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Chapter 2: An Alchemist and a "Fairy"

Sora shook his head inwardly. This isn't the time to think about that!

Now he realized the cause of his strange lack of control over his actions and decided he needed to think more about it.

Human memory, as far as I could remember, was divided into episodic, semantic, and procedural categories. The former dealt with conscious memories, the latter with knowledge and facts, and the latter dealt with subconscious habits like walking, fighting, having sex, etc.

And apparently, these last two affect how Shigaraki Sora's Episodic Memory influences the body.

In conclusion, both Arthur's procedural and semantic memories acted as a convenient filter, preventing me from doing anything out of the ordinary for Arthur Pendragon von Draco Silva. Fortunately, it seems that triggering changes at turning points in the story, or whatever that means, increases the influence of my consciousness on these memories to a certain extent…

Perhaps it's a method the Master System uses to not make him seem strange in the future if his personality is very different from the original Arthur, as everyone has naturally grown accustomed to his gradual changes.

However... there are many contradictions in the character's personality... How can one be cynical and kind at the same time? Does that make sense? Wait, now that I think about it...

Sora suddenly remembered that the original had been described as a man who did not easily trust others, but was unusually kind to those who gained his trust.

He acted cynical and arrogant towards strangers, sarcastically telling any noble with his trademark phrase "I politely ask you to get lost...", but with his trusted companions he tended to be more sociable and even joked around with them without the hypocrisy typical of nobles.

Also, as mentioned before, he could easily speak his mind without caring about the other party's feelings, whether it was because he sincerely wanted them to stop doing stupid things, read their reactions, or because, well, he wanted to scare them.

The original Arthur was quite a complex character, now that I thought about it.

But... I don't understand what's up with this {Charisma} Arthur and Frax-chan have? Is it the same as the one in Grand Order? I doubt it...

Arthur (Sora) frowned and, afraid of attracting Franx's attention, sent a mental command to the system to try and gain more information about this skill. Upon doing so, a change occurred... but instead of a screen with written data, he heard a monotonous but pleasant voice briefly explaining the information of that skill.

<Charisma: When active, the ability increases popularity gain, raises Charm and Spirit by one rank, and increases the user's Eloquence by 5% per rank for one hour. When passive, the user simply increases their overall Charisma as a result of their existence. It has a great influence on spirits.>

"...." Sora's mouth opened wide upon hearing all this.

Is there anything that good in this game? Is there anyone with a 30-degree Charisma (EX)?

The thought shuddered, for something like this would allow even a king to bow down to you. No, judging by that last message, it was even more terrifying...

Naturally, Sora was very familiar with skill levels and game parameters, as they were how the strength of playable characters was described in all games in the Britannia franchise, such as <Britannia: Lost Order>.

Additionally, there were Magic Engineering technologies in the game that analyzed the strength of NPCs with supernatural abilities through Grades to gain an accurate idea of their potential and growth.

It was completely different from what was observed on Earth, as even the most common student was stronger than the most powerful anomalous or martial artist, at least as far as he knew.

The lowest Grade of a person's parameter or skill in this world is 0 (-) and the highest is 30 (EX).

An active or grade 0 skill was no better than trash thrown into oblivion, while a skill that reached grade 15 (C) showed signs of supernatural strength in the form of "blessings", even if it originally had nothing to do with magical powers.

Passive skills used to have a built-in magic component or something that made them work even at low levels, but for things like {Swordsmanship}, they also became more apparent at level 15.

Incidentally, the concept of "Blessings" did not exist in COTHGO, as it had been previously introduced in the Xianpai games, and Sora knew of various powerful blessings that were obtained by reaching a high level of mastery in skills or traits.

Of course, the best "Blessings" come from original supernatural abilities, like Traits.

The same goes for parameters: a Grade 0 parameter was equivalent to having the strength of a newborn, while a Grade 25 (A) parameter allowed one to fight a slightly weaker version of Superman.

Therefore, those who can create high-level skills for Aspirants are highly valued...

But that wasn't the problem here.

There was nothing special about Arthur having a skill like Charisma at level 14... the problem was that in none of the Britannia games did he see this skill appear, so common in many other games on the market (Except for its absurd effects, of course!).

What does this mean? According to the system, Charisma is the skill of "true nobility," meaning all nobles possess it... So why was this skill never recorded in the Imperial Skills Database? Why did Franx, a chimera and a mere subordinate of Arthur, also possess it?

Refraining from looking at the perceptive Chimera who continued to enjoy his automatic caresses while frowning, Sora pondered further on this sudden mystery.

...Perhaps it's not a common skill among so-called aristocrats? Is that why the Master System specifically uses the term "true nobles"?

If that were the case, it would make sense, but...

Sora wondered... What are the criteria for being considered a true noble? Is it simply a social status that boasts a long history and power accumulated over generations? Or a special talent capable of changing the course of history?

Would they be individuals who, instead of influencing the world using only the glory of the past, would influence the world by changing its estimated flow...?

People who could bring about many changes, positive or negative, with their talents... who would be truly remembered with admiration and awe by future generations... similar to scientists like Stephen Hawking, who left an indelible mark on the more recent history of science, or singers like Michael Jackson, who will always be remembered as the "King of Pop."

Something like... The main characters of this world!

Now I understand.

It's quite possible that only the main characters of this world, such as myself, the sub-bosses, Lars, and the heroines, possess this ability, so the fact that the Empire didn't know about this ability was natural.

"..."

Sora was surprised to find that the system literally confirmed his assumptions by rewarding him with points. The disturbing thing was that it was clearly reading his mind, which scared him a little.

....Not that I can do anything about it... let's just be content with the SP... Although I still have to figure out how much I could do with that in the shop.

What the hell? Has Arthur's reputation suddenly increased?

Although Arthur would become the object of admiration of almost all of Bomenslik's students, this naturally surprised him because it was sudden.

And why is something like this appearing now? Shouldn't it have appeared before? Is the system malfunctioning?

A little worried by this, Sora ordered: Show me my reputation...

A holographic window appeared in his eyes.

[Overall reputation according to most hosts nationwide: Admired]

[General reputation by the majority of the host at the social class level: Aristocracy (Appreciated), Bourgeoisie (Respected), Commoners (Admired)]

So that's our reputation system, huh? Given the status of the original Arthur, it's only natural that the nobles held him in high esteem and the bourgeoisie generally respected him. But what on earth did Arthur do to be admired by the commoners?

In the game, it was mentioned that Arthur did a good job as acting lord of the Archduchy even while commuting to and from the Academy from his beautiful mansion in the Imperial Capital.

But beyond that... I only knew a little about their progress in growing their secret organization and the advancement of their plans to kill the emperor...

I never expected this guy to be revered by the common people. It seemed the author hadn't given enough details... Or maybe it was something unique in this world? No, it's probably because...

What? Create a new world for the survival of humanity? What's this all about?

In surprise, her body unconsciously stretched forward, causing Franx to open her eyes again and look at him, slightly confused.

-Is everything alright, Arthur-sama?

"It's nothing, I just realized something interesting..." Arthur smiled coldly as he answered the curious Chimera, lying back in silence.

