A Secret Pact's Intimate Seal
The conclusion of the pact was meant to be secret—Kudangtangtang……!
Benetric let out an enthusiastic review declaring mint chocolate “absolutely magnificent,” then promptly collapsed in the most absurd fashion imaginable.
“……”
Sofia and I could only stare in stunned silence at the scene. Her reaction hadn’t been bad…… No, it had been positive. We had both clearly heard the words of admiration with our own ears. So why had she suddenly lost consciousness and fallen over?
Sofia, an ardent mint-chocolate devotee herself, had shown the exact same response earlier.
“A-are you all right……?!”
Snapping back to my senses, I rushed over to Benetric. She held my very life in her hands, so genuine concern was impossible to avoid. I could only hope she had fainted for the same reason Sofia had. If her collapse stemmed from mint chocolate’s negative aspects instead, I was ready to bolt on the spot. That was why I had already decided: the moment anything felt off, I would make a run for it without hesitation.
“Haa, haaaah……”
Benetric lay on the floor, breathing heavily. At least she was still breathing. Her breaths came quick and ragged, like someone who had just been through intense excitement. Her expression looked completely overwhelmed.
‘She looks like she’s completely lost it……?’
Besides her pupils rolling back as if from shock, there didn’t seem to be anything else unusual.
“……This is fine, right?”
“Breeder? Don’t worry too much. I’m certain she was simply overwhelmed with admiration, just like me.”
While I was checking on Benetric, Sofia’s voice drifted over from behind. She maintained a calm face and tone, the complete opposite of my own panic.
“Ah, now that you mention it—Sofia, are you really all right now?”
Thinking back, Sofia was an experienced veteran. She had already gone through mint-choco shock once, so of course she could stay composed. The fact that she remained this nonchalant even with a professor collapsed on the floor suggested she had some kind of reassurance.
“Of course. I’m in perfect condition. Earlier I merely paused for a moment beneath the wave of intense emotion.”
“Huh? A wave of emotion?”
“At first I was quite shocked myself. It was a flavor and stimulation I had never encountered in my entire life—it felt as though my very soul was being pulled out. It was so dizzying that I truly felt I could die without any regrets.”
Sofia gazed up at the ceiling, eyes sparkling as she recalled the taste of mint chocolate. Just remembering it seemed to make a halo shine behind her head.
“I-it was really that intense……?”
If it was enough to make someone feel their soul leaving their body, wasn’t that dangerous? It literally meant the soul could actually depart. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to question Sofia about it.
“It truly was magnificent! Professor Benetric’s first reaction wasn’t bad either, so I’m sure she was satisfied! If she just rests a little, she’ll wake up just like I did.”
I couldn’t say anything in the face of Sofia’s overwhelming confidence. Her entire body seemed to be shouting, “Mint chocolate is absolutely not harmful!”
“Senior Sofia……? Even so, I don’t think we can just leave her like this.”
Tina, who had been quietly watching the entire situation from the side, spoke up cautiously. She apparently shared my concerns.
“You’re right. Tina, go outside and bring a few classmates to help support the professor and Diora. As you said, both of them look like they need rest in the infirmary.”
“Ah, yes……! But Senior Sofia? Can’t you use your purification ability for emergency treatment?”
Tina paused mid-motion to ask. I had been wondering the same thing. There was a convenient and quick method available, after all. Hadn’t she once used that brilliant power in the lounge to wake up classmates who had been drunk on sugar? So why wasn’t she using it now?
“Tina? That’s an unusually foolish question, even for you.”
“Pardon?”
“My light purification heals status ailments and illnesses. What exactly would I be purifying in someone who simply lost consciousness from a purely gustatory shock?”
“Ah…… I had no idea it worked that way! I’ll go fetch the others right away……!”
Tina nodded at Sofia’s reasonable explanation. I hadn’t expected that answer either.
—Hop, hop……!
