106. Preparing for Final Exams (1)

‘Hmm? Is that Aylin?’

The sensation of the arms wrapped around my neck was soft. Since Aylin was the only one here anyway, it had to be her.

“Oh my. It seemed Young Master-nim had some dust on your collar. I was just removing it for you.”

“Uh-hmm? My clothes are clean though.”

Saying that, I turned around to see Aylin looking at me with her usual expressionless face.

“Is that so? Perhaps I was mistaken.”

Then, she put her hands together again and waited behind me. Just like always, the picture of a faithful maid.

But no matter how I thought about it, there was nothing on my collar. I soon realized Aylin’s intention.

‘She must be feeling neglected since I haven’t been paying her attention lately.’

It wasn’t that long, but Aylin had been separated from me during the Grius rebellion.

Having been with me for so long since she was young, she was a maid who felt separation anxiety when I wasn’t around.

Come to think of it, even after returning to the mansion after the rebellion, I hadn’t spent any private time with her.

Due to the aftermath of the rebellion, I had been living with the High Knights at the Royal Guard headquarters for the most part.

It seemed Aylin wanted to confirm my feelings. Even though we had already confirmed each other’s feelings, there were always too many people around me.

‘Come to think of it, when I returned from the banquet at the Great Temple, there might have been some white hair on me.’

Even though I didn’t spend the night with her, she couldn’t help but feel jealous knowing that I had been intimate with Chloe.

So, in her own way, Aylin might be trying to seduce me now.

‘A maid who isn’t shy about serving, but is shy about seduction, huh?’

If that’s what Aylin wants, I could embrace her right now.

But, as expected, it felt more alluring to see her unable to hold back and actively come at me first.

‘That’s better for satisfying my desire to dominate.’

I decided to use Aylin’s reactions and signals, which I happened to be seeing, for the final main quest.

I subtly tested Aylin.

“By the way, I feel a bit sticky from sweating during the training earlier. And as you said, the dust flying around the training grounds might have dirtied my clothes.”

The atelier’s bathroom was equipped with a bathtub for bathing. Saying that, I subtly watched Aylin’s expression.

“Then, wouldn’t you like to quickly get into the bathtub and wash your body? I will assist you with your bath!”

As expected, Aylin’s expression changed. A bath for just the two of us. In that suggestive situation, Aylin’s wish might come true.

But, Aylin soon realized that she was too excited, and slightly turned her head away from me.

“N-no special meaning. It’s just that it would be more comfortable for you if I assisted you rather than bathing alone…”

“Uh-hmm? Can there be any special meaning in simply taking a bath?”

“Y-yes, that’s right. There would be no special meaning.”

Pretending not to know on purpose made Aylin even more flustered. And so, the two headed to the bathroom.

I finished a light shower with the fragrant soap that Aylin had prepared. She lathered the towel and applied it to me, and washed my body with water.

Of course, I received Aylin’s bath service as if it were not a suggestive situation at all. Then, it was clear at a glance that Aylin’s expression was becoming impatient.

‘She probably never imagined that I wouldn’t even get an erection.’

Aylin was only wearing her underwear to keep her maid uniform from getting wet. But even so, I didn’t touch Aylin at all.

Eventually, Aylin said with a voice that couldn’t hide her disappointment.

“Is there… anything else you need?”

“I don’t think there’s anything else I need. I’m thinking of soaking in the bathtub and then going back outside.”

“I see…”

Pretending not to notice that reaction, I soaked in the bathtub and continued to talk to Aylin.

“By the way, the student who gets the highest score on this final exam will become the representative of each faction, right? I’m also planning to solidify my position as the student representative of the combat faction. What about you, Aylin?”

Aylin was momentarily flustered by those words.

“I, I have never even thought about becoming a student representative. I am a transfer student who came in the middle of the semester… and I haven’t even properly experienced the first year. With my skills, I can’t compete with the outstanding students of the art faction…”

And the reason I deliberately ignored Aylin’s signals was because of this conversation.

‘That won’t do. Aylin should definitely be the student representing the art faction.’

Of course, Aylin had very outstanding painting talent.

