After waking up, he found he had a girlfriend.

Baek Yu-Seol was personally experiencing this unbelievable phenomenon.

"I’m your, um, what?"

Thinking he misheard, he asked again, and Edna replied with a very apologetic expression.

"..... Boyfriend."

In a restaurant on Arcanium Street, the one who had been invited by Edna found himself hearing a rather bewildering story while having dinner.

He should have anticipated something ominous when he was offered a free meal...

Baek Yu-Seol forgot about moving his spoon and asked, "No, why?"

"Well, you see, there was a bit of an urgent situation."

Baek Yu-Seol had been hearing rumors all day at the academy. He had thought that Jeremy showing interest in Edna wasn't a good development.

Since Jeremy's route almost always led to a bad ending, he had considered ways to help, but he never imagined he'd end up helping in this bizarre manner.

"Well... I mean, if this helped, then I guess it's good."

"Yeah... Thanks. I'll treat you to meals often instead."

Having grasped the situation roughly, Baek Yu-Seol resumed moving his spoon and said, "Why me, though?"

"... I did think about Haewonryang for a moment, but it was really awkward, as expected."

There were many male friends around who could act as boyfriends, but they couldn't handle Jeremy.

The amount of patience Haewonryang could muster was still bearable, but because he truly held feelings in his heart, she wanted to keep her distance.

Even if she pretended to be in a relationship, giving mixed signals would only confuse his heart further.

She wanted to continue being friends with him, but for that, she had to maintain a clear boundary.

That's why.

Baek Yu-Seol was an excellent partner.

Regardless of Jeremy's nonsense, he didn't pay any attention, making it comfortable to act, pretending to be in a relationship or not.

“Is that so?”

As she had expected, he didn't show any significant signs of concern, which was a relief for her.

“Will you cover my expenses for the part time job to act as your boyfriend?”

“... I'll buy you meals frequently.”

“The labor cost is too cheap.”

While complaining, Baek Yu-Seol kept feeding himself.

Pulling her chin onto the table, she gazed at him absentmindedly.

A boyfriend.

Wasn’t that a creature from fantasies?

Though it was acting, she could only get that after being reborn. She hadn't experienced it in her past life.

“Anyway... I'm truly sorry. You must have a woman you like; I'm just causing trouble for no reason.”

“...?”

Eating, Baek Yu-Seol looked at her with puzzled eyes.

“Like? Who do I like?”

Originally, being twenty-nine years old, if he liked high school kids, he would end up becoming a criminal.

Even if that wasn't the reason, he couldn't communicate well with those of young age.

So he preferred those of the same age.

It was natural for Baek Yu-Seol, who didn't have anyone he liked at school, to express such doubts.

“There's no one I like.”

Edna was slightly taken aback.

‘Isn't it because of your love for Eisel that you returned?'

She had believed that all along, but it wasn't true. There was no reason to deny the fact that there was someone he liked without specifying who.

She wanted to ask if it was true, but a huge barrier existed between Baek Yu-Seol and Edna. They had promised to tell each other only 50% of the truth.

Even though they seemed so close now, they were unable to reveal their true feelings to each other.

Just as she, as a character in a romance novel, had constraints,

Baek Yu-Seol, as a reincarnated individual, had his own limitations.

The desire to ask was like a chimney, but she had no intention to cross the line.

"Well, anyway. Endure it for about a month. Take care from now on."

Since they had agreed to date for now, it would be best to pretend to be a real couple even if they later came up with various excuses for breaking up.

That way, they could completely remove the seeds Jeremy had sown.

Love.

Whether it was Baek Yu-Seol or Edna, there was undoubtedly a delicate aspect.

The next day, during lunch.

While eating together, Edna asked first, "Ahjussi, what do high schoolers usually do when they're in a relationship?"

"How would I know?"

It would be easier if she were an adult; they could at least go for drinks.

But when minors met, Baek Yu-Seol couldn't quite figure out what they should do.

Still, they had to follow what others were doing, right?

"Can't we just casually eat together?"

"Ahjussi, you should never date, not even later. It's a pity for the woman."

"Even if I wanted to, I can't."

"That's a bit heartbreaking."

"But do you really have to act like lovers?"

"As long as we pretend to date for at least a month without getting caught in the lie."

By doing so, all the groundwork laid out by Jeremy would be in vain.

‘Ugh, it's bothersome.’

He felt the chilly stares from the people around them.

After the explosive revelation of the famous Prince Jeremy’s supposed relationship, it was odd that there was even more attention now that she was claiming to date someone else immediately after.

‘Why would they be so interested in just two ordinary commoners dating?’

Unaware that she wasn't really an ordinary commoner, Edna couldn't quite understand it.

‘I guess I'll have to give up on just leisurely going along. People are conscious of the attention, so I'm fated to stick close to him like a gluttonous rice cake.’

