spun.


    "Awake."


    Boom!


    The oppressive force vanished.


    Like a dam breaking, the weight pressing down on the hall snapped away, leaving behind an eerie silence.


    Mize¡¯s eyes lost focus, his floating body gently descending like a feather caught in the wind.


    And as if nothing had happened just now, the room then again returned to it''s prior state.


    No one moved.


    No one spoke.


    For a brief moment, they were all frozen trapped in the lingering remnants of whatever that had just been.


    Then, realization set in.


    Fear.


    Terror.


    An undeniable horror gripped their hearts as they pieced together what had just happened.


    "I am alive? Still alive?"


    "Thank God, what the hell was that?"


    "It should be her awakening process, showcasing the type of her profession"


    "Type of her profession? I felt like that wasn''t a human at all!"


    "It looks like a transformation ability... "


    Some were still trembling, hands gripping at their chests, gasping for breath.


    Some collapsed entirely, too weak to even lift their heads.


    Some had gone unconscious, their minds unable to handle.


    And yet


    As the seconds ticked by, the horror slowly morphed into something else.


    Awe.


    Stunned, breathless, reverent awe.


    They had never seen anything like this. Never in their lives had they felt something so beyond human comprehension.


    The City Lord, still breathing heavily, stared at Mize¡¯s unconscious figure with an expression unreadable beneath his hood.


    Then, he finally spoke, his voice low, but carrying through the silent hall with clarity.


    "Incredible. A special, gradeless profession¡­"


    The words sent another ripple through the crowd.


    Some students, still on their knees, looked at Mize with expressions mixed between respect and outright fear.


    The recruiters from the powerful forces were shaken to their core.


    Some of them had already been considering extending an offer to the girl just based on her appearance alone, but now?


    She was no longer just a beauty.


    She was something terrifying.


    And then, the words that left the City Lord¡¯s mouth next shattered whatever fragile composure they had left.


    "The Path of a Goddess¡­"


    A pause.


    And then.


    "Unknown Divinity. I am unsure what divinity she is walking on, after all there''s too few of these type of awakener in our human side"


    The hall erupted.

 Chapter 41: Liam to the rescue!

    The hall was still trembling from what had just happened. Large swath of dust falling off from the ceilings, the chandelier swayed and fell, and the chairs uprooted from the floor, their screws blown away under the impact.


    ...


    Eerily quiet, not a single drop of noise, not even any sound of breathing was heard.


    No one spoke.


    No one moved.


    Like a bunch of statues just petrified, seemingly to be under the curse of Medusa.


    Their hearts were beating wildly still. If not for the City Lord''s presence, these people would have stormed the door in seconds to escape.


    And yet, despite being in such a state, everyone was restless, their heart were still shocked from the scene just now, it was deeply imprinted into the depth of their mind.


    They recalled it vividly, the cold decree that shouldn''t have come from a petite figure such as her, and their knees that voluntarily refused to obey their brain''s pulses, kneeling down on the spot!


    How horrible was it that with a single word, their bodies voluntarily obeyed an unknown being while outright refusing them!


    Their hands gripped the nearest surface, chairs, clothes, anything to steady themselves.


    It felt like they had just been born again, the ability to find balance was lost, the ability to talk was stripped away from their mouths, and the ability to think came to a halt at this very moment.


    Their toes curled inside their shoes, their backs drenched in cold sweat.


    Even the air felt heavier as if the lingering presence of that suffocating force still refused to fully leave.


    They still remembered it vividly, like flashing pictures.


    The eyes... They were red and bottomless.


    When god gazes down onto the earth, the mortals suffer, mutate, and turn into monsters.


    But of course, it was just a saying. No one truly witnessed or changed into one...


    After all, it was a saying from the warp. It wouldn''t be logical for such a thing to occur here, right?...


    ...


    Among the many that had fallen to their knees. Adrian, too, had fallen to his knees under that terrifying pressure.


    His breath was unsteady, his pupils trembling as he stared at the unconscious figure on the floor.


    Then, a firm pat on his shoulder came from the side. He twisted his gaze, seeing his father on the side.


    The dean stood firmly, though there was an unreadable expression on his face before a slow grin slowly spread across his lips.


    "Boy¡­" His voice was calm, yet it was filled with something sharp. "This time, your luck has shot through the roof"


    "It''s a disaster and also a slowly darkening star!"


    Adrian turned, his throat dry.


    The dean¡¯s eyes flickered from Adrian to Mize, lingering on her delicate, unconscious form.


    But the pictures from moments ago still lingered. He took a deep breath and muttered deeply.


    "Her strength by awakening alone could rival that of a tier 3 awakener! Her future is limitless! Especially her territory later!"


    "Get her into our family. No matter what, even if you have to cage her like a hostage, do anything to make sure she falls into our hand"


    "And if she escapes into the warp, go and find her until the end of the earth!"


    "Do you understand?"


    Adrian clenched his fists, a bit reluctant in his eyes, but he nodded.


    "Yes, Father."


    After all, he had already decided on the same thing.


    A special, gradeless profession was already rare enough, even in the bigger cities.


    But this?


    A Goddess path. Unknown divinity.


    Even the title alone carried the weight that could shake the foundations of power on this planet.


    After all, this path had always been a mystery among the countless other paths.


    It wasn''t that particularly rare to the extreme. Instead, there were still a lot of people with the same path as Mize even at the current time.


    But all of them had always been the same. Unbounded and cannot be controlled no matter what.


    Despite having affiliated themselves with certain forces, they weren''t an entity that could be dictated freely.


    No one knew the full extent of their strength, as, in the course of history, these people that bore the name under this path had always been mysterious and seldom took action.


    Adrian stood, adjusting his expression. His eyes scanned the hall, gauging the atmosphere.


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    Now was the best time to act.


    The rest of the onlookers clearly had the same thought.


    Mize was completely vulnerable.


    Unconscious.


    Defenseless.


    If they were the first to extend a hand, to show goodwill, they could gain her favor.


    Some of the recruiters had already taken a step forward.


    Even the City Lord himself seemed deep in thought.


    But then.


    BOOM.


    The air split apart.


    A sudden crack in space itself, as if the world had been torn open as the air screeched like a slowly warping mirror piece.


    From beneath Mize¡¯s own shadow, something emerged.


    It wasn¡¯t rushed.


    It wasn¡¯t sudden.


    It flowed, twisting, shifting, moving like a liquid of darkness until it formed the shape of a tall figure.


    A man.


    A demon-looking man...


    A freak yama Lord has appeared.


    Dressed in flowing black, his cloak billowed in an unseen wind, his silhouette solidifying as he effortlessly caught Mize¡¯s unconscious body in his arms.


    His cold, piercing gaze swept across the stunned hall, taking in each and every expression.


    Then, he smiled.


    A soft, pleasant smile.


    "Pardon me, everyone." His voice was smooth, almost casual.


    "But I¡¯ll be taking my wife home before anything unsightly happens here"


    The moment the word wife left his lips, several people flinched.


    Liam adjusted Mize in his hold, cradling her carefully. His smile deepened, but his next words sent a chill through every soul present.


    "After all¡­" His tone remained light as if he were discussing the weather.


    "I¡¯m not really in the mood to slaughter an entire city today"


    Drip.


    Like a single drop of water disturbing a still lake, the energy in the room trembled.


    It wasn¡¯t an outward explosion of power.


    It wasn¡¯t loud, wasn¡¯t violent.


    It was subtle.


    A barely-there ripple that carried a horrifying implication.


    The closest one to him, the City Lord himself, was the first to react.


    His shoulders tensed, his expression unreadabletensneath his cloak, before he raised both hands slightly in a measured, non-threatening gesture.


    His voice remained calm.


    "It seems¡­" He exhaled, his posture shifting ever so slightly. "That there¡¯s been a misunderstanding, good friend. You may take her away. Please. We have no intention of creating trouble"


    There was no arrogance in his tone, though his eyes were subtly taking sharp glances under Liam''s feet, ''so many? It seems to be a very rare summoner profession,'' he swallowed, his iris trembling, ''And there seem to be ten of thousands? Hundred thousand? What utter monster!''


    No condescension.


    Just pure survival instinct.


    It wasn''t that he was afraid, but there consequences of their battle here might cause countless other unwanted casualties.


    And from the look of it, there might be a small chance of him escaping if things turned sour.


    Liam chuckled, his gaze unreadable.


    "Of course"


    His voice was warm, yet the hall still felt cold.


    From the sidelines, Ailin¡¯s hands were clasped tightly before her chest.


    She hadn¡¯t dared to move this entire time, watching everything unfold with sheer tension.


    ''Please, Mimi¡­ be safe''


    ''We will meet again''


    Her heart pounded painfully in her chest.


    Liam took a slow step forward, his shadow curling unnaturally around his feet.


    But just before leaving, he suddenly paused.


    His head tilted ever so slightly, his gaze drifting to the VIP seating area.


    More specifically, to a certain father and son pair.


    Adrian¡¯s fingers twitched. His father, the proud and towering dean, remained still.


    Liam smiled.


    But this time, it didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    "As for you two¡­"


    A slow, deliberate pause.


    His voice lowered.


    "Don¡¯t cross a line you¡¯re not meant to."


    A step forward.


    The temperature in the room seemed to drop.


    "Or else¡­" His voice softened further, almost a whisper.


    "I will annihilate your whole family"


    A breath.


    Then.


    Laughter.


    A deep, booming laugh erupted from the dean as he stepped forward, his powerful frame exuding confidence.


    "Bwahaha! Boy!" His voice carried through the hall, his tone unbothered.


    His sharp gaze flickered toward Liam¡¯s feet, taking note of the numerous shifting figures hidden within his shadow.


    "Don¡¯t get too full of yourself just because you¡¯ve got a lot of numbers!" His grin widened, teeth flashing.


    It was a clear taunt. A challenge.


    But Liam?


    He merely scoffed.


    "Whatever."


    And with that.


    He vanished.


    Leaving behind only silence.


    And an entire hall of people too stunned to even breathe.


    -----


    -----


    -----


    Mize stirred, his body shifting slightly beneath the soft sheets.


    His fingers twitched, the lingering haze of sleep making his limbs feel heavy and sluggish.


    For a moment, he simply existed in that half-dreaming state, the quiet hum of the room pressing gently around him.


    His lashes fluttered.


    Then, slowly, his eyes cracked open.


    A soft glow of morning light seeped in from the window, casting long streaks across the familiar walls.


    His vision blurred for a moment before sharpening, revealing the familiar sight of his bedroom.


    ¡°My house¡­?¡± he murmured, voice hoarse, the remnants of sleep still clinging to his throat.


    One hand lifted lazily to his forehead, fingers rubbing at his temple as a dull ache pulsed behind his skull.


    It wasn¡¯t painful, just¡­ disorienting. Like his body was adjusting to something new.


    He shifted, nudging his shoulder against the pillow before turning over completely.


    The silk of his dress slid effortlessly against his skin, the fabric still neat, untouched, exactly as it had been before he lost consciousness.


    No wrinkles. No rips. Not even a speck of dust.


    Liam.


    ¡°Did he carry me here after the ceremony?¡±


    His voice was barely above a whisper as he pushed himself upright, the cool air of the room brushing against his exposed skin.


    His feet slid over the edge of the bed, toes curling slightly as they made contact with the polished floorboards.


    He sat there for a moment, breathing in the quiet.


    It felt¡­ surreal.


    Because he remembered everything.


    From the very beginning to the end of the ceremony, he had been fully aware.


    Even when the so-called awakening process took place, when the strange power surged through his body, making the entire hall suffocate under his presence, it was all him.


    Not instinct.


    Not unconscious control.


    It was deliberate.


    He had been¡­ playing.


    ''And it was quite fun too'' Mize grinned inwardly, standing up from the bed as he stretched slightly.


    His steps carried him toward the bathroom, slow, deliberate, his fingers brushing through his long hair as he absently recalled the sensation from before.


    It was like an almost endless energy cruising through his vein. But he himself knew the truth that it was just an illusion of power.


    But still...


    Raw.


    Overwhelming.


    Unstoppable.


    "It was as if, with every gesture, I could cause immense destruction to the world"


    "For the mortals to obey me"


    He wasn¡¯t exaggerating.


    At that moment, he had felt it.


    A vast, boundless strength.


    It wasn''t just power.


    It was dominance of a higher being.


    His very existence could bent reality around him with words alone.


    Not because of force, but because of something far more terrifying, innate superiority, the level of lifeform in that state was something beyond what the human race was currently sitting on.


    Mize sighed, reaching for the sink as he turned on the water.


    His reflection flickered in the mirror, and for a brief moment, he swore he saw it, his own eyes gleaming with that same unsettling radiance.


    "System," he called out, letting the cool water run over his fingers.


    [Yes, Host?]


    He rubbed his face, blinking, still lingering in his bones.


    "That power back there... was that the so-called adjustment you made for me?"


    A slight pause.


    Then, the mechanical voice responded.


    [Yes, Host. The Path of a Goddess is an extremely rare profession, but not entirely unheard of in the history of mankind. Due to the scale of the population, similar professions have existed in the past. As such, the Host will not stand out too much]


    [And the divinity follows the host current and ultimate goal. The path of the Goddess, Beauty Divinity]


    Mize stared at his reflection for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly.


    Not stand out too much?


    He wasn¡¯t sure if that was comforting¡­ or a warning.

 Chapter 42: Where is this?

    "Mize?"


    Hch!


    Mize jerked violently, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest.


    His gaze snapped to the side so fast that his hair whipped over his shoulder.


    The faucet was still running, water streaming down into the sink like nothing had happened, unbothered, unlike him.


    And there where he was, the cold yama freak lord that would always smiled whenever or whatever situation he was placed in.


    "Can you not startle me like that?!" Mize barked, one hand pressing over his chest as if that would physically keep his heart from escaping.


    "I almost had a heart attack!"


    "Do you want me to die?"


    "What If I die suddenly, what are you going to do by then?"


