Guide to Raising a Succubus

Does He Dislike Me?

Betty spread out the returned test papers on her desk, her bracelet-clad hand snapping its fingers. The gems on the bracelet shimmered, and a feathered quill, guided by magic, swiftly scanned the pages, correcting them as it glided across the table. "What do you think he'll score?" she asked Emily.

"This test wasn't too difficult. As a Level II Novice Mage, he should at least secure 80 points," Emily estimated.

"Then I guess 70," Betty replied with a teasing smirk.

Emily raised an eyebrow, detecting a hint of unexpected intention in Betty's tone. "You don't seem to wish for him to score too high, do you?"

Betty didn't respond, her eyes fixed on the quill, which had already completed marking dozens of papers. With a flick of her wrist, Sarah's paper floated into her hand.

Emily peered over her shoulder, exclaiming in disbelief, "30 points? How is that possible?"

Studying the mistakes on the paper, her surprise deepened. "He missed a basic question about mana stones being used to fuel magic—was he doing this on purpose? Surely he knows about mana stones."

Betty stared at the paper, her confusion mirroring Emily's. A mage unaware of mana stones seemed implausible. "And this one," Emily continued, pointing at another question, "he doesn't know who authored 'Fundamentals of Magic'? He's never heard of the renowned Xi'an? And here, he can't name the founder of the Magic Tower—High Mage Owen? These are questions I answered when I was seven!"

They exchanged a silent glance, reaching a shared conclusion: he must have done it deliberately.

Propping up her chin with a thoughtful hand, Betty shook her head. "I don't understand. Why would he do this?"

Emily speculated, "Perhaps he's onto your plans?"

"Am I that obvious?" Betty asked.

Emily shrugged. "You did stare at him for quite a bit during the test, didn't you?"

Actually, she hadn't—but she had marveled at his beauty for a few seconds. Maybe she had unwittingly lingered.

"Forget it," Betty said, waving a dismissive hand. "Let him through this round. If he truly dislikes the idea of becoming my apprentice, he'll quit on his own in the second round."

"And then? Will you give up on him?"

"What else? Do you think I should force him into it?"

Emily pondered for a moment before smirking, "Not that it wouldn't be entertaining. I do enjoy reading those kinds of stories."

---

The second round of selection involved a practical magic exam. In the academy's C-zone plaza, an area was cordoned off for the test, with targets lined up at the far end. It was clear that the task was target practice—contestants could use any magic to hit the target set twenty meters away. If they attempted to use physical means like archery, the targets, protected by a magical barrier, would be impenetrable.

From a distance, Betty and Emily observed the candidates, Emily pointing out Sarah among them.

Betty smiled, watching him. "He came after all. Now I can finally use the 'magic' I planned for him."

"What did you do?" Emily asked.

"I set a magical wind current around his position. As long as his magic isn't directed at the ground, it’ll guide his spells to the bullseye."

"Aren't you worried about the Magic Tower discovering this?" Emily inquired.

Betty winked. "There's a way to use magic without being caught," she whispered.

Emily sighed, shaking her head. Her upright nature struggled with the morality of Betty's "underhanded tactics."

"The fairness Master Owen advocated for has been marred by your actions," she critiqued.

Betty shrugged nonchalantly. To her, the fairness of this selection was already compromised from the start by the Magic Tower's own involvement.

Regardless, soon she'd have her promising apprentice as desired.

---

The second exam was about to commence, but Sarah's mind was still entangled with thoughts from the last one. Two-thirds of the questions on that extensive test paper had eluded his understanding. Only then did he grasp the depths of his ignorance about human knowledge.

His sisters always teased, "Sarah, even if you venture into the outside world, you'd scurry back home promptly." He had refused to believe them, but now, integration into this world seemed far more daunting than he had imagined.

Yet to his surprise, he'd been invited to the second test, invigorating him with a resolve to excel.

He stood beyond the chalk-drawn start line, examining the distant target. This test seemed far easier than the previous one.

But just as he prepared, the appearance of "Professor Betty" on the sidelines ensnared his attention. The professor, as kind as when he first met her, was conversing with a woman he assumed was the one he'd seen before—the assistant, maybe?

Lost in thought, his gaze locked onto "the professor." As their eyes met briefly, both women turned to look at him.

Flustered, he quickly averted his eyes, inspecting his damp, sweaty palms. He wasn't ready to meet "the professor" yet; their first encounter should be more official, more dignified.

The proctor announced the start, but Sarah's nerves from "Professor Betty's" presence caused his fiery spell to pause mid-air, beginning its descent.

Oh no! He panicked, unsure if a supplementary spell to correct it would count as cheating. Then he watched, astonished, as an invisible air current buoyed the fireball, steering it miraculously towards the bullseye.

In awe, he watched it happen, his mind regaining its calm. Crouching down, he inspected the spell that had created the gust.

---

Betty wondered why Sarah kept staring at Katherine, "Who is that handsome kid?" Katherine asked, noting his attentiveness.

"His name is Sarah. Do you know him?" Betty replied.

Katherine chuckled, covering her mouth. "Heavens, no. My son is older than him."

As they spoke, Sarah finished his exam and began walking their way. Betty was perplexed—what was his intention? Whom was he seeking?

When they drew closer, it became clear he aimed for Katherine, who grew tense.

"What's he after?" she whispered to Betty. "Could my husband have left a child out of wedlock?"

"Unlikely," Betty said, bemused but equally curious about his motive.

Sarah's intentions were straightforward—he identified the enchanted assistance on his target, feeling it imperative to report this to Professor Betty for fairness.

Thus, as he attempted to speak, "Professor Betty, regarding the wind magic—"

He barely got the words out before the young lady stepped forward, silencing him with a gentle hand over his mouth. Whatever he had discovered, it had to remain secret—should the principal or the Tower learn of the foul play, she would face consequences.

Sarah froze, acutely aware of the scent of herbs and the softness of her touch. All of this transpired before "Professor Betty."

He was frustrated but also mesmerized by the woman's firm gaze and her bemused, jade-green eyes that seemed to acknowledge his predicament.

At that moment, Betty realized that Sarah had mistaken Katherine for her. Although uncertain how this confusion arose, she kindly corrected him, "Sarah."

His shock was compounded by her next words: "I am Betty."

Sarah was stunned into silence, overwhelmed by this revelation, unable to reconcile the youthful woman before him as his professor. Questions swirled in his mind—was this a jest, a misunderstanding?

Yet the lady he'd presumed to be "the professor" stood beside them, smiling in confirmation of his error.

Comprehension dawned slowly—during the exam, this woman was indeed Professor Betty.

That's why the other candidates had been glancing up—they knew. Realizing this, he mentally berated himself for not looking up, for missing the sight of her.

Before he could process further, Betty's hand finally dropped from his lips, gesturing for silence.