The next day, the midterm exams ended after the Combat Training exam.

As usual, Kaiser achieved the highest score with relative ease, while the others simply lined behind him on the list.

He didn’t even bother remembering who came second.

Instead, his attention was on something else.

"Why do you insist on treating me to a meal?"

Kaiser asked, sitting opposite Hazel.

The two of them were currently in a small restaurant on the campus, eating fresh food that was being cooked right before them.

Hazel didn’t answer. Instead, she took his plate, scooped up some soup from the pot, then placed it before him with an unnatural smile.

"This is hotpot sauce. It is extremely tasty and spicy. You’ll definitely like it."

Kaiser’s skin crawled, but he still accepted it. No matter, he knew his body wouldn’t suffer from food poisoning, and Hazel couldn’t be trying to drug him. So, he ate.

Watching him eat without worry, Hazel’s lips twitched, but she maintained the smile.

Only when they had finished eating everything before them did the smile disappear, replaced by her usual expression.

Kaiser also raised his gaze to meet hers. "Cut straight to the point. What’s the matter?"

Hazel folded her arms, her face stoic. "I’ll be needing your help with something."

"And? What is that?"

Hazel lowered her voice and said to him. "Next tomorrow, another special evaluation would be coming up, and we definitely have no chance of winning if you don’t help us with something."

Kaiser’s eyes glinted. "Oh? A special evaluation? Interesting."

He chuckled, then leaned forward. "So what is it? Tell me."

Hazel shook her head. "I can’t go into details now, but it’s about helping us restrain a student."

He blinked, surprised. "Restraining? That is a very unique word to use." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

She nodded. "Yes. We’re not asking you to fight or defeat him. Just... restrain. Stall."

"I see." He nodded and leaned back. "That sounds a bit interesting but... it is weird when you have a stalker, don’t you think?"

He turned his head to the side where a girl with black hair was seated, seemingly eating by herself.

Only now did Hazel notice the girl who was seated not far from them.

"She’s eating that slowly?"

Hazel instantly got annoyed, realizing that the girl was eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Hey, you...!"

"Calm down." Kaiser shook his head, then turned to the girl. "Tamara, come here."

The girl froze, then immediately came and sat at their table.

Hazel was shocked. "Wait what? Are you two together?"

How could another student be so obedient to an enemy? Or was the girl a mole Kaiser had placed in Class-A?

Unexpectedly, she found out the girl was glaring at Kaiser.

He rested his chin on his palm, speaking to her casually.

"What did you hear? Say it."

An expression of struggle appeared on her face for a moment, then she looked relieved.

"I heard when she told you that you’d be restraining someone, which is probably Gaga from our class. Also, it seems she already knows about the upcoming Special Evaluation."

Hazel continued to remain confused, unable to understand why the girl was cooperating with Kaiser.

Kaiser nodded, then ruffled her hair like a proud father to his daughter.

"Alright. Now go tell to your master that I said I’ll be going on a date with Gaga. She should find a way to win without that backup card."

Tamara nodded, then left immediately.

Only then did Hazel notice that something was off with the girl.

"Mind control?"

Kaiser shook his head. "Not quite, but close."

Although she was curious, Hazel didn’t want to dig into his abilities.

"Why did you agree? I thought you would want to avoid anything like that."

He nodded. "Indeed, but by doing that, I have avoided a greater inconvenience."

"Let me guess... Adela?"

He nodded, confirming her doubts. Instantly, Hazel’s expression became gloomy.

"That girl... is really something else. She’s very smart, cunning, and manipulative. As for her ability, it is nothing none of us knows. Honestly, she’s the worst type of enemy we could face."

Kaiser couldn’t help but agree with her. "You’re right. You should be wary of that girl."

He stood up, then turned away. "In that case, you’ll be owing me one for helping you this time."

Hazel’s face twitched.

"Owing you one? Having I just treated you to a meal?"

Looking at her with a plain gaze, Kaiser shrugged.

"Oh no, that doesn’t count at all. It’s simply a gift to me. I appreciate that."

Without giving her a chance to reply, he walked out of the restaurant.

Hazel stood there, dumbfounded and unable to say a word. In the end, she just lowered her head and said.

"Shameless."

Meanwhile, Kaiser returned to his room, changed clothes, and began to study runes again.

At this point, he had learnt up to ten runes, though they were all basic and didn’t have any usefulness in fighting.

Still, he was satisfied with his progress. There was still time anyway.

A few hours later, just as he closed the book and decided to rest, a message came in from a number he hadn’t expected to contact him.

"Hm?"

He read the message, and his brows rose curiously.

Without much thought, he put on his jacket and left his room to the girl’s room.

Knocking, he heard a soft "come in" from the inside and pushed the door open.

Again, he was almost blinded by the purple theme of the room, but his attention was immediately brought to the girl sitting on the ground with her hand stuck in a... bottle?

Seeing him staring at her with confusion, Mordica’s stoic face cracked.

"Come here and help me pull it out."

Kaiser remained unmoving. "Why can’t you use your spells to remove it?"

"I can’t use my right hand at the moment!"

She snapped back in annoyance, and only then did Kaiser finally approach her.

"How did it even get stuck in the first place..."

Sighing, he looked straight at the bottle and said.

"Dismantle."

The bottle was instantly reduced to pieces, and Mordica’s hand was free. Though, her wrist was very red, enough to make anyone pity her. Kaiser turned to her, expecting a word of gratitude.

However, what he saw surprised him.