Preparations for Academy Enrollment

An Hyeonmi looked flustered under the intimidating presence of the black priest's robes. I gently took her hand in mine. At the same time, the tall priest unfurled the parchment, his voice booming through the room.

The priest's voice echoed solemnly through the living room. An Hyeonmi, Haruna, and Harina all swallowed hard. Complex expressions of surprise, joy, and worry flickered across their faces.

"The Academy?... The Cult Leader's son? Oppa?" Harina muttered in disbelief.

The priest politely rolled up the edict and handed it to me.

"All necessary documents and procedures for enrollment will be prepared by the church. You need only arrive, Hadojin. This is the will of the Cult Leader and the unanimous decision of the Elder Council."

He bowed respectfully to me and turned to leave without lingering.

As soon as they departed, the living room filled with a mix of silence and excitement. Haruna in particular collapsed onto the sofa, staring back and forth between me and An Hyeonmi.

"Dojin! What is this? The Academy!"

An Hyeonmi teared up as she pulled me into a congratulatory hug, but Haruna and Harina just leaned against the sofa, too stunned to speak.

"Mom. What does that mean? Dojin's the Cult Leader's son?"

It was time for An Hyeonmi to reveal the truth to the bewildered Haruna and Harina. There was mild surprise, but Haruna quietly embraced her mother. She understood her hardships and now it all made sense how Dojin had treated her succubus symptoms. Harina didn't react with strong rejection either. If anything, her blushing face was more surprising.

"Sorry... I only found out recently myself. But we're still family, right?"

"Yeah. Nothing's changed."

"Exactly! Then it'll be even easier for me to get into the Academy with Oppa!"

Harina bounced in place with joy. Haruna patted my shoulder with a moved expression.

"Really... you've done so well, Dojin. Your efforts have finally been recognized."

Amid the family's pure joy, I smiled outwardly but stayed cold inside. This wasn't recognition. It was a test. The church's grand chessboard, designed to keep me under their control and probe my power and intentions. But I was ready to step onto that board—eager, even. The Academy held everything I wanted: opportunities for growth, channels for information, and... my other brothers.

I gazed at my embracing, joyful family with a quiet smile. Then I looked down at the tiny life wriggling in my arms.

'Let's go together, Mochi. This is where it really begins.'

A new stage: the Academy. There, I would hide no longer. On the board laid by the church, I would dance beyond their expectations—with my family and my little companion, who seemed weak now but held infinite potential.

From my arms, Mochi yawned, spraying a bit of sweet, sticky honey-like slime...

…… .. .

After the Academy enrollment edict, the house was in festival mode. An Hyeonmi had gone shopping at the department store first thing in the morning, returning with mountains of clothes suited for me. Haruna busied herself compiling a list of essentials for Academy life. Harina was the most excited of all. She'd already gotten her hands on a male uniform and was trying it on in front of the mirror over and over, grinning with satisfaction.

"Oppa, how do I look? Totally handsome, right? This'll have all the Academy queen bees swarming!"

I nodded with a laugh. "Yeah, our Lina looks great."

On my shoulder, Mochi had glued itself like a barnacle, crouching curiously. It tilted its perky ears at Harina's unfamiliar boyish look.

Amid everyone's excitement, I quietly checked my phone. Dozens of missed calls and texts piled up over the week—all from one person.

'U Jeong.'

[Oppa, where are you? Why aren't you picking up?]

[Something didn't happen, did it? I'm worried.]

[Asked Harina, she said you went abroad... Why didn't you tell me?]

[Miss you, Oppa.]

[...I hate you.]

The last one was from this morning.

I let out a short sigh. I'd been so focused on Marlin that week, I'd neglected her badly. I'd already learned plenty from the three women at home about how anxiety and jealousy change a woman.

"I'll be right back."

I grabbed my jacket. Mochi on my shoulder clung to my collar with its tiny paws, refusing to let go. At my words, all three women's gazes turned to me.

"Where to?"

Harina eyed me suspiciously.

"Meeting Yujeong."

At that, the warm living room seemed to drop ten degrees. I ignored their stares and headed out.

At the café, our meeting spot, U Jeong sat alone by the window, chin in hand, staring blankly outside. The vibrant energy from a week ago was gone; dark shadows haunted her gaunt face.

As I sat across from her, focus returned to her vacant eyes.

"...You came."

Her voice was parched.

"Sorry. For vanishing without a word."

"You know chopsticks were actually one body long ago? They fought and split, that's why they clash."

"Sorry..."

"...It's fine. You're... always like that."

She forced a smile, but it looked fragile enough to shatter. She nervously bit her nails.

"Mad a lot?"

