Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: I've Wasted Half My Life
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Melissa dragged her weary body upright.
She wanted nothing more than to flop back into bed and rest a bit longer, but she'd made a promise—she couldn't back out now.
Rubbing her gritty eyes, she headed for the clubroom.
The Black Magic Club's classroom.
Ethan had said he'd be waiting there.
He'd found a way to make her fall asleep.
'I'm looking forward to it.'
The honey fruit method would take a little more time.
Honestly, when she'd heard that from Ethan, she'd been a bit disappointed.
She'd expected something amazing, given how confidently he'd spoken.
Still, he'd found a way.
She admired his effort—and was grateful for it. With those feelings in her heart, Melissa made her way to the classroom.
Arriving at the Black Magic Club room,
"I'll head in."
Melissa gave a light knock and reached for the door.
Before she could open it, the door swung open with a click.
"Huh?"
Out stepped Ophelia.
The strange part was how flushed Ophelia's face was.
And that wasn't all.
Moist breaths escaped her lips, and her eyes bore traces of dried tears.
Melissa turned to her.
"You okay?"
"I-I'm fine."
"Doesn't look like it."
"I'm fine! I-I'll get going now—"
Ophelia hurried out of the room.
Then her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the floor with a thud.
"Haa... haa..."
"You sure you're really okay?"
"I'm fine! Really, nothing happened! W-Well then..."
Ophelia shook off Melissa's hand, covered her face, and bolted away.
Melissa tilted her head in confusion.
What on earth had happened in there?
'Guess it's safe to go in.'
She hesitated.
What if she walked into something awkward?
'Eh, whatever. Let's go.'
Hesitating out here wouldn't change anything. Ophelia and Ethan had been acting weird for days anyway.
That guy had probably done something strange again.
Stepping through the open door, Melissa spotted Ethan sitting there with his eyes closed.
His fingers twitched as if he were loosening up his hands.
Like some peak master.
"Assistant?"
"You're here."
"You are, but Ophelia just stormed out with the craziest look on her face."
"Can't blame her."
Can't blame her?
"What exactly did you do, Assistant?"
"I'll explain it nice and slow from here on out."
And with that, the conversation ended.
Then it hit her.
'Desks pushed together, blanket laid out, even a pillow like it's meant for lying down... no way.'
"You want me to lie down here?"
Nod.
"What are you planning to do to me?"
"Something very simple. Just using my hands a little."
"Your hands?"
"Just trust me and follow my lead."
Melissa was speechless at the man's confident demeanor.
She'd never seen him this self-assured before.
Had he really found something incredible?
"I can trust you, right?"
"Of course. You just lie down and stay still."
Just to be safe, I'd tested it on Ophelia first, and the new skill proved pretty damn effective.
To the point where that rabid dog was shedding tears and begging me to stop.
But fat chance.
Poor Ophelia had turned from a fierce hound into a whimpering puppy before my new skill.
"Heh."
"Your laugh sounds suspicious."
"Just your imagination. Ah, loosen your hair and lie down."
"My hair?"
"Yeah. Makes it easier for me."
"What are you even planning...?"
"Trust me and lie down, friend."
I watched Melissa settle onto the makeshift bed and prepared to use my new skill.
"Not like that."
"Hm?"
"First time, bury your face in the pillow."
"Got it."
She seemed to understand what I had in mind and nodded.
Soon, her back was in view.
"Here we go."
I pressed into her back, section by section, nice and slow.
Her slender waist fit perfectly in my two hands, making it easy to apply pressure.
Thumbs rigid, I slid them straight up along her spine.
"...Huu..."
A soft sigh escaped Melissa's lips.
"Feels good?"
"...No."
Maybe she was embarrassed to admit she felt pleasure from someone else's touch.
I toyed with her spine a bit, then swiftly shifted to her nape.
Twitch!
Her body jolted.
"Move, and it'll miss the spot."
"O... ooh."
As expected, her nape was rock-hard.
Couldn't tell if it was stone or flesh.
Fatigue from sleepless nights.
Stress amplified by it all.
A perfect storm of the worst kind.
