A Man's Jealousy

"Long time no see. You guys doing okay?"

Coco stood in the Noblesse courtyard, her signature white coat fluttering slightly. She gave her usual listless greeting, a cigarette-shaped candy dangling from her lips.

And right beside her stood...

"Hello. I am Neil Albert, an upperclassman."

"I am Priscilla. It is a pleasure to meet you."

There stood Neil and Priscilla—the latter making absolutely no effort to hide her Slave Crest.

The students started to murmur, but Coco quickly cut through the noise.

"Once you become Intermediate-year Students, your studies and exams get a lot harder. This is also the time when your individual magical affinities start to surface. Naturally, that means some of you are going to do something reckless. So, before that happens, I’m going to have you practice the most important fundamental of all."

Coco held up her right index finger. Then, using a small needle held in her left hand, she gave it a sharp jab—purposely drawing blood.

The students let out a collective gasp at the sight.

"Neil."

"Yes, Ma'am."

At Coco’s prompt, Neil covered her finger with his hand, and the wound began to close instantly.

Healing Magic.

"I asked Neil and his companion to help out because I can't handle all of you on my own," Coco continued. "Everyone, take a sterilized needle and prick your own finger. You’ll take turns practicing your healing. Magic is all about visualization. On the battlefield, even a tiny scratch can be fatal. Unfortunately, I don't expect all of you to be able to do it. Anyway, do your best."

She was as lethargic as ever, but she was right—healing wasn't something just anyone could do. I only knew the barest basics myself. It required an incredibly delicate mental image.

As the lesson began, one person succeeded almost instantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Impressive. You’re Shari of House Elias, right? I knew you were a practitioner of Spirit Magic, but that was truly beautiful."

"Ah, um... thank you very much."

Trust the dexterous Shari to pull it off. Of course she could do something like this.

Still, thanks to her success, I was treated to a very rare sight.

"............"

Allen was standing there, seething in total silence. Talk about an easy guy to read.

Hmph. A man’s jealousy is a pathetic thing to behold.

Then again, maybe Neil had actually become a decent guy. Though I doubted Allen would ever see it that way.

...Wait.

"Yes, yes, very good. And you are the young lady of the Violetta Family?"

"Yes, I am."

"That was splendid healing. Not just the wound itself—your ability to achieve such results with minimal mana is remarkable. Tell me... surely you didn't teach yourself?"

"During Summer Vacation (Estarm), I studied in the Gedou Region to the west."

"I see. The medical advancements in Gedou are truly staggering. Just one word of advice, though—it’s better to ensure the blood coagulates thoroughly before closing the wound. Doing that alone will make the resulting scar almost invisible."

"......I understand."

Perfect analysis, polite conduct, and a bright, carefree smile. Cynthia, who had already heard the truth about him from Lilith, looked utterly bewildered.

...Wait, what is this? What’s this feeling bubbling up from the bottom of my stomach?

"H-Hey, Weiss! My blood won't stop! Hurry up and heal me!"

"Hold your horses, Duke."

"I stabbed it too deep! Please, the blood is—"

"Shut up."

That "Neil" bastard... I really don't like his face.