Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Off to the Academy (8)
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“Hu-husband...?”
Rainy, Nania’s handler, twisted her face into a grotesque grimace, and Nania froze in place.
She was essentially a prisoner with her life in Rainy’s hands.
Her mind must have been racing with every worst-case scenario imaginable.
“That... um...”
Nania’s face drained of color as she stammered out an excuse, but in this undeniable situation, she couldn’t find the words and just rolled her eyes frantically.
“I. Am. Going. In.”
Marey, who had been gauging the mood, quickly decided flight was the best option and grabbed Daisy’s skirt before darting into the room.
Daisy smacked her lips in disappointment, clearly wanting to watch the scene a bit longer, but followed Marey inside.
“Hehe, I’d love to hear what that was all about too.”
Unfortunately for Nania, Rainy wasn’t the only one eager to pounce on her like a cat on a mouse.
Vinea shoved in her face with a deeply furrowed smile.
“Th-that... um...”
Sensing how thoroughly tangled the situation had become, Nania’s eyes trembled, tears welling up at the corners.
“That?”
“I-it was... actually just a joke...”
“Aha! So you call him ‘husband’ as a joke? How very succubus of you—zero loyalty.”
“Haha...”
“But what was that last line? Hmm... I can’t quite remember. Could you say it one more time?”
“I-it was... ‘Shall we have dinner?’...”
“Hmm...? That’s weird. I’m pretty sure I heard something else. Are you lying to me right now?”
They say when elves get angry, snow falls even in midsummer.
A chilling aura poured from her, battering Nania mercilessly.
If I left her be out of fear, Nania really might end up sliced into na/ni/a pieces. That sense of crisis hit me hard.
So, flashing an awkward smile, I stepped in front of Nania to block her.
The petite Nania trembled as she quickly ducked behind me.
“It was just a joke from Nania, you know, a joke. Succubi pull pranks like this all the time. I wish everyone could just understand.”
I grabbed Vinea’s hand tightly and shot her my most pleading look.
Maybe because she owed me for helping save the elves, Vinea was the party member who listened to me best.
My plan was to convince her first, then the others.
But unfortunately, my earnest plea didn’t land this time.
Even after I stroked her hand, her icy expression showed no sign of thawing.
If anything, her eyes half-glazed over as she flashed a spine-chilling smile.
“A joke to live together, a joke to call him ‘darling,’ and later a joke to sleep together too?”
“...”
We’d already slept together, but I couldn’t tell the truth and kept my mouth shut.
“Sleep together as a joke, get pregnant as a joke, and now marry as a joke? Huh? Answer me.”
“I’m sorry...”
“I’m not asking for an apology, am I? I was just curious. We’re not even dating, so apologizing would be the weird part.”
You can never take a woman’s words at face value.
If I believed her and stopped apologizing, things would only get worse.
I kept apologizing nonstop.
About ten minutes into the nagging barrage?
Vinea seemed to tire out too, her scolding tapering off, and I could finally catch my breath.
Contrary to expectations, Laura stayed silent, which saved me.
From the looks of her whispering with Yumi, Yumi must have kept her in check. Thank goodness.
Right then, as I tried to hide the still-trembling Nania behind me in the room—
Laura and Yumi nodded as if reaching some agreement.
Laura pulled a small vial from her pocket.
It was the holy water I’d distributed for emergencies.
Catching on to her intent, I scooped up Nania—who couldn’t see what was happening from her hiding spot—into my arms.
“Huh...?”
Nania let out a dazed sound, utterly confused by the sudden embrace.
Ignoring her, I bolted for the room faster than anyone.
“Stop!”
Laura yanked out the cork with a pop and charged after me.
No one in the world actually stops when told to.
I barely managed to toss Nania into the room before Laura could grab me.
I slammed the door shut and hugged the oncoming Laura tight to restrain her.
As I locked my arms around her, Laura’s initial struggles gradually subsided.
My head was already spinning.
***
Having reined in Laura’s rampage, I silently endured the triple barrage of nagging, then handed out ten [Raden Usage Tickets] each to finally calm the furious women.
I was already dreading what demands they’d make with those [Raden Usage Tickets], but I left cleaning up the mess to future me.
