Delirious Desires and Deserved Discipline
Lately, something had cropped up at the Saintess Training Institute—not terribly serious, but not something I could brush off lightly either. Nothing grandiose. Just that while working, other thoughts kept intruding.
My duties here weren't all that demanding, leaving me with plenty of idle time. I'd toss out old herbs and medicines, prepare supplements ahead for minor variables like the weather. Lately, with the apprentice saintesses staying perfectly healthy without so much as a sniffle, it felt even more leisurely.
Anyway, that spare time was almost entirely filled with thoughts of my other role. A healthy young man's imagination knows no bounds. What if I tried this next time? Would she like it if I touched her like that? This spot seems sensitive—maybe focus there? Does she have a taste for that kind of scenario? Not so much plans as fantasies. Closer to delusions, really, laced heavily with my own personal desires and wishes.
Appropriate fantasies (or delusions) can be fun and even beneficial, but when their frequency starts disrupting daily life, that's a problem. So I'd come up with one solution. Even though this place was cut off from the outside world, ordering supplies by letter was no issue.
"Did I buy a bit more than I thought...? Well, more is always better."
At the institute's main gate stood boxes piled nearly as tall as me. Inside were all sorts of herbs whose names most ordinary folks wouldn't even know. Back in the countryside, I'd used them daily, but living here had naturally distanced me from them. Rediscovering this forgotten hobby would be just the thing to pull me from my fantasy addiction.
I'll haul them in bit by bit. I'd already cleaned a shady corner by the infirmary window in advance.
"Alright, one at a time? Ngh, heavy..."
The familiar weight after so long stirred a wave of nostalgia, putting me in a good mood. After carrying one box to the storeroom, I headed back to the gate's stack—and spotted someone standing by the boxes.
Another teacher? No, one of the apprentice saintesses. Her hair... black with a purple tint. Claudia.
What brings her here?
"Hello, Claudia. Nothing hurting, I hope? What brings you to the main gate?"
"Ah... H-hello, Mr. Th-Teacher Theo..."
Our eyes met, and she offered a stiff smile—probably from nerves—before greeting me back.
"N-no, nothing hurts... N-no business here either. I just... h-happened to see you, Teacher Theo..."
Her finger pointed to the walkway running alongside the gate, leading to the garden. Folks usually stayed in the garden proper and didn't come this far, but maybe that's what appealed to Claudia.
"If... y-you need help c-carrying those... c-can I assist...?"
"I appreciate the offer, but they're heavier than they look."
Claudia had a habit of popping up out of nowhere, offering help. What a kind soul. Her shyness was no real flaw—that heart was saintess material.
"B-but... there are still so m-many boxes left... Y-you'll have a h-hard time alone..."
She wouldn't back down, insisting on helping. No choice, then. Turning down a willing hand would be rude.
"If you insist... Here, take this one—the smallest. Just follow me."
I handed her the lightest box. Delighted at being useful, her smile brightened even more. She nodded, took it with both arms, and naturally rested her chest atop it with a thunk.
"C-cough. Ahem."
...Snap out of it.
"Thank you for your help, Claudia. You made it go so much faster."
Hauling one box each, four round trips between gate and storeroom took about thirty minutes. Alone, it'd have been closer to an hour. Wiping sweat from my brow, I thanked her—but Claudia didn't seem in any state to accept it.
Emerging from the storeroom, she wobbled like she'd had too much to drink, unable to walk straight.
"H-haa... u-ugh... If I co-could h-help... th-that's enough... sa-satisfaction..."
Her voice weak and trailing, her body suddenly pitched forward.
"Wh-whoa? Cl-Claudia?!"
I barely caught her collapsing form. Calling to her limp, dangling body got only, "U-ugh... d-dizzy..."—a dazed mumble, head lolling like she was lost in a dream.
Sudden exertion in the heat after a short time outside—mild dehydration, probably. She'd pushed through without complaint to help till the end...
The infirmary was right next door, so I carried her there and laid her on a bed.
"No need to push yourself like that... Anyway, just rest here a bit, Claudia."
Among the apprentices, Claudia had the weakest stamina—honestly, the worst. But in midday heat hauling heavy boxes, some blame lay with me too.
I laid her on the bed, then headed to the storeroom, figuring I'd put the fresh arrivals to use. For mild dehydration or exhaustion, a light, clean brew beats a strong one. I opened a box of dried fruits, petals, and leaves, pulling out a few red-toned ingredients.
Cold infusion is best, but no time—brew hot first, then pour over ice. Claudia still had childlike tastes, so a touch of honey would sweeten it nicely.
The bustle in the infirmary must've reached her ears.
"U-ugh... Th-Teacher... The-Theo... w-water..."
Her faint call sounded like a whining child, drawing a slight chuckle from me.
"Yes, yes. All done now, Claudia."
I added ice to a glass, gently poured the hot tea, stirred with a teaspoon. Done. Cup in hand, I approached her bed. For someone too weak to lift a finger, I grabbed an extra pillow from under the bed, propping it under her back and waist to half-recline her.
Limp as a ragdoll, she let me position her body without resistance. Like a doll, really.
"W-wa... ter... th-thirsty..."
"Drink slowly. Gulping when thirsty can make you choke."
Like a baby bird, she opened her mouth; I held the cup to her lips and tilted gently. Gulp, gulp—no attempt to take it herself. She just obediently drank.
Each swallow made her throat bob visibly, the sound oddly... noticeable.
"P-haa... ha... ahh..."
She'd downed over half the cup in one go before pulling away to catch her breath. Her half-lidded eyes, ragged breathing, wet lips—thoughts kept trying to intrude. Ignore it. That's why you bought these ingredients—to control those delusions, remember.
"Te-Tea-cher..."
Her drowsy, heat-addled voice called again.
"...Yes? More tea, Claudia?"
"Wh-what... k-kind of tea... is this...?"
"Just... hibiscus flowers and fruit, steeped. Good for mild dehydration."
"It's... sw-sweet..."
"Ah, that's a bit of honey I added."
What was she getting at? My curiosity didn't last.
"D-did you... m-mix anything in... the tea...? L-like... some s-strange d-drug...?"
Ah, right—I'd forgotten. I wasn't the only one harboring lewd fantasies at the institute.
"Nothing like that—just rest easy..."
"My b-body... won't get s-strong... C-can't... e-escape... H-hii... ugh..."
Properly heatstruck, Claudia babbled freely, her delusions spilling unfiltered. Cold compress? Or splash her face with cool water? As I pondered, she kept chattering.
"Like this... u-unable to r-resist... m-me... Ah, n-no... b-bad... B-but it'll be u-useless... Y-you keep making me d-drink sus-suspicious drugged tea... t-touching my b-body... Teacher Theo..."
Blunt as can be, like she meant for me to hear. I stayed calm because right now, she was a patient. To check her state and gently dissuade her, I turned my gaze to her face—
"E-eek...! A-again... the t-teacher... ha-having lewd thoughts about m-me... p-punishing me for it...?"
She giggled deliriously, lips twitching upward uncontrollably as our eyes met. The masochistic apprentice saintess gazing up at me.
"..."
Speechless. But yes, Goddess watching—this was the moment to discipline her, right? Whether Claudia truly resented my "prescriptions" twisted lewdly, or was just pretending... I couldn't quite tell, nor did I need to decide.
I forced a stern, serious frown, feigning anger as best I could.
"...Wait just a moment."
Since I was doing it, I'd make simple preparations to match the fantasy she'd confessed.