"Does this count as solved?" Meanwhile, in the magic class, Zhao Shishi frowned as she looked at Benjamin and Karls. With her current strength, she hadn't even sensed the spatial tremor a moment ago. And yet their flashy combo move had literally wiped out that dark wisp? Ridiculously unfair! Or… maybe that thing wasn't as tough as it looked? Whatever the case, its abrupt disappearance left her utterly baffled.
"Ahem… with this handsome stud stepping in, of course it's a breeze!" Karls flipped his golden hair and struck a pose, shamelessly hogging all the glory.
"I was bracing for a life‑or‑death slugfest… what a letdown." Benjamin scowled, sounding faintly disappointed, as if nothing had challenged him at all.
"This guy…" Zhao Shishi rolled her eyes. But after that fight, she had a clear sense of these two's true power, and a baseline gauge for the rest of the class's magical talent. Benjamin was legitimately strong—top ten in any magic academy, no joke—though his tactics were downright bizarre. Everyone else? Totally average. Not a single surprise among them.
Still… something felt off. She couldn't pinpoint what.
"Honestly, I'm so grateful you're here, Shishi! Welcome to our warm, harmonious Class 2‑2!" Benjamin bounded forward, offering his hand.
"Uh… no need to thank me. Protecting the people is my family's legacy, after all—it's just what I do." Shishi smiled politely, though she felt she'd barely lifted a finger.
Before she could clasp his hand, Karls swooped in and gripped it instead. "As expected of the Hero's heir! You're so amazing I almost tear up!" He clutched her hand like it was his lifeline, eyes misting as though he'd struck gold.
"Uh…" Shishi simply flexed her wrist, easily flicking his hand away. She couldn't hide a flicker of revulsion—Karls was already giving her the creeps, and Benjamin's boundless chatter only made it worse.
She still hadn't figured out how those two "defeated" the dark wisp. Or—were they just unwitting pawns? Suddenly it clicked: the real "star" must have been working behind the scenes. The Demon King must be here! Maybe that wisp was his doing—testing her, perhaps? What a naive monarch, thinking a half‑hearted display could scare off the future Champion of Light! She hadn't even unleashed one percent of her power.
Luo Qi, freshly returned to reality, was riding a private high—first time truly letting loose in ages, it felt incredible. But he knew better than to get hooked on raw power; that'd push him further from his goal of "ordinary."
"Hey, everyone—problem's handled! So… who's up for a victory party!?" Karls's shout jarred Luo Qi out of his reverie.
"A victory party?" Everyone looked up at the back‑row desk where Karls perched like a showman. Even those out on the lawn blinked. Was this jumping the gun? They'd narrowly averted a magical calamity, yet now "celebrate"? Somehow this felt… familiar. Whenever danger struck, it was Benjamin who swooped in to fix it. His hot‑blooded heroics might grate at times, but no one could deny their admiration.
Luo Qi internally snorted: if anyone "fixed" things, it was him. Benjamin was talented, sure—but this school was cursed with outlandish crises. Remember the dragon hatchling? Don't let that adorable face fool you: when it went berserk, a single spell from her could've brought Benjamin to his knees. She's a bona‑fide A‑rank monster—basically an adolescent dragon.
"Well, it's Shishi's first day with us, so of course we need a welcome party! And I know a super fancy restaurant for celebrating!" Karls crowed from his lofty perch.
"Sure, but can we even afford a fancy restaurant?" someone muttered.
"Uh… didn't we blow through our class fund last time?" another worried.
"This calls for a big‑wallet benefactor!" someone declared.
"Dylan! This is your cue—call your rich 'mistress' to pick up the tab!" All eyes turned to Dylan.
Instantly, the room froze. Karls, you might be a celeb now, but you can't unilaterally upgrade the class budget! Half of us come from regular homes. And last time you didn't drag us to some swanky place—you slummed it with us at the campus burger joint and that cozy family bistro everyone raves about!
"Why drag me into this… and she's not my 'mistress,' okay? My family just owes her a fortune—doesn't mean I'm selling my body!" Dylan sputtered, face crumpling.
"That's exactly why," someone snapped. "We can't call her your sugar mama!"
Even notorious for her crazy antics, Suli's love for Dylan was plain to see—her methods just… unconventional. And everyone else? Sharp as hawks.
"To uphold my knightly honor… I swear I have no impure thoughts! I just want to pay my debts!" Dylan gallantly declared, flaring his chest.
Truth was, he only felt dread around Suli. Even if they'd grown up together, a normal romance was impossible—she was pure sadistic S‑class. If he weren't indebted, he'd have "corrected" that long ago.
But reality bit: at his current part‑time pay, clearing his debts would take fifteen years. Maybe ten if he scored a top salary job. As long as his dad quit gambling.
"So you have to bring her! You sure you can cover the bill?" someone prodded.
"Uh… looks like I can't join today… I've got my shift right after school—can't be late." Dylan slumped.
He did want to fit in, but life's hard truths bit.
"Let's roll out now—got the principal's OK!" Suddenly, Karls blinked down beside them, speed rivaling teleportation.
"What timing… Dylan, I'll cover your meal." Luo Qi casually patted him on the shoulder. His mood was sky‑high tonight—he'd bankroll anything, from dragon sashimi to street tacos.
After all, money was no object when you're the Demon King—plus, his sister's research patents net six figures every year. Without the pretense of his secret identity, they'd probably already built a real-life castle for him to reign from.
"True brotherhood!" Dylan leapt onto Luo Qi's leg, tears streaming.
"Relax—got a discount card. Half off, legit." Karls chimed confidently.
"Even more suspicious…"
"Must be inflated base prices."
"Can't we pick somewhere cheaper? I blew my allowance on that new Magical Duty: Call of Spells release!"
The rest of the class groaned. They would've loved to look cool—but no one could foot that bill.
"I vote buffet. Dylan inhaled that last one he went to." Luo Qi suggested, leaning back.
"Luo Qi, don't joke!"
"Seriously! Don't tempt fate!"
"Last time he ate like a man possessed, they blacklisted the whole school. The owner nearly jumped off his roof."
"Right? I seriously thought I'd die of shame…and heartburn."
Everyone bobbed their heads in agreement.
As a perpetually starving knight, Dylan's appetite was legendary—three or four times a regular person's dinner was baseline. When you're still growing and haven't eaten properly all year, demolishing ten buffets-worth is Tuesday. Hence the no-knights-allowed policy at many places. One round of Dylan's table and the restaurant's profits vanish.
But since his family fell from grace, he's unofficially expelled from knightly circles—only he still clings to that ancestral gallantry.
Oh, and Suli? She's a buffet beast in her own right. Petite as a loli, yet can down food volumes that would shame a whale.
"Wait—so THAT place has a buffet? I don't dare lead everyone there…" Karls gulped.
He definitely didn't want another blacklist tarnishing his idol image. Idol life was war—enemy agencies lurked in every shadow.
And so, to the surprise of no one, a motley procession of Class 2‑2 students—three tableware sets in hand—marched off into the sunset for their "Welcome Party," buzzing with equal parts excitement, dread, and hope that no one would collapse from overeating.