Zervanie crouched in the shadows, her sky-blue eyes locked onto Viloti across the room.

Watching Viloti leaning close to Felyn, she could only mutter bitter complaints to herself. There was nothing else she could do.

“Could you not sit so close...?”

“Your hair’s brushing against his face…”

“And now you’re leaning on his shoulder?!”

“Damn it! You pink-haired heiress, don’t push your luck! Leave me some room too!”

Felyn didn’t notice Zervanie’s dark, brooding stare. He didn’t even realize Viloti had quietly rested her head on his shoulder.

The room was saturated with pure, vibrant magic.

Violet-colored mana slowly flowed into Felyn’s body, and he could feel subtle changes happening within.

This was why the Capital District was the place every brilliant student in the world fought to enter—because of the magical energy released by the Demon King of Siveshus buried beneath it. This energy could significantly accelerate one’s affinity with a god.

And right now, Felyn was far deeper than the Capital itself—deep within the dungeon. Only top-tier adventurers would ever reach this place. The concentration of magical energy here dwarfed even the Capital’s by several magnitudes.

In short, this was the perfect training ground for Felyn.

He had lost track of how long he had been meditating here or how much mana he had absorbed.

Then, an image appeared in his mind—an image of a divine figure.

[Herlomir]

A god who had once been hunted down by the combined might of the world’s pantheon in the game’s storyline. After centuries of silence, this deity had finally resurfaced—at least, within someone’s mind.

When a god’s form appeared in one's thoughts, it meant a connection had officially been established.

For now, Felyn could only see a faint silhouette. Nothing more.

The clearer the image of the god, the higher the affinity. And the higher the affinity, the more powerful the Divine Arts one could use.

That being said… why would the Demon King’s mana help increase godly affinity?

Weren’t those two supposed to be mortal enemies?

He’d have to ask Daiyi later. She’d probably know the answer.

“Felyn, are you alright?”

Viloti, lying next to him, noticed his furrowed brow and gently reached out, using her sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Felyn felt utterly exhausted. He had reached his limit.

He slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

Viloti had curled up beside him, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.

Her pale legs, visible beneath her skirt, were pressed tightly together and lightly brushing against his.

“Viloti… are you still cold?”

Viloti wasn’t wearing much today. She had on a black silk robe with golden embroidery, the chest tied with a crimson ribbon. A dark blue skirt, black leather shoes, and white frilly socks pulled up to mid-calf completed the outfit.

Cute.

“Not anymore, Felyn.”

Felyn felt the soft strands of Viloti’s pink hair tickling his neck, carrying with them the warmth of her feelings.

Zervanie was on the verge of snapping. Just what kind of position were these two in?! She had to step in.

“Felyn, isn’t your school festival coming up soon?” she asked, sliding in smoothly beside him and pretending to strike up a casual conversation.

Her long silver-white hair brushed stealthily across Felyn’s thigh.

“The school festival? Oh, yeah… I think that’s happening.”

“Lately, the school sent me a formal invitation. They want me to join the planning committee.”

“You’re not going to mess it up, are you?”

“Of course not! I’m great at motivating people, you know!”

Zervanie puffed out her cheeks. Her sky-blue eyes sparkled with emotion.

Felyn nodded. Honestly, she was good at that sort of thing.

With her on the committee, the other students would probably be working like they were high on sugar.

After all, it was their beloved Lady Zervanie.

“Viloti, weren’t you also joining the planning committee?”

Felyn felt her nod gently against his arm.

“Felyn, do you want to join us too?”

Viloti was just making casual conversation. Knowing Felyn’s personality, there was no way he’d agree.

“Well, technically I am supposed to be on that committee.”

“Huh?” Two soft, curious voices echoed in his ears from either side.

“I used to be Adelina’s assistant, remember? But something came up and I had to stop helping her.”

Back then, Adelina had promised Felyn extra credit toward the Capital entrance exams if he agreed to be her assistant.

It was during one of their visits—when Felyn accompanied Adelina—that he reunited with Zervanie.

After the incident with Zervanie, Adelina started getting paranoid. She feared that if she brought Felyn to visit anyone else, he’d just end up getting swarmed by pretty girls again.

So she put the whole thing on hold.

“She never mentioned any of that to me…” Viloti murmured.

She was sure Adelina just wanted to monopolize Felyn.

Sneaking around like that… kind of unfair, wasn’t it?

But then again, Viloti wasn’t really in a position to judge, since she was literally doing the same thing right now.

“S-So… will you be on the committee, Felyn?”

Zervanie fiddled with a strand of hair by her ear, sneaking a sideways glance at him.

“If Adelina asks me to, then yeah. A promise is a promise.”

“Alright then.” Zervanie nodded.

Adelina, my dear friend! You’re definitely going to share Felyn with the rest of us, right?!

You’re not planning to keep him all to yourself, right?!

Fair competition, Adelina! You can’t just sneak around with him behind our backs!

If Adelina could hear what the two girls beside Felyn were thinking right now, she’d probably have a complete breakdown.

After all, both of them had already had their secret alone time with him—and Viloti hadn’t even invited her! And now they had the nerve to hope she wouldn't sneak off with him?

Who would agree to that?!

But Adelina wasn’t thinking about any of that right now. She wasn’t even here.

Felyn leaned against the wall, with Viloti clinging to his left side and Zervanie stealthily closing in from the right.

The scent of the two girls was enough to make him rub his nose.

Their soft touches, smooth skin, and the occasional flash of thigh beneath a skirt made it easy to understand why men were so entranced by girls.

Just as Felyn was catching his breath, a flash of white light streaked across his vision.

A spatial rift opened before him, and the first thing he saw was short black-and-red hair.

“Knew I shouldn’t have come.”

Bernice stepped out of the rift, her leg emerging first, her delicate floral mask still on.

Viloti had seen this masked girl before but hadn’t realized she was Bernice.

Zervanie, on the other hand, had never met her. The moment she appeared, Zervanie instinctively shielded Felyn with her arm.

“I went through all the trouble to track you down, and here you are snuggling between two lovely girls. Not fair, is it?”

“Felyn, do you know her?” Zervanie relaxed a little. Anyone who called Felyn being in her lap "snuggling" had to be a good person.

“I… kind of do?”

“Sigh. Typical guy. All close and flirty at night, then acting like a stranger the next morning.”

Felyn felt both his arms being tugged at from either side by the two girls.

“Close at night?!”

“She’s just making stuff up! Don’t listen to her!”

Bernice smirked behind her mask as she watched the three of them spiral into chaos.

Then she crouched down and began setting something up on the ground.

Felyn leaned closer and whispered, “Bernice, why are you here?”

“Your girlfriend sent me. I’m basically your escape chauffeur now.”

“Girlfriend? You mean Daiyi?”

Daiyi’s worried about me?

Hard to believe she’d ever worry about anyone.

“What are you doing now?”

“Setting up a Divine Transfer. I’m getting you all out of here. Unless… you’d rather stay? Two pretty girls in your arms, a bed right here… Got some unfinished business, maybe?”

She reached out and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

“Anyway, try not to take too long.”

A glow of divine light shimmered in Bernice’s hands as she traced intricate lines onto the floor.

“The thing up ahead is a high-tier magical beast. I don’t know its exact level, but it’s definitely strong.”

“Stronger than the demon Hubert?”

“Way stronger.”

(End of Chapter)