Chapter 403: Strata Magic School (3-14)
I smiled at Sonya, but inwardly, I was at a loss.
'This... is tricky.'
Every pheromone-related addiction I'd seen so far had been mild at best.
Even Luna, who'd been directly inhaling my pheromones since yesterday, was still only at mild addiction.
That said, while Luna's symptoms hadn't worsened, I'd noticed her tendency to lean her face closer to me since yesterday, thanks to the constant exposure.
Luna glanced at Sonya before quietly resting her face on my shoulder and taking a deep breath through her nose.
"Hoo... This feels nice."
"Haha..."
Pheromones had a trait where they had little effect on first-time exposures but accumulated with repeated contact.
And above all, Sonya had been affected by my pheromones from the very start.
The reason she'd been susceptible right away was due to her disposition.
Another one popped up.
The reason Sonya had seemed off since earlier wasn't just the pheromones—it was her [Sexual Frustration] disposition resurfacing.
"Even pheromone addiction shouldn't pose a serious problem."
Though labeled as "addiction," it was essentially like getting hooked on cigarettes or food—nothing dire.
A mild case was akin to struggling to resist a drink, a smoke, chicken, cola, or beer.
It was a switch flipped by certain actions, lingering in the mind.
Since I was right there pumping out pheromones, the effect was strong—but away from me, she'd return to normal life.
The real issue was [Sexual Frustration].
'Armonia, can you dispel that status ailment?'
"Analysis confirms it's possible."
'Good.'
"Su-ho... Is it truly necessary to dispel it?"
Armonia didn't love me getting close to Sonya, but with Karl's request in the mix, she was helping me out.
To her, with me seemingly about to dispel it, there seemed no need to remove the frustration.
But leaving Sonya's frustration unchecked was risky, and there were other reasons too.
'It's ultimately because of me, after all.'
"...."
Seeing an exceptional woman suffer because of me felt good, but that pleasure had to be savored situationally.
Sonya was in a critical period needing her focus, so quelling her frustration was necessary.
Outwardly, she looked like she'd overworked herself and caught a cold, her condition visibly poor.
'And it'll definitely flare up again.'
With the trip keeping us close often, recurrence was likely.
In the gently rocking carriage, I slowly stood and approached Sonya.
"Professor Sonya, are you really okay?"
"Eek! Y-yes, I'm fine. No need to worry..."
Sonya flinched as I drew near suddenly, waving her hands dismissively in surprise.
I closed the distance to her flustered form, placing hands on her shoulder and forehead to cast Status Ailment Removal.
Shrrk.
"Huh...?"
Strata was advanced in magic but sorely lacking in recovery abilities.
Thus, my dispel went unnoticed by Sonya and Luna, and as she felt my touch, her complexion began improving.
"Um... Student Su-ho..."
"No fever... But if you're still feeling unwell, should I tell the coachman now?"
"...I'm fine."
Thankfully, with her frustration lifted, Sonya regained her composure, flashing the smile she usually wore.
"Thank you for worrying."
She placed her hand over mine on her forehead.
"I'm better now."
"Glad to hear it."
"Come to think of it..."
Sonya glanced at Luna, then looked around.
"It's been a while since the Lightning Magic Research Club members gathered."
Fortunately, Sonya's condition improved after that, letting us enjoy lively conversation in the carriage.
'Good... Next time I dispel for her, do it like this.'
There was a reason I'd boldly initiated skinship to dispel—it signaled that only I could soothe her.
From her perspective, my mere touch on her forehead and shoulder had restored her condition.
I deemed that sufficient for now.
'The trip's far from over. Take it slow.'
Considering her attitude last night, rushing would backfire.
I'd keep her from giving up, drawing her deeper into my pheromone mire on her own.
Thus plotting a long-term project (?), we soon neared the Levin Kingdom border.
Every village en route to the border was dingy.
The last one before crossing was especially appalling.
(Oh my! Bro! You're so handsome!)
(Are you really a Strata student?)