    Liam, leaning casually against the bathroom entrance, only chuckled, arms folded loosely over his chest.


    Amused.


    "Resurrection sounds doable, no?"


    "..." Mize choose silence in response.


    He huffed, yanking a towel from the cabinet above and furiously rubbing his face as if that would also wipe away his irritation.


    ''You are lucky I am not on my period!''


    [Host, you don''t have period]


    ''Oh''


    "What are you staring at?" Mize shot a glare through the mirror once he noticed Liam seemed to be gawking his body a bit too much today.


    "Well¡­" Liam took a step forward, his voice carrying that usual unhurried, teasing lilt.


    "What I wanted to say is¡­"


    He stopped just behind Mize, their reflections aligning in the glass. One big and one small, and perhaps in such a scene, most would assume for something feisty to happen next...


    Then, without warning, his hand gently ruffled Mize¡¯s hair.


    "I¡¯m proud of you."


    Mize froze.


    At first when he noticed that Liam was approaching his back, he was expecting some sorts of dirty foreplay in the morning in his bath.


    Cough.


    ''I mean talk... Just talk, I totally didn''t think anything weird'' Mize blushed inwardly.


    His grip on the towel and sink tightened slightly as warmth crawled up his face, a heat he immediately turned away from.


    His voice came out flustered, a little too quick. "F-for what?"


    Liam¡¯s hands slipped lower, cradling Mize¡¯s cheeks, his thumb barely grazing over his soft skin.


    Then it slid downward, grazing against Mize''s neck before eventually stopping on his shoulder.


    "Because," he murmured, voice lower, softer, "you''re an awakener now."


    A pause.


    Then, with a small, knowing smile, he added, "Officially."


    Mize hummed noncommittally, refusing to meet his gaze.


    The warmth touch of his fingers brushing against his skin only fueled his embarrassment further.


    Like a deep red trailing marks on there...


    "T-take the hands off and leave, I want to take a bath" Mize waved hurriedly, hushing Liam away.


    Liam pulled back, giving Mize one last pat on the head before stepping away.


    "Go take a bath," he said, turning toward the doorway.


    "Once you¡¯re done, the butler will lead you to the dining hall"


    "I will be waiting for you"


    "Huh?" Mize blinked, confusion flickering across his face when he heard those words.


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    ''Butler? What does that means?''


    But Liam didn¡¯t stick around to clarify. With his usual calm and controlled stride, he had already disappeared from the room.


    Mize squinted at the empty doorway.


    Dining hall?


    "...Is he on drugs or something?"


    "Or was it some sorts of hidden code?"


    Mize rolled his eyes, grabbing his toothbrush with one hand and a large towel with the other.


    ''Well, he¡¯s always been weird anyway. Might as well just take my bath first''


    ''I am pretty sure it is nothing to be worried about''


    The warmth of the bathwater swallowed him whole, the dense layer of bubbles floating over the surface like a soft, cloud-like blanket.


    Mize sank in further, his head resting against the cool edge of the tub as a sigh slipped past his lips.


    He groaned, his toes arching down there.


    "Arghhh¡­ peace."


    His body, still adjusting to the awakening process, felt lighter than usual.


    There was a subtle, almost buzzing sensation under his skin, like something new had settled inside him.


    Liam had explained to him before this, once a person awakened, the profession would be almost natural. As if it had always been there since birth.


    As for how powerful it can be, it depends on the person who uses it.


    Coupled with the cheat like ability to upgrade a person''s strength just by upgrading the territory, training was almost completely off the table from then on.


    Not now.


    Instead, his gaze lazily drifted upwards.


    And froze.


    A window.


    ''I don''t remember installing one?''


    ''Not that I am capable of doing it anyway?''


    Right above him.


    His brows pulled together slightly.


    ''Since when did I install a window up there?_


    His first instinct was suspicion.


    His second instinct was pure, immediate laziness.


    Mize¡¯s eyes drifted shut again, dismissing it entirely.


    "I¡¯ll just think about it later"


    "For now, bubble bath for bubble Mimi"


    And with that, he sank deeper into the bath, utterly unconcerned.


    Mhmmm.


    Mhmmm.


    Mize wrapped himself in a thick, oversized towel, the soft fabric clinging to his damp skin as he stepped out of the bathtub.


    The air was warm, still carrying traces of steam, and his breath fogged up the mirror as he passed.


    "What''s the plan again?" he mumbled absently, dragging another towel over his head, twisting his long, ink-black hair inside it.


    "Wait a certain period of time before choosing an academy, or just pick one right away?"


    He honestly couldn¡¯t remember.


    Did Liam mention anything?


    Well, he barely knew about the warp itself anyway, might as well let Liam be the decision maker for the two of them...


    "A man... A man... " Mize hummed a certain tune as made his way.


    Shrugging off the thought, Mize pushed open the bathroom door, stepping into the bedroom.


    His bare feet met the cool floor, sending a small shiver up his spine. The transition from warm steam to open air was always a little jarring.


    Settling onto the edge of the bed, he grabbed the hairdryer from the nightstand, flipping it on.


    A low hum filled the room as warm air cascaded through the strands, drying the dark locks bit by bit.


    By the time he was done, his hair had regained its usual smooth, silky state, falling over his shoulders in soft waves.


    He ran his fingers through it once.


    ''good enough''


    Moving to the closet, he picked out an outfit for the day.


    A fluffy oversized hoodie, soft against his skin, with a built-in cooling enchantment.


    ''What''s the different again between enchantment and formation?'' Mize hold the hoodie up to his eyes, his thoughts running.


    ''Eh, no matter'' he shrugged it away casually.


    The fabric was so breathable and light that even on a hot day, he wouldn¡¯t feel the heat.


    "Millennium House clothes sure are high quality," Mize mused, pinching the hem of the hoodie, glancing inside.


    Underneath, he had made sure to wear something defensive, just in case some unwanted hands accidentally slipped down there.


    Who knows.


    The hoodie itself was long, hanging just past his thighs, making it look like he wasn¡¯t even wearing pants.


    He was, of course.


    But the illusion was there.


    Not that he cared.


    With a shrug, he made his way to the kitchen, grabbed a cold glass of water, and took a slow sip.


    The house was quiet.


    Too quiet.


    Mize paused, cup halfway to his lips, eyes narrowing slightly.


    "...Where¡¯s Liam?"


    A quick scan of the living room. Nothing.


    A peek into the kitchen corner. Empty.


    He even checked the store room, pushing open the sliding door slightly, still no signs of him.


    Mize tapped his lips, hand moving to his chin.


    "...Strange."


    Something felt off.


    And he wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good or bad thing.


    Mize stood still, staring blankly at the door as his brain ran a full diagnostic on recent events.


    "So first, he randomly appeared when I was about to take a bath."


    "Went and rubbed my head like I was some house pet. Said several cheesy lines that totally did not make my heart flutter."


    [Totally host]


    ''Shut up''


    "And then, before leaving like some mysterious, cold-blooded CEO in a generic romance novel, he dropped a cryptic line about a ¡®dining hall and a butler.¡¯"


    Mize squinted.


    Yeah. That summed it up.


    But the real question was, what the hell did any of it mean?


    He scratched at his hair, feeling increasingly uneasy. "Is this some kind of riddle? Should I be worried?"


    "Am I about to get adopted or something?"


    "A dragon coming in?"


    Then.


    Knock. Knock.


    Two sharp, deliberate knocks on the door.


    Mize froze.


    His eyes drifted toward the entrance. Hesitation settled in. He wasn''t expecting anyone. Nobody ever knocked on his door, after all the doorbell was there for a reason.


    "...Huh."


    Curiosity won over. He strode forward, fingers grazing the knob as he pulled it open.


    The next moment.


    His mind flatlined.


    "What the hell?"


    His hand was still gripping the doorknob. His foot was half-stepping out.


    But instead of the familiar dimly lit hallway of his apartment complex.


    He was standing at a palace like corridor that stretched endlessly to both sides.


    A vast, open corridor stretched endlessly before him, its deep red carpet leading straight ahead like some grand entrance.


    The polished marble walls shimmered, their intricate carvings catching the soft glow of chandeliers suspended above.


    Between them, elegantly arranged vases, flowers, and lush greenery lined the walls, giving the space a surreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere.


    And in the very center of it all.


    A butler, before the front door.


    Middle-aged, gray hair, squinted eyes as if asleep, uniform pressed to perfection, posture ramrod straight.


    Behind him, several imposing figures stood in eerie silence.


    Tall.


    Too tall.


    Each clad in black and white armor, standing at over two meters height, their sheer presence making Mize¡¯s survival instincts scream.


    Mize¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line as his gaze swept the area.


    A palace. Knights. A butler.


    Yeah.


    "Is this a prank show?"


    "Can you show me where the camera is?"


    "...."


    "...Am I still dreaming? Is this an illusion?" He took a step back, fingers twitching on the doorknob.


    His voice dropped to a mumble.


    "Am I dead?"

 Chapter 43: Dinner time!

    Mize barely had time to process what was happening before the butler took a step forward, hand pressed to his chest as he bowed.


    "My lady, please do not be alarmed. You are, in fact, neither delusional nor deceased. This is not the afterlife."


    The voice was clear and smooth, the taste of the decayed age wasn''t there, instead the tone was filled with vigor.


    Like a person that had just tasted the fruit of life after several years of starvation.


    Mize jerked, gaze flicking between the butler and the towering guards behind him.


    His lips pressed into a thin line as his thoughts ran laps in his head.


    "...Then I suppose I''m alive?"


    "Well and breathing." The butler straightened, a polite smile stretched across his face. "Now, if I may, my lady, please allow me to escort you to the dining hall. The lord is already awaiting your arrival."


    Mize froze.


    "W-wait... I mean, yes? I think?"


    Her own voice betrayed her.


    One step back, hesitation.


    A pause in mid-sentence, uncertainty.


    And then, despite her instincts screaming that something was very, very wrong, she stepped forward.


    Head tilted. Fingers tapping against her lips. Eyes scanning every detail of the grand hall around her.


    "But before we proceed, can I ask why is my apartment room... Y-you know, got here?" It couldn''t be helped, he had to ask this away or else he might really go insane at this moment.


    Would you believe it that somehow your whole house was suddenly transported into a huge palace like castle?


    And a butler with a group of medieval soldiers stood outside the door to greet you?


    I wouldn''t believe it if I was him, though such a thing wouldn''t really be impossible when it comes to the Freak Yama Lord.


    "This... " the butler hesitated, "I am unsure on how the Lord did it, My lady. It is best for the lady to inquire it personally to the lord"


    "Alright... " Mize sigh and feigned to his fate, "let''s go now, I am hungry anyway"


    The butler''s smile widened. "That''s wonderful to hear, my lady." He turned gracefully, hand extended toward the long corridor ahead. "Then, please, this way."


    Mize followed, bare feet silent against the smooth floor. And the guards, they trailed behind at a steady distance.


    The presence of the black-armored knights loomed, but Mize couldn¡¯t help but sneak glances their way, curiosity itching at the back of her mind.


    "You guys¡­" she finally muttered, peeking over her shoulder. "Are you all human? Or¡­ summoned creatures from Liam?"


    The guards remained silent.


    But the butler, he answered effortlessly, his steps light and deliberate as he walked ahead.


    "They are human soldiers, my lady. The honorable Shadow Guardians do not oversee the castle¡¯s defense"


    ''The shadow guardians?'' Mize eyes gleamed for a moment, recalling the scenes when Liam sent a couple of shadows into his back at the ceremony.


    "Incredible¡­ So Liam trained them? Or recruited them?"


    The excitement in his voice was undeniable.


    This, all of this, felt like a whole new world unfolding before his eyes.


    And he wanted answers.


    ''Since we are about to merge our territory, it wouldn''t be bad to learn a little bit more in advance'' Mize thought to himself.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The butler chuckled, hands clasped neatly behind his back. "It is neither, my lady. We are like the Lord¡¯s summoned creatures, yet also different."


    Mize blinked. "How so?"


    For a brief moment, her earlier panic was forgotten.


    Completely. As if her entire reality hadn¡¯t just shifted in the past five minutes.


    Women sure were forgetful creatures.


    Oh, wait.


    Men...


    "The difference lies in the medium from which we were summoned," the butler continued, his voice as calm as a bedtime story.


    Mize was hooked under the butler''s tone undoubtedly.


    "The Shadow Guardians, were brought by the Lord''s ability"


    "However, we common humans are a product of the territory¡¯s ability."


    Mize''s brows furrowed slightly.


    "So¡­ you''re saying you were all summoned here?"


    "Indeed. Most of us were homeless refugees before we were granted the Lord¡¯s grace just a few days ago"


    Mize faltered. "Ah¡­ I¡¯m sorry to hear that."


    "Please, there is no need, my lady." The butler inclined his head slightly.


    "In fact, we should be the ones thanking you instead. As the Lord¡¯s wife, you are also our leader. Thus, you are deserving of all the respect we have to offer."


    Mize¡¯s eye twitched.


    Wife.


    Liam, you manipulative bastard.


    But, well. It was too late to argue.


    "...Right." She coughed, swiftly changing the subject. "So, uh... how many people are there in Liam¡¯s territory right now?"


    The butler hummed thoughtfully. "Let me see¡­" His fingers brushed against his chin, his gaze momentarily flickering toward the vast expanse beyond the windows.


    Mize followed his line of sight, her breath hitched slightly.


    A town.


    Sitting further down the hill, stretching outward with rows of buildings, streets, and flickering lights.


    ¡®Wait¡­ Liam built this castle on top of a hill?¡¯


    It was an accurate guess.


    The butler finally answered, voice smooth.


    "So far, we have just under two thousand people."


    Mize whipped her head back to him.


    Two thousand?!


    "It may seem like a lot," the butler continued, "but in reality, the territory has only just begun to develop. The Lord¡¯s rule over this land is still in its infancy."


    "After all, we barely had time to develop. All of the current achievements were achieved through the Lord efforts himself"


    Mize stared.


