Seiren's Burning Jealousy
That expression... where had he seen it before? Ah, right. The devoted wife catching her husband in the act of cheating. It looked just like the heroine in some trashy drama, right on the verge of swearing bloody revenge.
"What did you do?"
But why are you making that face? No, more importantly—look behind you. Everyone's staring right at us.
He had no clue why she was pissed, but to smooth things over fast, he answered honestly.
"What do you mean? I just helped her out a bit. And the conversation's not over—go on, hurry up."
"Is that what's important right now?"
"Then...?"
An archmage and a bunch of renowned battle mages all in one spot, versus an ex-porter turned current cameraman. The difference was so obvious even the neighbor's shit-dog Poppi would get it.
Seiren clamped her mouth shut, then replied in a voice that leaked out like steam.
"...We'll talk later."
"Yeah, wrap it up quick and come back."
And five minutes later.
She returned.
"Let's talk."
2
All the way back to the dorm, she was a total low-pressure system. Even after they arrived, nothing much changed.
"Why'd you pick up her bracelet for her?"
"Can't I?"
The nuance was you would've done the same, and Seiren ground her teeth before pressing on.
"...Fine. But why wipe her sweat?"
"It just... happened?"
"Just. Hap. Pened?"
"No... "
No wind indoors, yet her hair rippled. Ah, yeah. Wiping her sweat might've crossed the line a tad.
But.
"Why are you mad?"
"...You seriously asking 'cause you don't know?"
"Then...?"
Whoa, golden light flickering in her eyes now too. He doubted Irene would actually hurt him, but the visual was so intense it was kinda scary.
He had no idea why she was this furious, but it sure felt like he'd screwed up somehow. First things first—calm Irene down. He could hear the reason later.
By the time her eyebrows were sparking gold embers, he took her hand and said,
"Sorry."
"...Sorry for what?"
"Honestly, no clue."
"...Then why apologize?"
"Not knowing's a mistake too. Sorry for not getting how you feel."
"...You're annoying."
He tugged her hand lightly, and she slipped into his arms without a fight. He stroked her round little head, waiting for her to settle. The floating strands of hair drifted back down.
Seemed okay now, but she was still quiet. While pretending to pet her hair, he tucked a lock behind her ear—her earlobe was bright red. Had she realized she'd overreacted?
The urge to tease her crept up, but he shoved it down and said,
"Ramen?"
"...Dunno."
He quietly pulled out a cup noodle.
2
In the end, he never got the real reason Seiren was mad. He'd asked that morning, hoping she'd spill, but,
"Dunno! Don't ask!"
She was dodging it, wasn't she? Left with no choice, he puzzled it out himself—and yeah, he figured it out.
"It's the bracelet, huh."
His Irene wanted some accessories, didn't she? She'd probably mentioned it once, and he'd spaced on it.
"Gotta buy her one later."
Meanwhile, that Lee Kang-hyun lackey had been keeping his distance ever since yesterday—no approaching unless called. No issues there.
Unlike the tearful parting yesterday, Seiren sought out Sebin again today and chatted her up. Viewers were way down from yesterday's similar content, but Seiren looked happy, so whatever.
Viewership aside, donations were exploding like crazy. Obviously thanks to the Lee Sun encounter.
The villain-decap clip had rocked the community; the Lee Sun meetup caused a full-on earthquake.
Mage streamers and their viewers were especially hyped. Lee Sun approaching first for a chat? Right when folks were seriously pushing the "Seiren the Archmage" theory, her unexpected cameo blew the lid off everyone's curiosity about her true identity.
The consensus was she was at least academy top-professor level in theory alone, so origin-conscious bigshots had come to greet her first. Seiren's response? Straightforward.
"Thanks~"
-1M coconut reaction: "Thanks."
"If you're curious about magic, just ask—I'll answer~"
"My girlfriend's pretty too!"
Even pointless donos were popping off, but anyway. 6 PM hit, and they headed to yesterday's presentation hall.
"Sebin~ I'm off!"
"Ahh. Take care..."
Right on cue, they bumped into Sebin—who'd stepped out for the bathroom—and had to say quick goodbyes.
At the hall, Lee Sun gave a friendly wave. Viewers surged like mad; watching the stream grow live brought a satisfied smile to his face.
Then the battle mage presenter took the podium.
"Eh! Hello!"
"Ah, the presenter's up."
"Yes...! I'm way overqualified for this, but it's me presenting!"
Coincidentally, it was that female mage he'd helped yesterday.
Quick greetings, took their seats, checked the cam.
"......"
"...??"
For some reason, Seiren's face soured again.
...What the hell did I do wrong this time?
The presentation kicked off amid doubt.
3
...The vibe was worlds apart from yesterday.
Presenter couldn't wrap commentary after a full hour? Check.
Judging panel presenter blanking on every question? Check.
Presenter bawling her eyes out like it didn't fit the seat? Heh, check.
But...
