A Brief Respite

The colossal temple behind us shattered completely, vanishing into a thick cloud of black smoke.

At that instant, we were swallowed by blinding light and hurled out of the gate.

Tap.

Even as my feet touched the grassy field, I remained cradled in Adelia’s arms in a full princess carry.

“......”

“......”

Silence.

Dozens of professors and students stood frozen, mouths hanging open as they stared at us.

Adelia’s face was flushed crimson. She gazed down at me with hazy eyes and whispered,

She pulled me into an even tighter embrace.

Her eyes dripped with honeyed obsession and her voice was sickeningly sweet.

The problem was that every single person around us had witnessed the entire display.

“Um… Adelia? Everyone’s watching…?”

When I glanced around and spoke, Professor Kane finally cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“Ahem! Miss Adelia! Perhaps… it would be best if you let him go for now?”

In that moment, the madness drained from Adelia’s eyes and her focus returned.

“……Huh?”

She lifted her face from my chest and looked around. Dozens of eyes. The words she had just uttered in front of everyone.

Her face turned scarlet in an instant, as if it might explode. Without even managing a scream, she shoved me away like discarded luggage.

“Hiiik… T-this was just nonsense…”

She babbled incoherently, covered her face with both hands, and fled into the distance.

Left behind, I stood there in a daze as every gaze locked onto me.

Hahaha… fuck…

Professor Kane clicked his tongue and approached.

“You’ve all been through a lot. I’m granting the entire Group 5 a special two-day vacation. Rest thoroughly and return to class by the morning of April 12th.”

I didn’t even have the energy to nod.

As I was carried away on a stretcher, one thought drifted through my mind.

School life… has gone completely off the rails.

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Two days later.

Male dormitory.

“Ugh… my whole body hurts.”

I sat up in bed and stretched. My joints popped loudly.

I had slept like a corpse for two full days, so my body felt a little stiff. Still, considering how brutally I had pushed myself inside an S-class dungeon, my condition was suspiciously good.

Maybe I should check.

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror and activated Observer’s Eye.

“……Holy shit.”

A helpless laugh escaped me.

I had jumped from C-class to B+ in the span of one practicum. Other people would have to train until their bones wore out for decades to achieve the same result. I felt like I had taken an express bus to power.

Adelia’s share is 100 percent… so she alone accounts for more than half.

I examined my reflection from different angles. I definitely looked a little more handsome than when I first possessed this body. Had my eyes grown sharper?

As I scrolled down the skill window, a new trait appeared.

“……Ah.”

I stared blankly at the mirror after reading the description.

This makes me look like a full-blown cult leader…

I covered my face with both hands. It was genuinely embarrassing.

Still, it wasn’t a bad thing. My allies were increasing. That was what mattered.

Officially, I’m still listed as Mana Insensitive F-class.

Should I get re-measured? No, that would be a hassle. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠“weak, untalented bastard” act was both the academy’s unwritten rule and my best survival strategy. I would save my B+-class specs for emergencies only, like a hidden joker.

“Alright! Let’s go to the lecture hall.”

I straightened my clothes and smiled.

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On the way to class, things unfolded exactly as I expected.

“Hey, that’s him. Roy from Group 5.”

“Whoa, he actually survived an S-class dungeon?”

“And did you hear? He came out in a princess carry.”

“Pfft! What a pathetic guy, clinging to a girl like that?”

The students’ mocking arrows flew at me from every direction. I pretended not to care and ignored them.

Yeah, sure. As if any of you have ever tasted an S-class dungeon. When your life is on the line, you don’t just cling—you’d let yourself be carried if it meant survival.

That was when I saw her.

At the end of the corridor, platinum hair swaying, Adelia approached. The students parted like the Red Sea. She wore her usual cold, haughty queenly expression.

Here she comes.

I acted as if nothing had happened and greeted her.

“Good morning, Adelia?”

She stopped dead in her tracks. The moment she saw me, her eyes trembled violently, as if an earthquake had struck them.

“Y-you… e-extra.”

Her voice was shaking. What was going on?

“Yeah? What’s up?”

Her lips quivered.

“U-um… about last time… I’m sorry.”

“I… I must have gone a little crazy…”

Her face burned bright red. She hung her head and fidgeted with her fingers.

I chuckled and waved it off.

“Ah, that? It’s fine. It was an emergency.”

“……What?”

“You must have been tired from carrying me the whole way.”

“A guy getting carried out by a girl… I’m the one who should apologize.”

I spoke as coolly as I could—mostly to hide my own embarrassment.

Adelia stared at me blankly. Her expression twisted strangely, then she let out a huge sigh of relief that seemed to deflate her entirely.

“Haa… idiot.”

“That’s not what I meant, you dense…”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“Hmph! Never mind! I’m going ahead!”

She spun around and practically sprinted away.

I scratched the back of my head.

What the hell… Was she angry? Or happy?

“Huu~m?”

A mischievous voice came from behind me.

“Oppa~♡”

It was Scarlet, her purple twin-tails bouncing. She clung to my arm like glue and grinned like a fox.

“Hehe, I saw everything~ Our ice princess unni running away with a face as red as a tomato.”

