The Cold Boy and the Fiery Girl (2)

Pale skin, dark circles under his eyes, and black hair covering his cheeks.

Amy's expression immediately crumpled.

'Ardius Jake.'

A family of the second rank in the noble hierarchy, with the head of the family working as the financial executor of the royal castle.

Perhaps due to the nature of managing the royal family's finances, the family's power was known to be no less than that of a first-rank family.

There would be no one who liked Jake, who had an arrogant personality, but the real reason Amy hated him was that he was the president of the research society, Black Magician.

To her, the field of research for Black Magician was nothing more than dragging down outstanding students.

It was not an official research society, so it did not even receive support funds, but rumors said they gathered students by spending their own money.

Their main activities were manipulating public opinion and professionally stressing top-ranking students with violence and threats to lower their grades.

"Amy, you're done early today? I was planning to wait until midnight."

"Why are you waiting for me? Do you have nothing better to do?"

"Don't be like that. I heard a rumor about you. That useless Shirone keeps clinging to you, right?"

Amy had already suspected that Black Magician was involved whenever bad rumors spread.

"I'm warning you, don't do anything. If I hear my name again, I'll break your jaw."

"Hah! You're misunderstanding. I don't know anything about this. Think about it, why would I do something that benefits others?"

Jake smiled and held out a cup of coffee.

"I'm the one who likes you, after all."

The scent of the still-warm coffee was that of civet coffee, something Amy also recognized.

"This is the highest-grade coffee you can't get at school. Someone like you, Amy, should be treated with this level of hospitality."

"What are you up to?"

"What do you mean? This is an official proposal. You know the power of my family, and following in my father's footsteps, I'll also manage the royal finances. In this school, the only man who suits you is me."

"Sorry, but I never have personal conversations in the library. So, you got the place wrong, the timing wrong, and—oh, the most important thing—you got the person wrong. I don't like you. So let's both be careful so this doesn't happen again."

As Amy turned to go down the stairs, Jake blocked her path by placing his hand against the wall.

His expression stiffened.

"Looks like I was too soft on you. I also have my family's honor to consider, and being rejected like this is troublesome. You're the same, aren't you? Studying desperately to uphold the name of Karmis. We share the same burden."

"Wow, you're even more pathetic than I thought."

"W-What?"

Jake's eyes flashed with hostility.

But Amy wasn't someone to be intimidated by such things.

"The same burden? My family is doing just fine, living the way they want. Family honor? Of course, it's important. But unlike you, I'm not bound by it. I'm different from someone like you, who only cares about money and nothing else."

"You little…!"

Jake's mask came off.

Even if she were first-rank nobility, she shouldn't treat him like this. Moreover, his father was the royal finance executor.

He believed there was nothing in the world that money couldn't solve.

"You think you're so great? You may be first rank in name, but how many of them actually hold power? With my family's wealth, we could drown Karmis in debt. How about it? If you don't believe me, should we try it?"

Seeing the murky light in Jake's eyes, Amy felt a chill run down her spine and realized something.

"Phew, thanks. I was feeling unsettled all day, but thanks to you, I understand now."

"What?"

Amy finally felt relieved.

Shirone would probably keep her secret.

"Yeah, this is the gaze of a villain. Your eyes are completely rotten, unlike Shirone's."

Jake lost his temper.

"Are you saying I'm worse than that useless guy? I could go after him right now and crush him!"

"You seem desperate to do something. If you're going to act, do it already. Stop wasting my time with empty words. Do you think I'll be scared just because you're glaring at me?"

Amy smacked Jake's arm away, causing the mug to fall and coffee to spill.

Jake spread his Spirit Zone filled with murderous intent but quickly realized his mistake and calmed himself down.

'Damn it...'

He could feel Amy's Spirit Zone.

"Arrogant wench? You think I'm weak just because I talk big? If you're so mad, attack me. I'll burn your face right now."

Jake gritted his teeth.

He had thought she was just a top student, but that was his mistake.

'Her combat experience is vast.'

Amy had also fought countless dirty battles in the back alleys.

Jake clenched his teeth and spoke.

"Hmph! Using magic here is against the rules."

"You were the one who used magic first, weren't you? When you were heating up that civet coffee."

"Are you insane?! How can you compare that to attack magic—"

"Ha."

Amy sneered.

He was nothing more than a small-time thug. When faced with real danger, he was just like the back-alley scum who cowered in fear.

"You can't even attack me head-on, yet you think you can do something to Shirone? I guarantee that within six months, that guy will be so far ahead that someone like you won't even be able to see him. Unlike you, he actually thinks."

If Shirone had simply run errands to get by in school, he would have noticed it by now.

'He's already made up his mind.'

If someone could recognize injustice and make the best choices, there was room for trust.

"Are you saying I'm worse than Shirone?"

Jake, being compared to a freshman twice, completely lost his reason.

"Hah! Yeah, he's promising. But you know what? Breaking promising guys is my specialty. Six months? Forget that. I'll make sure he can't use magic by tomorrow."

"Jake."

Amy's pupils glowed red.

"Do you want to die?"

"Ugh."

Jake was certain.

The rumored Crimson Eyes of the Karmis family.

Just looking into those completely opened pupils made him feel frozen in place.

"If you kill me, you'll—"

"I don't care. If you don't believe me, keep running your mouth."

"..."

Jake clenched his jaw.

A direct confrontation had no chance of victory.

If she was the top of Class Four, she could almost certainly burn him to ashes.

"Just wait, you arrogant wench!"

Jake stomped away, descending the stairs. Watching him disappear from view, Amy finally suppressed her Crimson Eyes.

"Phew."

Feeling momentarily dizzy, she leaned against the wall and rubbed her eyes.

'I lost my temper without realizing it.'

Why did she react that way just because Shirone might be in danger?

Responsibility? Fear of someone uncovering information? Or maybe...

Amy shook her head.

"Ugh, whatever! Today was an absolute mess."