    A couple of days.


    It had only been a couple of days.


    And Liam already had a functioning castle, an army, and an entire town forming at its base?


    "...I don¡¯t know if I should be impressed or terrified"


    And the reason why he said so was that, ''I am beginning to suspect his golden finger might have some correlation with me. Or... '' He thought further, hands touched his chin. ''I am his golden finger? His cheat?''


    But of course, they were all speculations.


    Then, Mize eyes shuddered for a moment.


    Groan...


    A noise...


    And it came mysteriously from a person''s stomach.


    Mize barely lasted a few more minutes before his stomach started protesting.


    He gritted his teeth, held it in, and pretended to be fascinated by the scenery outside the windows.


    ¡®Looks peaceful.¡¯


    For now, anyway.


    The journey through the corridor finally came to an end when they stopped in front of a set of massive doors.


    Rich, deep redwood, intricately carved with swirling patterns, floral engravings, and golden inlays that shimmered faintly under the candlelight.


    The metal handles were huge, arched like the hands of a divine being bestowing mercy.


    On each side, two enormous vases stood proudly, filled with delicate purple flowers that leaned gently toward the entrance, as if bowing in reverence.


    Mize stared.


    It was¡­ extravagant.


    ''Why would a door has this much details?''


    He then shrugged it off.


    The butler stepped forward and pressed his gloved hands against the handles.


    "Please, go ahead, my lady."


    With a smooth yet undeniably hefty motion, the doors swung open.


    Mize heard it, that subtle resistance.


    They were heavy. The kind of heavy that made her wonder if they were meant to keep people out¡­ or keep something in.


    She rolled her shoulders, adjusted her oversized hoodie, and finally realized, she was completely underdressed for this place.


    A castle.


    A formal dinner. And here she was, looking like she just rolled out of bed.


    Her lips twitched.


    "Well, this is his fault anyway." She muttered under her breath, cursing Liam for not giving her a damn warning.


    She stepped inside.


    Her gaze flickering, taking in the scenery as she walked from this side of the room, but then...


    She froze.


    ¡®Crap. There are other people here.¡¯


    A long, ornate dining table stretched across the hall, grand and impeccably set.


    Tall golden candelabras lined the center, their flames casting a soft glow over rows of dishes, exotic delicacies, and enough food to feed a small army.


    But Mize wasn¡¯t focused on that.


    Nope.


    She was too busy scanning the people sitting at the table.


    First, a man in a loose, white robe, draped elegantly over his slender frame.


    His green hair fell neatly behind his ears, and thin-rimmed glasses perched delicately on his nose.


    Scholar.


    Definitely gave ¡®safe person¡¯ energy.


    Mize nodded and approved.


    Then, the guy next to him.


    Dressed in a well-fitted suit with a high-collared cloak, exuding a kind of quiet authority charm that made Mize¡¯s alarm bells ring.


    ''Aizen vibe, nu uh. Liam''s doppelganger''


    His face? Too smooth. Too pleasant. And the way his eyes crinkled at the corners, as if he were always secretly smiling at something.


    Yeah. Immediate red flag.


    ¡®Nope. Not trusting that one.¡¯


    And then her gaze landed on the final figure at the table.


    A hulking man with broad shoulders, crossed arms, and a thick red beard.


    His fiery hair practically radiated aggression.


    Yup. Definitely not dealing with him either.


    That left Green Hair Guy as the only remotely safe option.


    She had barely paused for a few seconds when Liam¡¯s voice cut through the air.


    "What are you still standing there for? Come sit"


    Mize snapped to attention, his mind turning though his body and mouth was obedient on the outside.


    "A-ah, okay!"


    With slightly hurried steps, she trotted forward, doing her absolute best to ignore the curious gazes drilling into her from all sides.

 Chapter 44: SERIOUS SERIES, MIMI HIDDEN ATTACK!

    Mize scooted closer, following Liam¡¯s gesture. But once he got there, he stopped.


    His eyes flickered between the three men at the table, then his gaze snapped back to Liam¡¯s smiling face.


    ''Something''s off'' He narrowed his eyes.


    Mize glanced down.


    No chair whatsoever for him to sit, the air was as quiet as it was as no one even bothered to point it out.


    ''Yeah, Liam''s game''


    "What are you doing?... Sit," Liam said, tone easygoing as always, hand gesturing vaguely.


    Mize narrowed his eyes. He knew exactly what this guy was playing at.


    ¡®Oh? You wanna play games?¡¯


    He smiled.


    Mize then nodded.


    "Okay" He grinned, white shimmering teeth exposed.


    And then, in one smooth motion, he stepped forward, grabbed the armrest of Liam¡¯s chair, heaved himself up.


    With a final lunge and enough momentum!


    Plop!


    Directly onto Liam¡¯s lap.


    The room went silent.


    The black-haired man choked on his drink, hand slapping over his mouth.


    The other two? They both immediately looked away, pretending this wasn¡¯t happening.


    Liam, meanwhile, sat completely still, his face stoned with sweats and utter disbelief.


    Mize wiggled a little, getting comfortable.


    Liam¡¯s eye twitched.


    "Quite feisty early in the morning, aren¡¯t you?" He finally muttered, voice low.


    Mize tilted his head back, a smug grin tugging at his lips. "What do you mean? I¡¯m just sitting, as you said"


    "Is there an issue?"


    He leaned back harder. Arms spread along the chair¡¯s armrests. Full weight as he pressed harder against the back.


    The crotch of the yama Lord and Mize''s butt was basically grinding against each other at this moment.


    Liam grunted.


    ¡®This girl¡­¡¯


    His jaw clenched, gaze flickering between his subordinates, who were now very focused on their food, and Mize¡¯s completely pleased expression.


    ''Did she not realize what she was doing right now was?''


    Liam¡¯s gaze involuntarily flickered lower.


    indecent?


    The oversized hoodie barely covered anything.


    His hands instinctively tensed against the armrests, fighting the urge to grip those exposed milky-white thighs just taunting him.


    He let out a slow exhale.


    "Alright. That¡¯s enough."


    Smack!


    "Ark!"


    Mize clutched his head, glaring at Liam for the karate chop.


    "We have important things to discuss," Liam said, voice still perfectly smooth, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Let¡¯s eat first, shall we?"


    The three men nodded immediately.


    "As you wish, my lord"


    "Indeed, we follow the lord¡¯s orders"


    Mize, still in his smug little world, didn¡¯t care much about Liam¡¯s subordinates.


    He had one goal.


    Farm. More. Points.


    One hand barbarically grabbed a loaf of fluffy bread.


    His other?


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Slid behind him.


    A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes as he winked over his shoulder.


    Liam¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter.


    But his fingers twitched.


    Something felt wrong.


    Then, he realized.


    Too late!


    Liam barely held back a groan, his fingers twitching as he fought the urge to retaliate immediately.


    If Mize wanted to play dirty, then he was more than willing to take it a step further.


    Mize, blissfully ignorant, was humming between bites, his delicate fingers tearing through yet another piece of bread.


    The moment he dipped it into the creamy, greenish spread, his eyes sparkled with approval.


    Soft, buttery, with a hint of something floral, absolutely delicious.


    He had to admit, Liam¡¯s so-called "territory" knew how to whip up a damn good meal.


    What he didn¡¯t realize was the impending disaster.


    Liam¡¯s hands moved with a slow, deliberate ease, like a predator inching toward its prey.


    A shadow creeping under the table, fingers ghosting over Mize¡¯s waist before finally clamping down.


    "Huh?"


    Mize barely had time to react before Liam twisted him sideways, his other hand locking onto the back of his head.


    And then.


    Heat.


    A searing warmth crashing against his lips, suffocating, devouring.


    Mize¡¯s pupils shrank, his mind short-circuiting as Liam¡¯s lips melded onto his.


    This wasn¡¯t just some casual peck, it was a full-on claim onslaught.


    His breath hitched, body stiffening as Liam¡¯s tongue pried its way past his lips without the slightest bit of shame.


    "Mhmmm!" Mize squeaked, arms flailing.


    His hands instinctively shoved against Liam¡¯s chest, but the bastard barely budged.


    His brain was going haywire, this was bad.


    Bad! Liam was¡­ What the hell was this guy thinking?! They weren¡¯t alone!


    And yet, the Yama Lord clearly couldn¡¯t care less. He deepened the kiss, tongue lazily sweeping across Mize¡¯s mouth as if tasting the remnants of the bread he¡¯d just eaten.


    His grip was firm but careful, fingers curling possessively around Mize¡¯s nape, tilting his head to the perfect angle.


    Mize kicked his feet, his hands clenching onto Liam¡¯s sleeves, struggling to wrench himself free.


    But his strength, his newly awakened power, was nothing compared to the sheer control Liam had over his body.


    His mind turned blank. His face was burning. His heartbeat was so loud he swore it could be heard across the entire damn hall.


    Make it stop.


    Make it stop.


    Make it.


    A stifled cough came from the other side of the table.


    "Should we¡­ pretend we didn¡¯t see that?" the green-haired man muttered, adjusting his glasses with an awkward smile.


    The black-haired officer beside him just took a sip of his tea, entirely unfazed. "That would be wise."


    Meanwhile, the mustached man across the table was gripping his fork so tightly it bent in his hand.


    His expression twisted into something unreadable.


    Liam finally pulled away, just a fraction, eyes half-lidded, lips curled into a devilish grin. His thumb swiped across Mize¡¯s lower lip, almost as if savoring the aftermath.


    "Delicious," he murmured.


    Mize, still gasping for air, fists trembling on Liam¡¯s sleeves, had only one thought in mind.


    I¡¯m going to tase him in his sleep.


    "You! you!!!" Mize barked, hands clenched into tight fists as he remained frozen in place.


    Punch!


    Punch!


    Punch!


    His tiny fists rained down on Liam¡¯s chest, each strike weaker than the last, like an angry kitten trying to fight a tiger.


    And just like a tiger, Liam didn¡¯t budge, not even an inch.


    He merely sat there, completely unbothered, with that same infuriating smirk still plastered across his face.


    "Why bother being shy, Mimi?" Liam chuckled, catching one of Mize¡¯s flailing hands with ease, fingers curling around his wrist in a firm yet gentle grip.


    "There¡¯s nothing bad about kissing the one we love, no?"


    Mize''s breath hitched.


    His brain lagged for a moment, processing those words.


    The one we love?


    No. No, no, no! He refused to acknowledge such an absurd statement!


    ''I will not lose!''


    His eyes flickered left and right, scanning the room in a desperate attempt to find a way out of this unbearable situation.


    But the moment his gaze landed on the other figures at the table, his stomach dropped.


    They were watching.


    Oh, they were absolutely watching.


    The green-haired man, who Mize had initially deemed the most trustworthy, was barely holding it together, a gloved hand clamped tightly over his mouth, his shoulders trembling as if he were suppressing the urge to burst into laughter.


    The broad, mustached man had tactfully averted his gaze, but the barely concealed grin twitching at the corners of his mouth betrayed his amusement.


    And then there was the third one, the ever-smiling, black-haired officer-type.


    His mirthful eyes gleamed with something unreadable, and Mize instantly knew, this guy was dangerous.


    Nope. Nu-uh. Not dealing with this.


    His breath grew unsteady. His lips quivered.


    His hands twitched.


    Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone present¡­


    Mize executed his ultimate technique.


    His secret forbidden move.


    His surefire trump card in times of dire distress.


    The Super Pitiful Crying Attack!


    ''Secret series!''


    ''Secret move!''


    ''Mimi beam!!!''


    H-hicc¡­


    Liam blinked.


    The room fell into silence.


    The laughter stopped.


    The air shifted.


    Liam, who had been fully expecting another tantrum, felt something twist in his gut when he looked down at the trembling bundle on his lap.


    Mize had curled up like a helpless kitten, his small frame pressing closer against Liam¡¯s chest, his arms weakly grasping at his cloak.


    His long black hair spilled over Liam¡¯s lap like the finest silk, framing his doll-like face, now painted with an expression so heartbreakingly fragile it made Liam¡¯s heart lurch.


    Tear-brimmed ruby eyes peered up at him through dark lashes, glassy and vulnerable.


    His lips parted, quivering slightly, the faintest hiccup slipping through. The slight flush on his cheeks had deepened, giving his already delicate features a new sight.


    And the way he clung to Liam, tiny hands gripping at his clothes as if he¡¯d been wronged beyond measure, sent an overwhelming rush of guilt straight through Liam¡¯s chest.


    For the first time, Liam panicked.


    ....


    ¡®Did I overdo it?¡¯


    His mind raced for a solution. He needed to fix this, now.


    His hands hovered awkwardly over Mize¡¯s body, unsure where to place them.


    Should he pat his back? Ruffle his hair? Hold his hand? Wipe his tears? Wait, was Mize actually crying?!


    Liam¡¯s expression stiffened.


    He had been fully prepared for Mize to throw another fit, to lash out, to bite him again if necessary.


    He wasn¡¯t prepared for this.


    ''Ahh, the hurdle to take care of a princess''


    Meanwhile, Mize, who had fully committed to his act, burrowed further into Liam¡¯s embrace, making himself seem as small and vulnerable as possible.


    H-hicc¡­


    Liam¡¯s grip on reality shattered.


    His arms instinctively wrapped around Mize, pulling him in closer, cradling him like the most precious thing in the world.


    His hand slid up to cup Mize¡¯s cheek, thumb brushing away a stray tear with a tenderness that shocked even himself.


    ¡°Mimi¡­ Don¡¯t cry,¡± he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.


    It was over.


    The moment those words left his lips, the victory was sealed.


    Mize, hidden against Liam¡¯s chest, smirked.

 Chapter 45: She is my wife

    For the rest of the meal, Liam was entirely preoccupied with appeasing the teary little menace on his lap.


    Mize, the great manipulator had played his hand well.


    The moment he turned on the waterworks, Liam had folded like a house of cards in a storm.


