Chapter 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: 7. Team Leader?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
.
According to Neria, witches can roughly sense how much mana they have left through their intuition.
It's not like a car's fuel gauge where you know exactly, but more like sensing fullness or hunger.
In that sense, the state of Neria's mana stomach clock right now is...
"I ordered one serving at the store, but what showed up in front of me felt like three servings...?"
"...Glad you're not feeling bloated."
"Eek. That kind of joke is seriously not funny? You sound just like some old guy...."
Roughly three times as much.
With that explanation wrapped up, Neria started munching and swallowing the fried rice I'd just made for her.
Maybe because it had been a while since she'd done any physical labor and she was starving, her cheeks were puffed out like a hamster's, stuffed full.
"Ah-yeom! Aren't you thone yet?"
"...Pardon? Could you swallow first and then speak?"
"Mm... anyway! You really had no idea?"
"No clue. This is the first time I've been intimate with a witch, after all."
"I'm your first.... Hm. Well, since you're in the Apprentice Witch Rehabilitation Support Department, they didn't specifically select you on purpose?"
"......"
...Is that so?
Now that she mentioned it, something clicked.
Didn't the Team Leader hint that she had 'personally' picked me, rather than just grabbing anyone?
At the time, I'd vaguely thought it was based on my resume or looks or something.
But if there's a special reason for me, that makes a lot more sense.
"......"
But how would she know that?
The Team Leader hasn't done it with me, has she?
No way she secretly tested me while I was resting at home...?
"Neria. Could it just be that we have great chemistry, something like that?"
"No idea. I haven't heard of any cases like that, at least."
"...Or maybe Neria's total mana capacity is just a bit lower than other witches'..."
"Hah. Got some guts sticking your neck out like that? Pretty infuriating guess, but sure. You don't know any better, so you could think that."
"No chance of that at all?"
"The mana cost for specific spells is way more precise and consistent than you think. Like, it takes this much to create 1L of pure water. Or if it's more complex, a certain volume of thundercloud with droplet amount, altitude, heat capacity... anyway!"
"......"
"When multiple apprentice witches learn and practice the same basic spells, they get a rough gauge of each other's mana totals compared to their own, right?"
"Ah......"
This one can easily produce 100 million liters of water. That one struggles a bit.
Something like that to estimate total capacity.
I nodded, roughly getting it, and Neria continued with a confident look.
"I was pretty mana-rich myself, you know? Though I fell a bit short of my master's genius."
"......"
Hard to feel any dignity with a grain of rice stuck to her mouth.
"So that means when you learned about 'mana recharging,' you had a rough idea of the recovery amount too."
"Not bad, you're thinking sharp. Yeah. Plus, I happened to be pretty low on mana at the time."
"...The spell you used to save me earlier. You said natural recovery would take 2 or 3 years."
"That plus the mana I'd burned through during my intense research phase back then. All told, the wait would've been ridiculous."
"Aha..."
"If we hadn't had sex, it probably would've filled up around the time Lepode 3 gets made or something."
Game reference, huh.
I nodded like I got it and pondered the initial odd feeling again.
About why the Team Leader specifically picked me.
"......"
"Hey, today's was good too, but tomorrow, fried rice loaded with eggs and ham..."
Only one thing came to mind.
"Because you're handsome?"
With something to report anyway, I stopped by the Rehabilitation Support Department office around sunset.
I caught the Team Leader mid-prep to head out and sat in a chair, pointing out the sleep mask on her forehead.
What the heck does she do at night? Looks like she just naps here all day.
So the first topic was, naturally, about Neria.
Using the Team Leader's phrasing, when I reported that I'd 'stuffed her full and painted her womb thoroughly with semen,' she clapped and giggled delightedly.
Good results aside, that was just my job, so secondary.
What I was curious about was the follow-up.
When I explained the '3x mana event' and asked if that's why she picked me, surprisingly, she just tilted her head and said this:
She picked me just because I'm handsome.
"You didn't know either, Team Leader?"
"Nope? No way to tell."
"Well..."
Better not say I thought she'd tested me face-to-face.
Given her image, it's easy to imagine, but it'd be pretty rude to blurt out.
I adjusted my tie awkwardly and changed the subject.
"...I figured there was some measurable way to check."
"Dunno~ Never heard of one. But just because there's no test doesn't mean cases like you, Dowon, don't pop up occasionally."
"Really?"
"Super rarely, yeah. Urban legend about guys who recharge better? Or guys whose bodies are just good for you? Heard of it, but first time seeing one in person."
