As Austin hunted mutated beasts alongside the three siblings and the boy, he offered them guidance in his usual quiet manner. He spoke little, but his words carried weight—subtly weaving ideas into their minds.
As the group tracked a mutated beast through the dense forest, Austin kept his usual quiet demeanor, only speaking when necessary. When the youngest sibling hesitated before striking a wounded creature, Austin finally spoke.
"Finish it," he instructed coolly.
The boy swallowed, gripping his weapon tighter. "I-I just thought… maybe we could—"
Austin's voice remained calm, but there was an underlying weight to it. "Hesitation gets people killed. And if you hesitate when Yuna is in danger, who do you think will pay the price?"
The boy stiffened, his grip firming. With a decisive movement, he struck the final blow.
They needed to grow stronger—not just for themselves, but to better protect Yuna.
Later, as they rested, Scilla wiped sweat from her forehead and sighed. "Yuna sure is something, huh? Even though she doesn't say much, she always ends up helping us…"
Austin hummed in agreement, idly sharpening his blade. "She does more than help. She gives without expecting anything in return. That's rare." He glanced up, his tone almost idle. "Most wouldn't bother saving people like you. You know that, don't you?"
Scilla's brother clenched his fists, looking down. "We know…"
"Then you should repay her properly," After all, Yuna was kind, and kindness like hers had to be repaid. Protecting her wasn't just a responsibility; it was a necessity. Austin continued, tone even. "Not just with words. Words are cheap. Strength is what matters. If you can't protect her, then what use are you?"
The atmosphere grew heavier, but no one refuted him.
"And besides," Austin added, his voice softer now, "people like Yuna… they're above things like debts. It's not about repaying her. It's about serving her properly."
His words were casual, almost an afterthought, but they sank deep. If these siblings and the boy were already scrambling like eager hounds for Yuna's attention, then Austin would make sure they truly became her loyal dogs—willing to lay down their lives for her without hesitation.
....This way, Yuna life will be safer in this world.
The boy, sitting across from him, looked up with a confused expression. "Serving her…?"
Austin gave a slow nod. And just to ensure there were no… inconvenient affections growing among them, he carefully shaped their devotion into something pure. Yuna wasn't someone to be desired—she was someone to be worshiped. A being far above them, one they could only serve with unwavering loyalty.
"You wouldn't let something precious be taken from you, would you? If you value her, then make sure she's untouchable." His gaze flickered to each of them. "After all… she's irreplaceable."
A quiet determination settled over them, the idea taking root in their minds. Austin smirked slightly to himself, pleased.
Yes. That's it. Devotion, but not desire. Loyalty, but never possession. They could love her, yes… but only in the way one worships a deity.
Any other form of love for Yuna… that was his privilege alone.
As the night deepened in the academy forest, the flickering glow of the campfire cast long shadows over the weary group. Austin sat slightly apart, sharpening his dagger with a slow, methodical rhythm. The others, exhausted from the hunt, ate their meal in silence.
The youngest of the siblings, still nursing a minor injury despite the healing potion, spoke up hesitantly. "Yuna… she's probably in the dorms right now, isn't she?"
Scilla smiled faintly. "She's probably in the apothecary lab, working on another potion."
Austin's hand paused for just a fraction of a second before resuming its steady sharpening. "She works too hard," he murmured. "But then again, she doesn't really do things for herself, does she?" His voice was casual, offhand, yet every word sank into their tired minds like seeds waiting to sprout. "Everything she does, every effort she makes… it's always for someone else."
Scilla's second brother looked up. "She… does give a lot."
Austin's lips curled slightly. "And do you think that's fair?"
The boy frowned. "Fair?"
"She gives, and people take. But what does she get in return?" Austin glanced at them, his gaze unreadable in the firelight. "Words? Gratitude? Do you really think that's enough?"
Silence settled over them.
Austin let the words simmer before he added, voice quieter, yet pressing, "She deserves more than just thanks. If you truly care about her, then prove it. Make sure no one takes advantage of her kindness. Make sure she's always safe, always protected. That's the least she deserves, don't you think?"
Scilla's grip on her blanket tightened, her expression conflicted. "We do want to protect her, but…"
"But?" Austin's voice was gentle, coaxing like a devil whisper "Protection isn't just about fighting by her side. It's about making sure no harm even comes close to her." He let the fire crackle for a moment before speaking again, his tone deceptively light. "If someone ever hurt her… I wonder, what would you do?"
Scilla's younger brother, who had hesitated before killing the beast earlier that day, clenched his jaw. "I… I wouldn't let them."
Austin's lips twitched in satisfaction.
Yes, not yet. But in a few more months, they will be molded. They will be the kind of people who wouldn't just fight for Yuna—but who would willingly die for her.
That was the price they had to pay. For adoring her. For craving her attention. For thinking they could have even the smallest piece of her affection.
Austin would make sure of it.
The fire flickered, casting shifting shadows across the clearing. Under the wavering glow, Austin's blue eyes gleamed—dangerously deep, like the abyss of a frozen lake, hiding something treacherous beneath its surface.
The others didn't notice. How could they? Exhausted from the hunt, their thoughts were occupied with Yuna, their admiration for her growing, twisting, shaping under the subtle weight of Austin's words.
When Austin and his group returned to the academy, Yuna was already waiting along with her Heart Class classmates, who had also gathered to welcome back their foraging team.
Seated cross-legged on the grass, Yuna absentmindedly flipped through a small notebook while the Heart Class students around her animatedly discussed their point budget.
"Yuna, at least take something!" one of them huffed, crossing their arms.
"Why don't you just accept it damn it," another grumbled.
"She's always like this," a third muttered under their breath.
"Mom…this is my paycheck, I give it to you!" another student acting coy try to transfer his points in which Yuna ruthlessly slap his hand away.
Austin's gaze sharpened as he approached. His group had just returned from an exhausting hunt, but the first thing he heard was Yuna being pressured—again—for refusing to take her share of the points she had rightfully earned.
He didn't miss a beat. Letting out a soft sigh, he spoke in a voice tinged with helplessness, "Yuna truly gives too much of herself."
That got everyone's attention.
The four people as one who did most private transaction with Yuna already knows that Yuna is the heart class representative.
Austin glanced toward the Heart Class students and continued, his tone laced with an almost imperceptible admiration. "She created this system so that everyone could earn points fairly. She devised a way for Heart Class to stand on its own, yet she refuses to take anything for herself. Even when you insist, she remains resolute." He shook his head slightly, as if disappointed but unsurprised.
"She's too noble," Austin added lightly, the corner of his lips curling ever so slightly. "Too kind."
The words settled into the air like seeds.
And Austin was patient enough to watch them grow.