The Easiest Way to Steal Faith (4)
After pulling off that massive aggro pull at the freshman welcome party, on the way back to the Old School Building.
"You're definitely not right in the head, lad."
Ederson Lionheart, the dean walking with me, said as he eyed me.
"Is that a compliment?"
"About 75% compliment, and the remaining 25% concern."
"What kind of concern warrants that much?"
"Whether the folks in the Old School Building can protect you from all the vixens swarming this academy."
As we walked, Ederson subtly gestured to the left and right.
"Feel the stares?"
"Yeah. Loud and clear. Not just upperclassmen— instructors, staff, even grad students."
"Exactly. Bluntly put, you're a walking bundle of lewd temptation."
"...Blunt indeed."
"Of course." Ederson lightly tapped his arm. "Only someone of my caliber can even gauge your physical prowess."
"You think since I don't look like I can defend myself, women will just overpower me by force?"
"After kidnapping you and locking you in some basement, they'll drain you dry until your mana hits rock bottom. Just like all those poor guys before."
Ederson shuddered in rage.
"The outside world's dangerous. Esdinas Academy is relatively safe because the staff—the so-called 'adults'—keep things in check."
"Relatively."
"Remember, even those adults might target you. You've drawn way too much attention."
"What if that was the goal?"
Ederson halted abruptly at my words.
"What if I told you my aim was to draw every woman's gaze?"
"Lad."
"If we're calling them women anyway, they'll crave the sweetest, most delicious reward."
I lightly thumped my chest with my thumb.
"Anyone making a half-hearted attempt like earlier will face scrutiny from those around them, and sneaky intruders will get caught by the Old School Building crew."
"Hmm."
"Sorry to Rydmila, but she'll be dealing with nightly raids from people sneaking in—even waking up from sleep to fend them off. Mostly female students, I'd bet."
"That's par for the course as a mercenary, so it's fine, but..."
Does Ederson know? His granddaughter sucks at studying— she actually nods off in class because she can't fight the drowsiness.
"If that happens, she'll secure nap time during theory lectures, and the instructors won't say a word. Of course, she'll still try to pay attention."
"Hm. Makes sense."
Ederson resumed walking.
"It'll be a thorny path. Everyone approaching you will have ulterior motives. Your prior connections might be exceptions..."
"In a world of people, who approaches without an agenda?"
Mission accomplished.
"Some might come from rational attraction, others to uncover your secrets, and some to drain a seemingly defenseless male and boost their mana like a fox turning S-rank kumiho."
"To steal your mana."
"Personally, that's my take. Right now, I'm like—"
The position you need in the academy? To make it hit home for guys... imagine a blonde, blue-eyed G-cup bombshell strutting into a club packed with men, wearing nothing but a bikini.
"—the kind of guy that makes women think, 'I just have to have him.'"
Even I wouldn't whisper shady stuff to Ederson Lionheart, the Mercenary King and Lion King.
"If someone tries that on me, they'd do it to someone else anyway. Me and the Old School Building folks are just nabbing them early."
"...I see."
Ederson scanned me up and down.
"If—hypothetically—the Old School Building crew pulls anything shady or dangerous on you, come straight to me."
His gaze held pity, but also gratitude from one man to another.
"It's a relief there's a young buck like you among the promising generation. The other guys are all cowards terrified of getting drained dry... ahem."
That raw, straightforward—beastly—talk must be Ederson's true self, titles aside.
"Got it. If someone I can't handle tries to ravish me, I'll call on the Mercenary King for help."
No need to refuse goodwill.
"But hypothetically, if your granddaughter tries to ravish me, what then?"
"In that case."
Ederson thumped his chest.
"I'll stake everything to make her take responsibility for you."
A short while later.
After Ederson's "escort"—read: bodyguard duty—ended, I returned to the Old School Building.
"You really went all out, Phoenix."
Instructor Esta greeted me at the entrance, tapping her left wrist.
"Heard it live via the on-site instructors."
"That so?"
"...You're in for tough times. Plenty already gunning for you."
"Guess I should ask them to make me suffer more."
Game-wise, it's nightly battles against 'intruders' trying to breach the Old School Building. Not every night, but hordes of women—and their accomplices—will sneak in to devour me.
"By the way, Instructor Esta. Where are you headed?"
"My room."
"???"
I froze mid-step toward the classroom, following her.
"Pardon?"
"Need to check something."
