Transmigrated As An SSS Ranked MILF Overlord
Chapter 86: Strongest Mage

Chapter 86: Strongest Mage

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

The sharp clang of the cafeteria bell echoed through the halls, signaling the start of lunch.

Within moments, the corridors became a flood of footsteps, chatter, and shifting bodies.

Students poured in like clockwork, splitting off into groups—some laughing, some dragging their feet, others already immersed in loud conversations about the morning’s training.

Steve, however, didn’t walk with anyone. No Dina. No Fiona. No familiar faces beside him. He didn’t sit at any of the usual spots either. Today, he didn’t want company. He didn’t want chatter. He just wanted silence, a corner, and a plan.

And he had one.

Sliding his tray onto the farthest bench tucked against the wall, Steve sat down alone, his eyes scanning the room even as his hand moved mechanically, scooping up rice cakes from the plate and chewing without thought.

The food was bland, as always—rice cakes with barely-seasoned meat on top—but it didn’t matter. His mind wasn’t on the taste. It was on the girl. Rapunzel.

Today was the day.

The plan had been forming for a while now, quietly, without any interference from Dina or Fiona—especially not Fiona, who always had a sharp eye for even the smallest of Steve’s schemes.

Because this—this was delicate.

’I’ve got Tonya, Fiona, Maggie... the harem’s building up nicely.’ he thought, lifting another spoon of rice with practiced ease.

’But if I really want to cement my claim, if I really want to rule this system, then I need her. Rapunzel.’

The girl he’d been watching for days now- Rapunzel.

"Rapunzel" had entered the cafeteria. Just like clockwork. No friends. No words. Just her delicate hands holding the tray, her steps feather-light, and her body moving like a ghost in silk.

She wore the standard academy uniform, but somehow, it looked different on her—like it hugged her curves a little too well, moved a little too gently with her rhythm.

She found her usual spot and sat, silently eating, eyes focused on her food, unaware—or uncaring—of the world around her. People beside her didn’t even glance. She was invisible to them.

But Steve noticed her. Oh, he had been watching.

’She blends in too well.’ he muttered inwardly. "

’Which makes this the perfect time. But I can’t use Charm Master when the room’s full. If I do, others might get caught in the blast radius. I need her isolated. I need precision.’

That was why he needed to time this perfectly. Watch her. Wait. And strike just as she stood to leave.

And then—there she was.

Steve froze mid-bite, his spoon halfway to his mouth.

"Soon..." he whispered under his breath.

"Just a few more minutes..."

Then—

CLANK!

A tray slammed loudly on his table, jolting him out of his scheming. The sound was like a hammer to glass. Steve blinked, his eyes reluctantly tearing away from Rosa’s figure to the fuming girl now standing before him.

"Dina."

Her name came out like a sigh, but she wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.

She threw herself onto the bench opposite him, straddling it with a huff, her muscular arms folded, her expression hot enough to melt stone.

"Don’t talk to me like nothing’s wrong." she snapped.

Steve raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence.

"Something’s wrong?"

"Don’t play dumb." she growled, leaning in.

"I saw what you did. Or didn’t do."

Steve stayed silent, letting her anger breathe.

"In that sparring match..." she continued, voice low but laced with fury.

"...you held back. You let that girl win. I saw it. Everyone saw it."

’...Hmm...shit...did she notice I used the Puppeteer’s strings...damnit. I need to play this smartly.’

His spoon. hovered above his plate.

"You sure you’re not imagining things?"

Dina’s hand slammed the table.

"You think this is a game?! We have one year—just one year in this academy before the real world comes knocking. And out there, no one’s going to let you play soft."

Her words hit harder than the slap of her palm and for a moment, Steve didn’t reply.

Dina’s voice cracked slightly.

"I know you think I’m being dramatic. But this—this world we’re training for—it kills people, Steve. I’ve seen it. I’ve lost people to it."

She leaned forward again, eyes shimmering with something beneath the fury—fear perhaps.

"So promise me. Promise me that you’ll take this seriously. Promise me you’ll get stronger. That you’ll keep fighting... with me. So that even if the rest of the class falls, we— we’ll still stand."

There was silence.

The cafeteria seemed to dim around them for a moment, the noise of other students fading into white static.

Steve stared at her hand as it reached across the table, trembling slightly. Her words weren’t bluster this time. She was scared. She meant it.

Steve looked into her eyes, then slowly placed his hand in hers.

But the moment didn’t last.

Across the room, Rapunzel rose from her seat, her plate empty. She carried it towards the tray return without a single word, preparing to vanish into the crowd just like she always did.

Steve’s heart skipped. The moment was now.

His hand slipped out of Dina’s grasp as he stood up.

"What the hell?" she asked.

He turned to her, his face suddenly cool, eyes burning with purpose.

"I’m not going to die, Dina."

"What—?"

"I’m going to become the strongest mage..." he said, voice steady and unshakable.

"Didn’t I tell you before? It’s not a prediction. It’s a spoiler."

He grinned—a sharp, mischievous smirk as his eyes flicked toward Rapunzel’s retreating figure.

"And if you’ll excuse me... I have some matters to take care of."

He turned and strode away, not looking back.

Dina sat frozen, watching him weave through the crowd.

Her eyes stayed fixed on his back, and she whispered, more to herself than anyone, utterly dumbfounded by what she had just heard.

"Strongest...mage? Doesn’t he realize what that..."

Her fists clenched under the table.

"To become the strongest, he’ll have to surpass and defeat...the Queen Witcher..."