Chapter 3: My Money Is In Danger

"Did you rig the compatibility test?"

"First you asked me if I love you. Now you’re asking if I rigged the compatibility test? Just how low do you think of me?"

Ephraim frowned. "I didn’t mean it like that."

"Sure you didn’t. Mental damage. Make sure to add that to the compensation." Lydia smiled teasingly.

His face soured.

Ephraim looked at the notification panel as if the number might change if he stared at it long enough.

"95%. Lydia, that’s almost unheard of."

"Great. So we’re compatible. Now sign."

A compatibility this high was almost unheard of. Even among S-Rank Sentinels, finding a Guide with exceptional compatibility was rare.

"What’s wrong?" Lydia waved her hand in front of his face but he could barely hear her. "You seem to be lost in your own thoughts."

"95% is higher than I expected."

Lydia pulled her hand away and pushed the paper back at Ephraim. The blue glow along the document’s silver edge faded, leaving only his signature field illuminated.

"Your turn. Sign it already."

Ephraim glanced at the annulment document.

"I didn’t expect our compatibility to be this high."

"Neither did I. But here we are. Let’s end this once and for all."

He picked up the stylus and forced himself to look down at the annulment document.

"Right."

He was about to sign when—

BOOM!

"Kyaaaaah!"

The entire university building shook violently. The sleek walls trembled as red warning lights flashed along the corridor, while the transparent displays overhead flickered before switching to a red emergency alert. A loud siren blared throughout the building.

A deafening explosion came from outside, followed by the sound of screams erupting across the university grounds.

Lydia’s expression changed. She rushed toward the nearest window and watched students scattered outside.

"What was that?!"

"No! A Dimensional Rift appeared in the university!"

"We’re doomed! Run!!"

A massive black vortex had appeared in the middle of the university’s central garden, twisting violently as dark energy spread across the grounds.

Monsters poured out of the rift as students fled in panic, scrambling to escape the creatures charging through the garden.

Lydia was still in the hallway when a gigantic horned lizard slammed into the cafeteria wing. The impact made the sleek silver walls tremble and cracked the large glass panels overlooking the garden.

Wolves and bird monsters dashed through the cafeteria, knocking over tables and sending food trays flying as students screamed and scattered.

A large piece of broken glass dropped toward Lydia.

She barely managed to duck as it crashed against the floor beside her, scattering smaller shards across the hallway. A few flew past her face, missing her by mere inches.

Unlike normal animals, rift monsters were much bigger.

The wolves were as huge as cars, while the bird monsters were large enough to cover a classroom window with one spread of their wings.

Another roar shook the building.

Ephraim immediately bolted toward the garden. He rushed through the nearest exit and vaulted over the garden wall, landing among the monsters.

"Ephraim!"

He didn’t even bother to look back.

"Wait! You haven’t signed the annulment yet! Do you have any idea how much money is on that paper?"

Without wasting another second, Lydia dashed after Ephraim and jumped into the garden.

A loud screech ripped through the university ground as the gigantic horned lizard opened its jaws and spat a huge glob of disgusting, black slimy liquid at a group of C-Rank Sentinel students.

They scrambled just in time. But a small amount of it splashed onto a girl’s hand.

"Ahhh!"

Her skin sizzled on contact, slowly dissolving beneath the corrosive slime. Some of the younger freshmen had to drag the poor girl away before the blue lizard could charge at her again.

The situation was getting worse by the second. Lydia’s bracelet suddenly vibrated, and a blue notification panel flickered to life in front of her.

[Dimensional Rift Level: A-Rank]

[Please remain alert and seek assistance from a Sentinel.]

The garden had descended into chaos. Emergency barriers were already rising around the garden paths, while warning lights flashed along the surrounding buildings.

An A-Rank Rift was no joke.

Judging by the sheer size of it and the monsters pouring out, this wasn’t an ordinary rift.

Lydia weaved between fleeing students and charging monsters. When she finally caught up to Ephraim, something immediately felt wrong.

His movements were sharp and controlled, but his breathing was heavier than usual. The air around him seemed to tremble with the pressure of his Resonance.

Then Lydia saw his eyes.

The red in his irises had spread until they were almost completely black, leaving only narrow crimson slits in the darkness.

