The Most Effective Counter to Chastity (2)
While Ederson Lionheart, the dean of academic affairs, headed toward the old school building.
"Dorm brothers."
Student Council President Keiar stepped into the chief supervisor's office in the male dorms and slowly opened his mouth over the dorm-wide broadcast.
"Starting tomorrow, mana pads will be distributed to each individual room, so please attend the lectures at the scheduled times."
If someone asked why the student council president was doing the academy staff's job, the answer would be: because that staff member is a woman.
"Everyone. Honestly, I hate theory classes too."
A ripple of stifled chuckles echoed through the dorms at the president's candid words.
"But think about all the instructors diligently recording these theory lectures on their own from now on, and the staff who'll be looking out for us. Let's do our best to listen. Just pretend we're front-loading all the theory classes we'll have to take later."
Encouragement from a senior—not as student council president, but as a fellow graduating student studying alongside them.
"The situation is tough in many ways, but that's exactly when we need to unite and pull together."
As a fellow man, he wanted to tie a red headband around his forehead and fight for the male students' rights, but Keiar was the student council president for all students.
"Let's set aside bad thoughts as much as possible and focus on the good ones. Aren't you all looking forward to it?"
So he had no choice but to guide the male undergrads' mindset in a positive direction.
"Here's hoping. This is the awkward part to talk about—hard to put into words, haha."
Once the broadcast ended, guys in the same room or close friends would gather in someone's room to chat.
"Then everyone, please keep your rooms clean. If there are live lectures later... even if it's shown through the mana panel, we should at least look neat from the upper body up, right?"
That had been the gist of it until now.
"Even though we're holed up in this dorm, remember it's training to show off a more grown version of ourselves later—like the 'seclusion training' they talk about in swordsmanship clans. We're just keeping our faces out there for communication."
No matter how messed up the world was, was it right for men to hole up in the dorms out of fear of mana drain even at the academy?
"Some will say it: 'What kind of man hides in the dorm?' Some of you, the manliest ones, might feel like striding boldly into the main academy lecture halls packed with women to attend class."
Is that what it means to be a real man?
But those who acted all manly like that ended up caught by criminals and devoured.
"Those friends got eaten. If there's a monster, you hunt the monster—and we did catch that one, but we never know when another will pop up."
If the opponent were a woman with normal thinking, he'd gladly offer his liver and gall, treating her like a princess. But these were harpies who only wanted to catch men and suck their mana dry.
"It's unfair, right? Yes. Why do only we have to suffer?"
What a shitty world.
Why had the heavens sent this trial only to men? Was it because the heavenly goddess was female, leaving laws that favored women?
Gloomy, negative talk was inevitable.
"But still."
Hope emerged.
"If we gain the power to resist mana drain—even if a monster tries to devour us—we can step out of the dorms and stride confidently across the world."
Not just for individuals, but hope spreading to the entire world.
"Think of the people in your hometowns or territories. Your childhood friends back home, the territory folk, the knights. Even their tiny scraps of mana—make sure monsters don't steal them. Experience it yourselves and teach them. Spread our hope."
Fundamentally, those at the academy were elites. And elites graduate to return home or to their territories, spreading the experience and skills they've built to those around them. That was the hope.
So what if that "counter to chastity" was a bit much? In an era where chastity had shrunk men's activities, real mana drain victims appeared, and the damage reached even the academy.
"Some of you might think: Won't we get a chance to strike back too? It's unfair if only we suffer—there must be a way to pay them back."
The president's words stirred a surge of righteous anger in the men.
"But hold back, endure, wait, and grow."
With hope, they could hold on.
"We'll hone the fire bats we've cultivated here at the academy and turn the tables—devour the monsters trying to eat us. Give 'em a real thrashing."
Revenge.
Overpowering the monster lunging at you in reverse.
"Grow so huge that those monsters writhe in agony and look up to us in awe. Everyone. If they're monsters, we'll become big shots."
Rooooaaar──!!
The dorm erupted in cheers that nearly shook the building.
