Fragment of the Ice Crystal Stone (1)

The scenery of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Pantheon visible through the carriage window was unusually quiet.

Most of the Pantheon cadets had no lectures or training on Monday mornings, which was why it felt so serene.

But the Endia Hall, the main building of the Endia Order, and the workshops around it were different. Even at this early hour, the atmosphere buzzed with activity.

I stepped into Cecilia's workshop within Endia Hall. It had been a week since my last visit.

'I've already received the Imperial Sword through Hans, so no need to stop by here otherwise.'

Cadets of the Endia Order spent their off-lecture time in their personal workshops like this. Cecilia was no exception.

Cecilia greeted us warmly.

"Lord Yulian! It's so good to see you...!"

The petite beauty with pale platinum hair looked as delicate and fragile as before, but her expression was bright and cheerful.

She bowed slightly at the waist, dressed in simple commoner clothes and a skirt. Yet she couldn't hide the innate elegance of a Demon King's kin.

Even in that brief greeting, her grace shone through. She turned to Eirin beside me as well.

"It's nice to see you too, Lady Eirin..."

"I hope you've been well, Lady Cecilia?"

Though it had only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been a week since they met, they seemed to have grown close—likely thanks to Eirin teaching her how to brew tea.

"Um... I'll prepare some tea right away! Please, have a seat over there?"

Cecilia guided us to the inner parlor. Surprisingly, one unexpected guest was already there.

'It's Lucia.'

Lucia was sprawled on the small sofa in the parlor, her outer coat pulled over her face. The pink hair peeking out from under it gave her away immediately. She appeared to be fast asleep.

"Sister Lucia... worked through the night and came straight here. She said if she went home and slept deeply, she'd have trouble making it to afternoon training..."

Eirin and I sat in chairs by the parlor table, careful not to disturb Lucia's sleep.

"Um... if it's rude, should I wake Sister Lucia?"

"No need. If she worked all night, she's exhausted. Let her rest."

"Yes... as you say, my lord."

With that, Cecilia finished brewing the tea. Though she hadn't said it outright, I could already guess what Lucia had been up to.

'The membership-only secret salon from last time. She's probably working security at one of that madam Carmen's other gambling dens.'

That's right. Lucia had refused support from her adoptive father and was earning her own money.

There was no longer any need for her to support Cecilia, but to cover Pantheon's tuition and life in the imperial capital, she needed income.

Those gambling dens paid well, and having grown up in the slums, Lucia was no stranger to the shadowy underworld.

Having played as Lucia in Demon King Slayer before, I knew this well. And it was important that she was involved in the underworld.

'It's good real-world experience. More importantly, when I played as Lucia, she got tangled up quite a bit with 'those factions.'

I briefly recalled what I knew from Demon King Slayer about the capital's underworld.

The secret salon backed by Cardinal Grious. Due to that madam Carmen's schemes, the gambling den where Lucia originally worked got raided by the capital's military police and shut down.

In revenge, the den's owner had brought in an outside force.

That force was the Virea Mercenary Corps. A continental scourge that moved solely on greed and avarice, without any creed or loyalty.

They were currently allied with Pedro Duke, the ruler of the south. Some of their mercenaries had infiltrated the capital's underworld.

And those mercenaries were the ones infamous in Demon King Slayer's second part as the Execution Squad. In other words, villains causing chaos in the capital.

Even at this point, they were likely involved in various troubles brewing in the capital.

Especially in the second part, their power grew stronger. They weren't ordinary humans anymore—they mutated into demonkin, corrupted by the Kaotic Gates and demon aura.

Or rather, the change had probably already begun by now.

'So if I can nip it in the bud early...'

However, in Demon King Slayer's first part, playing as Yulian, they were untouchable. Even in the first part, they were vicious foes.

As I organized my thoughts, Cecilia brought tea for the two of us.

***

Eirin's lessons must have helped. Cecilia had brewed a tea with a decent aroma.

"It's still far from mint tea, but... I did my best..."

Cecilia said shyly, bowing her head. As a member of the Demon King's kin—a dragon, no less—she seemed to feel a natural affinity for me, who shared that bloodline. I felt the same, finding her bashful demeanor endearing.

I took a sip of the tea she'd brought, recalling the rune enchantment she'd placed on it.

'It was the rune for 'affection.' She definitely sees me as her 'oraboni'...'

Even without the rune's aid, I could sense Cecilia was conscious of me.

"How is the taste, Lord Yulian?"

"Not bad at all. Eirin's brewing skills are exceptional, and it seems you've learned diligently from a fine teacher."

I made sure to praise Eirin as well. All my A+ grade heroines were important to me.

Sure enough, the corner of Eirin's mouth lifted ever so slightly—just enough for me to notice.

The three of us took light sips. Cecilia brought up the Imperial Sword she'd made last time.

