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Chapter 20
Asiel’s gaze must have been distracting him, because DiMarion—who had been staring straight ahead—turned his head. Their eyes naturally collided in midair.
For a moment, Asiel felt as though she and DiMarion were the only ones frozen in the noisy classroom. Otherwise, there was no reason he would have turned to look at her instead of immediately looking away.
Thinking this might be a chance she couldn’t miss, Asiel winked—pretty, cute, and endearing—with one eye. DiMarion, caught off guard by the sudden gesture, looked slightly bewildered and then turned away again. Asiel clicked her tongue and rested her chin on her hand.
Our older brothers always look like they’re about to die of happiness when I do this. But I don’t show it that easily.
[Same here.]
Hmph.
Just when she needed him desperately, the Demon King only appeared when he felt like it. Like now—just to say something pointless.
“Ashiel Winterberry.”
Professor Alec, who had apparently entered the classroom without anyone noticing, sharply called out to Asiel, who had been staring into space. Suppressing a rising sigh, Asiel buried her face in her textbook.
“You’re not going to answer?”
“…You called me, teacher.”
“For the love of—can you please ensure I don’t have to call on you before class even begins?”
“Yes, teacher. Sorry. I’m not sure, but I guess my face is just too noticeable. Should I change seats?”
It was a polite request—if you dislike it so much, don’t look in her direction the moment you enter.
But Professor Alec only lifted the corners of his mouth in a faint, mocking smile. At first, it had been interesting how casually Asiel spoke back to a professor, but now the students were used to their verbal sparring. It was hard to believe this had all started just a month ago.
“Let’s begin the lesson.”
At DiMarion’s low voice, Alec finally opened the textbook, snapping back to attention. Asiel lowered her head and let out a small sigh. The class hadn’t even properly started, and she was already getting sleepy.
She didn’t know how great a scholar Professor Alec was, but unfortunately, he didn’t seem to have any talent for teaching—especially not to juniors.
At first, Asiel had tried hard to understand his lectures. She had even studied in advance with Alen’s help. But after a few classes, she realized Alec’s explanations simply weren’t suited for her level. They were unnecessarily long and complicated.
Even Alen, who usually understood everything, had said Alec’s lectures were boring.
So Asiel found it strange how DiMarion could sit perfectly upright, focused without a single movement of distraction. She had heard he had entered as the top student.
If DiMarion was like that, then what about the first prince, Gregor? She was suddenly curious.
“And thus, the five gods succeeded in sealing the god of death, Pater, who symbolizes death, into the underworld. Now, what does this mean? Asiel Winterberry?”
Here it came. The question barrage.
This was one of Professor Alec’s ways of tormenting Asiel.
“Hmm… I guess numbers matter in a fight?”
“Asiel.”
Alen poked her side, but her expression remained indifferent.
At first, Asiel had desperately wanted to answer correctly. She had even studied with Alen. But after several lectures, she realized Alec’s questions were not at junior level at all. He simply enjoyed watching her struggle.
So after that, she began answering randomly. Alec, for his part, barely acknowledged her answers.
“Would Prince DiMarion care to answer?”
“We all fear the death that is bestowed upon us. But if we hone the powers given to us, that fear naturally fades. Even if our ideals are high, they are promises that can be achieved before death. As proof of that, the gods each offered something they cherished.”
“Excellent. That was material planned for next lesson.”
Alec looked so pleased with DiMarion’s answer that he seemed ready to applaud.
Then his gaze shifted to Asiel. Expecting her to feel embarrassed or ashamed, he found her still utterly unbothered. Worse, her eyes were bright and alert, which made it even more infuriating.
Alec had never liked Asiel from the beginning. An adopted child of House Winterberry. Worse, someone who had not received any divine power. Before her arrival, he had most despised Dexter Hugo, a commoner who had somehow received divine power—but compared to Asiel, Dexter now seemed tolerable.
“Ashiel Winterberry.”
“…Yes.”
Her tone clearly said: You’ve already embarrassed me once, why again?
Alec forced a smile and continued.
“What do you think of Prince DiMarion’s thoughts?”
Asiel tilted her head, not because she didn’t know what to say, but because she had just realized, Oh right, his surname is Umbrel.
Sensing her thoughts immediately, Alen sighed deeply and began furiously writing on a piece of paper to show her. He had been doing this for a while now—helping Asiel with notes. Alec, noticing him, looked displeased.
Just as he was about to tell Alen to stop interfering—
“Why is death scary?”
Asiel suddenly questioned the professor instead.
“What did you say? Do you expect me to explain the concept of death to you as well, Winterberry?”
A scoff echoed somewhere in the classroom. Alen immediately lifted his head and glared toward it, silencing the room.
“No, it’s just… I’m also afraid of dying. Death means the end…”
Or does it?
She, who had once been hit by a car as Yoon Seol, was now Asiel Winterberry, arguing with a professor in class. And after this life ended, she was supposed to be reborn as the youngest daughter of a chaebol family.
[That only happens if you complete your mission properly.]
Stop showing up only when I’m in situations like this. You should appear when Alec is tormenting me.
[Sorry. Even I can’t give you an answer he’d like.]
Fine. I should rely on what I can trust.
[I’m not even a person.]
“Ashiel Winterberry?”
Lost in her mental argument, she was called again. She was getting sick of hearing her name.
“…Then you shouldn’t teach it like that.”
“What?”
“You said the commoners are promised reincarnation. That if they live this life without shame before the gods, they’ll be blessed in the next. Then you should say death isn’t something to fear.”
Asiel spoke while thinking that the people of the Wensley Kingdom weren’t so different from her own situation—living this life to secure happiness in the next.
“Well, Winterberry…”
Alec’s face grew cold as ice, clearly displeased.
“I hope you receive such a blessing in your next life. Preferably from Toté, the god of wisdom.”
Though his tone sounded kind, Asiel could hear the underlying chill: Even if you die now, who knows what happens to you? If you’re so unwise now, be born wiser next time.
Asiel glared at him.
At that moment, the red-haired girl in front of her turned around. She had sharp, attractive fangs.