"No, answer. How're you solving the circuit overheating from manastall phenomena? Gimme a viewpoint at least."
"Sniff, th-that's..."
But...
"Maso berserk effect stacks energy, generates noise. That messes quantum maso core ops, tangles the algorithm—no feedback model ready?"
"Fee, feedback model...?"
Really but...
"You didn't see that coming?"
"Sniff, so-sorry......"
"Answer!"
"Waaah!"
"Crying gonna fix it?!"
...The total shitstorm stemmed from one person. Was that the issue?
Irene, what the hell? Can't you see the battle mages' eyes blazing? Not seeing Lee Sun poking, then full-on arm-grabbing and shaking?
You said no need to crush their morale with pointless questions.
Why corner her so hard...?
Finally, watching their maknae get rekt set the battle mages off.
"That's too far!"
"Questions on a whole other level from yesterday!"
"Judging panel this biased okay?!"
"You gimps! You got bribed!"
Even Lee Hyun, who doted on Seiren, felt the bias—imagine the other side.
So he tapped her shoulder to signal chill, but Seiren whipped around hard, slapping his hand away with,
"Hiyaaak!"
"I-Irene...?"
His sweet, cute, adorable Irene... hissing at him...?
Thud—shocked, Lee Hyun collapsed into his seat.
With Seiren's brakes busted,
"We reject the judging panel's decision!"
"Biased call! Unacceptable!"
Battle mages surged up.
"E-everyone, calm down."
"Sit first. You're too worked up."
Academy top prof Baek Ye-rim tried soothing the battle mages; Lee Sun went for Seiren. Futile.
Chair Park Hyeong-seop, who'd clocked it ages ago, just pulled a cigar and muttered,
"Heh, morons. Losing their shit."
"If you can't accept it, what're you gonna do?"
"No words needed!"
What followed was predictable.
"Mages speak through magic!"
Someone from the battle mage side flung their robe at Seiren.
"Duel!"
And so, magical girl versus battle mage showdown was on.
4
Seiren and the middle-aged man faced off in the Magic Tower's arena.
The man was the mentor of that woman who'd gotten chewed out and sent packing.
Standing between them, pinching his temples: Chair Park Hyeong-seop.
He said with a weary look,
"Rules?"
The man replied,
"Life-or-death...!"
"Cut the crap."
"You humiliated my far-junior protege in public! To restore my disciple's honor! And reaffirm battle mage authority—life-or-death is non-negotiable!"
Seiren bristled.
"Far-junior? I'm twenty-seven!"
"Bull! Think I don't know your youthful look's from mental realm expansion causing body regression?!"
Seiren shot back snarkily.
"Whatevs."
"Wha—this!"
"Hah, both of you shut it."
Park heaved a sigh and continued.
"No finishers. No AoE. Healers on standby—limb loss is fixable. That's it. To positions!"
They took spots at opposite ends of the arena.
"Fight!"
The duel began.
A storm of aura boiled off the man. No intentions of dragging this out.
Opponent: body regression via shed bones and rebirth—a true master...!
Rebirth didn't guarantee peak realm, but anyone who'd achieved it had profound insights somewhere.
Snippets from his brief chat with Lee Sun yesterday had already broadened the man's horizons in that short time.
How could he afford to slack?
He didn't underestimate her childlike appearance. From the jump, full throttle—to end it before any tricky plays.
"Thousand Autumns Liberation"
Whoooosh—dust clouds rippled out in concentric circles from his core.
Thoom—thoom-thoom—thoom-thoom-thoom—waves pulsed from him like tides.
Thousand Autumns Liberation. Battle mages' alpha and omega: supercharge the mana circuits from soles to knees, navel, heart, brain—exponential boosts to body and mind.
"Blood Blossom"
Blood seeped from his skin. Beads welled like sweat, smoking as they ignited black-red, turning him into a living blaze.
"Hmmm."
That was when Seiren moved. Arm up to shoulder height, thrust forward. A tiny spark bloomed in her palm—a golden fireball like her hair, perfectly round.
Everyone here knew it. From those unmoving stances, one spell would decide winner and loser.
And that moment was now.
BOOM!
The man slammed both feet into the ground. His flickering full-body blood blossoms condensed into his fist.
"Death God's Blood Flame Wave!"
Fired. The clumped mass stretched like spiderwebs, then fanned out like reaching hands—each branch morphing into scythed reapers.
Like they had souls of their own, the blood-blossom death gods swarmed from above, left, right, below.
No blind spots. Ultimate single-target killer. Blocking once? Pointless. It spawned reapers till the blood blossoms burned out.
So the man was certain.
"Victory...!"
Right before the scythes connected, Seiren spoke.
"Extinguish"
⟨ Fire Quencher ⟩
Extinguish. Put out the fire.
True to its name, her magic took hold.
Golden flames erupted. Engulfed the death gods.
".........What?"
The blood blossoms burned.
Fire devoured fire.