Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Practical Exam
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A long silence settled over the hospital room.
Feynol, having heard my words, just sat there with his eyes wide open, saying nothing.
“...”
“...”
Why was he staying so quiet? It was making me anxious.
While I was thinking that, a message floated up from the amulet along with Kali ban's snickering laugh.
[Now you're just doing it as naturally as breathing?]
I hadn't meant it that way at all.
I'd just said it to help out this pitiful guy—no real intent to seduce him.
[When have you ever done it with intent?]
“...”
I had nothing to say if he put it like that, but at least it didn't hurt me that he'd taken it that way.
If he actually felt something for me, things might resolve more easily than expected.
“...You're good at this, you.”
As I was mulling that over, those words slipped out of Feynol's mouth in a murmur.
“For a second there, my heart really skipped a beat. I get it now—why all those women lose their minds and throw themselves at you.”
As he spoke, he curled up the corner of his mouth.
It had that same artificial feel as always, but even so—
“...That was the strongest thrill I've felt in a while, Dawood Campbell. Good call asking you for this.”
From his words, it didn't seem like it had reached that level yet.
Fortunately, though, it wasn't completely ineffective.
[System Message]
[Stimulation inflicted on target 'Feynol' has been slightly measured.]
[If this process repeats, the target's emotions will awaken!]
[Current progress: 4%]
[System Message]
[The content of the upcoming 'Feynol'-related event will change slightly!]
[The target's favorability will have a very high chance of unlocking in that event!]
Just seeing these windows pop up proved it.
The first one aside, the second...
[Gift-Related Character Alert]
▼ Feynol Lifek
[No favorability stage]
[Until related event: D-4]
That must be what it meant.
Something was going to happen during the 'practical exam' period of the comprehensive evaluation in four days.
So what I needed to ask of him here was clear.
“...Then, could I ask you for one favor?”
It was something that should've gone through Talion to reach him, but I'd heard he was using the room next to mine for some reason.
Apparently, Elnor had socked him one and left him half-dead.
Anyway.
“During the practical exam, join my group—”
“—Honestly, I don't mind what you ask of me, Dawood Campbell.”
Before I could finish, Feynol let out a sigh.
“But isn't this a bit unfair?”
“Pardon?”
“I'm doing everything you ask, but I haven't gotten anything back from you.”
“...”
No.
You came to me first asking me to seduce you.
I stared at him in disbelief, and he stood up slightly from his seat, answering.
“So, I mean I want to try something I feel like doing, without worrying about you.”
“What do you—”
Before I could even ask.
Feynol grabbed my face with both hands.
“If you said you'd make me happy...”
And then.
With no chance to speak.
“Then maybe I can do this much.”
His breath drew close, right up to my face.
“...”
“...”
It took me a moment to realize what was happening to me.
Probably because the stuffy old-fashioned image in my head was putting the brakes on that realization.
I mean.
'Kissing' is something you do with your eyes closed, after both sides are mentally prepared, right?
That notion shattered the instant Feynol's tongue slipped into my mouth and seized mine.
“...!”
I tried to pull back in shock, but he had my upper body locked in a tight embrace with both arms, so I couldn't.
It assaulted me like a storm. I'd kissed Elnor intensely once before, but this made even that look like child's play—sticky, lascivious.
Saliva mixed. His tongue explored every corner of my mouth.
“...Hah—”
After what felt like forever, he finally pulled away with a heated sigh.
The mingled saliva stretched out in a thread, dizzyingly.
The moment he let go, I staggered back, gasping for breath.
I was already lying in bed, so it wasn't very effective, but I had to do something or I'd lose it.
“...Wh-what...!”
“When you said that earlier, I definitely felt 'stimulation' in my body.”
Feynol licked his lips as he said it.
“...Something 'came back.' You get it, right, Dawood Campbell? Even after all I've tried, that sensation I could never recapture—it returned, if only for a moment.”
“...”
“Thanks to you, I can see hope.”
Evidently, the effect was pretty strong.
Stronger than I'd thought, which was the problem.
“But I still don't quite get it. Your words got me that far, so I figured actually doing this would bring something even stronger.”
He grinned down at my dumbfounded expression.
“So, shall we try it once more?”
“Wha...!”
Before I could protest, the second kiss crashed over me, even rougher.
He'd held me firm last time to keep me from retreating, but now he was up on the bed, pinning me down from above.
His hands pressed my shoulders, fixing me in place on the bed so I couldn't move an inch.
Like a carnivore subduing its prey.
Not some light peck as a sign of affection, but an act clearly laced with 'possession.'
Right now, this guy.
He was craving affection.
He wanted me.
“Mmm...”
How many minutes passed like that?
Slowly, he pulled his lips away and wiped the corner of his mouth.
