Seeing that the other party had truly stopped, Audrey's eyes widened in disbelief. A moment later, like a drowning person clutching at the last lifeline, she repeatedly shouted that awkward yet strangely beautiful phrase:
"King of Glorious Splendor, greater even than the sun!" (Ancient Elvish) ×3
In response, the crimson light inside the steel automaton's eyes flickered several times before gradually turning green. At the same time, it withdrew the rune greatsword resting against Audrey's neck.
"Though you are a foolish slave, at least you know to revere the great King." (Ancient Elvish)
The construct narrowed the green glow in its eyes and carefully examined Audrey once more before speaking again:
"Was it that careless fool who branded you? Hmph, whatever. Those people never take inferior human slaves seriously. They're always forgetting the branding process." (Ancient Elvish)
As it spoke, the automaton raised the rune greatsword again and suddenly slashed toward Audrey.
Terrified, Audrey immediately squeezed her eyes shut.
But the agonizing pain she expected never came. Instead, she suddenly felt a cool sensation across her chest, followed by a strange warmth spreading there.
Then the horrifying guardian spoke once more:
"There. The branding is complete. Leave immediately. Slaves do not belong here." (Ancient Elvish)
Audrey slowly opened her trembling eyes, only to discover that the terrifying guardian had already vanished without a trace, leaving behind nothing but ruined debris scattered across the ground.
Only then did she realize that the construct had sliced open the clothing over her chest, including her undergarments, exposing her full, rounded breasts to the air.
And upon her chest was now a delicate glowing green mark.
It depicted two sacred trees leaning against one another, while beneath them stood the silhouette of an elf wearing a crown and raising a longsword toward the heavens.
Audrey, who only vaguely knew that elves supposedly existed, stared blankly at the mark on her chest, completely unable to understand what it meant.
Then she hurriedly pulled her torn clothes together to cover the exposed skin before fleeing the ruins as quickly and carefully as she could, guided only by fragmented memories of the path.
---
By the time afternoon arrived, Mozo glanced at the large clock inside the library before placing a bookmark into the book in his hands and closing it.
He intended to borrow it and bring it home.
It was a very clear and beginner-friendly book on finance, and Mozo felt it would likely be useful for his future career.
But just as he was preparing to pack up and leave, he suddenly saw Audrey Hebburn, whom he had only briefly encountered that morning, striding directly toward him at remarkable speed.
She's not coming for me, is she?!
No, probably not. Most likely just a coincidence.
And please, let it stay that way.
Audrey was one of the most famous beauties in the Flower Faculty. Although she was a commoner, someone like her would most likely end up marrying into a mid-ranking noble household as a concubine, or perhaps become the legal wife of some lower noble.
In short, for a common-born woman, her future was already considered a massive success.
But because of that, Mozo knew very clearly that as a common-born man, he absolutely should not become too closely associated with someone like her, especially not in a university overflowing with hormone-driven young men.
Otherwise, trouble would pile up endlessly.
Unfortunately, fate clearly had no intention of cooperating with him.
The Tulip of the Flower Faculty, who by all logic should have had no further interaction with him whatsoever, walked straight up to his table.
Then she placed both hands against the tabletop, looking as though she desperately wanted to say something, yet had no idea how to begin.
After hesitating for a long moment, she finally spoke with obvious care:
"May I ask whether you would have the time to honor me with a visit to a café? The Rose Pavilion beside the university."
The moment those words left her mouth, countless nearby students widened their eyes in shock.
The Rose Pavilion café outside the university gates was famously known as a lovers' rendezvous spot. The place practically survived on the business of student couples alone.
What in the world was happening today?
It was one thing for the Rose of the Flower Faculty to be taken already. After all, her partner was an absurdly high-ranking noble heir.
But now even the Tulip was gone too?
And to some completely ordinary-looking guy?!
Even the young nobleman who had just descended from the library's third floor turned to look over with obvious curiosity.
Only Anna, the Rose of the Flower Faculty who was still holding his arm intimately, seemed lost in thought instead of paying attention to the scene.
As for Mozo himself, he was both bewildered and deeply helpless.
He could already predict that no matter what happened next, his peaceful life was probably going to become extremely troublesome for quite some time.
After thinking for a moment, Mozo prepared to refuse in order to minimize future problems.
But before he could speak, he noticed the deep anxiety and unease hidden in Audrey's eyes.
After a brief hesitation, Mozo let out a self-deprecating smile and said:
"Miss Hebburn, are you perhaps seeking discussion regarding an academic matter?"
Even though he was just a nobody from the bottom rung of society, he still couldn't bear to completely ignore someone in obvious distress.
Audrey herself was no fool. After a brief moment of surprise, she immediately followed his lead without missing a beat:
"Indeed. Since the matter may involve your academic research, please allow me to offer proper coffee and refreshments as an apology."
The shock among the surrounding students finally lessened somewhat.
Mozo also added in satisfaction:
"I personally have no objections. However, if this truly concerns my academic research, then I hope to receive appropriate financial compensation."
Excellent.
Now his image would become that of a greedy but otherwise ordinary poor university student rather than someone chasing after beautiful women.
And that would greatly reduce the suspicions and hostility from all those testosterone-fueled idiots around campus.
However, those same words carried an entirely different meaning in Audrey's ears.
So you really did encounter a supernatural event connected to what I mentioned. And if I want more information, I'll need to prepare sufficient payment or something of equal value.
At that thought, Audrey immediately began calculating everything she possessed that could possibly serve as compensation.
That was an elven ruin.
And that automaton definitely didn't seem like something from a low Sequence.
The secrets hidden behind all this... could a self-taught commoner Beyonder like her even afford to uncover them?
But at the same time, this likely concerned her very life itself.
Did she even dare walk away from it?
After thinking it over repeatedly, Audrey finally clutched her clothes with a somewhat desperate and aggrieved expression.
At present, the only thing she truly possessed of significant value... and something the other party might actually desire...
...was probably the virgin body she had carefully preserved all this time in preparation for a prosperous future.
Originally, her ideal plan had been to rely on both her rare beauty and her Beyonder identity to marry into a mid-ranking noble family as a legitimate wife. She had painstakingly maintained an impeccable public image for precisely that reason.
But now...
It seemed she had no other choice.
The most terrifying thing about mysticism was always the unknown.
Especially after being branded with such a bizarre mark.
Finally, Audrey raised her head seriously, as though accepting her fate, and said:
"I will prepare compensation that satisfies you."
The look in her eyes immediately filled Mozo with suspicion.
Did Miss Hebburn misunderstand something...?