This was undoubtedly the most bustling—or perhaps, the most sensational—day for Class 2-A; almost eighty percent of the students had flocked to the amusement district, save for a select few.

Lin Luo remained oblivious to the commotion. Although he could vaguely sense that someone was watching him and Kinoka from behind, the lack of killing intent or power fluctuations made him dismiss it as mere curious bystanders. For him, the more pressing matter was how to improve Kinoka’s favorability rating.

He was pondering whether a cliché hero-saves-the-beauty maneuver might earn him some bonus points.

“Teacher Lin Luo, shall we sit in that park over there?” Just as he was thinking, Kinoka seemed a bit tired and pointed to a nearby park, suggesting it to him.

“Yes, that sounds good,” Lin Luo nodded. After taking only a few steps, he suddenly felt eyes upon him again.

Damn it, I can’t be bothered with you, but you have to keep at it.

Lin Luo originally intended to ignore it, but being stared at intermittently was hardly a pleasant experience for anyone. Thus, using the excuse of buying drinks, he told Kinoka to wait in the park while he circled around to approach the source of “those eyes.”

“Turns out it’s not just two eyes, but three pairs. No wonder,” Lin Luo soon discovered three oddly dressed girls crouching like thieves behind a Santa Claus display near a shop entrance. He couldn't see their faces from behind, but their silhouettes seemed vaguely familiar.

The three girls were whispering to each other, apparently flustered after losing sight of their target.

“What are you looking at?” Lin Luo quietly approached them from behind and followed their gaze, asking the question.

“We’re looking for someone. That’s strange, they were just here, how come only Kinoka is left?” The three fools hadn't caught on yet and answered instinctively.

“Oh? Who are you looking for?”

“The male lead, of course. How can a date have only a heroine and no male lead? This is weird, where did he go?”

“I think I might be able to help you find the person you’re looking for.”

“Really?” Hearing this, the three reflexively spun around. However, the moment they saw who was standing before them, they froze solid. Three seconds later, the girls gasped and bolted.

“Trying to run now? It’s too late.” Lin Luo waved his hand, effortlessly yanking all three back, one in each hand. “Misa-san, Sakurako-san, Kugu-san, you really have some nerve. Instead of doing your actual work, you sneak off to peep at others. Do you want me to loosen your muscles? Or perhaps I could take pictures of your current attire and sell them to Asakura Kazumi—I’m sure with her methods, she could make you famous across Mahora before school starts.”

“W-we weren’t peeping, Teacher Lin Luo! We… we were just passing by! Yes, we were passing by and supporting this Santa because he looked like he was about to fall over,” the three immediately made pitiful faces. Kakizaki Misa scrambled to explain.

Their current outfits consisted of a bunny girl suit, a cat-ear girl ensemble, and a peacock display. They had managed to conceal themselves well enough that most passersby ignored their bizarre attire, but if word got back to Mahora Academy… Good heavens, the thought alone was enough to collapse their spirits, especially for the one dressed as a peacock display—she wouldn’t be able to look anyone in the eye again, might as well be an ostrich for the rest of her life.

“Do you take me for an idiot? That Santa is tied down securely. At least draft a proper story before you try lying,” Lin Luo looked at her with utter disdain.

“…” The girl was speechless. The three exchanged fraught glances, finally deciding to confess for leniency. “We’re sorry, we were wrong. But we really didn’t mean to peep; we just accidentally saw you and Kinoka out on what looked like a date, so we were curious…”

“That’s right, that’s right! Teacher, you know us. We’re the cheerleading squad; we will definitely support your romance!”

“Teacher, even if your relationship with Kinoka is an improper teacher-student romance, we’ll stand by you to the end!”

The three clearly shifted tactics, starting to fawn over him heavily.

“A date, my foot! Kinoka and I just ran into each other, and we’re just shopping casually,” Lin Luo gently tapped the tops of the three girls’ heads and chuckled. “Speaking of which, where did you get these outfits? They’re quite unique.”

The faces of the three instantly flushed crimson. Finally, all three pointed simultaneously toward a shop not far away. Lin Luo looked over; it was a COS shop.

There really is such a thing… Lin Luo was speechless internally.

His gaze returned to the girls. There were too many points to critique; suppressing his laughter, he said, “You all look quite embarrassed right now. Hurry up and change back into your original clothes, then come back here so we can talk things over. Of course, if you try to run away… you know the consequences.”

“No running, no running! We absolutely won’t run!” The three declared solemnly, as if granted a special pardon. As soon as Lin Luo let go, they sprinted towards the COS shop.

A few minutes later, they returned, already changed into their regular attire, though their expressions suggested reluctance. This was understandable; no voyeur, once caught, would willingly meet their captor. However, since Lin Luo was their teacher, they had nowhere to run. If he truly intended to discipline them, they could imagine a hundred ways he could do so just by thinking about it.

“Um… Teacher, what did you want to ask us?” Along the way, the three girls kept nudging each other, seemingly afraid to speak. Finally, when they reached Lin Luo, Kakizaki Misa, as the cheerleading captain, was pushed forward by the other two to act as their spokesperson.