“The rumor’s already spread. They say oppa came out of the dungeon in a princess carry from unni.”

“Hey! Keep it down, please…”

“Pfft! So, oppa, how did it feel? What’s it like to be carried by the academy’s strongest beauty?”

“You looked like you were in heaven buried in her chest~ Did it smell nice?”

Scarlet poked my side.

“Share your secret, won’t you? How did you conquer that haughty unni?”

I stared at her in disbelief.

“Don’t tell me, oppa… you’re the emperor of the night?”

“Hey! Don’t say that crap anywhere else!! You really have no filter for a kid. It was an emergency, okay!”

“Hehe~ Just kidding, just kidding! Anyway, oppa, you’re amazing~♡”

Scarlet winked and vanished, calling back, “See you later, princess~”

I could only sigh.

Ugh… that little brat… I really can’t handle her.

Shaking my head, I entered the lecture hall.

The room buzzed with noise before class started. I sat in my usual seat and rested my chin on my hand. Adelia on my right, Iris on my left, Priscilla behind me.

Creak—!

The front door opened and thunderous cheers erupted.

“Who is that?… Insane.”

“Oh my, is she really a classmate?”

“She’s a goddess!!”

A woman with beautiful golden hair and blue eyes walked in with elegant grace. Even the professor blushed for a second before introducing her.

“Ahem. This is Her Highness Princess Elysee. She was occupied with matters at the imperial palace and will now be attending lectures with you starting today.”

When she smiled from the podium, half the male students pretended to faint.

“Hello, everyone. I am Elysee von Roengard. Please take care of me♡”

I simply looked out the window with a blank face. With Adelia, Iris, and the others around me, another beauty barely registered. Besides, I knew her tragic fate—she was destined to be assassinated by Helios at the end of the semester. To someone who knew the original story, she was nothing more than a doomed extra with an expiration date.

Crackle.

I scanned her with Observer’s Eye.

She’s smiling on the outside, but she’s rotting from within.

My indifferent attitude made Elysee’s eyebrow twitch. With a strange expression, she took the seat diagonally behind me.

The lecture began. While the professor wrote on the blackboard, I felt a presence from the seat on my right. Adelia was checking her surroundings.

Grab.

Suddenly, a warm touch slipped under the desk. Adelia had seized my hand.

Huh?!

When I looked at her in surprise, she was staring straight at the blackboard. But her ears were burning red and her palm was damp with sweat. She slowly laced our fingers together and squeezed tightly.

Ehh… suddenly?

Earlier in the corridor she had run away after saying weird things, yet now this?

Her contradictory behavior was so cute that I gently squeezed back, stroking her fingers.

Zap.

On my left, Iris was glaring at me with axe-like eyes. She mouthed the words I’ll kill you.

Cold sweat ran down my back.

Hahaha… this is somehow terrifying.

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That night. Dormitory.

“Haa…”

I finished showering and lay down on the bed.

Staring at the ceiling, the entire day flashed before me like a revolving lantern—Elysee’s appearance, Adelia grabbing my hand during class, Iris’s death glare.

“Anyway, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠need to start preparing for the demon invasion from the original story.”

“This peace only has eight days left… I don’t know how the world’s inertia will twist things, so I’ll start preparing tomorrow.”

Exhausted, I closed my eyes to sleep.

Tap.

A small sound came from the veranda window.

…?

I sat up reflexively.

The unlocked window slid open quietly. A silhouette backed by moonlight slipped into the room. Platinum hair. Crimson eyes.

Adelia?

She closed the door without a sound and approached the bed. I couldn’t see her expression clearly, but the aura was unmistakable.

“Extra…”

She sat on the edge of the bed. Her hand slid onto my thigh. Then she slowly leaned down, drawing closer.

“I missed you so much…”

She wrapped her arms around my neck. A sweet scent tickled my nose. Her breath brushed against my lips. It was a perfectly natural, seductive invitation.

But.

Grab.

My hand stopped her by the shoulder.

“……?”

She tilted her head in confusion.

I looked straight into her eyes.

“You’re not Adelia, are you?”

Her body stiffened.

I spoke coldly.

“The real Adelia turned bright red and ran away just from holding my hand once during lecture.”

“Would someone like that come at night and seduce me so skillfully? It doesn’t add up.”

“……”

“Above all…”

I pointed at her eyes.

“Your gaze is different. It’s too desperate.”

“Who are you?”

Under my interrogation, she lowered her head.

Sliiide…

The transformation melted away. Platinum hair lengthened into flowing blue, small horns sprouted, and golden slit eyes appeared.

“Hic… I’m sorry, Master.”

She slid off the bed and knelt. Her shoulders shook as she began to sob.

“Why did you suddenly do something like this?”

She covered her face with both hands.

“I… I wanted to win Master’s heart.”

“……”

“I’m… a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slave. Bound by contract…”

“But when Master said he would save my clan… I was so grateful…”

She lifted her tear-streaked face.

“And… ever since then, my heart races whenever I see you.”

“But Lady Adelia and Lady Iris are always by your side…”

“I’m just a demon slave, so you don’t look at me…”

“That’s why… I wanted to at least borrow Lady Adelia’s appearance and be held by you.”

