40

After finishing his training, Ashton showered, letting the warm water soothe his sore muscles. The intense workout had left his body aching, but the feeling was oddly satisfying—a reminder of his progress.

Once done, he dried himself and put on simple casual clothes, opting for a black shirt and comfortable pants. His next destination: the cafeteria.

---

Since tomorrow was also a rest day, Ashton had already planned to visit the library.

He needed to research magical plants—specifically, ones he could grow in his dimensional farm. If he wanted to make full use of his Farming Mage talent, he needed to find the best seeds to plant.

He made a mental note to check for books on herbology, alchemy, and magical agriculture.

But just as he was about to leave, a knock echoed from the door.

Expecting Felix, Ashton walked over and opened it—

Only to freeze in surprise.

Standing before him was none other than Samael Flameheart.

---

Samael greeted him with a warm smile, his golden-red eyes shining with an almost affectionate look.

"Hello, Ashton."

Ashton's expression immediately dropped.

His mood, which had been relatively neutral, soured the moment he saw the Flameheart prince.

Still, he remained polite. "Hello."

Samael, completely ignoring Ashton's lack of enthusiasm, smiled even more and spoke, his voice gentle yet firm.

"Ashton, would you like to join me for dinner in the cafeteria? I want to genuinely talk to you about something. Please."

---

Before Ashton could respond, another voice cut in.

"Uh, no, no! Mr. No. 1, please—we don't need your presence."

Felix appeared beside Ashton, looking completely unbothered as he crossed his arms and gave Samael an amused smirk.

"We're just ordinary men, y'know? Weak, talentless, and not worthy of associating with someone like you."

His tone dripped with mock politeness, making it painfully obvious that he was not taking Samael seriously.

---

Instead of getting annoyed, Samael's gaze shifted slightly—not toward Felix, but to Ashton.

He had caught it.

That small, fleeting smile Ashton had almost let slip at Felix's words.

For just a moment, Ashton had relaxed—a rare sight.

And that made Samael happy.

But, of course, he couldn't just ignore Felix's comment and let him get away with it. He still wanted Ashton to join him.

So, Samael smirked and turned to Felix.

"How can you say that, brother-in-law?" Samael teased, his voice laced with amusement.

Felix's entire expression froze.

"Excuse me—what?!" Felix blurted, utterly caught off guard.

Ashton's eyebrows twitched.

Samael continued, looking completely unbothered.

"Since my brother and you are meant to be, that makes you family, doesn't it? It's only natural I join you two for dinner."

Felix almost choked on air.

"You—you—" Felix pointed at Samael, then turned to Ashton. "Ashton, say something!"

Ashton pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming.

But Samael wasn't done.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he casually added—

"If you don't let me join, I'll just call my brother and invite him too."

Felix's face paled.

"What do you think?" Samael leaned closer, clearly enjoying this. "If a third-year Flameheart shows up in the first-year cafeteria, I'm sure you will be even more popular than me."

He chuckled.

Felix immediately backed up.

"Nope. No way. Absolutely not."

Ashton, watching the exchange, finally sighed.

He had no interest in drama, but at this rate, they'd be standing in the hallway all night.

"…Fine," Ashton finally said. "Let's just go already."

Samael's smile widened.

Felix groaned.

"This is the worst day of my life."

The cafeteria was filled with chatter and laughter, as nearly all first-year students had gathered to eat. The massive hall had several sections, with long tables and private booths for those who preferred a quieter environment.

However, the moment Samael Flameheart entered, the atmosphere shifted.

All eyes turned toward him, and by extension, Ashton and Felix.

One genius was already shocking, but now?

Three geniuses together?

It was an unexpected sight, and whispers immediately spread across the cafeteria.

— "Isn't that Samael Flameheart? The strongest first-year?"

— "And that's Felix Ashford! He's from the Moonlight Guild, right?"

— "Wait—who's the one with purple hair? He looks familiar…"

— "That's Ashton Walker… He's not from a guild, right? Why is he with them?"

Ashton, used to being ignored, felt mildly annoyed by the sudden attention. Felix, on the other hand, looked amused, while Samael acted as if this reaction was completely normal.

---

At a nearby table, Emily Bane narrowed her red eyes, watching the group with an expression of displeasure.

