'Wait, I'm Supposed to Become a Goddess?! But I'm a Guy!'

The convoy cruised through the streets, moving at a steady, unhurried pace.

Mize glanced at Liam.

‘Weird. Not acting up today?’

Usually, this freak Yama Lord would have pulled some kind of stunt by now, a stolen touch, a teasing remark, something.

But right now?

He was just sitting there, quiet.

…Which was suspicious, too suspicious for comfort that Mize was the one that started to feel uncomfortable out of nowhere.

'I don't like him being quiet! But I don't like the noisy him too!'

'...'

What Mize didn’t know was that, as the car moved through the city, thousands, if not tens of thousands of shadows were already spreading out, moving fast and covering ground in every direction from the car.

Liam was clearly up to something, but Mize?

Blissfully unaware.

Ignorance is key.

"Worried?"

Liam’s voice was light, like he already knew the answer.

Mize glanced up, only to find Liam watching him, legs crossed, one hand resting lazily on his knee, expression unreadable.

"A bit."

Mize bit his lip, flipping open a small pocket mirror to check his face.

It wasn’t that he was nervous about awakening, not exactly. But something about today just felt… different.

'Maybe I should've eaten first before coming' Mize thought inwardly.

Liam chuckled.

"It’s normal."

Then, he moved in.

Mize’s grip tightened on the mirror. He tilted it slightly, angling it just enough to block Liam’s approach without saying a word.

The reflection showed Liam’s grinning face, amused as always.

Liam hummed, then plop.

He reached over and snapped the mirror shut.

"You," he said, "are destined for something far greater than this place."

Mize rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, sure."

"But it’s true."

A hand landed on his head, ruffling his hair in that annoyingly gentle way that Liam knew he liked.

Mize didn’t react, but the way his body subtly leaned into the touch? Yeah. That gave him away.

Liam noticed.

But he let it slide.

For the rest of the ride, they sat in bittersweet peace.

Bitter for the occasional bite marks on Liam’s hand when he got too bold.

Sweet for the safe, rhythmic pats that Mize secretly enjoyed.

It didn’t take long before the convoy pulled into the Academy’s VIP parking lot.

"What's with this place?" Mize asked, gaze flickering to the surrounding. "Doesn't look like the awakening venue where I am supposed to be?"

"Just follow my lead" Liam smiled, not explaining.

By this time, the place was already lively, students walking around, some chatting, others just standing awkwardly and scrolling through their phones.

And then came the black SUVs and sedans.

Naturally, they got a lot of attention.

"Who is it this time? Some second-generation rich kid?"

"I dunno… but that’s a lot of security."

"Wait, look, they’re pulling into the VIP lot."

"Damn. Rich people."

"Cursing them won't make you rich, you know"

"..."

The cars rolled in smoothly, entering a mostly empty lot, which made sense.

This city had wealthy families, but only a handful were rich enough to qualify for this parking area.

The second the cars stopped, Liam was already stepping out, adjusting his cuffs and straightening his cloak.

Meanwhile, Mize?

Still sitting in the car, checking his reflection in the pocket mirror like it was the most important thing in the world.

Liam let out a small sigh, shutting the door behind him as his security detail followed suit dozens of men in black suits and sunglasses, standing perfectly still like they were fresh out of some spy movie.

It wasn’t just for show.

They were all his summons. Some were weaker than him, and few were equal to his strength.

If he wishes so, no one here would be able to escape alive.

Among the other families waiting in the lot, people were starting to whisper.

A well-dressed man in a gray suit nudged his wife.

"Who the hell is that?"

His wife squinted slightly, taking in the fleet of expensive cars and the way the men carried themselves.

"I don’t recognize their crest," she murmured. "But judging by their presence… they’re not normal"

"Looks like an awakener family from outside of the city?"

Nearby, a younger student muttered under his breath.

"…All of them are awakeners, huh?"

That realization was enough to make them all uneasy.

Being rich was one thing.

But being rich and awakened?

That was a whole different level.

And the guy leading them, dressed in black, cane in hand, monocle glinting under the morning sun, was definitely not someone to mess with.

So, one by one.

They all looked away.

Not because they weren’t curious.

But because some things were better left alone.

Thud.

The moment Mize stepped out of the car, the weight of countless eyes fell on him.

It was inevitable.

His long, flowing black dress, the way the sunlight hit his porcelain-like skin, the sharp yet delicate features of his face, it was the kind of beauty that made people stop and double-take, unsure of whether they were looking at a person or a painting.

The murmurs started immediately.

"…And who’s that?"

"His wife, probably?"

"Figures. A man like that would have a woman this stunning by his side."

"If I didn’t know who he was, I might’ve actually gone after her myself."

"Dad, I think she’s underage."

"Shut up."

The whispers didn’t bother Mize.

