“Me, me?”

“Is there another student named Mirabell Pearl here right now?”

Moved.

As expected of my favorite.

‘I thought you were going to leave me behind!’

I lifted the hem of my school uniform skirt and ran.

“I-I’m coming, Professor!”

“Hurry. This time I really will leave you behind.”

“Just try leaving me. I’ll file a formal complaint with the school.”

“…A complaint?”

Heh.

He laughed under the moonlight.

It was infuriating, but somehow looked magical.

“Did you just laugh?”

“No. I just couldn’t believe it.”

“Tch.”

Even though he said no, one corner of Nathan’s mouth was curled up as he looked at me.

Fatal.

‘Damn, talk about unfair.’

Feeling annoyed and bewitched at the same time, what is this?

‘What do you mean, what? This is the life of a successful fangirl.’

I pouted to hide the smile creeping up my lips and ran toward him.

As expected, Nathan, ever the gentleman, waited for me, and I was able to walk beside him.

“Where are we going?”

But the direction Nathan headed wasn’t toward the dormitory or the professor villas.

“As you know, that area is dangerous. For the other students too.”

“Ah. You’re right. Because of me…”

“It’s not your fault, Miss Mirabell.”

“…Ah.”

“We’re heading for the main gate.”

Nathan didn’t give me time to feel moved.

We had to walk quickly toward the main road leading to the Imperial Academy’s front gate.

Once we reached the boulevard, there were more passersby, and twice as many street lamps lit the way.

“Professor, I feel a bit relieved now.”

“One worry off our shoulders. It went just as I thought. The assassin has probably been caught.”

“Huh? I don’t understand?”

“When you’re an academy professor, backtracking something like that is a simple matter.”

“Then, when the bullet came flying earlier…?”

“That’s right.”

Did he use a spell to trace the direction the bullet came from?

‘So that’s why Nathan’s body felt hot!’

No ordinary human could reach me faster than a bullet.

Nathan must’ve sensed the presence using mana and immediately cast a swift spell.

Maybe thanks to the possession buff, I was lucky enough to have a Mana Control Level 7, so I also sensed the assassination attempt in advance and dodged it.

Still, is it even possible to use two types of magic at once?

‘I thought he used mana just to rush toward me with a speed spell…’

I felt proud all over again at Nathan’s greatness.

As expected, Nathan—my Ethan—is a genius.

“Just a moment.”

Nathan nodded and went to the small security office next to the main gate.

“It concerns a student’s life… I have no choice. I don’t like it, but.”

“Sorry?”

Loosening his tightly fastened tie, he spoke as if truly reluctant.

“There are two safest places in this city. The Imperial Palace, and…”

“And?”

No way.

“The Christopher ducal estate.”

“!”

“Let’s head to my mansion for now.”

That means…

I’m going to Nathan’s house?

At night?

Nathan looked at me with his blue eyes lowered. “I’m only suggesting this because I can’t think of anywhere else right now, so don’t misunderstand.”

“……”

“No assassin would dare trespass into the estate of a Grand Mage and an imperial duke.”

“……”

“Miss Mirabell Pearl?”

When someone is too good, it doesn’t feel real.

Despite the loud turmoil in my heart, I just blinked at Nathan’s proposal.

Nathan asked, “Is something wrong, Miss Pearl?”

Was it because we were on the boulevard lined with streetlights?

Looking at him under the moonlight was one thing, but seeing Nathan under the bright lights made him look even more dazzling.

“Don’t tell me you don’t want to go?”

“…No. Professor, can’t you hear that popping sound?” I murmured blankly.

“Has another assassin appeared? I don’t sense any presence.”

Scanning the surroundings, Nathan urgently pulled my wrist with his right arm.

Then he enclosed me within his large frame as if to protect me.

And I’m not even short.

“Don’t leave my arms. Where is it? Which direction?”

‘Wow. What a saint. This must be heaven.’

I felt like I was starting to lose my grip on reality.

This was so good, I thought I might actually die.

Unaware of anything, Nathan whispered softly by my ear, “If something exploded, then it wasn’t just one assassin. Or maybe there’s another mage involved—”

“That’s not it. Can’t you hear it? The sound of my heart exploding.”

