Nearly three weeks.

Perhaps it was because I had been absent for so long, but the reaction from the fox was intense.

"Sniff… haaa…"

Her ragged breathing filled my ears as she buried her face into my neck.

The heat of her desperate breath burned all the way down to my collarbone.

"Miss Irene?"

She must have been anxious.

I had disappeared without warning, leaving her to wonder if I would ever return.

For someone like her, with few she could trust, I might have been her only anchor.

The long separation seemed to make this reunion all the more emotional for her.

Feeling touched, I gently embraced the girl in return.

"Haa, haa…"

Her disheveled breaths clung to me as tightly as her warmth.

Pressed together as we were, I could feel the soft yet unmistakable sensation of her body against mine.

The closeness was almost too much, every detail amplified by the thin layer of clothing between us.

The situation felt precariously intimate.

"Well…"

The subtle scent of her skin filled the air, teasing me like a predator savoring its prey.

As I lay there, letting her savor the moment, the girl eventually lifted her head.

Irene’s expression was slightly unraveled, her black pupils trembling.

Within them was a mix of joy, longing, relief—and most of all, reassurance.

"You’re late."

Her voice wavered with pent-up emotions.

"I thought… maybe I’d been abandoned. I was scared."

So that was it.

I sighed, offering her a small, bittersweet smile.

My absence had left her feeling vulnerable, and I needed to ease her worries.

"I told you before."

"…"

"I’ll never abandon you. Even if the entire world does, I’ll always stay by your side."

"I know… but I was still scared."

"What a coward you are."

"Maybe."

"Then I suppose I’ll have to soothe those fears."

I gently stroked her hair, letting her know she was safe.

She leaned into my touch, her tail swaying slightly as I let my fingers comb through her red-orange strands.

Reaching her soft, pointed ears, I couldn’t resist giving them a gentle rub.

Her reaction was almost immediate.

"…Hng."

She bit her lip, trying to suppress her voice, but soft whimpers escaped her throat.

Her uneven breathing painted the air with warmth.

"Haa… ahh…"

"Good children deserve a reward, don’t they? Thank you for waiting patiently."

From my past encounters, I’d learned that Irene especially enjoyed having her ears stroked.

It reminded me of how dogs exposed their bellies as a sign of trust or affection.

It seemed to be both an expression of loyalty and something she genuinely liked.

So, before my departure, I had made a habit of playing with her ears whenever time allowed.

Now, I lightly pinched and tugged at the soft, pliable edges of her ears.

"Ahh… ngh…"

Her body flinched, her shoulders trembling as she struggled to contain her reactions.

The fox tightened her hold on me, pulling me even closer.

Her breaths, hot like a furnace, melted against my neck as our shared warmth mingled.

For a while, we simply lay there on the floor, locked in this strangely tender reunion.

After some time, the intense moment passed, and we both sat up.

Her cheeks were still flushed with a lingering heat, and I couldn’t help but worry about her.

But when she firmly insisted that I shouldn’t mind it, I chose to respect her wishes.

I made my way around the headquarters, informing the others of my return.

"You’ve returned, Master."

Neria greeted me with her usual unwavering loyalty, clearly having been prepared for my arrival.

"Ahaha! I heard you were back, Captain!"

Next came Kyle, the Crimson Sword, barreling into the room with his characteristic enthusiasm.

"I should have come to fetch you… I apologize."

Lena offered a rigid bow, her tone formal as ever.

The three of them—Astro’s core members—had gathered to welcome me.

We moved to the captain’s office and began catching up.

The vice-captain, Neria, was the first to speak.

"Have you finished your business?"

"Ah, let’s call it a success. It’s not fully resolved yet, but progress is steady."

"I see."

"I’m here today to pick up Miss Irene. I’ve returned to the Academy as of yesterday."

"Got it. I’ll go."

Irene, who had been quietly nodding beside me, wagged her tail so vigorously that it made a soft whooshing sound.

I chuckled and patted her head, earning an almost imperceptible flick of her ears in response.

Kyle, watching us with a pleased expression, burst out laughing.

"Ahaha! You’ll be amazed! Irene’s gotten ridiculously strong over the past three weeks!"

"Oh?"

"I only focused on helping her refine the basics, but her mastery over them has been incredible. It’s as though her instincts alone create tidal waves of energy!"

"A compliment like that from you, the strongest among us…"

"It reminds me of myself when I was younger!"

"That impressive, huh?"

"Of course, I’m talking about when I was twelve!"

"…"

Well, that sounded more realistic.

The plot wasn’t far enough along for her to show signs of true "star-level" power just yet.

