Dante looked at Lexa and Vexian while taking another bite of his food. Beneath the table, his hand slowly slid higher along Vexian's thigh. Vexian's cheeks immediately flushed. Rather than stopping him, she quietly shifted closer, making it even easier for his hand to wander.
Dante noticed. A grin spread across his face. Seeing that smile only made Vexian blush even harder.
Across the table, Lexa pretended not to notice what was happening beneath it. She calmly continued eating before finally asking,
"So, Master?"
"Hm?"
"What are the plans going forward?"
She placed her utensils down.
"We only have one day left before everyone receives their new skills. I'd like to know what you're planning."
Dante swallowed his food before answering.
"It's simple."
He pointed at Lexa and Vexion.
"For now, I need you two visit someone."
...
He paused before glancing at Vexian.
"Actually... you can go alone. I'll be busy with Vexian."
Vexian's ears immediately turned red. Lexa narrowed her eyes.
"Why do I suddenly feel like I'm going to be the one constantly running errands?"
Dante shrugged.
"Depends. If the situation requires both of you, then both of you will go. But unless there's a reason for it, I'd rather always keep someone beside me."
He casually continued eating.
"What's the point of having capable subordinates if I don't actually use them?"
He glanced toward Vexian.
"And Vexian is—" He paused thoughtfully. "—a little special."
Vexian giggled happily, her face growing even redder. Lexa simply rolled her eyes.
"Speaking of Vexian, there was a small incident earlier."
Vexian immediately looked over.
"Lexa..."
Lexa shrugged innocently.
"He was going to find out eventually."
Dante tilted his head.
"What happened?"
Vexian sighed.
"It wasn't anything important, Master. Some man kept staring at my body. My breasts. My waist. My legs. Everything."
Her expression slowly darkened.
"He also invited me to become his woman and join the faction he was creating."
Dante nodded as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
"I assumed something like that would happen."
It was hardly surprising. Beautiful women were always targets for recruitment, alliances, or something far worse.
He looked at her.
"So — I'm assuming you almost killed him."
Vexian pouted.
"I wanted to. I even challenged him to a duel."
Her eyes filled with dissatisfaction.
"But academy rules don't allow us to force another student into accepting. He refused. In the end he threatened me instead."
Dante chuckled.
"If someone threatens you but isn't willing to act immediately, then they're probably not worth worrying about."
He casually waved his hand.
"People like that usually rely on intimidation because they lack confidence. If he truly believed he could kill you, he would've accepted."
He looked at her with an approving smile.
"Still, it's cute. You were willing to get angry over something because of me. Loyalty deserves to be rewarded."
He took another bite before continuing.
"I can tolerate insults directed at me. I've never really cared. But what I refuse to become is someone who takes loyalty for granted. I'll always reward those who stand beside me."
It was a genuinely meaningful statement. Unfortunately, he delivered the entire speech while chewing his food.
Lexa stared at him.
"...Master."
"Hm?"
"If you could say things like that without chewing, and while not staring at Vexian's chest, they'd actually sound incredibly profound."
Vexian couldn't help laughing. She reached over with a napkin and gently wiped the corner of Dante's mouth.
"There. You had food on your face."
Dante sighed dramatically.
"You two ask far too much of me."
Both girls simply shook their heads with amused smiles. After another few bites, Dante turned back to Lexa.
"Anyway, the person you're looking for lives in Residence Seven. His name is Elric. There should also be one other person staying with him. If he's willing to meet, bring him. If not—" He shrugged. "—just observe him. I'll deal with the rest later."
Dante tapped his academy bracelet. A holographic interface appeared before him.
"So this thing really can send information..." He muttered to himself.
After spending one hundred and fifty Academy Points, a profile appeared. It contained nothing more than a name and a portrait. Elric. Dante couldn't help clicking his tongue.
"One hundred and fifty points, and all they give me is a face. Highway robbery."
Still, he forwarded the profile to Lexa. Her bracelet vibrated moments later. She opened it before nodding.
"This is the same person I saw before."
Dante nodded.
"Good."
Vexian tilted her head.
"Is he really that powerful?"
Dante shook his head.
"Not exactly. It's not his strength I'm interested in. It's what he can become."
He leaned back.
"Every subordinate under me will become powerful eventually. Whether it's through combat. Training. Resources. Or my own abilities. I'll make sure every one of you becomes someone worthy of standing beside me. For now, I simply need him. There may be others with interesting talents. I just haven't bothered looking."
Lexa smiled.
"Should I leave now?"
"You can finish eating first. If you don't have any other questions, then head over afterwards. Tomorrow—" He smiled. "—we'll finally begin. The skills I promised both of you. I just need to decide which ones suit each of you best."
Lexa and Vexian exchanged glances. Sometimes they genuinely forgot how absurd the man sitting before them truly was.
"Master..." Lexa said slowly. "You speak about giving someone a skill as though you're handing them a piece of bread."
Vexian nodded.
Dante laughed quietly.
"The world is far larger than either of you realize. There are countless people we've never met. Countless abilities we've never seen. It's entirely possible someone else can do the same."
Inwardly, however, he knew the truth.
There probably were.
This world possessed an endless variety of Skills. Each one followed strange rules and balances. No matter how ridiculous an ability appeared, something somewhere always limited it. That was simply how the world worked.
Lexa nodded thoughtfully. After finishing their meal and discussing a few smaller details, they finally separated.
Lexa headed toward Residence Seven. Blood silently coiled around the sheathed sword at her waist before lifting it into the air.
She stepped onto it effortlessly. With a gentle whistle, the sword shot across the academy sky.
Meanwhile, Dante and Vexian returned together toward his residence. As they walked, Vexian quietly slipped her hand into his.
Neither of them said another word.
The silence between them was already comfortable enough.