It was a good day.

I wake up early in the morning.
Yesterday was quite demanding, but today I feel great.
Going to bed early to recharge my batteries was a good idea.
Of course, I had to make first a quick visit to both Rero and Luysia to give them their daily dose.

I rise early and energized.
I take advantage of the morning to go for a jog.
As I run, and my breath is visible as clouds of steam, I empty my mind and enjoy the workout.
The crisp autumn air tickles my nose.
The trees are already completely bare.

Despite significantly increasing my stats thanks to the Master - Servant contract, I still need to keep my body in shape.
Stats alone are insufficient if the body is not equally trained.
Balance is key.

After some additional training with some series of squats and push-ups, I take a refreshing shower.

The sun is slowly rising.
It's shining outside despite the season.
It's truly a beautiful day.

It was a good day.

In the cafeteria, I come across an early riser, Welze Juble, engrossed in studying one of her books.
Soon it will be time to move on to harvesting the blue-haired mouse, once I've completed the altar for Raqahela.

"Good morning, Welze! Are you an early bird too?" I greet her with a smile.
"Good morning, Strauss! Yes, today is a beautiful day, don't you think?" She responds happily to see me.
"I agree. Have you had breakfast yet?" I ask.
"Not yet, to be honest. I think I'll have a cappuccino."
"I'll take care of it. Are you sure you only want that?"
"Yes, just a cappuccino."
She likes the cappuccino I offer her, as I always add my special touch to it.
Even Welze needs her daily fix, after all.
"Perfect, I'll be right back," I say with a thumbs-up.

I reach the buffet counter.
Scrambled eggs, beans, sausage, and pretzels.
This is the typical Hallemagner breakfast.
I still struggle to get used to it, but there's no denying that there's no shortage of protein, and I need that.

I fill the tray with the food and order a coffee for myself and a cappuccino for Welze at the counter.
Then, being careful not to be seen, I enhance the cappuccino with the contents of a vial.

Next, I bring the breakfast to the table where the girl is sitting.
"Here's your order, miss," I playfully act as the waiter.

Welze chuckles at my funny act.
The bookworm's smile warms my heart.
"Thanks, Strauss," she says, taking the steaming cappuccino cup.
As she sips her hot drink contentedly, I enjoy my breakfast.

We talk about mundane topics.

"I'd like to participate in another auction," she tells me.
"Sure. As soon as there's another one, I'll let you know. I'd love to go together."

Welze notices Luysia entering the Cafeteria.
"Luysia!" she calls, waving her arms.

The blonde joins us, walking with her usual grace and always with that icy demeanor that sets her apart.
This stunning woman belongs to me.

"Good morning, Welze," the girl greets.
Then, she gives me a look that speaks volumes. She doesn't need to greet me.

"Were you working out, Luysia?" the blue-haired girl asks curiously.
"Yes, as usual," she replies coldly.
"I'm envious; your body is so toned."

"If you want, we could work out together," the blonde suggests, still in a cold tone but less so than usual.
Slowly, she's warming up a bit. I'm glad about that.
I should try to steer them in this direction, where my women are friends with each other.
In this context, how could I fit in Kanna Merfal, a woman so jealous and obsessed that she stalks me?
Not to mention that crazy Bicrista, with her brother in tow.
These are not small problems, but I feel so good today that I don't want to think about worries and just enjoy the day.

"Hello, everyone!" Rero arrives, the brunette with a cheerful demeanor.
Since she's behind me, she rests her hands on my shoulders, showing everyone the familiarity she has with me.
She almost makes me drop my coffee with her exuberance.
I give her a reproachful look.
She playfully huffs.

"Good morning, Rero!" Welze greets her.
Luysia nods in acknowledgment.

"What are you all up to?" the brunette asks casually.

"Strauss and I were having breakfast, want to join?" Welze replies.

"Absolutely!" exclaims Rero, sitting down next to me.

"I'll get some coffee. Do you want anything, Rero?" Luysia asks her friend.

"Everything in the buffet!" Rero replies.

"That's how you'll get fat..." the blonde scolds her.

"No danger!" Rero responds, looking at me mischievously.

I genuinely laugh, amused.

It would be nice if it were always like this.
Peace.

But I know well that peace is a lie.

It was a good day.