    Now, he was trapped in an endless cycle of "Here, Mimi, say ahh~" and "I swear I¡¯ll never do it again, okay? Cross my heart."


    Yeah, right.


    Mize knew Liam had his fingers crossed somewhere.


    The Yama Lord was many things, strong, mysterious, but trustworthy?


    No, that wasn¡¯t on the list.


    Especially when it comes to him promising not to be perverted, impossible!


    Totally impossible!


    Being a pervert was as important as breathing and drinking for him, his body required it!


    Still, Mize accepted every bite of food like a spoiled kitten being hand-fed, while Liam maintained a gentle but slightly exasperated smile, acting as if this wasn¡¯t the strangest dinner situation he himself had created.


    Eventually, the meal was finished.


    The plates were cleared, the candles burned lower, and the hall quieted.


    Liam, still holding the very clingy Mize on his lap, suddenly straightened his posture.


    His usual smirk faded.


    "Now, before we continue with anything else," Liam said, his voice smooth.


    He lifted one hand in an elegant gesture, exuding the air of a ruler.


    ''Perverted ruler''


    A ruler who just so happened to have a small, disgruntled person clinging to him like a koala.


    Mize, comfortably nestled in Liam¡¯s arms, blinked lazily.


    "This," Liam announced, voice deep "is my wife, Mize."


    A silence followed.


    Elias, the composed green-haired minister, coughed into his hand, though his eyes sparkled with amusement.


    Aizen, the ever-smiling one, simply nodded as if this was the most obvious fact in the world.


    Halb, the broad, red-haired warrior, looked genuinely confused for a moment before shrugging as if accepting some divine decree.


    Mize, on the other hand, twitched.


    Liam. Did. Not. Just. Say. That.


    But before he could protest, Liam smoothly changed his tone, his voice dipping into something softer, something almost coaxing.


    "And Mize..." Liam murmured, his breath warm against Mize¡¯s ear.


    Mize instinctively hummed, tilting his head slightly to glance back at Liam, only to realize too late that he had just fallen for whatever trap the Yama Lord had set.


    "These are my generals," Liam continued smoothly, now fully in control of the conversation.


    "The first one, Elias. He oversees the entire territory¡¯s management. If you have anything to do in relations to his scope of duty, then you may go to him for advises"


    Mize¡¯s gaze flickered toward the green-haired man. Elias smiled politely, his demeanor calm and composed, as if he could handle a thousand problems without breaking a sweat.


    ''He seemed decent enough''


    Liam gestured next to the black-haired officer.


    "This is Aizen," he continued. "He¡¯s responsible for security, supervision, and¡­ other details"


    Mize squinted slightly at Aizen.


    He had that same polite smile as Elias, but the difference was in his eyes.


    Cold, calculating, like he saw everything in the world as either useful¡­ or disposable.


    Mize did not like that.


    And finally, Liam turned to the red-haired, mustached warrior.


    "And this is Halb, the highest-ranking officer under my command," Liam introduced. "He leads the troops and maintains security within the territory"


    Mize studied Halb for a moment.


    The guy was huge, his arms thick with muscle, his posture relaxed yet solid.


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    But unlike Aizen, his expression was genuinely warm.


    If Mize had to guess, he wasn¡¯t the smartest in the room, but at least he didn¡¯t seem like a schemer.


    That was a relief.


    Still, Mize wasn¡¯t about to let his guard down.


    "It¡¯s nice to meet you three," he said, keeping his tone formal.


    His eyes flickered between them once more, quietly making his own judgments.


    Elias smiled pleasantly.


    Aizen smiled too pleasantly.


    Halb smiled like an excited golden retriever.


    Mize internally sighed.


    Yeah¡­ this was gonna be interesting.


    For the next few hours, Mize sat there like a forgotten decoration while the four men at the table drowned themselves in discussion.


    It wasn¡¯t just any discussion, it was the kind that never seemed to end.


    They covered everything.


    Territory updates.


    Mining resource channels.


    Trader¡¯s market construction.


    Territory wall maintenance.


    Severe lack of resources.


    Requests for further army expansion.


    Mize¡¯s ears twitched.


    It wasn¡¯t that he cared, no, not really. But something about the sheer amount of things Liam had to handle as a Lord caught his attention.


    ¡®Damn¡­ There¡¯s a lot of stuff that goes into running a territory, huh?¡¯ Mize thought, blinking as he tried to process everything.


    From the outside, being a Lord sounded cool.


    Commanding armies, having an entire land under your control, walking around like a king¡­ But now?


    Now it just sounded like a lot of work.


    Mize yawned quietly, resting his chin against Liam¡¯s chest.


    Not that anyone noticed, because they still weren¡¯t paying attention to him.


    It wasn¡¯t until Liam¡¯s hand suddenly landed on Mize¡¯s back that he perked up.


    "Now then," Liam¡¯s voice shifted, becoming deeper, serious. "For the most important topic of today¡¯s meeting."


    The three men at the table straightened immediately.


    Mize blinked, slightly tilting his head.


    Then, Liam dropped a bombshell.


    "From today onward, Mize Adhart will be the main lady of this castle and this territory," Liam announced smoothly. "The one and only."


    Silence.


    Mize froze.


    What?


    Before he could even process that, Liam turned toward Elias.


    "Elias, prepare the necessary arrangements for the title bestowment" he ordered, as if this was the most normal thing in the world.


    "I want it to be carved into a golden scroll and etched onto the territory''s history"


    "Yes, my Lord," Elias replied immediately, hands clasped in thought. "Shall I arrange a ceremony for the announcement?"


    But before Liam could even open his mouth, Mize was already shaking his head.


    "Nope."


    A pause.


    "I don¡¯t like large crowds," Mize added, lips pressed tight.


    U-uh¡­


    Elias glanced at Liam for guidance, but Liam simply sighed.


    He should have seen this coming.


    "Fine," Liam relented, rubbing his temple. "Since she doesn¡¯t like it, then just make sure the news spreads. I don¡¯t want people being unaware of her presence."


    "Understood, my Lord," Elias nodded, ever professional.


    Meanwhile, Mize squinted.


    The main lady of the castle and territory? The one and only?


    Was this guy serious?


    Liam didn¡¯t even give Mize time to process what was happening before he continued, his voice pressing down on the room like a weighted blanket.


    "One more thing," he said, tone cool. "I¡¯ll be merging the authority of this territory with hers. Send the troops into town and stay on high alert. We¡¯ll commence the merging process in one hour."


    The room tensed.


    Elias blinked.


    Halb raised a brow.


    Aizen paused mid-sip of his tea.


    "Territory merging?" Elias muttered under his breath.


    "So My Lady is a Lord herself?" Halb mused, arms crossed as he weighed the implications.


    Mize, meanwhile, just sat there. Confused.


    ¡®Merging authority? Didn''t Liam said that it was a sharing system?''


    It sounded important, but he had no clue what it actually meant in depths.


    Yet despite the surprise, the three generals didn¡¯t ask further. Their role wasn¡¯t to question. Their role was to execute.


    Liam leaned back slightly, eyes flicking to Halb. "Ready the army. Be on high alert for any territorial shifts."


    "Yes, my Lord," Halb nodded without hesitation.


    He stood up, his massive frame moving with unexpected speed as he left the room.


    Mize¡¯s eyes followed him, intrigued.


    ¡®Damn. For a guy built like a fortress, he moves fast.¡¯


    Then, Liam turned to Aizen.


    "Aizen."


    "My Lord," Aizen responded immediately, eyes gleaming.


    "Ensure nothing changes in your laboratory."


    The air shivered.


    "As you command," Aizen murmured, rising from his seat.


    He pressed a fist to his chest in a polite bow, then vanished.


    Like that.


    Mize stiffened.


    ¡®Yup. Lab guy. Suspicious as hell. Totally bad vibes.¡¯ He added that to his mental notes.


    Then Liam¡¯s gaze shifted.


    "Elias."


    Elias stood straighter, hands folded neatly behind his back.


    "You¡¯re coming with me to the Heart of the Territory."


    "Understood, my Lord," Elias nodded. Unshaken.


    Liam stood.


    And before Mize could even think about standing himself.


    He was lifted.


    Just. Like that.


    No warning. No preparation.


    A smooth, effortless princess carry.


    ¡®Oh. We¡¯re doing this again, huh?¡¯ Mize internally sighed.


    For a brief second, he thought about protesting.


    Making a fuss. Demanding to be put down.


    But then he thought about how much effort it would take to walk.


    And instead¡­


    He just shrugged, wrapping his arms around Liam¡¯s shoulder like a good obedient girl.


    ¡®Might as well enjoy the ride.¡¯


    Mize¡¯s ride continued smoothly, Liam¡¯s arms steady as they moved through the vast corridors of the castle.


    Honestly, Mize had no complaints.


    Walking? Too much effort.


    Getting carried? VIP treatment.


    So he just sat there, arms loosely wrapped around Liam¡¯s shoulders, occasionally glancing around at the sheer scale of the place.


    And man, was it this big.


    From the dining hall alone, he saw multiple expansive chambers branching off in different directions, massive open spaces filled with official-looking people, dressed in sleek, well-tailored uniforms, hurrying back and forth with urgent expressions.


    It looked like a government center.


    But, you know. Fancier.


    And every now and then, as they passed a set of open windows, Mize caught glimpses of the garden.


    ¡®Holy''


    His ruby-red eyes widened slightly.


    Sprawling hedge mazes. Crystal-clear fountains.


    Vibrant flowerbeds bursting with deep purples, rich reds, and soft blues.


    There were even cherry blossom trees lining one of the outer courtyards, their petals drifting softly in the breeze.


    ¡®This place is straight out of a fairy tale.¡¯


    He half-expected some mystical deer to pop out of nowhere and start singing.


    But the scenery didn¡¯t last long.


    Because soon enough, they arrived at what was, undoubtedly, the core area of the castle.


    A massive gate.


    Easily five times the size of the others they¡¯d passed.


    And it wasn¡¯t just big, it was intimidating.


    Towering, black stone slabs carved with intricate engravings.


    Strange golden symbols weaved across the surface, perhaps runes? Formations? He doesn''t know, but they looked cool.


    Mize stared.


    ¡®Damn. That¡¯s thick.¡¯


    ¡®And it looks hella heavy.¡¯


    Like, no way this thing was budging without some serious manpower.


    But then.


    The stationed guards, standing  on either side of the gate, stepped forward.


    And with a single gloved hand each, they casually.


    Pushed it open.


    Boom.


    Mize¡¯s thoughts did a full 180.


    ¡®Alright. It¡¯s light then.¡¯


    His eyes spun slightly, processing the absolute disrespect to physics.

 Chapter 46: Heart of the territory.

    As Liam strode into the throne hall, Mize lifted his head slightly, chin resting against Liam¡¯s shoulder as his ruby-red eyes roamed the vast space before them.


    And woah.


    ''This place hugeeee!'' His eyes gleamed.


    If the rest of the castle looked grand, then this hall was on a completely different level.


    The floor was covered in a massive, deep crimson carpet, woven with golden embroidery that ran straight from the entrance all the way to the throne.


    The material was plush, so much so that each step sank slightly into its luxurious surface.


    Towering black marble pillars lined both sides of the hall, stretching high into the ceiling.


    Their surfaces were etched with intricate symbols, glowing under the flickering golden light of the chandeliers hanging above.


    The soft illumination bathed the room in a mix of warmth and regality, the polished floors reflecting its gleam as they walked by.


    Above the pillars, massive banners hung in massive waves, each embroidered with an emblem of a coiling dragon, a serpentine form in silver against a backdrop of deep violet.


    And at the very end of the hall, elevated by a short set of ornate stairs, was the throne.


    It was an exquisite piece.


    Dark obsidian-like stone, sculpted into an imposing shape, its high back stretching toward the ceiling.


    The armrests were sharp, claw-like engravings, and along the edges, fine silver inlays glowed softly under the chandelier light.


    Mize¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t stop there.


    Just behind the throne, nestled within the shadows and partially hidden from view, floated an orb.


    It wasn¡¯t large, perhaps the size of a human head.


    The sphere itself was a shifting mass of swirling energy, an ever-changing mix of deep purples, blues, and streaks of gold, like a piece of the cosmos had been condensed into a single, floating form.


    Faint strange runic symbols flickered across its surface, appearing and vanishing in the blink of an eye, as if it were constantly processing something.


    Mize¡¯s breath hitched slightly.


    ¡®That thing¡­ feels alive''


    ''No wonder it was called the heart of the territory''


    There was something peculiar about it.


    Not threatening, but¡­ present.


    Like it was aware of its surroundings, aware of him. ''Perhaps the territory is alive?''


    But it was just a guess.


    Before he could fully process the strangeness of it, Liam¡¯s voice broke through his thoughts, snapping him out of it.


    ¡°This,¡± Liam murmured, stepping forward toward the throne, ¡°is the Heart of the Territory.¡±


    Liam adjusted his grip, effortlessly shifting Mize higher into his arms, one hand resting securely on his waist while the other supported the soft curve of his thighs.


    His touch was steady and unbearably gentle.


    His gaze flickered to Elias on the side that had been following them. ¡°When the troops are properly stationed, we¡¯ll begin.¡±


    ¡°Yes, My Lord. I will inform you the moment everything is in place" Elias responded with a respectful bow.


    ¡°Good"


    Liam¡¯s attention turned back to the small figure in his arms.


    Mize had finally stopped twisting his head in all directions, his curiosity momentarily satisfied as he pulled back slightly, peering up with those shimmering ruby eyes.


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    "This is a really nice castle, Liam," Mize admitted, his voice light, casual, but the admiration in his tone was evident.


    His fingers absentmindedly toyed with the edge of Liam¡¯s sleeve before he added, ¡°Say¡­ how did you build all this in just a few days?¡±


    Liam hummed, lips curving into a faint smile.


    He didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he continued his slow, measured steps, rounding the back of the throne before carefully sitting down, adjusting Mize effortlessly onto his lap.


