Estelia's Way of Making Amends
I decided to save Radion.
With a whopping three chances, it was more than enough reason to bring him back.
The only problem was having to use one of my precious Creation Talismans. That stung a bit.
I'd only ever used them on Luka before.
With that thought, I headed down to the first floor, where Estelia was already waiting.
"What, you weren't sulking after all?"
"S-sulking...!"
Her face flushed red as she approached me.
"...I love you. I don't like Radion at all. Not even a little. But he is an important friend."
After saying that, Estelia drew even closer. Her face grew redder still.
"So I'd really appreciate it if you could help him. I know it's not great to keep asking favors... so, um... you know..."
Damn. She's adorable.
Honestly, I'd already planned on saving Radion anyway. Watching her fumble through the request like this was just too cute. She was clearly terrified of how I'd react.
"Ah, no... it's okay if you don't want to... I was just asking in case... huh? You don't hate me now, right? Tell me you don't hate me... You still love me, don't you? I'm the best, right? You only like me...!!"
'Hmm... what to do?'
Estelia had suddenly gone full yandere.
I could just laugh it off. Or tell her the truth. But I wanted to tease her a little more, so I kept a straight face. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"A-are you mad...? I guess there's no helping it... Hiiing... Don't be angry... Hic...!!"
Chuu...
Thud!
Estelia shoved me down and climbed on top, pressing her lips against mine. Her face was burning crimson.
"...Pwah... Um... are you still really mad?"
A sudden kiss. And a deep one at that. This was the first time Estelia had ever initiated something so intense.
"Hiiing... I love you! I'm not cheating or anything...!"
Maybe it was because I'd teased her so much last time. She must have mistaken my stunned silence for anger, because more tears gathered in her eyes. She was clearly desperate to make it up to me.
"This... do I really have to...? Ugh, whatever! You can touch my chest! Here!"
With that, she started taking off her outer clothes. Even though she was still in her uniform, she unbuttoned her shirt as well.
"...But, um... it's my first time being touched, so please be gentle."
This was cheating.
Estelia's face was so red it looked ready to explode. Her breathing had grown ragged as she spoke.
"W-wait. Not here... C-come with me!"
She glanced around, then pulled me into the storage room on the first floor. It was spotless thanks to Hanna's constant cleaning. Since Hanna lived on the second floor, Estelia clearly didn't want to go up there.
"Nnngh... It's so cramped..."
Still holding my hand, Estelia muttered as she looked around the storage room.
Creak...
She opened a random locker, checked if it was dirty, then nodded in satisfaction.
"Get in! Um... you can touch me now...!"
Estelia spoke with both hands tightly clasped. Then she closed her eyes.
She waited in silence, occasionally peeking to check my reaction.
Slide...
"Hah...!"
***
Hot and flustered.
"Y-you...! You were really going to go all the way!"
"No I wasn't. Don't you trust me?"
I was genuinely innocent. The binding prevented anything more.
"Hik... I'm running away!"
Her face still bright red, she shouted and quickly buttoned up before fleeing.
'Tch... what a shame.'
She'd almost lost control a few times herself. She clearly wanted it, but managed to hold onto her reason at the last second.
While fixing my uniform, I caught my reflection in the mirror. A vivid kiss mark stood out on my neck.
"Guess I'm not hiding it."
Humming to myself, I headed for the Academy.
Her reactions were too fun to pass up.
"Let's go."
Instead of the magic department classroom, I went to the Academy's infirmary. More precisely, the classroom right next to it.
Inside were the Cardinal and several high-ranking priests.
"Lord Kanahan! What brings you here...?"
"Move."
"Yes! Everyone, withdraw immediately!"
Fearing I might change my mind, the Cardinal and priests hurried outside.
I stepped in slowly. The room was filled with holy water and various artifacts.
"Cough... Krrrk..."
Without the priests around, Radion immediately started convulsing. The stars were going wild. He had maybe a minute left.
"Having to use this on you... Tch. What a waste."
I placed the talisman on his forehead and poured in my law power.
The Creation Talisman.
One of only five in existence. Not just any healing talisman, but a unique one I created myself. They were incredibly difficult to make, so I had very few.
Even the Emperor had only managed to buy three.
"You couldn't buy this even if you offered the entire Draken ducal house. Consider yourself lucky."
The talisman glowed, then lost its power and fell to the floor.
Crack... Crunch...!
His body broke apart and began reconstructing itself with law power.
I had reached the Transcendent realm. Naturally, the effect was similar to a transcendent being's blessing. This was a true stroke of fortune.
Even a Sword Master wouldn't stand a chance against him now.
"I'm leaving."
Once I confirmed it was working, I stepped out.
The Pope and priests rushed inside after seeing me.
"Don't touch him. He'll die."
"Understood."
With that, I headed for the magic department classroom.
"Oh, Pinya?"
"Lord Kanahan?"
I ran into Pinya on her way to the classroom. She frowned slightly.
"...Did you save him?"
"We negotiated. Three times. They gave him three chances."
Her eyes widened at my words.
"Three times...? Does that mean he's that important?"
"Seems like it. I used a Creation Talisman."
Pinya's eyes grew even larger. Her mouth fell open.
That was how valuable a Creation Talisman was.
"He's a Master. Only a Creation Talisman could save him. He was going to die today anyway."
"...I see."
She nodded, though she still seemed doubtful that I'd actually used one.
Stretch...
"Hwee... Why are you stretching my cheeks...?"
"Because you're cute. How could I not when you're this adorable? Want me to just take you away?"
"W-what...! D-don't say such strange things!!"
Her face flushed, Pinya tried to hurry into the classroom. But if she went first, I'd be late.
So I scooped her up in my arms.
"Hwee...?!"
