Ch.45Too Sudden. (2)

The conversation with Lael had certainly left my mind in turmoil, but her answer itself was quite satisfactory.

I wasn’t sure how Professor Anette felt about Professor Leonhart, but if he tidied up his appearance, he might at least catch her interest, if not her affection.

They say love starts from a small spark, which should be enough, but…

Wouldn’t it be better to just set a big fire from the beginning?

After all lectures ended, on my way home, I carefully asked Derin who was walking beside me.

“What should a man do to win a woman’s favor?”

“Huh? Why are you asking that?”

Derin tilted her head, questioning my intention.

It was quite a different reaction from Lael, who had been expressing her affection actively.

This was a perfect reflection of her unique personality—always thinking and judging everything coolly.

“A fellow professor has fallen for someone, and somehow I ended up helping him.”

“Hmm… I guess you really wouldn’t know about that. You’re the type who attracts women without even trying. You’re far from having to make efforts to win someone’s favor.”

They say when you’re in love, everything looks good—Derin’s response was exactly that.

I had attracted women a few times, but…

‘No matter what, I’m not handsome.’

If I were handsome, someone in the Royal Capital would have asked me out or at least invited me for a meal, but nothing like that had happened.

Besides, even my master, who never held back on compliments, had never mentioned my appearance, so objectively speaking, I wasn’t.

Well, even if it’s just flattery, it feels nice…

“So what do you think? What should he do?”

“Hmm… In my opinion…”

Derin looked around as if searching for something, then pointed to a restaurant.

It looked like a fairly upscale place with flowers on each table, creating a nice atmosphere.

“First, I think it’s good to be exposed to a nice atmosphere together. The more times, the better. People are surprisingly weak-willed and often get swept up in the mood.”

“That does seem true.”

The opinion Derin offered was the method she used for gathering information.

Using her acting skills to create a comfortable atmosphere for talking, and then buying drinks as a final touch—unless it was top-secret information, people would spill everything.

I had seen this work many times, so I could trust it completely.

And…

‘I felt that too.’

When I went swimming with my master, and when we shared drinks alone in front of the bonfire—I felt like I could tell her anything.

I should ask Professor Leonhart to look for a nice restaurant later.

As I was nodding slightly at that thought, Derin suddenly tugged at my clothes.

“Usually when someone asks something like this, it’s actually about themselves but they’re too embarrassed to say it directly… Do you have another woman?”

“No, I don’t. Don’t worry. It really is about a fellow professor.”

After my explanation, Derin released my clothes and smiled.

I was grateful she believed me, but once again, there was something I couldn’t understand.

“By the way, have we ever been in a nice atmosphere together?”

I became curious about what made her fall for me.

During our party days, I intentionally avoided her because she made me uncomfortable.

Somehow, she seemed to know I was a Warlock, so naturally I had to avoid her.

I remember that whenever we were alone, an awkward atmosphere always hung between us.

I’m sure that was the case… or was my memory failing me again?

“Of course we have. That night when the crescent moon rose, you at the valley…”

Derin closed her eyes as if trying to recall the memory, but her face gradually turned red until it looked like it might explode.

Judging by her reaction, something embarrassing must have happened, but I had no such memory, which was confusing.

However, since I had promised not to lie just recently, I decided to believe her.

But first, I needed to hear what it was.

“What happened that day? Please explain in case I’ve forgotten.”

“N-no. I was mistaken.”

“Then what made you like me in the first place?”

“Does it matter how it started? Isn’t the important thing that I like you now?”

“Well… that’s true.”

She obviously changed the subject, but her point was valid, so I couldn’t argue.

However, that didn’t make the reason she fell for me any less important, so my curiosity only grew.

The problem was that I couldn’t ask further when Derin clearly expressed she didn’t want to tell me…

But maybe that’s natural?

It’s never easy to explain to someone you like why you started liking them.

It might be even harder than saying “I like you.”

Understanding her feelings, I changed the subject before an awkward silence could set in.

“Anyway, is that all you can think of to win a woman’s favor? Nothing else?”

“…Being handsome?”

With her answer, silence fell, and an awkward atmosphere began to spread.

* * * * *

After parting with Derin, I returned home and had dinner with my master as usual.

After debating dozens of times whether to ask her the same question, I finally opened my mouth quietly.

“Master, what should a man do to win a woman’s favor?”

If anyone could give an objective judgment, it would be her—she seemed unmatched among all the people I’d met so far.

So I expected she would give me the perfect answer I needed, but…

I shouldn’t have asked that.

With a sharp clank, my master put down her spoon roughly, glared at me with wide eyes, and said:

“Who is it this time?!”

“I haven’t even said anything yet…”

“What other reason would you have to ask something like that?”

This confirmed it.

People may grow up differently, but they think similarly.

So if I combine everything I heard today and teach it to Professor Leonhart, there will surely be good results.

Professor Anette wouldn’t be any different.

Anyway, clearing up my master’s misunderstanding was the priority now.

“A fellow teacher has fallen for someone. Somehow I ended up helping him.”

This feels like the third time I’ve said this today.

“Is that so…?”

My master scratched her head awkwardly and picked up her spoon again.

“So do they already know each other?”

“Yes, the woman is also a professor.”

“Hmm… Then you’ll need a turning point. The woman probably already has a fixed image of that man in her mind. Unless you break that image, it might be difficult to move beyond being colleagues.”

I’m not sure how Professor Anette views Professor Leonhart, but…

‘At least she doesn’t see him as a romantic interest.’

If she did, she wouldn’t have behaved so shamefully at that drinking party where Professor Leonhart was present.

So as my master said, a turning point is needed—and perhaps Lael’s advice about appearance and Derin’s about atmosphere would be sufficient answers.

As I nodded slightly, my master continued.

“Women often develop feelings from small things. For example, bringing a single flower? Or telling her to get some rest when she looks tired? The moment she thinks, ‘This person is thinking about me,’ she starts to see you as a potential romantic interest.”

“Then I need to make her think that way.”

“That’s why romance that starts between acquaintances is harder. How nice it would be if they were strangers…”

My master sighed deeply with an expression full of irritation, but somehow she looked pleased.

Watching her mysterious expression while putting food in my mouth, I almost choked on a sudden thought.

A single flower?

Telling her to rest?

Those were all things I had done, so reasonable suspicion began to arise, but…

‘I must be crazy to think this.’

We’re talking about my master, of all people.

There’s no law against forming a romantic relationship, but there’s no way she would like me.

She’s watched me grow up and seen all my embarrassing moments—it would be stranger if she did like me.

Feeling pathetic for having such thoughts, I quickly finished my dinner and stood up, saying:

“I’ll go rest in my room.”

I knew it was impolite to leave before my master, but I felt like those thoughts would continue if I kept looking at her.

“Eating too quickly will upset your stomach. If you feel unwell later, come to my room.”

“…Yes.”

Thud.

Leaving my master still eating, I entered my room and sat on the bed.

My confused mind simply wouldn’t calm down.

Even though I clearly knew it wasn’t true.

By the way, I didn’t expect my master’s words about “This person is thinking about me” would be applied so quickly…

“Why did you worry…”

After giving such a response, she immediately showed concern, making it impossible not to think about it even if I tried not to.