Volume 2, Chapter 38 ~A Doll-like Delicate Girl

A fragrant breeze brushed past him. Dylin paused briefly, ignoring John who was still talking, his senses stirred as he looked back at the golden figure who had just passed him by. Like a butterfly that couldn’t be caught, her floral scent danced in the air as if he stood amidst a sea of blossoms, stirring something within him.

“Hey?” John waved a hand in front of Dylin’s eyes when he noticed his friend's gaze was completely glued to the beautiful silhouette. “Wipe your mouth, man, you’re drooling.”

“Who’s that blonde chick? Got you so spellbound—don’t tell me Astrid’s not hot enough or Teresa’s not wild enough?” John slapped Dylin’s shoulder and peered curiously at the retreating golden figure.

From the back alone, she was clearly a stunner. But was she one of those deceptive beauties? The kind whose face could scare a cow to death once she turned around?

“Not cool, man. Keeping the eye candy all to yourself?” John’s tone carried a trace of jealousy. “You’re swimming in beauties—Felicia, Astrid, Teresa, and even that fluffy cat-eared cutie—and still not satisfied? Thinking of the next pot while eating from your bowl, huh?”

“Quit it.” Dylin cast him a sidelong glance. “I wasn’t looking at her appearance.”

“Oh please. Your eyeballs were about to pop out. If I hadn’t held you back, you’d have gone full wolf mode right there.”

“Say what you want.”

“I get it—I wasn’t checking her looks, I was checking her body, right?” John teased. “Pretty faces are one thing, but it takes a man of taste to appreciate the figure.”

Dylin rolled his eyes, done with him. “If you told these jokes to a girl instead of me, maybe you wouldn’t still be single.”

“Pfft, if I had the courage to say this to a girl, you think I’d still be whining to you?”

“Then stop. You’re starting to worry me.”

“You…” John was briefly speechless.

“So, you brought your harem—cough, I mean your team—to Ruglian for your project?” John corrected himself quickly.

“How’d it go?”

“If we hadn’t finished, do you think I’d be here?” Dylin gave him a smile that made John feel like he was being humored.

“Damn, you guys really hit up Ruglian, huh? No wonder—you’ve got the top-tier team. Four top beauties standing there, you probably feel invincible.” John clicked his tongue in admiration.

Dylin didn’t bother describing how dangerous the trip had actually been. These first-years all knew Ruglian was dangerous, but only vaguely. They assumed top students could handle it—after all, if you got into Coleman Academy, you were already one in a hundred.

To them, even facing a Demon King might not sound impossible.

They’d say, “I go fifty-fifty with the Demon King. I solo her sometimes.”

“One month in and you guys are already finished? Most teams are just starting to plan. The best are still buried in progress reports. You guys already cleared it. Tch…” John made a dead-fish face.

“Even I’m starting to envy your lucky ass.”

“Anyway, how’s it going with the new team?”

“Not bad.” Dylin kept it vague.

“Really?” John was clearly skeptical. “Being the team leader can’t be easy, right? Isn’t managing them hard?”

Dylin understood what he meant.

Their team was full of gifted girls with pride and tempers—clashes were inevitable, especially considering Dylin’s unusual status. Disagreements could easily spiral into conflict and dissolution.

People saw Dylin surrounded by beauties and thought he had it easy. John knew better.

A civilian Divine Child leading a team of nobles… there had to be a gap in upbringing and perspective.

But Dylin simply shook his head. He had it under control.

John’s concerns weren’t unfounded. What he didn’t know was—Dylin was a Divine Princess too. He could keep the team grounded.

He had thought about potential disputes early on. His solution? Simple and direct: anyone who disagreed, he’d reason with her—physically, if needed.

Fortunately, his teammates were more reasonable than expected. Despite their noble backgrounds, they were easy to get along with. Meanwhile, the golden figure had already turned the corner and vanished.

Dylin instinctively wanted to follow, but then stopped—he’d look like a stalker.

Had he seen that girl before?

He thought about her dazzling golden hair. There’d been a slight stir in his heart when they passed each other.

Just an illusion, probably. He hadn’t even met all his classmates yet, let alone students from other classes.

“Say, who was that blonde girl? I’ve never seen such a unique Divine Child girl in our department before,” John mused, stroking his chin.