But art is relative. And unlike the other students who had been faction representatives and hadn’t lost their positions, Aylin lacked that motivation.

‘Well, even so, she’ll surpass the skills of most students.’

Still, for the sake of the quest, Aylin had to get the highest score. The people evaluating the final exams were the Pantheon professors.

So, for a perfect final exam piece that no one could argue with, I had to make even the genius Aylin serious.

And, I knew how to stimulate Aylin well.

“So, you’re not confident. That’s a shame. It seems like the other members of my… harem don’t feel that way. They all said they were confident in becoming student representatives.”

“Everyone… you mean?”

“Yes. Chloe and Rosette are already outstanding students that no one in their respective factions can touch. Her Highness Lilia goes without saying. She’s going to rise to the position of Saintess soon.”

“……”

Aylin was silent at those words. Especially when I mentioned Lilia, her eyes changed. I pretended not to notice and continued.

“And Cecilia, although she’s a first-year, is already recognized as the best artisan in the technology faction.”

“Cecilia too… is that so… no, I knew that, but…”

“That’s how talented the people of Essenmund have to be.”

Aylin’s eyes changed at those words.

“Then, are you planning to take everyone to Essenmund?”

“Yes. As I told you, I am the Demon Dragon King. So, I have no intention of leaving my possessions behind.”

Aylin’s face turned pale at those words.

Aylin wasn’t from Essenmund, but it was already like her second home.

So, she might have thought that if she returned to Essenmund, she would have more opportunities to monopolize me. Unfortunately, that expectation wouldn’t come true.

As expected, Aylin’s expression immediately hardened as she understood the meaning of my words. After a long period of contemplation, she finally opened her mouth.

“Then, I, as someone who has lived in Essenmund as well, have no intention of losing!”

I smiled inwardly at those words. Aylin never actively stepped forward unless it was for my sake.

But right now, it seemed she was prepared to throw herself into becoming a student representative.

‘That’s a relief.’

If Aylin sincerely focused on painting, there was no way she would lose the student representative position.

‘Well, that’s ultimately because of me, though.’

When the desired answer came out, I grabbed Aylin’s body and pulled her straight into the bathtub.

Splash-

At the sound of Aylin’s body falling into the bathtub, she shouted in embarrassment.

“Y-Young Master-nim?”

“But your head is full of lewd thoughts, so it seems you can’t concentrate on painting right now. As your Young Master, I’ll help you a little.”

“That’s not true! Suddenly, if you do this… Hyaaht?!”

I sat Aylin down on my body as it was. I hurriedly started to attack her sensitive earlobe. Soon, Aylin let out a cute moan.

In the end, unable to hold back my excitement, I shared a deep love with Aylin.

---

The next day, I was busy moving around as well.

After finishing the combat faction training in the morning, I heard good news from the coachman, Hans.

“Young Master-nim! On the last day of the final exams, President Sophia and the Pantheon Board of Directors are planning an awards ceremony.”

Hans handed me a letter.

I opened the letter and read it.

Just like the opening ceremony on the first day of the semester, a closing ceremony was scheduled for the last day of the final exam schedule.

And at that closing ceremony, awards would be given to various students.

In addition to the announcement of the faction students through the final exam scores, awards would be given to the students who prevented the great crisis of the Mana Demon War.

And, apart from the Imperial Palace, the Pantheon would also give separate awards to the students who contributed to suppressing the rebellion.

‘Not only that. Other events too…’

Like the opening ceremony, several events were scheduled for the closing ceremony. Among them, there was an event that would be very helpful to me.

‘The Mana Demon War finals.’

The previous Mana Demon War could not properly determine the winner due to the intervention of the Assassination Corps and the Witch Cross Society.

So, the Pantheon Board of Directors decided to make a decision again.

Once the student representatives of the two factions were determined through the final exams, they would compete in a duel in the Colosseum to determine the winner of the Mana Demon War.

‘This is very good news for me.’

Just like the duel between Rosette and Chloe at the opening ceremony, a duel for the pride of the two factions would be recreated.

Then, of course, Rosette and Chloe would desperately try to become faction representatives. In that case, I wouldn’t need to give the two of them any motivation.