Of course.
"You, always hunched over your desk doing research."
"...N-noooh..."
"Stretch a little sometimes. Come on."
Lack of movement probably played a part too.
I tugged her neck up, and it let out a satisfying crack.
Pretty addictive. Though doing it too often wouldn't be good for her.
After kneading her delicate body for a good while, she started looking drowsy.
Teetering right on the edge of sleep.
Caught in that hazy in-between.
'Nice start.'
And I hadn't even gotten to the main event yet.
Everything so far was just prep for activating the skill.
In other words, the real deal started now.
"Melissa, turn over."
"Mm..."
Drowsy Melissa rolled over as I guided her.
"Huu..."
I placed both hands on her scalp.
Press—
'Skill activate.'
I began the real massage.
Scalp Massage
Massages the target's scalp. Effective against the status ailment 'Insomnia'.
This is a skill that can be strengthened based on proficiency.
Ethan's promise hadn't been empty talk.
'His hands are so skilled...'
It was pure bliss.
A twinge of pain, chased by pleasure. Discomfort, swiftly replaced by delight.
A masterful harmony of ache and ecstasy.
No wonder Ophelia had ended up like that.
'...Still.'
It didn't seem like something that would bring tears.
Melissa pondered that.
Right then, Ethan's hands settled on her head.
Nothing more—but she gasped without thinking.
'What... is this?'
It was different.
Completely unlike the sensations from the body massage before.
She even checked to make sure it wasn't someone else.
No, it was still Ethan's face.
Smooth, smooth.
His hands stroked her forehead.
Pushing her bangs aside, fully exposing it.
Ethan gathered force in his thumbs once more.
Preeeeess.
He pressed firmly into the center of her forehead.
"Ah..."
The tension began to melt away.
Her whole body slackened in release.
Overwhelmed by this devastating calm, Melissa's mouth fell open, drool slipping out uncontrollably.
Her facial muscles went haywire, lips curling into an unintended grin.
But even seeing that, Ethan's hands signaled they were just getting started.
"Going for real now."
He mercilessly targeted points all over her head.
Heavy pressure spreading from her forehead across her scalp.
When he hit her crown, an involuntary "Ohhk!" burst from her lips.
She couldn't hold back the cool wave of pleasure surging through her.
The highlight came at her temples.
"Aaah!?"
"What's wrong?"
"I-It hurts!"
"Just endure it."
His low, steady voice left her no choice but to grit her teeth through the pain.
"Ahh... uh... uuh...?"
A little time passed.
When Ethan's fingers circled her temples, the sudden clarity in her head startled her.
How long had it been since her mind felt this sharp?
A cool breeze whistled through her stuffy thoughts.
Like sunlight and fresh air flooding a musty attic.
Lost in that refreshing sensation, Melissa's expression crumpled again.
"...Now."
A true hunter strikes when the prey is weakest.
Ethan prepared his final blow.
Truth be told, it wasn't anything flashy.
Just releasing all the built-up massage pressure at once.
But Melissa's body was already putty-soft.
"Hup!!"
"Oof!?"
"Seems like this spot's sensitive."
"H-haa... stooop...!! I-I'm... gonna go crazy!"
"It's fine. Holding back's bad for you. After all..."
"Ha... hahahet..."
"You've got a lot pent up, don't you?"
Press, press.
Squeeze, squeeze.
Preeeeess!
Squuuueeeze!
"Het... hehhet... hit... hit... hihuhihi..."
"Massage over."
Why Ophelia had been so mortified.
Why she'd shed tears even while savoring the bliss.
Melissa got it now.
Now that she'd discovered this...
'I can never go back.'
She'd become a slave, craving this insane pleasure and Ethan's touch.
'...To think I only learned about this now... I've wasted half my life...'
With that realization, Melissa plunged into the deepest sleep she'd had in months.
.
.
.
.
.
Covering the fully asleep Melissa with the blanket, Ethan flashed a victorious smirk.
"Then our deal is officially sealed."
Handing over the club because she couldn't resist the pleasure.
Your Black Magic Club is done for.
Cafe rules this place now.