The Vermon family has a peculiar trait that can be likened to a hereditary curse. This trait is that when they experience intense anger, an overwhelming killing intent emanates from them. Normally, killing intent surfaces when emotions are infused into mana, but for them, it is an automatic reaction that occurs without conscious control.

Whether they choose to suppress their anger or let it fester within doesn’t matter. Just feeling the anger alone is enough to trigger this killing intent.

Because of this, members of the Vermon family often struggle in social situations, facing rejection.

However, Aslan was an exception to this rule. The reason being that he was perpetually irritable before ever reaching the point of anger. Like a frightened Chihuahua, he would throw a tantrum at the slightest provocation, leaving no room for anger to accumulate.

Thus, Aslan was a bizarre presence in many ways. He was always angry, yet nobody feared him. People simply regarded him as an ill-tempered dog. Although Aslan garnered hatred from many, he never instilled fear.

He was an infinitely lighthearted individual.

Because he had never truly felt anger in its genuine sense, Sylvia witnessed something new today: Aslan Vermon releasing a killing intent.

"Sir! Sir!"

"...?"

"Can you keep watch for a moment?"

"Watch?"

This was already the beginning of something unsettling. In a flurry, Charlotte dashed towards the bakery, efficiently splitting tasks with Yulia. Yulia kept a lookout while Charlotte snatched up bread.

The two children returned, triumphant like lionesses coming back from a successful hunt, only to be met with the subtle yet unmistakable killing intent radiating from Aslan.

"Here! Eat this!"

"..."

"Huh?"

The killing intent pouring from Aslan was not as explosive as Irene’s, but it was certainly present. It was a killing intent that Sylvia had never witnessed before, even when Aslan threw tantrums.

If Sylvia felt surprised, how much more startled must the children be? Though they may not understand the concept of killing intent, they certainly sensed it, as the joy drained from their faces, replaced by trembling bodies. They seemed to be internally questioning what they had done wrong.

"Do you understand what you did wrong?"

"Um, I only took one bread...?"

"..."

Summoning all her courage, Charlotte held out the two loaves of bread. At that moment, the killing intent dissipated in an instant.

Had the anger... subsided?

Aslan chuckled lightly. While the killing intent had vanished, his eerie smile sent shivers down the spines of the three of them.

"You little ones. How dare you steal from someone under my roof? That is an insult to me and a disgrace to the Vermon name."

"Ah! I didn’t realize that... I’m sorry..."

"I-I’m sorry..."

The two children immediately bowed their heads in apology. It was a level of politeness I had never seen from them before. Perhaps despite not having received any formal training, they had become adept at apologizing through experience.

Aslan sighed heavily, bending slightly at the waist to match the children's eye levels. As he looked into Charlotte’s and Yulia’s eyes, both were momentarily taken aback. Even after seeing him countless times over the past few days, they still weren’t accustomed to his gaze.

"So then. Why shouldn’t you steal?"

"Um, it’s for Sir Aslan’s honor..."

"Because it would tarnish your dignity..."

"I see. I must have been mistaken. My dignity is my concern, and what you need to worry about is your own dignity."

The children looked confused, tilting their heads. Suppressing a laugh at their expressions, Aslan kept his face serious.

"It doesn’t matter to me whether you steal or not, as long as it doesn’t bring trouble upon me. But from this day forward, think carefully. Does stealing not tarnish your souls, your dignity? Is stealing something to be ashamed of?"

"Yes..."

"Why is it shameful?"

"Um... I don’t know..."

"That’s a perfect answer. Not knowing anything is perfectly normal. You should simply feel ashamed without needing a reason. That’s proof you’re still noble humans. Whether you choose to live with that shame or seek to avoid it is entirely up to you. What do you feel now?"

"I want to apologize... to the baker..."

With sincere shame, the two children murmured, bowing their heads. Only after confirming that their gaze was not directed at him did Aslan allow a small smile to escape.

"Good. Go on."

"Yes!"

"Okay!"

