Ssshhk, pew.

It was the moment the air-splitting sound rang out before I could even finish my thought.

By a hair’s breadth, Nathan wrapped his arms tightly around me and rolled several times across the dirt ground.

“Argh.”

“Ugh.”

A heavy pain swept through my whole body, and a groan escaped my lips.

We were wrapped in each other’s arms.

I saw it as we fell.

The place I had just been standing, a deep dent and smoke were rising from it.

‘A bullet?’

“Are you alright?”

As I stared at the hazy smoke, Nathan’s cracked voice turned my head.

I was pinned beneath Nathan.

‘Nathan is holding me?’

That hot, heavy sensation was his body.

‘Crazy.’

My face flushed red.

Of course, it was from happiness.

He was slightly lifting his upper body to look down at me.

Under the bright, brilliant moon, his blue eyes shone even deeper as he examined me.

‘I must be insane, but I freaking love this.’

Nathan asked again, “Mirabell Pearl, are you hurt anywhere?”

…Ah. So sexy. Our Nathan, Ethan.

Now that we’re in this situation, forget the formal speech—he’s dropping honorifics and calling me by name.

“No. Fortunately, I don’t think I’m hurt.”

Aside from rolling on the ground, I didn’t feel any pain, so it didn’t seem like a flesh wound.

‘“Soul Mate,” you bastards! Where are you?’

There hadn’t been a hint of danger since the entrance ceremony, so I’d let my guard down. Besides, guards weren’t allowed inside the academy due to school rules.

I rolled my eyes sideways, then looked straight at Nathan’s face again.

Nathan let out a sigh, his face pale. “Glad to hear it. Let me help you up.”

With a light movement, Nathan rose and extended a hand toward me.

“Thank you.”

It was the hand of a mage with long, white fingers.

His hand was twice the size of mine. I stared at it, panting softly.

A hand! Am I really holding my favorite’s hand like this?

Yes!

With trembling fingertips, I grabbed Nathan’s hand.

Nathan’s hand was hot.

‘Hm? Not just body heat… did he use mana in that moment? He must’ve used magic while rushing toward me.’

Nathan was strong and a gentleman.

He pulled me up in one go, then took out a gray checkered gentleman’s handkerchief and handed it to me.

“Wipe off the dirt.”

‘So the casual speech is over now? That’s a pity…’

And just like that, the sensitive stag had already taken two steps away from me.

Tch. We were just rolling around as one.

I had no choice but to pinch the dangling edge of the handkerchief between my fingertips.

“…Yes, thank you.”

I checked myself and found that aside from light scrapes on my arm and knee, I was mostly fine.

My shoulder stung a bit, but it wasn’t a bullet wound either.

“Let’s get out of here quickly. It’s dangerous.”

“Yes. I agree.”

I brushed the dirt from my hands and uniform with the handkerchief and suddenly snapped back to my senses.

“Wait a second. Professor, are you alright?”

He might not be.

I must’ve lost my mind.

‘There’s no guarantee Nathan wasn’t hurt, right?’

I rushed toward him and cupped both his cheeks with my hands.

“Wh-what are you doing?” Nathan flinched and pulled his long legs back.

I followed him and asked again, “Just a moment. I’m fine, but what about you, Professor?”

With my hands holding his face, Nathan furrowed his brows. “I’m fine, can you please take your hands off?”

Nathan shot me a fierce glare and pointed to my hands, sending a clear warning, but I didn’t hear a thing.

‘Come on, how often does something like this happen? Even if I heard him, I wouldn’t listen.’

My god, how can a man’s skin be this nice?

‘It’s like white rice cake dusted with dirt.’

And those red lips!

That lip line looks like a boy band idol’s, and I’d die to be marked by that sharp jaw!

Twitch. A glint flashed in those blue eyes.

I eased the grip on his cheeks slightly.

But afraid he might run away, I didn’t let go.

Instead, now freed, Nathan let out a sharp voice.

“What are you doing, student Mirabell Pearl?”

“Just a second. Were you hit? Let me see.”

“Why should I? Can you not keep your hands—!”

“I’ve let go. Oh my, I need to check this too.”

Without hesitation, I started examining Nathan’s back.

