"Vinny, have you gone to pick up your Practical Assessment assignment yet?"

As Vinny stepped out of his room, Shikondell poked her little head around the corner and curiously leaned closer.

"Yeah, I just picked it up. Delle, is your assignment solo or partnered?"

"If it's inconvenient for you to answer, that’s okay too."

Considering the confidentiality of the assignments, Vinny added a follow-up.

"It’s nothing, really. If Vinny wants to know, it’s fine. I’m doing it alone," Shikondell answered truthfully.

"Alone?"

Vinny frowned.

An almost paternal concern suddenly welled up in his chest.

Could this silly girl actually handle it on her own??

Based on what he’d observed of Shikondell, this elf girl was the type who acted carelessly, was pure to a fault, and utterly unversed in the ways of the world.

Sending her out alone for a Practical Assessment... wouldn’t she end up helping the con artists count their money after getting swindled?

"You sure you’ll be okay by yourself?" Vinny asked instinctively, worried she might get kidnapped by ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) some trafficker and sold off.

"I’ll be fine! My task this time is super simple."

Shikondell explained, though her heart fluttered.

After all, this was Vinny showing concern for her.

"But what about you, Vinny? You’re allowed to do a Practical Assessment with a partner?"

Shikondell asked with curiosity.

"Yeah, mine’s a little different. It’s a two-person assignment," Vinny said.

"Two people? Who’s your partner?" she asked.

"I don’t know yet. I just hope it’s someone reliable," Vinny said, spreading his hands.

Please let it not be one of his card-playing buddies.

Those unreliable jokers would probably turn the main quest into a poker night mid-trip and call it “stress relief.”

Just imagining it gave him a headache.

Ideally, it’d be someone incredibly dependable, with such overwhelming combat power he could latch onto them like a leech and coast all the way to victory.

But that was just wishful thinking.

Sure, Carillian Academy was a gathering place for the best of the continent, but there were also guys like Fred—the kind of hidden “talents” you only realized were disasters too late. If he drew one of those, he’d just have to suck it up.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became.

His reputation at the academy was infamous—if he got partnered with someone who already didn’t like him, forget passing smoothly, he’d be lucky if they didn’t actively sabotage him.

Come to think of it, getting a partnered mission might not be such a good thing after all.

Group quests were usually harder than solo ones.

And a lot of times, one plus one didn’t equal two. It equaled less than two.

"By the way, Delle, do you know what a demon serpent is?" Vinny asked.

"De...mon serpent?"

Shikondell tilted her head adorably, blank as could be, like she’d never heard the word before.

Yeah, figured as much. Total waste of breath asking.

This girl was a pampered elf princess raised in a golden bubble—how would she possibly know anything related to demons?

Time was tight.

Since Vinny had delayed picking up his assignment by several days, he’d have to depart for Lake Village in the Tyrell Empire by tomorrow at the latest.

Otherwise, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to complete the mission in time.

By now, many students—including upperclassmen—had already left for their Practical Assessments.

Mirexia had come to say goodbye two days earlier, carrying her luggage and Dragonfang Greatsword as she set out alone.

No doubt the other destined heroines had done the same.

Vinny needed to head out too.

But first—he had to find his partner.

So he set up a stand at the academy gates.

Hung a banner that read:

“Seeking Assigned Partner: If you received the Lake Village Demon Serpent Task, please contact me ASAP!”

To build good team rapport and leave a good first impression, Vinny made sure to flash a friendly smile at anyone who seemed to notice the banner.

And in the span of a single morning, he’d scared off who-knows-how-many people.

What the hell??

Vinny’s frown deepened with every passing minute.

If you’re not my partner, what are you looking over here for??

Look and move on!

Don’t just stare! Makes me think you are my partner!

Sure, Vinny admitted he was extremely good-looking—arguably the hottest guy at Carillian—but was that really a reason to gawk like that?

So handsome he ought to start charging per glance.

Also, why did flashing a smile make people back away instantly?

What, they’d never seen a gorgeous guy before??

After waiting the whole morning without finding his assigned partner, Vinny began to suspect—

Had the other person already left ahead of him?

No way...

Were they really that confident?

Didn’t even bother finding their teammate before departing?

Then how was he supposed to split the quest credit?

Vinny remained seated, but his face grew more and more serious.

