"F-f-father, what are you d-doing here?"

The noble brat stuttered as he whipped his now drained face to the man.

Seth turned his head to him as well.

The man standing a few meters away approached them. Striding with a sense of authority, his heavy metal armor clanged in each step he had taken as if informing them about his arrival. As soon as he reached them, he locked his soul-drilling, hazel eyes to his son before turning to Seth.

"I apologize for the problems that this ingrate had caused. I will make sure that he won't be able to meet the two of you ever again." He slightly bowed and left immediately, dragging along his son by the arm.

Staring at their backs for a while, Seth slowly got up to his feet and approached Lynstella. She stood near the same tree where she had been cornered, her gaze focused on Seth with a look of something incomprehensible.

"Lyn, what was that all ab— OOF!"

Every ounce of air was forced out of Seth's lungs when Lynstella's fist had struck his abdomen. He was caught off guard because he thought that she was exhausted.

"Are you stupid?! Why did you do that?!" she shouted.

Letting out a few coughs, he asked. "I did what?"

"Why did you make him angry? You almost got sliced in half! You're lucky that I managed to cast a spell!"

"Well, I'm sorry. I know it wasn't like me to act that way, but he kind of irritated me at our first encounter. I never thought that he would turn to serious violence," he explained, rubbing his abdomen. "More im— *cough* More importantly, since when did you reach the first stage?"

"Yesterday," she curtly said, immediately dismissing that topic. "What exactly happened between you and Laurence?"

"Whoa, wait... Are you saying that, by yourself, you've learned how to cast a spell on the spot?"

"Does that even matter? Now tell me what happened."

Seth was genuinely surprised. Casting a spell right after reaching the first stage was said to be hard. It would at least take a few weeks for someone to learn it and get their bodies accustomed. However, this cute and childish-looking girl just did it as if it was the same as breathing.

Even so, Seth just decided not to question any further.

"...Nothing much. We just bumped onto each other and exchanged a few words of peace," he said ironically.

Lynstella opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but no voice came out. Instead, her face softened and turned apologetic. It looked like she was about to scold him again but did not anyway.

"Um... sorry for punching you. Did it hurt?"

"Of course it did!" he exclaimed, feigning anger.

In the way Lynstella had shown a disheartened expression and lowered her head, her chestnut-colored hair slightly covering her face, it seemed that she took it seriously so Seth had decided to immediately take it back.

"No, no. Just kidding! Well it did hurt a bit, but at least it sobered the hell out of me."

Silence.

"H-hey... it was really just a joke." Hesitant at first, he gently rubbed her shoulder.

Lynstella finally leaned her head up and looked at him, her bewitching dark eyes glistening.

Seth knew that he shouldn't feel this way towards a young girl who's on the verge of tears, but he had to admit that she looked somewhat... cute. The pain he felt earlier subsided in an instant. Right at this moment, he swore that he won't make jokes like that anymore. She was seriously quite fragile. The next time he did it again out of habit, he would punch his face twice.