41. Interlude
“Tch, get out of bed?”
“Yes, class……. Mana……. Body……. Sword……. Training…….”
Zeke was saying something right in front of her eyes, but in her panic, not a single word made it into Serena’s ears.
Because right now, smack between Serena’s legs, there sat a book of the most hardcore tastes, plain as day.
What, what do I do!?
And it was a pretty thick one too—if she got up from her seat, it’d definitely show.
Even the illustration on the cover was so outrageous there wasn’t a shred of plausible deniability!
Her mind was stuffed full with the thought that if Zeke caught a glimpse of [50 Rod Shadows Cast on the Lady’s Face], she’d have to dive straight into the central lake at Lamieli Academy.
“……Got it?”
“Pardon?”
She reflexively answered him, but Serena’s head was spinning, desperately trying to figure out how to escape this crisis.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed through Serena’s mind.
Pillow!!! The backrest pillow’s got some good height to it!
Serena casually pulled the pillow she’d been leaning against to her front, hugging it close.
Just like a little girl on guard against a strange visitor in the night.
Phew, act natural. You got this, Serena. Your dignity as a human being is on the line right here!
Of course, even if Zeke spotted it, he’d probably pretend not to notice or let it slide.
But for Serena, the horror of him—one person—finding out about her secret tastes was worse than the whole academy knowing.
Just imagining the contempt twisting his face…….
Cold sweat beaded down Serena’s back.
As she sat up, she shoved the pillow she was holding under the covers.
A gap opened up.
Careful, careful. Yeah, slide it to the side a bit.
Without taking her eyes off Zeke, she focused every nerve on her toes.
She pinched the edge of the book with them and dragged it over.
It’s heavy!
But Serena’s iron will finally succeeded in shifting the book next to the pillow!
Serena slipped smoothly out from under the covers and glanced back.
Thanks to the pillow, the angular shape didn’t show.
Phew……. Close call…….
She hadn’t fought this hard with such focus in ages.
Only now could Serena finally face Zeke with the relief of a hero who’d slain the Demon King.
Yeah, safe now. But he said something just now……. Didn’t catch it properly?
Serena cautiously approached Zeke.
His figure came into view.
Ah, um……. I-is it because of that book I was just looking at…….
Hair black as the abyss.
A stern, rigid expression.
Those shadowed eyes, brimming with melancholy.
Muscles that asserted themselves even through his clothes.
A heavy, overwhelming presence.
Today, too, Zeke was right up her alley.
If she could rate him in stars, it’d be a night sky glittering with the Milky Way!
Is the instructor, like, super amazing……?
She glanced down.
Serena desperately fought the urge to let her gaze drift lower.
Zeke stared at her blankly before speaking.
“So……. Take off your clothes.”
“Y-yes……. WHAT!?”
Serena’s eyes shook in shock at his words.
Then she broke into a soft smile.
Hah, seriously. Now I’m even hearing weird hallucinations. There’s no way the instructor would come straight to my room after getting back and suddenly tell me to strip.
Good grief. Serena shook her head.
Maybe her delusions had gone too far.
She figured she should cut back on the novels she read at night.
Serena met his eyes again and asked Zeke.
“Uh, I was lost in thought just now and didn’t hear properly. Could you say it again? What was that?”
“Come here and take off your clothes.”
“……?……!”
Serena’s eyes widened like saucers.
Wha……? Wh-what, is this a dream……?
She couldn’t believe it.
Was the youngest lady of the Yohayden Dukedom really so deep into novels that her delusions had gone overboard?
Had she fallen asleep reading and not even noticed, now dreaming in such vivid detail?
Was this her base desires manifesting so blatantly from her subconscious?
Maybe a dream within a dream, that’s why it felt so real……
Dream within a dream within a dream……
Slap!!!
Serena smacked her own cheek hard.
“Ow. It hurts……”
“?”
Zeke furrowed his brow.
What’s going on? Did I unknowingly cast some kind of charm magic?
Serena kept doubting her own imagination,
but no matter how she looked at it, this was a signal open to only one interpretation.
Zeke was still staring back with his usual icy gaze.
Th-then, this ‘important talk’ is…… s-s-sex…… or whatever!? For real!?
Realizing it wasn’t a dream sent shivers racing from her lower back through her whole body.
It wasn’t just her harboring feelings for him alone.
The affection she’d been nurturing in secret wasn’t one-sided.
Tears of emotion nearly welled up.
But…….
Serena glared at Zeke, steeling her eyes.
Doesn’t mean you just blurt out ‘take off your clothes’!
What was she supposed to do with this stone-cold blockhead who lacked even a scrap of mood?
But her body was honest.
Thump— thump—
Serena’s heart began pounding fiercely.
I can’t just accept it like this.
Even if he likes me, is it real? Can I be sure?
What do I want?
Ask her subconscious.
The wise and clever Serena Yohayden.
She wasn’t in any state for rational judgment right now.
—Haaaah. Instructor……♥ Love him. Love him so much. I’m losing it. He likes me…… for real. Haa……♥ I wanna lick that face all over.
