The bell rang crisply, breaking the long silence that had filled the classroom.
The students snapped out of their daze, but unlike usual, there was no loud chatter or rush for the door. Instead, everyone packed their things slowly, eyes shining, faces still lost in awe as they left in small groups.
In the hallway, every single conversation revolved around what had just happened in class.
"Did you see that? Blazing Tempest! That was a real Fourth-Tier spell!"
"Five Third-Tier mages… how is that even possible? How did Professor Sephina pull that off?"
"'Source Code'—even the name sounds so cool! Top five at finals, huh? I'm going all in!"
"She's insane! I thought she was bluffing before… turns out she's the real deal."
"Did you see the princess's face? She was completely stunned!"
Even the most arrogant noble students now looked like devout fans — admiration and hunger glowing in their eyes.
Sephina's overwhelming strength and her mind-blowing theory had completely crushed every bit of defiance they once had.
A few brave or particularly curious students lingered at the front, crowding around the desk where Sephina was tidying up her lecture notes.
"Professor, what's the structural principle behind that magic array?"
"How do you stabilize the interface of the mana flow?"
"Professor, will the final grades be based entirely on combat performance?"
Sephina answered them briefly but clearly. Her tone was still calm, but not as cold as it had been during class. For well-thought-out questions, she even gave a few extra explanations.
That small kindness was enough to make the students beam with excitement. None of them dared overstay, though—once they'd gotten their answers, they left feeling satisfied and slightly reverent.
Among them, Mia kept her head low, trying her hardest to blend into the crowd and disappear.
Sure, she was amazed by the lesson, but her mind was completely occupied by one horrifying thought: copy "The Theory of Elements" ten times.
Her mood sank lower with each step. All she wanted was to get away from that terrifying little loli teacher as fast as possible.
She was just about to slip through the doorway when—
"Mia. Come to my office after class."
Mia froze.
Her entire body went rigid; it was like her soul just left her body.
No way…! Copying the book wasn't enough? Now she was getting a private scolding too?!
Wait—no. Could it be…
That ridiculous rumor—about the new teacher liking toys with cute girls—was real?!
No, no, impossible… right?
Professor Sephina looked so strict and proper…
But—but why else would she call me alone to her office?!
Some of those twisted nobles liked stuff like that — "office play," they called it. They'd get off on making their subordinates or students tremble and beg in front of them, pretending to be so powerful and in control—
Oh no oh no oh no!
What do I do?! Run? If I run, she'll kill me!
She knows High-Level Levitation! She could lift me right off the ground with a flick of her finger—where would I even go?!
Go quietly, then? But what if she really does something to me?!
Uuuugh… why is being alive so hard?!
Mia's thoughts spiraled out of control. Her face went pale as chalk. She stood frozen by the door, too scared to move or breathe.
Sephina dismissed the last few students, then calmly picked up her notes and walked toward the petrified girl.
"Let's go," she said evenly, then turned toward the corridor.
Mia's legs felt like jelly as she followed behind. Every step Sephina took, her shiny blue hair swayed lightly, and to Mia, it looked less like walking and more like heading straight for the gallows.
The office wasn't far from the classroom, and the short walk felt like a march to her own execution.
Sephina took out a key, unlocked the door, then glanced back. "Go in."
Her tone was flat, but to Mia, it sounded like a death sentence carried on a winter breeze.
Trembling, Mia shuffled in and found the nearest chair—closest to the door, just in case she needed to bolt. She barely sat on the edge, not even daring to rest her full weight.
Then—click.
The door closed.
She closed it!
Was it locked too?!
Just the two of them! Alone in a locked room!
The perfect setup for a "private lesson"!
Was it really happening? Oh no oh no oh no—this was it!
Mia squeezed her eyes shut, trembling, lashes fluttering wildly.
Her hearing sharpened under sheer terror. She could hear Sephina's small leather shoes tapping on the wooden floor—
Tap... tap... tap...
The sound wasn't fast, but every step echoed directly on her pounding heart.
It stopped—right in front of her.
No strange touch came. Instead, something sweet drifted through the air—warm, buttery, with a faint caramel smell.
"Why are you closing your eyes? Open them," Sephina said, voice steady but with a hint of command.
Mia obeyed, still dazed.
What she saw wasn't some weird magical device, nor a predatory grin—but a small white porcelain plate being held out in front of her.
On the plate sat a soft, golden, triangular pastry, glossy syrup glistening on top and still steaming faintly. That rich smell—it came from this thing.
Mia blinked, completely lost. She'd never seen food like that. It wasn't stiff like bread or fancy like noble pastries. It looked impossibly fluffy, and the aroma alone made her mouth water.
"P-Professor… this is…?" she stammered, her brain completely broken.
What happened to the scolding? What happened to the seduction? What was this fragrant thing? Some kind of potion ingredient?
"Eat," Sephina said simply, nudging the plate closer. "I just made it. It's called a pancake."
Pan… cake?
Mia had never even heard the word. But the teacher was offering food to her…
Wait. Offering food?
Oh no.
Was it drugged?!
She'd heard of potions that could control people—make them obey like mindless pets, do whatever they were told, and forget everything afterward!
So that was it?! Feed her the drug first, then—?!
The delicious-looking "pancake" in front of her suddenly looked like a deadly trap.
No matter how good it smelled… she definitely wasn't eating that!