Lin Luo said, “It’s nothing much. I just wanted to ask if you told anyone else about this? Say, the authorities, or maybe some long-haired idiot?”

“…” The expressions on the faces of the three immediately froze like stone statues.

Lin Luo couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Their expressions told him everything; these fools couldn't conceal anything. They could convey their thoughts purely through expressions or glances… in a certain sense, that was a rather formidable ability.

“Alright, then who exactly did you tell?”

“Asu-Asuna-san…” Kakizaki Misa said timidly.

“Asuna, huh.” Lin Luo nodded slightly. If only she knew, it wouldn’t be a problem. Since the male lead wasn't Negi right now, she probably wouldn’t interfere, so there was nothing to worry about. As for the three girls in front of him, a little threat would likely keep them quiet. It was a relief that Asakura Kazumi’s paparazzi squad didn't know about this.

But just as Lin Luo thought this, the girl spoke again, “And Misaka-san, Asakura-san, the class president, Yuna, Haruna, Kūfe, Shigure, Kaede, Chizuru…” She rattled off more than a dozen names in one breath.

Oh my god, doesn’t that mean the entire 2-A knows? Lin Luo nearly had a breakdown. He could stomach the others, but with Asakura Kazumi knowing—with her capabilities, rumors wouldn't just spread across Mahora; they could reach Siberia. Even more tragically, Misaka-chan knew… What if she transformed into Railgun?

“W-we didn't mean to! We only meant to tell Asuna and Misaka, but we didn't realize everyone in 2-A was gathered together…” Seeing that Lin Luo seemed on the verge of anger, Kakizaki Misa quickly explained.

…The moment you planned to tell Railgun, the ship was already sunk.

Although his relationships with other girls were all vague and undefined, nothing had been brought into the open. Given Misaka’s tsundere nature and emotional obtuseness, even if she felt a bit displeased, she wouldn't show obvious opposition, especially since their positions weren't ordinary people but comrades caught in a battle of the gods.

But if terms like "date," "matchmaking," or "marriage" were put out in the open, and the object wasn't her, then even using one’s heels to think, Misaka’s violent tendencies would likely result in a Railgun blast aimed his way.

“You guys…” Lin Luo raised his hand, about to say something, when he suddenly saw the three girls in front of him squatting down like ‘Ojou-sama,’ clasping their hands over their heads and yelling, “Don’t!”

Lin Luo was mortified… It was one thing for Kinoka to be possessed by Kasuga, but why were you all possessed by Ojou-sama, and three of you at that? This is ridiculous.

Forget it, forget it. What’s done is done; blaming them is useless now. However, though the death penalty might be spared, they wouldn't escape punishment entirely. “You three, I’ll teach you a proper lesson next time. Don't think this lets you off the hook!”

With that, without waiting for the three to react, Lin Luo quickly ran toward where Kinoka was. Class 2-A was about to descend upon them; he had to get Kinoka away quickly, and he needed to establish their 'official story' beforehand, or the consequences would be dire.

After Lin Luo left, the three stood up, exchanged glances. Kakizaki Misa said, “I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling. We should leave quickly.”

Shiina Sakurako nodded in agreement. “I also sense a faint scent of impending bloodshed. This place of conflict is not fit for lingering.”

“Retreat!” Kugimiya Madoka made the final summation, and the three immediately fled.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Lin Luo was facing the biggest crisis of his life. Before he could even reach Kinoka’s resting spot, he saw from afar that several girls were already surrounding her—and upon closer inspection, they were all from Class 2-A.

Crap, I was one step too late. I shouldn't have wasted time arguing with those three.

Lin Luo immediately felt a severe headache coming on. Kinoka had been cornered. If he rushed in now, it would be walking straight into a trap. But if he didn’t go, it would be tacitly admitting to the 'date' and fleeing the scene out of guilt… A true dilemma.

Lin Luo crept closer, intending to eavesdrop on their conversation. After a few steps, he suddenly heard Kinoka say one sentence: “Yes, Teacher Lin Luo and I are on a date.”

Bang. Lin Luo completely face-planted. As expected, the naturally innocent ones are the most devious.

“Ah, I found him! I found him!” Lin Luo’s face-plant immediately drew the attention of the girls. Everyone turned around, and Misaka shot him a look where her teeth were practically grinding. In an instant, they all rushed toward him.

“Hahaha, I was kidding! Actually, Teacher Lin Luo and I just bumped into each other!” Kinoka said, covering her mouth with a laugh.

You should have said that first! They can’t hear you now… Lin Luo couldn't even critique; facing the girls’ pursuit, he had only one reaction: run!

“Stop right there, you brute! Dating your own student! I… I think my one Coin is about to detonate!” That was Misaka’s voice.

“Teacher, don’t run! I want to interview you—what does an illicit teacher-student romance feel like?” That was the paparazzi Asakura Kazumi.

