Eye

Aaran stirred in his sleep. Since they'd be late anyway, he planned on sleeping a bit longer. Unfortunately, someone was there to ensure that didn't happen.

"Good morning, young master. It's time to wake up."

Aaran jolted awake, rubbing his eyes when he saw Analeis before him. Unlike yesterday, she wasn't sleeping or looking like a mess, but was dressed like a proper maid.

The playful nature Aaran had grown accustomed to was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a calm, almost serious expression.

Aaran blinked again, wondering if it was another dream dungeon.

"Are you feeling unwell, young master?" she asked, touching his forehead. "Hm… you seem fine."

Analeis's sudden kindness was freaking Aaran out. He wasn't used to such treatment from her. The only time it had happened was back in his fourth incarnation when they somehow ended up in a relationship.

Back then, Analeis was a hot milf, and Aaran was a horny rabbit eager to hump. Sadly, Analeis had killed him in that life, which was why Aaran was panicking.

PTSD is real. Hell, I lived the next two incarnations as a celibate because of her!

Aaran shook his head, pushing those thoughts away. He had gotten over it… at least he thought he had.

As for Analeis, Amara's scolding had gotten through to her. She was acting like a proper maid… for now.

"Young master?"

"I'm fine," Aaran said. "But why are you up—?"

"I'm fulfilling my duty as your maid, young master."

Aaran scratched his head. As much as he enjoyed bullying Analeis, her being so obedient was worrying him. But it wasn't all that bad. As long as she was protective of him, he could proceed with his plan.

"Alright… I'll head to the shower."

"I have prepared the bathwater, young master," she said. "I'll get your clothes ready too."

"…thanks."

***

Aaran leaned against the bathtub as another yawn escaped his lips.

Unlike yesterday, he felt tired after waking up. Maybe it was all the thinking and planning that had tired him out. Thankfully, the cold water was working its magic, keeping the fatigue at bay.

I should tell Analeis to warm the water a bit more.

As a barbarian living in the snowy fields, warm water for her meant something different from others. Ignoring the water, Aaran opened the [Legion Interface] and let out a long sigh.

[Feeling tired already, boy?]

Aaran nodded.

[Did you think upgrading a legion is child's play?]

"Considering that a literal child is in charge of the Legion, yes."

Despite his confidence, Aaran felt tired to his bones. The progress was painfully slow.

Last night, neither Brute nor the two undead goblins had gained a single level. They were like sponges, soaking up all the experience but refusing to level up.

"This is going to take forever…"

He had thought the daily dungeon would provide all his needs. The summons would gain experience, and he would get the mana. Unfortunately, only the latter part was true.

Since the daily dungeon wasn't cutting it anymore, he needed a better way to level up the undead.

"And a better weapon… that revolver is shit!"

***

Some time later in the gardens.

"What do you know about mana?" Igor asked, resting his chin on his hand.

Yesterday was a basic education day, and today was selective education. It meant Igor would teach Aaran for the day. Also, unlike yesterday, the servants weren't allowed to accompany their wards.

Why? Because it was the time for the lockets to begin corrupting the students. The students wouldn't sense the changes, but the servants could, and the academy didn't want to take any unnecessary risks.

"Mana? It's something to play with, Headmaster," Aaran confidently replied.

Other professors would have laughed at Aaran's response or even scolded him. But Igor smiled.

In his past life, Aaran had heard the exact response from Igor. He wanted to earn brownie points and knew it was the best way to do it.

"Is that what you thought yesterday?"

Aaran nodded.

The incident in the training hall had caused quite a commotion yesterday. It was natural that Igor knew all about it.

"Never in so many years has someone wrecked the training hall to such a state. Yet you did it on your first day." Igor shook his head. "As expected of my student."

Aaran didn't show it, but he was smiling on the inside. Unlike the other professors, Igor only cared about strength. As his chosen, Aaran's destructive actions pleased him to no end.

"How about you show me what you did?" Igor asked, rolling his shoulder.

Without a word, Aaran raised his hand, aiming straight for Igor's remaining eye.

Dread.

[Oi, cotton candy, your liege wants your help.]

"…I'm not cotton candy, you undead marshmallow!" Darius yelled, pouring all his mana into Aaran.

The familiar blinding light burst forth from his palm. It was even brighter and bigger than before because Aaran wasn't holding back anymore. It moved forward like a tidal wave, tearing up the ground beneath it.

The blast swallowed Igor completely. For a second, nothing could be seen except the blinding light.

But then something weird happened.

Like light getting sucked into a black hole, the mana blast was absorbed into something. The blast disappeared without a trace, leaving an unharmed Igor behind. The only difference was that the eyepatch covering Igor's eye was gone.

There it is.

Aaran's gaze locked onto the dark gem embedded in what used to be Igor's eye. The gem moved around the socket, absorbing the last remnants of Aaran's attack.

While Aaran stared at the gem, Igor laughed. The kid before him was truly fearless. Even adults had a tough time after witnessing darkness embedded in his eye.

Igor couldn't blame them. Darkness wasn't something anyone could control. On top of that, it was a symbol of evil, and no one expected the empire's shield to have it.

Yet, Aaran kept staring at him without a shred of fear.

Igor didn't say it aloud, but Aaran had just become a bit more interesting in his eyes. Well… in his eye.