She sat across while reading something, and watched Baek Yu-Seol eating with one hand.

He usually wore glasses while studying, and they oddly suited him, making him look not too bad.

‘Well, it's still a hundred times better to be rumored to date this guy than Jeremy.’

In reality, Jeremy had positive rumors, so if her peers heard, she’d probably be criticized for being conceited.

After lunch, Edna, who had parted ways with Baek Yu-Seol to attend different classes, happened to have a class with a friend who had a boyfriend.

"What do you usually do with your boyfriend?"

"Uh."

"Just hold hands and take a walk. The eastern garden is full of flowers."

"... Is that fun?"

"Huh? Is it fun? That's a strange question. Just being together is nice."

‘That's nice? Taking a walk in a flower garden? Love is complicated...'

There were things in the world that couldn’t be solved with money. It seemed that capitalist society was still not all-powerful.

"I found it nice to just look at each other quietly."

"Yeah. On days when class ends early, we go to Rodeo Street for a date. That's fine too. We don't have to go far."

"Rodeo Street?"

Come to think of it, Arcanium had something like that too.

Rodeo Street, which could be considered similar to Korea's Daehak-ro, was filled with high school couples, but it was also an area that Edna, as she was, dared not step into.

However, if she were going to pretend to be in a relationship with Baek Yu-Seol like now... it would be good to show that they were going on a date in a place like that.

"By the way, Edna."

"Yeah?"

Friends said with an ominous smile, "You usually act like you're indifferent to guys, but suddenly you caught an A-level one? How did you manage that?"

"C-Caught... caught? What are you saying?"

"Baek Yu-Seol doesn't seem like the type to confess first. Did you make the first move?"

"No way?"

"Wow, if that's the case, did Baek Yu-Seol confess?"

"Wow, I never thought he'd do that."

"I'm envious."

"But, like, watching Edna and Baek Yu-Seol, they're both so innocent. Doesn't it feel weird watching kids in love?"

"Yeah, you're right. I thought the same!"

"I saw them together earlier, and they both looked so fresh and cute~"

‘What are they saying? Little kids.’

Edna sighed and thumped her head on the desk.

‘Damn Jeremy…’

To go through this because of that brat. She firmly resolved to someday put him in his place.

——-

Magic practice time had come.

This time, without joint training with other classes, the Class S novices were going to spar with each other.

Coincidentally, Baek Yu-Seol’s opponent was Hong Bi-Yeon.

Swish!

The command to begin hadn't even been given yet, but for some reason, Edna felt as if flames were roaring all over her body.

Baek Yu-Seol wiped off cold sweat and glanced at Hong Bi-Yeon.

Even in the original game, she was always in an angry state, so much so that she would have nicknames like 'Always Angry' or 'Angry Hong Bi-Yeon’.

But today, it seemed like she couldn't control that anger.

'What happened...?'

Honestly, whatever it was, it wasn't really his concern, but of all things, he became the target of her outburst.

The bleakness of that situation was beyond words.

"Greetings between opponents."

Holding her staff vertically against her chest, she bowed lightly.

"Both sides, arm your staff."

They pointed their staff at each other.

"Duel, begin!"

As soon as the command was given, Hong Bi-Yeon explosively drew in her mana and haphazardly summoned small fiery orbs.

A dazzling display of flames filled the air, showing that Hong Bi-Yeon’s strategy was focused on overwhelming her opponent with sheer quantity from the start.

She had observed and analyzed Baek Yu-Seol’s battles extensively, so she was well aware of his style.

His swordsmanship could deflect any magic, and his cutting power and destructive force were sharp enough to slice through even massive waves.

Not only that, his Flash maneuvering made distance irrelevant; he could easily evade counterattacks and sidestep finishing blows.

"... It'll be different from when we fought last time, commoner.”

Recalling the beginning of the semester, Hong Bi-Yeon fired off dozens of fireballs at Baek Yu-Seol.

Boom! Boom!

If he could just break through large spells and deflect or dodge the smaller ones... maybe if she overwhelmed him with sheer quantity, he wouldn't be able to defend or dodge everything?

"Ha!"

However, Baek Yu-Seol rotated his sword like a windmill, expertly parrying all of the fiery projectiles.

'There's no way I'll fall for this. These fireballs are just a child’s play.'

While Baek Yu-Seol was busy defending against her magic, she had positioned flaming arrows all around.

The plan was to provoke Baek Yu-Seol’s evasive movements by sending three arrows at a time, then immediately strike with another arrow where he moved.

[Flash]

Whoosh! Boom!!

As expected, Baek Yu-Seol flashed to find a gap and dodged the flaming arrows.

Hong Bi-Yeon released an arrow at the spot where he reappeared.

He knew it!

Yet, Baek Yu-Seol deflected it all.

