A Revolutionary Idea
‘What a fucking mess.’
I had no intention of cleaning up this situation.
Honestly, I wasn’t even sure it was possible.
Our hands only tangled together more tightly.
Katrina showed no sign of wanting to stop.
“That’s enough.”
I peeled her fingers off mine one by one.
“Tch.”
Katrina clicked her tongue, clearly disappointed.
“Shall we eat first?”
“...Yeah, let’s do that.”
We waited for the food in the now-quiet atmosphere.
The usually chatty Katrina stayed silent.
Even Linea didn’t open her mouth.
“Your food is ready.”
The server broke the silence.
“Just a moment. There.”
I pushed the tableware aside so the server could set the plates down. He carefully placed each dish one by one.
‘Wow.’
This was supposed to be the continent’s top academy. The quality was no joke.
The glossy salmon steak looked so good I wanted to devour it right away. When I glanced over, Linea was also letting out soft gasps of admiration as she examined the food.
“Not bad.”
Katrina murmured quietly. That was our cue to begin eating.
There was still no conversation between us. The only sound was the soft clinking of utensils.
After finishing that suffocating meal, we finally stepped outside.
“Please come again, Master.”
“I will.”
I’d had a prejudice against the academy cafeteria. That’s why I’d avoided it even after hearing the rumors about how good it was.
At this level, there was no reason to skip it anymore.
“Shall we have a proper talk now?”
Katrina opened her mouth immediately, as if she’d been itching to speak.
“Do we really have to go to your room?”
“I’d be disappointed if you thought I was joking. I was completely serious.”
“Still, just the two of us...”
She trailed off, then suddenly picked up on the strange vibe. Katrina had clearly shown interest in me.
But it felt less like romantic attraction and more like possessiveness. For her to pretend it was mutual attraction between a man and woman just to get me alone in a private space...
Something smelled fishy.
“Fine. Should I follow you now?”
I changed my tone. I’d better go see for myself.
“Master! You’re really going alone?”
“There’s no problem. We’ve already met as partners before.”
I gave a gentle smile to the worried Linea.
“Go back to the dorm and rest. I’ll be back soon.”
“Still, it’s too... ugh.”
Linea let out a deep sigh.
“Do what you want. But if you’re too late, I’ll come find you.”
“That’s nice to hear.”
I had no idea what variables might pop up. I wasn’t too worried, but I still didn’t know how deeply Katrina was entangled with that demon.
At a time like this, letting my guard down would be foolish. Linea’s presence held great significance.
The imprint wouldn’t release unless I allowed it.
Even if something happened to me.
That’s why Linea couldn’t abandon me.
As long as she didn’t lose that sliver of hope.
“I’ll head in first.”
Linea gave a small bow and returned to the dormitory.
“You seem quite close with your slave.”
Katrina said meaningfully as she watched her leave.
“I’m just trying to look as close as possible. I already have plenty of enemies.”
“It doesn’t look like acting. There’s real sincerity between you two.”
“Good acting always carries sincerity. That’s my life philosophy.”
“A fine philosophy indeed.”
Katrina turned with a faint smile.
“I’ll show you to my room.”
It was time to settle things.
The claim that all academy students were equal was complete bullshit.
Ethan let out a small chuckle as he looked around Katrina’s room. It was nothing like the dormitory he stayed in.
It made sense that the space for an imperial princess would be grand, but every piece of furniture was enchanted with practical magic.
A bedroom with curtains drawn all around. A massive living room and kitchen.
A bathroom painted in gold. And even a study and several other rooms.
‘How is this a dormitory?’
It was basically a hotel suite.
For the first time, Ethan truly felt the difference in status.
“Sit on the sofa.”
Katrina walked out after changing into comfortable clothes in her dressing room. Her hair was tied back, unlike usual.
Ethan frowned at her defenseless appearance. She looked far too relaxed.
Almost like she was treating a long-time roommate.
‘I need to stay on guard.’
He sat down on the sofa. The soft cushioning made him laugh involuntarily.
On the day he became Seah’s first disciple, she had placed a sofa brought from the Magic Tower in her lab.
Even that one had been incredibly soft, enough to linger in his memory. But this was on another level.
“You can relax more. You look way too tense.”
Katrina chuckled and settled down right beside him, placing wine glasses and a bottle on the table.
“Are we drinking like this?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
Katrina pressed her body even closer and whispered into his ear.
“We drank like this before, didn’t we?”
“That was in the waiting room.”
“Hmm. I don’t see the difference. Really...”
She breathed warmly as she lifted the wine glass.
Glug glug—
Aged grape wine filled the glass.
“Go ahead and enjoy it first.”
Ethan picked up his glass. At the same time, Katrina gently placed her hand on his thigh.
