The goddesses attempted to gain my salvation.

"what about now?"

“Now…” Claire bit her lip gently, and after a long pause, answered, “I don’t know.”

"Oh? Why wouldn't you know?"

“My mother loved my magic, saying it was a gift from God. But my father thought it was a curse from the devil... In fact, I also suffered a lot because of magic.”

Ryan sat on the ground, stretching as he did so: "But you don't hate magic, do you?"

Claire remained silent.

A gentle breeze brushed past Claire, ruffling the stray hairs by her ears and carrying her faint floral scent to Ryan's nostrils.

"Did you know that the Church of Bysma believes that magic circuits are the best gift God has given to mankind? The four great empires, on the other hand, believe that magic circuits are the most perfect combination of man and nature?"

"But no matter how magic circuits are defined, they can never be associated with demons. If what your father said is true, then aren't we instructors the most loyal servants of demons? And this academy has become the largest demon incubator."

"Do you think those students who strive to learn magic, and the mentors who teach them, are demons?"

Claire paused for a moment, then looked at Ryan with a complicated expression.

"Mentor Ryan... are you... trying to comfort me?"

“I’m just stating the facts.” Ryan looked at Claire, their eyes meeting. “What I’m saying is that even if demonic curses really exist, they would never exist in the form of magical circuits.”

“I can say with certainty that your magic, and the magical circuits within you, are the purest and most sacred things in this world. Just like the beautiful memories they carry about your mother.”

“You don’t need to be ashamed of this. You can hold your head high, have magic, use magic, and even control magic.”

Claire remained expressionless, but her wounded heart had already been thoroughly stirred by these words.

“But… my father says I am the child of the devil, the maids say so too, and even the children on the street throw stones at me… I, I may really be the child of the devil… I cannot learn magic.”

Ryan extended a hand, smiling gently, as warm as a spring breeze.

"Claire, help me up."

Claire was a little confused, not knowing what Ryan was going to do, but she still reached out and pulled him up.

However, after Ryan got up, he lost his footing and looked like he was about to fall.

Claire instinctively hugged Ryan.

"Thank you, you're such a good girl." Ryan patted Claire's head.

"No, you're welcome."

Claire's face, which had remained unchanged throughout, finally showed an expression, and a blush quickly spread across it.

"Claire, do you know? Demons won't help someone who's about to fall. They'll just stand by and laugh at people after they've fallen, and maybe even kick them a few more times."

"So, even if you really are the child of the devil, you are a kind devil."

Ryan pinched Claire's blushing cheek, his face full of smiles: "But can a kind-hearted demon still be considered a demon?"

Claire stared blankly up at Ryan, feeling the warmth of his hand and her heart pounding uncontrollably.

A faint light shimmered in her ruby-like eyes.

"If you truly love magic and want to learn it like those students, I will help you repair your magic circuits. However, the decision is yours. Let me know whenever you've made up your mind."

"That concludes today's lesson."

"get out of class is over."

------

That night.

Claire tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

The touch and warmth of Ryan's caress still lingered on her face, making her unable to stop thinking about his face. Every time she recalled it, her heart would pound and her face would turn bright red.

Ryan is right.

Magic and magical circuits hold memories of her and her mother. Those were the happiest times of her life so far.

However, her mother's death and her father's cruelty towards her later instilled in her a fear of magic.

Ryan's words today not only soothed her heartache but also completely severed the invisible shackles that had bound her heart all along.

Claire pressed her violently pounding chest and curled up.

After a long silence, I finally made up my mind.

------

The next day.

Early in the morning, after Claire had dressed, she knocked on Ryan's door.

Upon seeing Ryan, Claire couldn't help but blush and shyly lower her head.

However, Ryan appeared quite composed, inviting Claire into his room and handing her a glass of hot water.

Claire tightened her grip on the water glass slightly, then, as if she had made up her mind, she looked up and stared directly at Ryan.

“Mentor Ryan. I want to... learn magic.”