After all, present me had to survive for future me to exist.
“Hmm.”
Marey, who’d been peeking from inside the room, picked the perfect timing to emerge.
Having heard the whole commotion, Daisy grinned ear to ear.
My predicament seemed to bring her joy.
The two plopped down on the living room floor, joining the extreme gender imbalance: six women, one man.
Laura, still unsatisfied, twirled her hair and spoke up.
“We should call the succubus too. She is part of our party, after all.”
A quick glance showed the other women agreeing with Laura.
Just in case, I pleaded earnestly.
“Hitting Nania with holy water could really be disastrous for her. Absolutely do not sprinkle it.”
Laura furrowed her brows in annoyance.
“I’m not planning to attack a fellow party member, so don’t make a fuss.”
“That didn’t seem like the case when you came charging with the holy water earlier...”
“Shh.”
“Yes, ma’am...”
The guilty Raden didn’t dare argue and meekly headed to the room where Nania hid.
Knock knock.
To avoid startling her, I lightly rapped on the door and whispered inside.
“Nania, it’s me. Should I open the door?”
“A-are... are you really alone?”
“Yeah.”
Click.
Thankfully trusting me, Nania cautiously unlocked and cracked the door, peeking out.
Tear stains still lingered around her eyes, stirring pity.
I gently wiped them away and led her to the living room where everyone gathered.
As Nania appeared, sharp glares flew her way, but I subtly positioned myself to block them.
Thoroughly cowed, Nania slumped into a corner.
Rainy still looked displeased with her, but affection must have kicked in—she opened her arms.
Nania trotted over like an eager puppy.
Rainy seized the approaching Nania and pulled her into a hug.
She handled her just like one might a dog.
Resting her chin atop Nania’s head, Rainy turned to Daisy.
“I heard it from Raden already, but let me confirm once more. Half-succubus, right?”
Nania, who’d been staring dejectedly at the floor, perked up at “succubus” and wagged her tail.
“Succubus?”
Come to think of it, Nania was the only one in the room clueless about the situation.
Learning she had kin here out of nowhere would surprise anyone.
“Yeah, this pink-haired half-succubus.”
“Correct.”
Daisy confirmed it calmly, and Nania tapped Rainy’s hand to be released.
Then she scurried to Daisy’s side.
“You’re really a succubus?”
“Yeah.”
“May I have your esteemed mother’s name?”
“Yuja Kaja Rinza.”
Daisy used archaic honorifics not even common in modern Korea anymore.
It was an odd sight, but after hearing Nania’s tales of the demon world, this barely qualified as unusual.
I just let it slide.
Nania gazed into space, pondering the name, then clapped her hands.
“Oh, that Yogurt lady from Pine Tree Village?”
Daisy’s eyes went wide.
“How do you know her? Aren’t you the Succubus Queen? No reason you’d meet my mom.”
“I trained in Pine Tree Village! I’d sneak out sometimes for yogurt!”
“Oh! I see. Then do you know Hanna from the bakery?”
“Yeah! Their baguettes are amazing!”
“That’s my aunt.”
“Wow, small world.”
The two, who’d seemed awkward at first, warmed up instantly over shared topics.
I knew Nania was affable, but I hadn’t expected her to click so fast even with the prickly Daisy.
*The power of shared roots?*
Even the once-hostile Daisy now chatted amiably with Nania, a pleased look on her face.
“Amazing. Daisy not prickly.”
Marey seemed surprised by Daisy’s demeanor too.
“How long have you been in the human world?”
“About ten years?”
Nania’s face soured at the mention of ten years.
“Hmm... Mind if I check your hand real quick?”
“Why?”
“Just a health check.”
Trusting her as kin, Daisy extended her hand without suspicion, and Nania gripped it tight before closing her eyes.
About ten seconds passed.
Nania’s brows twitched in confusion, and she opened her eyes.
“By any chance, have you had sex with a man?”
“...No.”
“Any intense physical contact?”
“Not yet...”
*Are virgin succubi trending these days?*
Dazedly watching their exchange, I saw Nania’s expression harden as she swallowed hard.
“You keep going like this, and you’ll die within a month.”
It was a shocking terminal diagnosis.