The Demon's Whispering ASMR and a 3,000-Won Consolation Prize

I figured it would be easy to win. While sharing a croquette with Hana, I looked up how to check the results. "Hmm... there's no sticker or anything inside the bag. What exactly am I supposed to look at to know if I won?"

"The kids earlier were staring really hard at the inside of the bags. Maybe there's a code or something?" Hana said, polishing off her croquette and burning away the crumbs left on her hand.

"Oh, you're right. There's a twelve-digit code on the inside. Looks like you scan a QR code to enter it."

Who the hell has time to type out twelve digits one by one...? The person who came up with this event clearly doesn't understand the human heart.

"No typos in the code, right? Ready to hit confirm?"

Back in the classroom, we pushed our desks together and entered the code with pounding hearts. Because we were sitting so close, Hana's tail kept brushing against my back with its spade tip.

"I know it's probably not gonna work, but I'm still nervous. Code's all entered correctly. Let's see what happens."

Maybe because Neogul Bank was the sponsor, the mascot—an glasses-wearing raccoon—greeted us on the screen. We tapped the confirm button that showed the raccoon pulling a suitcase.

"Reveal~ the~ results~ please~!"

"How is it, Hana? Did we get it? Did we win on the first try?"

"As if~ They completely rejected us. That image makes it even more annoying."

The raccoon getting caught at security and being kicked out of the airport seemed to be mocking us with its cheerful expression.

"The event only runs until the end of this week. Isn't this way too sudden? It started today and ends this Sunday. Feels like they're just dumping leftover tickets."

"So if we win, you're not going?"

"Pfft, I'd pack my suitcase in a heartbeat and go straight to the airport."

"I checked Monstagram real quick and it looks like no one's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠won yet. They said they released ten tickets, right? Should we just check the rest of these too?"

"I'll eat them as a snack later. Since we've already started, let's just verify them all."

Hana tore open the bag and read the codes to me one by one. It was all good—except for the way she whispered each digit right into my ear like some kind of ASMR. Honestly, the stimulation was so strong it was hard to endure.

While staying pressed close, her tail wrapped around my waist and pulled me even tighter. Her white hair tickled my neck. At the same time, Hana's voice whispering directly into my ear kept stimulating me nonstop.

When I asked if she could just read them normally, she said, "What if the other kids overhear the numbers and snatch the win first~? Theeeerefoooore, this is an unavoidable force majeure for the sake of keeping it a secret~♡" and refused to stop.

I really hope I entered the code correctly this time. Unlike before, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠feel like I might have actually made a typo.

"All set for the raccoon trip?"

That devil, acting all casual after toying with my heart earlier, was now impatiently urging me to check the results.

"Don't get caught at quarantine!"

When I pressed confirm, a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠loading screen appeared that we hadn't seen before.

"Huh? Huh? Is this the real one? Did we actually hit the jackpot?"

"Please please please...."

The spinning circle stopped, and the raccoon appeared again. The lottery result was...

This time, instead of the airport quarantine, it showed the raccoon eating a triangle kimbap at a convenience store.

"Ugh, we really got screwed on this one."

Hana bit her nails again.

"Well, a win is still a win. It's just annoying that it's only three thousand won."

"Isn't three thousand won the price of two croquettes? Is this their way of telling us to buy more at the convenience store and try again?"

"This croquette isn't from the school store—it's sold at convenience stores too. Wanna try again on the way home?"

"No, I'm done. I'm not doing it anymore. I'll give you the coupon, Seha. It's an awkward amount to split."

"Then I'll gratefully accept~ What was fifth period again? It's probably just orientation anyway."

But I had this weird feeling like I was forgetting something. I was pretty sure we were supposed to do something before lunch...

The moment Mr. Mir's Earth Science class—Mr. Mir being from the dragon race—ended, Hana and I rushed over to Jemin, who was about to leave the classroom.

"Do Balrogs eat lunch during fifth period? Or is there a time difference in hell? I'm pretty sure I heard you say you'd give us a definite answer during lunch."

Jemin put both hands behind his head and teased us with a sly grin.

"Ugh... this angel's better at getting under people's skin than actual demons."

"Sorry, Jemin. We got completely distracted by the croquettes..."

"Oh, that Wonderland place? Can't you just go? The cost for one night isn't even that much anyway."

Hmm... I suddenly felt the urge to stab this angel with a bamboo spear. Should I switch from cooperation to force right now?

"Anyway, the answer's obvious, but I'll still ask formally. Will you help with my election campaign?"

"It's simple. You two provide me with manpower. In return, I'll search for suitable souls and guide them to you. Pretty straightforward and fair deal, right?"

Same thing as before. There was no real reason to refuse.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"I really don't want to shake hands on this... but fine. I'm in. I'll suffer for about a week."

"I'll join the election camp too. Let us know the moment you spot a suitable soul."

"Great, great~ Contract established. I'll make an election group chat after the class rep election tomorrow. It'll be easier to read the details there. No need to write up a contract that our dear demon likes so much, right?"

