Dawn of the Dead?
"Here……"
As soon as they entered the professor's office, Euphemia subtly put some distance between them and pulled a letter from her bosom, handing it to Ferzen. As expected, it wasn't anything urgent—the contents were simply a brief inquiry after his well-being.
"So…… you came all this way with a letter you could've shown me after work, just because you wanted to tour the academy?"
"Isn't it fine to check out the place where I'll be working in advance?"
"You'll start your duties in the fourth week anyway."
"Not next week?"
Her golden eyes fixed on him with a puzzled look, as if questioning why the gap was so long. Ferzen reached out and gently caressed her belly.
"You mustn't mistake your priorities."
"D-don't……"
How could he do this here, of all places?
"Or perhaps you've grown bored of sharing a bed in the mansion's bedroom. If that's what you mean, I'll consent. No one comes here much anyway, so it shouldn't matter. You have a surprisingly bold side, Euphemia."
"Th-that's not it……"
She shook her head furiously as his hand slipped under her skirt hem and stroked her thigh.
"Vague words won't get through to me."
"……"
He knew exactly what she meant by denying it in this situation, yet he feigned ignorance—it was exasperating. But as his teasing touch grew more brazen, Euphemia swallowed her shame and spoke up.
"……………I want."
"I can't hear you."
At her faint, barely audible voice, Ferzen's hand shot up from her thigh to her waist in an instant.
"Eek……!"
Startled, Euphemia flinched, her emotions surging again. She bit her lip hard, reached out, grabbed Ferzen's tie, and yanked his gaze down to her level.
But despite her momentum, as his crimson eyes stared right into hers from inches away, her conditioned body shrank back with brutal honesty.
Still, Euphemia mustered her courage—or rather, forced a calm facade……
"I want…… y-your seed…… at h-home……"
She uttered those lewd, lascivious words.
"Wh-why……! Th-this should be enough!"
Even after spilling words she could cast shame aside for, as Ferzen's hand grasped the strap of her panties to pull them down, Euphemia twisted away in panic.
His hand, easily shaken off, then smoothed her disheveled hair.
"Good girl."
"……"
Only then did Euphemia realize he'd simply been toying with her reactions for amusement. She seriously considered pretending it was a mistake and stomping on his foot but ultimately gave up.
"I'm…… not your plaything."
"I've never thought of you that way. Now, let's go. If you want a tour of the academy, I'll guide you."
"D-don't put your hand on my waist."
It hurt, and she didn't want to look so unseemly in front of others, so Euphemia made a face of disgust.
"Then hold my hand."
Can't I just walk? She wanted to say, but knowing this was Ferzen's idea of compromise, she obediently took the offered hand.
"……"
It struck her anew, but his hand was ridiculously large…… and warm.
A week had passed since Ferzen's public lecture.
Laura, who had missed it due to illness, finished her early morning bath, left the dormitory, and strolled down the street.
The sunlight was growing stronger these days, so for someone with skin as fragile as hers, this relatively cool morning was the best time to be active—she had to wear long clothes regardless.
Should I grab a newspaper while I'm out?
The capital of the Ernes Empire had the lowest illiteracy rate. Most commoners here could read, so newspapers were produced and sold.
It's even here……
splashed across the front page—Professor Ferzen. No surprise there; she herself was heading to the Magic Research Society to read his paper.
"Um……"
"One copy?"
"Y-yes."
Deliberately trailing off her words to make the other person guess and say it first was a survival tactic Laura had picked up as a stutterer.
Not very useful, probably……
Times were changing, bit by bit. Education had once been the privilege of the elite, but that privilege was fading, and commoners were starting to receive learning.
Fools had been shackled by ignorance, but the emperor loosened those chains only to control the educated masses through newspapers.
The capital's papers were published under imperial oversight, practically dictating public opinion.
How "useful" could content censored to the imperial taste be?
Still, Laura had never read one before, so as she walked toward the Magic Research Society, she glanced down.
Interesting……
Flipping through, the current events section was packed with sensational stories—addictively readable, in a lurid way. But as an imperial publication, it spared no noble names if they made the cut, which was chilling. Of course, truly powerful nobles wouldn't be printed at all.
Here we are.
The Magic Research Society loomed ahead. Laura neatly folded the paper and stepped inside.
"Ex-excuse…… m-me."
As expected for early morning, the interior was empty. That was normal, but after last week's crowds, she treaded carefully.
Ferzen's paper on construct recognition formulas had been free for a month, so finding it was easy.
This is……
Dense text from the start, plus explanatory diagrams beside it—her eyes ached. But as she read on methodically, she lost herself in it.
The concept was complex. Without the diagrams, Laura wouldn't have grasped it at all.
Finishing, she reviewed the jumbled info in her mind, organizing it. Then, the ice sculpture construct beside the posted paper began registering as a line.
That's why……
Ferzen had emphasized the root word "mado." Far more intuitive and swift than equations.
Yet precisely because of that, Laura could only lament her lack of talent in elemental magic this lifetime.
Elemental mages could ignore math, but black mages couldn't. Existing elemental corpses had all used equations for constructs, so to boost comprehension and implementation, black mages had to study math whether they liked it or not.
Unless generations of corpses turned over after ages……
It's like a poisoned chalice……
Sighing, she pouted.
But I have to acknowledge what's good. At least, it's foundational.
Not tearing it down. Nothing was more vital than basics, however simple. Even the loveliest flower needed a seed planted first.
Ferzen's paper would become magic's bedrock, guiding mages to easier paths—and reaping fortunes.
Free for a month, but sharing required his permission, and future mage children would study it mandatorily.
Long-term, this profit for remote Ruerg was immense. Upon Ferzen's death, it would pass to Ruerg's heir.
Had he submitted under Brutein, it would've gone there—but he chose Ruerg.
Is this……
Love for his current wife? He'd never shown a devoted husband side.
"……!"
Glancing at the clock: 8:40. Only twenty minutes until black magic lecture. Pale-faced, Laura bolted out.
"Hah! H-heh……!"
Her frail body couldn't sustain the sprint; she stopped after mere minutes, gasping raggedly.
"Charles!"
At the voice calling a dog's name—passing by—Laura, wiping sweat with a handkerchief,……
"Ah……?"
……flopped onto the street like a dead fish, belly up.
She didn't grasp what happened at first……
"Oh my!"
"Huff huff!"
The dog named Charles—the one from the woman who'd just passed—pinned her down. She scrambled up in haste.
"I-I-I-I-I……!"
The woman yanked the leash, frowning down. A middle-aged shopkeeper opening nearby clicked his tongue: "What a depraved world."
Face burning crimson, Laura stammered futilely, unable to deny being a pervert or creep, then turned and fled.
In that moment, Laura transcended her limits.
Time to academy: a mere six minutes.
A miraculous…… speed.