Boarding House
The vice principal of the academy, Lemier, had carried out her own announcement with lightning speed.
In the blink of an eye, she introduced the demon professors who had joined her on the stage—faculty of the Cradle—and then gave a concise overview of the academy’s founding purpose, its philosophy, and its educational system before departing the podium with a flourish.
After the vice principal left, the remaining professors stepped forward to inform each student of their assigned class.
There were four classes in total: 1 through 4.
“I’m in 2. Dorn, which class are you?”
“I’m in 1.”
Casher and I were in different classes after all.
Disappointed but resolute, I headed to the lecture hall assigned to me.
The classroom was tiered, and I took a seat at a desk near the middle.
While I waited quietly, one of the faculty members from the auditorium earlier entered.
“Are we all here?”
She was a curvaceous woman with silky silver hair cascading all the way to her waist—a witch from the witch clan.
She had introduced herself as Morgan, hadn’t she?
Without pausing to sit properly, she perched on the edge of a desk in front of the blackboard.
*I can’t believe I’m already thinking about how much I’d love to break a desk.*
It wasn’t just idle curiosity. All the female professors at the Cradle possessed striking beauty and figures.
“My introduction was covered by the vice principal earlier, but some students may have missed it. Allow me to repeat myself. I’ll be your homeroom teacher for Class 1. I’m Morgan.”
*Tap-tap-tap.*
A few freshmen timidly clapped, but Morgan raised her hand to stop them.
“Save the applause. My head’s still ringing from the principal’s lecture last night.”
“......”
“First, let’s distribute the uniforms.”
Morgan snapped her fingers sharply.
And then something astonishing happened.
Neatly folded uniforms appeared on the desks where the students were sitting.
*Is that magic?*
Among the diverse demon races, only a select few possessed this mysterious technique. Witch clan members were the most famous for using magic, and Morgan herself seemed to be one.
“You can wear them starting tomorrow.”
The tops were identical white shirts regardless of gender.
The bottoms differed: navy suits for the boys, navy pleated skirts for the girls—overall clean and simple designs.
“And there’s one more matter to discuss.”
The students who had been examining the uniforms turned their attention back to Morgan.
“Some of you already know this, but the Cradle does not have a dormitory.”
With such spacious grounds and no dormitories? Most students, including me, stared at her in confusion.
Morgan’s expression turned somewhat irritated as she explained.
“A hundred years ago the principal demolished it. Too many accidents, too much noise from students trying to sneak out at night—apparently it drove her to distraction.”
“......”
The principal again?
No matter how you looked at it, throwing away the dorm just because it was annoying.
Even though I’d never met her, a bad impression was already forming…
“Anyway, that’s how it is now. You’ll each have to find your own off-campus housing. When you leave the grounds there are plenty of boarding houses aimed at students—look around and pick carefully…”
*Snap.*
Another snap of Morgan’s fingers.
This time small leather pouches dropped in front of every student.
She loosened the strings, and gleaming silver coins—each worth ten rupies—sparkled inside.
“Seven hundred rupies. That’s your living stipend from now on. How you spend it is your own business. Just don’t be a fool and waste it. It should cover your rent and food. If you run short, find a job or beg your parents—you figure it out.”
A sudden discussion rippled through the students.
“Today’s our first day, so no classes. I’m itching to grab some rest. You all should head out and find your own places too.”
With nothing left to say, Morgan waved her hands dismissively, but the students lingered, clearly reluctant to leave.
“You’re all so laid-back. Are you sure? The better options will disappear the later you start.”
But the moment she spoke, every single one of them bolted for the door.
“Damn it!”
“Make way!”
I followed the crowd, clutching my uniform and coin pouch.
Outside the gate, students from the other classes were pouring out as well.
“Dorn!”
At the familiar voice I turned to see Casher waving and running toward me.
“Casher. You’re looking for a place too?”
“Yeah. The professor said if we don’t find somewhere soon we’ll have to sleep at the academy tonight.”
“......”
Given how the faculty were acting, it wasn’t a threat.
“Let’s hurry!”
Together with Casher I dashed toward the exit, only to find a swarm of rental agents from Tomeron already crowding the area, shouting promotions.
“Hey, new students! Spacious rooms with heating and cooling in the new building—only four hundred rupies a month!”
“Looking for a romantic rooftop room with a great view?”
“Clean and quiet places available! Only five minutes’ walk to the academy!”
It felt like a free-for-all marketplace.
Even at the sacred gate of learning I wondered if it was appropriate, but my own need was just as urgent.
I spotted a few agents offering housing for demons and followed them.
Before we looked at any rooms the middleman asked,
“Tell me what kind of conditions you’re looking for. I’ll show you matching properties.”
“Something close to the academy would be best… and rent around two to three hundred rupies.”
“Hmm. Three-fifty should be comfortable for you.”
I knew that, but the academy stipend was seven hundred. With food and other expenses to cover, I had to keep the budget tight.
*It would be wonderful if I could room with Casher…*
We weren’t even dating. That was out of the question.
“Well, let’s head out and look at some together and decide.”
After following the agent around for a while and viewing several properties, I found one that appealed.
“How about this? It was recently renovated and still close to the academy. Rent is three hundred rupies.”