"Were you pleased with the Imperial Sword I made last time?"

"Pleased? It was excellent."

The Imperial Sword, upgraded to Rare+ grade by Cecilia's craftsmanship, even had a rune enchantment granting a shield against demon aura and increased attack power.

"But it's still just a longsword made from ordinary metal. Whenever the blade dulls or you need a new one, please leave repairs or crafting to me!"

As my realm advanced, the Imperial Sword would reach its limits. Having Cecilia adjust its grade to match would be reassuring.

And with talk of swords—especially crafting—Cecilia's eyes sparkled. I felt an urge to pat her head but held back.

'I don't have that level of familiarity with her yet.'

Still, for the demonkin class change quest and my future party, I needed to build a relationship with her.

Even with instinctive fondness, crossing that line without an opportunity would be tough. But it had to be done.

I checked the system quest window again.

This quest in particular meant I had to make bodily fluid contact with Cecilia soon—unlike with other heroines.

As the system described, it wasn't just for me. It would help her too.

"How's this tea, Lady Eirin?"

"Better than last time. Though the water temperature and steeping time could be refined a bit more..."

Perfect timing—the two were discussing tea. I took the chance to observe Cecilia's complexion.

Her delicate, sickly face. With sponsorship from the Aiterne Merchant Group, she could afford purified demon crystals to some extent now.

But prices for purified demon crystals had skyrocketed.

The surging demon aura from the intensifying Kaotic Gates had spiked demand to maintain the capital's holy obelisks. Other demands had risen too.

'Plus, tolerance builds to purified demon crystals. Her dragon heart's collapse is only a matter of time.'

Despite her bright expression, her pallid complexion and breathy voice remained unchanged.

In truth, my demon king's blood instinctively sensed how dire Cecilia's condition was.

All this meant I needed to get closer to her quickly. As I pondered how, the workshop door opened.

"Oh my. Lady Cecilia, it seems you have a customer."

"You're right. Excuse me for a moment..."

Cecilia bowed politely to us and rose. I could hear her engaging in professional ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠talk from the workshop floor.

Her trait proficiency rising meant she'd landed a solid commission. While Cecilia was away,

I had a good idea.

'Bodily fluids... contact via bodily fluids.'

It might seem sleazy, but it would help Cecilia too. I turned to Eirin.

"This tea Cecilia brewed has a slightly astringent bite."

"Is that so, young master? Then I'll fetch some sugar syrup right away..."

Eirin left the parlor table to get the syrup.

Now it was just the three cups left behind—and ours, each with more than a sip taken.

'It feels undignified as a human, but no choice.'

Discreetly, I swapped Cecilia's cup with mine.

***

Now in my atelier. I decided to spend time here until afternoon combat training.

Only upon arriving did my excited body and mind finally calm.

'It was just a trace amount of fluid, but the effect is overwhelmingly strong.'

That's right. For the future, I'd set aside human dignity for a moment. Cecilia was hard to approach for contact opportunities.

So I'd tried an indirect kiss via the teacup. It felt deeply perverse, filling me with guilt, but it was for the greater good.

The effect was undeniable. Proof lingered in the system notification.

A trace of bodily fluid—namely, Cecilia's saliva left in the cup—had granted quest proficiency. Especially the buffs: Blood Awareness and Sensitivity Boost.

The effects were astonishing. The moment my lips touched where hers had been, my mind filled solely with thoughts of Cecilia.

'Looks like Cecilia is definitively my mate as a dragon.'

Demonkin dragons possessed immense power and longevity beyond humans, but with virtually no everyday sexual desire—a peculiar race.

However, to prevent extinction, their blood reacts intensely to specific opposite sexes. In my case, that was Cecilia.

And vice versa for her. The instant the cup touched her lips, Cecilia reacted fiercely.

'Like she'd taken an aphrodisiac.'

Just a trace of saliva, yet her face flushed bright red.

'O... oraboni...'

Her inner thoughts slipped out unwittingly. Mortified, Cecilia had covered it up.

I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hurried out of the workshop to spare her embarrassment.

'Still, the vitality buff should help sustain her dragon heart for a while.'

And the 'Blood Awareness' buff in the status window. Not full dragon awakening, but my mana heart was reacting anew.

The mana concentrated in my mana heart. As a 3rd tier mana heart, amplification paths were just the three spheres encasing the heart like a shell.

But the mana acceleration in those spherical paths felt entirely different—like my mana heart had become a dragon heart.

Yet the intense acceleration strained my mana heart heavily.

'To fully demonkin-ize, I need to reach at least 4th tier soon.'

To that end, I was preparing a special tribute for the emperor. This plan was crucial.

I gazed at the center of the atelier workbench.

There sat an object about 50cm tall, covered in cloth. The Ice Crystal Stone brought by Margrave Wilhelm's delegation.

I said to Eirin,

"Eirin. I need your help."