Chapter 172

Chapter 172

The Heroine of the 1st Playthrough Remembers My Training.

Episode 172: The Incurable Disease Is An Incurable Disease… (1)

「The exam is over…! Everyone, keep your hands still…!」

As soon as the bell rang, Professor Amy’s voice command halted everyone’s hands.

「Bring your exam papers here…!」

Shuffle shuffle—

The exam papers floating in the air gathered in front of Professor Amy.

After counting the papers, Professor Amy nodded and said,

“Everyone did a good job…! Then, have a nice weekend…!”

As Professor Amy walked away with her short legs, sighs and cheers echoed through the room.

‘Not too bad, I guess.’

I stretched on the spot.

Considering I hardly prepared for the exam, I think I did pretty well.

‘…Going smoothly.’

This didn’t refer to the exam.

Recently, everything had been so easy-going that I wondered if it was okay.

Of course, I increased the intensity of the training accordingly, but just the fact that no unexpected events occurred made life peaceful.

‘…And so is Lilith.’

Roughly handling Lilith’s first experience seemed like a good choice.

Since then, she hadn’t attacked during the day unless absolutely necessary.

—…Teacher… please… eat me…♥

…Though she occasionally came at night to suck out my energy.

Each time was a bit tiring, but I could say it was handled well enough.

“Yujin♪”

Then, a sweet voice echoed from behind.

Even before hearing the voice, I knew she was approaching by the scent of roses that tickled my nose…

But unlike before, it didn’t instill fear in me.

“…Your Highness.”

Instead, a thorn-like emotion in my heart reacted to the princess’s voice, making me frown.

This wasn’t my current emotion.

‘But…’

Why this emotion existed, how it existed, I had no idea, but the emotion from the holy sword was undoubtedly ‘mine.’

I tried not to get swayed by it, but I couldn’t control its spontaneous reactions.

“….”

“…Your Highness?”

“…Yeah. Nothing. Just go. Then.”

“….?”

Cutting her words short, Liana quickly walked out to the hallway.

Normally, Liana would never have done such a strange thing.

But today, she had to leave the place like this.

‘…What… is this?’

Because if she looked at Yujin’s face any longer, her mask might crumble.

‘…Strange.’

Liana Rumenhark was sensitive to others’ gazes.

Beyond just being sensitive, she could naturally read any emotion someone might hide when looking into their eyes.

It wasn’t something she had to work for.

Living while hiding her true self among countless gazes naturally made her so.

Yujin was not an exception.

She knew Yujin always looked at her with fear.

It was slightly disappointing, but more than that, it was fun.

Watching Yujin struggle to find an answer to escape her subtle pressure was an unbearable joy to Liana.

She wanted to tease him every day, but…

She held back, and held back, because she didn’t want to break Yujin.

However, today she didn’t hold back.

Since the exam was over and Yujin seemed to have some leisure, she thought to tease him a bit.

But…

—…Your Highness.

The moment she confirmed there was faint affection in Yujin’s eyes looking at her, Liana’s mind stopped for the first time in her life.

‘…Why on earth?’

Yujin, who had shown no response to her numerous flirtations, was now looking at her with pure affection, not lust or desire for power.

Being loved wasn’t unfamiliar.

For Liana, being loved by others was as natural as breathing.

Even though she hid most of her abilities, her innate power and beauty drew people like flowers attract butterflies.

…But the fact that it was Yujin made her confused.

“Yujin… Calliope.”

Liana bit her lip hard as she called out Yujin’s name.

What was this emotion?

Anger? Frustration? She didn’t know.

Feeling an emotion she had never encountered before, Liana walked away as if fleeing.

‘…What was that?’

I frowned as I stared at the spot where the princess had left.

The princess’s reaction was ominous, but it’s not like I could chase after her and ask what’s wrong.

Step—

Most of the students had left the classroom, but another guest appeared before me.

Turning my head, I saw an enormous magic storage container.

There’s only one person in the empire who would have a magic storage container of this size.

“Y…Yujin…sir…ah…”

Vivian, still awkward with informal speech.

“Vivian. What’s up?”

“Th…there…is…is an event…at the…festival…?”