If his partner had already gone on ahead, then that meant one of two things:

Either they were a careless idiot, or they were a real powerhouse.

If it was the latter and he didn’t tag along—he’d miss his chance to piggyback off their success.

If he didn’t participate at all, what score could he even expect?

How would the instructors grade him?

He seriously considered heading out on his own.

If the other guy completed the mission alone, his assessment would be toast.

His written exam finally wasn’t a disaster—he couldn’t afford to screw up the part he was actually good at!

Then again...

There was a chance the other person was a total slacker too.

Maybe they just hadn’t even bothered showing up yet.

Just as Vinny was brooding over the RNG lottery he’d pulled, a silver-haired figure approached silently.

Vinny was too deep in thought to notice.

"Hey, student. Ever consider a future career in security? Gatekeeping?~"

"What gatekeeping? You think someone as handsome and brilliant as me is gonna end up guarding doors? That’s beneath me! Who could even afford to hire someone of my caliber for that?!"

Vinny snapped, instantly annoyed—

Then paused.

That voice... that tone... it was familiar.

Before he could turn his head, a breeze carried a chill fragrance of rose and thorn into his nose, making him momentarily dazed.

"Quite the opposite.

Vinny, the way you scare people just by smiling... petty thieves and robbers would run for the hills.

You’re perfectly suited for security work. Not putting those talents to use? Now that’s the real waste."

Aesphyra tucked a stray lock behind her ear and grinned slyly.

Son of a—

Vinny saw that excessively beautiful face in front of him, and his mood instantly turned sour.

He hadn’t seen Aesphyra for a few days and had just been thinking that at least he wouldn’t have to deal with her until next semester.

And now, the day before departure, here she was again.

What the hell—

Were they some cursed magnetic pairing or what??

"Why do you care if I’m wasting talent? You feeding me or something?

Why is it you again?!

Why are you still haunting me? What are you, a ghost attached to my body??

This doesn’t concern you, alright?!

The Practical Assessment is starting and you’re still hanging around just to get yelled at?!"

Vinny glared at her fiercely.

"I just didn’t expect that in just a few days, you’d switch careers to fortune-telling."

Aesphyra beamed at him.

"So what if I did become some shady street mystic? Still none of your business. Go cool off somewhere else."

Vinny sneered at her like swatting away a fly.

"Eh? Do you really need to change careers though?"

Aesphyra tilted her head.

"Weren’t you always one?"

"I’m your dad, damn it!"

Vinny shot her a look.

"You’re just pissed you haven’t annoyed me in a while and now you’re making up for lost time, huh??"

"Hm, maybe~"

Aesphyra’s impish tone nearly made Vinny pass out from rage.

"Scram! Back to wherever you came from. There’s no room for a silver-haired baby bun here!"

Vinny snapped.

"You’ve been watching from the side all morning, haven’t you? You know everything going on—so you must’ve been standing there the whole time.

What, you got issues or something?

Or maybe... you secretly like me? I’ve told you plenty of times already—you’re not my type, and you don’t have a chance, got it??"

"Are you sure you want to chase me off, though?"

"Go on, shoo. I’m a mature and responsible adult. I don’t have time to argue with immature brats like you."

Vinny had no idea why Aesphyra was still hanging around the academy at this hour.

Given her cheat-code-tier talent, she might’ve already completed her mission and returned.

"Well then, I guess that means you’ll be heading to Lake Village solo, Vinny."

Aesphyra shook her head.

"...Huh?"

Vinny looked at her in disbelief.

"Wait, what do you mean, you tiny white bun—don’t tell me...?"

"Vinny, it’s really a shame. You said we wouldn’t see each other again until next semester.

But alas, it’s only been a few days... and now we’re going to be spending so much more time together."

Aesphyra smirked and pulled out her assignment scroll.

The number on it matched Vinny’s exactly.

He checked both over and over again.

Same assignment. Same number.

Vinny went silent.

"Sigh... I was hoping I’d get lucky and draw Isatia or Milian as a partner.

That’d be a dream team, of course.

Honestly, I’d have been happy with any pretty girl.

But alas..."

Aesphyra sighed, shaking her head. The black bow tied behind her swayed with the motion.

