From Master Assassin to a Random Extra: OP in a Dating Sim
Chapter 67: Marcus and Cynthia (1)

Chapter 67: Marcus and Cynthia (1)

Marcus and Cynthia stepped into the mouth of the cave, the darkness swallowing them whole. Instantly, a pulse of magic surged through their bodies, crawling over their skin like static before sinking into their veins, deep and visceral. The very air twisted around them, shimmering faintly as the walls of the cave warped and bent, shifting like liquid shadows.

A strange hum filled the air.

"What’s going on?" Marcus muttered sharply, reflexively summoning flames that burst from his palms, the fire dancing wildly with his elevated pulse, flaring hot enough to briefly illuminate even the highest cracks in the stone.

Cynthia didn’t hesitate. Her eyes swept the unstable stone around them. With practiced calm, she stepped forward and pressed her palm gently against the cave wall. A soft aura of blue magic emanated from her fingers, anchoring into the rock. Gradually, the distortion slowed, then stopped, as if soothed by her touch.

"It’s distorting the space," she said, her voice low and analytical. "We’re completely separate from the rest..."

Marcus narrowed his eyes, flames receding to a small flicker. "Did this only happen to us?" he asked, now conjuring a controlled flame at the tip of his index finger, the gentle glow lighting up the uneven walls ahead.

"No, I’m guessing it happened to everyone else as well," Cynthia replied, drawing her wand from her uniform with a smooth, almost instinctive motion. Its tip glowed faintly as she held it forward, ready for combat.

"Figures," Marcus muttered. "No way we’re the only ones lucky enough for this."

Marcus let out a short laugh, the sound echoing in the cave. He started walking deeper, his flame casting flickering shadows. "I was confused at first how this test was gonna work with multiple students going through a cave at once.

"But guess I was wrong."

[Dating System Core Activated]

[New Objective: Reach +20 Affection Points (Cynthia)]

Rewards:

– Emotion Scan Feature (Improved)

– View Current Route Feature (Improved)

Marcus blinked as the translucent system panel materialized before his eyes.

"What...?" he muttered, squinting at the glowing text as it hovered across his line of sight, overlaying the cave in bright blue lettering.

"...But that does look like a good reward though..." he added, eyes briefly gleaming with interest as he zeroed in on the "View Current Route" enhancement.

Cynthia glanced toward him, catching the tail end of his comment.

"Found anything?" She asked, eyes alert, wand raised as she moved to his side, her posture tense and ready for combat.

Her grip on her wand tightened. She was prepared for anything.

Marcus shook his head, his lips twitching slightly.

"No... it’s nothing, just seeing things." He turned to look at her, and for a brief moment, she stared back—brows furrowed, a puzzled look on her face.

You could almost imagine a cartoonish question mark floating above her head.

Cynthia [Affection: Friendly +5]

Current Emotion: Neutral

Marcus exhaled slowly, then turned back toward the dark path ahead. His small flame flickered brighter, pushing the shadows away.

"So," he said suddenly, trying to sound casual, "any hobbies or anything you usually like to do?"

Cynthia blinked at the random question, letting out an audible, "Eh?" Her confusion was genuine. "Is that really appropriate right now?"

Still, she followed closely behind him, her steps now synchronized with his pace.

Marcus kept his tone light as he led the way. "We can’t just stay silent while navigating this cave, you know? We should at least make some small talk. Increase our chemistry, you know?"

Cynthia let out a soft chuckle, amused despite herself. "Well... I’m mostly interested in studying magic, I guess. Other than that, I do anything that catches my eye."

She didn’t say it, but the way she drifted just a little closer to him spoke volumes.

Marcus grinned to himself.

Jackpot.

Magic, huh? Well, I have quite a ton of that.

"How about I show you my own magic?" he offered, a confident edge creeping into his voice.

Cynthia raised a brow, a sly grin playing on her lips. "I already saw your capabilities back at the Forest of Trials—your combustion and necrotic magic, remember?"

She gave him a playful nudge with her elbow. "Unless you somehow got more powerful in just a span of a day?"

Marcus laughed, the sound bouncing off the cave walls. "Bullseye."

"Wait... really?" Cynthia arched her eyebrow, surprised. Before she could say more, she bumped lightly into his back.

Marcus had stopped. Before them, the path split into two yawning tunnels, each pitch black and equally uninviting. Each tunnel yawned like the open jaws of some ancient beast, daring them to enter.

The silence stretched, filled only by the distant dripping of unseen water.

"Did you finally find something?" she asked, stepping beside him. Her eyes scanned the split, trying to see what had made him stop.

Marcus crouched down, closing his eyes for a moment. Then he leaned forward and sniffed the air, his nose wrinkling at a metallic tang.

"The left one reeks of blood..." he said grimly.

Cynthia blinked. "You can tell?"

"It’s an acquired skill," he replied smoothly, rising to his feet. He adjusted the flame on his finger and stepped confidently toward the blood-scented path. "And with that experience? The bloody paths are always the correct route."

He grinned wryly. "I’ve learned the hard way that danger tends to lead the right way."

"...That’s not very comforting," Cynthia muttered with a reluctant sigh, falling in step behind him. Despite her hesitation, she readied a trio of spells in advance, magic pulsing faintly along her wand.

"I trust you on this one," she said softly. "I’ll prepare some spells in case anything ambushes us."

Marcus glanced over his shoulder, smiling warmly. "I trust you as well, so let’s watch each other’s backs, okay?"

There was a rare softness in his voice—genuine, unexpected. The kind of tone that came from instinct rather than planning.

Cynthia [Affection: Friendly +8] +3

Current Emotion: Trustful

"O-Okay..." she stammered, caught off guard. A faint pink blush crept across her cheeks as they continued forward, the narrow corridor swallowing them up.

Really...?

Marcus thought, fighting back a grin.

That increased her affection?