Ch.144144. Practical Exam

●

Silence lingered in the hospital room for a long while.

It was because Faynol Leiphec, after hearing my words, was staring at me with wide eyes without saying anything.

“…”

“…”

Why are you making me nervous by not saying anything?

While I was thinking that, I heard Calivan Chrysanyx snickering inside the amulet, followed by a message.

[You’re just casually flirting now, aren’t you?]

That wasn’t really my intention.

I was just thinking about helping out a pitiful guy, not actually trying to seduce him.

[When have you ever intentionally seduced anyone?]

“…”

I have no comeback when you put it that way, but fortunately, I don’t lose anything if he takes it that way.

After all, if he actually felt something from that, this might be easier to resolve than I thought.

“…You’re quite good at this, aren’t you?”

While I was thinking, Faynol muttered those words.

“I almost felt my heart skip a beat for real. I can certainly understand why women like her lose their minds when they see you.”

As he said this, he pulled up the corners of his mouth.

It still felt artificial as usual, but even so—

“…That was the most intense stimulation I’ve felt recently, Darwood Campbell. I was right to ask for your help.”

From what he’s saying, it seems he’s not quite there yet.

Fortunately, it’s not completely ineffective.

< System Message >

[ Stimulus applied to target ‘Faynol’ has been measured as moderate. ]

[ If this process is repeated, the target’s emotions will awaken! ]

[ Current progress: 4% ]

< System Message >

[ The content of the upcoming ‘Faynol’ related event will be slightly modified! ]

[ There is an extremely high probability that the target’s affection will be unlocked during this event! ]

The fact that these windows are popping up proves it.

The first window is one thing, but the second one that appeared…

< Gift-Related Person Alert >

▼ Faynol Leiphec

[ No affection level ]

[ D-4 until related event ]

That’s what it’s referring to.

It’s indicating that something will happen during the ‘practical exam’ period of the comprehensive capability assessment in four days.

So what I need to ask him here is clear.

“…Then, may I ask you for one favor?”

This was something that should have been delivered through Talion, but for some reason, I heard he’s in the hospital room next to mine.

Apparently, he got beaten up by Elnore and is half-wrecked.

Well, anyway.

“During the practical exam, could you join my team—”

“—You can ask me for anything, Darwood Campbell, but…”

Before I could finish, Faynol sighed and interrupted me.

“Isn’t this a bit unfair?”

“What?”

“I’m doing everything you ask, but I’m not getting anything in return.”

“…”

No.

You’re the one who asked me to seduce you first.

While I was staring at him with disbelief, Faynol slightly rose from his seat and answered.

“What I mean is, I want to try something myself, without worrying about you.”

“What do you—”

Before I could ask.

Faynol firmly grabbed my face with both hands.

“If you said you’d make me happy.”

And then.

Without giving me a chance to speak.

“I think I should be allowed to do this much, don’t you?”

His breath came very close.

“…”

“…”

It took me some time to realize what was happening to me.

Perhaps the conventional image in my head put the brakes on recognizing the reality of the situation.

I mean, a ‘kiss’ is supposed to be something you do with your eyes closed and with some mental preparation.

Such sentiments began to hit me hard the moment Faynol’s tongue entered my mouth and caught mine.

“…!”

I tried to pull back in shock, but Faynol was firmly holding my upper body with both arms, so I couldn’t.

He attacks like a storm. I had shared an intense kiss with Elnore before, but this was so sticky and passionate that it made that previous experience seem like child’s play.

Our saliva mixes. His tongue thoroughly explores every corner of my mouth.

“…Haa—”

After staying like that for a while, he finally separated his lips with a heated sigh.

The sight of our mixed saliva stretching between us like a thread was incredibly intense.

As soon as he released me, I backed away, gasping for breath.

Since I was already lying on the bed, it wasn’t a very effective move, but I couldn’t help it.

“…What are you…!”

“When you said those words earlier, there was clearly a ‘stimulus’ inside my body.”

Faynol said as he licked his lips.

“…I ‘felt’ something. Do you understand, Darwood Campbell? The sensation I couldn’t get despite trying everything came back, if only for a moment.”

“…”

“Thanks to you, I saw hope.”

It seems the effect was quite good.

Better than I had anticipated, which is becoming a problem.

“But I’m still not sure. If words alone brought me that far, I thought doing this would bring something even more intense.”

Looking down at my dumbfounded expression, he grinned.

“So, shall we try once more?”

“What…!”

Before I could protest, a second rough kiss descended upon me.

He had already held me firmly before to prevent me from backing away, but now he climbed onto the bed and pressed down on me from above.

With both hands pressing down on my shoulders, he fixed me to the bed so I couldn’t move at all.

Like a carnivore subduing its prey.

This wasn’t a light kiss expressing ordinary affection, but an act clearly filled with possessiveness.

This guy, right now.

He’s craving affection.

He wants me.

“Mmm…”

After staying like that for what felt like minutes.

He slowly separated his lips and wiped his mouth.

“You taste delicious. You’re truly a delicacy, Darwood Campbell. Even I, who couldn’t feel anything, felt a tingling sensation rising in my chest.”