[Resonance Stress: 87%]

It was already that high.

"Ephraim, are you okay? Your eyes are almost black. There’s only a little red left."

"I’m fine."

"You don’t look fine."

At this level, Ephraim was dangerously close to losing control and turning into a Mindless.

"And you’re still fighting?"

"What else would I do? I’d rather not explain to your brothers why I lost their sister."

"Nice answer. Because you still haven’t signed my annulment. And I need you to stay human, not a Mindless. Otherwise, the compensation agreement won’t be valid."

Ephraim gave her a flat look.

"Are you seriously worried about the compensation right now?"

"Of course. We both have to be sane to finalize the agreement."

"You really read the entire agreement."

"Obviously. It’s my money and I won’t let you go crazy. That’s what I’m here for. I’m your Guide, remember?"

Before Ephraim could answer, a translucent barrier spread across the campus grounds, sealing the entire battlefield.

[Rift Barrier Activated.]

[Sentinels and Guides inside the Rift Barrier cannot receive help from outside.]

[No one can enter or leave the Rift Barrier.]

[Defeat all Rift Monsters to deactivate the Rift Barrier.]

Ephraim glanced at the barrier.

"We’re trapped. Just stay behind me and try not to die."

"I’ll try. I need that compensation."

Ephraim stared at her for a moment.

Of course.

The compensation.

The barrier rose around the garden, cutting off the battlefield from the rest of campus. Outside, the chaos quickly faded as students and professors found themselves unable to clearly see what was happening inside the sealed battlefield.

Lydia barely had time to process it before a dark shadow swept across her. A massive griffon swooped down, its razor-sharp talons aimed straight at her.

"Watch out!"

Before Lydia could evade, a strong arm wrapped securely around her waist and pulled her back against him. Ephraim shielded Lydia from the incoming attack.

The griffon’s claws sliced through the air where her head had been a second ago.

Lydia’s heart skipped at the sudden closeness but she quickly shoved the thought aside. Now was hardly the time to think about it.

No. Absolutely not.

They had already been ex-fiancés in her previous life. There was no reason things would turn out differently this time.

Lydia was here to get her annulment and the compensation. That was all.

So why was this annoying prince still holding her?

"Ephraim, you weren’t supposed to hug your ex-fiancée in your arms like this! This is improper!" Lydia protested and squirmed in his arms.

Ephraim sighed and released Lydia at once. But before stepping away, his hand lingered for a moment as he gently smoothed her disheveled hair back into place.

"So you prefer getting mauled by that monster?"

"You’re insufferable, you know."

"You’re welcome."

Before Lydia could complain again, Ephraim tapped the silver edge of the annulment document. The paper folded neatly into itself before sliding back into the slim silver capsule, which sealed with a soft click.

Wait. Why did Ephraim put it away? He hadn’t signed it yet.

"Ephraim," Lydia said slowly. "Don’t tell me you’re backing out on our annulment now."

"We could talk about it later. We have to force our way out." Ephraim warned. "You know the drill. Try to stay focused."

Lydia frowned. "Out of all people, why do I have to get stuck here with you? Prince Charming can’t possibly resist playing the perfect student even during a Rift, can you?"

Ephraim turned toward her with that familiar, perfectly polite smile.

"Do you think an F-Rank Guide can handle A-Rank monsters? All right, then. I can give you some private time with those monsters that were more than eager to have you as their lunch."

That smile. Yes. That annoying polite smile he always wore when his expression seemed to say,’Be my guest. Do your worst and don’t blame it on me.’

Why did he have to be so good at making everything sound reasonable?

"Fine. Lead the way, Your Highness."

You win this round, you infuriating bastard! I just need to endure this because I keep my head fully attached to my body to collect the compensation. That’s all!

"Just Ephraim is fine. Or... Rion." His smile turned faintly smug. "Like how you used to call me when you were 16."

"First you ask to annul our engagement, and now you’re pulling me into your arms and asking me to call you by the old endearment only I used for you. Make up your mind, Ephraim. Are we breaking off our engagement or are you trying to win me back?"

Ephraim glanced down at her. "You seem awfully confident that I’d have to try."

What’s inside this man’s head?