Chapter 141: I want to be popular (3)

The day before Sion sent a total of three people to their graves with poisoned cookies.

“I’m back…”

Sally murmured in a weak voice as she returned to the oak study after finishing her daily routine.

It wasn’t just a look of exhaustion. It was the kind of expression one made when things hadn’t gone their way.

Mana, seeing Sally like this, spoke as if she had expected it.

“See? There wasn’t much of a reaction, was there?”

“…No.”

“Of course. If it’s the Sien I know, that’s exactly what I expected.”

Mana nodded with a strangely calm expression.

The “reaction” they were talking about referred to Sion’s response to a Sweet Day gift.

Sweet Day was a special Anatolian tradition where people expressed their true feelings through gifts. Mana had decided to give Sion a cupcake she made herself—but too embarrassed to deliver it in person, she had asked her apprentice, Sally, to do it for her.

To be honest, Mana hadn’t originally intended to give Sion anything at all.

But Sally had insisted, repeatedly chirping, “You have to give her a treat!” like a persistent parrot.

Eventually, Sally’s stubbornness won out, and Mana, thinking, Well, there’s no harm in trying, ended up making the cupcake.

And, as expected, nothing came of it.

Sion simply seemed happy to have a new snack.

She didn’t even realize there might be a deeper meaning behind Mana giving him the cupcake.

“I told you, Sion isn’t the type to care about anniversaries. She doesn’t even know when her own birthday is.

No matter what I gave her, she probably wouldn’t have thought much of it.”

This wasn’t just Sion—this was a common trait among demons.

Demons didn’t celebrate anniversaries.

The primary purpose of such occasions was to strengthen relationships through heartfelt gestures and gifts, but demons had no interest in building connections with others.

If they absolutely had to offer something, it was more practical to present money or gold—something of clear material value.

That way, there was no risk of giving an unwanted gift. It was simply the more rational choice.

And since Sion had spent far more years living as a demon than as a human, she was still deeply influenced by this mindset.

It was no surprise she had never even heard of Sweet Day until now.

She genuinely saw it as nothing more than a frivolous pastime.

If someone pointed out, That cupcake was actually a roundabout confession, she would probably realize it then.

But until someone spelled it out for her, she wouldn’t have a clue.

That was just the kind of person Sion was.

Sharp as a hawk when it came to useless things, yet completely oblivious to what truly mattered.

“Tsk… At this rate, the only option left is to confess directly—”

“Try it, and I’ll tie you up and hang you from the top of the World Tree.”

“Tch.”

Sally clicked her tongue.

From her perspective, this was beyond frustrating. To Sally, her teacher’s actions were infuriatingly passive.

She didn’t know where Mana had picked up such ridiculous ideas, but to Sally, it was completely incomprehensible.

That noble mindset of As long as the person I love is happy, I’ll be happy too was all well and good—but could that happiness really compare to the joy of being with the one you love?

That kind of thinking was something you should adopt after confessing and getting rejected, not before you even tried!

Unlike Mana, who had lived for over seven centuries, Sally was a modern woman through and through.

And no matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn’t understand her teacher’s old-fashioned ways.

It was the modern era—why sit around like a rock, waiting for the man to propose?

That was why, on Sweet Day, Sally had practically forced her teacher to make a treat.

She had even gone as far as threatening to quit as her apprentice—3,000 gold debt be damned—if Mana refused.

Mana had initially resisted, but in the end, she gave in to Sally’s pressure and made the cupcakes.

And judging by her expression at the time, she hadn’t completely hated the idea.

She must have been secretly hoping for something.

Of course, that hope was crushed. Predictably.

“No matter how much you push me, I’m not making any more moves. So stop getting any weird ideas.”

“…Tch, fine.”

Sally pouted and muttered under her breath.

And so, the commotion of the day ended—neither particularly well nor particularly badly.

Or so they thought.

The next day—

“Master! Master!!!”

Sally burst into the study, practically vibrating with excitement.

It wasn’t even the end of the workday yet.

Mana, clueless as to what was going on, tilted her head in confusion.

“What’s with the racket first thing in the morning? Did something happen?”

“It’s big news! Huge news!”

Sally stormed up to Mana’s desk and slammed her hands down.

“Sien—no, Sion! She—she signed up for a cooking class today!”

“…Sion?”

“Yes!”

Sally practically shouted, her voice brimming with excitement.

She acted as if this was the most groundbreaking news of the year.

Mana, on the other hand, looked even more puzzled.

“And? So what if she’s taking a cooking class?”