 

The day continues just as pleasantly.
Incredibly, Professor Sfanzeen's lecture is not the usual deadly boredom.
He is explaining the incidents caused by the sudden appearance of rifts leading to dungeons.
This year has been atypical. No new dungeon has appeared throughout Hallemagner.
No city destruction or hordes of monsters.
This posed an economic problem for the guilds, but the professor emphasizes that there were still old dungeons open, so the guilds focused on those.

Even the presence of the heartthrob Franz Dadref doesn't bother me today.
Lately, he's been ignoring me, and frankly, I have better things to think about.

The atmosphere in the classroom is, for once, calm and harmonious.
Rero is kept in check by [LIBIDO CONTROL] and is strangely quiet while attending the lesson.

During the class, Bicrista throws lustful glances at me.
I've told the twins to continue behaving as before and to stay in Franz Dadref's entourage.
While Gallo obeys as a good slave should, the sister is an unpredictable psychopath, so... in the end, let her do whatever she wants.
I don't care right now. I feel good and positive.
Good vibes.

The father of the Schrecken family has accepted my offer of rent to redeem, and I've already given him the down payment.
The church is mine. I just have to negotiate the renovation.
Everything is going smoothly, and soon I'll be able to open my legimite business.

It was a good day.

I think of that song I used to listen to in my previous life, with its catchy tune and rich storytelling.
It was one of those classics to play in the car on a day like this.
A positive and fortunate day, without negative events.
One of those days that most people aspire to.

For lunch, Rero, Luysia, and I eat together on the school rooftop.
The scene reminds me of a slice-of-life manga. Peaceful and tender.
I watch Rero indulging in the meat, while Luysia opts for a healthier salad.

Should I be satisfied at this moment when I've already achieved so much?
Should I stop, settle down, and enjoy what I have?
Even if I wanted to, I don't think it would be possible.
When the Roman Empire stopped its expansion, that's when its decline began.
Humans always want more.
I want more.
When I started this journey, I didn't have these doubts. These uncertainties.
I've changed a bit.

The lessons conclude smoothly.

I am outside the main building, walking in the courtyard.
My thoughts are on Professor Kanna Merfal.
Yesterday, I didn't get a chance to see her or talk to her.
I went to bed early after satisfying my women, and she was probably dead tired.

It's almost time for afternoon tea.
I would like to have it together.
It's only been a day, but I miss her.

I take out my phone and look for her number.
Once found, I give her a call.

It rings.

No answer.
Is she busy? She should have finished classes too.

I redial the number.

It rings.

*Drin* 
*Dring*
*Driiin*

I hear a phone ringing nearby.
Closer and closer.

It's approaching.

*Dring*
*Driiin*
*Drin*

A woman is coming in my direction with a smartphone in her raised hand.

The green-haired woman looks at me intensely.

*Driiin*

The woman is a few meters away.

The phone stops ringing as my call ends due to no response.

I watch her puzzled.

"Do you need tutoring from the professor, big dick?" she asks in a threatening tone.

The atmosphere becomes tense suddenly.

The woman is accompanied by a mountain of muscles, a menacing-looking man.
Why does she have the professor's phone?
What do they want from me?
And why that reference to my dick?
The situation doesn't bode well.
I have to be ready for anything.

"Who are you? Why do you have Professor Kanna Merfal's phone?" I ask, maintaining a poker face.

"You heard that, Guli? This motherfucker thinks he's the one asking questions!" the woman says, addressing the mountain of muscles.
The man, without saying a word, crosses his arms and looks at me as if to tell me not to joke around.
The two don't have good intentions.

"It's good manners, anyway, to introduce ourselves. I am Detective Deckara Demora Lang, STADAV police."

Police?
An undercover policewoman.
My mind starts considering every possibility for why she would want to talk to me in such a threatening manner.
The search results are all ominous.
I begin to look for escape routes.

"This man is Gulihelmus, a dear friend of mine, and he's here to make sure you behave yourself."

He doesn't speak, but he seems determined to hinder any action on my part.

"I am—" I try to introduce myself, but...

"I already know who you are, motherfucker. You're Strauss fucking Wagner, the alchemist."
The detective interrupts me, her gaze filled with hatred and more.
It's as if she's taking pleasure in cornering me.

I'm not a genius.
My intelligence is average, and I often behave recklessly.
Sooner or later, the mistakes I make come back to haunt me.
There are no perfect plans.
That's the unexpected variable.
The butterfly that, with its wingbeat, creates chaos.

She is the unexpected variable.
But I expected the unexpected variable.

It was a good day.
But it could be the last.