Unleashed was a blazing heat.

I couldn’t help but laugh—isn’t this too sudden?

As a matter of course, I raised a barrier to deflect it.

The heat dissipated after hitting the barrier, leaving only a steady stream of hot air in the room. Vaporizing magic was a slightly unique technique that only cost a meager amount of magic. Hence why, Cecily could use it without exerting too heavy of a burden on her body.

…The only issue is that if you use it indoor, it becomes like a sauna.

Meanwhile, the director rubbed his chin in satisfaction.

“Hoo...”

I complained right away. I didn’t see the need to hold back.

“Hold it right there! No matter how talented someone is, that was just too sudden! If it weren’t me, you’d have a roasted lady in your office!”

“Hahaha… A roasted lady, sounds pretty cute.”

It’s not!

The director laughed, apologizing.

“My apologies.”

With a snap of his finger, the temperature in the room cooled down. Suddenly, besides tea and popcorn, lots of delicious-looking cakes appeared on the table.

“This is a token of my apology. Enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

“Just in case, let me clarify something. You didn’t lace them with poison, right?”

“I didn’t intend to do you any harm. You have different magical powers residing within you, so I wanted to examine them.”

“Is that so?”

As expected of the man who currently stood at the top of the magic society. He was also good at sensing magical power.

…In other words, the director was close to figuring out the circumstances between Nora and Cecily.

[Is this really okay!?]

[I don’t know!!]

—Leaving that aside.

I sat back on the sofa and stuffed my mouth with apple pie. I used my hands instead of the fork. The mellow sweetness of the custard, along with the tartness of the apple made me smile.

The director sat across from me and began eating the chocolate cake elegantly.

“I heard that Eivind was obsessed with a student. This is the first time he’s shown any interest in someone else. Forgive me for spoiling him.”

“Isn’t it ironic how being a doting parent can also harm you?”

Even as I sat cross-legged and side glancing the director, the apple pie stayed delicious.

“I made it myself.”

As I munched on the pie, the director informed me.

Instinctively, I turned to look at him.

“No way, could it be, all of this…?”

“Yes, my hobby is baking sweets.”

Ugh, Eivind, why didn’t you introduce me to him sooner…!?

The director was easy to befriend.

“It’s difficult to notice because the magical power of the owner of that body is the same as your average person’s.”

“Average, hm? Until recently, she was considered a person without magic.”

‘The Withered Grass Lady.’

How nostalgic. Over the past four months, I haven’t been called that once.

After wiping the area around my mouth with my hand, I smirked.

“What would you do if I told you that the Incorrigible Villainess is possessing this body?”

[Nora!?]

Naturally, Cecily started to panic.

There was no use trying to deceive him any further. Besides, it was annoying.

From the moment he sensed that there were two different magic powers inside this body, the existence of Nora had already been discovered.

Rather than trying to cover it up or something like that, it’d be quicker to just admit it.

After all, the king, someone of a higher stature than the director, already knew.

The director’s eyes went wide.

Does this mean that the king hasn’t told anyone else about me?

Just knowing is an achievement in its own right.

If so, time for a new approach. As I sipped the warm tea, the director bowed his head.

“—If that’s true, please save Eivind.”

“…Bowing down to the Incorrigible Villainess, don’t you have any pride?”

“I started taking care of him when he was eight years old, but now I love him like my own. I’ll gladly sell my soul to the devil for the sake of my son.”

The director was still bowing his head.

I see, I’m on the same level as the Devil…?

I was a bit hurt by that. At the same time, I began to consider that the concept of family sure was strange. Some incidents stood out to me.

On one side, you have those like Cecily’s father, a man who tries to take advantage of his own children. On the other side, there were parents who risked their lives for their children even when they weren’t related by blood.

I guess it depends on the person.

—For the time being, it might be worth listening to this man.

“From what I can gather, you seem to be his stepfather. What led you to adopt him?”

I could tell the director held his breath to that question, even without raising his head.

His answer was solid.

“His Majesty the King. I was entrusted with protecting Eivind to keep him from breaking until he reaches adulthood.

I burst out laughing at that comment.

To keep him from breaking. Is he an object to that king? Is the entire academy some kind of warehouse for him to obtain spares?

“…That scum—!”

I cursed and flung the cup away without much thought.

However, the director didn’t criticize me. Instead, he pleaded with his gaze.

“As you know, the king chose him to be his next vessel. Upon hearing rumors about a skilled young magician, the king secretly burned down the rural village he lived in.”

“Why would he go that far?”

“I don’t know. My guess is that by creating a tragic environment, Eivind would be easier to possess. In order to be possessed, the host’s consent is necessary. Hence why the king gave Eivind a ‘research environment to resurrect his mother,’ and even now… Eivind is busy researching with that purpose in mind.”

When I heard the story, I couldn’t help but sigh.

Spare me the details, please.

I already knew what to expect and it was nothing but bad.

[Knowing Nora, you’ll help him right?]

When Cecily said that to me, I couldn’t help but groan.

This child is really…

…Are you aware that if I agree, you’ll end up getting involved too?

Despite how weak she was, she was able to muster so much courage.

—There’s no way I could turn away from this.

“His Highness Hiel was the one who killed Eivind’s mother, right?”

The director nodded at my question.

---

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***T/N: We just gonna drop the backstory here?

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