Chapter 153

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 153

Chapter Title: Can't Keep My Wits Under Bust Pressure

Mind reeling from the bust pressure.

A few days after the mage tower tour, in the clubroom.

I'd stopped by the clubroom to upgrade my broomstick.

"You're gonna ride a broomstick? What the hell are first-years up to these days..."

"Haha. Please help me out, senior."

And there, I ran into a third-year senior who happened to know how to refine 'engines'.

The 'engine' is a magic stone that lets you fly without spending any mana, if handled right.

Of course, you still have to manage the flight magic stored inside it.

"Where'd you even snag an engine... Whatever, I'll teach you. But it's gonna be tough, yeah?"

"I'll give it a shot, senior. Haha."

"It's advanced refinement even for a first-year. If you shatter the magic stone, I ain't taking responsibility."

The senior was pretty shocked when I mentioned attaching an engine to my broomstick.

Refining a magic stone engine at first-year level is apparently no small feat.

But I figured I could pull it off, so I asked him to teach me anyway.

"...A first-year did this? Even among third-years, I'm the only one who can."

"Hahaha. All thanks to you, senior!"

And just as I'd expected, I nailed it.

The stuff I'd learned from Professor Juuri came in handy in all sorts of ways.

"Whoa... Anyway, if you're mounting an engine, you gotta balance the weight center perfectly. Especially on something shaky like a broomstick—even one or two magic stones can throw off the flight."

"Got it, senior! Haha!"

I answered with a hearty laugh.

This was the best I'd felt in ages.

Ever since scoring the 'engine', I hadn't stopped grinning for a second.

What's better in the world than upgrading your broomstick?

"Whew... Guess I should get back to my own work. Graduation already..."

"Prepping for graduation?"

"Yeah. Last semester after break ends. Gotta prep now if I wanna land in a guild or the imperial mage corps."

"Does flight skill help with that?"

"Flying mages get hired sometimes. Like special forces in the military."

"Ooh..."

Even mages have a tough job market, it seems.

I left the diligently prepping third-year senior and got to work.

Installing the custom-ordered saddle and engine mount.

A few hours of tinkering later, my broomstick had undergone a total transformation.

"Heh heh heh... Hahahahahahahahaha!!"

I laughed loud enough to shake the academy.

Who knew my broomstick could look this badass.

It was like upgrading from a horse to a luxury carriage.

"These guys..."

I posted a brag on the gallery, but all I got back was mockery.

Whatever. Screw the idiots who don't get how cool broomstick is.

Don't let it get to you, stick.

I grabbed Broomstick Mk.2 and headed out for a test flight.

Vrooom—

Powering up the flight magic in the engine, the broomstick lifted off smoothly.

Way more comfy than flying with my own magic.

Instead of casting spells myself every second, it runs on the pre-stored magic in the stone.

And zero mana drain means way longer flights.

Plush—

Best of all, this custom saddle!

This softness rivals a dorm bed.

I could sit on this thing for hours!

Hahahahahahaha—

My laughter echoed across the academy skies.

Truth be told, the upgrade was an excuse. I just wanted a quick breather.

End of break was creeping up.

A lot had gone down over vacation.

For starters, the Ilmost Archmage Duke's approach and the archmage dukes' schemes.

Then the imperial stuff with Yuuna and Akail.

Even the mage tower trip wasn't drama-free.

I'd hoped for a chill academy life.

But from the moment I landed in this world and tangled with the taboo mage...

Things looked like they'd stay anything but peaceful.

Oh well. Gotta keep leveling up anyway.

No complaints here.

Dunno if it's the gallery's mindset rubbing off or the elixir's effect.

"Hm?"

While flying and letting the breeze clear my head,

I spotted a familiar busty cadet down below.

Hisenna.

Looking around—

Hisenna was hurrying along, glancing around solo.

Like she was dodging someone.

I dropped altitude and landed near Hisenna.

"Hisenna."

"Kyaa! Oh, Ian?"

"What's up? Did you mess up?"

"Perfect timing... C-can you give me a ride?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, sure. You've noticed too, huh?"

"Noticed what?"

"That my broomstick evolved. Couldn't resist trying this plush saddle, right? Don't worry—I fitted it for two just for times like this."

"Uh, y-yeah. Anyway, yep. I'm getting on!"

Hisenna hemmed and hawed, then hopped on my broomstick in a flash.

"N-now go, quick!"

Vrooom—

I lifted the broomstick into the sky.

Smooth takeoff.

I showed off with some graceful maneuvers.

"How's that? Awesome, right, Hisenna! What do you think of Broomstick Mk.2?"

"Phew... Finally ditched 'em..."

"Huh? Elrim's down there. Chayuri's that way. Wanna land and pick 'em up?"

"N-no! This is fine, isn't it? Saddle's big enough for two anyway."

"There's an auxiliary seat for one more..."

"St-still! Too many and it'll strain the broomstick."