Franx stared at him for a while as he tilted his head, finally saying, "I understand," before happily lying back down on him again. He seemed to really like that position.

After thinking about it for a moment and letting out a self-conscious chuckle, Sora reflected on the recent system message. His gaze grew serious as he thought.

Not that I'm complaining or anything... It's just that, why would Laura's affection for Arthur grow instead of diminishing? What's wrong? Hadn't Arthur scolded her recently?

I know she sometimes puts a positive spin on almost all of Arthur's actions in their relationship before she knew he was trying to destroy Raymundo, her father... but isn't that a little weird?! Just how obsessed is she with her fiancé?!

And what about Jheane too? Maybe it was because of me that Arthur didn't beat Lars up like in the story, but I treated him like an idiot, didn't I? Because his affection for me would grow? Or rather, he already had feelings for Arthur before the duel...?

I was very puzzled.

While I had no problem with the girl whose design was clearly inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci (in the form of Mona Lisa) paying attention to her in that way, I still don't understand her.

No, he remembered that his personality was quite strange, but....

.... Really…sometimes I just don't understand women's minds!

Shiragaki Sora, who was wondering what was going through the minds of the Third Imperial Princess and the Super Genius Alchemist, was really the odd one out here for wasting time with the wrong questions.

♦♦♦♦

Academia Imperial de Bomenslik.

That is the name of the world-famous educational institution that teaches all the "Aspirants" of the supercontinent, which was founded 500 years ago by the third emperor and most powerful Archmage of the world of Britannia, Avalon Lunen Ivrin Lainervorial, whose main purpose was to train the next generation of talented young aspirants for the sake of the future of all Britannia; regardless of their social status or nationality.

It is a place that became well known to all as Academy City due to its large size, each district being a small collective of artificial islands floating in the largest lake within Imperial territory, known to all in Britannia as the "Divine Eye of Centoria", which was literally at the center of the continent itself and looked down upon the skies of Britannia perpetually.

Famous for being an area home to one of the most powerful ley lines on the planet, it was the ideal place to create an Academy of that scale, bringing together countless talents from different kingdoms and empires, either as students or teachers.

This was located some 214 kilometers south of the Imperial Capital Loveria, free from the movement of the supercontinent's tectonic plates, held in place by powerful "Mythic Anchors" of Mithril fiber, Orichalcum, and sorcery, all constructed with the most advanced magical technology in the world.

The total area covered by the artificial islands was approximately 227 square kilometers, with a population of over two million. Each of these islands, of varying size, was connected by extremely strong bridges, allowing the safe passage of trains equipped with advanced rune engines that converted atmospheric mana into high-intensity electrical energy to propel them.

Working closely with the official headquarters of the Tower of Sorcery, although Bomenslik Imperial Academy was administratively known as Academy City, being one of the largest metropolises in the Loveitia Empire alongside its main capital, it was actually a separate district with an independent political structure under the direct control of the headmistress, Amelia Dumbardonnia.

According to its rules, as long as those who enrolled were not criminals, even a beggar could enter the Academy; as long as they had the necessary talent, as well as a general age of 18.

Since its founding, countless powerful Aspirants and Awakeners of various "Classes" such as Casters, Sabers and Lancers and even Extra Class have risen to prominence in such a prestigious Academy after achieving numerous Achievements , leaving their mark on the history of the entire Centoria continent as the elite of this world.

Of course, it was also the place that produced numerous scholars and merchants of great wealth and influence throughout the kingdoms and empires.

There, countless talents were nurtured each year, demonstrating their academic superiority.

♦♦♦♦

In this archipelago of interconnected artificial islands within what was arguably the largest body of water within the supercontinent Centoria, there was a beautiful island that, compared to the others surrounding it, was significantly smaller; only a few square kilometers in size and with very few buildings visible on its surface.

However, each and every one of them were luxurious, beautiful, and glamorous buildings with streets made of pure onyx in which a formidable runic power circulates, which would immediately give the impression that only the richest and highest status could use and walk on them.

And technically...they wouldn't be wrong.

Among these buildings, six of them stood out indistinctly as much as possible for their glorious splendor of wealth.

There was what some would call the real "Bomenslik Imperial Academy" in the center of the island, which had a semicircular shape with three floors that looked like a small medieval palace and a luxury resort fused together, if someone from Earth had to say so, with an imposing statue of a wise archmage and emperor in the middle of the marble plaza.

Next up was a building at least 15 stories high that, from any angle, looked like an over-the-top luxury hotel, painted white and filled with magically enchanted windows that prevented anyone from seeing inside. There was even a large pool on the roof.

And last but not least, there were four black, pentagonal buildings; exactly the same, with a seemingly classic mansion design, which also screamed luxury and grandeur unmatched in its kind.

All of these buildings were made with the most expensive materials available on the continental market, creating the finest mansions and even palaces in Britain. They even featured complex runic formulas inscribed within their designs that not only guaranteed their quality and durability, but also the elemental conversion necessary to allow them to repair themselves as if they were a functioning living being.

All of this was a clear fruit of technological ingenuity based on sorcery and the runic arts... and of the immense wealth invested in its construction, of course.

Within one of these magnificent and expensive works of arcane engineering were numerous elegant rooms whose design and contents were generally worthy of nobility.

Now, however, one could be found whose interior was far from its original appearance due to the preferences of its current occupant.

The beautiful oak shelves that would normally be filled with literature, books of poetry and ancient history were now filled with stacks of books on alchemy, the occult, and other arcane knowledge too advanced for even the most ardent students of these ancient arts.

Despite their elegant designs and intimidating sizes, they looked rather disorganized; as if their owner hadn't bothered to give each of them any proper order beyond what seemed to make sense only to herself at the time she put them all in their place.

In one corner of the room, a huge golden alchemy pot could be seen, carved with various runes on its metal surface.

The design and shape were almost unnecessarily elegant rather than purely functional, as if it were the masterpiece of a renowned skilled craftsman, but one could vaguely sense the strong, unfathomable magical power emanating from the artifact even in its current dormant state.

On an alchemical table made of snow-white wood, besides some sort of air freshener that was silently burning while releasing a soft chamomile scent, one could also find a collection of glass vessels with a variety of liquids and even dead animal parts inside, magical or mundane tools meant to aid in the brewing of complex potions like a scale, a distiller, a lighter, and a mortar, and even several half-open notebooks filled with alchemical formulas, thrown more or less randomly onto its surface... along with what looked like some erotic novels among the mix as well.

Ignoring that last detail, it seemed that the room, whose general design was that of a typical resting place of an accomplished nobleman, was completely dominated by the whims of a complete alchemist, filled with a passion for the art of potion making and the transmutation of matter like many in his same profession.

It was no surprise, since upper-class students were allowed to decorate their rooms however they wanted.

However, at that moment, such a loving student of alchemy was... having fun on her own in her own way.

That alchemist, a beautiful girl with auburn hair, lay in her comfortable bed with a high-quality cotton mattress, her surprisingly well-endowed body covered by beautiful white blankets made of linen enchanted with the power of sorcery, which embraced her fully exposed femininity beneath them as she pleased herself.

-Hmm...ah ♥...Ann ♥...