"Use this money to compensate."

Ting! With the clink of silver coins handed over, Charlotte and Yulia dashed towards the bakery.

I couldn’t quite hear what they were saying, but I could tell they were bowing deeply and speaking loudly.

The baker had initially been furious but upon noticing Aslan making a noise, he looked over and was visibly startled, quickly changing his demeanor.

One silver coin was far more than enough compensation for two loaves of bread. It was more than sufficient to resolve the situation amicably.

Soon enough, Charlotte and Yulia returned with lighter steps, as if they had relieved themselves of a burden.

"We apologized!"

"We told him we wouldn’t do it again, and he forgave us!"

Their faces were filled with relief, and their voices cheerful. Aslan turned his back to them, urging them to continue walking.

Charlotte quickly caught up, tugging at his sleeve.

"This bread... He said we could have it since we compensated for it. Can I eat it... please?"

With a slight tremble in her voice, Charlotte cautiously offered him the bread.

I couldn’t see what kind of expression Aslan made, as he was pulling his hat down low, desperately hiding his face.

"It tastes good. I’m full, so you can keep it."

Aslan took a big bite of the bread and handed it back to Charlotte. With large pieces of bread in both hands, they munched happily while following closely behind Aslan.

When did this happen? Just a little while ago, they had been eagerly leading the way, and now they were walking side by side with Aslan.

"This is delicious! I think it’s even better than the bread from the mansion’s baker!"

"Yulia, is it that good? Let me try."

"It’s the same bread as yours..."

"Young Master."

"...?"

Amidst the noisy banter of the children, Sylvia called out to Aslan for a moment.

"What did that mean just now? I understood that the Vermon family teaches its children to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, even if it means committing crimes..."

"Are they Vermon? No, they aren’t."

"With that logic, I have no counterargument."

"And if I can, I’d like to raise them according to my preferences. While I might like bad women, I don’t like cheap women."

"..."

Aslan left those ambiguous words behind and returned to the children. Sylvia froze for a moment, shivering at what she had just heard.

"It was true what the maids said...!"

Aslan was nurturing the children as companions...?

At first, she thought it was merely the ridiculous gossip of the maids craving romantic tales. But now, with each passing day, it felt more and more like reality, causing a chill to run down her spine.

In the Imperial Magic Academy dormitory café, the heavy sound of shoes echoed, causing the shoulders of the female students to hunch instinctively. It was a fear ingrained in them.

"Ah! The mad dog is coming!"

"Everyone, run away! Aaaah!"

All pride as nobles had vanished, replaced solely by primal instincts.

The female students dropped their teacups, knocking them over and disregarding the fallen tables, hurriedly fleeing the scene.

"Ahhh!"

"I-I’m sorry! We must survive!"

One girl tripped over a chair, but her peers left her behind, showing no compassion.

As she clutched her swollen ankle, groaning in pain, a tall shadow loomed over her, and the remaining girl trembled.

"Nobles don’t just leave others behind like that, do they?"

It was none other than Yuria Brussels, the youngest first-year student, the only commoner and the only special admission student.

She carried the weight of the word ‘only’ like a badge of honor, truly a walking exception.

"Ah! Headmaster!"

Seeing the headmaster, Yuria's face lit up.

And then, she thudded.

She dropped the girl she was holding and rushed toward the headmaster.

"This is getting out of hand. I’m finding it hard to cover up all this chaos. To think you would make such a mess of the café after a fight."

"Wait! It wasn’t a fight, it was just me taking down all the thugs who were robbing the first-years!"

"Ahh..."

Having heard the commotion, the headmaster was sweating bullets. Rumor had it that Yuria's friends were being held hostage by the Vermon family.

What would happen if Yuria found out that fact...?

'They truly set me up for a dangerous balancing act. Damn Aslan Vermon.'

Would he be the only one to suffer retribution for bringing down the Vermon family?

I’d also pay the price for hiding the truth. The headmaster deeply regretted bringing this uncontrollable mad dog into the academy.