Yes, it was a strategy that Hong Bi-Yeon had earnestly constructed, but to him, it was nothing more than child's play.

She knew.

No matter how much she trained and how strong she became, she couldn't defeat Baek Yu-Seol.

Still, for some reason... maybe it was because of the rumors going around these days, she found herself getting increasingly angry with him and wanted to attack with all her might.

"Ah!"

Swoosh!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Fireballs fell from all sides, exploding upon impact; pillars of fire shot up, obstructing the path, and arrows of fire from 36 directions continuously disrupted his swordsmanship.

Whenever he found a moment to catch his breath, waves of flames swept him away.

‘Ahh! I can't stop this!’

Did Hong Bi-yeon realize it herself?

Unknowingly, her level had surpassed Class 3 and was heading towards Class 4.

Moreover, her previously lacking creativity was no more weaknesses, and her destructive power turned more menacing.

'If I had at least 10 seconds, no, even 5 seconds...!'

Due to the barrage of random attacks from the very beginning, he didn't even have time to activate Tae-Ryung Breathing Technique and was forced to flee in a hurry.

He tried to concentrate his mana and deflect at least one Fireball, but it was impossible.

Without using Tae-Ryung Breathing Technique, both his offensive and defensive capabilities significantly declined.

"Surrender! Surrender!"

In the end, Baek Yu-Seol’s body was engulfed in flames and he lay down on the ground to surrender.

The duel came to an end.

"... Huh?"

Only then did Hong Bi-Yeon come to her senses and look at Baek Yu-Seol, who was extinguishing the flames with a dazed expression.

‘I won? Did I?’

Due to the protective effect of Stella Dome, Baek Yu-Seol was hardly injured, but his uniform was charred black.

"Are you okay?"

"Sigh, I won't die, I guess."

"You don't have to go to the infirmary, right?"

"I feel like I might die suddenly."

"Yeah. Make sure to go to the infirmary."

After Baek Yu-Seol left, Hong Bi-Yeon reviewed the recent duel.

Members of the faction who had been waiting rushed over and praised her.

"As expected, you're amazing!"

"If it's the princess, then Baek Yu-Seol should have been no match."

"Didn't you even have trouble using your strength?"

However, for some reason, Hong Bi-Yeon’s expression didn't look good at all.

Arshuang, who noticed this, cautiously asked first.

"Princess, aren't you happy about winning?"

"... No, I'm annoyed."

"W-What's wrong?"

She addressed the faction members with a look that seemed to say, ‘Can't you see it for yourselves?’

"Can't you tell just by looking? He let me win."

"What?"

"Last time, that commoner displayed swordsmanship to the point of cutting through waves. But this time, he didn't even properly swing his sword and just ran away and surrendered."

"Oh, now that you mention it..."

Only then did the faction members recall the duel between Baek Yu-Seol and Yuslek that they had witnessed.

Of course, Yuslek was far below Hong Bi-Yeon’s level, but he was still a formidable magician.

Baek Yu-Seol’s combat style, which perfectly countered his magic and exploited his weaknesses, was certainly threatening.

But this time, there was none of that.

If he had swung his sword like he did back then, wouldn't he have easily cut through the flames, which he didn't even attempt to do now?

‘It was the same back then.’

Even during the dungeon training when they dueled, Baek Yu-Seol went easy on her.

This meant that ultimately, whether then or now, she hadn't changed.

Was she still someone who he had to go easy on?

"Princess, maybe that's not it?"

"......?"

"Baek Yu-Seol said he follows the path of a 'knight.' I read an old book, and it said that the knights of that time unconditionally respected ladies."

"Oh, that's right, I remember."

"Come to think of it, was that a thing?"

A knight of legend upholds 'Ladies First.'

But it was not just a simple 'ladies first.'

Knights dedicated themselves to ladies and never pointed their swords at them, no matter what happened.

"But other female students seem fine against him?"

"Could it mean he won't attack anyone he recognizes as a lady?"

"Hmm..."

The faction members' opinions seemed plausible.

In reality, Baek Yu-Seol was likely still following the code of the past knights, so it wouldn't be strange if he protected the 'Ladies First' principle.

... So, in other words, Baek Yu-Seol acknowledged Hong Bi-Yeon as a lady...

"Nonsense. Let's just go back."

While Hong Bi-Yeon turned away and muttered, Arshuang, who was standing right next to her, could see.

Unlike earlier, her expression had softened considerably.

Somehow, Arshuang noticed that her master, whom she served, had a more human side than she had initially thought, and she couldn't help but smile to herself.

In the world, could any man handle Hong Bi-Yeon’s emotions as freely as this?

‘I think she would be more suitable as a princess than an ordinary commoner girl……

With such quaint thoughts in mind, Arshuang followed behind Hong Bi-Yeon.