“Oh, come on! Even after all that explanation, you still don’t get it?! I knew you were slow, but this is just ridiculous!”

“???”

Mana furrowed her brows slightly at the provocation, while Sally, in contrast, wore a triumphant expression.

She placed a hand over her chest and spoke in a confident voice.

“Now, look, Master. Sien knew how to cook, right? And not just that—he’s an incredible cook.”

“That’s true.”

Even in the travel journal Mana had personally written, it was recorded that Sien was in charge of most of the meals for the hero’s party.

It wasn’t strange that Sally knew this.

“But why does that matter?”

“Think about it. Someone that skilled at cooking suddenly decides to learn from someone else? And not at the beginning of the semester, but out of the blue this morning? What do you think that means?”

“I don’t know. What does it mean?”

“What else? Obviously, she wants to make something delicious for you as a thank-you!”

Sally clapped her hands excitedly.

“I knew it! Sion must have feelings for you, Master! Otherwise, why would she suddenly decide to audit a cooking class that doesn’t even count toward her grades?

Clearly, after receiving your cupcake yesterday, she thought a lot about it.

And then, lying in bed, she made up her mind—‘This time, I will finally respond to the feelings I’ve been ignoring.’

Well? Am I wrong?!”

“…….”

Sally raised her voice, pressing for an answer.

But contrary to her expectations, Mana had a strangely ambiguous expression. She didn’t seem convinced.

“I don’t think so… Sion isn’t the type to use such a roundabout method. If anything, she’d come straight to me, say, ‘I failed to recognize your feelings.

From today onward, you shall be mine,’ and declare it with absolute confidence.”

“You’re still saying that?! Then how else do you explain Sion’s sudden behavior?”

“I have no idea. But Sion’s thought process is far from normal.”

That was an undeniable fact.

This was the same Sion who once broke into the school at night to tamper with the results of a morality test, only to end up injuring herself in the process.

And that wasn’t even the most shocking thing she had ever done. Back in the day, she had pulled off far worse.

Knowing that, Mana couldn’t easily agree with Sally’s theory.

Getting her hopes up, only to have them crushed, would be too painful.

“Ugh, this is so frustrating!”

Sally smacked her chest in exasperation.

“Why are you being so passive? This isn’t even a 99% certainty—it’s 100%! If it’s not to make sweets, then why else would Sion suddenly sign up for a cooking class?

Huh? Do you seriously think she’s making them for someone other than you?!”

“Maybe. Since her reincarnation, Sion has formed a lot of new relationships. It’s not impossible.”

“I’m telling you, NO! Do you even realize what 500 years of history means?! No one from a later generation can ever compete with that!

Even if she does give sweets to others, there’s no way you’d be left out! And no sane person makes sweets for someone without knowing what that gesture implies!”

“Well, like I said, if it’s Sion—”

“AAAARGH!!”

Sally clutched her head and screamed. It was the final sign that her patience had reached its limit.

After venting for a moment, she suddenly slammed the desk with a loud bang and spoke decisively.

“Fine! Let’s settle this with a bet!”

She declared with a determined expression.

“I say that Sion joined the cooking class just to make sweets for you, and you say otherwise.

Let’s see who’s right!”

“What? Why should I—”

“If you’re right, Master, you can do whatever you want to me! Hang me from a tree as a public display or whatever—I’ll accept it all!

BUT! If I’m right, then you have to double my salary next month! Deal?!”

“……”

Honestly, Mana had no reason to accept the bet. There was nothing in it for her.

But…

“Heh. What’s wrong? Are you scared? Chickening out?”

The sheer audacity of this disciple, who had completely abandoned all sense of respect, made Mana feel the need to put her in her place.

With a sigh, she nodded.

“Alright. If Sion really comes to me, I’ll raise your salary to 6,000 gold next month.

But if you’re wrong, you’d better brace yourself. I’ll make sure you pay for provoking me just now, too.”

“Not worried at all! Just go ahead and prepare to update the payroll records!”

Sally grinned with supreme confidence.

No matter how she looked at it, there was no other explanation.

Sion enrolling in a cooking class right after Sweet Day had to mean she wanted to make sweets for someone.

It was obvious.

Which meant that extra 3,000 gold was as good as hers. All she had to do was hum a little tune and pick it up off the ground.

‘Hehe, what should I buy with my bonus? That limited-edition handbag I’ve been eyeing?

Or maybe some designer shoes? Either way, I can’t wait for payday~’

As she indulged in dreamy thoughts, a happy smile spread across her face.

The next day, Sally was found hanging from a tree.