Cornelia

Personality

Cornelia's personality is a study in contrasts: she possesses immense physical strength yet displays a gentle, almost vulnerable demeanor when it comes to personal connections. Hailing from a foreign land, her limited command of the Norton Kingdom language makes her communication initially halting and fragmented, often reducing her speech to single words or short phrases 9. Despite this barrier, she is deeply earnest and persistent in her interactions, showing a fierce desire to be understood and to form bonds. Her core is defined by a caring, loyal nature that she extends to those she trusts, though her actions can be wildly unpredictable—a trait that Dekan himself acknowledges as his natural nemesis 271. Beneath her intimidating exterior as a prodigy who defeated a Tier 4 examiner in the entrance exam lies a lonely girl who craves companionship and finds comfort in simple, genuine friendships 10 73.

• Poor Communication but Rapidly Improves: Cornelia's native language is not Norton Kingdom, so she initially struggles to form complete sentences, often relying on single words like "Spar?" or "Un?" 9. However, she excels at nonverbal understanding with Dekan, who can interpret her meaning instantly, and she steadily works to improve her fluency, even attempting literary-style reports 89.
• Gentle and Caring: Despite her great strength, Cornelia is remarkably gentle. When she finds Dekan disguised as a cat, she approaches cautiously and pets him with a soft touch, showing a tender side 73. She also shows care for new friends like Flora, feeling anxious when unable to communicate with her, and feels a sense of closeness with the abrasive Saintess of Darkness 91 290.
• Persistent and Determined: She is not easily dissuaded. She comes to Dekan's dormitory specifically to ask him to spar and, when refused, shows clear disappointment but accepts his decision 9. She also diligently works on her studies, even though she dislikes them, and tries hard to complete homework with Dekan's help 12.
• Vulnerable and Lonely: Cornelia exhibits a strong need for friendship. She is overjoyed when she finds someone who can communicate with her easily, and she becomes attached quickly—asking Dekan (in cat form) to stay longer and seeking him out when separated in the Baleful Intentdow World 73 160. Her loneliness is hinted at by her hesitation and the way her body language lightens when a bond is formed 10.
• Unpredictable: Dekan repeatedly notes that Cornelia's actions cannot be predicted or schemed against. He realizes that from the moment he accepted her proximity, he had already lost control of outcomes 271. This unpredictability makes her both a challenging ally and a terrifying opponent.
• Playful and Mischievous: She enjoys teasing cats and can be playful, such as when she mimics Dekan by sticking her tongue out at Fasilier in a retaliatory gesture 91 270.
• Disciplined and Calm: Despite her disdain for studying, Cornelia has a warrior's ability to calm her mind. When bored in the library, she simply closes her eyes and meditates rather than fidgeting 12. She also has exceptional sensory abilities, acting as a competent scout and tank in combat 36.
• Exceptionally Strong but Self-Aware: Her strength is comparable to a Tier 4, and she knows it. She is careful not to injure Dekan, retracting her hand during their first handshake to avoid crushing him, and she apologizes when she realizes she was about to use too much force 10. She never lets her power harm those she cares about.
• Loyal and Reliable: Cornelia is a steadfast teammate. She works seamlessly with Dekan, trusting his strategies and supporting him in battle. Dekan notes that she never disappoints him, and she in turn feels he never disappoints her 271 270. Her loyalty extends to new friends like Flora, whom she accompanies despite communication difficulties 91.

Relationships

Dekan

Dekan and Cornelia’s relationship is the bedrock of his social life at the academy. From their first meeting he became her unofficial translator, understanding her halting speech instantly, which made her latch onto him as the only person she could easily talk to 9 10. Despite his extreme physical fragility—he admits a stray elbow from her could kill him—he trusts her implicitly, and she respects his boundaries, even when disappointed he refuses to spar 9 10. They are inseparable during classes, and Dekan frequently goes out of his way to comfort her, such as transforming into a Sprite Cat to cheer her up before a raid and spending nights with her in cat form so she can open up emotionally 72 192. He also protects her dignity; when she accidentally knocks him down while chasing Cat Teacher, he reassures her and accepts her hug 85. They fight together seamlessly as a team, with Dekan trusting her unpredictable nature 39 271. He is also the one who helped her expand her circle of friends, gently guiding her to interact with girls like Flora 91.

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Cornelia

Cornelia considers Dekan her closest friend and confidant. Initially she approached him purely because communicating with him was easy, but she quickly valued his companionship above all others 10. She struggles with language but finds Dekan uniquely patient and understanding, relying on him to explain things to others 9 91. She shows deep care for him, apologizing profusely when she accidentally hurts him and hugging him 85. She is also fiercely protective of him, teaming up to torment enemies like Fasilier 271. Her attachment to his cat form reveals her loneliness and her need for his comforting presence; she spends whole nights with Little Gray, sharing her feelings freely 192. She also supports his schemes, such as taking Flora under his management, and warms immediately to anyone he brings into their group, like Tata 94 207.

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Flora

Dekan’s relationship with Flora is a mixture of exasperation, amusement, and calculated opportunity. He meets her during a remedial class for truancy, immediately noticing her free-spirited, carefree nature 90. He initially sees her as a means to locate her brother Morion, but over time genuinely appreciates her talents—especially her singing—and becomes her manager, making her an idol under his company 91 94. He finds her idiotic behavior amusing and is patient with her, even forming a study group to help her pass exams 162. Flora, in turn, teases him relentlessly; she reveals she knew his cat disguise all along, which shocks and unsettles Dekan, indicating she is more cunning than she lets on 294. Despite the initial manipulation, they develop a warm, bantering friendship.

