...
The direct mention of his teacher's name broke through Yoon Hyun's last barrier of denial. Pure, absolute horror took over his face. The cold mask shattered, revealing uncontrolled panic. His eyes widened and he instinctively took a step back, his hands raised in a gesture of denial.
"W-what? Djinn? Lilith? What are you talking about? This is absurd! Theo-nim, there must be some mistake! You are accusing me of something terrible without any proof! It's slander! I am the president of the Academic Club, I would never..."
Theo had no more patience to listen to his voice. Imbuing his own words with magical power, he said,
"Shut up. Your voice is annoying."
As soon as his words were spoken, Yoon Hyun froze in place. His mouth, open in mid-sentence, locked shut. His limbs stiffened. It was as if an invisible, overwhelming force was holding him down, preventing him from making any movement, including speaking. The terror in his eyes intensified as he realized he had lost control of his own body.
Theo approached him, circling him slowly like a predator, inspecting his immobilized prey. He stopped in front of Yoon Hyun, looked him in the eyes for a second, and then, in the blink of an eye, disappeared with him.
Before Nayun or Yeonha could react, Theo reappeared beside them.
"Let's go."
He touched each of their shoulders and, once again, disappeared, only now taking Nayun and Yeonha with him.
In an instant, the cold air of the club room was replaced by the cool afternoon breeze and the touch of the sun on their skin. They were in the middle of Cube's vast main garden, an open space perfect for what was to come next.
A few meters away, Yoon Hyun was there too, still frozen in the same panicked pose. However, something had changed. Strands of a sinister red magical power began to leak from his body, enveloping him like a shroud.
His skin paled, his features subtly contorted, and his eyes turned deep red. He was beginning to reveal his true form.
With the Djinn immobilized and the arena prepared, Theo turned to Nayun, who was looking at him for answers as to why he was out there in the middle of the garden.
A slight smile played on his lips.
"Want to stretch your arms?"
Nayun blinked, taking a moment to understand what he was saying. Her green eyes turned to Yoon Hyun, a little further away, and only then did it dawn on her.
"Uh!? You want me to face this guy?"
"Yes."
Theo confirmed, gesturing toward the paralyzed Djinn.
"If you want, feel free to take care of him."
The surprise in Nayun's eyes gave way to a momentary hesitation, mixed with growing excitement.
"Eh, yes, but... is that okay? He must be strong, right? A servant directly under a demon like that..."
With a smile like he was about to say the most outrageous thing in the world, Theo leaned down to Nayun's ear, his voice a provocative whisper that only she could hear.
"Oh, so you're scared? I thought my girl could handle a little Djinn. What a shame... let me take care of it then."
The reaction was immediate.
Nayun's body stiffened, and a nervous twitch appeared in her eyebrow. She pulled away from him abruptly, her face red with indignation and a competitive fire burning in her eyes. Her earlier hesitation evaporated like smoke.
"WHO DO YOU THINK IS AFRAID, HUH?!"
She shouted, pointing an accusing finger at his face.
"I'll take this guy down in one strike, just stand here and watch."
Without waiting for a response, she turned to Yoon Hyun, who was now completely enveloped in the red aura. With a furious battle cry, she drew her sword. The blade glinted in the sunlight as a powerful green aura enveloped the sword.
"Just a moment, young lady."
Before she could take a step, a firm, quick hand wrapped around hers, stopping her movement. In a fluid and surprising gesture, Theo took the sword from her hand. Nayun stood still, her empty hand in the air, staring at him in utter disbelief.
"W-what are you doing?! I need that, you don't want me to fight that guy empty-handed, do you?"
She demanded, trying to grab the weapon back.
Theo held the sword out of her reach, analyzing the blade with a critical eye. He swung it lightly, the disdain on his face evident.
"This is useless."
Theo declared, his calm voice contrasting with Nayun's growing doubt.
"This sword will let you down the second you attack that guy. This sword won't be able to withstand the clash between the two of you."
Without saying another word, Theo stuck Nayun's sword into the grass beside him. Then, with his free hand, he held his palm forward.
Particles of blue light began to gather, spinning and condensing rapidly in his hand. Using his creation magic,
It was a 1.5-meter-long claymore. Its silver blade, wide and imposing, seemed to absorb the light from the surroundings, and an elegant and functional handguard completed the weapon.
There were no glowing runes or sacred auras, just the cold, deadly perfection of magically forged metal.
Nayun's bright green eyes fixed on the claymore, her doubt forgotten and replaced by pure expectation and admiration. As a former student of a great swordsman, she could recognize a masterpiece when she saw one. The balance, the implied weight, the sharpness that could almost be felt from a distance, was living proof that this weapon was far superior to the one before.
Theo held the claymore by the base of the blade and offered it to her, the hilt facing her.
"Here."
Nayun took the sword, her eyes shining like stars. The weight, the balance, the aura of power... it was the most incredible weapon she had ever held.
"Go on and have fun."
Theo said with a knowing smile.
"I'm sure you must be full of pent-up energy."
"Yes..."
Nayun's voice was an excited whisper.
"Going through the week without a decent practical class was a drag, but now... ehehe! Thank you, my love."
With a joyful leap, she approached him and, to everyone's surprise, took Theo's lips in a quick, smacking kiss, releasing him ten seconds later with a radiant smile. That moment of spontaneity and affection, amid the tension of the situation, was just like her.
...