Chapter 243: 2nd Semester
Chapter 243: 2nd Semester
Summer vacation is coming to an end.
Good grief. What did I even do?
Looking back, I cleared a simple dungeon and a scenario dungeon, made Helena a Saintess, warned the Church of Light about the impending raid so they could prepare, extracted Clara’s residual thoughts, had sex, had sex, had sex…
“Wait. Was this actually a productive vacation?”
As I muttered to myself and tilted my head, Elisha, who had been in the middle of changing, suddenly stood up.
Half-undressed, she placed a hand on her chest and flashed a triumphant smile.
“Well, isn't that obvious, darling? I! The great Elisha! Have reached the rank of Intermediate Magician! And three years faster than Carla, no less! Of course it was a productive vacation! Ohohohoho~”
That girl’s laugh is a marvel every time I hear it.
Well… she certainly did grow at an incredible pace.
No matter how much innate talent she has or how much we accelerated her awakening by tackling dungeons, reaching Intermediate Magician in her first year is exceptionally fast.
Thinking about it now, there were plenty of plausible reasons for Elisha’s rapid growth.
Whether it was because she had a great master, or because I intervened early to snag rewards right before the entrance ceremony, or perhaps because my "playtime" in this world is essentially twenty-four hours a day.
Because my own growth was faster than expected, I was able to challenge more difficult dungeons and achievements.
As I grew stronger, I challenged even higher levels, creating a snowball effect—and Elisha grew rapidly alongside me in that process.
It also helped that the jump to Lower Magician is relatively easy compared to Intermediate Magician, which requires a significant amount of experience, or Advanced Magician, which you can't reach without a specific awakening event.
Beyond that, the presence of her rival, Carla, and her master, Iris, likely played a part.
Well… even considering all that, her own effort was ultimately the most important factor.
Regardless, a job well done is a job well done, so I reached out and ruffled Elisha’s hair.
“Good job, our Elisha!”
“Ahem! Ahem!”
I’d given her this praise several times already, but Elisha still puffed out her chest and acted smug as if it were the first time.
I kept stroking her hair until her nose was practically pointing at the ceiling from how high she held her chin, and only then did I pull my hand away.
Ah, but if I only praise Elisha, will Carla be okay? Last time, Elisha got sulky when I only doted on Carla.
I glanced over toward Carla. She must have finished changing first; she was already dressed neatly and was tilting her head at me.
Her platinum-blonde hair draped over her shoulder as she gave me a look that said she didn't understand why I was staring.
Carla didn't seem to have much of a reaction even when I was fussing over Elisha right in front of her. In fact, she looked like she had been clapping along, as if trying to match my rhythm.
Feeling a bit bittersweet, I was about to finish packing my things when Carla’s ruby eyes suddenly widened as if she’d realized something.
“Ah!”
With a short exclamation, she scurried over and thrust her head toward me.
“Did you want to pet me too? Oh, honestly. You can tell me anytime… No, you don't even need to ask. You can just touch me whenever you want.”
“…Right. You caught me.”
I was actually thinking about something else entirely, but I gave her a gentle smile and stroked her hair. Carla’s lips curled into a smirk as if everything was going according to plan.
“I am Master’s slave, after all.”
“Hah.”
Is that really something to say so proudly? I’m not sure, but she’s cute, so let’s just go with it.
I spent a moment stroking Carla’s hair, pulling on her ears, and poking her cheeks.
Meanwhile, Iona, who had sorted my luggage for me, sat down beside us with a giggle.
“What’s this, what’s this? Did you see that just now, Student Yandel?”
“Huh? See what?”
“The expression Carla just made was exactly like yours, Student Yandel!”
As if to demonstrate, she used her index fingers to lift the corners of her mouth into a semblance of a smile.
“Just like this!”
“…Do I really smile that obnoxiously?”
When I asked back skeptically at Iona’s expression—which made me strangely want to flick her forehead—the women in the room nodded in unison.
“Master does have that side to him.”
“Oh my? Did you really not know?”
“Master… perhaps you should look in a mirror once in a while.”
“That expression of yours, Junior… I guess you weren't doing it on purpose.”
“…….”
No. I mean. I know I have a certain vibe when I smile.
I know I went all out on the character customization to make myself handsome, but I also know that when I smile, I look like the son of some wicked noble family.
But I didn't realize it was that obnoxious!
“Alright, fine! Everyone, check your bags one last time to make sure you didn't forget anything! We’re leaving soon!”
When I snapped grumpily without realizing it, Iris patted my shoulder with her small palm.
“Master. Are you perhaps pouting? Hmm? You’re pouting, aren't you?”
“…Iris, come here.”
“Eek!”
I scooped up the struggling Iris and hoisted her onto my shoulders.
Suddenly finding herself in a shoulder ride, Iris tapped my head in embarrassment, but thanks to the Slave Imprint, it didn't hurt at all. It was barely a tickle.
“Put me down! I know you’re planning to walk out like this just like last time! I have a social reputation and status to maintain!”
“What? The status of someone who masturbates at home while watching her own disciple have sex with me through a communication orb?”
“M-Master ordered me to watch!”
“I told you to watch, I never told you to take care of yourself.”
“Kuaaaah…!”
Iris tried her best to break free from my grip. However, the Slave Imprint on her neck still imposed a strict prohibition against defying her master.
In other words, all the current Iris could do was rub her soft thighs against my cheeks.