As he spoke, his pupils were flickering with a ‘red’ color.

A gaze with clear desire melted in it.

Something had been born in someone who had nothing before.

“…I really made the right choice asking you.”

< System Message >

[ Stimulus applied to target ‘Faynol’ has been measured as significant. ]

[ If this process is repeated, the target’s emotions will awaken! ]

[ Current progress: 11% ]

< System Message >

[ Some emotions are awakening! ]

[ The target now has ‘possessiveness’ toward you! ]

“…”

Right.

It’s good that the numbers have risen so rapidly in an instant.

But why does the awakened emotion seem so…

Dangerous? Hmm?

“You asked me to participate in the practical exam with you.”

“…”

“That sounds good. We can stay together. If we keep being close like this—”

He embraced me tightly.

Unlike before, it was clearly a gesture with intent.

As if he felt ‘satisfaction’ from doing this.

“—Something truly special might happen. Don’t you think?”

“…”

You know what?

I’m pretty sure I chose this guy as my caretaker because I thought he was ‘safe’.

Why do I feel like I’ve turned the only safe vessel I had left into a carnivore?

“…What about the caretaking?”

“Let’s stay like this a little longer. I’ve already finished all the urgent tasks anyway.”

As I looked down at Faynol, who was nuzzling against me while holding my body, with a slightly pale complexion.

Calivan spoke in a solemn voice.

[This is your karma.]

“…”

[Just endure it with grit.]

Shut up.

‘…At least the good thing is.’

It doesn’t seem difficult to get Serath and Elnore assigned to the same team as me for the practical exam.

The problem is…

< System Message >

[ Intense emotional changes are observed in unselected targets! ]

[ They are likely to act as variables in the upcoming main quest! ]

This.

Yuria, Elnore, and the Saint.

Just looking at the message, it seems like they’re about to cause some trouble, which makes me a bit anxious.

‘…I hope nothing major happens.’

It’s a wish that has never come true, but.

I can’t help but pray for it anyway.

●

“…Didn’t you say you felt sorry for that guy until just recently?”

“I did.”

“You said you couldn’t even look at his face. That you should stop getting close to him for a while.”

Elnore nodded expressionlessly at Beatrix’s question.

“…That’s still valid.”

“Then what’s the point of your question?”

She clutched her head as she said this.

She was already suffering from chronic fatigue due to her heavy workload as the student council secretary. And occasionally, when this woman said something nonsensical, she would get these migraines.

Of course, even so.

“…Why are you suddenly asking about ‘how to appear attractive as a woman’?”

When she threw out such an outlandish question, the pain would sometimes become unbearable.

“…”

Elnore bit her lip silently.

“…Separate from the fact that I don’t deserve to stand by that man’s side.”

But her eyes.

They were shining brightly, like before she fell into despair.

“I can’t allow women who clearly deserve it even less than I do to stand by his side.”

“…”

“That man is popular. So popular that countless flies swarm around him. So I’ve realized this time. If I don’t firmly block them, he’ll easily fall for their temptations.”

“…What are you saying?”

“If I develop such charm and make him look only at me, at least he won’t fall for the temptations of those flies.”

“…”

“It’s all to protect that man.”

Beatrix glared at Elnore with narrowed eyes.

Just be honest.

In the end, you just can’t stand the thought of giving that man to someone else, no matter what.

She let out a deep sigh, not knowing how many times she had done so today.

Yes, it’s better that she’s coming up with these twisted arguments.

Compared to before, when she was devoted to training that bordered on abuse as if she had some mental illness, this attitude of trying to reject everything around that man is a hundred, a thousand times more tolerable.

At least it seems to be helping her regain her spirit.

“…Haa. Fine. I don’t know why you always come to me with these things.”

“The fact that you’re a virgin who hasn’t even held a man’s hand at your age isn’t a major flaw, Beatrix. I’m well aware that you spend all your free time devouring romance novels with high levels of—”

“…Shut up before I kill you.”

Is she asking for help or not?

Despite her curt response, Beatrix soon rested her chin on her hand and fell into thought.

How to appear attractive as a woman…

“…Have you ever actually tried to appeal to him in the first place?”

“Appeal…what do you mean?”

“You know, trying to match his preferences, or his fantasies about the opposite sex, or—”

Beatrix immediately closed her mouth after seeing Elnore’s expression.

Right. What was I expecting from this woman, some approach like a normal girl would use?

“…It’s actually strange that someone like you would get caught up in his reactions and be dragged around. Normally, that man should be the one desperately begging you to accept him, given the gap between you—”

As Beatrix was thinking about this, a thought suddenly struck her like lightning.

“…Oh.”

That’s not bad.

She clapped her hands in admiration of her own idea.

“Hey, Elnore.”

“What is it?”

“Rather than trying to ‘tempt’ him, why don’t we try a different approach?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Let’s properly take control. The initiative, I mean.”

Beatrix grinned.

“That man will be participating in the upcoming practical exam, right?”

It was undoubtedly.

The kind of lecherous smile that only a reader who had obsessively devoured high-level romance novels could make.

●