    ¡°It¡¯s because of you.¡±


    Mize blinked. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I built everything because I want to be the strongest, for you.¡±


    Tch.


    Mize clicked his tongue, eyes narrowing as he tore his gaze away.


    Clich¨¦.


    So damn clich¨¦.


    And yet¡­ the heat creeping up his neck and burning the tips of his ears betrayed the way those words actually hit him.


    ¡®I never thought I¡¯d live to see the day where I, a man, fall head over heels for another man''


    He swallowed hard, shifting slightly but making no move to escape.


    ¡°Not going to hiss at me, huh?¡± Liam teased, lowering his voice, deep, indulgent, intoxicating.


    His warm breath ghosted over Mize¡¯s face, and for a moment, their noses nearly brushed.


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    Mize looked away as usual, but the deepening flush on his cheeks wasn¡¯t so easy to hide.


    Liam chuckled, clearly enjoying himself.


    But before he could tease any further, Mize suddenly changed the subject.


    ¡°Why did you bring my entire house here without my permission?¡±


    Liam paused.


    Oh. Right.


    He¡¯d forgotten to mention that little detail.


    His gaze drifted, scanning Mize¡¯s oversized hoodie, which barely covered his upper thighs, exposing his porcelain-smooth legs.


    ¡®Ah¡­ that explains why she is dressed like this''


    Liam finally exhaled, regaining his composure. ¡°Regarding that¡­¡±


    His fingers absentmindedly toyed with the strands of Mize¡¯s hair, twirling them between his gloved fingertips. ¡°You¡¯ll be living in my territory until the Lord¡¯s Trial is over.¡±


    Mize¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Huh?¡±


    Liam continued, tone calm, patient, as if he were explaining something obvious. ¡°As for managing the territory, you don¡¯t have to worry. I will handle everything.¡± His grip on Mize¡¯s waist tightened slightly.


    ¡°Except for the special abilities unique to each Lord, the rest is already being managed"


    Mize tapped his lip, considering the situation. ¡°So¡­¡± A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t have to do anything except lay around comfortably and get stronger?¡±


    Liam¡¯s lips curled into a smile, his fingers dragging through Mize¡¯s hair with indulgent slowness.


    ¡°Well¡­ if that¡¯s what you want, you can.¡±


    He leaned in, voice dropping to a seductive murmur.


    ¡°You are, after all, my precious wife.¡±


    Mize froze.


    The warmth crawling up his face was immediate.


    His lips parted slightly, eyes flickering with something between embarrassment and indignation.


    But before he could muster up a proper response, all he could do was let out a small, muffled hum, his brain short-circuiting for just a moment too long.


    Mize fidgeted slightly, shifting in Liam¡¯s lap, his fingers unconsciously playing with the hem of his hoodie.


    ¡°W-well, I won¡¯t just freeload, okay? I¡¯ll figure out what to do later. And the dungeon, yes... I want to create a dungeon" His voice wavered, clearly trying to justify his laziness even though Liam had already given him full permission to take it easy.


    Liam chuckled, his palm warm and steady as it continued to rub slow, deliberate circles against Mize¡¯s head. ¡°Anything you want.¡±


    With the extra time before the merging process officially started, Liam began explaining the intricacies of the fusion, how it worked, what would happen, and what it meant for the both of them.


    Mize listened attentively, though his understanding wavered between mild confusion and basic comprehension.


    Some of the concepts were hard to grasp, but he managed to get the general idea.


    ¡°So basically, once the merging happens, my initial territory gets fused with yours, and we¡¯ll share everything as Lords, both at the same time?¡± Mize tilted his head, brows knitting together in thought.


    Liam hummed, his fingers tapping lazily against Mize¡¯s waist. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ close enough. But not entirely especially the sharing aspect"


    Mize¡¯s eyes flickered toward the floating orb behind the throne, its silent presence tugging at his thoughts. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t that be kinda cheating?¡±


    Liam arched a brow. ¡°Cheating?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Mize gestured vaguely, ¡°if people could just partner up and merge their territories, wouldn¡¯t that make everyone a powerhouse? Like, double the strength, double the resources, wouldn¡¯t the whole world just be filled with overpowered Lords?¡±


    Liam sighed, shaking his head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work like that, Mimi.¡±


    Mize gave him a skeptical look. ¡°Oh? And why is that?¡±


    ¡°Because the requirements for merging are¡­ extremely strict.¡± Liam¡¯s voice carried a deeper weight now. ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as just pairing up and combining strength.¡±


    Mize blinked. ¡°Wait, there are requirements?¡± His curiosity flared. ¡°I thought it was free?¡±


    ¡°If it were that easy, our human race would¡¯ve already doubled its powerhouses to fight against the other races.¡±


    ¡°¡­Ah.¡± Mize nodded slowly, the logic clicking into place. ¡°So the requirements are what? restrict people?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Liam gestured with a flick of his wrist.


    A small, fist-sized bead suddenly materialized between them, floating just above Mize¡¯s chest.


    Mize¡¯s breath hitched slightly as he took in the sight of it. The bead twisted and shimmered, its surface shifting with an endless interplay of colors and distortions.


    It looked like a piece of reality itself was warping in place.


    ¡°¡­Reality Shard?¡± Mize guessed, his voice laced with curiosity.


    Liam¡¯s lips twitched in amusement. ¡°Oh? You know about those?¡± He shook his head, his fingers hovering just beneath the bead. ¡°No, this isn¡¯t a Reality Shard. But it¡¯s just as rare, maybe even harder to obtain.¡±


    His hand closed around the bead, but strangely, it never made contact.


    Mize¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°A space barrier?¡±


    ¡°An Infinity Barrier,¡± Liam corrected, his grip tightening slightly around the weightless object. ¡°If this bead were put up for sale at a human race auction, it would instantly attract every major power in existence.¡±


    His voice turned low, deliberate. ¡°This is the kind of thing wars are started over.¡±


    Mize swallowed, his gaze flickering between the floating bead and Liam¡¯s enigmatic expression. ¡°¡­It¡¯s that big of a deal?¡±


    Liam¡¯s lips curled into a puzzling smile, his gaze dark with amusement. ¡°More than you think.¡±

 Chapter 47: Intertwined fate

    Mize tilted his head, fingers absentmindedly tapping against Liam¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Then, next question¡­¡± His voice trailed off as he locked eyes with Liam, though just for a moment and he hurriedly averted his gaze away, cheeks flaring in red.


    ¡°When are we enrolling in the academy forces? Do we have to wait a bit longer or what?¡±


    Liam regarded Mize''s question with a ruffle to the hair, nodding slightly.


    His fingers, ever brazen, reached up and poked Mize¡¯s cheek, pressing into the soft flesh just to see it squish.


    ¡°Yes, we do"


    Mize shot him a glare, lips puffed into a pout, but Liam only chuckled, continuing to shamelessly prod at the adorable creature in his lap.


    Having absolute control over Mize like this was an indulgence he wasn¡¯t planning to let go of.


    ¡°Once a person enters the warp, they officially begin their career as a Lord.¡± His tone took on a serious edge, though his fingers kept on massaging Mize''s cheeks from time to time.


    ¡°Then, the warp conducts a test, a ¡®newbie test¡¯ that separates the new Lords into their own isolated area"


    "This area exists for a random period before merging with the main Lord zones"


    Mize blinked, processing. ¡°Newbie area? Old Lords¡¯ area? Newbie test?¡±


    His expression shifted several times, his confusion evident with his eyes almost popped out of the sockets, seemingly trying his best to comprehend.


    Liam had seen plenty of Mize¡¯s expressions over the past few days, but this? This was pure bafflement.


    ¡°Why does this sound like a game mechanic?¡± Mize finally asked, his lips pursed.


    Liam smiled, but there was something deeper behind it, something far heavier than his usual playful expression. ¡°Because it is.¡±


    Mize stiffened. ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°The warp itself is a massive game.¡± Liam leaned in slightly, his voice dipping lower, ¡°Everything about it, the rules, the requirements, the systems in place, no one denies this fact. The warp operates on strict mechanics, like an eternal, living game world"


    Mize¡¯s pupils dilated.


    He suddenly sat up straighter, his entire demeanor shifting, hands latched tightly against Liam''s shoulder.


    ¡°So it really is?¡± Excitement buzzed in his tone, and for the first time, understanding clicked.


    Finally, the last remaining brain cells connected for the very time since the beginning of this universe.


    ¡°No wonder.¡± He exhaled, then repeated, voice rising. ¡°No wonder everything about it is structured so rigidly. No wonder there are rules for everything. It¡¯s all based on a game-like system!¡±


    Liam chuckled, amused by how quickly Mize latched onto the concept. ¡°Not just a game, an infinite dimensional construct.¡±


    His gaze darkened slightly. ¡°That¡¯s why many believe the warp itself is a sentient entity, one that created this ¡®game world¡¯ inside it.¡±


    Mize¡¯s excitement wavered slightly. He narrowed his eyes. ¡°For what purpose?¡±


    Liam went silent for a moment, his gaze drifting beyond the throne hall, beyond the floating orb, as if looking into something far beyond their comprehension. ¡°¡­Nobody knows.¡±


    Mize stared at him, gears turning in his head, then suddenly. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just for fun.¡±


    Liam blinked, slightly taken aback. ¡°Fun?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, fun.¡± Mize nodded firmly, his expression surprisingly earnest.


    His hands reached up, gently grasping Liam¡¯s, pulling it to his forehead. ¡°If I were alone in an infinite space, with nothing to do, I¡¯d probably create a game too, just to keep myself entertained"


    "The warp must be so lonely for so many years"


    Liam was silent for a moment, his palm resting against the smooth skin of Mize¡¯s forehead.


    Then, a chuckle rumbled from his chest. ¡°¡­I suppose that¡¯s one way to look at it.¡±


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    Mize grinned, oddly pleased for some reason. He didn¡¯t know why, but something about his own answer felt right.


    Liam exhaled, bringing them back on topic. ¡°As for the newbie zones I mentioned earlier, let me clarify.¡±


    Mize perked up, listening attentively.


    ¡°New human Lords are placed in a separate, temporary area outside the current human-controlled zones,¡± Liam explained.


    ¡°This ¡®special zone¡¯ exists at the border between human-controlled territory and the neighboring races.¡±


    Mize¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°So basically, it¡¯s a buffer zone?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. It separates us from the rest of the veteran Lords until the test ends, and we¡¯re forcibly merged into the established territories.¡±


    Liam then gestured outward. ¡°Just to give you some perspective, on the right side of our human territory is the demon race.¡±


    Mize stiffened. ¡°¡­Demon race?¡±


    ¡°A sub-species, yes.¡± Liam nodded. ¡°To the left is the elven race. And straight ahead¡­ we have the Human Grass Clan.¡±


    Mize, who had been nodding along, suddenly froze. ¡°Wait. The what?¡±


    Liam smirked. ¡°Human Grass Clan.¡±


    Mize slowly turned to face him, blinking. ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°Never limit your imagination in the warp, Mimi.¡± Liam chuckled. ¡°Anything can exist here. The Human Grass Clan is still, technically, part of the human race.¡±


    Mize rubbed his temples. ¡°You¡¯re telling me there¡¯s a race of¡­ grass people?¡±


    ¡°More like humans with slightly mutated genetics.¡± Liam corrected. ¡°Their hair and eye color are unique, but their ancestral lineage still ties back to humanity.¡±


    Mize exhaled. ¡°That¡­ sounds like a mutation.¡±


    Liam grinned. ¡°A lot of things do.¡±


    "Then how about at our back?" Mize asked.


    "At the back is the grand ocean"


    "As for how long we have to wait, it''s unknown," Liam said, his fingers lazily running through Mize''s hair.


    "The warp periodically releases information through events."


    Mize''s lips twitched. "Events? So it really is a game."


    Liam chuckled. "Of course. Think of it like this, right now, we''re in a three-day server. And according to standard game logic, the first big event will be on the seventh day."


    Mize¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Don¡¯t tell me¡­ survive the horde?"


    "Close," Liam smirked. "It¡¯s a killing event. Waves of monsters will attack every Lord¡¯s territory, one after another. The Lords who rack up the most kills and rank the highest will receive rewards."


    Mize raised a brow. "And if you fail?"


    Liam shook his head. "Not what you¡¯re expecting. If the waves become too much, a Lord can voluntarily forfeit to save themselves"


    Mize huffed. "Game mechanics again."


    "Indeed"


    Just as Mize was about to ask another question, Elias approached, his steps crisp and precise. "My lord, everything is ready."


    Liam nodded, then turned his attention back to Mize, who was still comfortably resting in his arms. "Are you ready?"


    Mize pursed his lips. "Ready to be bound to you?" His tone dripped with sarcasm.


    Liam¡¯s smirk widened. "Indeed. To be bound to me, forever."


    Mize rolled his eyes, but his heartbeat picked up slightly.


    He wasn''t about to admit it, but the way Liam said it made something tingle down his spine.


    Liam extended his hand, and a small, prismatic bead floated between his fingers, shifting colors like liquid light, from deep violet to shimmering gold.


    "This is the Bead of Love," Liam said, his voice carrying an amused undertone.


    Mize immediately gagged. "The what?"


    Liam gave him a knowing look. "The Bead of Love. A rare artifact that allows two Lords to merge their territories into one."


    Mize crossed his arms. "You could''ve picked literally any other name."


    Liam laughed softly. "I didn¡¯t name it. It¡¯s an ancient artifact. It represents absolute trust, unity, and¡­ an unbreakable bond."


    Mize squinted. "Sounds an awful lot like a marriage contract."


    Liam¡¯s lips curled. "And what if it is?"


    Mize clicked his tongue, looking away. "Tch. Just get on with it."


    Liam exhaled, then raised his free hand.


    Behind them, the floating orb at the back of the throne pulsed, glowing brighter as the bead reacted to its energy.


    A golden formation spread beneath their feet, circling the two of them in radiant light.


    "Repeat after me," Liam said, his tone serious now. "With this oath, I intertwine my fate with yours. Our strength, our land, and our destiny united as one."