Pinching her nipples with some force and inserting her delicate fingers inside the folds of her vagina, the girl masturbated with passion while letting out sweet moans with a tender and lustful voice that would easily ignite the most primitive desires of countless men while she only fantasized about the man who aroused her ever-growing sexual appetite the moment she saw him and heard his sexy voice for the first time, to the point where she couldn't forget him no matter what.

-Ah...Yes ♥

She pictured him very clearly as he savagely penetrated her on the bed, playing with her enormous breasts as if they were his beloved toys while moving his hips wildly to ravage her mercilessly; their sweat mixing during their passionate session as they caressed each other's skin.

His enormous penis (she imagined) would penetrate her relentlessly, filled with primal desires; completely eager to release his load inside her like lava from an active volcano, dyeing her womb completely white as he filled it with his baby seed.

-More ♥!

There was never a moment of rest; he didn't need it, for he possessed unlimited stamina, which only an Aspirant of great physical ability could possess.

Filled with lust, he grabbed her thighs as he continued to penetrate her standing up, injecting his hot semen once again inside her.

The girl shuddered with pleasure as her vivid imagination produced a devastating sensation that completely overwhelmed her.

He lived to experience something like this, breathed for it; his desires revolved around this primal act between animals, and his soul screamed with desire to satisfy them, with barely any self-control.

He could barely satisfy his hunger with this poor excuse for gratification through imagination and self-stimulation. He used all his mental power to create these erotic scenes and enjoy them as if they were real to satisfy his desire.

In her mind, she would moan inconsolably as the man bit her breasts and sucked them as if trying to extract milk from them.

And finally, he would put her in the humble position on all fours, like that of a weak dog, penetrating her from behind while enjoying her plump ass that shuddered with each thrust, finishing inside her once more with his overflowing semen.

-Ohhhh...♥

With her imagination fully active and her fingers skillfully dancing inside her vagina, she finally ended up arching her curvaceous back while raising her waist, letting out a loud gasp as the climax of the orgasm invaded her entire body... and finally fell, her back and butt falling onto the softness of the bed, its sheets feeling like a lover's warm embrace enveloping her body while the beautiful face with two eyes that reminded of the sun slowly faded from her mind, which slowly returned to reality.

The sound of a small, hot sigh echoed softly as his hands ran weak caresses over her body, stains of her love juice wetting the sheets of her luxurious mattress.

-That felt amazing... masturbation never felt better... it was so vivid ♥, maybe because I did it thinking of a real man~

Her heart was pounding as she spoke in her melodious voice, quickly throwing back the sheets and looking up at the luxurious ceiling of her room with her beautiful dark green eyes.

I didn't expect the day I could masturbate in such a luxurious place either. Being a student in the Nigrum Aureum District certainly has its benefits.

She smiled to herself, pleased with the gifts life had given her.

Her sudden connection with the old man who guided her through the ways of Alchemy and recognized her gifts as an Aspirant of the Caster Class, the opportunity that this gave her to be part of such a famous institution alongside her beloved "little sister" and of course, to be able to meet, even from a distance, such an exquisite piece of man whose face she could not tear from his limbs and whose great presence surpassed the flames of desire within her when she imagined his naked body, imposing itself on her person and dominating her completely...

Life is almost perfect now... That's what Jheane Lorens believed in her heart. Well, it would be completely perfect if it weren't for...

Three soft, polite knocks on the door, far from her bed given its size, brought her out of her thoughts, making her wrinkle her nose and, without bothering to get up or even cover her privacy, she shouted, "Who is it?"

Realizing that the room's occupant didn't want to get up, the other person fiddled with a silver bracelet on her wrist, causing a light show to appear in Jheane's eyes that quickly formed a display screen showing the image of a stern-looking woman in maid's clothing.

Jheane blinked, a little surprised and somewhat uncomfortable, thinking about what to say before the other person began speaking calmly; causing her to remember that the district administrator must be hiding his privacy from the other party.

The woman's voice in the holographic window was almost monotone, her expression deadpan as she spoke politely.

"Lorens-sama, I am one of the maids personally assigned to you by the Nigrum Aureum District Administrator. I have come to inform you that you are receiving a visit from Lars Hamilton von Laniere, who requests that you come see him as soon as possible. Should I expel him immediately?"

-Hu..?

The girl named Jheane Lorens was not only momentarily surprised when she was reminded that she would be assigned a maid, or even several, but also when she was casually asked if she should chase away her beloved little brother as if it were a trivial matter.

She felt so absurd, as if she were a princess from a faraway kingdom and Lars a mere commoner who, out of compassion for the servants, learned of her humble existence... only to ask if they could shoo him away like a fly.

But... she understood where he was coming from.

After all, Lars was a member of Class G, one of the classes that belonged to the Aereus district, the largest and most populated district by far, but the least privileged of all the districts of the Bomenslik Imperial Academy.

And her?

Jheane Lorens was now a privileged member of the Nigrum Aurum District, exclusive to the teaching staff, of the same headmistress Amelia Dumbardonnia and also of the great SS Class, which stood out above all other existing classes, as if they were high nobility.

Although she was a commoner by birth and Lars was technically of noble birth, they were now on different worlds, separated by islands that could only be crossed by paying a fee via bridges powered by arcane magnetic repulsion trains.

All because of their different talents, which led "Academy City" to divide its students in this way.

The Bomenslik Imperial Academy was known throughout the supercontinent as a vast elite educational center where the social status of its students abroad was simply too irrelevant compared to their magical, physical, or even political talents, and the district they would live in was decided by their classes, which were assigned to them based on their potential, talents, and academic ability.

There were 5 student districts, a School Competition District and a School Commerce District, which together formed the so-called Academy City by the Loveritia Empire.

There were the Aereus, Chalybe, Argentum, Aurum, and Nigrum Aurum districts. (The School Competition District and the School Commerce District will be discussed another time, but the latter was where Sora first woke up.)

There are also nine classes within the Academy, namely G, F, E, D, C, B, A, S, and SS, respectively, into which the more than one million students of different backgrounds and ages are divided; with almost every second class spread across these five districts.

And as expected, although it is said that all Bomenslik students are considered elites among the undisputed elites of the entire continent, the reality is that between each of them there is a noticeable difference, so drastic, that they are even labeled as the worst or the best elites, depending on which district they end up in.

Obviously, classes G and F are located in the Aereus district, which is where the lower tier of the elite attending this prestigious educational institution is found, being the type of people who would to some extent excel with their abilities in various sectors of society, but who, however, would never be able to greatly affect the overall picture on their own; the figurative lower tier of Bomenslik, which is made up of a staggering 37% of the student body.

From there, the relatively mediocre elites would form the E and D classes in the Chalybe District, the decent elites into the C and B classes in the Argentum District, the exceptional elites into the A and S classes in the Aurum District, and the true elites among elites into the SS class in the Nigrum Aurum District, the most luxurious district of all, with the god-like student class; the young geniuses who would change the continent with their mere existence... people like Jheane Lorenz, one of the top 1%.

Of course, it's not impossible for someone from Class G to reach Class C if they try hard enough, greatly improving their grades and skills so they can live in a better District; one of the main reasons why there's fierce competition for promotion among students from these different districts.

