Ch. 11 Make Him Her Boyfriend

Once upon a time, there was a girl from another academy, known throughout the school as one of the most beautiful girls. She had admired Senior Clay from afar and had decided to take a bold step. With all the courage she could muster, she came to confess her feelings to him. As expected, Senior Clay's response was typical of him.

'I'm sorry, but my mother said I can't have a girlfriend before I turn twenty-one,' he explained, his words as unwavering as ever.

Despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of his mother's overbearing rules, the girl didn't give up. She didn't know about the long list of flaws Senior Clay possessed, which made him less than the ideal man, but she was undeterred. In fact, she persisted with her declaration. 'It's alright. I will wait for you, and I will make your mother accept me.'

"Was her straightforward answer. Do you know what happened next?"

"No, but I'm sure you'll enlighten me," Gwen replied with a half-smile.

"You bet I will. Senior Clay responded with enthusiasm, saying, 'That's great. My mother is here. You can talk to her.'"

Gwen stared in disbelief. Did that really happen? Could Senior Clay have said something so absurd? Her eyes widened at the thought. Even if she had no empathy, Gwen knew one thing for sure—a man had to have a stronger mentality than a woman, especially when we're talking about a knight. "What happened next?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Well, you see, Senior Clay's mother is no ordinary woman. She's an eight-level swordmaster. She arrived in full armor, her armor stained with the blood of monsters. Every student in the vicinity froze, too afraid to breathe, let alone speak. The girl was so intimidated that she dropped to her knees at the sight of the swordmaster. The mother, undeterred by the girl's fear, spoke up."

'Want to be my son's companion?' she asked, her voice as sharp as the sword at her side. 'Looks like you're not yet twenty. If you manage to reach level 7 before you turn twenty, I will bless you with my approval.'

Gwen couldn't hide her shock. Level 7 before the age of twenty? The requirement for graduating from this academy was to reach level 5, and now this was the standard to win over a supposedly 'good-for-nothing-but-his-looks' boy? It was an outrageous challenge.

The girl, with no other choice, retreat, and it became clear that no one else in the academy dared to express their feelings for Senior Clay after that. They might admire his looks from a distance, but no one was willing to get close to him. His mother's terrifying presence and Senior Clay's devotion to her made it clear to everyone: pursuing a relationship with him was a one-way ticket to disappointment. No one wanted to marry a man who was so dependent on his mother's approval.

Gwen rolled her eyes lazily, unimpressed by the story. She didn't particularly care for someone like Senior Clay, whose future appeared bleak. Weak, relying on his mother, and perpetually using his charm to get by—such a person seemed destructive. Still, Gwen wasn't here to offer sympathy. "Do you know where Senior Clay's class is?"

Sofia blinked in confusion. "Of course. But why do you want to meet him? Be careful, Gwen. You're about to fall for him at first sight, but remember—he's not a good person. You deserve someone better."

"I won't," Gwen replied calmly, her mind focused. I'm unable to feel that useless emotion. She added the thought silently. "Just show me the way."

Sofia stared at her friend, baffled. "What? You want to meet him now? Why is it so urgent?"

Gwen's resolve was clear. "It has to be now." This was her final challenge. Three days had passed, and the opportunity had arrived. Today and tomorrow were her only chances; the day after tomorrow would be the weekend, and after hearing today's story, she was certain that Senior Clay would reject her immediately.

Her plan was simple. She would approach him directly today. If he rejected her, then tomorrow she would resort to more drastic measures. She would use threats to force him into a corner where he couldn't refuse her. As for Senior Clay's mother… well, Gwen couldn't match the strength of an eight-level swordmaster, but she wasn't worried. Once she won the bet, she would cut all ties with Senior Clay. That way, his mother would have no reason to interfere in her life.

Sofia was still trying to comprehend Gwen's motivations. "Why are you suddenly interested in Senior Clay?" she asked, still confused. They had been friends for a month, and Sofia thought she knew Gwen well enough by now, but sometimes it felt like she could never fully understand what went on inside her friend's head.

"I made a bet with someone," Gwen answered simply.

"A bet?" Sofia asked, her confusion deepening.

"Yes," Gwen replied without missing a beat. "If I win, I'll make twenty friends at once."

Sofia stared at her in disbelief. "Wait, what? What's the challenge?"

Gwen's eyes narrowed with determination. "I have to make Senior Clay my boyfriend in one week. And three days have already passed."

Sofia's face flushed with frustration, and her voice nearly faltered. "What!? Why would you accept a bet you can't possibly win?"

Gwen was unwavering. "How do you know I won't win?"

Sofia sighed deeply, rubbing her temples as if a headache was taking over. "Didn't you listen to my story? Senior Clay will reject you, and if by some miracle he doesn't, you'll have to face his terrifying mother, who's like a monster."

"So?" Gwen's response was blunt and uncaring.

Sofia, overwhelmed, placed her hands on her hips. "Ugh! Gwen, do you not see how dangerous this is? You'll be going up against someone much stronger than you. Even if you're beautiful, you can't force someone like Clay to fall for you, especially with your... appearance."

Gwen raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "What's wrong with my appearance?"

Sofia, now feeling completely drained, sighed again. "I just don't get it. You can make yourself look beautiful, but you choose not to. Why?"

Gwen responded with absolute confidence. "I'm already beautiful. I don't need any makeup to prove that."

Sofia was at a loss for words. She could barely contain her frustration. "Alright, alright. So tell me, what's at stake if you lose?"

Gwen remained calm, as always. "If I lose, I have to become their slave until I graduate."

Sofia stared at her, speechless. "You're fine with that?"

Gwen nodded indifferently. "Yes. But if I win, I get to control everything."

Sofia sighed heavily, knowing that arguing with Gwen was futile. "I don't know whether to be amazed or frustrated. But fine, do what you want. Just know that if you lose, I'll be right there with you, dealing with them."

Gwen's expression turned serious. "No. You shouldn't get involved with them. It'll only bring you trouble."

"Then, why did you accept it if you already know it'll bring you trouble? Argh, never mind. Let's finish it now!"

Meanwhile, Senior Clay, unaware of Gwen's intentions, felt a strange sensation stirring within him. His blue eyes flicked open, and he gazed out of the window with a troubled expression. "The crack is getting bigger," he muttered under his breath. "It won't last." He cursed softly and began to summon the divine envoys, knowing that the days ahead would be more complicated than anyone could imagine.