"But I wanna show it off..."

"J-just fly for now! Can't let those two spot us!"

"Aww..."

No choice. I flew past Elrim and Chayuri's heads.

Max three including me anyway.

I'll give those two rides later.

Once Elrim and Chayuri were out of sight, Hisenna sighed in relief.

Hit me then—she'd been dodging those two.

"Were you running from those two?"

"H-how'd you know?"

"For real?"

"Ian's gotten sharper lately..."

Hisenna admitted it straight up.

The three seemed tight before.

Did they fight or something?

"You guys fight?"

"No. It's just..."

Hisenna clammed up.

Instead, she hugged me tighter to not slip off.

Soft, plush sensation on my back.

"Truth is... I wanted some alone time with you. Whenever I try heading your way solo, those two tag along..."

"To see me?"

"Yeah. Got something to say. Like back at the mage tower..."

She meant the maze incident.

Back then, she'd wanted to rest in the room without Elrim or Chayuri.

Guess she had words back then too.

Sudden shift in the air.

"Actually, I had something to ask back then."

"Ah. Had to be just us?"

"Yeah... pretty much."

Hisenna pressed closer against me.

Her bust felt even more pronounced.

What could she wanna ask that needed privacy?

"What is it?"

"Well... Give me a sec to brace myself."

Needs mental prep, huh.

I kept flying, waiting for her question.

The breeze was refreshing under the clear sky, but some weird tension hung over the broomstick.

Then, moments later. Hisenna spoke.

It was totally out of left field—and I regretted hearing it instantly.

"I saw you vanish with Chayuri on Subjugation Festival night."

"Guhk..."

Just one sentence, but my chest clenched like I'd been gut-punched.

Cold sweat broke out.

I could guess where this was going.

"And Chayuri didn't come back to the dorms that night."

Ch-ch-chatter—

Why the hell...

My jaw was shivering like I'd been dropped in a frozen wasteland.

Felt like I shouldn't look back.

Chilling aura pouring from Hisenna.

"That night... were you two together?"

Gasp gasp—my breath came ragged.

Pupils dilated, senses sharpened.

Sirens blaring in my head.

Full-on crisis mode.

"Th-th-that's..."

Logically, I hadn't done wrong by Hisenna. So why this?

What was this killing intent and terror?

"Take your time. But lie... and I'll push you off."

Whoosh—

Suddenly, our altitude felt terrifying.

Legs went weak. Even though I'd flown plenty.

"Th-th-that... I-I don't... remember...? Haha, ha..."

I laughed awkwardly, pretending to gather my thoughts.

Calmed my shaking body, wiped the sweat streaming down my cheek.

Breathing evened out, senses settling back to normal.

But still couldn't turn to face Hisenna behind me.

Her face had to be scary as hell.

"Phew..."

A bit calmer now.

Thoughts sharpening again.

No real reason to freak this hard, right?

Why so terrified?

'The elixir effect in the first place?'

The 'Frost Tiger's Semen' elixir boosts judgment in emotional danger spots.

But just now, the Frost Tiger's mind was MIA—I just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shook.

Back to cool-headed now, but still scarier than usual.

Suspecting an elixir glitch, I opened the gallery.

Quick post so Hisenna wouldn't notice.

But the gallery folks had no solid answers.

"Ian?"

I stayed quiet too long, and Hisenna started radiating chill again.

Body shook, sweat flowed.

Was Hisenna always this scary?

Then a late comment popped up.

From a lone anon who couldn't gallery properly thanks to familiars.

Furrylike dropped the unexpected bombshell.

So Frost Tigers—male ones specifically—only thing that shakes their mind is their wife?

Get chewed out by the missus, and males freak.

"Wait, so then..."

Thinking that far, I instinctively glanced back at Hisenna.

And locked eyes with her terrifying, murderous smile.

"I-an?"

Whoosh—

"H-hiiik!"

Startled so bad I nearly fell off the broomstick.

Now it clicked.

Hisenna's pressure was suffocating.

Wanna bail right now.

Meanwhile, the gallery exploded as the sharks smelled blood.

I finally regained cool judgment and thought.

Hisenna's dead serious—if I lie, she'll yeet me off for real.

And from her tone, she seems to know. About Subjugation Festival night with Chayuri.

So, what do I say now?

Even with Frost Tiger mind, no answer.

Her bust pressure keeps shaking the cool head.

And can't make up info that ain't there.

No clue on the perfect response here.

But instinct screamed lying's bad.

Frost Tiger gut said it'd blow up big later.

Best, rational move: Ask the gallery.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Lots of high-level gallery bros on this stuff.

They'd give the optimal answer.

But that means spilling about Chayuri that night to the gallery.

Admit banging Chayuri? Gallery reaction's predictable.

"I-an?"

Hisenna kept pressing from behind.

The soft feel on my back wasn't nice anymore.

Bust pressure squeezing my chest breathless.

Moments later. I made my choice.