"But Neria said it was news to her..."
"Pfft. What does a girl who's only had basic sex ed know? Probably thinks missionary is the only position."
"Ah.... Yeah..."
"Even Erzel, who you met last time, had a similar experience. But sadly, he was a thug-looking guy who only did boring vanilla sex, so she dumped him."
"......"
"Anyway, lower quality just means fill with more volume. Unless it's like 100x or 200x, it's manageable."
True, 3x is nothing; at 100x, I'd be battery material.
Kidnapped by mana-hungry witches craving fast charges, strapped to an experiment table, cock perpetually hard, pumping out semen 24/7.
...But endlessly milked by absolute beauties like Erzel, the Team Leader, and Neria? That life has its own appeal.
I shook my head to clear the dumb fantasy.
"Team Leader, does this mean my workload increases or anything changes?"
"Not right now. Who knows later, but for now, priority is you guiding Neria properly by her side..."
"Got it. Good to know."
"...Hm? Asking because you wanna hold other apprentice witches too?"
"N-No..."
"Whoa, Dowon, you're hornier than I thought.... What's your type? Petite and cute? Or tall and slender?"
Her questions flustered me at first, but after all this time, I get it.
That grinning mouth means she's teasing me again.
...Well, with her looks, she'd get away with worse, so I played along.
"If I had to pick, tall and slender..."
"Like me?"
"......"
She scooted her chair over with a drag and pressed against me seductively, Eve the Team Leader.
Her employee ID dangling on a lanyard over the soft curves of her blouse.
Black stockings and all, crossing her legs provocatively.
I nodded with an awkward smile.
"...Yes. Like you, Team Leader."
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
If I'd known it'd lead to this awkward silence,
I would've thought twice before playing along.
"...Team Leader?"
"D-Dowon, you're sneakier than I thought~ Guess I've let my guard down around you?"
"S-Sorry."
"I meant it positively! I figured as a witch, I'd make you uncomfortable. Glad you're warming up. Hm..."
"......"
"I-It's past quitting time. Whew, I'm beat..."
...Well, she is the Team Leader.
She's not some high school girl chattering with friends.
Classmates might gossip on the same level, but she's my senior, obviously.
I should've just laughed it off instead of saying I like her type.
Trying to look good backfired. Social life is brutal.
I briefly berated myself and followed Eve the Team Leader.
"......"
"......"
No more girly chatter; just the clack-clack of heels echoing.
She exchanged greetings with others we know (probably witches too), but just greetings.
Ended up alone with her in the elevator, hitting the first floor button.
"...Oh, right, Dowon. Do you know about that?"
She finally spoke, and like Pavlov's dog, I perked up.
"Know what?"
"I don't think I've told you what kind of witch I am."
...Come to think of it, yeah.
I'd heard her name, Eve Lycaon, and seen it on her badge, but not her witch specialty.
Like how Neria and Erzel are water witches, she must have one too.
I nodded, guessing on my own.
"No, I don't."
"What kind do you think I am?"
"Hm..."
Mind-reading bothered me, but Neria said no such spell exists.
Besides that, thinking of spells she's used,
One popped up.
"Teleport...?"
"Oho! Broaden that concept a bit?"
"...Space?"
"Ding ding! Like this―."
She grabbed my wrist, went zap with homemade sound effects, and as I blinked, the elevator was gone—replaced by an officetel hallway.
Was there a diffuser? The air turned fresher and fruitier in an instant.
No clue where, but the upscale interior screamed expensive officetel.
"Handy for getting home!"
"......"
"Oh, this is right in front of my place."
...So that's why she told me her witch type.
To clock out fast.
Uh, what about that CCTV...?
Unless the whole officetel is hers...?
"Space Witch... something like that?"
"Yep. Good guess? Easier than you thought?"
"The teleport stuck with me from before. Haven't seen your other spells."
"Makes sense... But my other spells? You see 'em on the 14th floor every day."
"14th floor...? ...Ah, you mean that space itself is yours too..."
"Of course! Think I burned decades of mana on that one? Still recovering..., hm."
A stadium-sized space for multiple people to hide comfortably.
Compared to Neria's spells, but with zero magic knowledge, hard to judge.
So I just marveled and added,
"...Great work, Team Leader. Guess I'll head home too..."
Obvious words, and she blinked dazedly before replying.
"...Yeah, quitting time..."
"......"
"S-see ya. Tomorrow, Dowon."
"Yes, Team Leader."
...A tiny bit.
I'd hoped for an instant ride home,
But no such luck.
Just the thud of the door closing.