The Legendary Programming Mage

(Inside the hunter association)

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sound of a finger drumming against a table echoed in a large room that could serve as someone's apartment.

"I'm sorry I can't come."

Those were the exact words that lingered in the mind of an elderly man with white hair and a beard.

He had silver eyes that seemed to pierce through everything, and although he was old, his body didn't reflect it.

A well-toned, athletic build that many younger hunters would envy, and a strikingly handsome face.

Grandmaster Caelum Draven, the head of the hunter association and arguably one of the top five strongest of the current S-ranks in the world.

"Allen Vanderbilt, huh?"

That exact name repeated in his thoughts again and again.

His granddaughter Sylvia had gone with the rest of the examination unit, and she had recorded everything.

The moment they entered the door, they all witnessed the orb shatter, something even he couldn't accomplish.

Even though the machine didn't assign him a rank, Caelum knew talent when he saw it.

There was no way that kid was a low rank.

That was precisely why he wanted to recruit him. But seeing how he refused and was connected to Naomi Blake, Caelum was sure he was heading to the academy.

"Sylvia, what about what I told you?"

A stunning young woman sat on the sofa opposite Caelum's seat.

She wore a simple white shirt with a tight skirt that did nothing to hide her curves.

Long black hair and blue eyes, she was a woman straight out of a man's fantasy.

A natural seductress.

"Grandpa, I'm trying to read."

However, unlike what her appearance suggested, Sylvia wasn't the type to get close to people regardless of gender.

She was a bookworm.

"Come on, sweetheart, I just need you to attend Apex Academy. It'll be fun."

Sylvia had heard of the so-called Apex Academy before.

To her, though, it was just a place for politics, not learning.

After a sigh, she replied, "I don't want to get involved with those kinds of children."

Caelum nodded. "The handsome guy from back then will be heading there too."

Sylvia, who was about to start reading again, froze. "What?"

The old man smirked. "The main reason I wanted you to go is to keep an eye on him."

He rose from his seat and walked toward the side of his office, which was made entirely of glass.

From there, he could see the cityscape. "So, what about it now? Do you want to go husband hunting?"

Sylvia pressed her hand against her pounding chest.

She had sensed it back then.

The aura of a nerd.

Someone so obsessed with a particular subject they would compare it with real people.

At that moment, she knew this was her destined one.

She couldn't see the red threads her mother said linked fated people, but who cared.

Raising her gaze to meet her smirking grandfather, she asked, "What do you want me to do?"

The old man's smirk grew even wider. "Nothing. Just enjoy your stay and bring a husband back for me to see."

The girl smiled. "You bet."

------

(On the streets of Pantheon)

What's this now?

She was hopeless.

How could someone who was supposed to be emotionless show so much feeling for cute things?

Even if it was just a slight twitch of her lips, or a faint blush, that alone was too much.

"Give me three chocolate bars."

The owner of a small pastry shop glanced back at Beatrice, who stared at us from the road, then back at me, and smiled.

"You two make a fine couple. Even this old woman's eyes feel alive today."

I stifled a grin. "Why don't you give us extra, Grandma, for brightening your day."

The woman laughed heartily. "You shameless brat, aren't you supposed to be giving me extra money?"

She tapped my shoulder since I was leaning forward. "Okay, okay, this old woman will treat you."

Taking out five extra chocolate bars, she slipped them inside a small bag and handed it to me.

"Safe journey, okay? And I hope you have many kids."

I waved at her. "Yeah, she's already pregnant with my baby."

The woman laughed again and continued to wave.

"Have you worked in a nursing home before?"

I shook my head. "No, why do you ask?"

"Hmm…" Beatrice didn't say another word as she unwrapped a chocolate and bit into it.

"Can I get one?"

She turned to me briefly before facing forward again, but I noticed her grip on the bag tighten.

"You… can't… give away something you received."

"Finish what you're eating first. And I bought it because you wanted it."

Beatrice's head snapped to the side, her golden eyes fixed on me.

"I never."

"Yes, you did. You stole like ten glances at that store while slowing your pace."

She looked away from me and quickened her steps.

A soft exhale slipped past my lips. 'Is this really the prodigy of the century?'

I quickly shook my head.

Letting appearances fool me? As if.

Beatrice, walking ahead of me, suddenly came to a halt as she noticed a cat by the roadside.

Without hesitation, I crouched in front of the cat and stroked its fur.

It was adorable.

"What's your name, little guy?"

Damn it, my bad habits.

In my past life, I was addicted to cats.

The little guy leaned into my hand, purring.

I didn't know what came over me, but I mimicked his sound.

"Meow~"

Out of embarrassment, I glanced up, and Beatrice was watching us.

Not just the cat, me too.

Her lips parted slightly, her eyes softer than I'd ever seen them.

"…Adorable," she murmured.

I blinked. "The cat, or me?"

Her eyes narrowed a fraction, the faintest shade of pink dusting her cheeks. "…Both."

I nearly choked as warmth spread across my face.

Rising to my feet and clearing my throat, I muttered, "We've gotten a bit too sidetracked."

Beatrice nodded, but her gaze toward me didn't change.

Like I was a cat.

She looked at me, then at her hand.

After a moment, she raised it near her head as if mimicking a cat's ear. "Meow~"

"Was that right?"

My gaze lingered on her for a moment.

"Pfft…"

My lips parted before my mind caught up.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…"

I clutched my stomach, trying to hold it in. "What the hell was that? Acting like a cat with zero change in expression?"

I could have sworn she pouted as she lowered her hand. "I was just experimenting with something."

"Yeah, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Beatrice turned away and started walking. "If you don't catch up, I'll leave you behind."

I knew she wouldn't leave me, but still, I just wanted to reply in whatever way would make her happy.

"Yes, ma'am."

...

After we passed the civilian district, it didn't take long to reach the rift Beatrice had paid for.

It was inside an abandoned factory site.

A large tear in space slightly bigger than the average man.

It glowed blue, showing it was a normal, stable rift.

Purple meant an unstable rift or a demon gateway. Orange was a cleared rift that could be manifested again, and red was a malfunctioned rift.

Except for a single man wearing a suit and tinted glasses, no one else was there.

"The rift is ready, princess."

Beatrice glanced at the rift, then back at me. "Let's go, Allen."

Nodding slowly, I stepped in front of her.

'A rift.'

It was my first time seeing one, but it was truly fascinating.

No different from the ones I usually saw in manhwa and anime back on Earth, but still.

"Are you ready?"

I didn't respond immediately.

I had no gear. Not even a protective suit.

But I was with an S-rank.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

Taking steps into the rift, she muttered,

"Then…"

I couldn't hear her next words as the light beyond the tear in space swallowed us whole.