…But it was practically impossible to get to Class B that way without foul play.

On the other hand, if someone from SS Class shows poor performance compared to the rest of their Class, they will be expelled from both SS Class and the Nigrum Aurum District in disgrace, although it would still be possible to return to SS Class because they are divine geniuses in the first place.

But the stain would still remain on his record.

Either way, whether you are Class G or Class SS, whether you are a prince or a noble from a powerful political faction or even a commoner, the status and influence you wield within the walls of Bomenslik are determined the moment you are assigned to one of these districts.

Of course, there was nothing as crazy as a commoner ordering a duke's son to kiss his feet for many reasons, both regulatory and the external consequences of such a thing, but the advantages of being in the upper classes are more than obvious to anyone.

For example, districts A through SS offer each of their few students, which are very few, luxury rooms comparable in comfort to those enjoyed by princes and princesses.

For example, the Aereus district offers its students rooms comparable in comfort to those of a relatively inferior hotel.

For example, SS classes and above may have up to five personal servants to attend to them in their rooms.

However, B classes and below only have room service, but no attendants to attend to your every need... and F and G classes don't even have that service.

It should also be noted that the educational and training resources for sorcery or swordsmanship (or whatever subject you specialized in) were also different for each district... so Jheane actually understood where the maiden's disdain was coming from, one that was small enough that she at least got the message.

But that doesn't mean he had to like it.

Suppressing the slight irritation she felt at hearing such blatant disdain for her "younger sister," Jheane took a deep breath and responded neutrally to the maid, "Don't do that! Tell him I'll come see him in a moment..."

"As you wish," the Maiden replied respectfully as the magical viewing screen disappeared into particles of almost invisible lights, before presumably leaving.

Unable to hear a single footstep, Jheane couldn't tell if he had truly left, nor did she have the ability to accurately sense the aura of living beings, so the young alchemist activated her magic circuits and controlled them with her will, circulating the Maryoku through her body.

With surprising speed, Jheane's body changed and two dog ears appeared on her head and a small reddish-brown tail on her pelvis.

Her animal ears, which had replaced her human ones, twitched, and the Demi-Beast listened intently from outside. Sure enough, she heard the maiden's distant footsteps fading away, and she sighed before laughing.

-I don't even know why I imagined she'd just stand there or something, how stupid...

Shaking her head, the young alchemist stood up to quickly dress.

She may not have minded her relatives seeing her naked, but aside from the fact that she wasn't the only one in the building, there were times when she just didn't want to be reminded that the person she adored like the sister she never had was a man.

Of course, that must have been especially true in his case.

Although Lars would be pretty pissed off if he knew that Jheane still adores him like a little sister and thinks of him that way.

"You were even prettier when you let yourself be dressed up like an adorable princess and laughed happily saying that you were going to marry daddy... Hahahaha," she exclaimed with some melancholy at the sweet memories that invaded her from time to time while she put on her school uniform and opened the elegant door to her room.

♦♦♦♦

There was a time when Jheane Lorens, along with Lars's mother, Mariana Hamilton von Laniere, would dress up the adorable little Lars, whom they affectionately called 'Larisa-chan', in as many pretty and elegant dresses as the Barony of Hamilton could afford, laughing and playing happily as if they were a family of three, a mother and her daughters spending time together.

Back then, Jheane was a girl of only 8 years old, and Larisa (Lars) was a girl of 5 (Yes, they put Lars in the Academy at 15 instead of 18 despite being as weak as a rabbit... how crazy!).

A boy who, arguably, out of his mother's selfishness, who wanted a girl, was raised almost as such, taking advantage of his androgynous appearance... although Jheane was sure he looked like a normal girl, and even at first thought he was.

Anyway, putting aside her bewilderment at discovering that her adorable friend was actually a boy, Jheane had a great time playing with Larisa and her mother at the Hamilton residence as if they were blood sisters in that happy time.

Whether it was playing with dolls and toy houses, dressing up as adult noble ladies for their mini tea parties, styling their hair in different styles, or simply having Mariana read children's stories to the girls before bedtime... they did many things together.

Larisa even used feminine pronouns to refer to herself as "girl" when she dressed as a woman, and she seemed to enthusiastically enjoy the idea of being a girl back then. She also disliked pants and preferred skirts. Jheane was especially pleased when she called her "Onee-chan" in her adorable baby voice.

Even the Baron, who loved tending his fields and believed in the power of men, couldn't help but have his heart melt every time the cute Larisa-chan smiled and said she would marry him, crying out "Oh, my little princess!" while quickly forgetting her actual gender.

But the good times didn't last long, Jheane had her extraordinary encounter with a mythical old man at the age of 12 and had to leave for a while, feeling hurt when she saw the beautiful Larisa cry sadly at her departure.

So he set off, intending to complete his training in alchemical sorcery and return one day to see his loved ones.

A lot happened, and Jheane had to admit that her mind was a little depraved due to her former master's careless upbringing, but she was finally able to return with his blessing to the place she called home after six long years...

...Only to find a beautiful red-haired teenager surrounded on both sides by two attractive adults he knew very well.

Blinking in bewilderment at the unfamiliar yet familiar boy, Jheane Lorens was greeted warmly and happily by him. "It's so good to see you again after such a long time, Jheane-nee!"

"...Larisa-chan? Is that you?" Uncertainty was palpable in the alchemist's weak voice as she asked the young man this disconcerting question. He froze in response before impulsively exclaiming in denial, "Impossible!"

-.....! D-don't call me Larisa-chan, please! A man shouldn't have a nickname like that!

—…

With his eyes wide open and his face red with embarrassment, young Lars shouted towards the friend he considered an older sister.

Completely bewildered, Jheane looked at the two people she also considered family with eyes that said, "What happened?" Mariana, Lars's mother, shrugged with a kind smile, although somewhat sad inside. "Puberty, maybe," that message was transmitted to her mind through her telepathy.

-....Ah

Jheane only felt a strong blow to her chest when she realized that she would never see that beautiful little sister she loved so much again, her body trembled with sadness.

It was a dark, very dark day... although the intense sun and gentle breeze proved otherwise. Although she knew it shouldn't be this way, she couldn't help but feel like she had lost something very important with his departure.

The young alchemist felt lost.

♦♦♦♦

Suppressing those sad emotions in the face of the beautiful memories of the past that invaded her from time to time, Jheane immediately closed the door to her room, looked at the incredibly elegant hallways with many beautiful decorations that still made her grimace at their splendor, and silently walked through the second floor with the intention of quietly heading towards the guest room of the female dormitory to meet Larisa... No, Lars!

Having once again made sure that there were no animal parts left in her body after putting her bloodline to sleep, the young alchemist walked with a leisurely pace, her considerably plump breasts bouncing with each step, full of charm, as she moved those seductive legs covered in black stockings almost up to her thighs, and very soon she arrived near some rather luxurious-looking stairs with beautiful armrests made of fine wood.

There she was greeted by the sight of the vast and expansive first-floor hall, replete with aristocratic beauty and the splendor of wealth, evoking the image of a nobleman's magnificent mansion, clad in marble in various shades of black and white and with gray paneled walls.

