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At night, at the very top of the Tower of Shine.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle...

The food and the hot pot were getting intimate as if they were the closest of lovers, with the passion-burning grease only intensifying this already scorching affair, making it even more tantalizing.

Well, regardless of whether others were moved or not, at this moment, Sophia, who was truly pretending to be engrossed in a book on the living room sofa, was moved to tears, which couldn't help but flow from the corner of Angel's mouth.

Clap...

The pure white girl Sophia simply closed the book in her hand.

After all, under the teasing of an aroma that seemed to magically transform into feathers dancing on your taste buds, who could still focus on studying? Who still had the mind to study?

She simply lifted her head, glancing over at the young mistress, who was wearing a pink, fluffy rabbit apron, and was easily directing the kitchen utensils to move on their own while humming a song. Sophia couldn't help but speak up.

"Young mistress, when are you planning to take the Combat Magic practical exam?"

Today, the young mistress had breezily finished eight and a half of the exams, and if she passed the final practical exam, she would become the second witch in a thousand years, after Lord Demon King, to achieve the feat of consecutive successes in the Nine Gates.

This was an achievement that could shake the entire Witch World.

Even though Sophia didn't think she got along particularly well with the young mistress, out of respect for her teacher, she couldn't completely neglect her duty. She felt it necessary to care a little more about this matter, so she could later explain it to her teacher.

"The sooner the better, of course. How about first thing tomorrow morning? I can finish the exam quickly, and then I'll have some time in the afternoon for other things."

Dorothy replied without hesitation.

Sophia could only feel her blood pressure rising at the young mistress's carefree attitude towards the matter.

My dear young mistress, you are on the verge of achieving a great feat that could be recorded in the history books of witches. Can't you feel a bit of nervousness? Can you treat this seriously?

The usually steadfast Student Council President really couldn't stand it anymore. This young mistress was simply the antithesis of her own personality, always easily breaking her usually good temper.

This young witch was simply too full of herself, even prouder than Sophia herself, who was an Angel Witch. This nonchalant attitude was irresponsible towards one's own life.

Sophia was now feeling even more sorry for the teacher. Having such a daughter was hard on her, and Sophia was beginning to understand the feeling of disappointment in her more and more.

"Then I'll take you there tomorrow morning."

The Angel Witch massaged her temples, which had swelled with exasperation, and said with a voice full of resignation,

"Eh... That's not necessary. You seem pretty busy with your duties as president. I'll just ask my junior sister to take me instead. Otherwise, I'd feel like I'm troubling you too much."

Confronted with Sophia's words, Dorothy felt a bit embarrassed and waved her hand to indicate it was not necessary.

All the activities of the grand Witch Academy depended on the decisions of this pure white Student Council President. The Angel Witch was like the Emperor of this academy's nation, who needed to preside over daily council meetings—a single day of neglect could have severe consequences.

Dorothy wouldn't dare delay the work of the student council for her own little matters. Otherwise, who knows what those bored Merry Makers on the academy forum would concoct about her?

An agent of chaos? An Enchantress of troubled times? Disturber of order? From then on, the Emperor would never attend morning court again...

She couldn't bear to think further. Sophia, please spare my poor reputation some dignity; I think it can still be salvaged.

Angel Witch: "..."

For some reason, seeing the young mistress's face filled with disdain, as if she was in the way, really annoyed Sophia. Do you think I want to serve you? Oh, you know I'm busy with work. Haven't I been the perfect council president all these years, never takings a single day off? And now I'm even prepared to make an exception for you—do you realize my pain and sacrifice?

Just the thought of a morning's absence marring her perfect Student Council President record was enough to make the perfectionist Sophia profoundly uncomfortable—the obsessive-compulsive in her could not tolerate it.

But this was all for the young mistress. If you could just be a bit more settled, would I have to worry so much?

And the worst part was that her kindness was not appreciated; in fact, she was even looked upon with disdain.

At that moment, Sophia had a strong urge to just quit her responsibilities.

This young mistress was just too annoying—let someone else deal with her. Leave me out of it; I'm better off not seeing.

Unfortunately, this thought remained just that—a thought. Oh well, who could resist taking care of the teacher's precious daughter? I'll endure it.

