“Rank 2? Really?”
“Mm-hmm. See for yourself.”
Mu Wan took the gem from Lisiluo’s hand and held it up to the light.
The two rainbow-like patterns on its surface were now clearly visible.
“One pattern represents Rank 1. If two patterns light up, it means your total magic power has reached Rank 2 level.”
Lisiluo stared at the gem, her silver eyelashes trembling.
Rank 2.
Ever since she was born and up until she enrolled, her magic power had always hovered around Rank 1.
Even though Yu Weian-senpai had accompanied her to consult many teachers and tried all kinds of methods, nothing had worked.
She had assumed her magic power would remain stuck forever, just like her actual spellcasting.
Who would have thought that a turning point would appear under these circumstances?
Mu Wan placed the gem back into Lisiluo’s hand and rested her chin on her palm, watching her shocked yet delighted expression with a slight smile.
She scooped up another bite of mille-feuille, slowly chewed it, then set the spoon down. Placing both hands on her lap, she spoke in a rare, more serious tone.
“Don’t get too happy yet. Once the emotion fades, your magic power will drop again.”
“To maintain this level, you’ll need to regularly supplement it from the outside.”
Mu Wan raised a finger and deliberately wiggled it in front of Lisiluo.
Lisiluo was stunned for a moment before she understood.
In other words, she needed someone who could help supplement her emotions at any time.
Almost without hesitation, the first person that came to Lisiluo’s mind was a certain someone’s figure.
“So, you can’t do without me now.”
Mu Wan placed both hands on her hips and declared proudly, her black-stockinged legs crossed high in the air.
She was waiting for Lisiluo to agree.
She had even prepared her next line:
— If you ever lack emotion again, you can come find me anytime to replenish it.
But before Mu Wan could say anything, Lisiluo suddenly stood up.
“S-Senpai! I just remembered I have something urgent to do. I need to go first.”
Mu Wan’s legs dropped down.
Lisiluo hurriedly pulled out her wallet and, without even checking how much was inside, shoved it toward Mu Wan.
“Thank you so much for today, senpai! I don’t have much money… but please take this as my thanks for now!”
Her flustered yet determined appearance was completely different from her usual timid self.
Mu Wan blinked in surprise, then quickly switched back to her pitiful expression.
“Eh— The date’s only halfway through. Can you really bear to just leave me here like this?”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! But I really am in a hurry this time.”
Even as she spoke, Lisiluo’s legs were already moving toward the door. There was clearly no room for discussion.
Mu Wan pouted and glared at her for a few seconds before letting out a helpless sigh.
“Fine. Just this once. But you have to properly make it up to me when we meet tomorrow.”
“Okay, senpai! I promise! Thank you, senpai!”
“If you dare forget, I’ll kiss you right in front of your classmates~”
Lisiluo froze completely, her face turning bright red. She stammered out an “I-I-I understand” before running out of the dessert shop in a panic.
The wind chimes rang as the door automatically closed behind her.
Only after Lisiluo’s figure disappeared around the corner did Mu Wan look away.
At the same time, her pitiful expression also vanished.
No need to guess — Lisiluo had definitely gone to find Yu Weian, just to tell her the good news.
“Hmph. She actually left me behind to go find someone else. What a waste of all my effort.”
Mu Wan was a little annoyed. She quickly finished off the remaining mille-feuille in a few bites.
Obtaining emotion to increase strength — this was Lisiluo’s Bloodkin bloodline ability.
It sounded convenient, but the restrictions were extremely strict. Since she had gone to find Yu Weian, she would probably discover that very soon.
Mu Wan leaned back against the chair and crossed her legs again, scanning the remaining desserts on the table.
The pudding Lisiluo had ordered was full of holes from being poked, yet she hadn’t taken a single bite of it.
A meaningful smile appeared on Mu Wan’s face. She pulled the pudding over and began enjoying this unique dessert.
At the same time.
Lisiluo ran through the academy with her head down, drawing curious glances from other students.
Fortunately, it was already close to sunset, so the sunlight was no longer harsh.
But for the current Lisiluo, neither the sunlight nor the stares mattered.
The excitement in her heart was almost impossible to contain.
Rank 2—
After so many years, she had finally touched the shadow of Rank 2 magic power.
She had to tell Yu Weian-senpai right away.
Just imagining Yu Weian’s relieved and happy smile made Lisiluo’s steps quicken even more.
The academy library was very large, filled with countless books and complicated in structure. People unfamiliar with it could easily get lost.
Lisiluo had to turn several corners before she finally found Yu Weian flipping through a book in front of a row of shelves.
Yu Weian was sitting by the window. The setting sun cast a sacred glow over her. She looked up, surprised to see Lisiluo arriving out of breath.
“Junior?! What are you doing here? Did that Mu Wan girl bully you again—”
“No no! I came to find you because I have good news.”
Lisiluo quickly waved her hands and leaned on the table with both arms, panting as she explained to Yu Weian.
“Huff… I found a way to solve my magic stagnation problem!”
Yu Weian was visibly surprised. She immediately closed her book, her expression turning serious.
“Really? What kind of method is it?”
“It’s emotion, senpai! As long as I supplement my emotions, my magic power increases.”
“…Emotion?”
Yu Weian repeated the word, falling into thought.
Although emotions like anger could temporarily boost strength, using them to raise magic power was something she was hearing for the first time.
Even if supplementing emotion could make someone stronger, it shouldn’t have been this hard to discover.
So why hadn’t either of them noticed it for so long…
“Yes! Just now at the dessert shop, I even successfully reached Rank 2 magic power!”
Yu Weian paused for a moment. Looking at the excited Lisiluo in front of her, she decided to set aside her thoughts for now.
She reached out and gently patted Lisiluo’s head, showing a warm, relieved smile.
“It looks like all your long-term effort has finally paid off. That’s wonderful. I’m really happy for you too.”
Yu Weian’s hand was warm and gentle, carrying the faint scent of ink from magic books. It felt incredibly reassuring.
Lisiluo felt her nose sting. She desperately held back tears.
She nodded firmly, then pulled the green gem out of her pocket.
“Mm! And I can prove it.”
Lisiluo closed her eyes and repeated the previous process.
This time, Yu Weian’s figure appeared in her mind.
That gentle smile she always wore, the sound of her voice during tutoring sessions, and the warmth of her hand just now.
Yu Weian-senpai was the most important person in Lisiluo’s heart.
When it came to emotion alone, what her senpai had given her was far greater than the mischievous care Mu Wan had shown.
So this time, it should also work—
Lisiluo opened her eyes and opened her palm.
Only one rainbow pattern had appeared on the gem’s surface.
Lonely and isolated.
It stood out painfully.
Lisiluo’s smile froze.
—— —— —— —— —— ——
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened.
The sweet taste of pudding spread through her mouth. Mu Wan narrowed her eyes and let out a satisfied hum.
“Mmm~ Classic flavors really are the best.”
She had originally planned to make Lisiluo properly compensate her the next time they met.
But for the sake of the pudding, Mu Wan decided to let her off easy this time. She would wait until Lisiluo had calmed down before making her compensate properly.
Aiya~ I wonder what kind of face that pitiful little junior will make when she realizes that other people’s emotions don’t work?
Mu Wan rested her cheek on her hand, a mischievous smile appearing at the corner of her lips.