A sight that stunned her upon arrival and still leaves her speechless. After all, she had just moved in that very day.

Compared to this place, the luxurious Alchemist Guild headquarters he once visited was quite plain.

Of course, in design alone... the materials used in this place were obviously as valuable as those used to build the entire academy, if not more so.

But still, her beauty was undeniable.

As expected of the Nigrum Aurum District, the Imperial Academy didn't hesitate to give its most talented students a large and luxurious mansion like this as a simple dormitory...though the SS class students are too few to fill it completely, even when divided by school year.

And that's not to mention that this residence/mansion wasn't meant to house many students, since SS-Class geniuses are very rare.

Despite her goal, Jheane couldn't help but look around again as her eyes glittered with the blatant luxury it all implied.

Hmm... no need to rush, let's make that silly Lars wait a bit...

Since she hadn't yet decided to forgive Lars for his stupidity half an hour ago in so recklessly challenging "that man" in public despite having already given him a good beating herself, Jheane thought that making him impatient would also serve as punishment, as her gaze wandered around the place again.

Hanging from the high ceiling of the hall, distant and bright, were several chandeliers that emitted the magical light of magical light particles, giving a warm and peaceful feeling to those who were sensitive to it.

The floor was illuminated by the efficient work of the maids in the wide pentagonal hallway and reflected the light from the chandeliers above, shining brightly like a mosaic of twinkling stars.

In this room were beautiful and elegant maids, cleaning various expensive accessories with skill and efficiency. They all wore beautiful maid uniforms that would make any pervert admire them.

And if this didn't attract the attention of the guests at all, then the luxurious furniture and decorations inside the room would easily steal the attention of many men who come to visit their fiancées.

Here, in this place where students would only have to walk to their rooms or go directly to their respective classrooms with the help of trams, the marked attention to detail and excessive luxuries made it clear that this place was designed to house young people of noble birth.

At least that's what Jheane felt.

It would be fun to have sex on these stairs and dye this room with splendor and the juices of passion... Yes, with him I will fill this place with the smell of sex that even someone with a blocked nose would smell... Hehehehe ♥

The Semi-Beast girl walked down the beautiful stairs that seemed to shine like silver as her hips moved naturally and seductively without realizing it, harboring naughty thoughts.

Her impure conscience, filled with sexual desires hidden in plain sight, easily conjured up an erotic fantasy in that very setting, alongside the man who had become the man of her dreams just three days before.

She felt like she was going to get wet with her love juices again just thinking about it, but when she suddenly heard the cheerful voice of a cute little girl, Jheane came back to reality.

-Oh! Jheane, how nice to see you in these halls!

--....¿Mmm?

Puzzled by the slightly familiar voice, Jheane turned her gaze and saw a beautiful and lively girl with hair as green as spring leaves decorated with white flowers, along with eyes as gorgeous as dark-hued lapis lazuli, heading in her direction with quick steps as she happily waved at her.

She was, in short, so beautiful that, looking at her, people felt as if a fairy had appeared before them, just by her appearance. Indeed, it was not for nothing that she was known as Fairy throughout the empire; she was simply too enchanting, almost like a dream…

Even when dressed in such a luxurious uniform made of magical fabrics valuable enough to be worth a three-story building, making her look like the young miss of a noble family, the girl evoked a feeling of incorruptible purity and innocence that no one her age would have in the eyes of onlookers.

Her silky hair fell down her well-defined back like a rippling waterfall, and her adorable face that seemed completely flawless at first glance, as white as the most expensive porcelain, made her look so fragile that, added to her sincere and tender smile, would make countless men want to do nothing more than protect her from all the evils she could find in this world.

She was truly one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen, comparable to Jheane herself in beauty and with a charm unique enough to not be overshadowed by anyone of her generation.

... Wow, it's Arietta... I didn't expect to meet her on the road.

The girl who called out to him in a friendly manner as if they were friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time was none other than the genius of the Extra Class Spiritualist , Arietta Noden, a girl extremely talented in all things spirit-related... and a girl he had met just three days ago when he had tested his alchemical and academic skills before the examiners of the Imperial Academy.

In the meantime I can talk to her, there's no rush, no doubt.

-What's up, Arietta-chan? Do you need me for something?

Jheane responded with a slight smile, finding her very pleasant. Who wouldn't be happy to befriend such a beauty?

-Nothing! I was glad to run into someone I knew in the halls of this awkward place, you know?

Thus replied the brilliant spiritualist in her charming, undulating voice as she began to walk beside him, her arms outstretched, her skirt blithely billowing with every step she took, almost to the point of giving the illusion that one could see the secrets hidden beneath her if one only bent down a little.

Standing near her, one couldn't help but notice a strange sensation in her aura, like a scent reminiscent of green, untouched forests in the midst of spring; the source was undoubtedly the blessing of the fairies and spirits she commanded, infiltrating her very essence.

Acquaintances... well, that's certainly what we are to some extent... Feeling that pleasant feeling, Jheane pondered the other party's words for a bit and smiled.

-Do you feel uncomfortable within the bedroom walls? It may be true that the rooms are excessively luxurious, extending into the hallways, but you'll have to get used to it...

-Oh, no, that's awkward too, no doubt, but the most awkward thing for me is the possibility of meeting Lady Dominguez right now. I think you already have an idea of what her personality is like...

-Ohh...of course. I understand what you mean.

-He's a little overenthusiastic, isn't he?

-Quite a bit...yes.

A bitter smile bloomed on Jheane's beautiful face along with Arietta's slight childish pout as the two discussed this topic, the image of the young single woman from a respectable family blossoming in their minds simultaneously as they both walked through the elegant velvet-carpeted marble hallways.

Aria Dominguez von Cerodian, the princess of the Duchy controlled by the Dominguez Clan and a highly talented Caster.

As far as Jheane was concerned, Aria was a really annoying noble girl to deal with ever since she met her.

However, it wasn't because Aria was one to look down on commoners and had looked down on her in the few interactions they'd had, nothing to do with that... after all, Aria seemed quite excited to talk to Jheane, as she seems to value talent over social status.

The same thing happened to Arietta, who was also overwhelmed by Aria's attitude, despite her carefree and kind personality. She didn't seem like a bad girl just because of that.

It's just that if Jheane had to point out one issue she personally had with Aria—besides the natural haughtiness that was still there even if she addressed you politely and with respect for your abilities—it's her explicit desire for you to become part of her faction within the academy.

Something that was, in reality, inevitable; Jheane was a Caster famous as a prodigy alchemist, acknowledged by the Master of the Alchemist Guild himself, one of the three most powerful masters in the sorcery tower, who treated her as if she were his granddaughter.

On the other hand, Arietta Noden was a Spiritualist who possessed tremendous talent in handling spirits and fairies, making her even superior to many Elven Species of the Children of the Forest family who relate to elementals and other spiritual beings naturally, and she even demonstrated unexpected talent in arithmetic during academic tests.

Not to mention her ability to summon the mythical steeds, Unicorns and Pegasi, as mounts, making her even more precious.

With his abilities being so remarkable, it was obvious that Aria wanted both of them to join the faction she definitely felt she should create within Bomenslik Imperial Academy in order to become the next student council president in the future, and not just a simple District Representative.

