Chapter 47 - The Dinner (1)

The sun was setting again, casting long shadows across the academy dorms as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the black blazer for the third time.

"Too much?" I muttered, tugging at the collar. "No, wait—not enough?"

I stared at my reflection. White shirt. Black formal pants. Neatly polished leather boots. The blazer clung well enough to my shoulders. Hair styled, at least the best I could manage.

I looked like someone going to a noble banquet. Or a high-level assassination meeting. Either way, I was overdressed.

I sighed.

"What even

is

this dinner?" I mumbled. "Why would

she

ask me out of nowhere?"

My mind spiraled. A mission from the academy? Some secret trial? Did I break a rule I didn’t know existed?

Or... was it because of the kiss?

My heart did a somersault.

"No, that wasn’t even

with her

! Gods, stop thinking like that."

Still... it bothered me. The way she’d looked at me. The hesitation in her voice. That wasn’t her usual cool, composed self. Something was up.

And I was about to walk right into it.

By the time I made it to the academy courtyard—the spot she’d told me to meet at—twilight had sunk in properly. The enchanted lamps lit the path in a warm golden hue, soft wind brushing through the trees.

I stood by the fountain, hands in my pockets, doing everything I could to look calm.

I wasn’t.

Every few seconds, someone walked past and

looked

.

Great.

Apparently, being dressed like this had made me stand out more than I thought. A group of second-year girls walked by, whispering. One even giggled.

I scratched my head, looking anywhere but at people.

When did I become the guy people look at twice?

Was it always like this? Or just the blazer?

Then—

Click. Click. Click.

The unmistakable sound of heels against stone.

I turned.

And time stopped.

She walked into the courtyard like she owned every breath of air in it.

Professor Seraphina.

Her blue hair was tied up into a flawless bun, a few strands curling near her ear. She wore a sleek, single-slit black dress—tasteful, elegant, but... dangerous. There was something almost surreal about the way it flowed around her frame, like darkness had wrapped itself around moonlight.

And that choker—black diamond, resting at her throat—it practically glittered when the lamplight hit it.

I forgot how to breathe.

"G-Gorgeous..."

The word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.

Her steps faltered.

She stared at me, wide-eyed, for a full second.

Then—just for a blink—her ears turned pink.

She cleared her throat softly, looking to the side.

"You... don’t look bad yourself," she said, composed but a little too fast.

I blinked.

Did she just... blush?

Before I could register anything else, she walked up beside me, her expression shifting back to calm and unreadable.

"Shall we?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Y-Yeah," I stammered, straightening.

She walked forward. I followed.

The walk was awkward.

Not because we talked. But

because we didn’t

.

Every now and then I’d glance at Seraphina beside me—her expression unreadable, her posture perfect, her presence intimidatingly graceful. She wasn’t just walking—she was gliding. And I was lumbering along beside her, wondering if my boots were too loud.

And then we reached it.

A towering building with marble pillars, glass-pane windows glowing with soft golden light, and an enchanted sign that shimmered in floating cursive:

"La Viore"

A high-end restaurant known only to nobles.

I stopped just short of the entrance. "Professor, isn’t this... a bit too much?"

She turned slightly, eyes flickering toward me. "You’re properly dressed. You’ll be fine."

That didn’t answer my question, but she walked in, and I had no choice but to follow.

Inside, it was like stepping into a painting.

The air was warm and scented with herbs and flowers I couldn’t name. Elegant music floated from a quartet in the corner, and servers glided past in enchanted uniforms that didn’t crease or wrinkle. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above, and every table was spaced for privacy. Nobles sat in hushed conversations, dressed in silk and satin.

I immediately felt out of place.

A host approached. "Reservation name?"

"Seraphina. Table thirteen," she said, smooth as butter.

The man bowed. "Right this way, Lady Seraphina."

Lady?

I blinked. Oh. Right. She

is

technically a noble.