“W-What…?”

I turned my body, clasped my hands, and looked up at him with tearful eyes. “Thank you for the invitation. I could die without regrets today.”

Unlike me, Nathan stepped back as if he had witnessed some kind of alien creature.

“Where on earth did you learn to speak like that… What exactly did the Pearl family feed the young lady to raise her this way?”

“They fed me well like a cow, so I grew up healthy.”

“Judging by your nonsense, I suppose your dizziness has passed.”

That’s right. I was pretending to have anemia.

I had completely forgotten because I was so happy.

I furrowed my brow and said weakly, “Oh, I’m dizzy. I guess I didn’t realize how tense I was, Professor.”

“It’s obvious.”

“…But it’s true.”

My act had clearly been exposed.

Given how Nathan narrowed his eyes and stared at me intently.

“I wonder if you even think of me as a professor.”

“Of course. Why would you say something so obvious?”

“Miss Pearl, you are the strangest person I’ve ever met.”

“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

“It’s definitely not a compliment. There, the carriage I requested from security is arriving.”

“……”

Nathan, who had labeled me a weirdo, glanced toward the boulevard.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

A large carriage bearing the mermaid crest of the Christopher ducal family arrived at the main gate boulevard.

“Let’s get in.”

“…Yes.”

Completely deflated, I followed behind Nathan.

Even if I’m a bizarre creature, he still intended to treat me like a lady, as he approached the carriage to open the door.

He used his right hand.

‘Huh? Nathan is left-handed…’

Tilting my head, I narrowed my eyes.

“Take this hand.”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

But because Nathan was helping me into the carriage, I didn’t get a good look.

Once I was seated on the plush cushioned chair inside the carriage, I saw it.

There was a drop of blood where Nathan had passed by on the carriage floor.

I screamed, “Blood!”

Nathan, sitting across from me, had tried to hide it by keeping his body tightly closed, but blood was dripping steadily from the tip of his left fingers.

“You’re bleeding!”

I hurried over to sit beside Nathan’s left arm.

The fabric around the middle of his left sleeve was torn.

Underneath, dark red blood had clotted thickly.

‘No wonder he kept covering it with his right hand.’

Blood was pooling near his triceps and dripping down his arm.

Nathan said like it was nothing, “It just grazed me.”

“Grazed? That’s my precious tricep—”

Nathan’s seagull-like eyebrows shot up high.

Unable to control my foolish mouth regardless of time or place, I began tearing the hem of the inner lining of my school uniform skirt.

“Professor, you must’ve been in pain. Why didn’t you say anything?”

‘Even a graze from a bullet is supposed to hurt a lot… Why did he hide it like an idiot?’

Rip—seeing me tear the white petticoat, Nathan said firmly, “Please don’t.”

“…Why are you like this? The wound is this deep… and you asked if I was hurt.”

“I’m fine—”

“What do you mean you’re fine?!”

Nathan’s blue eyes widened.

Before I knew it, I had shouted.

Feeling awkward, I lowered my head. “I’m sorry. But I’m w-worried… This happened because of me… I feel so sorry.”

I really wanted to crawl into a hole from guilt toward Nathan.

I came to the academy to save him, but ended up hurting him instead.

I tore the petticoat even longer.

Nathan, seemingly unfazed by the pain, remained calm.

“Huh. Still, why raise your voice like that? With magic, this can be healed quickly…”

“And yet you’re bleeding like this? Professor, look at your hand. The tip of your left finger is turning pale.”

Frightened, my voice cracked with tears.

“A-Are you crying?”

“Yes, I’m crying! Because I’m upset!”

My makeup would smear. I might look like a mess with mascara streaks.

I had my makeup done expensively just to look good for you!

“If you’re in pain, say so. What if it gets worse and you die?!”

“…The coachman will faint.”

“Let him faint! I’m the one who’s not going to live a full life because of you, Professor! What do I do?! Look at all this blood. We need to stop the bleeding right now…”

Nathan stared at me quietly, then asked, “Should I give you my arm?”