What if he got grazed while saving me?

I was running my hands across Nathan’s back when I froze.

‘I can feel it! Through the uniform jacket, those perfectly firm back muscles!’

“What on earth… are you thinking?”

Oops. Looks like lasers might shoot out of Nathan’s eyes.

“Oh dear.”

I quickly pulled both arms back and hid them behind my waist.

I did want to touch those solid biceps and triceps too, but I should stop here.

“I meant to check for injuries, but ended up being too forward. How embarrassing.”

I tried to feign modesty, but Nathan looked unimpressed.

“…That strange exclamation that just came out of your mouth says it all.”

Yikes. Is he talking about that “Oh dear”?

This is why smart guys are troublesome.

I shoved my conscience aside and boldly lifted my chin. “I’ve checked your back, so now, try moving your arm.”

“You think I’ll do that?”

Nathan didn’t budge.

With no choice, I tried to approach and check if he was hurt, but—

“Seems like you’re planning not to take my class this semester, Miss Mirabell Pearl?”

Nathan flinched and spoke through gritted teeth.

But I wasn’t someone to back down over something like that.

“Don’t be petty and threaten me with grades.”

“It’s not a threat, it’s a core requirement for your major.”

Even as he said that, Nathan gently placed one hand on his left forearm.

“Then why are you holding your arm?”

“It’s numb. I strained it while saving a freshman under the moonlight.”

“…Ah, I’m sorry, Professor.”

I’m sorry, my favorite.

That part was sincere.

Nathan, who was gazing at me with those blue eyes, parted his lips.

“…Seems like you’ve made many enemies.”

“In business, enemies are inevitable. There are assassination threats, kidnapping threats too.”

“……”

“Anyway, Professor. Come here. I need to check if you have any other injuries.”

When I took a step forward, Nathan took two steps back.

“Please stop touching me.”

“Touching you won’t wear you down.”

“It will. Quite a lot.”

Ugh, he won’t give me a single word.

Suddenly, tension crackled between us.

Like a spotted leopard and a slender stag facing off in a dead-end deep in the forest.

Naturally, I’m the spotted leopard, and Nathan is the stag.

‘Damn. Why do I have to be the leopard?’

I locked eyes with him for a moment before turning away first.

It’s fine. A person needs to see the bigger picture.

Let’s be patient. Stay composed.

Today isn’t the only day.

As I relaxed my shoulders, Nathan finally let out a long sigh.

He looked visibly exhausted, which somehow annoyed me even more, but I decided to let it slide.

“First, let’s get out of here,” Nathan said, scanning the area with sharp eyes as if searching for something.

“Got it.”

Nathan said coldly, “Then let’s go, Miss Mirabell Pearl.”

Ugh, where’s the guy who called my name so desperately to save me?

And then he started walking away from me.

‘But where are we even going? The assassins sent by “Soul Mate” might still be nearby.’

My competitor, “Soul Mate,” knows I’m pushing the “Name Deletion” project.

They also run a matchmaking service helping those with name manifestations find their destined partners. But if my project succeeds?

They’d have to shut down and sit there twiddling their thumbs.

‘I mean, I wouldn’t care since I’ve got plenty of other businesses.’

Thanks to my deep dive into the original, I monopolized every hidden secret and lucrative mine in the world. I’m in a place where I never need to worry about money again.

At first, they approached politely, but when I refused to listen, they started sending threatening letters.

‘There’s definitely a rat inside leaking info.’

Every so often, those jerks would send assassins.

‘But still, this is a sacred place of education. Barbarians.’

Now I understood why things were quiet during the entrance ceremony.

They clearly waited until nightfall.

‘Going back to the dorm now is a guaranteed death trap.’

Because of the welcome banquet, most of the students were probably still out.

‘It’s the perfect time for a secret murder.’

Creepy.

I stared at Nathan’s back as he walked ahead of me.

The distance between us gradually grew.

He saved me and now he’s just leaving me behind?

I’m literally risking my life here because of you…

“If you don’t come, Miss Mirabell Pearl, I’ll leave you behind.”

It was then.

Nathan stopped walking and turned to look at me.

As if telling me to follow.