Ch.145Writing Again (3)

I’ve been consistently mentioning this, but since I was appointed as a recommended student, I only need to attend history lectures to avoid failing and will be treated as a third-year student right away.

I don’t know how disappointed the other professors were, including Professor Virus with whom I had built a relationship, when I told them about this fact. Professor Virus was especially regretful and even suggested that I take literature as a double major.

However, I politely declined because I wanted to focus solely on history rather than literature. Professor Virus’s expression at that time was truly heartbreaking.

Of course, I don’t just listen to history; I occasionally attend lectures that interest me. Still, most of them are closely related to “history,” so I attend them to acquire knowledge.

Moreover, I can freely come and go to Professor Elena’s research lab, and I can even receive books from the sacred grounds through Cyris. This means I’ll never lack knowledge.

Anyway, history is practically the only subject I focus on. I probably ask the most questions and give presentations enthusiastically.

Since I’ll be spending much more time with Professor Elena while attending the academy, I’m working hard to earn points.

“Poke. Poke.”

However, my girlfriend, who doesn’t match with history, seemed bored. While I was taking notes, Marie pressed my cheek with her finger repeatedly.

It felt like a cat kneading, which somehow made me feel good. I glanced at her while taking notes and quietly asked.

“What are you doing?”

“Just because you’re handsome.”

Marie answered while pinching my cheek. In the past, I would have been embarrassed by such affectionate gestures, but now I can handle them calmly.

Like this, while Professor Elena was explaining, Marie was openly showing her desire for this time to pass quickly by pressing my cheek with her finger or interlocking our fingers.

She held my hand most frequently, and since other students knew we were in a relationship, they just let it slide.

At first, they gossiped about how Marie was wasted on me or how I had found her weakness, but after my rapid growth and the rumor about me being appointed as a recommended student spread, everyone accepted it.

Slide-

Marie’s hand, which had been interlocked with mine, moved under the desk. Soon, she placed her hand on my thigh and gently caressed it.

I could only smile bitterly feeling that. This act of Marie placing her hand on my thigh and caressing it is a kind of signal.

I won’t explain what kind of signal it is since everyone knows, but it’s often troublesome when she sends signals at inappropriate times.

Marie’s desire doesn’t seem to diminish; rather, it’s as if she adds fuel to the fire whenever it starts to decrease. Fortunately, she takes contraceptive pills regularly; otherwise, she would have been pregnant long ago.

Grab-

I caught Marie’s wrist before her hand could move toward the center. If I had allowed it, I would have let it continue, but this is my way of saying no.

Marie looked at me with disappointment and confusion. I feel sorry for her, but I have someone to meet after class.

“I think it’ll be difficult today. I have something to do.”

“We couldn’t do it yesterday either?”

“We did it two days ago. Don’t tell me you can’t hold out?”

“Mmm. Marie doesn’t think she can hold out.”

My girlfriend replied grumpily, puffing her cheeks. With her angelic beauty, even her dissatisfied expression is lovely.

But no means no. I pressed her puffed cheek with my finger. It deflated with a sound, returning to normal.

Then, after briefly checking if Elena was watching, I gently stroked her hair. The silky smooth hair awakened the sensation in my hand.

When I stroked her hair, Marie showed her characteristic beaming smile and subtly moved her hips to press closely against me. Despite our blatant display of affection, no one paid attention.

That’s because this wasn’t the first time. Even Jackson was focusing on the lecture, ignoring us.

“Can’t we sleep together at the inn today?”

“Do we really have to?”

“You made me like this. So take responsibility.”

“Sigh… Alright.”

How did she become such a lustful woman? I shook my head and reluctantly agreed.

When I gave permission, Marie smiled brightly and started writing the time and place of our appointment in her notebook. I glanced at the content.

The appointment time is 9 o’clock, and the location is in front of the fountain in the academy plaza. This should be fine for meeting Leona.

“If we were officially married, we wouldn’t need to do this… I just need to endure until the wedding. I want to call you husband soon. Hehehe.”

“…”

Marie laughed perversely as if having some strange fantasy. She seems to be imagining our life after the wedding.

I wonder how much she wants to devour me to show such an expression without hiding it. Even Rina, sitting in front of us, was shocked by her expression, which speaks for itself.

It’s fortunate that Marie is far from pretentious except when building connections; if Cecilly had acted like this, it would have felt disconcerting.

“Wedding ceremony…”

Cecilly, sitting in front of us, murmured softly as if she had heard our conversation. She was taking notes with elegant hand movements when she suddenly stopped and looked at Rina sitting next to her.

Then, with her characteristic gentle smile, she spoke loud enough for us to hear.

“Isn’t having a child more important than a wedding ceremony?”

“U-um?”

“Don’t you think so too, Rina?”

“Uh…”

Rina couldn’t readily answer. She was busy watching Marie’s reaction.

Marie also noticed Cecilly’s intention and narrowed her eyes. Meanwhile, Cecilly glanced at Elena.

Coincidentally, Elena was busy answering another student’s question.

“…Cecilly.”

“Did you call me?”

“So, did you do it?”

“…”

Marie threw the first punch without getting excited. No matter how much Cecilly irritates Marie, she has to keep quiet after that one statement.

Indeed, as soon as those words came out, Cecilly’s upturned corners of her mouth slightly dropped. Marie followed up with a triumphant expression.

“Don’t talk about children or anything when you haven’t even done it. Understand?”

“…There’s always an opportunity.”

“Yes, but I’m the first one.”

“Tch. We’ll see.”

In the end, Cecilly had no choice but to back down. Even so, she glanced at me, and her red eyes were full of determination not to give up.