From beside her right ear, a mini devil Serena—barely covering her chest with scandalous clothes, horns sprouting from her head—spoke up.
Grinning ear to ear, she was drooling sloppily.
As she stared with salty eyes, devil Serena rolled hers and urged her on.
—Slurp……. Hey, you idiot! The instructor told you to strip quick! What’re you waiting for! Hurry up and flash those big dumb tits at him! If he leaves the room now, it’s on you!?
Ah! N-no, can’t have that!
Her hand twitched toward the hem of her slip at those words—
when from her left ear, a mini angel Serena with white wings chimed in.
—Aaah……. The instructor wants me……. For real……. This isn’t a dream…….
Yeah, angel! You’ll say something helpful, right?
She gazed at Zeke with moist eyes, then suddenly shot Serena a venomous glare.
—But why’re you dawdling!? Serena! You flower-headed fool! Strip already! The instructor said to!
Neither was any help at all.
YES! YES! OH! YEEEEES! Angel Serena and devil Serena grabbed hands and spun circles around her, shouting.
Even as they egged her on from both sides to strip and pounce right now,
it only sharpened Serena’s cold reason.
Right, I’m the lady of the Yohayden Dukedom! I need a clear answer at least!
Serena opened her mouth with a serious face.
“Instructor, th-this is all so sudden……. Isn’t it too fast? I’m scared too.”
“I understand. It’s a bit early, but the sooner the better.”
“Th-the sooner the better……?”
The instructor was the type to stake his claim firmly.
Zeke nodded.
His usual demeanor put Serena at ease.
It didn’t feel like some fleeting slip or emotional outburst.
Serena steadied her trembling heart and said.
“Th-then, don’t you have something else to say first?”
“Mm, yes.”
“Wh-what is it……?”
Serena gulped and waited for Zeke to speak.
* * *
As Zeke headed to Serena’s room,
he suddenly realized what he was about to do.
They’d grown close, sure, but
would she really accept him telling her to strip right in front of him?
No matter how clueless he was with women—a lifelong bachelor and eternal virgin—
he could guess how those words would land.
Right, explain properly. She’ll understand. She’s serious about the sword.
Knock knock—
Zeke knocked, got Serena’s permission, and opened the door.
“I’ve got some important talk.”
“Ahaha……. N-now?”
“Yes. Get out of bed for a moment.”
“Tch, get out of bed?”
“Yes, I’ll have to ask something a bit rude of you.”
Serena looked troubled, as expected.
Probably anticipating an unreasonable request.
Zeke quickly added.
“Serena, this is essential for the classes ahead. Don’t misunderstand.”
With that, he began.
“First off, our bodies have pathways called Mana Roads where mana flows.”
Serena listened with intense focus.
Look at those sparkling blue eyes.
Her will and spirit for the sword were top-notch, as always.
“I once told you your body doesn’t suit the sword. That hasn’t changed. Even with the new blade I made this time, you still won’t match it.”
Sweat beading on her face—she was taking every word to heart, no doubt.
Zeke was satisfied with her attitude.
“However, with my help, even a body unsuited to the sword can wield it. In the training ahead, we’ll build the foundation to learn proper mana circulation suited to your Mana Roads. Got it?”
“Pardon?”
Serena seemed not to have fully grasped it.
Yeah, it wouldn’t click yet.
“That’s why we need to explore your Mana Roads and select a mana circulation method now. To do that, I have to examine your body first.”
Serena’s face flooded with immense relief.
She hadn’t understood it all, but realized it wasn’t hopeless.
“But this method requires my hands to touch your body’s core directly. And if there’s anything blocking near my hands, the Mana Road scan won’t work properly. So……. You’ll need to take off your clothes.”
Serena got out of bed and approached lightly, standing before him.
Zeke told her again.
“So……. Take off your clothes.”
“Y-yes……. WHAT!?”
Serena looked confused about how stripping connected to mana circulation.
But she was smart—she’d get it soon.
“Uh, I was lost in thought just now and didn’t hear properly. Could you say it again? What was that?”
“Come here and take off your clothes.”
Serena looked bewildered for a moment, then shook her head.
Her knightly aspirations versus her pride as a woman.
Serena, torn between the two.
Soon, she slapped her cheek hard.
Slap!
“Ow, it hurts……”
Her reddened cheek set with resolve, as if enduring momentary shame was nothing.
Ah, fine eyes.
Those eyes pursuing a clear answer toward her goal.
But her reluctance hadn’t fully faded.
“Instructor, th-this is all so sudden……. Isn’t it too fast? I’m scared too.”
“I understand. It’s a bit early, but the sooner the better.”
“Th-the sooner the better…….”
There was a world of difference between grasping Mana Roads for training and blindly building physical strength.
Mapping the body beforehand was like having a clear map to navigate the path.
“Th-then, don’t you have something else to say first?”
“Mm, yes.”
“Wh-what is it……?”
“Turn around.”
Serena bit her lip hard.
That’s your ‘something to say’!? Turn, turn around!? I-I’ve never done this before! You devil!!