Chapter 120
Theo's attention was drawn to the fact that Erietta had not only mastered the entirety of the opposition within the Realm of Joy that she had conquered before, but that her abilities had now increased drastically.
That surge of power allowed her to fully grasp every aspect related to the Realm of Joy within just one more episode ahead!
Each mastery was not merely a repetition of past success, but a breakthrough beyond her previous limits, creating a point where her strength rivaled expectations and even blurred the line between the teacher's observation and the student's true capability.
The energy radiating from this achievement filled Theo with admiration and also a question about what might come next, as though the battlefield and the mastery of energy no longer progressed linearly but expanded into a dimension difficult to predict.
Theo re-examined his notes, trying to weigh whether he should feel relieved laughter or suppressed ache, for Erietta's achievements had surpassed the framework of his observations and experiences.
Every number, every note, every symbol he wrote became a marker that the mastery of the Realm of Joy was no longer mere theory or training, but a reality—tangible and powerful.
His gaze remained sharp, monitoring the small details that showed consistency and stability in Erietta's mastery, while also realizing that such growth would demand a different level of supervision and strategy than before.
'Her stare is rather strange. But if it calms her down after everything that happened just now, I won't make it an issue.
Besides, maintaining focus is far more important than me bothering to divert her gaze.'
While he continued writing, Erietta naturally turned her head, silently watching Theo with his yellow notebook.
At first, of course, Theo did not mind and chose to let the girl stay with her thoughts.
Plaaak!
'Amazing. What kind of teacher behaves like this in front of his student?'
Fuuuuh!
'But honestly, perhaps I'm the one who's not sane for having to deal with these two primadonnas.'
Theo remained seated with a composed body while the air around him occasionally brushed against his skin, making no sound except the scratch of his pen over the yellow paper.
Erietta remained silent and motionless, mirroring the tranquility he once witnessed from Aldraya Kansh Que, a demeanor that made Theo feel as though he was staring at a living wall—perfect in expressionless stillness.
Every second felt slow and lengthened, the quietness forcing Theo to swallow his own patience and mental endurance, realizing that the static energy radiating from these two girls held a kind of strength that could not easily be explained by simple logic.
As time passed, Theo began to feel a subtle yet real pressure from the situation, a tension that clung to all his senses.
His right hand hovered uselessly, unable to move freely because he knew every action would be silently observed by a figure showing no emotion.
Through her rigid and quiet stance, Erietta demanded an unusual level of self-control and mental fortitude.
Theo realized this was not merely physical observation or training, but a test touching the core of mental and emotional ability—a field where the smallest mistake could become a reflection of one's internal imbalance.
Finally, when those 59 seconds passed, Theo could no longer hold back the storm swirling inside him.
His left hand held the notebook midway, while his right hand struck his own forehead with enough force for the pain to pierce through his awareness.
There was a sense of madness rising inside him, a mixture of frustration, bewilderment, and admiration toward the serenity of Erietta and Aldraya.
He realized that facing beings so flat and rigid like them, who showed no expression even when all attention and energy focused on them, demanded a level of sanity so different that it created a temporary sense of madness in his normally stable mind.
"Why are you hitting your own head, Master Theo?"
'No matter how annoyed I am, I must remember that Erietta is not Aldraya.
I must restrain myself, I cannot explode like before.'
"Is there something that makes you feel the need to say even a single word while staring at me taking notes?"
Erietta finally opened her mouth, her voice soft yet piercing through the calm Theo had built around him.
Theo, who initially wanted to vent his frustration as he had toward Aldraya during their previous encounter, held himself back, realizing that the situation and the person before him were different.
The energy and concentration radiating from Erietta demanded caution—a reminder that this interaction was not merely about physical training or energy combat, but an exchange that required full control over emotions and internal responses.
His eyes stayed on the open yellow notebook, yet the awareness of Erietta's presence beside him made every stroke of his pen measured, never careless, and still flowing in harmony with his thoughts.
Every word he wrote, every line recorded, seemed to form a bridge between objective observation and the awareness of his student, who had begun showing signs of initiative.
Theo sensed that a single word from Erietta could become the key to gauging her understanding, awareness, and budding self-control—enough to make him consider his own steps before he acted or reacted.
Silence filled the space once more, but this time it was different from before.
There was a thin tension lingering in the air—a sense that every second mattered because this interaction was no longer just about observing physical ability or energy, but also about the fine dynamics between teacher and student, between self-control and understanding.
Theo realized that the patience he had maintained so far was part of a greater test—a test demanding awareness of every movement, every breath, and every possibility that could arise from a single simple word spoken by Erietta.
'Flattered? Is that a smile? Since when can she do that? And why am I the one feeling strange seeing it?'
"You… are unique."
Fuuuuh!
"Of all the people I've ever met and tried to acknowledge as my teacher, none ever truly understood the hidden potential within me.
None ever made me willing to open it—at least not until you appeared."
Ussssh!
Erietta revealed a faint smile, barely visible, an expression so small that it made Theo frown at the unexpected strangeness radiating from his student.
Throughout their past interactions, Erietta had rarely—almost never—shown even the slightest hint of emotion on her face, making this small smile feel like a tiny crack in the icy fortress she had always maintained.
Theo watched her intently, trying to grasp the meaning behind the gentle curve of her lips, realizing that something in the way she responded to his energy and attention had changed.
Theo's curiosity grew—not just because of the smile, but because of the confession hidden behind it.
Among everyone Erietta had ever encountered, none had succeeded in understanding her latent potential the way Theo did.
The energy and attention he directed at her had managed to ignite a part of Erietta long concealed, revealing layers rarely accessed by others, and awakening a new awareness within her.
Every movement, every small interaction, became a key to understanding Erietta's inner rhythm—a rhythm difficult to capture through ordinary observation.
'This is the first time I've seen her react like this.
Even in all the scenarios of Flo Viva Mythology, there was never a scene of Erietta smiling like this—much less saying something like that.'
Hhhh!
'But it seems she's not done speaking yet. Let her continue.'
"And now I'm even more certain that I wasn't wrong to be guided to the right teacher."
To be continued…