    Mize took a deep breath, his voice soft but firm. "With this oath, I intertwine my fate with yours. Our strength, our land, and our destiny united as one."


    Then...


    The Bead of Love shattered into countless motes of light, swirling around them before sinking into their chests.


    Mize shivered, feeling something click inside him as if his very soul had been tethered to Liam¡¯s.


    The golden formation pulsed one last time before fading away.


    Liam¡¯s hand caressed Mize¡¯s cheek. "It¡¯s done. From this moment on, you are mine, and I am yours."


    Mize swallowed hard, refusing to meet his gaze. "Tch. You make it sound way more dramatic than it needs to be."


    Liam leaned in, his breath warm against Mize¡¯s ear. "You¡¯ll get used to it, wife."


    Mize promptly bit his hand.


    Liam rose to his feet, effortlessly lifting Mize along with him as if he weighed nothing.


    His grip remained firm yet gentle, securing Mize in place as he turned to Elias. "Any changes in the town?"


    Elias hesitated for a second, his gaze distant as if listening to a voice only he could hear.


    It took a moment before he nodded slightly, confirming something through his long-distance communication skills. "There have been some modifications. The Lord¡¯s summoning altar has expanded, the territory itself has grown slightly, and the capacity of the Lord¡¯s warehouse has increased."


    Liam hummed thoughtfully, rubbing Mize¡¯s back absentmindedly. "I see. Attend to them at once. I¡¯ll have a private discussion with my wife first. After that, I¡¯ll come to check on the rest."


    Elias gave a respectful nod. "As you wish, my Lord."


    With that, he turned and strode toward the massive entrance.


    The towering throne guards moved in unison, pulling the heavy doors shut behind him with a resonating thud.


    The throne hall quieted.


    Mize, still sitting comfortably in Liam¡¯s hold, turned his gaze toward the now-sealed exit.


    Then, slowly, he looked back at Liam.


    The man was smiling.


    Too much smiling.


    Too relaxed.


    Too¡­ suspicious.


    "So¡­" Liam drawled, his voice rich with amusement as he adjusted Mize ever so slightly in his arms.


    His golden eyes gleamed, sharp and unreadable. "Do you want to make babies?"


    Mize¡¯s expression flattened into pure, unfiltered disbelief. "¡­"


    He deadpanned. Started. Blinked.


    Then, very slowly, he exhaled.


    "Liam."


    "Yes, wife?"


    "Put me down before I bite your face off."

 Chapter 48: Abusive wife?

    Liam chuckled, clearly entertained by Mize¡¯s reaction. "Alright¡­ biting games sound fun."


    Mize, ever the unpredictable menace, didn¡¯t even give him time to prepare.


    His small hands shot out, grabbing Liam by the collar, and before anyone in the room could process what was happening.


    Chomp!


    "Ark!"


    Liam visibly flinched, his entire body tensing as sharp little teeth sank mercilessly into the bridge of his nose.


    It wasn''t enough to break his skin, but it was more than enough to sting, his grip instinctively loosening as he gently placed Mize down onto the throne.


    Mize dusted off his hoodie as if he¡¯d just finished some grueling work. "Yeah, serves you right."


    Liam exhaled through his nose, rubbing the now-reddened bite mark. "Aahah, I guess our small talk is over. I¡¯ll be handling territory matters for a couple of hours, then I¡¯ll come back to you"


    "Make sure to get used to your strength, you now share the same territory as me. And also, some of the Lord''s features on your part are quite different than mine, explore them for now to slowly learn"


    "Yeah, and also rub the red mark off your face before you leave." Mize flicked a glance at him, unimpressed, before twisting his fingers idly between his nails. "I wouldn''t want the people to think that the Lord''s wife is abusive"


    Liam¡¯s eye twitched. "Of course¡­"


    With that, he strode toward the door and vanished beyond it, leaving Mize with something he hadn¡¯t had in what felt like an eternity.


    Silence.


    Or, well, what should have been silence.


    Mize barely had time to enjoy his victory before he realized that despite Liam¡¯s departure, he was still very much not alone.


    The butler stood attentively a few steps away.


    Behind him, a line of maids waited with polite smiles and lowered heads.


    Further back, twenty armored guards stood at perfect attention, their presence almost blending into the room.


    And that wasn¡¯t even counting the hidden shadow guards stationed directly beneath his feet.


    Mize slowly turned his head, scanning the crowd with a ridiculously unamused expression.


    The butler cleared his throat.


    "C-cough!"


    The maids subtly straightened, and the guards remained stiff as ever.


    Mize exhaled through his nose. "¡­Hello, everyone."


    "Greetings, Your highness!!" The entire group spoke in unison, bowing slightly.


    ¡­


    Mize plastered on an awkward smile, waving his hand dismissively. "Uh. You may rise."


    "Thank you, Your highness!" They echoed again, standing in one synchronized motion.


    The scene was so formal that it nearly made Mize burst out laughing. He quickly swallowed the urge, slowly sliding off the throne.


    And by "sliding," he meant jumping.


    He landed neatly on the floor, though he muttered under his breath, "I¡¯m asking Liam to shorten this damn thing later."


    He needed to think. To process everything.


    The awakening. The territory merging. The game-like reality of the Warp.


    And most importantly, the fact that his entire apartment had been forcibly moved into a freaking castle overnight.


    ''So I don''t have to pay the rent anymore huh''


    But the thought was only for a moment.


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    "To the garden," he decided, turning his gaze to the butler expectantly.


    The man, ever attentive, took a respectful step forward, bowing slightly. "I will guide the way, my Lady."


    Mize gave a soft hum of acknowledgment, observing him for a second.


    This was a different butler than the one he¡¯d met earlier.


    He wasn¡¯t particularly tall nor short, and his appearance was plain, average, even. But his uniform was immaculate, and he carried himself with practiced precision.


    "My Lady?" The butler shifted slightly under Mize¡¯s gaze, his cheeks darkening faintly.


    Mize blinked. "Ah. Right. Let¡¯s go."


    "As you wish."


    The walk through the castle was surprisingly smooth, though that didn¡¯t stop Mize from stealing quick glances at the maids following behind.


    Just a casual check, really.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was suspicious or anything.


    But it would be an issue if there were any ambitious women lurking around Liam, wouldn''t it?


    ...He¡¯d keep an eye on them.


    The path twisted and turned, and after a few minutes, they arrived at a grand entrance.


    The garden¡¯s gate was similar to the ones he¡¯d seen before, tall, elegant, intricately designed, but beyond it, a soft white marble path stretched into a sprawling backyard.


    Mize stepped under the arch, but before the sun could properly touch his skin.


    Swoosh.


    A maid scooted in immediately, umbrella in hand, shielding him from the sunlight.


    Mize quirked a brow but didn¡¯t complain. He simply resumed walking, taking in the sight before him.


    And what a sight it was.


    A sea of flowers spread across the landscape, colors blooming in waves of blues, pinks, purples, and whites.


    Everything was intricately arranged, though there was something¡­ off about the way they were designed.


    Not in a bad way, just in a way that made Mize tilt his head in curiosity.


    A medium-sized pond rested at the heart of the garden, surrounded by maze-like shrubbery, leading directly toward a small circular abode nestled amongst the flowers.


    "Let¡¯s go there."


    He strode toward it without hesitation, stepping onto the lush green flooring of the structure.


    The design was¡­ different. The chairs were crafted from interwoven plants, sturdy yet soft to the touch.


    The table was covered in blooming flowers, and a canopy of vines arched overhead, holding delicate blue blossoms that dripped cool vapors into the air.


    Mize leaned back in his chair, eyes following the gentle mist rising from the petals.


    "Was this place Liam¡¯s doing?" He asked absently.


    The butler, who had been busy ordering maids to prepare tea, quickly stepped forward.


    "Ah, yes. The Lord envisioned this space, but the one who constructed it was General Halb."


    Mize blinked.


    ¡­ Halb?


    The same Halb?


    The broad-framed, red-haired, muscle-bound warrior who looked like he could crush bricks with his bare hands?


    Mize pointed at the most delicate features of the garden. The intricate floral arrangements. The softly curving archways.


    The way everything felt so¡­ precise, fragile, and delicate.


    He narrowed his eyes. "You¡¯re telling me Halb did all this?"


    "Yes, my Lady." The butler nodded with a polite smile. "General Halb has quite the hobby for tending to gardens. Everything here was his personal craftsmanship."


    Mize slowly leaned back in his seat, processing that information.


    "Huh."


    Well, you really do learn something new every day.


    Mize took a careful sip of the tea, letting the floral aroma swirl around his senses before swallowing.


    It was light, fragrant, and slightly sweet, definitely something Liam had arranged.


    ''System, any changes to the panel?''


    The familiar mechanical chime echoed in his mind.


    [Yes, host. There have been several adjustments following your awakening. Now that the host has entered the Warp dimension, additional modifications have been made.]


    [This is the result of the Warp and this system working together to create a revised panel]


    A translucent screen flickered into existence before him.


    Mize¡¯s ruby-red eyes hovered over the panel, scanning the changes with interest.


    Some of the details had shifted, his title now reflected his path.


    But something was missing.


    ¡®Where¡¯s the Lord Features panel?¡¯ He frowned slightly, tapping his nails against the ceramic teacup.


    [Due to the territory merging, your Lord Panel is currently undergoing integration with the main Lord¡¯s system. Once synchronization is complete, the host will receive the full Lord Authority Panel.]


    Mize hummed thoughtfully, tilting his head.


    ¡®So I can¡¯t see my full capabilities yet, huh?¡¯


    It wasn¡¯t that big of a deal, but it would¡¯ve been nice to know exactly what he could do now.


    His profession was still vague, and his so-called divinity hadn¡¯t been fully explained.


    Still, these many points was a nice sight.


    At least he was rich in something.


    Though it still wasn''t enough to even increase his beauty points even by one.


    He was planning to save it for later, and perform a massive rush into the next appearance realm.


    The subtle chime echoed in Mize¡¯s mind, a crisp [Ding] that sent a shiver down his spine.


    His fingers, still delicately curled around the teacup¡¯s handle, paused midair.


    His crimson eyes flickered slightly, losing focus for a fraction of a second.


    To the maid standing nearby, this single moment of hesitation sent a wave of panic through her chest.


    Her hands clenched the hem of her apron, knuckles turning white. ¡°M-My lady¡­ is there something wrong with the tea?¡±


    Her voice was small, cautious, ordering on fearful.


    She had brewed the tea herself, meticulously following the process to ensure it was perfect.


    After all, serving the First Lady was not just an honor, it was a test of survival.


    The lord had made it painfully clear.


    "If you fail to meet expectations, you will be removed"


    The people of the town whispered about Liam with admiration, treating him as a benevolent ruler.


    But the castle staff knew better.


    They had seen things.


    He was no ordinary Lord.


    The weight of her own thoughts nearly crushed her, but Mize¡¯s voice pulled her back.


    "Nothing''s wrong with the tea."


    His tone was smooth, but there was something else there.


    Something unreadable.


    "I was just lost in my thoughts for a moment," he continued, his fingers finally moving again as he took a delicate sip. "Nothing much."


    The maid exhaled silently, pressing her lips together to stop herself from trembling.


    Her lady might be gentle in demeanor, but she wasn¡¯t fooled.


    The one who truly owned this castle was the terrifying lord upstairs. But the one who held his leash?


    It was this delicate beauty sitting right in front of her.

 Chapter 49: Weak Yama Lord

    Mize exhaled slowly, his fingers dragging across the glowing panel before him.


    He hadn¡¯t expected much, but the information presented was enough to make his mind churn.


    He tapped the [Tap for more] option, and the screen smoothly expanded with a soft hum.


    [Path of the Lord]


    [Status]: Partner Lord System ¨C Sir Liam, Lady Mize Adhart


    [Tier]: 3


    [Lord''s Attribute]: None


    [Territory]: 50km in diameter


    [Population]: 2,837


    [Lord¡¯s Buildings]:


    <ul>


    <li>Altar of Darkness [Tier 3]</li>


    <li>Altar of Beauty Divinity [Tier 3]</li>


    <li>Storage House [Tier 3]</li>


    <li>Outer wall [Tier 3]</li>


    <li>Basic town[Tier 3]</li>


    <li>Serpentine barrack[Purple][Tier 3]</li>


    </ul>


    [Regional Chat]


    [Global Chat]


    [Rankings]


    [Trading hub]


    Mize tilted his head, eyes flickering as he digested the information. "It''s¡­ pretty simple, actually."


    Despite the minimal details, the information was clear. The status represented his and Liam¡¯s shared authority over the territory.


    The tier indicated the strength of the heart of their domain. And the attributes?


    It seemed they were still just¡­ normal Lords.


    For now.


    Mize put those thoughts aside and scrolled further, his curiosity piqued by the Regional Chat and Global Chat options.


    The chat function opened with a flick, and lines of conversation streamed past his eyes.


    At first, it was just casual chatter, new Lords stumbling their way through the mechanics, questions about how things worked, and the occasional complaint about how unfair it all was.


    But the more he read, the more his expression darkened.


    His fingers froze above the panel.


    "Liam never told me about this¡­ " Mize murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Among the countless messages, one pattern stood out.


    Most of these Lords weren¡¯t from his planet.


    His chest tightened as he scrolled further.


    There were people in the chat completely lost, confused, scared, and desperately trying to figure out why they had suddenly been thrown into this "game."


    Few were clearly from pre-established civilizations that seemed to know about the Warp beforehand.


    Some were even giving advice.


    Others? They were just beginning to realize how utterly screwed they were.


    Mize¡¯s gaze flickered to the top corner of the screen.


    [Global Lords: 10,000,000,000+]


    Ten billion.


    His fingers gripped the edge of the table.


    Liam had mentioned that the Warp ran multiple game servers across various buffer zones between different races, but seeing that number displayed so casually sent a shiver down his spine.


