Invite

“That’s just a celebration for lonely singles.”

Collins replied with disdain.

With his personality—and being so young—how could he possibly have the face to go to a bonfire party?

He didn’t even attend the last one.

“Collins, you don’t have a girlfriend yet, do you?”

Though the bonfire party was known as the biggest singles’ event, most participants were already couples.

In that flirtatious atmosphere, guys with pretty girlfriends could shamelessly flaunt their happiness in front of the single guys.

“I’m still young. I don’t need something like a girlfriend.”

Sphinx stared at Collins’s face.

Collins could feel the gaze and turned away abruptly, raising his voice:

“I-It’s not like I’m embarrassed about not having a girlfriend or anything!”

“If I had one, how would I even have time to focus on my magical research?”

“I’m a mage—the most important thing is magic cultivation. Who has the time for something as extravagant as a girlfriend?”

Sphinx gave a thumbs-up.

“Good. Insightful. Ambitious.”

“No wonder you’re the youngest mid-tier mage in our school.”

“But… do you really have no idea what it feels like to have a girlfriend?”

Collins slammed his fist on the desk and glared fiercely at Sphinx.

“Senior, if you keep mocking me, I can’t guarantee my manners will survive such baseless insults.”

“Alright, alright. I won’t mock you.”

“But since you helped me, I should help you in return.”

“Seeing you all alone, senior really can’t just stand by and watch.”

“How about this—five days from now, come to the bonfire party with me.”

“I’ll help you find a cute girl to be your girlfriend.”

“No.”

Collins rejected him without hesitation.

Sphinx frowned.

“Why not?”

“Going… going alone like that is just… too…”

Even though he was indeed single, just imagining the scene at the bonfire party—those bastards holding their adorable girlfriends while showering affection all over the place—made Collins shiver.

On top of that, if a bunch of single guys gathered around him to talk about the timeless topic of how to get a girl, Collins found the whole thing unbearably lame.

Sphinx gave a little “oh” of realization.

“So what you’re saying is, if you had a cute girl by your side, then you wouldn’t mind going to the bonfire party, right?”

Collins spread his hands.

“What, senior, you going to introduce a cute girl to go with me?”

“If it’s just an introduction, that’s fine.”

“But I’m not just asking you to go—I’ve got other plans in mind.”

Sphinx smiled.

“Well, um, I do have good relationships with lots of girls.”

“But most of them have boyfriends.”

“If one of their boyfriends sees you hanging around his girl, do you think those hot-blooded guys will let you off easy?”

Collins was quite aware of his own lack of combat strength, so he could only pout.

“Then forget it.”

“Going with you—a guy—to the bonfire party…”

“There might even be a swarm of single guys trying to chat me up.”

“Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.”

“I’d rather continue my magical research than endure something that gross.”

Sphinx grabbed Collins’s hand.

“Who said I can’t find you a cute girl?”

“Do you know who I am?”

Collins tilted his head, looking at Sphinx.

“If you can really find a girl who at least doesn’t embarrass me, then going to the bonfire party… I guess it wouldn’t be a big deal.”

“Good. Just wait.”

Sphinx let go of Collins’s hand and headed toward the lab’s entrance.

Collins continued writing his new program at his desk.

The butler carefully placed Victoria’s clothes and favorite trinkets in the small space.

The teacher’s dorm wasn’t exactly small—it was nearly twice the size of a student dorm.

Unlike the cramped student quarters shared by four people, the teacher’s dorms were private.

They were also fully equipped, with hot water, a bathroom, and even a balcony.

Still, to the butler who cherished his young lady, this place felt far too cramped.

There wasn’t even space to add a few extra servants.

“Miss, how about we just rent a place outside instead?”

The butler could already imagine how difficult life would be for his beloved young lady in such a small space.

But Victoria shook her head.

“I want to live here.”

“I’ll learn to manage my own life.”

The butler let out a long sigh.

He knew—his young lady had grown up.

She was finally ready to leave his care and start her own life.

This should’ve been a moment to feel proud.

But why, then, was his heart filled with such unease and sorrow?