Dopamine Rush?

"I've been meaning to introduce you all to someone."

"Introduce...?"

"Who might that be?"

I turned my head towards the bedroom.

The room where we had just been loudly playing board games.

"Wangnyeo-nim, would you please come out?"

I call to the girl who must have been listening to our conversation from behind the thin door.

In a gentle tone, as if to say it's okay to come out with peace of mind.

"...Viktor."

Creeeak—.

Before long, the closed door opens.

However, only a voice comes through, without her showing herself.

"Is this... truly alright...?"

"You've been watching all this time too, haven't you, Wangnyeo-nim? I believe these two people are trustworthy enough."

"But still..."

"I'm sure it will be a good connection for you too, Wangnyeo-nim."

"......"

A light, swirling silence.

Afterwards, Carmilla peeked her head out from the gap in the opened door.

Silver hair reminiscent of moonlight. Within it, crimson eyes evoked images of magnolia blossoms.

Worried eyes blinked as she looked this way.

"......"

"Please come here."

Wangnyeo-nim, who had been frozen hesitantly, came scurrying over when I called.

She stands behind the sofa as if hiding behind me.

The two girls across from us had their eyes wide open.

Because one more person had come out of a room they thought only had three people in it.

"Who...?"

I introduced her lightly.

"She is someone I serve."

"Take it as an honor. Normally, I, the original princess, would not engage in such things as mingling with lowly humans..."

"Wangnyeo-nim is pleased to meet you all as well. She's just awkward with words because she's shy."

"Vi, Viktor! How insolent!"

Tap tap—.

A soft fist hits my shoulder as if complaining.

Be that as it may, the two across from us were studying Carmilla.

"Someone... you serve, Viktor-nim?"

"Huh, you are...?"

Lanne's face was full of question marks.

In contrast, Alice, who seemed to recognize Carmilla.

Well, that makes sense, since Alice had met Carmilla during the practical exam.

"The one who... helped me back then with Viktor-nim..."

"Hmm... So you do recognize me, it seems."

Carmilla finally introduced herself.

"My name is Carmilla Blandir. Pureblood Vampire, successor to the Blandir Dynasty, and also the master of Viktor, who is here."

"Va, vampire? And a Pureblood one at that...?"

Was it because the content felt so distant?

The two of them reacted with momentary bewilderment.

Well, there has been no interaction between vampires and humans for a long time, after all.

Only the vague fact that a non-aggression pact was being negotiated between the two sides was known.

'From the perspective of people who have never encountered one in their lifetime, it must feel like a story from a distant myth.'

They probably don't even know that harmony between them was broken after the New Kingdom was established.

That information is probably only known to high-ranking nobles, including the imperial family.

The Empire must be preparing for war gradually, too.

'Let's put the heavy talk aside for today and keep it light, just introducing each other...'

I explained my relationship with Carmilla in a roundabout way.

I left out the heavy topics like war and rebellion.

I wanted them to get close first, after all.

'It's about time to start forming the protagonist's party.'

I continued.

"A vampire... and a royal one at that. I'm acting as her aide for the time being."

"An aide? Does Viktor-nim have connections with a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vampire dynasty too?"

"It's from the past."

"A connection significant enough to serve a princess of a nation... Just what kind of past do you have...?"

"Currently, Wangnyeo-nim is hiding due to unavoidable circumstances. I ask that you please treat everything related to Wangnyeo-nim as top secret. I introduced her to you because I judged that I could trust you all that much."

"O, of course! It's quite shocking, but..."

"Yes...! Me, me too..."

I trust you.

The two girls nodded as if reacting to those words.

Lanne and Alice shifted their attention toward the silver-haired girl.

"Va, vampires... I've heard a lot about them, but this is my first time seeing one."

"Me too! And a royal one at that... no, if it's Viktor-nim, I can believe it's possible."

A few murmured words.

"Hmph, keep the friendly act to a moderate level."

Suddenly, Carmilla puffed out her cheeks.

It seems something displeased her.

The girl tightly clung to my arm from behind the sofa.

As if hugging me would be too embarrassing, she timidly held onto just one arm.

Despite her prickly expression, a red heat had risen to her white earlobes.

"Everyone, stay ten steps away from Viktor."

"Wangnyeo-nim?"

"Viktor is my retainer. Therefore, he is practically mine."

A pouting mouth.

Was it because she felt left out of the conversation since earlier?

Even from her sharply pointed-out remarks, I could tell it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was a sulky reaction.

"I won't hand him over to other girls."

"Eh, eh...?"

Alice's pupils shook as if flustered by that contact.

Carmilla said to the two, especially glaring at Alice.

"That means, don't wag your tail."

"......Wangnyeo-nim."

A bombshell declaration.

I had no choice but to let out a deep sigh.