Big shot! Big shot! Big shot!!
In any world.
In any era.
"Male students of the academy! The Four Saints and the Imperial Emperor have spoken—never forget their words!"
A massive tool was an object of worship, as depicted in ancient murals.
"Boys! Become big shots!"
[At that moment, the old school building.]
'Big shot' doesn't mean that, though.
If someone asked if I'd picked up some weird radio waves, nah—it was just the academy male dorm situation relayed through the mana panel.
"Big shot, huh."
"Already a big shot, so no thrill?"
As I stood a bit away from the golden carriage, gazing at it, Instructor Esta approached and handed me a warm cup of coffee.
"Not sleeping?"
"How could I?"
I took the coffee from her and gulped down a big swig.
"If the counter to mana drain gets 'confirmed,' it's like giving the male students a powerful shield against those trying to devour them."
"......."
"What's up?"
"Shield. Not wrong."
A shield was a shield.
But sometimes, some people go beyond bashing enemies with it—they turn the tables on devourers with a full counter-tour.
"About the dean's opponent. What's your usual relationship with Dean Ederson?"
"Adult stuff."
Esta pointed nonchalantly at the rocking carriage.
"Man-woman relationships aren't just about dating."
"Like business partners?"
"......You know and ask anyway?"
She fixed me with half-lidded eyes, probing. I sipped my coffee and shrugged lightly.
"I know, but it's not the kind of story I like much."
"Hmm, why?"
"Not a harem."
"Hah."
She let out a hollow laugh.
"Don't most men think having that kind of relationship with multiple women sounds great?"
"Some might, but I pursue not just eros but platonic love too."
"With multiple women?"
"Good is good, right? If everyone yields just a step, it can go beyond mere physical indulgence—to filling each other's lacks."
Man-woman bonds thrive on affection.
"I see. So you probably don't like the 'experiment' happening in there much."
"Pardon?"
"It's an experiment, but also pursuing physical pleasure without emotion. Right?"
"That's different."
"Huh?"
"It might be a tricky sensation for Unicorn Rider Instructor Esta, but..."
I clinked my fingers together.
"There's this thing called fuck destiny."
"......What destiny?"
"Hold hands while fucking, and eyes meet—that's man-woman bonds."
I overlapped my hands like anchors locking.
"Even someone who's meh as a boyfriend or husband can feel like the best sexual partner, and eventually those merits fade other flaws, leading positively."
"......."
"Love isn't just mental rapport building to physical. Sometimes physical starts it, then necessity blooms into mental comfort and joy—that's love, pure love."
"......."
"Maybe that's the case here. Men have been one-sided victims of mana drain so far, but shielding through sweat and clashes might sprout friendship."
No such thing as friends between men and women? Nah, FWB who need each other physically exist.
"Probably the person Dean Ederson called is like that. Someone reliable even if mana drained—"
"!!"
Esta suddenly drew her sword.
She stabbed the ground, creating a shimmering white barrier.
And—
BOOM──!!!
A massive explosion rocked the carriage, a colossal wind pillar surging skyward.
"Whoa."
It evoked someone's wind fart, but far fiercer and more intense.
"What hap—!"
Whoosh.
Inside the exploded carriage.
On the bed, a burly middle-aged man stood tall.
"Wh-what...?"
"Damn."
Involuntary applause.
"Didn't expect full [Awakening]."
Mercenary King. Or Lion King.
He'd joined as an academy instructor, risen to dean, S-rank but hit a wall and focused on rear support.
Mana limit nearly 97-98—he'd broken the wall.
"That's... S+, no, SS-rank?"
"......For now."
Esta covered her face with one hand, bowing her head.
"Was already a big shot, but now even more impressive."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
Sometimes.
Some men shatter the level 20 wall.
Not content with power against mana drain.
"That's the power of the Jerque technique."
Mana buffs can temporarily push to 27-28.
"As expected, teachers set the example for students."
Ederson Lionheart, as an educator, vividly showed undergrads the heights to reach—with his own body. He succeeded.