Chapter 38

### Chapter 37: How to Steal a Wizard's Woman (1-22)

While Luna was on the podium for a short time, various events unfolded.

The associate professor's scream, Lewis's protest, the dean's appearance, defending Seong Sooho, and the barely passing test.

After defending Seong Sooho, she attempted to cast a magic circle again.

"...Stay calm, stay calm."

To anyone, Luna was clearly in the most disadvantageous testing environment.

Moreover, she had been preoccupied with the homework Seong Sooho had given her recently and hadn't had time to practice casting magic circles.

As she concentrated on drawing the magic circle, blue light beams gracefully traced its form.

"...Can I really draw like this?"

Luna was surprised even as she drew.

Despite not having reviewed properly, she completed the magic circle flawlessly on her first attempt.

It took her about 40 seconds.

While it was a lower level compared to monsters like Seong Sooho and Lewis, it was still a top-tier performance.

After completing her magic circle, Luna immediately looked at Seong Sooho.

"It's true. When I do as he says, I improve."

Just by following Seong Sooho's instructions, her ability to cast magic circles had improved significantly in a short time.

The effort she had put into visualizing the magic circle in her mind was finally paying off.

Luna could feel a warm surge of excitement in her chest as she witnessed her own growth.

Luna returned to her seat, and immediately after, Seong Sooho stepped up to the podium.

Seong Sooho, receiving a signal from the associate professor, began drawing the magic circle without hesitation.

First, he drew a circle like the sun, then started weaving golden threads inside it, forming runes.

Luna watched him in a daze.

She had only ever seen him create magic circles with his eyes, without any movement, from the side, and this was the first time she had seen him cast a magic circle properly.

To Luna, Seong Sooho's magic circle was a miraculous work of art.

Seong Sooho completed the brain magic circle in an instant, received his score, and then erased it as if it were a doodle.

"Ah…"

She desperately wanted to see more, but unfortunately, her desire did not reach Seong Sooho.

He calmly returned to his seat and sat down.

"Indeed, he doesn't look well…"

Luna had been worried about Seong Sooho's condition, observing him carefully.

"…What did he mean by 'dust'?"

Recalling their earlier conversation, she felt his gaze.

She had been staring blankly, not even realizing that Seong Sooho was looking at her.

Luna looked at him and mouthed, "Thank you."

Seong Sooho, seeing Luna's expression, shrugged and smiled, then looked at the podium.

Luna also smiled and focused on watching the other students' tests.

...

...

After all the students' tests were over, the dean and the associate professor left the lecture hall.

Luna was tidying up her desk and about to speak to Seong Sooho when she noticed someone approaching her.

It was Lewis.

Luna sighed inwardly.

"Ha, please…"

Luna had anticipated this.

He would probably say he wanted to talk because he had something to discuss.

In the past, when she had more time, she might have enjoyed a conversation, but now, she just wanted to spend every minute and second with Seong Sooho.

"Luna, I need to talk about the club. Can we talk for a moment?"

"Indeed…? Wait, a moment?"

But then Luna remembered what had happened yesterday and reflexively asked,

"Didn't you quit the club?"

"...How do you know that?"

"Ah…"

Luna then recalled the situation where she had heard about it yesterday.

The cabinet.

She started to remember what had happened inside it.

It was the place where she had shared body heat with Seong Sooho.

But as she recalled yesterday's events, Sonia came to mind.

"…Clearly, something happened between them."

She knew she shouldn't jump to conclusions, but she couldn't shake the suspicion.

Lewis said to Luna,

"...Luna, can we talk for a moment?"

"Can't we talk after the club activities?"

Luna didn't want to create a situation where Seong Sooho and Sonia were together.

Lewis, unaware of Luna's thoughts, answered as if giving up.

"Ha… Alright."

But then she remembered her schedule after the club activities.

"Oh, right. After the club activities…"

She was supposed to meet Seong Sooho about an hour after the club activities ended.

She had enough time to talk to Lewis.

But she was already thinking about showering, tidying up, and putting on makeup as soon as the club activities ended.

"After the club activities…"

"Ah! Sorry. I have a date after the club activities. Can we talk tomorrow?"

"…"

Luna immediately approached Seong Sooho.

"Let's go to the club room quickly."

"Huh? Right now?"

Luna wanted to spend as much time alone with him as possible before Professor Sonia arrived.

But her actions were interrupted.

Lewis grabbed her wrist and pleaded,

"Luna, please, can we talk…?"

"…Ha… Alright."

Luna told Seong Sooho to go to the club room first and then left the lecture hall.

She was still anxious as she left the lecture hall.

If she had gone to the club with Lewis like before, she wouldn't have felt so restless.

"Clearly, something happened with Professor Sonia…"

Lewis said to the restless Luna,

"...Did that guy tell you?"

"...? What do you mean?"

"About me quitting the club."

"No, I… heard it from Professor Sonia."

Luna didn't want to involve him in this conversation.

"Luna, leave the club. Let's join another one."

"…What are you talking about?"

"Since I'm gone, there's no reason for you to stay."

Luna thought about it deeply.

"…There is a reason, though."

Luna felt awkward rejecting Lewis's request.

He was a friend, and his family had protected her.