Not only because of their superior talents, but because they're both SS students like her, they wield enormous influence among the students... and even the teachers, no exaggeration. While being Council President would require immense popularity, it wouldn't hurt to have the support of people destined to be the best in their respective fields.

Heck, Jheane Lorens was also known for creating potions that improved the Charm stats of women and even men to a great extent.

He also developed a new alchemical formula that allowed bald people to regrow their hair.

She doesn't look like much and was absurdly expensive to make, but considering the surprising number of bald people in certain countries... her popularity skyrocketed even without her being the great beauty she was.

However, neither Jheane nor Arietta wanted to get involved in such complex matters. Although they barely knew each other, they easily sensed each other's lack of interest in participating in such political games, which was pleasing.

Still, if Jheane had one thing to admit, it was that Aria was not only beautiful, but also extremely sexy.

Her exotic appearance, due to her mother's heritage from the Yamato Empire, made her even more attractive, and to be honest, if she would stop asking him to be her follower, he would be happy to treat her as his Onee-sama.

What was she called in the Yamato Empire? Yes... Yamato Nadeshiko. From what I saw in the sacred illustrations the Elder jealously guards, Aria fits that description perfectly. A sexy Onee-sama who embodies the ideal beauty of the ancient Yamato lands... How great would it be to have a threesome with her and my man ♥?

She felt her insides burn at the thought, but a feeling of regret washed over her soon after.

It's a shame she's too interested in boring politics, and even her family doesn't get along with hers. It's really a shame...

"Lady Dominguez is a consummate noblewoman and seems very fond of power games and intrigue, but at least she doesn't treat us badly for not being noble. I can't say she's a good or bad person without knowing her well, but she doesn't try to force us into anything; she simply tries to convince us diplomatically, so we shouldn't avoid her like the plague."

Hiding her dirty thoughts and senseless regrets, Jheane responded with a joke at the end.

-What?! I didn't want to see her as a nuisance!

-I know, I know, it was a joke.

"You seemed very serious when you said that!" Arietta playfully hit her shoulder with her small hands as she complained, and the young alchemist simply laughed as she told her to stop.

They certainly didn't act like mere acquaintances while chatting quietly like that.

-By the way, where are we going?

Jheane raised an eyebrow, puzzled, at those words. "Did you say where we're going...the two of us?"

"Ah, sorry, I said it without thinking... Where are you going?" Arietta quickly corrected herself, without blinking or embarrassment, while she blinked tenderly.

Look at this sweetness...

"My Imouto... I mean, my friend asked me to go talk to him through the maids, so I'll find him in the reception room." Jheane paused as she answered him with a smile.

"Hey, you said 'little sister,' right? Why did you correct yourself?" the green-haired girl asked, bewildered, her big, beautiful blue eyes filled with doubt as she looked at her. Then, without waiting for an answer, she opened them even wider and exclaimed in shock, "Your little sister can't possibly have enrolled in this academy disguised as a boy! It's unbelievable! How did she do it? It's almost like the plot of the romance novel 'My Love for You Transcends the Sword,' only that story takes place in an all-male knight academy in Camelot..."

Arietta threw her supposed innocence out the window as she talked about a questionable romance novel with passion and sparkling eyes, leaving the genius Alchemist bewildered.

-What? That... No, wait a minute...

-Ah, but something similar to this would be 'I'll be whatever you want if you give me the title of Count', a novel that tells the beautiful story of a strong daughter of a count who, in order to succeed her father, poses as a man in a fictional Bomenslik, meeting the crown prince and several powerful men... and starting a passionate romance that questions the sexuality of the male characters...! Kyaaa...!

—Hey...—Jheane wanted to say something to stop her new friend's ramblings, but a scene worthy of a fantasy stopped her.

As if sensing their contractor's excitement, adorable and mystical wind and water elementals appeared around Arietta as they flew through the air, dancing.

The Undines, shaped like little aquatic mermaids, clapped enthusiastically as if they shared the girl's spirit, while the Sylphs, resembling mythical fairies, circled around her with relaxed expressions.

Each of them seems to be between the material plane and the elemental planes, entering and leaving this world thanks to the involuntary Reiyoku that Arietta unwittingly provides them.

It was wonderful to watch, and not only Jheane, but also some of the maids were distracted by this scene, fascinated as Arietta danced to a melody that only she could hear.

Furthermore, the young alchemist was surprised at how easily Arietta could summon these spirits so freely, even unintentionally. Although they were all low-ranking spirits, she had never heard of summoning so many at once, or even having contracts with so many at once...

Of course, it was a mistake to get distracted, as it allowed Arietta to continue her wild rampage....

"What's the story behind your sister enrolling at the Imperial Academy as a man instead of a woman? Could it be that she heard about an ancient family heirloom that only men can possess, or could it be that some criminals are trying to kidnap her and she's trying to hide her identity by pretending to be the opposite sex? Whatever it is, I'm dying to see their love story unfold firsthand while we study together at the academy!"

Arietta seemed almost to sing with excitement as she spoke, raising her arms in the air as her spirits celebrated. This caused Jheane to quickly snap out of her daze, raising her hand as she opened her trembling mouth. "M-mm... Arietta-chan, this..."

-Oh... But what would happen if your sister met Arthur-sama and he fell madly in love with her because of her heroine charms?

"What...?" Jheane asked, stunned, not at all expecting the Duke of Draco Silva to suddenly be mentioned in this strange conversation. Much less, for him to claim that "Larisa" fell in love with him as if it were a cliché from a fantasy romance novel, not after that incident...

-You know Arthur-sama is gorgeous, right? Just like those male leads in romance novels I love so much♥... I can't help but imagine someone in your little sister's situation having a unique relationship with someone like him, especially being an Archduke at his age... It's like one of my favorite stories is happening in the real world!

Thus exclaimed Arietta in a dreamy, somewhat cloying voice as she continued her dance, her hands on her flushed cheeks, her spirit screaming with excitement while her mistress almost seemed to sing a story that could easily be written for a decent novel.

"I didn't have to see him more than once to know that his face is truly captivating, a perfection so alluring it could cast a spell over any woman with just a glance. The sharp angles of his features exude a magnetic allure, refined by an unwavering will and a regal wisdom capable of making even the steadiest of hearts waver. Every detail of his face, from his firm jaw to his high cheekbones, is so meticulously sculpted, so perfect, that it seemed time and hardship would preserve it intact. His midnight hair contrasts with his flawless skin... his expression, with its majestic tone and the elegance of a stalking beast that made him seem both dangerous and untouchable... is simply magnificent. And there's a confident, almost predatory charisma in the way his features reflect the sunlight, inevitably drawing every eye like moths to a flame."

...Become a professional novelist or something...

The alchemist thought in a daze as she listened to all this.

I didn't expect this girl to also have a talent for storytelling... At least, when it came to dramatically expressing the excellent appearance of a handsome man, Arietta Noden was very talented.

Not caring about the surprised expressions of Jheane and the Maidens around her who blushed at the thought of a certain someone and some even nodded like chickens eating grains at her words, the green-haired girl simply continued chattering happily as if she was thinking of her personal Prince Charming, her eyes seeming to have hearts in them.