I don’t know if all women in love are like this, but I could only smile bitterly. Marie willingly conceded, but Cecilly wants an even higher position(?).

‘Is this what they call a jealousy fight?’

I’ve heard that fights over the position of the first wife, or jealousy fights, are common among nobles with multiple wives. It feels strange to experience it firsthand.

Sensing the peculiar atmosphere between Marie and Cecilly, I looked at Rina, a third party. Even Rina, the Imperial Princess, seemed uncomfortable with this jealousy fight and was just watching cautiously.

By chance, our eyes met, and she momentarily widened her eyes before quickly turning her face forward. I couldn’t see her expression clearly from behind, but her ears seemed to have turned red.

Additionally, she fidgeted, placing both hands between her thighs. Lately, Rina’s behavior toward me has been full of incomprehensible actions.

“That concludes today’s lecture. Thank you all for your hard work.”

Shortly after, Elena finished the lecture. Despite the chatter in between, I heard all the important parts.

I remained seated even after the lecture ended, waiting for the person sitting in front of me, Leona.

Leona was quietly sitting in her seat, organizing her notes, even as others were leaving.

“Well, I’ll be going now. You’ll definitely keep our appointment, right?”

“I got it.”

“Um… Marie? Did you make an appointment with Issac?”

When Marie mentioned the appointment as she stood up, Rina quietly interjected. Marie answered casually, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“We agreed to meet at 9. It’s not for dinner.”

“I see… Where are you meeting?”

“In front of the fountain in the plaza. Why?”

“No, nothing…”

Rina glanced at me before leaving the classroom. Her face seemed oddly flushed, but it wasn’t something to worry about.

Finally, just before leaving, Cecilly brought her face close to my ear and whispered.

‘Is it okay to be greedy? You touched my horns after all.’

‘…’

‘I love you.’

This makes my heart ache a bit. When a woman with a seductive voice like Cecilly whispers love in my ear, my heart races dramatically.

I looked at Cecilly without trying to hide my flushed face. She smiled gently as if nothing had happened and left the classroom.

Cecilly seems better at playing with people’s hearts than Marie. I wonder if Cecilly will also transform into an incarnation of lust like Marie someday.

‘That’s a bit… scary.’

I’ll have to exercise intensely until then. As the number of people in the classroom dwindled, I quietly stood up.

Leona, sitting in front, was still taking notes even though almost everyone had left. From the outside, she looks like an exemplary student dedicated to her studies. And she actually is.

I approached carefully, not wanting to disturb her. There’s nothing more annoying than having your concentration broken, so I planned to wait quietly until she finished taking notes.

“…?”

But I had overlooked the fact that Leona is a beastkin. A race with senses far superior to humans. She would easily detect someone approaching her.

As I approached, she stopped taking notes and slowly raised her head. Upon seeing my face, she blinked and expressed her confusion.

“…What can I do for you?”

“Ahem.”

Although she’s acting now, I know her true self. That’s why I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.

I had pondered extensively on how to seek her advice, but in the end, a direct approach was the only option.

I cleared my throat with a fake cough and, watching her reaction, quietly opened my mouth.

“…Do you have any free time?”

“Free time… You mean for dinner?”

“Dinner works, or we could just have a coffee. I only need about an hour.”

“Hmm…”

Leona looked at me with an expressionless but curious gaze. Since I’ve had almost no contact with her after becoming Marie’s lover, such a look is understandable.

However, her help is essential to learn more about beastkin. Books can provide sufficient information about beastkin history and various aspects of their life, but nothing is more certain than hearing about a culture from the person themselves.

Leona stared at me intently for a while, and I waited nervously for her response. After what seemed like an eternity…

“Purpose.”

“Huh?”

“What’s your purpose?”

Leona’s question about my purpose. Hearing this question, I felt relieved inside.

Actually, it’s almost embarrassing to call it a purpose. It’s essentially an interview.

Leona doesn’t know yet that I’ve been appointed as a recommended student in history. It seemed best to start with this.

“I have some questions I’d like to ask you. I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’ve been appointed as a recommended student by Professor Elena. From next semester, I’ll be treated as a third-year student.”

“…”

“And I’m currently writing something similar to a thesis? I need your help with it.”

This should be enough for her to understand. I’m writing about ‘beastkin,’ not other races.

Leona seemed to understand my intention and slightly furrowed her brow. After staring at me intently for a while, she answered in her characteristically monotone voice.

“I understand. But…”

“But?”

She paused briefly before continuing with a threatening tone. I could see a sharp glint in her blue eyes.

“If you write something that deviates from the truth…”

“Come on, it’s not like that. I actually think they’re quite impressive people.”

I waved my hand, alleviating Leona’s concerns. It’s not just empty words; beastkin in books, while aggressive and barbaric, have many admirable aspects.

Historically, they’ve sacrificed a lot alongside humans and have a unique culture. If humans hadn’t carried out a massacre during the racial war, they might have shared dominance.

Leona listened to my explanation with a subtle expression and quietly asked.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes. They might even rival humans in a few hundred years.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I’ll explain that gradually. So, are you coming or not?”

In response to my question, Leona answered with increased curiosity.

“I’ll gladly accept.”

******

Meanwhile, around the same time.

“…Marie.”

“Yes?”

“Meeting at 9… Is it what I think it is?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I see… In front of the fountain in the academy plaza…”

Rina was formulating another lewd plan in her mind. Seeing this, Cecilly couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

“…Rina?”

“U-um? What? I didn’t do anything!”

“…Never mind.”

Cecilly was worried that she might get caught at this rate. While one should understand others’ preferences, it was morally wrong behavior.

‘Should I really help her…’

She genuinely wondered.