This is actually kind of fun.
Iris’s reactions are always entertaining, but seeing someone who could remove the Slave Imprint at any time unable to resist because of it is quite cute.
She could leave whenever she wants, but she’s choosing to stay bound as a slave, right?
It’s like… watching an elephant tied to a thin rope.
Chuckling, I used Telekinesis to organize the luggage one by one and tuck them into my inventory.
Of course, my arms were firmly gripping Iris’s calves. I wasn't letting go until we left this place.
*
“Are you sure you don't need us to lend you a carriage?”
“Of course. We have two Advanced Magicians with us. We can make it back quite comfortably, even if it’s not as fancy as His Holiness’s carriage. Besides, Helena has to use it in a few days anyway. So really, it’s fine.”
Helena was busy showing herself to the dispatched priests and Holy Knights who were beginning to return one by one.
On top of that, the fact that she had brought back Clara—the one called the Last Saintess—inside a medallion had turned the Church upside down once again.
Now that the Church was in an uproar, for better or worse, Helena couldn't exactly say she was leaving immediately just because vacation was over, even if she was an Academy student.
So Helena had been working hard until today… but in the end, she couldn't make the timing work and decided to follow us a bit later.
Iona promised to explain things well to the Academy.
I doubt they’ll complain about a Saintess who appeared for the first time in 300 years being absent for a few days due to Church business.
Helena walked out from behind the reluctant Albaor, looking even more regretful than him.
“Brother….”
“Lady Helena? Why the long face?”
“It is because I feel so guilty toward you, Brother.”
“Huh? Why would you feel guilty toward me? If anything, I’m the one who should be sorry for leaving you behind.”
After all, I’d shared such an intimate connection with Helena and even told her we were practically a married couple now, yet I’d ended up spending all my time rolling around with the other women while leaving her out.
“Fufu. I am fine with that. My heart wishes to spend time with you as well, but… as you know, I am not alone right now.”
Helena stroked her stomach with a meaningful look.
“…You’re talking about the Righteous Light, right?! Right?!”
“Pardon? Of course I mean the Righteous Light. I am still inexperienced, so she says that even when she closes her eyes, she shares my vision.”
“That… is certainly a problem. Oh, what about Lady Clara?”
As soon as I mentioned Clara’s name, the medallion around Helena’s neck began to emit a white light.
Before long, the light, mingled with holy power, intertwined to form the shape of a pure white woman.
—Did you call?
“I didn't exactly call for you… but I’m glad you came out. We’ll see each other again in about ten days, but I was about to say my goodbyes since we’re parting for now.”
—Aha? Don't worry about this side. I’ll do my best to help Helena. …And if you want to hide things from my eyes, you can just leave the medallion in another room, so don't leave her feeling too lonely.
“Lady Clara…!”
—Why, Helena? A Saintess is the beloved daughter of the Righteous Light. In that case, aren't I, the former Saintess, and you, the current Saintess, sisters? And I don't just mean 'sisters' as a title. So I think it’s fine to say this much… or was I overstepping?
“It’s… it’s not that, but the way you said it makes it sound like I was lonely!”
—Weren't you? Every night, you’d look at that nun’s habit with the strangely deep side-slits and sigh so heavily, so I thought…
“Uwaaaaah! Go away! Please disappear for a moment, Lady Clara!”
Helena flailed her hands at where Clara stood.
Of course, that didn't make the current Clara—who was essentially a 3D projection—disappear.
Clara watched Helena, whose face was bright red as she panicked, with a warm gaze before waving lightly toward me.
—Anyway, don't worry too much about us, and please be good to Helena when we meet at the Academy.
“Of course I will. Is there anything you need, Lady Clara?”
—Me?
Clara’s emerald eyes widened in surprise. But soon, she shook her head with a warm yet strangely bittersweet smile.
—Well. I’ll think about that later. You said we’d meet again in a few days anyway, right? I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of place the Academy is.
With those words, Clara dissolved into light and seeped back into the medallion.
Helena, a bit exhausted from flailing her arms in the air, let out a long sigh.
“Whew… I’ll see you again at the Academy, so let’s leave the cheesy goodbyes at that. I wish you a safe journey.”
“Wait a second. I have something to say before I go.”
“Yes?”
Helena tilted her head. After glancing around to confirm that only our group, Albaor, and Gilbert were present, I stepped toward her.
“Brother?”
Helena stared at me with pure golden eyes, devoid of any suspicion. I took her chin in my hand and gave her a light kiss.
Chu.
“I’ll be waiting. That’s what I wanted to say.”
“……!”
Helena seemed to forget how to breathe for a moment, her mouth hanging open. Her already flushed face turned a deep, explosive red.
I gave her a smirk and walked over to Iona’s side.
“Everything’s ready now. Let’s head out, Professor.”
“Mm-hmm. Since I just saw something entertaining, shall I put in a little extra effort?”
Dark red magical light began to tint my vision. Beyond it, I waved lightly to Helena, who was still frozen in place.
I also gave a polite nod to Albaor and Gilbert, who were frozen with equally complex expressions.
Once the goodbyes were finished, Iona’s Teleport activated shortly after.
My eyes were momentarily dazzled, and when I opened them, the scenery had completely changed.
After that, we repeated the process of feeding Iona blood and teleporting several more times….
By that evening, we had finally returned to the Academy.