"Checking's fine, but why your room...?"
"Follow and see. It's part of the regular curriculum."
"I thought freshmen have no afternoon classes..."
"Special class needs special lessons."
Esta boldly opened her door.
"Neat."
Pristine quarters. A spacious bed for two, desk neatly stacked with teaching materials. Clothes hung perfectly—no mess in sight.
"......What does that mean?"
"Nothing. Just sometimes..."
She projects sharpness outside, but some mess up their private spaces. Probably keeps it tidy since it's academy lodging.
"Hm? Where are Unia, Rydmila, and Evangeline?"
"Mana resonance training with Cardisha. She's helping as an instructor too."
"Then me...?"
"You'll do special mana resonance training with me."
Esta pulled me inside, then—
Click.
Locked the door.
"Uh, Instructor Esta?"
"Not up to anything suspicious. Just confirming your suspiciousness."
"Pardon?"
"After you told your teammates about the welcome party stunt, Unia said post-lunch."
Esta flung off her coat.
"We need to experience your Hand of the Sun firsthand. Specifically: 'What if he offers to show other girls his special ability?'"
"That's..."
"She seemed worried about you showing interest in others, but also guarded about your power getting out. So."
Swish.
"I'll check it myself."
"Wait..."
"What's wrong?"
"Not embarrassed?"
"Why would I be?"
Esta shrugged, arms wide.
"It's a swimsuit."
"Not the standard instructor one—it's a bikini."
She'd prepared: pure white bikini.
"Swimsuit or bikini, what's the difference? Just fabric area."
Esta smirked, flopping prone on the bed.
"Try your Hand of the Sun on me. If you can mana-adjust me too, I'll up my guard level."
"Testing if I can use my power on anyone?"
"Exactly. Relax."
Esta unstrapped her instructor wrist pad, set it on the bedside table, and buried her face in the pillow.
"Go on."
"There'll be unavoidable contact."
"Hmph. Can't you see the flow in my body?"
Esta tugged her side. Shhhrk. Not skin—a translucent white something clung like vinyl.
"Mana Skin. With this, no need to be shy."
"...Alright then."
I activated full-body mana and mounted her back.
"This okay?"
"...Hm."
Straddling her thighs, legs spread. No flush, but tension in her voice.
"Beginning."
Thumbs on her back, palms snug at her waist.
"This okay too?"
"Doesn't matter. Continue."
"...If you fall asleep, the mana adjustment keeps going."
"Fine."
Esta closed her eyes prone, releasing tension, ignoring my touch.
'Perfect setup.'
I'm no fool to toss a free meal. But.
'Not dumb enough for a trap.'
I sense it. Another gaze on this room.
Esta looks defenseless, but countless eyes monitor my every move: Unia, Rydmila, Evangeline peeking from other classrooms. Cardisha tracking via wrist pad.
It's a trap for me. Men guard against women devouring me; the academy worries what the "Golden Sun" might do to women.
Thus.
"I'll thoroughly melt away your fatigue."
Massage bikini-clad her properly, releasing mana. But.
"If you doze off, I'll wake you in two hours."
Sneak subtle work only Esta feels, unnoticed by all.
—A way to tease heroines into liking you: the Incubus Meta. In the demon realm, we researched heroine conquests.—Make them dream. Heroine or not, let her get conquered in sleep. The so-called Cumming Dream.—Mana massage in reality, pounding in the dream for confusion. "Wait, dreaming of him?" Classic incubus trick.—She just had a naughty dream. Everyone wet dreams sometimes, right? Puhuhu.
As I loosened Esta's mana, I gently lulled her to sleep.
And.
In the dream.
Not the academy instructor room—a noble mansion.
I open the door and enter.
Messy room. Vast bed. And atop it.
"Oh, you... came?"
Esta sprawls on a unicorn plush, in a loose white tee and dolphin pants, scrolling a magic pad. Long hair even.
Proof it's a dream—and her desire.
"Early, huh? Honey..."
"Honey?"
"...Or hubby, then?"
Esta puffs her cheek my way without moving, then grins slyly.
"Honey. I handed research to the grad students?"
"Allowed?"
"You said early off today... so."
Dream or not, condolences to the grads.
"Still clinging to that unicorn plush? Kinda much?"
Reality: eternal White Sword Saint. But this dream? Her wish.
"Time to graduate from unicorns."
I'm the Cumming Demon granting it.