Dante, Vexion, Lexa, Elric, and Amber stood among the countless students gathered for the Final Selection Examination. Curiosity filled the area.
Some students appeared visibly nervous. Others were confused. Many quietly discussed the information displayed through their academy bracelets. None of them had truly understood what was about to occur when they first arrived.
Now they possessed a general understanding of the first phase of the examination. Unfortunately, that knowledge had only created more questions. Nobody knew how they were supposed to feel.
Everyone except one white-haired, blue-eyed individual.
Dante stood near the center of the gathering with one arm comfortably wrapped around the ass of a curvaceous half-elf. Every few moments, his hand moved — a gentle squeeze, a light pat, a slow, reassuring motion.
Yet Vexion showed no discomfort. Quite the opposite. Whenever the faint smile on her face began to disappear, Dante would squeeze her again. Then her expression would brighten, and a quiet giggle would escape her lips.
To the people watching, it almost appeared as though Dante's touch was the only source of joy keeping her from completely falling apart.
Jurian eventually arrived alongside Gorgon and another subordinate. His eyes quickly moved through the gathered students before settling upon Aishwani. He offered her a casual greeting. Aishwani returned it with a small nod. Jurian's gaze lingered upon her face for slightly longer than necessary. Then his eyes briefly lowered.
Aishwani noticed. She simply didn't care.
'At least he's trying to be respectful. It's almost cute how he believes I don't notice.'
Her attention eventually shifted toward Dante. He stood several meters away. Or rather, he was openly embracing Vexion. The half-elf had turned toward him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck while her face remained buried against his chest.
Dante's hand rested against her backside, gently squeezing it without the slightest concern for the countless people surrounding them.
Aishwani stared. Then sighed.
'What an absurd public display of affection.'
Unbeknownst to the unfortunate strangers forced to witness it, only a few people understood what was actually happening. Lexa. Amber. Elric.
They knew Dante wasn't merely being shameless.
Well — he was still being shameless.
But that wasn't the primary reason.
Vexion was furious. Not openly. Not violently. Her anger was mixed with something much deeper. Sadness. Frustration.
The Final Selection Examination would separate her from Dante. She would be forced to operate alone. And although she trusted her Master's strength completely, the idea of being separated from him for an unknown period had clearly affected her.
Dante understood. That was why he continued holding her.
He was calming a bomb before it exploded.
Vexion slowly lifted her head. Several nearby students froze. Her expression had softened into what some could only describe as the cutest pout they had ever witnessed.
"Master..."
"Hm?"
"More."
Dante chuckled. He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. Then his hand moved again. Vexion immediately relaxed, her eyes closed, and a quiet, content sigh escaped her lips.
Several students stared. Others quickly looked away.
Nobody knew what they were supposed to say.
Dante glanced toward Lexa. She was standing beside Amber and Elric. The three appeared to be discussing the examination. Lexa hadn't even bothered looking in Dante's direction. At this point, she had apparently accepted that attempting to stop him was pointless.
Dante looked down. Vexion's crimson eyes remained fixed upon him. There was a quiet intensity within them — an eerie possessiveness hidden beneath her sadness.
Dante smiled. Then squeezed her again Vexion giggled softly.
"Master..."
"Hm?"
"Don't dilly-dally."
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"I know."
"Don't be an idiot."
Dante frowned before releasing a curious chuckle.
"What does that even mean?"
Vexion ignored the question.
"Don't waste time. If you can teleport, do it quickly."
Dante chuckled.
"I'll try."
Vexion pouted again.
"I'm serious."
"I know."
Her expression softened.
"Don't forget to take food."
Dante nodded.
"It's inside my Spatial Ring."
"You packed enough?"
"Of course."
"And not only greasy food?"
Dante frowned.
"Yes."
Vexion stared directly into his eyes.
"I'm serious."
Dante sighed.
"I... I packed relatively normal food."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Vexion continued staring. Dante looked away.
"Normal is subjective."
"Master."
"I'll eat properly."
Only then did her expression soften.
Off to the side, one student quietly leaned toward his friend.
"That guy is a Mythical Being, right?"
His friend nodded.
"Yes. I saw him during one of my classes."
The first student looked back toward Dante.
"Why does it feel like he's being lectured by his mother?"
His friend stared at the pair.
"I... I don't know."
After a brief pause, he added—
"And why is he just... groping her so freely?"
Neither had an answer.
Unbeknownst to the two,
Dante and Vexion had somehow managed to make everyone around them feel like they were the strange ones.
Dante finally noticed the number of people watching. Some appeared confused. Others looked angry. Several students stared with obvious embarrassment. A few looked away while attempting to preserve their dignity.
Others, particularly several young men, appeared deeply frustrated that their own hands possessed no such softness. Some of the women watched with curiosity. Others appeared openly annoyed.
Eventually, one student stepped forward.
"Could you two stop doing that in such an open area?"
Dante turned toward him. His expression was completely confused.
"First of all, I'm currently preventing a nuclear bomb from exploding."
The student blinked.
"...What?"
Dante pointed toward Vexion.
"If I let her go, everyone here might suffer."
He nodded solemnly.
"I'm performing a public service."
Off to the side, Lexa, Amber, and Elric shared the same thought.
'Unfortunately, he's right.'
Vexion might not literally explode. But considering her current emotional state, nobody wanted to discover what would happen if Dante suddenly removed the only thing calming her.
Their united thoughts immediately turned to shame as Dante continued—
"Besides—" He gestured toward the surrounding students. "—looking away is free. You don't have to pay me anything. It's your choice to continue staring."
The student opened his mouth. Then closed it. No words came out.
Everyone nearby shared the same thought.
'Is this man serious? Does he genuinely not understand that he's the problem?'
Dante ignored them. Vexion tightened her arms around his neck.
"Master..."
"Hm?"
"I'm going to miss you."
Dante's expression softened slightly.
"I know."
Vexion became quiet. For several moments, she simply held him. Then she looked up.
"Can you go inside my skirt? I want to feel you without all this fabric."
Lexa immediately turned around.
"Okay."
"No. Absolutely not."
Vexion glared at her. Lexa sighed.
"Let's keep it at this level, V. At minimum."
Vexion continued glaring. Then Lexa pointed toward the distance.
"The Vice Head is approaching."
Vexion turned. Her eyes immediately found the approaching academy official. She sighed. Reluctantly, she released Dante.
Dante laughed. Vexion looked back toward him.
"At least hold me around the waist. That should be acceptable."
Dante shrugged.
"Probably."
He pulled her closer. Vexion turned so her back rested against his chest. Dante wrapped one arm around her waist. His chin rested gently above her shoulder. Vexion released a quiet sigh. Her body relaxed. The anger remained. The sadness remained. But neither controlled her anymore.
She leaned backward. Dante's warmth surrounded her. The familiar pressure of his body against her brought an unexpected sense of comfort. For several moments, neither spoke.
'Why does this calm me down so much...?'
Vexion closed her eyes.
'Master's too good with his hands. And his whole body is so warm... too warm for someone who acts so cold and uncaring toward almost everyone else.'
A faint smile appeared across her face. She gently placed her hands over Dante's arm. Then leaned more comfortably against him.
For the first time since learning about the examination, her expression finally became peaceful