Be that as it may, her hand fidgeted on my arm as if she'd done nothing wrong.

"It's Viktor's fault."

It seemed like it would still take time for them to adjust to each other.

After that, a week passed.

Academy life had already gone beyond a month.

I lived my daily life, which hadn't changed much.

Attending lectures, ordering the E-class Bread Shuttles around a bit, chatting with Wangnyeo-nim...

As Lanne had informed me some time ago, the academy atmosphere was flowing in an unusual direction.

Probably because I had rammed into them like an 8-ton truck last time.

It seemed the Class B kids were quite scratched up.

Still, nothing big had exploded yet.

To be precise, it seemed like they were holding back to trigger something big.

'It seems... about time.'

Even as an invisible gallows approached, what I felt wasn't a sense of crisis but enjoyment.

All situations were spinning round and round in the palm of my hand.

I was merely holding onto the wait until the fruit ripened.

Then, as I was living day by day...

"Hmm?"

Finally, something big arrived.

"My goodness, what kind of situation is this?"

The scene visible upon entering the classroom.

The atmosphere was quite different from usual.

The Class E students, including the Bread Shuttles, were sitting with their mouths tightly shut.

Some of them had bruises on their cheeks or around their eyes, as if they'd been hit.

"Huh..."

The air was frozen cold.

And, visible among those kids, were several outsiders.

"To what do we owe the visit of our esteemed Class B students... to our classroom?"

They were the Class B guys.

It seemed only the tougher ones among them had gathered.

Not only the second and third rankers, but all of the top ten below them.

"Oh, you finally showed up?"

The leader of those delinquents.

Bright yellow hair, skin tanned bronze.

"I thought my neck would break waiting. You motherfucker."

The Class B Top Student, Caitlin Retus.

She was sitting on my desk, waiting for me.

Her characteristic electric-sparking eyes, the sound of static electricity crackling.

"Got bored waiting... so I taught a few brats who were acting up a lesson."

A sneer.

"It's fine, right?"

I was still standing with my legs stopped at the front of the classroom.

The Bread Shuttle who met my gaze bit his lip tightly.

His bruised face looked resentful.

"Hyung, Hyung-nim..."

"We're sorry, we...!"

They didn't seem to be hurt too badly.

Just lightly toyed with, so to speak.

At the very least, their pride seemed thoroughly trampled to bits.

"An unfamiliar way of welcoming someone."

"I waited and you didn't show, so I wondered if you'd run away or something."

Caitlin stood up as if kicking my desk away.

A quite delinquent attitude and gait.

The girl swaggered as she approached me.

Beyond the yellow eyes, my reflection in the white clown mask.

"They say the protagonist appears last, don't they?"

"Ha... You still have a sharp mouth, I see?"

"Without that, this body is a corpse."

"You think I'm a complete dick because I've been going easy on you?"

"I don't see you as a dick no matter how I look... Could it be you're actually male? A golden-tanned handsome guy?"

"What the fuck are you talking about, asshole."

Grab—.

A hand grips my collar tightly.

A tingling static current flows in along the fabric.

"Why don't you try reading the situation?"

"I've never been told I have no sense of awareness before."

"So you're doing it on purpose?"

"Oh my, you finally figured it out? You're the one with no sense."

"What kind of bastard is this?"

Release—.

Caitlin frowns deeply and lets go.

"Hey, trash."

Class B students slink over from the side.

Surrounding us, they exude pressure like they're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trying to intimidate.

"You have no idea how much effort I put into dealing with you personally."

Thump—.

A light fist hits my chest.

Caitlin's mouth twists in a sneer.

"I challenge you to a Rank Duel, you son of a bitch. The date is two days from now, the location is the Public Training Ground, in front of all the first-year students."

Her bright yellow pupils are full of ridicule.

"Try getting humiliated in front of everyone for once."

"......"

A Rank Duel meant that three or more professors had granted permission for this situation.

Therefore, there was no way for me to refuse this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠duel challenge.

I had fallen into the trap.

Was this what they had been preparing for the past week?

As the atmosphere turned serious, I gently stroked the edge of my mask.

"What? Scared? Want to beg for mercy already?"

"......"

They kept provoking me, but I held back.

Otherwise, my expression beneath the mask might get revealed.

I let out a deep breath.

Then, I gave my answer to the duel challenge.

"Hey there..."

The corner of the mask's mouth tore up to the ear.

I tried my best to hide it, but it seems it all leaked out.

"Shall we make a bet? Just having a duel seems like it'd be boring."

"What? A bet?"

Caitlin frowns as if to say 'what nonsense'.

But, I was already wearing a broad smile.

Holding back the laughter about to burst out, I speak.

"The loser... becomes the winner's lackey from now on."

"What?"

"Does whatever the winner wants."

It's here.

My dopamine.