The Author's POV

The air around the room was tense. It felt suffocating. Almost as if I was stuck inside of a cramped room with no room to breathe.

The reason for such atmosphere?

Quietly sitting on my chair, a stunningly beautiful young girl with glossy black hair and porcelain white skin devoid of any imperfections, was curiously looking around my room.

Amanda stern.

Someone who I had never thought of interacting with privately.

Seeing her sit on my seat as if it was the most natural thing to do, my eyebrows twitched.

Just what did I do to deserve this?

...no, I knew why, I just wanted to deny reality.

Sighing, I spoke up to try to break the awkward atmosphere.

"Would you like green tea or water?"

Hearing my voice, Amanda's eyes paused on my face for a couple of seconds and after a short pause she said

"...green tea"

"Alright"

Heading to where my teapot was stashed, I took it out and poured steaming hot water into the pot.

After a couple of seconds, I took a bag filled with tea leaves and gently threw them into the pot.

While waiting for the tea to be ready, I turned around and noticed Amanda's obsidian black eyes staring at me.

Taken aback by her odd behavior, I asked

"...Need something?"

Hearing my voice and seeing that I had caught her red-handed, Amanda looked to the side and acted as if nothing happened as she lightly murmured.

"...Nothing"

Smiling, I looked back at the teapot.

What do you mean nothing? You were obviously staring at me!

Even a blind person could tell you were looking at me.

Pinching my brows, I decided to think about this in a positive way.

From the looks of things, it at least seemed that she had no hard feelings against me. Since I knew her personality well, I knew that if she were to have had a grudge against me, she would've avoided me at all costs.

Treating me as if I was nonexistent.

Seeing how she had actively come looking for me, I knew that she didn't hold what happened against me.

...so what did she come here for?

There was definitely a reason for her visit. I sort of had a hunch on what it was, but I wasn't too sure.

Most likely, she came to express her gratitude for saving her.

If so, I better get this over with fast. If someone found out 'the Amanda Stern' who was the talk of the academy was having a private meeting with a boy in his own room, I wouldn't even know how I died.

The fact that she was in my room meant that my life was in danger.

Sigh.

Just when I thought things weren't going to become more troublesome suddenly a new troublesome situation arose.

Looking at the water in the teapot that had started turning murky brown, I carefully removed the teapot from the heater and poured the tea into two porcelain teacups.

Walking back to where Amanda was seated, I handed the steaming hot teacup to her and sat in front of her.

"Thank you"

Taking the teacup with both hands, Amanda gently blew on the cup and took a sip.

Closing her eyes and savoring the taste of the tea, Amanda nodded slightly said

"...it's good"

"Thank you"

the tea. It had a slightly bitter aftertaste that even after a couple of seconds lingered at the tip of my tongue. It was

you want

couldn't just spend all the time drinking tea, I decided

indifferent face stared at me. After

"...Thank you"

Frowning slightly, I said

"For what?"

"For saving me"

back

ever recall

"Yo-.."

was about to answer, I

like you forgot what I

'..forget what you saw'

remembering what I had said, Amanda remained quiet for a little bit. Her brows continuously knit and relaxed, and after a while, she shook her head

"I can't do that..."

placed my teacup down.

at her crystal black eyes that were looking back at me, I thought for a moment before

if you're really sorry then give

Amanda sighed in

visibly relieved by my

"Okay"

quickly went to

this, I couldn't

was just

owing anyone

indebted to anyone other than herself. No, it was more like she only trusted herself and

she owed so that she wouldn't

million U

million U? I guess

my tea, I initially nodded apathetically, but as soon as I processed what she had said, I almost spat

what did you

just stood up and was

5 million,

that's not

I immediately shut her

rich second generation kids treating

"...so 5 million okay?"

"Sigh, hold on"

on my chair, I started

With that much money, I could pretty much solve the problem of finding a

Amanda, an idea suddenly came into

something else instead

the room temperature dropped

probably misunderstanding something, I

for any dates or anything that

brows relaxed. Nodding her head she

"...Okay"

in relief, I

me a

"A sword art?"

my request, Amanda

I was confused by her reaction, but remembering what

am looking for something to disguise

"oh"

if she understood something,

about my strength. In the end, I said nothing. I was

try to solve the

matter if she misunderstood or not. At the end of the day, she wasn't the type of person to treat people differently regardless

a blabbermouth. Meaning that

sword

a bit, I

would like a sword art that primarily

for a second, Amanda pondered for a

"How many stars?"

offering me around 5 million U, I

a bit, Amanda scrolled through her phone for a

me

holographic function on the phone, a long list of sword

from the criteria

I said I wasn't

of the guild master of the number

an immeasurable amount of resources and