(I'll do it for free while you're in the village! What do ya say?)
(....)
Women who looked 40s-50s started hitting on me, calling me "bro" nonstop.
It was obvious what they were.
'Ugh... I could never set foot in a brothel.'
Prostitutes.
Not just their age, but their appearances stirred disgust within me.
Mouths with malocclusions questionable for even chewing, faces dotted with red blemishes...
And their filthy hygiene...
I'd never seen prostitutes up close before, but they seared an indelible slave-brand image into my mind.
"Likely due to this remote location."
As Armonia said, the isolation meant low-end prostitutes.
'Makes sense... A capital's brothel like that would've been shut down by the state.'
"In a major city, there might be women to Su-ho's taste."
'Nah... I don't like those places. Hate 'em, really.'
I preferred pouncing on women who caught my eye.
The thrill of fully capturing a woman's heart, making it mine.
Something no prostitute could provide.
High-quality over quantity.
My favorite phrase in womanizing.
For men, it was one-shot kill.
In the end, I shelved sightseeing until reaching the Levin Kingdom border.
Time passed, and crossing the border brought a long-missed metropolis into view.
And at the city entrance...
"We sincerely welcome you to the Levin Kingdom!"
A massive crowd had gathered—not for us, but to greet the Dean.
Our first stop after crossing was Pots County in the Levin Kingdom.
A key territory handling a pillar of the kingdom's trade routes.
Its vast lands were perfect for storing and transporting goods, generating trade taxes that enriched not just the Pots Count family but the residents too.
Such was their wealth that, in a peaceful world, they built walls and a castle.
And now, a mythic figure had arrived in this domain.
Nobles from across the kingdom flocked, and the Pots family swiftly prepared for the unprecedented influx.
The result unfolded before my eyes.
'Whoa... Insane. They really have money.'
We travelers with the Strata Dean were assigned the finest suites in Pots Castle.
The rooms rivaled even those I'd stayed in at Maou Castle.
Not single rooms, but spacious enough for a family.
After settling in, a maid briefed me on the upcoming event.
"A banquet hosted by Count Pots is scheduled for this evening. We'll return at the appointed time."
The maid bowed gracefully and exited.
I flopped onto the bed, humming contentedly.
'Ahh... This is bliss.'
No matter how nice an inn, long travel was still grueling.
The last village had even made Luna grimace.
I recalled the coachmen's hardships too.
'They really suffered. We'll meet again on the return, right?'
"Unless issues arise, the crew shouldn't change."
The long-haul carriage contract covered round-trip from Strata to Levin.
But the kingdom's delegation from the border made it moot, so we parted with the coachmen here.
With payment already made, I'd see them on return.
Even in this comfy spot, one worry lingered.
'Sharing a bed with Luna will be tough for a while.'
Unlike past inns, eyes and ears were everywhere here.
Dodging maids was hard enough, and with nobles from the kingdom, their attendants and guards swarmed.
"Best to stay cautious for now. Especially inside the castle—wandering freely could lead to misunderstandings."
'Sigh... Sex life on lockdown for a bit.'
Honestly, holding back wouldn't be hard.
After nonstop romps with Luna on the trip, it was prime rest time.
'Whatever, it's not like skipping sex kills me... I'm a man of etiquette. I'll endure properly.'
"...."
As I lounged on the bed spouting bravado, knocks sounded.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
I knew who it was, so I invited without hesitation.
Only a maid would visit now.
Luna and Sonya were busy with nobles, and Louis... I hoped he stayed away.
Stretching, I sat up and looked to the opening door.
"Already prepping for the banquet...? Huh?"
Sure enough, maids stood there.
But among them, a woman of far higher caliber gazed at me with refined poise.
Golden hair cascading long, an elegant red dress—she smiled at me.
"Hello. We've finally met."
Her smile sent a command surging from my groin, and I yelled at Armonia.
'Armonia!! Sex! We need sex! Disposition! Disposition! Disposition!!'
"...."