We were led to a semi-private corner booth, dimly lit but cozy. Seraphina sat without hesitation. I slid in across from her, trying not to fidget too obviously.

Then came the menu.

Before I could even read more than a few names, she spoke again.

"Order anything you want," she said casually. "It’s on me."

My brows rose. "Really?"

She nodded, eyes on the menu. "Consider it... my treat."

Well. Free food from a noble professor? No way I’m turning

that

down.

I scanned the list—and then I remembered.

There was a dish in this restaurant I saw mentioned in the game forums. A player-only event side quest.

The dish with the highest stat recovery and flavor rating.

I smiled.

"I’ll have the Flame-Seared Celestial Steak," I said.

At the exact same time, Seraphina said, "Flame-Seared Celestial Steak."

We both blinked, looking at each other.

"...Seriously?" I asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "It’s my favorite here."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "It’s... kind of famous where I’m from."

A pause.

Then—just faintly—she smiled.

The waiter bowed and glided away.

We sat in silence for a moment, the music gently filling the space. Candles flickered between us, casting shifting shadows on the pristine tablecloth. The tension was still there, but... softer now.

Then the food arrived.

No wait time. No delay. It just—appeared.

Plated perfectly, garnished with glowing herbs, a faint steam rising like a spell.

I stared.

Oh right, this is world of magic.

I let out a small laugh. "I forgot."

Seraphina looked up, watching me.

"...What?" I asked.

"You laughed," she said softly. "You don’t do that often."

I coughed. "I—I do! Sometimes."

She tilted her head. "Not in class."

"Yeah well, class isn’t exactly ’laugh-worthy.’"

For a second, just a second, her lips curved. "Fair."

She placed her utensils down gently.

"The reason I invited you here," she began, voice calm but more deliberate now, eyes holding mine.

"I want to thank you."

I blinked. "Wait—what?"

She folded her hands in her lap, breaking eye contact briefly before returning it.

"For the dungeon. For saving your teammates. For thinking clearly under pressure."

She paused.

"But more importantly..." Her voice softened, and something unreadable flickered in her eyes.

"You trusted me."

My breath caught.

"When no one else did—when I was practically being branded a traitor and didn’t even have the strength to defend myself... you still chose to believe in me."

A pause.

"And then, you didn’t just talk. You acted. You saved everyone. Including me."

I stared at her, unsure what to say. No clever comeback came to mind. Just the hum of the music behind us and the clink of distant cutlery.

Seraphina noticed my stunned expression and added, a little dryly, "Don’t get used to it."

That finally snapped me out of it. "R-Right! Of course. Just... once in a lifetime kind of thing."

She sighed, amused. "You’re terrible at taking compliments."

"I’m worse at formal dinners."

We both chuckled this time.

And for the first time since this bizarre evening began... I wasn’t entirely nervous.

Just confused.

But in a strangely nice way.

Luca had even started relaxing.

Then —

Seraphina looked up from her plate, her expression unusually thoughtful, and said,

" Of course....Dinner isn’t enough of a thank-you,"

Luca blinked. "Eh?"

"You didn’t just save my life," she continued, eyes fixed on him. "You saved my

reputation

. In front of the entire academy. When it mattered most."

Her gaze didn’t waver.

"So—" she leaned forward slightly, "—speak. Is there something you want from me?"

Clink.

Luca’s spoon slipped from his fingers.

He looked up slowly, eyes wide.

"I—what?"

Luca mentally screamed.

Gods, does she even realize how that sounded?!

Seraphina blinked. Then her cheeks flushed faintly.

"...Within reason, of course."

It seemed she

did

, because she quickly straightened her back and looked away, adding more coolly, "I meant it professionally."

He coughed awkwardly, waving his hands. "I—I didn’t think anything weird! I mean, I wasn’t going to ask for—"

The air between them was now radiating with mutual awkwardness.

Until—

A grating, smug annoying voice cut through the restaurant like nails on enchanted glass.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here?"