"No, not mad. Just... scared. Scared I'd turn from chopsticks to a spoon."

Her quirky joke revealed her anxiety.

"Scared you'd just disappear like that. Forget me. That I was just a one-night stand you'd toss aside like food waste... a fleeting prank..."

Tears welled in her eyes. I reached across the table, gently enveloping her hand.

"Not a prank. And I won't forget you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. You're the key member of the harem I'm building."

"Tch... harem talk again! But you get a pass 'cause you're hot!"

I kissed her lips lightly and pulled her into a hug. "You're my harem's top pussy, U Jeong."

"You're crazy, Oppa!"

At my words, she burst into happy tears, the ones she'd held back flowing silently. I waited wordlessly for her to calm. Mochi on my shoulder, sensing her sadness, nuzzled my neck with a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soft 'ppi...' as if comforting her.

After a long cry, she sniffled and looked up. That's when she noticed the tiny creature curled on my shoulder.

"Oh... who's this little one?"

"New family member. Name's Mochi."

Mochi wagged its tail at her. Her tense expression softened at the cuteness.

"Oppa, you're going to the Academy, right? Heard from Lina."

"Yeah, looks like it."

"Then... it'll be harder to see you."

Regret laced her voice. I wiped her tears with my finger and said firmly,

"No. You're coming with me. As a member of my harem—and mine."

"Huh?"

Her eyes went wide like a rabbit's.

"Yujeong... wanna be my personal maid?"

"Personal maid?"

"Actually... I'm getting special admission. Truth is, I'm the Cult Leader's seventh son."

U Jeong was stunned but nodded quickly, accepting it.

"So I can bring a personal maid and battle maid."

"B-battle maid?"

Confusion crossed her face. I placed the stack of prepared documents on the table—perfect forgeries whipped up overnight by one-eyed Taylor and CEO Kim Gi-tae.

"From today, you're not U Jeong. You're 'Yujeong de Valois,' from a fallen lesser noble family of the Almedia Holy Kingdom. Your house has produced excellent maids for generations, and you've been trained as a 'battle maid' in basic self-defense and dagger arts."

I pointed to the new ID on top. The photo showed her looking unfamiliar yet refined.

"Battle... maid? But Oppa, I can't fight at all! Never even held a knife."

"Doesn't matter. It's just a pretext. The Cult Leader's son bringing a personal maid—especially one with combat skills—isn't weird at all."

I met her confused eyes directly.

"This way, you won't get dragged to the saintess class, and you can stay by my side. Under my control, safe."

She was silent for a long time, glancing between her new ID and me. I could see the calculations in her head. Finally, a faint smile curved her lips.

"Then... at the Academy... what do I call you?"

"Master."

Her smile deepened. No longer the smile of an anxious girl—it was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠woman's smile, fully grasping and embracing her new role.

"Understood... Master."

That night, I took U Jeong to the officetel I'd prepared. Everything for her was ready.

"These... are my clothes?"

She gaped at the black-and-white lace maid outfit on the bed.

"Your uniform from now on."

I fitted a finely crafted silver dagger into the garter on her thigh. She shivered at the cold metal.

"You won't have to fight, but..."

I lifted her chin, whispering in her ear,

"Just stay by my side, looking only at me. And at night... be my true 'maid,' serving your master."

Her face flushed apple-red. She nodded shyly.

"Yes... Master.♥"

Without hesitation, she changed. Her plain dress hit the floor, revealing her slender nude form. Moments later, she emerged as the perfect battle maid. The form-fitting outfit accentuated her slim waist and hips; the thigh dagger looked more sexy accessory than threat.

"How do I look... Master? Does it suit me?"

She spun in place, eyes full of expectation.

I approached silently, wrapping my arms around her waist.

"Perfect."

I claimed her lips. She yielded fully, surrendering herself. Her new role had begun. And I was the sole director of this dangerous, alluring puppet show.

"Master... then... tonight... take me to the... EDM festival..."

She whispered up at me, face flushed. I scooped her up toward the bed.

"A maid's first duty is attending to her master's night."

A happy smile spread on her lips. She wrapped her arms around my neck, granting me everything.

That night, I etched my ownership deep and vivid into her body—over and over, until her anxieties vanished completely.

Also, Incubus's Kiss.

As I kissed U Jeong, I poured my mana generously into her. Unbeknownst to her, she was being conditioned, becoming mine. The future Four Great Demon Lords 'Rust' was no more. I didn't know if this variable would become a massive storm ahead, but I had no regrets.

Lina would enter the Academy as a male student on my recommendation, and Yujeong as my battle maid. Thus, the time for Academy enrollment approached.