"Make a contract with an angel while staking my soul? I'd rather make a deal with those Cthulhu squid bastards."

Hana made a face of utter disgust. Seeing her like that, I let out a small chuckle and looked around the classroom. My eyes met Harin's from across the room. The succubus wiggled her fingers like she was playing piano keys, then stuck out her tongue and pointed at it. I really hope we find a suitable soul soon... my chastity is seriously in danger!

Before I knew it, only two periods remained until we could go home. Sixth period was still continuing with orientation. Miss Rina the elf's biology class was still painful to listen to. Not because the content was difficult. It was because this person who was over three hundred years old (though she looked almost the same age as us) kept trying to use outdated internet slang on us while saying things like, "Apparently this is what the MZ generation is into these days!"

Back in first year, her classes were pretty normal aside from the ginseng candy she handed out. Did someone write on the class evaluation that she seemed like an old person...? Every time she entered the classroom shouting 'What-the-pee!' it gave me goosebumps.

"Today feels so exhausting..."

"You feel the same way, huh Hana? Why am I so tired today?"

"It's all because of that Jeong Harin girl... ugh, my head's still throbbing."

"Don't you need to take medicine? I have some in my bag—want one?"

"I already took some after eating my lunch. But it still hurts..."

"Do you have a fever? If it's a cold, we should go to the hospital right away."

I placed one hand on my own forehead and the other on Hana's. I brushed her bangs aside and checked if she had a fever.

"Hey, no warning lights or anything... mmh."

Hana's eyes widened for a moment before closing again.

"Hmm, I do feel some warmth... but since you're a Balrog, I think you're usually this warm anyway."

If anything, the longer I touched her, the hotter she seemed to get.

"How long are you going to keep touching... let go already..."

The girl who usually begged me to touch her more was now getting flustered and trying to create distance the moment I touched her. So our Balrog is a glass cannon who only invested in offense and neglected defense!

Feeling playful, I removed my hand from her forehead. Instead, I gently grabbed her chin and lifted it. Then, without saying a word, I stared into her yellow eyes.

"...?! !! Seha, what are you doi—eeeh...."

Hana's tail swished rapidly from side to side. Her wings, which had been sealed with a dispelling spell during class, were now flapping again. This time her tail kept poking my waist. Since it was the sharp tip, it actually hurt quite a bit. Still, since I was already messing with her, I wanted to push it just a little further. Who knew when I'd get another chance to attack like this?

I moved my hand from her chin to her right cheek. I gently stroked the lower part of her cheek with my palm. Hana grew even hotter than before, but afraid of making noise, she couldn't say anything and simply surrendered her body to my hand.

"Over theeeere~ If you don't pay attention to what I'm saying, it's gonna be reeeal sad, you know~."

Unfortunately, it seemed time was up. I casually returned to my original posture as if nothing had happened. By the way, when did "real" and "sad" become outdated slang...? I wish someone would have the courage to give the teacher some honest feedback.

"Yoon Seha, care to explain what you were doing earlier?"

After class ended, Miss Rina shook her long light-green hair as she greeted us and left. As soon as the final break of the day began, Hana immediately asked me a question.

"Yeah, earlier? What are you talking about?"

"That, obviously... the way you touched my forehead, chin, and even my cheek..."

When she listed the places I'd touched, her voice grew incredibly small at the end, as if remembering it again. Can I start round two of teasing Lee Hana now?!

"Like this, for example?"

This time I brought the back of my hand to her left cheek.

"No... it was definitely like this."

Instead of turning bright red from embarrassment like I expected, Hana took my other hand as if she'd been waiting for it and pressed it against her right cheek.

"If you suddenly apply pressure like that—ah!"

She didn't stop there. She even gave my palm a light lick. Hana's tongue, warmer than it was cold, tickled my hand. At the same time, her eyes glanced up at me seductively. Reflexively, I pulled back and had no choice but to remove my hand from her palm.

"Earlier I couldn't react because it was sudden during class~ But now it's different, Seha~ You really enjoyed teasing your nuna, didn't you?"

"Ugh... your reaction earlier was seriously delicious. Isn't your recovery a bit too fast?"

"To be honest, I was extremely flustered, okay? Have you gotten a lot bigger since becoming a second-year, Seha? Even for me, being passionately courted during class is a little overwhelming."

"Says the one who does it all the time without caring about time or place~"

"Heh. Consider the time, place, and atmosphere. For example, in your room, Seha, or on the stairwell where you can see the fireworks?"

"Wow, you're being unnecessarily specific. I'll make sure to avoid both of those places. And it wasn't courtship, it was just a prank, Nuna."

"Sob sob, that's too mean, Seha. Does that mean all those nights we slept together since kindergarten were just one-night stands?"

"It wasn't even one night, and dragging kindergarten into this is going too far!"

I couldn't hold back and protested to Hana. She just giggled in amusement. Well... at least her headache seemed to have gotten better. That's a relief. I was really worried.