    It was too massive to comprehend in normal human standards.


    "So, most of these people¡­ were just dragged in without any preparation?"


    [Yes, host.]


    The system¡¯s voice hummed in his mind.


    [Your planet is among the few lucky ones that allowed for early awakening before entering the Warp]


    [Possessing ample experiences to prepare the people before entering the warp]


    Mize exhaled sharply, fingers tapping the armrest. "Yeah¡­ lucky."


    His eyes flickered over the chat once more. There were thousands of messages asking the same desperate question.


    "How do we awaken?"


    It wasn¡¯t just confusion.


    It was panic.


    Mize leaned back, realizing the terrifying truth. Most of the Lords in this game were still mortals.


    Compared to them, his situation was like being born with a golden spoon. He had an established territory, a profession, and a terrifyingly powerful partner.


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    But the others?


    They had nothing.


    [The Awakening Process is not simple.] The system chimed again, as if reinforcing what he had just realized. [These Lords must find a medium to unlock their genetic potential. The strength of their territory alone is not enough. Against a Lord who possesses a profession, they would be utterly crushed because with a profession, they would be unable to utilize the energy of the territory core. Only capable of possessing the physical strength of a tier 3 expert only]


    Mize stared at the panel for a long moment.


    Then, he exhaled.


    "So basically¡­ it''s like throwing a bunch of level 1 players into a battlefield where some already have legendary weapons?"


    [Correct.]


    Mize rubbed his temple. This wasn¡¯t just a game.


    It was a slaughterhouse.


    Mize leaned back into his seat, fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of his teacup.


    His ruby-red eyes gleamed with curiosity as he muttered, "One more thing¡­ why is there no tutorial for me? I mean, this is a game, right?"


    "Shouldn¡¯t I have received some kind of built-in guide? Maybe a brain injection full of helpful information?"


    "How does the territory even work? How do I use a Summoning Altar? How am I supposed to operate everything?"


    A slight pause, then the system¡¯s voice hummed in his mind.


    [Answering host: Due to the method in which the host entered the Warp, no introductory information was provided.]


    Mize arched a brow, arms crossing over his chest. "And why is that? Am I¡­ excluded from the game or something?" His voice carried a tinge of annoyance, as if the Warp had personally wronged him.


    [Under normal circumstances, the host would have received all necessary information upon arrival, as is standard for new Lords.]


    [However, the host did not follow the standard process. The host was not summoned through the usual means. Due to the Villain¡¯s intervention and the golden finger ability he used, the Warp failed to recognize the host as a Lord. Instead, the host was classified as a native creature of this world. It was until the merging process that the host was finally recognised as a lord but then the warp still decided not to provide any information due to the current state of the territory]


    "Ah... Tier 3"


    Mize froze mid-sip, the teacup still hovering near his lips. Slowly, he lowered it, his eyes narrowing.


    "So¡­ what you¡¯re saying is¡­ Liam illegally smuggled me into this world?"


    [Correct. The host was forcefully migrated through an unknown method. As a result, despite holding the title of a Lord alongside the Villain, the host did not receive any system-guided information. All knowledge must be obtained manually.]


    Mize¡¯s lips parted slightly, then shut again.


    He exhaled.


    Then took a sip of tea.


    "¡­"


    "A little more sugar, please," he muttered, waving a hand toward the nearby maids.


    They instantly snapped to attention, rushing to adjust the sweetness to his liking.


    He let out a small sigh, shoulders relaxing as he leaned back into the chair.


    His gaze drifted to the lake, watching the soft ripples dance across its surface under the gentle breeze.


    "Well¡­ I guess it doesn¡¯t really matter." His voice was light, unconcerned. "Liam¡¯s here to handle all the Lord business. I can just sit back, be his pampered wife, slowly get stronger, and most importantly become increasingly beautiful."


    [As expected, the host is truly worthy of being bound to this system.]


    Mize smirked, giving a self-satisfied nod.


    "Naturally."


    The air was crisp, the tea warm, the scenery perfect.


    Mize reached for a cookie, taking a slow, deliberate bite.


    The rich chocolate melted instantly against his tongue, sending a pleasant shiver down his spine.


    His legs dangled off the chair, gently swinging as a soft hum escaped his lips.


    "Yeah," he murmured between bites, voice thick with contentment. "Being a pampered princess really is the best."


    Mize lounged deeper into the chair, legs kicking lazily beneath the table as he bit down into another cookie, the rich chocolate melting on his tongue.


    His gaze drifted upward, trailing along the delicate patterns of the floral canopy above him, a soft hum escaping his lips.


    "Though..." He mumbled around his bite, tilting his head against the plush cushion. "I¡¯d still be busying myself with the dungeon path. It¡¯s a thing of mine from the past, y¡¯know? I used to love playing dungeon games back then."


    The system¡¯s voice chimed in immediately, ever so eager.


    [It is fortunate for the host, then, as the Villain would be able to provide everything that the host needed to achieve such a goal.]


    Mize paused, rolling the words in his head before correcting, "That¡¯s not my goal¡­ It¡¯s just a tiny ambition."


    [Then what would be the host¡¯s true goal?]


    Mize¡¯s lips curled into a smirk as he reached for his tea, swirling the liquid gently before taking a slow sip.


    The warmth spread through his chest, but his eyes gleamed with a distant, ethereal light.


    "To be the most dazzling existence. So beautiful, so distant, that worlds would fall beneath my feet. The emperors would come just to lick my dust. The divines would fall from grace just to catch a glimpse of my fleeting back..."


    He set the cup down with a soft clink, ruby eyes flickering under the soft sunlight filtering through the canopy.


    "That, that is my true goal."


    A moment of silence stretched between them before the system finally responded.


    [Which aligns perfectly with the purpose of this system, host! It truly is fateful that this humble one was bound to such a worthy master!]


    Mize deadpanned. "Says the one who keeps hinting that I should be a whore to get more points."


    The system fell silent.


    Mize scoffed, shaking his head. "Enough of that. I wanna explore more of the Lord panel." He flicked his fingers, bringing up the interface before tapping on the Rankings icon.


    The panel shifted, new sections unfolding before his eyes.


    [Territory Ranking]


    [Power Ranking]


    [Event Ranking] [-No Ongoing Event-]


    Mize¡¯s fingers tapped rhythmically against the table as he read through the options, eyes narrowing slightly.


    "Huh. Very game-like. Sweet. I wonder just how powerful Liam is compared to the other billion Lords in this server..."


    He tapped into the Territory Ranking, expecting Liam¡¯s name to appear somewhere near the top.


    Maybe in the Top 100, at least? The guy was terrifyingly competent when he wanted to be.


    But the moment the list loaded.


    "¡­?"


    Mize blinked.


    His pupils constricted as he re-read the ranking, lips parting slightly.


    [Rank 1207: Lord Liam]


    One thousand... two hundred and seven.


    There was a long stretch of silence.


    Then, he blinked again, utterly dumbfounded.


    "Number 1207?"


    He rubbed his eyes. Looked again.


    The number did not change.


    His mind struggled to process the information. This was Liam. The guy who kidnapped him from reality, built a literal castle in days, had an army at his beck and call, and quite literally carried God-knows-how-many secrets under his ever-smiling facade.


    And yet.


    Still Tier 3?


    And it ranked quite lower than he was expecting.


    "What the hell has this guy been doing?! PLANTING FLOWERS?!"


    Mize''s gaze snapped downward, scanning the top Lords.


    Tier 4...


    Tier 4...


    Tier 5?!


    HISS.


    The Top 100 Lords had all reached Tier 4. And the Top 10? More than half had already advanced into Tier 5.


    Liam was barely scraping the top 1200.


    Mize sucked in a sharp breath. "No, seriously. What the hell is this? Shouldn¡¯t he be steamrolling everyone by now?"


    Sure, he was busy managing the territory, recruiting people, and admittedly, harassing him whenever the chance presented itself.


    But Tier 3?!


    Mize scrolled further, scrutinizing the stats of the top-ranked Lords.


    Then, his eyes flicked back to Liam¡¯s placement.


    The villainous overpowered schemer, sitting at Rank 1207 like a mid-tier nobody.


    Something was off.

 Chapter 50: Power ranking

    Mize narrowed his eyes, lips pressing together as he scrolled through the rankings again, just to make sure he wasn¡¯t hallucinating.


    There was no way. No way in hell Liam was this far behind in territory tier ranking.


    For someone this calculating?


    This absurdly competent?


    It just didn¡¯t add up.


    The realization made his stomach churn with a weird mix of suspicion and mild betrayal.


    Was Liam¡­ slacking? No, definitely not. If there was one thing that freak never did, it was waste time.


    But then¡­ what was he playing at?


    Mize let out a long sigh, taking another slow bite of his cookie, brushing the stray crumbs off his hands.


    Immediately, a maid rushed forward, delicately dabbing at his fingertips with a silk handkerchief, her head slightly bowed in quiet reverence.


    At first, Mize would have squirmed at the idea of being attended to like this.


    But now? He had embraced it.


    Hierarchy existed for a reason. If he wanted to be pampered and worshiped like a true queen, he sure as hell wouldn¡¯t stop them.


    He waved the maid off with a nod, fingers drifting back to the panel.


    "Alright¡­ power ranking next," he muttered, tapping the icon.


    Liam wouldn¡¯t be bad at this too, right?


    Mize braced himself, half-expecting to see another disgraceful three-digit ranking.


    But then.


    His breath hitched. His pupils shrank.


    The numbers hit like a brick to the skull.


    [Global Power Rankings][Human authorities]


    1st ¨C Lord Azrael | Power: 1, 009,750


    2nd ¨C Lord Xaiya | Power: 982,340


    3rd ¨C Lord Vortan | Power: 975,620


    4th ¨C Lord Selvar | Power: 970,580


    5th ¨C Lord Rykar | Power: 964,100


    6th ¨C Lord Liam | Power: 961,780


    7th ¨C Lord Farel | Power: 659,300


    8th ¨C Lord Shiran | Power: 552,440


    9th ¨C Lord Grenn | Power: 249,890


    10th ¨C Lord Vexil | Power: 240,650


    "Huh?"


    Mize blinked.


    And blinked again.


    Rank 6?!


    This guy, who was barely crawling at 1207 in territory ranking, was sitting pretty at 6th in raw power?!


    His jaw went slack, brain stalling as he absorbed the sheer absurdity of it.


    "...Is this what he meant by not using logical thinking in the warp?" Mize muttered, stunned.


    What kind of twisted game mechanic was this?!


    "Well... It was my fault anyway, I shouldn''t have used logic when it comes to the warp operation in the first place," Mize smiled wryly on the outside, though his legs were kicking happily beneath the table.


    After all, this was his man that they were talking about, being ranked sixth made Mize proud to the brim.


    ''Who wouldn''t be? It means my eyes were right when I decided to invest my love into him!'' Mize mused, his expression gleeful, the occasional head bobbing only adding to his beauty.


    Even the butler had to turn his gaze away, struggling not to be captivated.


    ''I should request a department change¡­ Sending a male butler to serve the Lady is practically sending me to a death trap!'' The butler discreetly retrieved a handkerchief from his chest pocket, wiping the sweat from his brow as he took a deep breath.


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    Meanwhile, Mize continued his deep dive into the Lord''s panel.


    There wasn¡¯t much information about how things operated, but he still explored with curiosity.


    His fingers hovered over the trading feature, tapping it open as a new interface appeared before him.


    Most Lords seemed to be trading basic resources, wood, stone, food.


    The food section was further categorized by type: grains, fruits, meat, dried goods.


    But what truly caught his attention was the Special Item category.


    [Tier 1 Upgrade Items]


    [Tier 2 Upgrade Items]


    [Tier 3 Upgrade Items]


    And the list went on. The higher the tier, the crazier the prices.


    Some people were even offering rare building blueprints and exclusive artifacts in exchange for just one upgrade item.


    Mize¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He didn¡¯t know much about these upgrade items, but their sheer demand spoke volumes.


    [If the host has questions, this humble one is available for guidance. While I am unable to directly transfer information, I can still provide explanations upon request.]


    Mize smirked, tapping his chin. "What, are you scared of the warp?"


    [Yes, host. The warp is a vast consciousness, while this system is merely a wish-fulfilling mechanism. Despite being on the same level, this system only possesses basic defensive functions and is unsuitable for direct confrontation.]


    "Ahh¡­" Mize mused, swirling the tea in his cup.


    The system was being honest for once.


    For the next hour, Mize remained completely absorbed in exploring the Lord''s panel.


    He flicked through every function, testing features, cross-checking data, and when things didn''t make sense, he¡¯d turn to the system for answers.


    For example, since it was a shared partnering system, why couldn¡¯t he access the entire Lord''s storage?


    Shouldn¡¯t all resources be visible to both of them since they technically co-owned the territory?


    The system responded with its usual meticulous clarity.


    [While the host and the Villain are both Lords of the same territory, the original Lordship still belongs to the Villain. The warp has deliberately enforced restrictions to prevent system exploitation. Thus, the host cannot freely access certain functions.]


    "So basically," Mize summarized, tapping his lips, "Liam can sit back and manage everything from the panel like a CEO, but I have to manually request changes? Sounds unfair"


    [It is not unfair, host. This ensures operational stability. If both of you had the ability to alter the system data at will, conflicts in management would be inevitable. Instead, the host is granted a separate Lordship, complete with unique authority over certain aspects.]


    [And it seems the warp is trying to push sense into the this world of his. Despite having the capability to allow it to happen, the warp worked it''s way around it nonetheless]


    Mize leaned back against his seat, mulling it over.


    "Yeah¡­ I guess that makes sense. If we both had full control, there¡¯d be chaos. This way, I get the same tier, the same resources, but Liam handles core management, and I only deal with specific operations."


    [Precisely, host. This method prevents inefficiency and ensures optimized governance.]


    "Alright, then." Mize swiped through the panel once more, curiosity bubbling in his tone. "So what exactly can I do?"


    [What does the host wish to accomplish?]