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Croix

Croix and Dekan become occasional study partners and battle allies. They discuss advanced spells and occasionally share lunch or time in the library, though Croix’s Mage Academy schedule limits their time together 72. They team up effectively in battle, releasing Croix from a life-support pod and jointly finishing off Fasilier, showing strong combat compatibility 271. Dekan also respects Croix’s complicated past and helps manage Croix’s hands-off role in the Happy Group 186. On Dekan’s side, the relationship is marked by professional respect and camaraderie, not deep emotional closeness. Cornelia, however, has unrequited romantic feelings for Croix, which Dekan becomes aware of when he tries to comfort her about her heartbreak 294.

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Mie

Mie is one of Dekan’s few close friends outside of Cornelia. They collaborate on research, staying up late to study poisons and magic 72. Mie also helps care for Alice using mental spells, demonstrating trust and partnership 55. When Dekan brings home Tata, Mie is initially shocked by their resemblance but quickly accepts her, and she recognizes Tata’s genius potential, predicting she will become an Underworld dweller under Dekan’s tutelage 207. Their relationship is built on mutual support and shared intellectual pursuits, with Mie often playing a calm, observant role in Dekan’s chaotic life.

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Theresia

Dekan trusts Theresia’s food recommendations and often visits her for information 9 92. She is wary of his chaotic antics, telling Flora not to treat him like an idiot because he is cut from the same cloth as Morion 92. Despite this, they have mutual respect and understanding; Dekan goes to her for news about Morion’s whereabouts, and she hesitantly shares what she knows, struggling between loyalty to her friend and concern for Dekan’s motives 92.

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Morion

Dekan’s relationship with Morion begins with resentment—Morion cheated him in the past—but evolves into a wary, almost grudging camaraderie. Dekan decides to use Flora to settle the score, yet when he hears of Morion’s dangerous actions, he shows concern for his well-being 91 92. Later, they work together to torment enemies like Faceless Ignis, and Morion confesses his schemes without fear of Dekan’s wrath, indicating a dynamic of mutual understanding between two cunning individuals 258 271. Morion also expresses relief that Flora is being looked after by Dekan, implying a degree of trust 162.

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Cat Teacher

Though a cat, Cat Teacher is a recurring figure in Dekan’s life. He borrows it from Mie to create cat strips for Cornelia and uses it as a disguise element 192. The cat is cunning and often tries to outsmart Dekan, but Dekan remains patient and firm, and the cat eventually warms to Cornelia after she saves it 85.

Trivia

• Cat Teacher's habit of adding "meow" to its sentences is so ingrained that it even does so when writing. Morion once asked Cat Teacher about this quirk while they were reading a story written by the cat. 175
• While disguised as Little Gray, Dekan is the only one who can get Cornelia to speak without stuttering for extended periods. During their first night together, Cornelia finished a long sentence without stuttering and didn't even realize it herself. 192
• Cat Teacher has shown a remarkable ability to keep Dekan's secret that Little Gray is him in disguise, despite its usual cunning and manipulative nature. It agreed to an "after-sales service" arrangement with Dekan. 192
• Cornelia's Norton Kingdom language skills have a literary flair that sometimes frustrates Dekan. When asked to write a simple report, she produced what he considered a travelogue rather than a formal document. 89
• Cornelia's dormitory is notably tidy and filled with potted plants, a detail that Dekan observed when he first visited as Little Gray. 192
• Dekan places great importance on his physical stamina, making daily long-distance and short-distance runs mandatory because of his tendency to "draw maximum aggro" in dangerous situations. 149
• The Sprite Cats in the back mountain are so afraid of Cornelia that they approach the dried fish she leaves as if "risking their lives to forage." They snatch a piece and bolt away. 55
• After Cornelia and Little Gray spent the night together, Little Gray (Dekan) quietly tucked the blanket in for her before leaping out the window. 192
• Dekan once considered using a combination of cat treats and the spell [Three-Corpse Berserk] to override the Sprite Cats' fear and make them approach Cornelia willingly. 192
• Cat Teacher initially mistook Tata, a girl who looks nearly identical to Dekan, for his daughter, causing Cornelia to nearly collapse from shock. 207
• Cat Teacher and Morion have a surprisingly close bond. They spent an entire night reading a story written by Cat Teacher, and later Cat Teacher was seen jumping onto Morion's head. 175 261
• Dekan's Master once apologized for using his body without permission and promised not to do so again, marking a rare moment of understanding between them. 55
• Cornelia's pen unconsciously sketches cat heads during class, particularly the form Dekan took as Little Gray. She also sniffs the air near Dekan, drawn by a memory of the cat's scent. 74
• The letter from the Ice Princess was written on antique-style stationery scented with incense, leading Cat Teacher to remark that it had a literal scent of a love letter. Croix noted that the effort put into the letter's craftsmanship was remarkable. 149 150
• Dekan's Master (referring to Cat Teacher) once called him a "blockhead" regarding his obliviousness to romantic hints, and Cat Teacher later noted that "Sometimes Dekan could be stubborn." 150 290