‘Besides, Rosette received a higher-grade medal than Chloe, so Chloe will try even harder.’

If the two of them get stronger through competition, it’s unconditionally good for me.

‘The problem was solved without me even lifting a finger.’

Not only that, but the combat faction was the same. The only slight difference was that the combat faction determined the student representative at that closing ceremony.

‘A duel with the Four at that place.’

At the closing ceremony attended by all the Pantheon students, I would be fighting against the Four, including Lucia.

If I won at that place, I would receive the attention of all the students, and my Demon King aura would also increase.

‘Good job, President Sophia.’

Then, all that was left was Lilia and Cecilia.

If Lilia completed the Saintess manifestation before that closing ceremony, there would be no problem in her becoming the student representative of the medical faction. I had already sent a letter to Lilia regarding that matter.

Then, the only person I needed to motivate at the Pantheon right now was Cecilia.

So, I headed to the technology faction, Endier Hall. The atmosphere there was very lively.

‘It’s like a market.’

In reality, that place was full of workshops, so it wasn’t an exaggerated expression. And the current Imperial Capital needed a lot of weapons.

‘Since the anti-Grius Royal Guard members have been purged, a lot of manpower and supplies will be needed to fill their positions.’

I heard that they were receiving a lot of orders for weapons for the new manpower here as well.

But I had no business with the other workshops. I headed to Cecilia’s workshop, which I already knew the location of.

‘Hmm? The workshop is closed?’

And at that moment, I remembered what Cecilia had told me a few days ago.

As the content of that statement said, I left Cecilia’s workshop and moved to another place. An area where the most famous workshops in the technology faction were gathered.

To explain it in the concept of the old Earth, it was the same as the location of famous research labs in prestigious universities.

I could hear a familiar voice from that place. It was Cecilia.

“Everyone, please calm down for a moment!”

“Cecilia! Cecilia! Light of Endier!”

Unlike Cecilia, who always had a small voice due to her weak body, a loud voice could be heard. And in response to that voice, the students shouted.

‘Did she use magic tools to amplify her voice?’

With Cecilia’s crafting skills, it wouldn’t be difficult to create that level of magic tool.

But it was hard to find Cecilia’s figure. Only technology faction students were crowded around.

‘Oh no. She’s hidden because there are too many people.’

Since Cecilia was short, I pushed through the crowd to confirm Cecilia’s appearance.

“I’ll explain the improved method of making Imperial swords now… By adding a small amount of Mana Light to the existing iron swords to increase their physical properties… From the refining of the sword blade…”

I could finally understand why the students were gathered like this.

‘So, it’s like a public lecture.’

Cecilia’s crafting skills surpassed the student level.

As such, she seemed to have devised a method to create a new standard Imperial sword that was much more durable than the existing Imperial swords.

‘Perhaps it contains the secret techniques of the dwarven artisans.’

I didn’t know the detailed knowledge about crafting techniques, but it seemed to be an excellent method that could excite at least a hundred students gathered here.

‘Lilia will be happy.’

And such an outstanding artisan would be a great help in mass-producing the weapons needed in the war against Duke Pedro in the future.

‘A freshman who hasn’t even been enrolled for a few months is being recognized like that.’

Those students were already Cecilia’s followers. They were cheering for her regardless of whether they were male or female students.

It felt like I had confirmed another side of Cecilia, who was just like a younger sister. But I couldn’t leave Cecilia as she was.

I quickly moved my body.

“Oh, where did Cecilia go?”

“Wait! Did we overwhelm her so she ran away?”

My movements were so fast that the dynamic visual acuity of the technology faction students couldn’t recognize them.

By the time the students blinked, I was already running far away from that workshop area with Cecilia tucked under my arm.

And when someone suddenly snatched her body, Cecilia seemed really surprised.

“Ah, no! If you kidnap me! I’ve already given my body and soul to… my brother! So please let me goooo…”

“It’s me. Cecilia.”

“O-Oppan-nim?”

With Cecilia still tucked under my arm in embarrassment, I hurriedly ran up to the roof of Endier Hall.

For the sake of the combat faction’s final exam, her help was needed.