I laughed at Kyle’s exaggerated praise.

"Ahaha! But still, there’s no denying she’s gotten stronger!"

"I believe you."

It was evident.

The air around her had changed.

Previously, her newfound fiery energy had felt wild and untamed, but now it carried a sense of control and calm precision.

Even her silence felt sharp enough to cut through the room.

I had entrusted her training to Kyle with high hopes, but the results had far exceeded my expectations.

"You’ve worked hard, Irene. Truly remarkable."

"…It’s not a big deal. I just had a good teacher."

She looked embarrassed, her voice soft as she deflected the praise.

I chose not to tease her further, instead poking her flushed cheeks lightly, prompting her to turn away in a fluster.

Shifting my attention, I addressed Neria, the silver-haired vice-captain who had been quietly standing by.

"Neria."

"Yes, Master?"

Her immediate response carried her trademark unwavering loyalty.

As the first member of Astro, and someone who had been by my side the longest, her devotion had never faltered.

"I have a request."

"If it is your command, I shall fulfill it without question."

Her reply was firm, devoid of hesitation.

I smiled faintly before explaining.

"I need you to gather some information."

"What kind of information?"

"Regarding Mana-Stone Petrification. Look into any records or studies you can find."

"Understood."

"I suspect publicly available sources won’t be much help. Focus on forbidden texts or connections to cultists."

"I’ll have everything prepared within a week."

Neria’s confidence left no room for doubt.

She gave a short, resolute answer, her gaze firm with determination.

I placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, a small gesture of gratitude.

"Thank you. I’m counting on you."

Her shoulder tensed slightly under my touch, though she maintained her stoic composure.

Even so, her quivering pupils betrayed her.

"Ah… uh…"

Neria froze in place, her reaction amusing as ever.

Though tempted to tease her further, I decided to let her off the hook, withdrawing my hand before she truly panicked.

Her faintly shimmering eyes suggested she’d been close to tears.

I pretended not to notice and moved on.

"Well, then… it’s about time to head back."

Having checked on the members, issued my orders, and ensured everyone was doing well, it was time to return.

Lena, the dark-haired mage, extended her hand to tear open a glowing portal to the Academy.

I turned to Irene and held out my hand.

"Shall we go? Back to the home we shared."

The fox girl looked at me, hesitating for barely a moment before taking my hand, her warmth radiating through her touch.

"I’ve been waiting."

Together, we stepped through the portal.

A week passed.

The busy days of the previous month gradually gave way to a calmer routine.

Elise, with the help of her sister and myself, was slowly adjusting to the outside world.

The once-strained relationship between the sisters also seemed to be mending, bit by bit.

"Now they even smile at each other sometimes!"
"Every time that happens, I end up crying for no reason… and it’s all thanks to you, my lord!"

Tanya shared her excitement, hopping up and down as she spoke.

I patted her small head, amused by her boundless energy.

Though hectic, the past weeks had proven worthwhile.

For a brief

period, life at the Academy seemed peaceful.

Until the news arrived.

"Exams?"
"You didn’t know? The finals start tomorrow."
"…I completely forgot."
"I thought as much. After all, you disappeared for three weeks right after promising to study together!"
"I have no excuse. My apologies."
"Hmph. Fine."

Finals.

Not just any finals, but Galimar Academy’s notoriously difficult written exams—a tradition infamous for its merciless difficulty.

For most students, it would be the moment they realized disaster was looming.

"Are you okay, my lord?"
"Of course he’s not! He hasn’t been studying, and his grades are bound to drop!"

Regia worried, while Emilia gloated confidently.

Covering my mouth with one hand, I replied with mock seriousness.

"Ah… I’ll manage."

"At least let me go over the exam scope with you. There are some subjects that won’t be tested on the first day…"
"Thank you, Regia."

Regia looked genuinely concerned, while Emilia’s smugness was evident.

"Looks like I’ll finally claim the top spot in the written exams this time!"

Her blue eyes sparkled with determination, as if she were already savoring her impending victory.

"Troubling…"

I murmured softly, ensuring my expression remained hidden behind my hand.

Sorry, but…

A sly grin spread across my lips.

I couldn’t wait to see how Emilia’s self-assured expression would crumble.

There’s no way she could have imagined it.

That for the past three weeks, while serving as Elise’s physician, I had also been studying relentlessly in my spare time.

I wasn’t one to care much about grades, but the thought of letting Emilia take the title of top scorer filled me with petty stubbornness.

"Just watch! This time, my name will be above yours!"

I thought to myself, Not a chance.

Her fate, once again, was to be the runner-up.