The S-Class dormitories were less like student housing and more like luxury estates magically compressed into a single, sprawling manor. Kaiser Warborn's assigned room was a massive suite featuring mahogany furniture, silk drapes, and a balcony overlooking the academy's luminous botanical gardens.
Currently, the master of this luxurious domain was sitting cross-legged on a plush Persian rug, having a staring contest with a puppy.
"Bark," the puppy said. It didn't sound like a normal bark. It sounded like a hollow echo from the bottom of an infinite abyss, vaguely translated into a canine frequency.
"We need to establish ground rules," Kaiser stated, leaning forward and resting his chin on his hands. He maintained his Luminous Veil even in private, his strict facial consistency mode keeping his devastatingly handsome crimson-eyed visage intact. "Rule number one: You do not eat the furniture. Rule number two: You do not erase the fabric of reality unless explicitly ordered to. Rule number three: You act like a dumb, happy, D-Rank mutt in public."
The Void-Born Fenrir tilted its head, its one silver eye shining with innocent joy, while its abyssal black eye promised the heat-death of the universe. It trotted forward, its fluffy white tail wagging, and licked Kaiser's nose.
In the process, it accidentally inhaled a microscopic fraction of the Persian rug. A perfectly spherical, golf-ball-sized chunk of the carpet simply ceased to exist, leaving a terrifyingly smooth crater in the fabric.
Kaiser sighed, gently scratching the world-ending anomaly behind the ears. "I'm going to call you 'Buster'. It's ironic, unassuming, and incredibly degrading for an SSS+ entity. You'll love it."
Buster yipped happily, rolling onto his back for belly rubs.
[System Note: Familiar 'Buster' has accepted his name. Loyalty is absolute. Current diet consists of: High-tier mana cores, spatial fabric, and belly rubs.]
"Perfect," Kaiser murmured, scooping the puppy up and tucking him into the crook of his arm.
The fallout from the Familiar Summoning Ceremony had been exactly as Kaiser calculated. To the rest of the academy, Kaiser Warborn was now a tragic novelty. He was the commoner with A-Rank mana capacity but a crippled, practically nonexistent magical soul. A glass cannon with no targeting system.
It was the ultimate camouflage.
With Buster resting happily against his chest, Kaiser left his dorm and headed toward the main academic courtyard. The morning sun was bright, and the pathways were crowded with students heading to their first lectures.
The whispers started the moment he stepped out.
"Is that him? The S-Class commoner?"
"Look at his familiar. It's just a regular dog."
"What a waste of an elite seat. I heard Lord Julian's familiar is a B-Rank Iron-Shell Tortoise."
"Still... you have to admit, he is ridiculously handsome. If he gets kicked out of S-Class, I might ask him out."
Kaiser ignored them, projecting an aura of quiet, noble melancholy. A man unbothered by the mockery of his peers, bravely carrying on despite his 'weakness'. It was a catnip aesthetic for a specific kind of woman.
"Well, well. If it isn't the S-Class disappointment."
Kaiser paused. Blocking the cobblestone path ahead was Lord Julian Vance, flanked by his two usual retainers. Julian's blue hair was slicked back, and his chest was puffed out with newfound, entirely misplaced confidence.
The terror Julian had felt in the classroom two days ago had apparently been erased by the sight of Buster. To Julian's aristocratic logic, a man with a D-Rank lapdog couldn't possibly be a true monster. The heavy, suffocating gravity he had felt must have been a trick—a cheap illusion artifact Kaiser had smuggled in.
"Good morning, Julian," Kaiser said mildly, stopping a polite distance away. Buster poked his head out from Kaiser's coat, letting out a soft, happy pant.
"Don't speak to me so casually, cur," Julian sneered, stepping forward. A massive, heavily armored tortoise roughly the size of a dinner table lumbered into view beside him. "Your little parlor tricks won't save you forever. The academy evaluates us on our total combat potential. And your potential," Julian gestured to the puppy, "is a joke."
"He's a very good boy," Kaiser replied, perfectly deadpan, giving Buster a small pat.
"He's target practice!" Julian laughed, his retainers joining in. "In fact, my Iron-Shell needs a warm-up. Why don't we have a little familiar spar right here? Unless you're terrified your mutt will get crushed?"
A crowd began to gather. Students loved a public humiliation, especially when a commoner was the victim.
Kaiser didn't drop his polite smile, but his internal degenerate was already running the calculations. 'If I let Buster eat the tortoise, my cover is blown. If I use Void magic, same result. I need a third-party intervention. Three... two... one...'
Before Kaiser could even open his mouth, the temperature in the courtyard plummeted to freezing.
"The only thing getting crushed here, Vance, is your windpipe if you don't step aside."