People talked. That was just how it was.

But Liam?

Liam had zero patience for this kind of attention.

Before Mize could even react, his guards moved, forming a tight, impenetrable perimeter around them, their presence alone enough to send a silent warning to anyone lingering too long.

Liam, meanwhile, closed the distance, stepping so close that Mize could feel the faint warmth of his breath against his cheek.

His voice dipped low, almost a murmur.

"I don’t like the way some of these men are looking at you."

Mize barely had time to roll his eyes before Liam’s fingers reached out, brushing against his hair, not in a casual, fleeting way, but with the deliberate slowness of someone savoring a moment.

Then he lifted a strand of it, bringing it up to his face.

And sniffed it.

Mize’s entire body stiffened.

His expression stayed neutral, but deep inside.

What the hell is this freak doing?!

Still, his voice remained as flat as ever.

"Then be better."

Liam hummed, clearly enjoying himself, fingers still absentmindedly playing with the lock of hair.

Mize let out a slow breath.

"The rules are simple," he muttered. "Awakeners are nobles. And stronger awakeners? They’re just nobler than the rest."

Liam’s fingers finally stilled, his grip shifting instead to Mize’s hand.

His gaze, sharp, piercing, unreadable beneath the usual amusement.

"So, to claim you…" his voice dropped lower, "…I have to conquer you with strength?"

The way he said it, so serious, so deliberate, Mize felt a small shiver crawl down his spine.

His instincts screamed at him to look away.

And he did.

"If that’s how you see it," he mumbled, "then you may do so."

He paused, then added, almost as if convincing himself.

"Treasure must only be won through strength, no?"

Liam’s grin widened.

"That is the rule."

Not long after, the eventually arrived before a venue, a totally whole different one than what was told on the school's forum.

"Huh?"

And under Liam's explanation from the side, he then finally understood the whole situation.

Mize hadn’t realized there was a separate entrance for VIPs.

Had he been on his own, he would’ve just lined up with the rest of the students, unaware that there was a whole different level of privilege built into this ceremony.

The side path led them into a garden, enclosed under a massive glass dome.

Sunlight streamed through, casting a soft golden hue over the area.

Flowers of every color bloomed along stone pathways, neatly arranged around fountains that trickled with clear water.

Despite it being close to midday, the temperature remained perfect-cool and fresh, as if the air itself had been carefully regulated.

Mize’s fingers, tightened around Liam’s arm.

"There’s… a lot of people here."

Liam glanced around.

It wasn’t just random rich kids, these were the children of high-ranking officials of this city, some were even awakeners descendants, each carrying themselves with an air of arrogance.

Mize wasn’t the type to feel out of place, but there was something about this crowd, the way they observed everything, the way they measured each other with their eyes.

'Yeah, smells like a high end place, looks like a high end place'

And even among them, Liam… stood out.

Several people gave him quick, assessing glances, but none dared to stare too long.

Some awakeners even turned solemn when they looked at him.

An expert!

Liam, as usual, acted like he didn’t notice.

Mize, however, had his mind on something else.

"Hey, Liam…"

Liam’s attention snapped to him immediately.

"Hm?"

Mize’s voice lowered.

"We’re the same age, aren’t we?"

Liam nodded, waiting for the real question.

Mize didn’t make him wait long.

"Then how did you awaken so early?"

He paused.

"And judging from how people react to you, it’s obvious you’re strong."

Liam was silent for a beat, his gaze flickering toward his two guards, one on his left, one on his right.

The rest of his security detail had stayed behind, but these two had been brought in for a reason.

After a moment, he answered.

"I’m a special case."

His voice was calm, but Mize noticed it.

That slight, barely perceptible shift in his expression.

"It’s not uncommon, considering the scale of the population."

Mize’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Forced awakening?"

Liam’s lips curled into a slow smile.

"You did your research well."

Then, before Mize could react.

Pinch.

Liam reached out and gently pinched Mize’s nose.

Mize let out a tiny shriek, swatting his hand away.

He glared up at Liam, suspicious, but didn’t press further.

It had just been a passing thought, a small curiosity.

But now?

It felt bigger. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Like something he wasn’t supposed to touch.

Because deep down, he had a feeling.

If he somehow broke past that barrier, if he dug too deep.

Liam would still love him.

Would still adore him.

But it would be on another level entirely.

A level where Mize might never be allowed to leave.

Like being locked in a cage.

Mize shuddered, shaking the thought away.

Then, almost instinctively, he reached out to his system.

'System. Just how dangerous is he right now?'

There was a pause.

Then, the system’s voice answered, as emotionless as ever.

[If he wished to, everyone in this city would die. Except for the city lord.]

Mize’s breath hitched.

‘That bad?’

[It is advised for the host not to know too much.]

Mize exhaled slowly.

Yeah.

Maybe that was for the best.