She kept letting out breathy sounds near his sensitive ear, as if trying to seduce him.
Twitch.
Ethan’s ear flinched on its own.
“Take it slow. Nice and easy.”
Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as the wine went down.
“It tastes good. Where is it from?”
He didn’t answer. There was no need.
Katrina silently poured him more wine.
Ethan drank again with eyes free of suspicion. The more he did, the thinner the smile on Katrina’s lips became.
“Mmm... my body feels strange. Is the alcohol strong...?”
Ethan muttered with a dazed expression.
“Your tolerance is adorable.”
“No. Back in my prime, I could follow four bottles of soju with my eyes...”
“If you’re tired, you can sleep for a bit.”
“Leaving you alone while I sleep...”
Ethan’s words gradually slurred. By the end, they were no different from babbling.
“Sleep well.”
Katrina’s voice changed. Katrina—no, the demon—gently stroked Ethan’s head.
Don’t drag this out.
“I know.”
She laid his unconscious body down on the sofa.
“I finally have him in my hands.”
Don’t get so excited. You can only manage basic suggestions right now.
“True. But there’s no way I’d let him slip away.”
The demon gently stroked the cheek of the deeply sleeping Ethan.
The demon found it hard to suppress the happiness welling up from deep within her chest. This man named Ethan truly possessed the finest body.
‘This is a first.’
In her long life as a demon, the only body she had ever coveted was Katrina’s alone. Even then, she had made some compromises.
She had never before encountered a body that made her feel purely, ‘I want it.’ Not until now.
But Ethan was different. He couldn’t even be compared to that cute little princess who tried to rival her.
I told you not to drag this out. That man is dangerous. You mustn’t try to claim him recklessly.
“Katrina. There’s no way he could ever be a threat to me.”
The demon muttered softly as she clenched her own body tightly.
Tsk.
“Don’t get cocky.”
That’s exactly what I wanted to say. Isn’t it you who desperately wants this contract?
“That may be true. But I have no need to struggle desperately to match a mere mortal. You already know that, don’t you?”
This was nothing more than entertainment. A way to personally seize something she desired.
If the demon had used her original power, she could have claimed not only Katrina but Ethan instantly. She simply chose not to because it wouldn’t be fun.
Even after seeing such a precious body, you’re still acting so leisurely. That’s why you ended up los— urgh...!
Katrina let out a groan as she felt her soul being torn apart.
“I told you. Not. To cross. The line.”
Urk... shut up. It’s pathetic... but it’s the truth.
Even as she writhed in pain, Katrina finished every word. After all, from the moment she contracted with the demon, she had given up any attachment to her life.
The demon knew that fact well.
“You really are a shameless child.”
I could say the same to you. You brat of a demon.
The demon burst into laughter at Katrina’s words. A brat of a demon?
It was the first time she had ever heard such a thing.
So what are you going to do?
First, crush his ego and plant a suggestion. The liquid disguised as wine would help scatter his sense of self.
The demon would cast the suggestion herself.
After that, they would observe the results. Ethan would act as usual, but without realizing it, he would move according to the demon’s will.
Once the suggestion had fully taken root, the demon would carve her own existence into his mind.
Even if he felt a sense of alienation from the sudden change, nothing would actually change. He would become nothing more than her personal toy, his every thought revolving solely around the demon.
Simple enough.
“The process may be simple, but it will take quite a while.”
Ethan’s mental barriers were incredibly solid. It wouldn’t be easy to break him with suggestions alone.
That only made it more enjoyable. Just imagining the sight of him screaming that he would never submit to a demon, only to eventually break and surrender, was enough to make her head spin with pleasure.
A very demonic way of thinking.
“You’re enjoying it too, aren’t you?”
Since they could feel each other’s emotions, she knew. She knew that Katrina was also looking forward to this.
“Hehe.”
The demon placed her hand on Ethan’s forehead. The suggestion began to seep into his subconscious.
He would gradually lose his sense of self and turn into a puppet. Both the demon and Katrina had boasted as much.
‘A puppet? As if.’
Ethan had been perfectly fine from the start. What? His ego would be crushed by the wine?
Ridiculous. The moment that strange sensation rushed into his brain, he had immediately purged it.
‘So she already made a contract with the demon.’
Katrina had joined hands with the demon faster than Ethan had expected.
‘Hmm. What should I do?’
He continued thinking while pretending to sleep. He needed a way to screw over both the demon and Katrina.
He pondered and pondered, searching for the perfect method. There was no room for any suggestion to take hold.
‘Ah!’
As he kept thinking, a brilliant idea flashed through his mind.
‘I can just turn the demon into a slave too.’
It was truly a revolutionary idea.