Chapter 29: The Second Coin
In truth, Will had a vague impression of the scene in the classroom just now.
In the original work, a flashback by Teacher Liya mentioned her passing by a classroom and seeing a “young master who looked like small fry” being bullied. His desk was covered with insults, and he was yelling at the others in the class, but no one stood up for him.
In the original work, the description after Liya recalled this was—
“A young master with the strength of small fry who got into this school through family connections really deserved to be bullied.”
However, now, Liya’s state of mind seemed to have changed?
The two walked through the corridor filled with the sound of reading, and neither spoke, showing great synchronicity.
When they reached a hallway where only the two of them were present, they both spoke at the same time:
“Liya.”
“Will.”
“You go first~”
“You go first!”
Then, after looking at each other, they fell silent again.
Liya turned her face away, still blushing a little from the mortification she felt earlier.
She pouted, her eyes glancing at him a couple of times, but she quickly looked away just as their eyes were about to meet.
How to socialize normally with her student? It was urgent.
Although Liya’s words just now sounded angry on the surface, they were actually free of malice and blame.
Last night, after she had her fun… ah no, after she experimented with the Ancient Magic “Gentle Blessing of Warmth,” she carefully checked the experimental results and her own physical condition.
First, she discovered that the coin was fake, its material was incorrect, which was why it could not be used as a medium to support the spell.
Second, she found that the heating effect and stability of Gentle Blessing of Warmth far exceeded all her previous experiments.
Third, she discovered that her Magic circuit felt refreshed as if it had been cleared all at once, and even using other magic became much smoother, which was very rare.
In summary, although the experiment last night was a “mess,” it was essentially very successful.
The only regret was that the coin she had stolen from Will was completely destroyed, leaving no trace.
…
So today, she…
Compared to finding Will to demand an explanation and get the coin back, what was more important was… she wanted to ask him what kind of fake he had given her.
But!
She couldn’t say it.
How could she, a powerful, beautiful, and cute Witch, beg a small fry!
Hmm… but standing beside him, the Magic circuit in her blood seemed to stir again, and her heartbeat quickened.
Not good, not good, not good, not good!
Will, being clever, naturally noticed this.
Liya had already taken his carefully prepared “bait.”
It was just that due to her unfrank and tsundere nature, she was still pretending.
“Well, I can’t deal with this,” Will flicked the hair on his forehead. He could only make this tsundere experience what a direct approach was like—
“Then I’ll go first.”
“Mm.”
“How was the coin last night? Was it satisfying? How about it, do you want more?”
Will felt like he was selling drugs with his words.
“Eh…? Are you being this direct? Hmph, it’s just a small item with some unknown catalyst that benefits the Magic circuit, it was, it was not that good.”
Here it comes, Liya’s unfrank, tsundere, and proud side.
“Is that so? Then…”
Will took out another coin coated with Blood Mint from his pocket.
The scent made Liya’s legs clamp together upon smelling it.
“This thing, should I give it back to you or not?”
“Hand it over!”
Liya jumped on the spot, trying to snatch the coin before anyone could react, and… failed.
Because fourteen-year-old Will was actually taller than her, who looked only twelve. Will raised his hand and stood on his tiptoes slightly, leaving Liya no choice but to look up and sigh.
She could have used a small, incantation-less teleportation magic, but she was too rushed and unprepared.
“Small fry! Small fry! Small fry!”
Liya pouted and shouted like children arguing.
So Will retaliated…
By sticking his tongue out at her with a mocking face.
“Pfft!”
Rarely, a person with a thirty-year-old uncle living inside, and an ageless Witch who was actually a hundred years old, were arguing like elementary school children matching their appearances.
“Hmph, Teacher Liya, of course, I won’t not give it to you. Otherwise, why would I have disguised myself as your coin and let you steal it yesterday?”
“You’re not trying to extort information about my client, are you? No way!”
“No, no, Teacher Liya, this time, I’m here to talk about cooperation.”
Will twirled the coin in his hand. For some reason, after experiencing what happened last night, Liya felt an electric shock run through her Magic circuit as the coin spun.
“Cooperation? What could you possibly want to cooperate with me on?”
Liya couldn’t help but subconsciously raise her tone again.
“Nine days from now is the 8th Flame and Flame-related Magic Research Academic Competition. You’re participating, right? But your project is definitely not ready. So, I want to cooperate with you… in other words, be your student.”
“You… How do you know mine isn’t ready? Hmph. And nine days is still enough time to stump me, the genius Witch?”
Liya was panicking internally, but outwardly she still flicked her blond hair.
“Mm, because for the prize of that competition, the ‘Ice Array (Attack),’ which has been vacant until the eighth round, I need it.”
“I can’t see a small fry being able to research Ancient Magic.”
Liya replied without thinking.
…
Will was angry.
Although in the original work, Liya was like this, and even her tone and words were milder now than they would be a few years later. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have even driven away the male protagonist who had such a good temper in the original work.
Her tsundere nature was almost a reflex.
It was like, “Huh? What should I say here? I don’t know, I’ll just be arrogant and tough first.”
So…
He was so angry!
This person clearly drove the male protagonist away in the original work like this, and now she was playing the same trick in front of him!
Will felt he couldn’t take it anymore.
The best time to reform a tsundere was before she became one, and the next best time was now!
“Ahhhh— A tsundere with a sharp tongue should suffer the consequences of chasing a man forever, why can’t you just be honest and directly say what you want?! No wonder you can’t get married!”
“W-Will, Classmate… W-what’s wrong with you?”
Startled by Will’s sudden shout, Liya took two steps back.
“Listen carefully, Teacher Liya—”
Will used a respectful address as he called out Liya’s name, but his actions were far from respectful.
*Bang—*
He pushed Liya’s shoulder, pinning her against the wall in the hallway.
Using his slight but not insignificant strength advantage, he grabbed her wrist.
So forceful!
And so close!
The light in the hallway was dim, and the light from the side window reflected off his glasses, allowing her to see only one of his eyes.
Her student…
He used a respectful tone, but his actions were the most rebellious!
But…
Even though this was happening, why did her body feel excited? It must, it must be because of the coin!
“You don’t want to show up with nothing at the research competition in 9 days, do you?”
“You don’t want to fail to get the ‘Ice Array (Attack)’ and go back to the laboratory crying, do you?”
“You don’t want to watch the coin you were about to get slip away like this, do you?”
He squeezed the coin in his other hand.
*Biu~*
Liya felt a current surge from her toes to the top of her brain.
Liya’s brain, which was still stubbornly maintaining her tsundere facade, was pierced in that instant.
“Teacher Liya~?”