He was like a benefactor.

"But that's one thing, and this is another."

However, once Lewis got a hold of her, he wouldn't let go easily.

He would stick to her wherever she went until she agreed.

Luna tried to deflect the situation.

"Since you're leaving, if I leave too, it will be obvious. I'll stay for a while longer."

"…Luna, I'll ask again. You're not in a strange relationship with that guy, are you?"

"…Are you serious?"

Luna was suddenly scared and glared at Lewis fiercely.

Her body was sending signals that she couldn't let this be discovered.

Lewis, instead, was flustered and apologized.

"Sorry! I mean, there's no way you'd hang out with a guy like that."

"…"

Luna, having narrowly avoided the situation, tried to leave for the club room.

"Then, I'll go."

"Ah! Let's go out together this week."

"…Go out?"

It was such an unexpected request that Luna couldn't answer immediately.

She had no desire to go out.

The problem was Lewis's expression.

When he smiled and stuck to her like this, it was impossible to refuse.

He would be a nuisance until she agreed.

Luna wanted to get out of this situation quickly and go to the club room.

'If I play along for a day, he'll calm down.'

Luna agreed to Lewis's proposal and quickly headed to the club room.

***

I was moving towards the club room with great effort.

"Ha… I'm really tired."

[Are you feeling well physically?]

"Yeah, the pain is completely gone. But I'm a bit sleepy."

[Your body is probably fatigued from healing. It might be good to just do the club activities today and call it a day.]

"Should I…?"

Although spending time with Luna was nice, I was too tired today.

We agreed to talk after the club activities.

As soon as I arrived at the club room, I sat down and leaned on the desk, waiting for the two of them.

I waited, fighting off sleep, and the first person to arrive was Luna.

I thought her conversation with Lewis would take longer, so I was surprised she came so quickly.

"Oh, you're here?"

"Yes. Has Professor Sonia not arrived yet?"

"Uh-huh."

Luna said this and naturally sat next to me.

Her usual seat was opposite me.

"?"

"Since Lewis is gone, I thought it would be more convenient for the professor to sit facing us."

"But you didn't say anything?"

"…You looked curious."

Luna's reasoning made sense. With one less member, it was appropriate for us to sit this way.

An awkward silence filled the room as the door to the club room opened, and Sonia entered.

Sonia quietly observed us and then smiled meaningfully.

"Oh? What a rare combination."

"Hehe… It just happened."

"…"

Luna didn't respond.

Fortunately, once the club activities started, Luna relaxed and became engrossed in the learning games.

After about an hour, the club activities ended.

"Thank you for today. It's a bit disappointing with fewer people."

"Were there fewer last year too?"

Luna asked.

"No, last year, Professor Maximilian was in charge, and we had brain magic classes, so there were about seven members."

"I see, that's disappointing."

"To be honest, I don't maintain this club for any significant reason. I just believe that even if a field is of little interest, there should still be a path for education."

Indeed, she was a woman with the qualities of an educator.

…And she gives me good private lessons too.

Sonia stood up with a wistful expression and said to me,

"Then, that's all for today. Seong Sooho, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"If you're tidying up, I can…."

Luna stood up, ready to help clean up.

But Sonia immediately stopped her.

"It's fine. There's nothing to tidy up today. Go ahead, Luna."

"…Okay."

Luna hesitated for a moment, then stood at the door and said goodbye.

"Then, I'll be going."

"Be careful on your way back."

"…"

Luna, who had been looking at me intently, quietly opened the door and left the club room.

Sonia, confirming that Luna had left, approached me with a provocative smile.

"Just the two of us now?"

"Th, that's…."

Under normal circumstances, this would be a cause for celebration.

If only I wasn't so tired….

'Ah, I'm going to go crazy. I'm really exhausted today.'

[It might be best to come up with an excuse and leave.]

'What excuse?'

[That's something you need to think about, Seong Sooho.]

'…Excuse me.'

Is this kid getting lazier?

Are you saying I should reap what I sow….

Armonia seems to pass the buck whenever she deems a task unrelated to her mission.

But Sonia chuckled and tapped my chest with her palm.

"You want to go see Luna, don't you?"

"Huh? No, I'm just tired today…."

"Don't worry. I don't always pounce like an animal."

That's the charm, though.

Sonia, with a different, wistful expression, said,

"Actually, what I wanted to say… Do you have time this weekend?"

"This weekend?"

"Hmm… Yes. I thought we could have dinner together."

"Sure!"

I inwardly cheered.

'Yay! Yes! Let's go!'

[How about meeting Luna Schtauffen on this golden weekend?]

'No, she can handle it!'

It's not that I prefer Sonia over Luna.

Sonia has her charm, and Luna has hers.

Each has different points of attraction, making it impossible to say which is better.

But since Luna's approach was going well and maintaining a relationship with Sonia would clearly benefit my school life, I had to keep it up.

…And I want to sleep with her too.

While I was silently shouting in my mind, Sonia was looking at me with a darker expression.

It was strange.

I thought her invitation to dinner meant another enjoyable date like last week, but the atmosphere was very different.

Sighing repeatedly, Sonia took a deep breath and finally spoke.

"…Actually, my husband wants to have dinner with you, Seong Sooho."