-He's absolutely perfect~ So beautiful~ How can such a beautiful human exist? It's as if the gods personally molded his appearance! ♥ Furthermore, he's not only the most handsome, but also the richest Sovereign Noble in the entire empire! He's the ideal male lead no matter how you look at it♪!

-I completely agree with everything you say about Archduke Draco Silva's looks and wealth, but, I must say, it's not exactly a good idea to talk so openly about a distant romance with the fiancé of an imperial princess, you know- Jheane gently warned the green-haired girl with a drop of cold sweat running down her face, - Also, I must mention that you're having a very funny misunderstanding right now, Arietta-chan.....

-Ara... Lady Noden, Lady Lorens, how lucky I am to find you here~

Just as Jheane wanted to clear up Arietta's absurd misunderstanding, another woman's dignified yet melodious voice interrupted her, causing both she and Arietta to freeze together as they turned to stare slowly and stiffly at the speaker, the occasional maid gasping in surprise or even admiration in the background.

Walking down the same stairs they had both used with one hand on the armrest... was a woman who countless men would call a goddess of beauty without a second's hesitation with just a glance, gracefully descending with a beautiful red fan of foreign design held in her hand, which was close to her face.

A smile graced her tender red lips as she displayed elegant and superior gestures with every step she took, exuding an extremely refined charisma and an extraordinarily seductive charm, proving that her charm standards were truly sky-high.

Her elegant hair, as black as the darkest nights and as silky as the most luxurious fabrics, easily reached past her sensual back; reaching her respectable round and firm derriere that was wrapped by her skirt—making even Jheane have to admit defeat—as the magical light began to delicately glow on each of her well-groomed strands.

Her proud breasts were tightly squeezed by the arm holding the fan, making them stand out; being absolutely larger than the alchemist's in size, which would easily attract the gaze of countless knights upon them in seconds, filling them with an almost uncontrollable carnal desire at the sight of those considerable nipples protruding weakly through her uniform without being able to be hidden.

Her small oval face contained exotic features that you would only see on people from the ancient lands of the Yamato Empire, easily attracting people's attention not only because of its rarity in this Western nation, but because of her unique beauty that captivates viewers of all genders with its unparalleled splendor.

Her soft, delicate, perfect skin, which was the only thing she seemed to have inherited from her Loveritian father, looked as beautiful as Arietta's and Jheane's, and her bright obsidian black eyes were slightly narrowed with the gaze of a sly fox, fixed in her direction and slightly covered by the 'Hime' cut bangs that Jheane remembered the old pervert who was her Master liked so much, with a very beautiful floral decoration on the side of her head in a charming violet color.

For all her elegance and glamour, no one could deny that the academy uniform also highlighted the erotic nature of her curvaceous body, with her narrow waist and wide hips clearly outlined for anyone to see.

Even Jheane felt a little envious of her body and a little desire at the same time, thinking how great it would be to be able to play with a woman like her, with those impressive breasts and those nipples the size of a big button... although, unfortunately, she would have to keep her distance in order to try to have a quieter life.

That same woman who filled her with complex feelings looked at them calmly, gracefully ignoring their obvious discomfort as she parted her erotic lips. "I'd like to talk to you for a moment... if it's not too much trouble."

With a voice that would make virgins shudder with how sweet and slightly seductive it sounded, this girl... no, this noble and seductive woman of extraordinary beauty deigned to speak to them. Her tone, though slightly gentle and humble as she spoke to them, had an unmistakable dignity that also radiated throughout her body.

...She was the one they talked about before, Aria Dominguez von Cerodian, the Eldest Princess of the Cerodian Duchy.

Jheane held back the involuntary moan that was about to escape her lips as she looked at the woman she perceived to be the so-called Yamato Nadeshiko, Aria Dominguez, the number one Caster of the first years.

And before Jheane could quickly try to refuse using her encounter with Lars as an excuse, the beautiful lady told them even faster, "I intend to invite you both to a tea party with the rest of the students of Class SS."

-A tea party?

The two beautiful girls looked at her in bewilderment at these casual words.

Tea party.

This was widely known as a rather traditional social event among the noblewomen of Loveritia that was celebrated even in the days of the Old Romanian Empire, which in turn had adopted these customs from the Great Yamato Empire.

The ladies here would sometimes send invitations a week in advance to young ladies with whom they wished to develop personal connections through a tea party—whether they were other noblewomen or even bourgeois—having to plan every arrangement, every detail, with absolute perfection so as not to upset their guests and to ensure they would make a good impression on their potential allies.

There, the noble hostesses did not flaunt their wealth, although they had some, but rather tried to demonstrate their organizational skills, their deep knowledge of tea (if they had any), and their ability to satisfy their guests with their ideas.

Furthermore, in noble society, tea parties are crucial for face-to-face interaction, information exchange, and establishing power dynamics.

For this reason, noble women who do not attend them are often considered non-existent in imperial high society.

Therefore, many women strive to attend and organize these meetings to maintain their position and not bring shame to their families.

That was, in part, what Jheane knew about tea parties thanks to the basic teachings of her teacher, who had to teach her various knowledge about how the aristocracy worked, considering that one day she might be invited to such an event.

Naturally, Jheane wasn't interested in such things and her own teacher understood this as he himself didn't like such aristocratic formalities at all, so he only taught her some basic rules, in case she found herself in a situation where she simply couldn't refuse such an invitation when she came to live in my dorms at the Bomenslik Imperial Academy.

And somehow, Jheane felt like she was in that exact predicament, right now.

"What do you mean by inviting us all to a tea party, Lady Dominguez? And I didn't know tea invitations were made that way..."

With a polite tone, Jheane asked with confusion evident in her voice, the insinuation behind her words not escaping the astute lady of a dukedom at all as she let out a soft chuckle that made the two girls in front of her subtly look at each other.

Aria placed a hand on her neckline, radiating an almost irresistible charm and charisma as she smiled. She replied in a somewhat amused tone, “It’s true that nobles usually send tea party invitations through servants, but you know... Don’t we all live in the same dorms right now? It would be disrespectful, at least to me, not to give you my invitation personally as your hostess when technically we share the same space where we might socialize a lot in the future, and not just in the classrooms assigned by the academy.”

"I suppose..." the alchemist replied hesitantly, a little surprised by the young noblewoman's strange display of consideration towards this matter.

Is she trying to curry favor with her colleagues by personally inviting them to her tea party? I'm sure she's trying hard to build a good network, I'll admit it. Still, I really don't want any part of this...

That was what not only Jheane felt, but also Arietta, who had a difficult expression beside her; the elementals she had inadvertently summoned long ago had returned to the elemental plane to which they belonged.

However, the young alchemist felt that if she ignored this and did not go, with the vast majority of the SS Class girls agreeing, there was a high probability of becoming an outcast in the place she had called home for the past four years, which could become troublesome.

Should I go then? Well, it's just a social gathering, and most of the students here aren't all nobles, so I might be able to make friends with a few... though it would be annoying to have to deal with the disdain of some noble ladies too proud of their lineage to recognize our abilities...

