The Legendary Programming Mage

(An hour ago)

"Wow, did you see that girl that just passed?"

In the streets of Pantheon, a white-haired beauty moved through the crowd as she made her way into a small restaurant.

The moment she entered, her gaze landed on a certain man with blue hair and golden eyes. Beside him sat a beautiful woman with chestnut hair and eyes.

"Big bro! Aunt Melissa!"

The two figures seated at the wooden table turned their heads to meet the girl.

"Did you get lost again, huh, Quincy?"

The girl with white hair and golden eyes forced a strained smile. "Well, it wasn't my fault this time."

The young man released an exasperated sigh. "You're the Hunter Association's genius summoner, but you can't navigate. Don't tell me..." He held back laughter. "You'll get lost in a rift?"

Quincy pouted. "Come on, big bro, I'm not that clueless."

Melissa, who was watching their banter, chuckled softly. "You two really haven't changed much."

The blue-haired man, Naomi, laughed out loud. "Is that so? It's still very entertaining teasing little Quincy, and Al—"

Naomi's words suddenly trailed off. "How has Allen been these days?"

The moment those words left his lips, the room went silent.

Allen was a topic they didn't like to bring up during happy moments.

They all loved him, but...

"He has changed so much after he failed to awaken."

Melissa's remark was one they all silently agreed with.

Allen wasn't the kind boy they once knew.

Ring! Ring!

As if to break the tension, Quincy's phone suddenly rang.

Opening her small handbag, she pulled out the phone—only to freeze at the sight of the message.

[Bestie: Can we meet?]

Naomi and Melissa immediately sensed her change in demeanor.

"Quincy, what happened?" Melissa asked, leaning closer to the table.

Quincy hesitated for a moment. "Allen contacted me."

"What?!"

Quincy didn't even raise her head to see who had shouted and quickly typed a reply.

[You: Yeah, come to that café downtown]

'Has he finally broken out of his shell?'

Her grip on her phone tightened. 'Please answer, Allen.'

[Bestie: Where exactly?]

Quincy's face froze for a moment, before a soft, tender smile appeared.

She let out a small laugh. "Allen wants to come."

Naomi and Melissa couldn't even respond to her words.

The same Allen who refused to leave his room.

The same Allen who had shut all of them out of his life.

Relief washed over them instantly.

"Answer him, then," Melissa said quickly.

Quincy nodded and began typing, only to delete everything.

She lifted her gaze to meet her brother and Allen's aunt. 'I don't know where this is.'

However, she was too embarrassed to ask them for directions.

'Allen should recognize this place, so I'll just type anything.'

After five minutes of contemplation, she decided to send the name written on the restaurant's wall.

[You: To The Left]

She exhaled deeply and placed the phone down on the table. "He's coming."

Naomi and Melissa smiled at her as they waited patiently.

However, an hour passed, and no one had shown up.

Melissa, stirring her drink, finally asked, "Do you think he changed his mind?"

Naomi didn't want to believe it, but what other reason could there be? "Looks like we got our hopes up."

The two turned to Quincy, expecting her to be the most upset, but instead, beads of sweat dotted her temples.

"Uhmm... I think I'm at fault here."

She raised her phone to show them the message, but before they could scold her, the door of the restaurant opened.

All eyes turned to the young man who entered.

He was breathtaking—no, even that couldn't describe him.

A man beyond any girl's or boy's fantasy...

An angel of beauty, or a devil of temptation.

"Who's that?" Naomi whispered. "I think I'm in love."

Melissa's face flushed scarlet. "Wow."

Even Quincy, who had never been impressed by looks, stared at him.

Murmurs rippled through the small restaurant as the waitress cautiously approached the man.

She clutched the hem of her shirt tightly as she shyly asked him a question.

The man responded, and although no one heard what he said, they were entranced.

After a moment, the waitress turned her head toward Quincy and pointed at her.

Quincy blinked once, but before she could react, the man turned to her too.

He looked at her for a moment, then smiled gently and waved.

Her face immediately burned red as the man took a step toward them.

"Hey."

Quincy couldn't speak for a full minute, but when she did, her lips trembled. "Oh, hey."

Without asking permission, the man sat on the chair beside her.

The chair reserved for Allen.

Naomi shook his head to regain composure. "Princess... I mean, mister, that seat is taken."

The man tilted his head. "Isn't it for me, though?"

Naomi stared at him in shock. "No, it's for our family member, Allen."

The man nodded, then smirked. "But I am Allen."

The room went still before everyone shouted the same word.

"What?!"