"Not only did I miss the jackpot and the second-best draw,

I didn’t even get a mid-tier or bottom-tier prize."

She pulled out her holy sword and gave it a theatrical polish.

So I’m the rock-bottom draw, huh?!

"Tch! Don’t steal my lines! I should be the one saying that!

I thought I’d get some agile, elegant beauty for a partner,

but instead it’s you, this short little white-haired nut!

I’m the one who should be disappointed, alright?!"

"Oh? Beautiful?"

Aesphyra perked up, clearly catching the keyword.

She leaned closer.

"Vinny, tell me—

In this whole school, in our entire year—

is there a prettier girl than me?"

"Tons!

You tiny nut, stop flattering yourself."

Vinny forced the words out, even though he didn’t believe them.

Sure, there were plenty of girls with better figures than Aesphyra.

But prettier than her?

That was impossible.

"Oh? Like who?"

"Like who? Who cares? There’s plenty, alright?

I’m just sparing your fragile ego by not naming them."

"I see~"

Aesphyra smiled even more brightly, now with a hint of playful teasing.

"What are you laughing at?

Ugh, fine, I got unlucky, okay?

Somehow I drew you.

Guess I’ll just have to put up with it and tag along.

No helping it—this kind of mission, you can’t handle alone.

Without my help, you’d be hopeless."

Vinny sighed dramatically, acting as if he were doing her a huge favor.

"Let’s go ahead and head out now. What do you think?"

"Ohh, I get it~ Vinny’s afraid I’ll leave without him and complete the task solo,

which would mean he gets no credit for the Practical Assessment.

Isn’t that right?"

"Wha—you—?!

As if! I’m not scared of that!

Without me, how could you possibly finish the task?!"

Vinny’s expression clearly said she’d hit the mark.

He clicked his tongue.

"Enough talk! Let’s just go.

I may not want to do this with you,

but like it or not, we’re in this together.

We’ve gotta cooperate."

"Let’s go, then.

The carriage still has seats."

Vinny packed up his stand in a minute flat and pointed at the unicorn-drawn carriage waiting nearby.

It was the academy’s transport vehicle—

tasked with carrying students to their Practical Assessment locations.

After that, they’d have to continue on foot to reach the actual mission site.

He really didn’t want to deal with Aesphyra again.

But truth be told, she was the most competent and reliable “carry” in the entire academy.

The good news?

He was guaranteed to win by doing nothing.

The bad news?

He was also guaranteed to get roasted by her the whole way there.

—

Vinny got on the carriage...

Only to find Aesphyra still standing outside.

"...What are you doing? You planning to walk to the Tyrell Empire or something?"

Aesphyra didn’t reply.

Instead, she gracefully walked up to the magnificent unicorn, reached out with a gloved hand, and stroked its lavender mane.

The unicorn closed its eyes and let out a happy rumble, even rubbing its head against her hand.

Vinny, watching from inside the carriage, could only click his tongue in amazement.

No wonder she was the protagonist.

Even a haughty holy beast like a unicorn was instantly tamed by her.

Back when he tried, he’d nearly gotten kicked halfway to the moon.

Only virginal maidens with pure hearts could even touch unicorns.

And even then, they still had to be liked by the unicorn—

purity alone wasn’t enough.

"Good girl."

Aesphyra gently patted the unicorn’s snow-white neck and chuckled.

Then, with a dazzling flip of her silver hair, she vaulted onto the unicorn’s back with ease.

The unicorn didn’t object at all—

even raised its head proudly, seemingly honored to carry her.

The stablehands around them were stunned.

Pulling a cart was one thing.

Letting a human ride it? That was entirely different.

They considered themselves close to this unicorn—

but even brushing its mane required delicate care.

One wrong touch and it might lash out.

Turns out...

There weren’t that many sensitive spots.

It just didn’t like them.

Once mounted, Aesphyra turned her head and crooked a finger at Vinny.

"Vinny, come on. Sit behind me~?"

"You trying to get me kicked by a hoof, is that it?!"

Vinny snapped.

That damn white-haired bun definitely knew the unicorn would never allow him on its back,

and she was just teasing him on purpose.

And even if this unicorn suddenly couldn’t tell gender apart and did let him on—

Vinny wouldn’t dare.

Before the unicorn could even throw him, Aesphyra would kick him off herself.