With quick, cat-like movements just like when she had first appeared, Tina slipped out of the cave. According to Sofia, the fourth-years hadn’t simply been sugar-drunk last time. It seemed their blood sugar had spiked so violently that they actually went into shock.
“Sofia? What do we do now?”
Even if the two of them weren’t in mortal danger, that didn’t solve everything. We might avoid severe punishment by sheer luck, but complications were inevitable. I had heard the vice-principal was already keeping an eye on me. If she now classified mint chocolate as a hated food, tremendous disadvantages would surely follow. At this point, simply surviving would be fortunate enough.
“Don’t worry too much, Breeder.”
“Sofia?”
Sofia stepped closer with a bright smile.
“I told you earlier, didn’t I? I’ll take responsibility for your academy life. I’ll protect you no matter what.”
She drew even nearer, telling me not to worry. Even though two dragons had collapsed because of mint chocolate, her expression remained gentle. She was probably smiling like that to reassure me.
“Thank you. Just hearing that means a lot.”
Realistically, even as student council president, I didn’t think she could overpower a professor’s influence. Still, watching her refuse to back down for my sake……
‘Huh? Wait, when did she get this close……?’
Sofia, who wouldn’t back down for me, was now far too close. When I looked up, her face was right in front of mine. She kept her calm smile, her soft pink lips moving slightly.
“Well then, Breeder……? Let’s finish the pact while we have the chance……”
Sofia suddenly urged me to complete the contract. Her cheeks flushed shyly. As if embarrassed to meet my eyes any longer, she gently closed them, her alluring lips slightly parted.
“Young lady……?”
I had been calming down thanks to Sofia, but now my heart began to race again because of her.
—Thump, thump, thump……!
I couldn’t even tell if the heartbeat was mine or hers. Fine. I’d just close my eyes and accept it. I had wanted to avoid the mint scent if possible, but refusing her twice would definitely hurt her pride. It would be ridiculous to reject someone who said they would do anything for me, all because of mint chocolate.
A target who has reached the worship stage has proposed the Dragon’s Pact.
Accept? Upon acceptance, the target will faithfully fulfill the pact.
The target’s abilities and privileges will become available for use at any time.
Refusal will reset favorability and empty the slot.
‘Accept.’
You have accepted the Dragon’s Pact!
Complete the contract with the target immediately!
Once again, the status window demanded an interspecies kiss.
“Um…… Sofia? I’ll be in your care from now on as well.”
I steadied my heart and closed my eyes. Then I lowered my head and leaned in. I no longer refused Sofia. More precisely, I was now prepared to accept the lingering scent of mint.
—Chu……♡
Our lips met once more. The sensation was undeniably soft. Derke’s lips had been soft too, but this went beyond mere fluffiness. It was full of elasticity, and at the same time carried a warm, comforting feeling—like a benevolent hand enveloping and soothing me.
The difference between a young hatchling and a dragon nearing adult form was clear.
‘That aside…… the mint smell isn’t as strong as before.’
The sharp mint fragrance I had noticed earlier seemed to have completely vanished. Sofia’s lips tasted purely sweet. The soft, tender lips carried a chocolate-like sweetness. Even between the two marshmallow-like lips, something was trying to slip through.
—Chu, chuuu……♡
Accompanied by a sticky sound of saliva.
Something was trying to part my lips. Soon, something softer and moister than lips slowly entered.
‘Is this…… her tongue……?’
I hadn’t expected it to be this serious. I thought it would end with a French kiss, but she suddenly went all out? It was surprising, but of course I didn’t dislike it. I simply wondered if this was really okay. Plus, what if someone walked in right now? If Derke saw this scene, she would be incredibly jealous. She only got a forehead kiss, yet with Sofia it became a full deep kiss—
“That’s cheating, desuyong—!!!”
““……?!?!””
Just as the atmosphere was ripening, a familiar voice rang out.
“Cough……! Cough! D-Derke……?!!”
Why are you here?!