“Teacher Lin Luo, I can’t believe you’d lay a hand on your own student. Truly… truly enviable. If Teacher Negi could be like you, please impart your experience to me,” said Yukihira Ayaka, the shota-con enthusiast.

“Class President, what nonsense are you spouting?” Asuna looked bewildered.

“Teacher, when are you and Kinoka getting married?” This came from Sasaki Shiori, one of the fools in the squad… Wait, how did it escalate to marriage?

“Teacher, we heard you’re going to the Celestial Kingdom for your honeymoon. Can we come along?” The twins from 2-A said this… The rumors were escalating rapidly. Is this the power of gossip?

“Teacher, what name are you planning to give your child with Kinoka? I think Xiao Xue would be nice.”

“No, I think it should be Tachibana Kanade.”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t we already decide when we came here? The child’s name should be Black Long Straight.”

“Are you an idiot? We already decided it should be Madoka!”

…Fine, Lin Luo no longer cared who said what. But… Can you 9s have a little common sense? Why don’t you stop crashing the party? Why don’t you suggest calling Kyubey?

“Teacher, don’t run! Listen to us, we’ll support you.”

“Support my foot! Kinoka and I are not dating!”

“We know, we’ll keep it a secret!”

“…” Lin Luo understood; reasoning with fools was pointless. It was better to escape this storm quickly. Once they returned to school, Kinoka should be able to explain everything clearly, and then the problem would be solved.

Thus, running and chasing ensued: a man fleeing as fast as a rabbit in the lead, and a pack of girls pursuing him as fiercely as wolves… The 2-A edition of the Magic School Battle Royale officially commenced.

Although the pursuers were greater in number, most of them were ordinary people. Catching Lin Luo was almost impossible, especially in such a crowded amusement district. Half an hour later, Lin Luo had safely escaped the battle royale, but his LOVELOVE operation with Kinoka was completely ruined.

“Forget it. Since it’s gotten this late, the mission to capture Kinoka will have to wait until the School Trip. I still have some time left; I should learn some Ancient Magic. Sigh, I’m such a tragedy. A perfectly good date, I was hoping for sparks to fly, what a pity,” Lin Luo sighed helplessly, shaking his head.

Upon returning to Mahora Academy, Lin Luo suddenly spotted a white ferret darting swiftly into a patch of grass and vanishing.

“Isn’t that the sable Kamo-senpai of QB, the number one helper for Negi’s harem?… Hmm, since this guy is here, my plan can be implemented. If Evangeline doesn’t make a move, then I’ll have to play the villain role myself.”

A while ago, Lin Luo had learned clearly from Chachamaru that Evangeline no longer intended to deal with Negi, as her curse had been lifted, and there was no need to drain Negi’s blood anymore.

But without Evangeline causing trouble, Negi and Asuna couldn't sign their contract normally. This small variable would absolutely bring massive changes to the upcoming School Trip and the School Festival events, and might even affect the future of the magical world… The last point might not be evident yet, but the first two were directly related to Lin Luo. Coupled with the maid captain’s intrusion, who knew what might happen.

Even Kinoka’s divination suggested he might become enemies with the maid captain. If that were the case, having insufficient combat strength on his side would be detrimental. Having some measure of control over the plot's direction and a group of reasonably strong helpers were necessary conditions for Lin Luo. Therefore, the contract between Negi and Asuna absolutely had to be established.

“But then again, should I play the vampire to scare the 2-A girls, or the tentacle monster to harass the 2-A girls?” This was a very serious question. Lin Luo leaned toward the latter.

Back in his dormitory, Lin Luo ignored everything outside and devoted himself entirely to the Book of Genesis. To be honest, with his current combat power and the plot stage, his offensive capability was definitely sufficient; it was his support that was slightly lacking. Therefore, Lin Luo planned to first learn support-type Ancient Magic.

“Support-type Ancient Magic. Preferably something that can grant me immunity to a certain degree of special abilities, like time, time, time… Damn it, I can’t find anything. Without time immunity, I won’t be able to beat the maid captain. Even something that just reduces the power would be good.”

“Found one! External Force Interference: Immunity to the negative secondary effects of various magics above a certain threshold… This spell seems useful. I’ll note it down first.”

“Flash of Light: Greatly increases the caster’s speed, like a streak of lightning; specialized for Magic Swordsmen… Hmm, this is not bad either. Note it down.”

…After searching for a while, Lin Luo did find several decent support spells. Besides those, he also found a rather strange spell—Ethereal Body Materialization.

“…Causes an intangible spirit body to manifest in a tangible physical state, thus achieving effective damage; usable against ghosts and spirits. This spell…”

Lin Luo’s eyes lit up. Although he didn't have such enemies, this spell had a place where it could indeed be useful.

The ghost student in 2-A, Aisakana Sayo—he could see her, but he couldn't make her visible. He had originally planned to wait until he could use the power of rules to create a connection object for her and try to make her visible then. But now, with Ethereal Body Materialization, perhaps he could bring her out without waiting for the rules power to activate.

“This is an unexpected bonus. Little Sayo is in luck.”