    Mize¡¯s eyes glinted. "Umm¡­ oh yeah! The Altar of Summoning! Since the warp gave me a separate one, does that mean I can summon my own troops?"


    [Yes, host. The summoning altar operates under different conditions for each Lord. Only the host may summon from their altar, just as the Villain may summon from his.]


    Mize grinned. "Then it¡¯s settled! I need some workers. Preferably a general"


    There was no hesitation in his decision.


    Liam hadn¡¯t explained the dungeon mechanics to him yet, but Mize knew one thing for certain, he¡¯d need his own people to run it.


    A trip to town, that was the plan. Sightseeing and checking out the altar.


    Mize pushed off the chair, stretching his arms overhead before making his way toward the gate.


    ¡°Butler.¡±


    The name felt awkward on his tongue. The whole idea of addressing a servant so formally still felt unnatural.


    "Yes, my lady," the butler stepped forward immediately, hand pressed to his chest in a show of respect. "What may you need, my lady?"


    Mize glanced around briefly, eyes flicking toward the guards stationed nearby before returning to the butler.


    With a small gesture, he motioned for the maid to step forward and hold the umbrella over his head.


    "How do I get to town?"


    A simple request. A logical request. But instead of an immediate answer, the butler hesitated.


    "T-this¡­" His hands clenched against his sides, his face slightly paler than before. "I''m afraid I don¡¯t have the authority to grant this request, my lady."


    Mize''s brows twitched. "As in?"


    The butler swallowed. His voice dropped an octave lower, as if he were about to say something forbidden.


    "Without the Lord¡¯s approval, or at the very least, his acknowledgment. I am unable to escort the lady outside of the castle grounds."


    Sweat trickled down his temple. He looked more like a man on trial than a servant explaining castle rules.


    Mize''s expression flattened.


    What?


    She needed Liam¡¯s approval just to go for a simple walk? In their own damn territory?


    "That''s stupid," Mize said outright. "I can do whatever I want."


    "But"


    "Any further questions?"


    Mize¡¯s arms crossed over his chest, his stance firm. He wasn¡¯t yelling, but the sheer weight of his words made the butler¡¯s shoulders stiffen.


    The sight was almost comical.


    A petite figure in a hoodie, standing like some miniature mafia boss in the middle of a group of medieval-dressed subordinates.


    "N-no, my lady," the butler stammered, bending into a swift bow. "I will prepare the carriage at once!"


    And with that, he turned on his heel and rushed back toward the castle, barely stopping himself from breaking into a sprint.


    Mize simply exhaled sharply before turning away.


    The guards, silent as ever, instinctively stepped closer, falling into position behind him.


    With hands tucked into his hoodie pocket, Mize strode toward the flower field nearby, waiting for his carriage to be prepared.

 Chapter 51: The fresh air of the early morning

    Mize walked at a leisurely pace, his steps light against the smooth marble path beneath him.


    The crisp morning air brushed against his skin, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the vast garden stretching around him.


    His eyes flickered across the scenery, taking in the different shades of purple, blue, and yellow swaying gently in the wind.


    His lips curled into a small smile as he finally stopped, lowering himself into a squat beside a cluster of delicate blossoms.


    He reached out, fingers brushing over the soft petals as he murmured, ¡°It¡¯s quite refreshing¡­ having a change of scenery once in a while.¡±


    His voice was soft, unhurried, blending seamlessly with the rustling leaves and distant chirping of birds.


    Behind him, the maids and guards halted immediately, standing at a respectful distance.


    Their gazes, however, were not on the flowers but rather on the person holding them.


    The morning sun cast a gentle glow over Mize¡¯s features, enhancing the porcelain-like sheen of his skin, so fair that the faintest hint of blue veins peeked through near the wrists.


    His long lashes fluttered as he brought the flower close, his ruby-red eyes narrowing slightly as he breathed in the scent.


    A few of the younger guards tensed visibly.


    For a brief moment, an unspoken fear gripped their hearts, not from danger, but from realization.


    They had fallen.


    Fallen into the unshakable pull of their first lady¡¯s beauty, without even knowing when it had begun.


    One of them swallowed dryly, his grip tightening around his shield.


    ¡°Such breathtaking beauty¡­¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ Perhaps the first lady is undoubtedly the most beautiful person I have ever seen"


    ¡°I once had the honor of witnessing a passing Angel Race envoy when I was a child. Their beauty was¡­ unforgettable. Yet I must admit, our first lady is¡­ comparable, if not surpassing them.¡±


    ¡°Blasphemous claims!¡±


    ¡°Hush!¡± someone hissed in a hushed whisper.


    ¡°Lower your voice! Pray the first lady does not hear your whispers, or we¡¯ll all find our heads personally harvested by Minister Aizen!¡±


    Their quiet murmurs died out, but the emotions lingered.


    How could they not?


    The sunlight filtering through the trees caught the strands of Mize¡¯s long, cascading black hair, making them shimmer like the finest strands of woven silk.


    Each movement sent a ripple through the soft waves, strands swaying against the gentle breeze like they had a life of their own.


    His delicate fingers, adorned with a soft natural pink at the tips, curled gently around the fragile petals of the flower, his every movement filled with a quiet elegance that seemed almost ethereal.


    With a small tilt of his head, Mize¡¯s lips parted slightly as he blew a gentle breath against the flower¡¯s petals, watching them quiver under the soft air.


    A simple gesture.


    Yet for those watching, it was a vision, one they would never forget.


    Mize lingered a bit longer, fingers brushing lightly over the delicate petals of the flowers.


    The soft fragrance lingered in his nostrils, a mix of sweet and faintly sharp, gentle yet striking.


    "Sweet¡­ stingy a bit, yet soft," he murmured in approval.


    His mind wandered briefly.


    "Halb truly is an interesting individual."


    A man capable of decorations, warfare, and even cultivation. A proper multi-talented general.


    The contrast between his towering, robust figure and the delicate beauty of this garden was almost laughable.


    A small chuckle left Mize¡¯s lips.


    "At least he surprises me a bit. Good impression, I must say."


    His musings were cut short as hurried footsteps echoed from the castle gate.


    "My lady¡­!"


    The butler appeared, half-breathless, his hurried strides evident from the flushed complexion on his face.


    Beads of sweat clung to his collar, marking the urgency of his journey.


    Mize raised an eyebrow.


    "Did you¡­ run here?"


    The butler lifted a hand, fingers resting over his chest as if physically trying to catch his breath.


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    "The carriage¡­ is ready," he exhaled, struggling slightly. "Please¡­ follow me, My lady."


    Mize tilted his head, lips curling slightly.


    "Splendid," he replied, then turned cheerfully. "Lead the way."


    The guards, noting the butler¡¯s subtle glance, immediately fell into step, moving in silent synchronization behind Mize as they followed the wide marble path leading to the right side of the garden.


    Soon, they approached another gated area, the entrance framed by high stone walls enclosing what lay beyond.


    The butler stepped forward and gestured toward the open space beyond the gate.


    "My lady, please¡­"


    Beyond the threshold, several maids stood waiting, neatly aligned beside a luxurious carriage parked near a guard sentry post.


    Behind the carriage, twenty horses stood ready, along with several smaller horses, likely intended for the maids and guards who would be accompanying him.


    ''So even the maids know how to ride horses in this castle, huh?''


    Mize¡¯s expression remained neutral, but internally, he took note of how capable these people were.


    ''With Liam¡¯s personality, it¡¯s natural that he¡¯d provide only the best for me.''


    His gaze swept across the scene, taking in every detail as he approached the carriage.


    As if on cue, the guards stationed at the sentry post stiffened, moving in perfect synchronization.


    Then, in one resounding voice, they greeted him.


    "Greetings, Her Highness!"


    The sheer force of their voices sent a subtle tremor through the air.


    Mize smiled faintly, offering a small dismissive wave before turning his focus back to the carriage.


    ''So many guards stationed here¡­ How many are there? 100? 200?''


    His gaze flickered toward the top of the enclosing walls, following the trail of armored figures patrolling in synchronized rotations.


    ''Strict security. It doesn¡¯t feel excessive, though.''


    Satisfied with his observations, he finally turned his attention fully to the waiting carriage.


    The carriage stood medium-sized, crafted from a pale, ivory-like wood, polished to a glossy sheen that reflected the ambient light.


    Every edge was meticulously carved, exuding an air of elegance.


    But what truly stole Mize¡¯s attention were the four beasts harnessed to it.


    Massive, muscular creatures, towering over the average horse with ease.


    Their jet-black coats gleamed under the light, and atop their foreheads, a mane of flickering flames burned without consuming.


    Mize¡¯s lips twitched.


    ''You sure this is a horse?''


    His gaze ran from their thick, armored legs to their intimidating size, each movement of their muscles rippling like coiled steel.


    ''This looks more like a walking war machine.''


    Despite the absurdity of their appearance, the butler remained natural.


    With practiced ease, he gestured for Mize to step in.


    Mize hesitated briefly, then took the offered hand, stepping into the luxurious interior.


    The moment he entered, his pupils contracted slightly.


    The space inside¡­


    ''Definitely bigger than it looks outside.''


    Mize¡¯s lips parted slightly, realization settling in.


    "Space formation."


    Though not excessive, the difference was noticeable, enough for comfort, with ample legroom and a plush seating arrangement.


    He settled in, fingers grazing over the smooth, cool fabric of the seat.


    At the front, the butler climbed onto the driver¡¯s seat, effortlessly handling the rein of the monstrous creatures.


    Mize¡¯s gaze flickered toward the glass window at the front, watching as the butler skillfully maneuvered the reins.


    "Talented guy," Mize mused aloud. "Capable of handling four tank-like warhorses too¡­"


    Then, with a crisp flick of the reins.


    The beasts moved.


    The carriage lurched forward, the massive creatures stamping powerfully onto the ground.


    As they passed beneath the massive archway, the shadows momentarily engulfed them, casting everything into brief darkness.


    Outside, the stationed guards sprang into action.


    "Her Highness is departing! Her Highness is departing! Make way for Her Highness!"


    Their voices boomed, reverberating against the walls as they hurriedly pulled a massive lever.


    The thick, heavy gates groaned open.


    Mize¡¯s eyes twinkled with curiosity, his attention shifting to the side window.


    The design was intricate, a smooth carved edge allowing him to comfortably rest his arm while peering out.


    The glass was so pristine, it nearly blended into the air itself.


    Mize reached out, his fingers brushing against it.


    ''So clear¡­ I almost didn¡¯t notice it was there.''


    And then, as the carriage emerged beyond the interior walls.


    Shuaa¡­


    A breathtaking scene unfolded.


    Green.


    Everywhere, a vast stretch of greenery sprawled endlessly, bathed in the soft glow of the midday sun.


    Beneath the carriage wheels, a smooth white-marble road stretched forward, stark against the sea of emerald grass surrounding it.


    And the grass itself.


    Each blade stood at the exact same height, uniform and impossibly precise, as though nature had been carefully sculpted by unseen hands.


    Mize¡¯s lips parted slightly.


    "Magic, huh¡­"


    His voice came out in a breath of awe, his gaze drinking in the serene, almost surreal beauty.


    "Incredible."


    Mize¡¯s gaze lingered on the passing scenery, his eyes flickering between the patches of forest, the workers hauling logs, and most notably, a bizarre scene that completely shattered his sense of reality.


    His lips parted slightly, his mind struggling to catch up with what he had just witnessed.


    "Incredible¡­ So this is the resource point mechanic you mentioned before, system?"


    [Precisely.]


    Mize¡¯s gaze locked onto a worker chopping down a tree, his axe sinking into the bark, the wood splitting cleanly as the trunk crashed onto the ground.


    The worker barely had time to hoist the log onto his shoulder before.


    Shhhk¡ª!


    The tree reappeared instantly.


    Mize froze, his pupils constricting as he watched the scene unfold.


    There was no delay, no regrowth animation, not even a flicker of change in the surrounding soil, as if the tree had never been cut down in the first place.


    A small chill ran down his spine.


    "That¡¯s¡­ ridiculous."


    Even though the system had briefly explained the concept to him, seeing it firsthand was a whole different matter.


    And it wasn¡¯t just one or two trees.


    There were dozens, hundreds, an entire forest of endlessly replenishing wood.


    Mize¡¯s gaze turned sharp.


    "So Liam must¡¯ve been constantly hunting for these resource points outside and transporting them back into the territory¡­"


    That was the only way to explain why there were so many.


    The resource point system was simple in concept but extremely valuable in practice.


    Scattered randomly across the world, these specialized zones provided an infinite supply of materials, wood, stone, fishery, farmland, gold, and more.


    But there was one major catch.


    Lords couldn¡¯t harvest resources from them until they were captured.


    To claim a resource point, one had to defeat the monsters guarding it.


    And the higher the tier of the resource points.


    The deadlier the creatures defending it.


    "It really is just like a game," Mize murmured, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the window frame.


    [Indeed. The mechanics closely resemble kingdom-building games, Host.]


    "Yeah, it reminds me of Clash of Kings."


    He sighed, leaning against the cool glass as memories surfaced.


    "I played that a couple of times, but it got boring real fast. The whales ruined everything."


    Even in those games, there were players who spent absurd amounts of money, dominating the entire server and wiping out thousands of others with ease.


    A beat of silence.


    Then, Mize¡¯s expression twitched.


    "¡­Wait."


    A sudden thought struck him, and he snapped upright.


    "Can something like that happen here too?!"


    Could there be insane pay-to-win players in this world as well? Lords so powerful that they trampled over weaker ones with sheer resources alone?!


    [From my understanding, Host¡­]


    [Liam himself is a whale-level player.]


    [He alone can contend against thousands of ordinary Lords on his own.]


    Mize blinked.


    "Ah."


    He let that sink in for a moment.


    Then, slowly, his lips curled into a smirk.


    "So I¡¯m dating one of the strongest whale in the game."


    [Correct.]


    "¡­Nice."


    Mize leaned back, completely satisfied.