It was unusual for her to acknowledge me in the classroom rather than the dormitory…

Maybe she wanted to make plans without Lucia or Bianca knowing.

Seeing Vivian muster up courage made my lips curl up involuntarily.

Invitation Festival

A relatively big event where Carnea Academy, known for being closed off, opened its doors once every two years.

Honestly, I had completely forgotten about it.

‘Originally, this event should have been canceled.’

Right before the exam, the ‘Resurrected Fallen’ should have become active, causing an incident, delaying the exam, and naturally canceling the festival.

But since I dealt with the ‘Resurrected Fallen’ much earlier, the festival was proceeding as planned.

‘Are Vivian’s parents coming…?’

Frankly, I didn’t want to meet them.

Vivian and Bianca have become precious enough to me to risk my life for them…

Yet… or rather, because of that, I couldn’t look at the Beatrice family favorably.

They neglected Vivian to the point of abuse because they thought she had no talent, and saw Bianca merely as a tool for their family.

“No…no one from the…Beatrice family…will come…”

Reading my expression, Vivian answered my unspoken question.

“Really? I doubt anyone from the Calliope family will come either…”

Since I didn’t mention it, the Calliope family probably didn’t even know there was such an event.

‘…I definitely won’t tell them.’

Since my father handed over the family head position to my eldest brother after the ‘gourmet tour’ I gave him, even if they came, it would be Garcia or Reika…

‘Those two coming to Carnea?’

Just the thought was horrifying.

“Then…then…just…just the two…of us…at the…invitation festival…”

Vivian emphasized the word ‘just the two’ with difficulty.

To respond to Vivian’s courage, I glanced around briefly before:

─kiss

I pulled Vivian into my arms and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

“Let’s meet at the festival.”

“…Okay…Yujin.”

A radiant smile bloomed on Vivian’s flushed face.

‘…Again.’

Late at night, Bianca woke up to a strange sensation in her lower abdomen.

At first, she thought it might be because she was holding Yujin’s semen, but since she felt it even on days they hadn’t had relations, that wasn’t the issue.

Bianca turned her head to look at Yujin.

He was sleeping, holding both Vivian and Lucia in his arms.

Seeing this, she couldn’t help but feel irritated.

Irritated at both Yujin and Lucia, the future head of the Uruella family.

‘You wicked girl.’

Bianca bit her lip hard as she looked at Lucia.

She felt like giving her a good punch.

If there were three people waiting, shouldn’t they take turns sleeping next to him?

But that wicked girl never once gave up her spot next to Yujin.

At least Vivian was considerate enough to alternate days with her…

Still, she was annoyed.

‘Love isn’t about who gets there first!’

Pinch—

Out of spite, Bianca pinched Yujin’s nose while he was sleeping.

“…Umm…”

Seeing Yujin grimace comically as he groaned, she felt a bit better.

“…Cute.”

A word that came out unintentionally upon seeing his face.

Then, an idea crossed Bianca’s mind.

Carefully, she brought her lips to Yujin’s ear and whispered softly.

“…Yujin thinks Bianca is the cutest… Yujin thinks Bianca is the most lovable…”

Even as she spoke, she could feel her face heating up, but isn’t pride unnecessary when it comes to love?

If she could be the first in Yujin’s heart, this was nothing.

“Yujin thinks Bianca is the most… Argh…!!”

Mid-whisper, an unbearable pain surged from her lower abdomen.

‘What… what is this…’

Bianca remembered what the Saint had said.

—This is the first time I’ve treated such an injury, so I’m not sure what side effects or aftereffects there might be…

‘…Really… side effects?… Argh…’

She had thought the discomfort and pain were getting worse recently, but now it was on another level.

It felt like the pain when her insides were being torn apart by a sword.

‘…It… hurts…’

Until a moment ago, she felt disappointed for not being able to sleep next to Yujin, but now she was glad to be on the edge.

If she had moved, she might have woken Yujin or Vivian.

‘Argh… ugh… haa…’

Biting her lip to suppress the groans, Bianca entered the bathroom.

‘What… is this…’

Bianca’s face turned pale.