The crowd parted instantly, a wave of fearful whispers rippling through the students.
Lyra Vesper strode into the clearing. The Dark Elf princess wasn't in her stealth suit; she wore the standard academy uniform, but the way she carried herself made it look like armor. Her six-legged shadow-panther familiar stalked beside her, its amethyst eyes locked onto Julian's tortoise with predatory hunger.
Lyra stepped directly in front of Kaiser, completely shielding him from Julian. She rested her hand on the hilt of a dagger, her own amethyst eyes blazing with lethal intent.
"V-Vesper," Julian stammered, taking a quick step back, his bravado fracturing. "This doesn't concern you! I'm merely challenging this fraud to a—"
"He declined," Lyra interrupted, her voice a cold, sharp blade. "Are you deaf, or just incredibly stupid? Take your overgrown rock and leave, before my panther decides to use it as a chew toy."
The shadow-panther let out a low, terrifying growl, stepping forward. Julian's Iron-Shell Tortoise immediately retreated into its shell with a pathetic squeak.
Julian went pale. He scowled, trying to save face. "Fine. Hide behind a woman, Warborn. We'll see how long she can protect you in the ranking exams." He turned and quickly scurried away, his retainers trailing behind him.
The crowd, thoroughly disappointed by the lack of bloodshed, began to disperse.
Lyra didn't turn around immediately. She stood there, her shoulders tense, her hand still resting on her dagger. She was breathing slightly heavier than usual.
"My hero," Kaiser murmured, stepping closer. The height difference was significant; he had to look down, and she had to look up.
Lyra flinched, whipping around to face him. A furious violet blush dusted her dark cheeks. "I didn't do it for you!" she snapped, crossing her arms defensively. "That idiot was blocking the path to the cafeteria. I was... hungry."
"Of course," Kaiser smiled, the picture of perfect understanding. "Still, I appreciate it. Buster appreciates it too."
He held up the puppy. Buster let out a happy yap and squirmed, trying to reach Lyra.
Lyra's icy facade cracked just a fraction. She looked at the fluffy white puppy, then at Kaiser's flawlessly handsome face. The contrast between the lethal, terrifying boy who had effortlessly subjugated a Dragonkin, and the gentle boy currently holding a fluffy dog, was completely short-circuiting her paranoid brain.
She tentatively reached out with one finger and scratched Buster on the top of his head. Buster leaned into it, his tail wagging frantically.
"He's... soft," Lyra mumbled, her glowing eyes softening.
[Ding!]
[Target: Lyra Vesper. Affection has increased! Current Affection: 60% (Fierce Protective Instincts / Deepening Attachment).]
[Notice: Target views your 'weak' familiar as an endearing vulnerability that only she is allowed to protect.]
"Would you like to walk with us to the cafeteria?" Kaiser offered, effortlessly smoothly weaving the social web. "I'm sure Buster would enjoy the company."
"I... I suppose. Since we're going to the same place," Lyra muttered, looking away, though she immediately fell into step beside him.
As they walked, Kaiser's finely tuned situational awareness picked up on a secondary magical signature trailing them from the rooftops. It was faint, completely masked by high-tier illusion magic, but the distinct scent of dark roses and iron gave it away.
'Seraphina,' Kaiser thought, suppressing a smirk. 'She couldn't stay away.'
They reached the grand cafeteria, a massive, vaulted hall filled with long oak tables and magical floating trays delivering food. Lyra, incredibly uncomfortable in large crowds, grabbed a plate of cold meats and practically dragged Kaiser to a secluded table in the far corner.
Just as Kaiser set his tray down and let Buster curl up on his lap, the chaotic harmony of his morning was interrupted yet again.
"Move, exile."
Lyra's head snapped up, a snarl instantly forming on her lips.
Seraphina Von Althaus stood at the edge of their table. The pureblood vampire was a vision of imperious perfection, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders. Her terrifying Night-Terror Gargoyle familiar was perched outside the nearest window, casting a massive shadow over their table.
"I was sitting here, leech," Lyra hissed, her shadow-panther materializing under the table, growling softly.
"I don't care," Seraphina replied coolly, her ruby eyes completely ignoring the Dark Elf. Her gaze was locked entirely on Kaiser. "I need to speak with Warborn. Privately."
Kaiser took a slow, elegant sip of his water. He didn't look flustered. He didn't look intimidated. He simply raised an eyebrow. "I'm having breakfast, Lady Seraphina. And Vesper was here first. If you have something to say, you may say it to both of us."
Seraphina's jaw tightened. She hated sharing. The possessive, pureblood instincts inside her roared in protest at the sight of the Dark Elf sitting so close to him. But she also remembered the overwhelming humiliation of his kabedon in the library. She couldn't afford to look weak or petty.