As Jheane pondered such complicated matters, she felt the exotic, black-haired beauty approach with gentle steps and hand her a card with her family's coat of arms, which she pulled from somewhere with a serene smile. "On these cards, you'll find the information you need to know where to go and what dress code you should follow. You don't need to answer me now. Think carefully, and if you'd like to join us that day, I'll be happy to see you."

He finished saying that while passing a terribly similar card to Arietta as well, who let out a weak "Ah... Thank you, Lady Dominguez..." to which the princess of one of the four most important duchies of the Loveritia Empire only responded with a soft smile.

-Well, I won't bother you any longer. If you'll excuse me, I have something to do. See you later.

-Alright...

-Of course

"Oh!" Aria exclaimed, walking past them with a friendly air, as if she'd just remembered something. "And please call me Aria, even if it's something more comfortable. As you know, I want to be friends with both of you, so I'd like us to be less rigid next time."

Jheane hesitated, scratching her cheek with an awkward smile while Arietta clasped her hands with the card between them over her belly with a worried face while both of them, curious, answered at the longest possible time with an uncertain tone, "W-we'll try."

Without seeming embarrassed, insulted, or even hurt by their obvious discomfort at the idea of associating with her, Aria gave them a friendly smile before turning elegantly toward the exit, demurely greeting the maids, who bowed respectfully as she passed.

As she walked away from the two, Arietta seemed to be breathing normally again. She placed a hand on her modest chest in relief, and even sighed.

-That was really awkward... at least he didn't try to indirectly convince me to join his faction or anything like before...

- Right? But... a tea party... What do you think, Arietta-chan?

-Don't know....

"Maybe we should go, huh? We might risk being ostracized by our classmates if we ignore the invitation... well, if most of them decide to go." Jheane looked suspiciously at the invitation card in her hand as she spoke.

"Huh? Don't tell me that's what she was planning! Oh... so she was like a villain in a novel after all!"

-What? No, nothing of the sort!

-...¿No?

"Of course not," she sighed, somewhat frustrated by that friend of hers who seemed prone to misunderstandings, since her mind easily confused reality with one of her romantic novels, surely without much value beyond exciting young girls with unreal romances.

“What I’m saying is, if the majority of the students in Class SS decide to join Lady Dominguez’s faction after the tea party, it’s very possible that they’ll all decide not to socialize in any way with whoever ignored their leader, whether it’s to avoid unnecessarily offending her or for any other reason they can think of… and if it’s possible that she’s just overthinking things and nothing of the sort is going to happen, maybe we shouldn’t risk it. After all, if I’m going to live here for four years, I’d like to get along with all my classmates.”

Arietta blinked, slightly surprised by all the analysis Jheane was doing, and then said with what seemed like some respect and admiration in her voice, "You sure put a lot of thought into this, didn't you?"

The young alchemist simply snorted with a slightly haughty smile. “As high-level Aspirants, we have minds that function at high speed and process information better than normal humans. So, when is the best time to take full advantage of them?”

That's what Jheane believed.

As a Caster Class Aspirant specifically specializing in the discipline of Alchemy, she had to deal with numerous magic formulas and alchemical recipes throughout her training, and came to think it was only natural to take advantage of the inhuman intellectual capacity granted to her by her parameters to quickly absorb the problems presented to her.

This, of course, applied not only to witchcraft, but also to life in general.

Mainly creating very realistic mental simulations of wild sex, and I can already think of many scenarios you could participate in with Arietta, hehe~

She kept that thought to herself with a mischievous smile as she continued to explain her point of view to the spiritualist.

"As you know, Lady Domin... uh..." He hesitated for a moment, and had to admit it. "Lady Aria... she already knows that you're trying to consolidate your position at Bomenslik Imperial Academy through us, so she won't treat us badly if we join her. It's quite possible that the others will see this and decide to switch sides to your side to gain certain benefits... In that sense, it's not unreasonable for the majority of our class to join your faction, so there's a chance we'll be harmed if we simply ignore you. We don't need to commit to being part of your faction; simply attending might prevent them from becoming hostile towards the two of us, so we'd better go."

As a young hopeful raised to be the next Guildmaster of the Alchemists—a position she didn't want, by the way—Jheane was carefully guided by her master to discern the nobility's intentions for herself, hoping not to fall for their wordplay woven like poisonous web traps.

As far as she was concerned, Aria's plan was obvious.

By personally inviting many of the talented elite students, only slightly below them in intelligence and influence, she demonstrated her sincerity and how much she valued them, as well as conveying the hidden message that she was willing to treat them very well if they agreed to be by her side.

At the same time, it conveyed to those who were hesitant to even approach her the idea that they feared social isolation in their own home, as people smart enough would realize that they would be at a disadvantage if a large portion of their class belonged to Aria's faction.

Anxiety, at the very least, would compel them to go so as not to insult Aria's honor or earn the hostility of her faction.

That's precisely what she wants, because by simply going to the tea party they would be forging a kind of connection with her that they wouldn't be able to easily deny if the first steps of their ambition are successful.

For noblewomen, tea parties were a status symbol. Successfully inviting a prestigious guest was a sign of the host's influence.

In that sense, it would be natural for Aria to strive to win over future geniuses like them with subtle manipulation tactics.

Very clever, Lady Aria, very clever.

Not in vain was he one of the greatest geniuses to appear in the Noble Dominguez Clan, bringing pride to his lineage of Sorcerers not only with his amazing magical talents, but also with his scheming mind capable of devising a plan like that that can be implemented with such simple and seemingly insignificant actions.

Either that, or Jheane was just overthinking things—the curse of a smart person at its finest.

Haha...no way

Jheane quickly began to deny the possibility in her thoughts when Arietta finally responded to her relatively straightforward analysis of the situation.

"I see... if what you say is true, then I don't see why I shouldn't go. But you didn't say when it would be..."

"That's what the invitation is for. I'm sure he wrote it the day the tea party starts there."

"Why don't you just say it?" Arietta tilted her head, and a smile seemed to spread across Jheane's lips.

Because it's quite possible she wanted to surprise us with the location of the tea party when we read it on the card, or perhaps something else. In any case, we'll know when we open them, won't we? He waved the card with a wink, and Arietta laughed, letting out a soft, silvery voice.

-Okay, that makes sense... I still feel awkward around Lady Dominguez, but I guess I'll think about it after reading the invitation.

-Yes, yes, me too.

-Oh! But shouldn't you go with your little sister?

The spiritualist genius tenderly blinked her lapis lazuli eyes as she asked with a finger to her pink lips, and Jheane froze at that very moment, completely bewildered.

Shit! I forgot about Larisa!

-Arietta-chan, excuse the abruptness, but I have to go! See you later!

-Ah!

Arietta raised a hand, but the Demi-Bestian who had used her canine nature to run at great speed through the splendorous halls was already entering through the luxurious twin doors that led to the Visiting Room.

"I hope you have a nice sister reunion..." Arietta smiled softly as she whispered with her hands behind her back, turning to return to her room with the well-decorated card in her hand in a good mood.

Unbeknownst to Jheane, she completely forgot to clear up this adorable little girl's misunderstanding about her "little sister."...

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Chapter 2: An Alchemist and a "Fairy"

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Chapter 2: An Alchemist and a "Fairy"

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