Seconds later, Dante leaned back into his chair, watching the two sleeping women. He had already decided there was no need to grant them offensive abilities or skills that required months of learning. Instead, he had chosen skills that complemented what they already possessed. Skills that strengthened their foundations rather than changing the direction of their growth.
He looked over the two abilities once more. Both skills would allow them to become stronger at a far faster rate than before. More specifically, Vexion. Her value was constantly increasing in Dante's eyes. Now that he had accepted her as his woman, she needed enough strength to continue standing beside him. Not because she was weak. Far from it. She was already useful. But usefulness needed to continue growing. Otherwise, eventually, it would stagnate.
Not that Dante believed she had reached that point. After all, only three days had passed since arriving at Midvest Academy. Nothing truly significant had happened yet. No major conflicts. No large-scale battles. No opportunities for his subordinates to fully demonstrate their worth.
Still, he knew people were already scheming beneath the surface. Powerful factions were quietly forming. Alliances. Recruitment. Competition. Everything had already begun. And more importantly, this academy operated on an entirely different level than he had originally expected.
He still hadn't encountered anyone truly troublesome.
No. That wasn't entirely true. Dante suddenly remembered someone.
"...Qwarian."
His expression became thoughtful.
"I still need to figure out that guy."
He still had no idea how strong Qwarian truly was. Nor did he understand the full extent of his abilities. The only thing Dante knew was that Qwarian possessed one of those absurdly unusual skills his parents had once warned him about. Special Skills. Abilities that ignored conventional logic. A skill capable of instantly appearing beside anyone who called his name — that wasn't something ordinary Skill Theory could explain. It completely ignored conventional rules.
Dante quietly clicked his tongue.
"Special Skills... are going to become a headache."
There was no way Qwarian was the only person in the academy possessing such an abnormal ability. If one existed, others certainly did as well. He would need to remain cautious.
Turning his attention back toward the room, he noticed Vexion quietly sitting upright on the bed. She wasn't moving. She was simply staring at him.
Dante blinked.
"...That's incredibly creepy, you know."
Vexion giggled.
"I'm more surprised Master didn't notice."
"I did." Dante shrugged. "I was simply thinking."
She nodded before glancing toward Lexa, who remained peacefully asleep. Then she looked back at Dante. He gestured toward her.
"You should examine your new skill first. Tell me what you think."
Vexion didn't even spend a minute checking it before smiling.
"I love it."
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"You haven't even examined it properly."
She shook her head.
"The first skill you gave me was already beyond anything I could have imagined. It covered weaknesses I never realized I had. It complemented everything perfectly. So I already knew anything else Master chose would either strengthen my foundation or eliminate another weakness."
Dante inwardly sighed.
She understands me far too well. That's... slightly unsettling.
Then again, she was hopelessly obsessed with him. Perhaps it wasn't surprising.
"So? What do you actually think of it?"
Only then did Vexion fully focus on the skill resting within her soul. She carefully felt how it interacted with her original ability. How naturally it synchronized. Nearly a minute passed. Finally, she slowly nodded.
"...Master."
"It's wonderful. It's... perfect."
Vexion slowly rose from the bed. She remained silent for several seconds before walking toward him. Without hesitation, she knelt. Not because he had asked. Not because she felt obligated. Simply because it felt natural. She rested both hands upon his knees before looking up at him.
"...Master."
Dante looked down.
"What?"
She smiled.
"...Thank you."
He blinked.
"...For?"
"This."
She lightly placed a hand against her own chest.
"I understand now."
Dante frowned.
"Understand what?"
"My place."
She looked away for a moment before quietly continuing.
"I've always worried."
She laughed at herself.
"...Actually, I've always been terrified."
Dante remained silent. Vexion lowered her head.
"One day, you'll become a Mystical Being.Then perhaps even higher. And I'll still be... me."
She clenched her hands slightly.
"What value does a Legendary subordinate have beside someone like that?"
She laughed quietly.
"I've thought about it more than I'd like to admit. If I became too weak. If I couldn't keep up. If another woman or another subordinate became more useful — would Master still need me?"
Silence lingered. Dante simply stared at her. Then he sighed.
"...You're an idiot."
Vexion blinked.
...
"...Eh?"
...
"You spent all that time worrying about the wrong thing."
She tilted her head.
"The point was never to keep you at my level."
He tapped her forehead.
"If you're standing beside me, I've already failed."
She looked confused.
"What?"
"I don't recruit equals. I make them."
He leaned back.
"If I have to recruit someone as strong as myself every single time, then what's the point of my own strength? I'd rather build someone. Far more entertaining."
Vexion couldn't stop smiling.
"So — you were planning this from the beginning?"
"Obviously."
Dante looked at her as though she had asked something stupid. "You think I just randomly picked skills? I spent forty thousand Loyalty Points. I don't spend that much unless I expect a return."
Vexion's smile widened.
"...Return."
She liked that word.
"So — I'm an investment?"
"You are. And a rather expensive one."
She giggled.
"...I don't know why, but hearing Master say that makes me happy."
"You're weird."
"I know."
She answered it proudly. Dante shook his head.
"Besides, if you stopped being useful, I'd simply make you useful again. Unless it gets to a point you become hopeless — I'm not a miracle worker, after all."
Vexion chuckled. 'That's true.
However, her expression gently moved to slow shock.
"...What?"
"You heard me. I've already decided. If one day your strength falls behind, I'll fix it. If your skill reaches its limit, I'll fix it. If your body reaches its limit, I'll fix it. If your potential reaches its limit, I'll break the limit."
He shrugged as though discussing tomorrow's weather.
"So why are you worrying?"
Vexion simply stared.
"...Master."
"Hm?"
"...Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?"
"I know. And?"
"...Nothing."
She smiled so brightly her eyes began watering again.
"It simply makes me happy."
Dante clicked his tongue.
"...You're crying again."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"It's just—" She laughed while wiping her eyes. "—I've never had someone look at my future before. Everyone else looked at what I already was. You looked at... what I could become."
Dante shrugged.
"Naturally. The finished product is always more valuable."
"...Master."
"What?"
"...You're terrible at comforting people."
"I wasn't comforting you. I was calculating an investment."
Vexion covered her mouth to hide another laugh.
"...See? That's exactly why I love you."
Dante narrowed his eyes.
"...Should I be concerned?"
"Very. I probably would have followed you even without the Loyalty Skill."
"...That." He pointed at her. "That is exactly the kind of thing normal people keep to themselves."
She tilted her head innocently.
"But I am normal."
"No. You absolutely aren't."
A comfortable silence settled between them. Then Dante casually continued,
"And besides, I enjoy bullying weaker people. If I'm already Mythical, why would I waste time fighting other Mythical beings? That isn't bullying. That's asking to die."
He snorted.
"I'm not one of those novel protagonists who throws himself into life-or-death battles every other day just to prove he's amazing. I'd rather be alive. Schemes. Preparation. Advantages. Making sure I have ten escape plans before I even start fighting."
He looked at Vexion.
"And if I can avoid fighting altogether?"
"...Even better."
Vexion couldn't help laughing.
"...Master."
"Hm?"
"You really are shameless."
"I prefer the term—" He smiled. "—professionally cautious."
Vexion laughed so hard she nearly lost her balance before instinctively leaning against his legs. Dante looked down at the woman resting against him.
"...You're getting clingier."
"I know."
"...Can you stop?"
"No."
"...Thought so."