With a stiff, elegant motion, Seraphina pulled out the chair directly opposite Kaiser and sat down, completely ignoring Lyra's murderous glare.
"You made a fool of yourself yesterday," Seraphina stated bluntly, folding her hands on the table. "A D-Rank familiar. The entire academy is laughing at you."
"Let them laugh," Kaiser replied mildly, feeding Buster a small piece of bacon. The puppy swallowed it whole, momentarily shifting the air pressure around its mouth as the bacon was banished to the void. "I've never cared much for the opinions of strangers."
"But I care," Seraphina snapped, leaning forward. Her composure slipped, just for a second, revealing the burning frustration underneath. "You possess raw, unrefined power that rivals the elites, yet you squander it. You summon a useless mutt because you lack the discipline to condense your soul."
"Don't insult his dog," Lyra interjected sharply, glaring at the vampire.
"Stay out of this, assassin," Seraphina shot back, her fangs elongating slightly. She turned her intense gaze back to Kaiser. "I am offering you a final chance, Warborn. Your reputation is ruined. The other factions will target you now that they think you're weak. But my offer still stands. Kneel to the Althaus family. Become my retainer. I will protect you from the academy's politics, and I will personally train you to harness your volatile mana."
It was an incredible proposition. The most arrogant, untouchable girl in the academy practically begging him to let her protect him.
Kaiser looked at her. He activated strict facial consistency mode, prioritizing the specific, soul-piercing gaze he had used in the library. He let the polite, aloof mask drop, just a fraction, revealing the dark, unfathomable confidence beneath.
"You misunderstand the situation, Seraphina," Kaiser said softly, his voice a low vibration that made the vampire's breath hitch. He leaned forward across the table, closing the distance between them.
"I am not a broken toy for you to fix," he whispered, his crimson eyes locking onto hers. "And I certainly do not need your protection."
"You have a D-Rank familiar!" she hissed, though her cheeks were rapidly flushing pink under his intense gaze. "You are vulnerable!"
"Am I?" Kaiser smiled, a slow, dangerous curve of his lips.
Without breaking eye contact, Kaiser reached under the table. He didn't summon his Void magic. He didn't use any flashy spells. He simply commanded Buster with a silent mental link.
'Buster. Just a nibble.'
Outside the window, Seraphina's peak A-Rank Night-Terror Gargoyle let out a sudden, terrified shriek.
Seraphina violently flinched, the empathic bond with her familiar sending a jolt of sheer, primal panic straight into her brain. She turned her head, gasping.
Her massive, terrifying gargoyle was currently pressed flat against the stone wall of the courtyard, trembling uncontrollably. It was staring directly through the window... at the tiny, fluffy white puppy sitting on Kaiser's lap.
Buster let out a soft, happy yap, his one abyssal black eye fixed on the gargoyle.
The gargoyle, an apex predator of the night, whimpered and literally covered its eyes with its massive leathery wings, refusing to look at the puppy.
Seraphina slowly turned her head back to Kaiser, her ruby eyes wide with absolute, unadulterated shock. She looked at the puppy, then at Kaiser's flawlessly calm face.
"What... what is that thing?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"This is Buster," Kaiser smiled affectionately, petting the fluffy dog. "He's a very good boy."
Lyra, who had witnessed the entire exchange, let out a sudden, sharp bark of laughter. The sheer absurdity of the pureblood vampire's terror over a puppy was too much for her to handle.
Seraphina's face burned with a mixture of humiliation, profound confusion, and a terrifyingly intense surge of fascination. He had completely upended her reality again. He wasn't weak. He was hiding something so monstrous that her A-Rank familiar couldn't even look at it.
[Ding!]
[Target: Seraphina Von Althaus. Affection has critically spiked! Current Affection: 55% (Obsessive Intrigue / Territorial Frustration).]
[Warning: Target's Yandere progression has unlocked the 'Fixation' tier. She will now prioritize uncovering your secrets over her own academic duties.]
Seraphina abruptly stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. She didn't say another word. She couldn't. Her mind was racing too fast. She cast one last, burning look at Kaiser, entirely ignoring Lyra, and practically fled the cafeteria, her terrified gargoyle immediately taking to the sky to escape the perimeter.
Kaiser casually finished his water, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Well," Kaiser sighed dramatically, looking at Lyra, who was still trying to stifle her giggles. "That was certainly an intense breakfast."
Lyra looked at him, her amethyst eyes shining with a strange, fierce loyalty. She leaned across the table, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"I don't know what you're hiding, Warborn," Lyra murmured, a genuine, breathtaking smile finally gracing her dark features. "But I think I'm going to enjoy watching you break this academy."
Kaiser smiled back, his degenerate heart singing a victorious tune.
'Oh, Princess. You have no idea.'