Who Isn't a Herrscher

Stella nodded.

Whether it was the split-second decisions made between offense and defense, the final setup, or the power of Raikiri in the end.

"I don't quite understand."

Stella stared at Luo Mio in the video and asked with confusion, "Why is it, how should I put it, I feel like you're holding back on your Magic Power usage?"

"Whether it's during attacks or when moving."

Upon hearing Stella's words, Luo Mio replied, "Well... it's for some reasons."

"Reasons?"

"Miohua had an accident when he was little."

"An accident?"

"Yeah, his Magic Power went berserk during that accident."

"Berserk..."

Luo Mio shrugged and said to Stella, "Stella, infuse your Magic Power into your finger."

Then, a small ball of white liquid Magic Power appeared in Luo Mio's palm.

"Touch it."

Stella looked at the Magic Power in Luo Mio's hand, then touched Luo Mio's Magic Power with her infused finger.

When the red, phosphorescent Magic Power touched the white Magic Power.

Negative emotions such as death, despair, hatred, and anger flowed through Stella's finger into her brain.

Receiving the emotions, Stella instantly retracted her finger.

"This..." Stella looked at the ball of white Magic Power.

Watching Stella pull her hand back, Luo Mio solidified the spherical, liquid white Magic Power in his hand.

"And then..." Luo Mio raised his other hand.

"Slap!"

With a slap, Luo Mio's other hand struck the solidified Magic Power forcefully.

The Magic Power that was struck suddenly became volatile, and its solidified exterior gradually sprouted sharp spikes of varying lengths.

"This..." Stella watched in astonishment as the Magic Power seemed to possess a life of its own.

The situation clearly defied her understanding of common sense.

"Is this why your Magic Power went berserk?"

"Something like that. Imagine what would happen if my Magic Power went berserk in a crowd."

Stella's expression gradually turned grim.

"So, how did that accident happen?"

"It was deliberate."

"Although I didn't know how it went berserk at the time, I knew one thing: that accident..."

"Someone intentionally made me go berserk."

Ikki, standing nearby, added, "After the accident, Miohua's A-Rank Knight status was revoked, and all information about him was sealed. Only a few trusted high-ranking individuals knew.

"After that, Miohua was placed under the care of Teacher Saikyo Neine, the 'Yashahime,' and Teacher Nango, the 'Fighting God.'"

"So your Magic Power now..." Stella looked at the Magic Power in Luo Mio's hand, which seemed ready to erupt at any moment.

"This? It's fine."

With that, he struck the Magic Power again.

As if it knew who was hitting it, the Magic Power calmed down with a wronged expression and retreated back into Luo Mio's body.

"See?"

Stella looked at the dramatic scene with disbelief.

After cleaning up the dishes, Luo Mio returned to his room.

Soaking in the bathtub, Luo Mio let out a comfortable groan.

Then, he silently recited the command to open the system interface.

Eternal Twilight Wolves
Level 45

Looking at the leveled-up Eternal Twilight Wolves, Luo Mio thought of the mission the system had issued.

"Fight with all your heart" once, win or lose.

Yes, fighting with all your heart, using your full strength. Even if you lose, you'll understand your flaws and shortcomings.

A Device transforms its soul into a physical form, a manifestation of one's own soul.

The Eternal Twilight Wolves and I.

Is this what they call growing together...?

Luo Mio shook his head.

After his bath, Luo Mio, wearing his pajamas, was about to get into bed.

"Miohua."

Ikki called out to Luo Mio.

"What is it, Ikki?"

Ikki scratched his face and then played a voice message.

"Is that you, Ikki? It's Touka. Could I ask you for a favor? I heard from Neine-senpai that you go out for training every morning, right? Neine-senpai said she's been a bit lax since leaving Teacher Nango, so could you ask Miohua to train with you?"

Hearing his older sister's voice in the message, Luo Mio's lips twitched involuntarily.

That old hag!

Luo Mio roared inwardly.

A spring morning.

Luo Mio stood at the finish line, drinking water and looking at Ikki behind him, with Stella unconscious on his back.

"Good work."

Luo Mio handed Ikki a water bottle.

After taking a sip of water, Ikki looked at the unconscious Stella and said, "Did I push her too hard?"

Hearing Ikki's words, Luo Mio rolled his eyes.

"For the two of us, this kind of training is normal."

"For anyone else, your twenty-kilometer full-sprint followed by a jog might be too much to handle."

"But for her, she'll be fine after a day or two of this kind of training."

"Is that so?"

Luo Mio looked at Ikki, who was frowning, and teased, "Feeling protective?"

Hearing Luo Mio's teasing, Ikki's face flushed.

"Stop making excuses."

Luo Mio interrupted what Ikki was about to say and walked towards Stella, who was leaning against a stone chair.

"Hey, Tyrannosaurus Rex, wake up. We're at the finish line."

The next day, Stella, who was still training, threw up as she neared the finish line.

On the third day, Stella, panting heavily, finally staggered to the finish line.

"How... how was it..."

Luo Mio looked at Stella, who was still trying to show off despite her exhaustion.

"Alright, alright. You're already like this, and you're still talking. Aren't you tired?"

He handed Stella a water bottle.

"Ikki just drank from this. Here."

"..."

Stella's face turned red.

"Th-this is like... an indirect kiss?"

Stella whispered.

"He's already seen your body, and you're worried about this? How are you going to face him in the future?"

Bang...

Stella's face instantly turned crimson, and a puff of steam erupted from her head due to shyness.

"What are you two talking about?"

Ikki took out a towel from his backpack and looked at them.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Luo Mio said, "Speaking of which, Ikki, Shizuku is enrolling tomorrow."

"Yeah."

Stella looked at Ikki.

"I feel like you're really happy, Ikki? About that Shizuku person?"

"Yeah, Shizuku is my sister. She's also one of the few family members at home who's willing to get close to me."

"Hey... your sister isn't, like, unrelated, is she?"

"No, they're normal full siblings."

Luo Mio added, drinking some water to rehydrate.

"Is that so?"

Stella looked at Luo Mio again, a little confused by the spectator's air he'd given off earlier.

"Hm?"

Ikki also looked at Luo Mio, puzzled. Chapter 8: Farce

After the opening ceremony, Luo Mio, Ikki, and Stella walked towards their assigned classroom.

Class 1-1 Classroom.

Luo Mio sat in his seat, with Ikki to his left, and Stella to Ikki's left.

The three were seated in ordinary, normal positions. It just so happened that next to Ikki was Stella, the Crimson Lotus Princess.

"So that's the Crimson Lotus Princess."

"I'm so envious, being an A-Rank Knight from birth."

"Then who's next to her?"

"I heard from a senior that he's F-Rank, and a repeat student at that."

"Pfft, F-Rank..."

"As expected of an A-Rank Knight, she's got a big heart, walking with an F-Rank."

The other first-year students in the classroom were in an uproar, looking at Ikki and Stella.