Actually, Ryan had been hesitant before Claire arrived. On one hand, there was Claire's past experiences; even if she ultimately refused to learn magic, it would be entirely understandable.

On the other hand, once Claire agrees and he is bound to her, will she become a second Olina?

That priestess alone made Ryan regret it for quite a long time.

If he were to accidentally ruin a girl like Claire again, his conscience would truly be troubled.

If anyone's to blame, it's the system that awakened within me.

However, when he saw Claire and her determined eyes, his hesitation vanished.

People can't stop moving forward just because they're afraid.

After listening to Claire's words, Ryan took two pills out of his pocket and handed them to her, telling her that these were medicines to relieve the pain. The magic circuits would be repaired after she fell asleep at night, so she must take the pills before going to sleep.

The pills are actually very effective painkillers.

What Ryan had to do was complete the binding while she was asleep, pulling her into her dream.

Once the repair process begins, it will cause her intense physical pain, which may force her to break free from the dream. Taking painkillers will alleviate the pain somewhat.

Chapter Seven: The Tender Trap of a Bad Woman

At nightfall.

Claire, dressed in a light nightgown, sat on the bed with the pills Ryan had given her during the day in her palm.

Claire was a little nervous; her white feet were crossed, and her cute, fair toes were nervously scratching at the floor.

The room was quiet, and the sound of my heartbeat was exceptionally clear.

Just like a girl in love, waiting for her boyfriend to arrive.

After much hesitation, Claire finally took the pill, lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket up high, leaving only her beautiful eyes visible as she nervously stared at the door.

Time passed by, but Ryan did not knock on the door.

Claire was somewhat puzzled.

However, she then remembered that Ryan had mentioned during the day that the repairs should be carried out after she was asleep. In other words, Ryan would only come over after she fell asleep.

But thinking about it made Claire even more nervous.

It's unclear how Ryan intends to help him repair his magic circuits.

One bold and crazy idea after another popped into the girl's mind, making her blush and her heart race, and making it even harder for her to sleep.

It's late at night.

Overwhelmed by drowsiness, Claire could no longer stay awake. After her eyelids drooped for a while, she fell asleep.

------

When Claire opened her eyes again, she was stunned.

Before her was a strange sight she had never seen before.

This was an extremely spacious and magnificent room, like a castle. A huge crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the walls were adorned with many oil paintings that looked incredibly expensive.

What impressed her most was a woman with her hands folded in front of her and a smile on her face.

On one side, firewood crackled and burned in the stove, filling the room with warmth.

On the other side, there was a huge bed, and next to the bed was a black mechanical object.

Claire was a little curious, so she went up and fiddled with it a few times.

"This thing is called a record player."

The sudden sound startled Claire, who quickly withdrew her hand and looked in the direction of the sound.

Ryan, dressed in a tuxedo, stood in the doorway, holding a steaming cup of black tea.

"Mentor Ryan!" Claire clutched the hem of her clothes, her voice trembling with unease. "Where...is this?"

Ryan walked over and gently patted Claire on the shoulder: "Don't be nervous, this is the dream world, and I am the master of this place."

"Here, no one can hurt you."

“We will complete the repair work on the magic circuits here.” Ryan handed Claire a cup of black tea. “Have something to drink. The black tea will calm you down and make you less nervous.”

Sure enough, the aroma of the black tea quickly calmed Claire down after she received it.

Under Ryan's gentle guidance, Claire sat on the edge of the bed, her long, white legs swaying slightly beneath her nightgown.

“Before we begin, let’s listen to some music,” Ryan suggested. “How about Chopin’s Nocturnes?”

Claire had never heard of the name before, but since Ryan suggested it, it must be a good piece of music.

After receiving an affirmative answer, Ryan snapped his fingers, and a vinyl record appeared in his hand.

Place the record on the machine and then press the pointer.

A melodious piano tune drifted out softly in the silvery moonlight...

Tranquil and serene.