What a foolish girl. Her self-esteem hadn’t just hit rock bottom—it had dug through the floor.

I got off the bed, crouched in front of her, and gently wiped her wet cheeks.

“Priscilla.”

“…Yes.”

“You are not a slave.”

Her eyes widened.

“The contract is only a formality to protect me.”

“And…”

I stroked her hair and smiled.

“You don’t have to transform into Adelia.”

“Your true form is plenty charming and beautiful.”

Priscilla’s face flushed so deeply it looked ready to burst.

“R-really…?”

“Yes. Really. So don’t ever do this again.”

“I will definitely save your clan from that bastard.”

“Master…!”

She threw herself into my arms and sobbed loudly. I comforted her until she calmed down, then sent her back through the window.

“Be careful on your way.”

“Yes… Good night, Master.”

With a flushed face, Priscilla bowed and disappeared into the darkness.

“Haa… today was pretty ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠intense.”

Honestly, I’m a man too, so a certain part of me had become uncomfortably stiff again.

Guess I’ll have to take care of it… damn it.

The tension finally drained from my body. The faint scent she had left behind still lingered in the room. If I didn’t ventilate quickly, it would be perfect material for a misunderstanding.

I walked over to open the window wide.

Creak.

Cool night air rushed in.

And then.

“……”

Right below the window, our eyes met.

“Fuck. You scared me… Ah, Adelia?”

My heart plummeted.

I almost asked if it was Priscilla, but the terrifying look in her eyes instantly told me it was the real one. How long had she been sitting there?

Adelia stared expressionlessly into my room.

Sniff. Sniff.

She wrinkled her nose.

“……”

Her gaze slowly returned to me. In the moonlight, her crimson eyes were frighteningly cold.

“Ah, I hate this.”

Her lips twisted. Extreme disgust toward any woman who dared approach her Roy.

“This time… which bitch was it?”

Whoosh—!

She leaped into the room in an instant. Before I could answer, she grabbed my collar and slammed me onto the bed.

Thud!

The bed shook violently.

Straddling me, Adelia buried her face in my chest and took a deep breath.

“Ah… my Roy♡ smells like another bitch.”

“A-Adelia… that’s…”

She lifted her head. Her eyes burned with a dark red glow. SSS-class killing intent flooded the small room.

“My faith.”

“……!”

“Who is it? The bitch who dared touch what’s mine.”

“Wait, it’s a misunderstanding—”

“You don’t need to speak.”

She cut me off and smiled eerily.

“Hehe, I can just erase it.”

“……Mmph?!”

She crashed her lips against mine. It was not a gentle kiss. It was the rough, greedy kiss of a predator.

Slurp.

Her soft, burning tongue invaded my mouth. It tangled with mine, licked every corner, and scrubbed away any trace of another woman. I couldn’t breathe, but she wouldn’t let go. Instead she sucked even deeper, more persistently.

“Haa… slurp…”

The obscene sound of mixing saliva filled the room. She was determined to leave not even a hint of another woman’s scent.

After a long while, a thin silver strand of saliva broke as she pulled away. Her red lips glistened. Her eyes were unfocused.

“Haa… haa…”

Breathing hard, she glared down at me.

Then.

Drip.

A thick teardrop fell from her crimson eyes. The gaze that had been filled with rage and murderous intent suddenly trembled in confusion.

“What… did I just do…? Huh?”

She touched her own lips, as if only now realizing her actions.

“My Ro… No, Extra.”

She stumbled backward. The obsessive darkness of fused Adelia and the original Adelia’s personality were clashing. A side effect of the fusion. Her ego still hadn’t fully stabilized.

“S-sorry…”

She sobbed, clutching her head.

“I’ve… been strange lately…”

“Suddenly I can’t control myself, and my head is… a mess…”

Without daring to look at me, she threw herself out the open window.

“I’m leaving…”

Whoosh—!

Her figure vanished into the darkness.

I lay on the bed in a daze, wiping my lips. They tingled.

This is dangerous.

She had become stronger, but she was also breaking. I didn’t know when that instability would explode.

I… have to hold onto her.

It looked like I wouldn’t be sleeping tonight.

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Dawn. Priscilla’s dormitory room.

Priscilla had been savoring the happy memory of her time with Roy, about to fall asleep, when she noticed a red envelope slipped under her door.

It was the familiar envelope that arrived with every assassination order. Her hands trembled violently.

The moment she tore it open and read the contents, every drop of blood drained from her face.

“Ah……”

The paper crumpled so tightly it crackled. Only seven days.

She had to kill Roy.

If she didn’t, her clan and her little sister would be massacred.

But… how…?

She was bound by a soul contract.

They want me… to kill Master?

Priscilla collapsed to the floor, clutching the letter to her chest, and sobbed without making a sound.

But she couldn’t cry forever.

Swipe.

She roughly wiped her tears with her sleeve, then stood up with grim resolve.

Hiss.

The red letter burned black atop the candle that lit the room. Beyond the scattering ashes,

her eyes now gleamed with a cold, murderous intent that had never been there before.