"If you go first, I'll be late. I'll go in first."
"W-why me...! Put me down!"
I carried the struggling witch through the back door.
Naturally, all eyes turned toward us. But thanks to the illusion talisman, no one could see her.
Realizing this, Pinya let out a sigh.
"Please warn me next time... This is exhausting..."
"It wouldn't be fun otherwise."
Grumbling, Pinya walked ahead. Once she stood at the podium and released her law power, the illusion broke. The talisman's spirit had created it, after all.
"The professor's here."
"When did she arrive?!"
"No idea. How would we know? She's a witch."
I could hear the students' voices. Serdian's wasn't among them.
He was unconscious. I'd checked on him earlier. He wasn't going to die, though. He'd wake up soon enough.
"...His close friend is unconscious, yet he's completely fine."
"He's from the north. What do you expect?"
Hmm. Should I kill him?
[W-wait a moment. Please stop... I'll give you a present. Just stop!]
{Oh, a present? What kind of present?}
[...I don't know. Just don't cause trouble during my class!!]
Pinya pleaded desperately. Her expression on the podium remained stern, though.
The illusion copied even her facial expressions, so if she smiled, the illusion smiled too. She was probably trying her best to keep a straight face.
Smirk.
'What should I make her do...'
Should I have her let me touch her chest?
No. Too small.
Her butt, then?
...Not really feeling it.
While I was thinking, I remembered playing around with Estelia earlier.
Grin.
'That's it.'
Shiver...
Seeing his wicked expression, Pinya trembled. A bad feeling washed over her.
She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed it was just her imagination.
...Even though she knew the Grand Shaman's intuition was never wrong.
***
Unfortunately, Pinya was busy today. In the end, I decided to give her homework instead.
"Send it through the crystal ball. Got it?"
"Hiiik...! W-why would you make me do that?!"
Pinya's face turned bright red at the assignment.
If she refused, I'd have to kill those guys.
"I'll do it... I'll do it..."
Looking miserable, Pinya trudged away. Her completely deflated back looked pitiful... or rather, it made me want to pet her even more.
Shiver.
"I-I'm going!"
She hurried off.
Tch.
It was lunchtime. I should go eat.
"Master!!! Master!!!"
Serena came running from afar. Even though she was from the support department and had poor stamina, she made it to me.
"Haa... haa..."
"Ooh..."
"Ah, you like that?"
When I expressed admiration, she tried to moan again. It was too deliberate, so I told her it wasn't great. She looked sulky.
"Ah, that's not important! I heard Radion woke up. Did you do it, Master?!"
"I did."
"Wow! Master is so kind! Good kids deserve a reward..."
After thinking for a moment, Serena grinned.
"I'll give you the present tomorrow. Okay?"
"I'll look forward to it?"
"Hehe... You should."
While I was playing with Serena, Luka, Estelia, and Eileen arrived.
"What, why'd you suddenly save him?"
"Cough..."
At Luka's words, Estelia, who had been walking calmly, suddenly coughed.
"What? Are you sick?"
"N-no..."
Her face red, Estelia fixed her uniform again. Serena watched quietly.
"Oho... Already?"
Serena muttered. Sensing something strange in the air, Estelia quickly spoke up.
"C-come on, let's eat. Food!"
Following her, we headed to the cafeteria, where Elesia and Radion were already in line.
Elesia's eyes were red, as if she'd been crying. Radion stood beside her, smiling.
Dierban couldn't move, and Serdian was still unconscious.
"Elesia!"
"Eileen!"
Hug.
"Hehehehe..."
Classic Eileen. Her perverted laugh hadn't gone anywhere.
Elesia seemed to find Eileen cute and hugged her tightly. Wasn't she being way too defenseless just because they were both girls? Eileen's mind was darker than any middle-aged man's.
"Ah... Kanahan!"
After rubbing against Eileen's chest, Elesia looked around and spoke to me.
"It's fine. There was a deal."
"...A deal? I didn't get anything."
"What do you mean? You saved him, so hand over all your money from now on."
Smirk.
"Got it. I'll give everything except Elesia."
Whoosh...
Fwoosh...
Somewhere, the sound of rice cooking could be heard.
Her face bright red, Elesia pounded on Radion's chest.
"Is that what you meant? How romantic~"
"Just makes my skin crawl."
Serena called it romantic, while Estelia rubbed her arms as if she really had goosebumps.
I didn't want to watch the two of them flirting either, so I sent Radion on an errand.
"Here. Buy all this."
"...Wait. These are..."
"Why? Can't do it?"
"...I'll buy them."
What I'd listed were materials needed to make Creation Talismans and other talismans. Naturally, they were all top-grade ingredients, each worth an entire mansion.
Radion accepted the list with a gloomy expression.
"S-should I help too?!"
Elesia said, opening her wallet.
Radion looked at it and replied.
"It's fine."
"Hiiing... I'm sorry for being from a baron's family..!"
"W-why are you crying again...!"
Elesia burst into tears right in the middle of the cafeteria. As expected of a romance fantasy heroine, the students found her adorable.
Glare.
The male students had no choice but to look away.
"Munch munch... Food's good..."
"By the way, the dungeon subjugation is in five days. Will Elesia's party be able to go?"
"Probably?"
Dierban had mostly recovered. He was staying in the infirmary to heal completely. The higher the Master rank, the more complicated the body became, making full recovery difficult. Even a small issue could quickly diminish their skills.
"What about Serdian?"
"He'll wake up."
They nodded at my words. Overwhelming faith and trust.
Yeah. This was what I wanted.
While eating and thinking, I heard a voice.
"Big broooooooother! You saved us!!!"
"Whoa, they actually came?"
"Oh my..."
...Didn't you guys believe in me?