“You’re really that curious?”

“Of course I am! You know what it’s like here—most female Divine Children are either too plain or too focused on logic. Romance isn’t even on their radar. They dress simple, act rational. To them, men only slow down their learning. You have any idea how hard it is to find someone here?”

“That girl was clearly into fashion. Blue ribbon, twin ponytails, perfectly styled. I’ve never seen someone like her around here before.”

“What do you think my chances are if I go for her?” John asked, rubbing his hands together.

“You?” Dylin looked at him. “Fifty-fifty.”

“Ooh?! You’re saying if I go now and confess, there’s a 50% chance she’ll say yes?!”

“Doable, right? You’ve got more experience than me. Help a brother out!”

“I said you’ve got a 50% chance—meaning anyone does. You might get accepted, you might not. That’s all.”

“That’s not helpful at all!”

“Hey bro, seriously—you’re not interested in her, are you?” John pulled Dylin into a corner and whispered.

“That depends on what kind of interest you mean.”

John stared at the smiling Dylin, finding him unreadable.

Dylin used to be the type to answer with a grunt and no more. Now he was practically a riddle machine.

“You’re too greedy. A gorgeous wife and three beauties already—you don’t need to compete with us single guys too!”

“You can shout that a little louder if you want to get mobbed by their fanclubs.” Dylin dusted off his coat.

“I’m serious! Teresa sticks by you through thick and thin, and you’re out here eyeing someone else? That’s scummy.”

“If not her, then Astrid? You’re in the same team—you could make it work!”

“What are you trying to say?” Dylin yawned and started walking away.

“My dear brother, you’re even better looking than before! Seriously, you’ve leveled up since returning from Ruglian.”

“Oh? So?”

“My beloved bro—how about asking that girl if she has a boyfriend?”

“How exactly am I supposed to do that?” Dylin shot him a look. “Walk up and ask ‘Hey, got a boyfriend?’ Only you would come up with something like that.”

“Then how else? Stage an ‘accidental’ encounter? I suck at that!”

“Accidental meeting? What century are you living in?” Dylin leaned on a wall, scoffing. “No wonder you’re single. Your brain’s been soaked in trashy romance novels.”

“Hah!? Say that again and I’ll turn blue-eyed!” John threatened with mock rage. “If I can’t find a girl, maybe I’ll look for a guy instead!”

“Sorry, I’d reject you too.”

“Hmph! Not your choice!”

“If you won’t help, I’ll tackle you right here, right now!”

“Idiot. If you want to know, just go up and confess—wait, wrong word—I mean, ask her directly.”

“Ahh? Isn’t that too direct?”

“That’s why I said you don’t have what it takes.”

“You…” John’s fire was lit by Dylin’s teasing stare.

“Fine! I’ll try!”

“But direct confessions don’t always work. Even if she’s single, she might dodge by pretending she’s taken.”

“True… Then?” John’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t you go ask if she’s got a boyfriend?”

“Why me? I’m not the one trying to date her.”

“Please! You’re my only trusted love guru!”

“Shouldn’t you consider your teammates first?” Then Dylin remembered—John’s team was all beefy dudes.

What a tragedy.

“Fine, I’ll ask. But don’t blame me if it backfires.”

John could be annoying, but he was a true friend.

“Thanks! Thank you so much!”

The two turned the corner—just in time to see the doll-like girl, her golden hair tied with a blue ribbon, standing at the far end of the hallway on a balcony, gazing at the scenery below.

John gave Dylin a look. Dylin shrugged and walked toward her, hands in pockets.

This stretch of hallway and the balcony were empty at this time of day.

“Ahem.” Dylin cleared his throat as he stepped onto the balcony, trying to draw her attention.

“Hey, are you by yourself?” He wore a friendly smile. Honestly, it was his first time trying to strike up a conversation like this. The old Dylin had been strictly herbivorous—even if he had feelings, he wouldn’t have acted on them.

Hearing his voice, the blonde girl turned to look at him.

The first thing Dylin noticed were her moist, jade-green eyes, followed by a porcelain doll’s face even more dreamlike than her silhouette. With her twin ponytails and golden hair, she looked like a princess straight out of a fairytale…

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