Miss Witch’s Devotion Has Gone… Twisted

”Really not coming? This is actually the first time a girl has come to visit my home...”

Anna grabbed Luna’s hand, emphasizing Luna’s specialness while trying to convey that this was a personal invitation from her, hoping to ease Luna’s nervousness.

I’m actually the first one...

Luna felt a wave of being overwhelmed by the unexpected honor, but the words that reached her lips still turned into a refusal. If Loren weren’t watching, she really would have wanted to bang her head against a wall.

”Well then, I won’t force it.”

Anna indicated she had tried her best, couldn’t push it further. Luna was too timid; even if Anna actually knocked Loren out and delivered him to her hands, she’d probably just silently wait for him to wake up.

After that, Luna didn’t speak anymore, just silently watched Loren continue brewing potions. By the time Loren had finished brewing another batch of Bloodbath Rhapsody Elixir, the sky had gradually darkened, and the Ember Radiance in the cauldron was emitting a more pronounced glow at this moment.

”It’s getting late. It’s very likely there are Outer God cultists causing trouble outside now. It’s not safe for Luna to go back alone. Shall we see her off?”

Anna signaled Loren with her eyes. Loren didn’t know how to respond. He only learned today that Anna had so many mischievous ideas. Clearly, there had been many people interested in Loren before, but he never saw Anna playing matchmaker. Perhaps those people failed to meet Anna’s standards.

However, Loren had no interest in those people either—just some minor nobles and social butterflies, common and vulgar, truly not comparable to Luna, even just in terms of appearance.”Alright.”

Since Anna said so, Loren couldn’t refuse. In the end, he still packed up his things and left the campus with Luna.

Loren had also notified the King about the brewing time for the Ember Radiance. He took it very seriously. Even when Loren was still in his office, he could sense people guarding it. Now that he had left, those people directly entered the office interior.

”I’m suddenly so hungry. I’m going back to eat first. You can see Luna home yourself. Thanks for the hard work!”

Just after exiting the school gate, Anna waved to Loren and ran off, not even giving Loren time to hand her a gun, leaving Loren and Luna standing there.

Without Anna, Luna felt even more awkward. She kept fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, head bowed, only daring to look at the cuffs of Loren’s trousers.

”......”

Since things had come to this, Loren could only try to break the awkwardness. He truly had little experience talking with girls and could only start with small talk:

”What do your family members do for work?”

Generally, girls of Luna’s age from commoner families should have started working. Even if a child had magical talent, parents couldn’t afford to support it. The fact that Luna’s parents could send her to study was already quite good.

But it seemed Loren’s words had once again awakened Luna’s inner sense of inferiority. She thought of what her close friend had said before—the gap between them was too vast. Loren also realized he might have said the wrong thing. Studying in this kind of environment, it was normal for Luna to be a bit sensitive.

However, in the end, Luna still didn’t give up this rare opportunity to talk with Loren:

”My family runs an inn. Business has been okay recently...”

Indeed, Luna’s family situation was considered good. At the very least, she didn’t have to do hard labor, nor worry that getting sick one day would lead to the whole family starving.

Luna’s home wasn’t too far from the academy. Along the way, they didn’t talk much and soon arrived at her house. The inn was two stories, not large, quite old and worn, but relatively clean.

Next to the inn was a stable. A woman was feeding the horses. Those few horses didn’t look like they were of good breed either.

A man stood at the entrance. Apart from these two, there were no other people. Loren guessed they were Luna’s parents.

Probably all the witches in the world combined couldn’t muster two sets of parents, yet Luna alone had a complete pair. She was truly a chosen one. He just didn’t know what Luna’s Arcane Ability was, to have hidden it for so long without ever unconsciously revealing it.

”Luna... who is this beside you...”

The moment she saw Luna, the woman came forward. Luna had indeed returned quite late today, so their concern was normal.

Simultaneously, Luna’s mother also felt a bit of hostility towards Loren. After all, their daughter was returning so late with a strange man by her side, a man wearing a black robe, looking mysterious, indeed not seeming like a good person.

”Let me introduce myself. I’m Loren, a teacher at the Gedlan Royal Magic Academy.”

”Teacher!”

Upon hearing Loren’s title, Luna’s mother suddenly exclaimed, her attitude instantly reversing. Even Luna’s father was drawn over.

”You’re a teacher from the academy?”

Their daughter was from the academy, so even though they were commoners, they knew a bit about the academy’s internal situation. Anyone who could become a teacher at the Gedlan Royal Magic Academy was inevitably either wealthy or noble. For such a big shot to escort their daughter home, they felt overwhelmed by the unexpected honor.

”Yes. This child Luna is very smart, she’s just not... ahem...”

Loren almost instinctively uttered the classic teacher’s line, but fortunately, he successfully cut himself off:

”By the way, do you have any vacant rooms here?”

”Yes!”

Upon learning Loren had the intention to book a room, Luna’s father’s mood soared exceptionally high. He knew someone like Loren wouldn’t be stingy. He just didn’t know why Loren would stay in a place like this:

”Are you sure you want to stay here? Our place... the conditions aren’t great...”

”It’s fine, I don’t mind these things. This is the deposit. Keep a room for me. I might come to stay at any time while I’m in the Royal Capital, the timing uncertain. Consider the extra as a tip.”

Loren handed a pouch of coins to Luna’s father. He opened it and gave it a rough glance—there were at least several hundred silver coins, equivalent to several years of their net income.

”This...”

With the money in hand, Luna’s father instead felt troubled. This money was simply too much.

”It’s alright, keep it. I quite like this child Luna. I don’t want trivial matters to waste her talent. She should focus on her studies.”

”My daughter is waiting for me to eat. I should head back now.”

In truth, Loren didn’t know much about Luna, but he knew witches weren’t bad people, especially witches like Luna who grew up stably. Loren considered it building goodwill. This amount of money meant nothing to him. Loren carried this money precisely to use as an entry ticket, and now it had finally served its purpose.

”Your teacher is truly a kind person.”

Luna’s mother placed a hand on Luna’s shoulder and sighed. But Luna didn’t respond. She kept staring at Loren’s retreating back, not answering her mother. Regarding this, Luna’s mother just sighed:

”What a pity he already has a child. His wife must be very happy...”

Hearing this, Luna suddenly began to protest:

”Master Mentor isn’t married! The child is adopted, and to take care of the child, he has no romantic history at all...”

Looking at her daughter anxiously defending Loren, Luna’s mother revealed a smile.