Sophia took several deep breaths and then said seriously and earnestly,

"Young mistress, tomorrow's exam is very important for you. I've heard that passing all Nine Gates in succession can significantly boost your individual rating in the eyes of the All-Seeing Eye. You might achieve a hidden Great Achievement and earn a substantial increase in Rank Points. Please, take this seriously."

However.....

"Yes, yes, yes....."

Even the Angel Witch was serious, but Dorothy in the kitchen seemed rarely perfunctory. She just kept nodding her head, then lifted the lid of the pot and spooned a little soup to her mouth, tasting it with her tongue and feeling that it was a bit bland.

Hmm, add salt, add salt.....

She pinched a bit of salt from the box beside her and posed in the classic "Salt Bae" style.

Yay, that should do it, the delicious Thunderbird Leg is roasted and ready to eat.

She cheerfully directed the kitchen utensils to plate the enormous, over two meters long Thunderbird Leg and easily carried the heavy plate to the table.

"Alright, Sophia, time to eat."

Having placed the huge plate down, Dorothy popped her head out from behind the bird leg to call out to her housemate.

Only....

Hmm, this time Sophia was genuinely angry, the kind that even fine food couldn't cure.

At this moment, the Angel Witch stood in place, trembling. She looked at Dorothy with the disdain one might give a pile of mud, her gaze filled with resentment, jealousy, unwillingness, and thick disappointment and grievance.

All Dorothy could see in the pure girl's golden eyes was her own reflection, as if the Thunderbird Leg, larger than herself beside her, had vanished.

Ugh... done for...

Seeing her usually blunt yet honest housemate ignoring her favorite food, Dorothy knew she had blown it; she was genuinely upset.

But she felt rather helpless about it.

"Sigh....."

With a somewhat helpless sigh, she took off the ridiculous pink fluffy bunny apron and seriously looked at the pure white girl across from her

"So tell me, Sophia, do you think I'm too frivolous or perhaps too proud, or maybe you think I'm hopeless, just mucking about and will shame my mother, your most respected teacher, right?"

The sharpness beneath the thick glasses turned fierce, with Dorothy's black eyes taking on a crimson hue, her dark, round pupils beginning to narrow and stand erect.

An invisible authority began to emanate from her, immature yet dignified—a pure and undiluted dragon's presence.

Sophia, sensing the authority reminiscent of her teacher, looked at the crimson dragon eyes across from her that were identical to her teacher's and felt an inexplicable nervousness, as if a younger version of her teacher was standing before her.

"So, Sophia, tell me what should I do now? Should I be anxiously practicing, or should I be anxiously losing sleep and crying to you, or perhaps cramming at the last minute to gather information on my opponent tomorrow?"

"Is it only by doing so that I'll seem to take things seriously, to show I have ambition, to appear like a successful person should?"

The imposing Juvenile Dragon challenged, her face wearing a mocking smile.

"Ah, my dear president, I had hoped you might understand me. But you've disappointed me greatly. Despite being strong yourself, why do you act hypocritically like the weak? Where is your heart of a strong person?"

"Only the cowardly who fear challenges would hesitate, be timid, and be anxious. It's just a preliminary assessment; why do you feel such pressure?"

"Are you doubting my strength, doubting the me in front of you who has defeated you, the strongest Student Council President of this academy?"

"Or are you saying that you, president, are not up to your title, and that the examiner in charge of me tomorrow will be stronger than you? Strong enough to defeat the me who beat you in seconds under the same conditions of magical power stipulated by the assessment?"

"So answer me, Sophia, does such a high-difficulty assessment really exist?"

"Please answer me, is this your heart of the strong, Student Council President? Are you looking down on me or yourself?"

Having shredded her languid disguise, the Great Dragon who now bared her fangs stared at the Angel across from her, her smile splitting into an extreme sneer.

The Angel across, vastly more powerful than the young Juvenile Dragon, found herself completely overpowered in this moment. Her golden pupils suddenly contracted, yet she didn't know how to respond.

Thus, the Juvenile Dragon waiting for an answer but receiving none found the whole thing rather tasteless. She turned around and reverted back to the unassuming, harmless Little Witch.

"Wow, my meat is almost cold; it's not as good once it's cold. Stop standing there stunned; come and eat, digging into meat is such a joy."

She sat back in her seat as if nothing had happened, warmly inviting the still perplexed Sophia.

...Juvenile Dragon eating meat heartily...