Perfect in every way. The room was spotless and well-lit.
“As long as you pay the initial one-hundred-rupee commission, you can move in immediately.”
It seemed almost too good.
I paused for a moment, then glanced at Casher. She seemed to like it too.
“Casher, how about we take this one?”
“You liked it too, right?”
“I was hoping to find something cheaper.”
It was more than adequate for me, but I decided to let her have it.
“Then I’ll sign the contract.”
“I’ll look around a bit more. If it’s okay with you, could you keep my luggage at the inn while I’m gone?”
“Sure. Call me when you find a place!”
With Casher left behind, the agent and I continued scouting.
But the other properties we saw were all disasters.
When the condition was decent, the price was outrageous. When the price was reasonable, the condition was terrible.
“This is the last one I have.”
“Huh, this one’s a bit…”
The final property looked like a haunted house.
The rent was an absurdly low one hundred thirty rupies, but the academy was far away and the place felt ominous—I never even tried to enter.
*No matter how cheap, who would actually live here…*
In the end I returned empty-handed toward the academy gates.
It was lunchtime. The agents who had been shouting just minutes earlier had mostly disappeared.
*What if I can’t find a place by evening?*
I was already considering asking Casher for just one night’s stay when a voice called from behind.
“Excuse me… are you looking for a room?”
I turned to see a tall, curvy female demon with thick purple hair tied back in a single thick braid.
*Incredible…*
My first impression was size. She was easily over one hundred eighty centimeters—impressive even for a woman—and yet…
*That can’t be right.*
Her breasts were so enormous that, just by walking, they defied gravity and swayed with a bouncy, fermented-dough rhythm that made onlookers feel awed.
Two round horns rose from her head.
I’d heard rumors of the Holstein-taurus race, known for their absurdly large chests.
The combination of towering build, horns, and impossible breast size was exactly as described.
“My name is Sienna. I run a boarding house nearby.”
Despite her physically imposing figure, her slightly downturned eyes gave her a timid air as she spoke cautiously.
“A boarding house?”
“Yes. If you’re still looking, you should come see mine. Rent is four hundred rupies a month including meals.”
My ears perked up.
A boarding house meant sharing with others, but four hundred rupies—including daily meals—would be an excellent deal.
“Can I see it right now?”
“Of course! This way—”
Sienna led the way with sparkling eyes.
Every step sent her chest bouncing hypnotically behind me.
“Hey, student, what’s your name?”
As we walked she asked.
Only then did I realize I’d completely forgotten to introduce myself while mesmerized by her movements.
“Oh, sorry. I was so distracted… Dorn.”
“Dorn student!”
Sienna’s expression brightened the moment she heard just my name.
She was clearly older than me, yet there was something adorable and soft about her that made me feel instantly at ease.
“Here we are.”
The boarding house was a two-story house in a quiet alley about ten minutes from the academy.
It wasn’t enormous, but it was kept impeccably clean.
Flowerbeds with unknown blooms bloomed in front of the entrance.
*Exterior looks good.*
What about inside?
“Come in.”
Following Sienna’s lead, I stepped inside.
From the entrance alone I could smell a faint, pleasant scent—proof that the entire home was well cared for.
“This is the living room.”
“It’s spotless.”
No dust on the floor connected to the kitchen suggested she cleaned diligently.
“There are two rooms on the first floor—one for me and one for a female student. That’s why we have a women-only bathroom downstairs. The men’s bathroom is upstairs; I’ll show you when we get there.”
As I was about to head toward the stairs after hearing her explanation—
*Bang!*
One of the first-floor rooms opened, and a woman stepped out.
“Kyaaah—!!”
Sienna’s scream echoed through the house.
Her outfit must have startled her—the woman was wearing only a gray bra and panties.
Yet she showed zero sign of shrinking or embarrassment in front of me. On the contrary, I could calmly admire her body without any awkwardness.
*What day is this?*
My eyes were about to have a heart attack.
The firm, athletic physique of an athlete was incredibly voluptuous even compared to Sienna’s. I couldn’t help but stare in awe.
“Sienna student! Guests have arrived! Quickly put something on—”
“......”
Black-haired and bursting with health, Sienna sauntered straight up to me—right in front of my eyes—her long, flowing hair reaching all the way down her waist.
From this close she was tall enough that I had to tilt my head up to meet her gaze.
“Freshman?”
Squinting slightly, she muttered to herself and then walked past me without waiting for an answer, heading straight for the bathroom.
“Sorry, Dorn student…!”
Sienna quickly clasped her hands together and bowed her head.
According to her, the woman was a second-year student at the academy—my senior.
“As you saw just now, she’s quite open-minded… I’ve warned her repeatedly but she still doesn’t change.”
“Does she dress like that often?”
“N-not always, but sometimes…”
Sienna looked utterly embarrassed, clearly worried that I would change my mind and leave because of the sudden scene.
I gave her a warm smile.
“Let’s move in right away.”
“Eh? We haven’t even seen the room yet…”
“It’s fine. I’ve already seen the important parts.”
Small details were nothing compared to what I’d witnessed.
This was undeniably brilliant marketing.
“I look forward to working with you, Sienna. Landlord.”
“Oh, yes… I look forward to it too.”