She wasn't surprised that people flocked to Samael—after all, he was the number one talent in their year. But Ashton?

She clenched her fist.

Why was Ashton—a student with no known background—being treated so specially by Samael Flameheart?

Her mind buzzed with thoughts, but before she could say anything, the trio had already chosen their seats.

---

Samael gestured for Ashton and Felix to sit at an empty table near the cafeteria's private section.

"Wait here," he said, smiling at Ashton. "I'll handle the food."

Felix raised an eyebrow.

"You're going to order for us?"

"Of course," Samael replied smoothly. "It's my treat."

Before Felix could argue, Samael walked off toward the food counter, leaving the two behind.

Felix leaned toward Ashton, lowering his voice.

"Alright, I know I was against him joining us, but why do I feel like we're being spoiled?"

Ashton, who was already expecting this, simply sighed. "Because he has a reason for doing this."

Felix huffed. "Tch. Rich guys and their tricks."

---

At the counter, Samael didn't even hesitate as he tapped his bracelet and ordered high-quality monster meat—a premium option that cost credits.

Only basic food was free for six months, but meats, rare ingredients, and high-quality nutrition required academy points to purchase.

And Samael?

He had plenty of points.

However—

"I'll take care of Ashton's meal," he told the staff. "But for Felix…"

Samael smirked.

"…I'll just get my brother to pay for his share later."

He had the resources to feed them both, but why waste precious points when he could use them to woo Ashton instead?

With the order complete, Samael carried the tray of three high-quality meals back to the table, ignoring the whispers around him.

---

When Samael placed the steaming plates in front of them, Felix's eyes widened.

"…You actually got monster meat?"

The meal consisted of grilled beast steak, seasoned with rare spices, accompanied by nutritious side dishes.

For most first-years, this was a luxury they wouldn't have for months.

Samael simply smiled at Ashton.

"You need proper nutrition to grow stronger," he said. "So I paid for you."

Felix scoffed. "Oh, how generous of you. And what about me?"

Samael chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I'll have my brother cover your expenses later."

Felix's expression turned blank.

"…You're kidding."

Samael simply picked up his fork, looking far too pleased with himself.

Ashton, on the other hand, examined his meal for a moment before finally speaking.

"…Thanks."

Samael's smile softened, as if Ashton's simple acknowledgment was more valuable than anything else.

Felix, meanwhile, was still processing his fate.

"…You really are something else."

As the trio ate, the stares and whispers around them continued—especially from one particular table where Emily Bane sat, watching Ashton and Samael interact with growing irritation.

'Why is Samael giving Ashton so much attention?'

Unable to hold back, she got up from her seat and confidently walked toward them. Her heels clicked against the smooth cafeteria floor as she approached the table where Ashton, Felix, and Samael were seated.

Stopping beside Samael, she gave him her best innocent and regretful expression.

"Samael," she said softly, her voice laced with apology. "I wanted to say sorry for how I acted during the competition. I was… too emotional. I hope you don't take it personally."

Samael turned to her, his golden eyes calm as he offered a polite smile. "Emily, there's no need to dwell on it. It wasn't a big deal."** His tone was gentle, but distant.**

Then, without missing a beat, he added with a polite but firm voice, "You should go ahead and enjoy your dinner. It's best not to let it get cold."

Emily's smile twitched, her fists clenching at her sides. Samael had just dismissed her completely—not harshly, but in a way that left no room for further conversation.

She forced a nod and walked away, but in her mind, her resentment only grew.

'Ashton… you don't deserve to be by Samael's side. I'll make sure you disappear from his life.'

As Emily left, Felix smirked and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

"Wow, you handled that real smooth, Mr. Number One," Felix teased, looking at Samael with amusement. "So polite, so charming… You really are a player, huh?"

Samael chuckled, shaking his head. "It's called being diplomatic, Felix."

Felix rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. But let me guess—you'd never be that polite if it were me, right?"

Samael raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "Of course not. You don't deserve that level of effort."

Ashton, who had been silently watching, almost laughed at their banter.

Even though Samael was always composed, there was something about how he interacted with Felix that made him seem more… genuine.

But deep down, Ashton knew one thing—Emily Bane wouldn't let this go. And that meant trouble was bound to come.