“You taste good. A real delicacy, Dawood Campbell. Even I, who felt nothing, got that tingling right in my chest.”
As he said it, his eyes were flickering 'red.'
Eyes brimming with clear desire.
Something had sparked to life in this empty man.
“...I really did the right thing asking you.”
[System Message]
[Stimulation inflicted on target 'Feynol' has been greatly measured.]
[If this process repeats, the target's emotions will awaken!]
[Current progress: 11%]
[System Message]
[Some emotions awaken!]
[The target now holds 'possessiveness' toward you!]
“...”
Okay.
The number shot up this fast all at once—that's good.
But why did the awakened emotion have to be...
Something that looks so dangerous?
“Something about joining you for the practical exam?”
“...”
“Sounds good. We can stay together the whole time. If we keep this close like this—”
He pulled me into a fierce hug.
Unlike before, it was unmistakably intentional.
As if he were deriving 'satisfaction' from the act itself.
“—Something special really might happen. Don't you think?”
“...”
Hey.
I definitely picked this guy as my caretaker because I thought he was 'safe.'
Why does it feel like he's turned the one safe vessel left into a full-on predator?
“...What about caregiving?”
“Just a bit longer. All the urgent stuff's done anyway.”
My face paling slightly, I looked down at Feynol squirming against me while holding my body.
Then Kali ban spoke up in a solemn tone.
[Your karma.]
“...”
[Endure it with grit and evil.]
Shut up.
'...At least the good news is.'
Getting Seras and Elnor into my group for the practical exam shouldn't be too hard.
The problem is...
[System Message]
[Emotional changes in unselected targets are being fiercely observed!]
[High chance of acting as variables in the upcoming Main Quest!]
This.
Yuria, Elnor, and the Saintess.
Just reading the message makes it sound like they're about to cause some incident—kinda worrying.
'...Hope nothing big happens.'
A wish that's never come true once.
But I had to pray anyway.
●
“...Didn't you just say not long ago that you felt sorry for that guy?”
“I did.”
“You said you couldn't even face him. That you had to stay away for a while.”
Elnor nodded expressionlessly at Beatrix's question.
“...That still stands.”
“Then what's the point of asking?”
She clutched her head, muttering that.
She was already swamped as student council secretary, buried in chronic fatigue. And whenever this woman spouted nonsense, it always brought on a migraine.
Of course, even so.
“...Why are you suddenly asking about 'ways to look attractive as a woman'?”
When she dropped something this bizarre out of nowhere, the pain could get downright unbearable.
“...”
Elnor bit her lip quietly, falling silent.
“...Whether or not I deserve to stand by that man's side.”
But her eyes.
They burned bright, just like before she'd sunk into despair.
“I can't let women who clearly deserve it even less stand by him.”
“...”
“That man is popular. Swarms of flies buzzing around him. I really felt it this time—if I don't firmly block them, he'll fall for their temptations easily.”
“...What are you talking about?”
“If I cultivate that kind of appeal and make him look only at me, at least he won't fall for those flies' lures.”
“...”
“It's all to protect that man.”
Beatrix narrowed her eyes at Elnor.
Just say it straight.
You can't stand giving that man to anyone else, even if you die.
She let out yet another sigh—god knows how many that made today.
Fine. Better her spouting this sophistry than before.
Compared to when she'd thrown herself into near-abusive training like she had some mental illness, this possessiveness toward everything around that man was a thousand times better.
At least it seemed to be helping her recover her spirits.
“...Haa. Fine. No idea why you always come to me with this crap.”
“You being a virgin who's never even held a man's hand at your age is no big flaw, Beatrix. I know full well you spend all your free time devouring steamy romance novels—”
“...Shut up before I kill you.”
Is this asking for help or telling me off?
Gruff as her reply was, Beatrix propped her chin and pondered anyway.
Ways to look attractive as a woman...
“...Have you ever even tried appealing to him in the first place?”
“Appeal...?”
“You know, matching his tastes, or his fantasies about the opposite sex, stuff like that—”
Seeing Elnor's expression, Beatrix shut her mouth.
Yeah. Expecting normal girly approaches from this woman.
“...For you, it'd be weird to get swept up in his reactions and dragged around everywhere. Normally, that man should be the one begging you to accept him for once, given the gap—”
As those thoughts crossed her mind, a bolt of inspiration struck Beatrix.
“...Ah.”
That could work.
Amazed at her own idea, she clapped her hands.
“Hey, Elnor.”
“What?”
“Instead of trying to 'lure' him our way, how about we approach it differently—in reverse?”
“...What do you mean?”
“Let's grab him properly this time. Take the initiative.”
Beatrix grinned.
“He's participating in the practical exam coming up, right?”
No doubt about it.
A lecherous smile only a reader obsessed with steamy romance novels could flash.
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