Chapter 267

Chapter 267

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 267: First Footstep

First footstep.

I returned to the mansion with Ershil.

The party was still in full swing.

Laughter and chatter echoed even to where we were.

The night was deep and long.

Though it was still a night that could be called beautiful.

‘Why am I so embarrassed?’

Something felt ticklish.

An empty hallway with no one around.

I could sense the presence of others, but it would take time for them to reach this place.

“Ahem.”

Ershil cleared her throat.

Then lowered her head deeply.

“So, um, what are you going to do?”

I didn’t respond with something tactless like “What do you mean?”

It seemed Ershil wanted to continue this mood.

I gently placed my hand on Ershil’s shoulder. Then turned her toward me.

“……”

I quietly lifted her chin so our eyes could meet.

Trembling pupils. Blushing cheeks.

As I looked at them, I turned my head slightly and placed my lips on hers.

Smooch.

A soft sound was heard. Ershil’s ears turned completely red.

“Sorry.”

“…No, wait. Are you stopping here?”

“No, that’s not it…”

First, there was something I had to say.

“I have something to tell you.”

“…Is it important enough to ruin this atmosphere?”

It was important.

Very.

“The truth is, I’m dating someone else.”

“……”

Ershil’s eyes shifted from amazement to disbelief.

Her previously dreamy gaze flickered with contempt.

“How, how many?”

“…Two.”

“…Hoo.”

Ershil pressed her forehead as if she had a headache.

“Who are they?”

“Hong Yu-hwa and Kim Ara…”

“That sly fox and the girl with nothing but a huge chest…!”

Ershil let out a fiery exclamation.

“I knew something was suspicious from the start. Like that duel over who could eat faster? Not to mention secretly buying pictures of Seo-ha and plastering them all over her room…”

Come to think of it.

Even now, it seemed a bit creepy…

Ershil sharply turned her gaze toward me.

“How far have you gone?”

“…What?”

Even though I understood the gist of her question, I couldn’t answer it directly.

“You’ve… already done it, haven’t you? You’ve kissed and… everything?”

Her tone shifted from polite to casual.

“I…”

“Just be quiet for a moment.”

I stayed silent.

“I honestly thought you were totally celibate, but how could you already…? I guess there’s no choice now. I was really trying to keep this hidden.”

Ershil suddenly glared at me.

Her intensity startled me, making me flinch without realizing it.

“This won’t do. Tonight, prepare yourself.”

“…Yes.”

Ershil pulled Seo-ha by the hand toward the bedroom.

She was furious.

And irritated.

At first.

She wanted their first experience to be special, mutual, and unforgettable.

‘…Ershil, at times like this, take it slow.’

‘Shut up.’

‘…’

‘The truth is, I’m dating someone else.’

Seo-ha’s words echoed in her mind.

Even so, they had kissed.

Which meant he wouldn’t be hers alone.

In fact, having observed Seo-ha closely, it was clear he had a strong possessive streak.

Yet, despite being involved with multiple women, Seo-ha wanted exclusive attention.

…Trash. A terrible man.

For a moment, countless curses raced through her mind.

However, Ershil was a woman who preferred to strategize over lamenting past events.

…In other words, she was a shrewd woman.

Given Seo-ha’s nature, it was only a matter of time before he became involved with more women. If that were the case, it was better to handle it by replacing others with people she knew.

And Seo-ha felt guilty toward her.

Sympathy was a powerful weapon. If she appealed to it, he might focus more attention on her.

This was the thought process of Ershil, the pragmatic mage who pursued efficiency as the head of the Merchen family.

But then there was another side of her.

The heartbroken girl, Ershil.

‘I’ll never forgive him.’

Having girlfriends? Fine. It hurt, but she would have pursued Seo-ha regardless.

But his actions were unacceptable.

After setting the mood, kissing her, and then… saying that?

Tonight, I want to be with you. Or something more romantic—anything but that.

‘But what did he say?’

He casually admitted to being a cheater.

And she was the third.

Ershil was furious.

Yet she calmly analyzed the situation.

Despite her anger, she realized she hadn’t given up on Seo-ha.

Instead, she was formulating plans to secure her place as the third, while gradually eliminating the others.

Even Seo-ha’s subtle assumption that she would accept this infuriated her…

But it also worked to her advantage. Although their relationship had turned messy, the skills she honed in the Merchen family were not limited to magic or managing the household.

Someday.

There were ways to “handle” a future husband. Was that all? She even had the example of her mentor, who ruled as a transcendent being and led the Merchen family for a thousand years.

‘One man is nothing…’

She had every confidence she could make him fall for her.

Things were like this now, but…

It wouldn’t be long before Lee Seo-ha would kneel before her and only look at her.

‘Hehe, should I go with “Master” as the title?’

In her imagination, Lee Seo-ha was already kneeling before her, pleading, “Just once, please!”

While Ershil’s thoughts wandered like that, Melanie, the transcendent within her, couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Among the knowledge she had passed on, the realm of illusion magic was something she had personally experimented with.

But the methods to seduce a man—those were purely theoretical.

‘I’d better keep quiet.’

Melanie remained silent, holding her breath.

“Hehe…”

Ershil smirked confidently.

Climbing onto the bed, her flushed face was matched by a self-assured expression.

‘She’s trembling.’

But I could tell Ershil was nervous.

Though she forced a confident look, her hands were shaking, and her unfocused eyes quivered restlessly.

“Even if Seo-ha has experience with Hong Yu-hwa and Kim Ara, I won’t be easy to handle.”

I looked at Ershil with a puzzled expression.

I couldn’t figure out where this confidence was coming from.

Ershil subtly lifted the hem of her skirt, as if to tease.

“I may have no experience, but I have knowledge.”

She crossed her legs—seductively.

Then she patted the bed, signaling me to sit next to her.

I followed and sat down.

“There’s no need to be nervous~.”

Ershil said nonchalantly.

The trembling in her voice and hands seemed to settle.

Her golden eyes gleamed.

As if she were casting illusion magic.

‘Ah, I see.’

She was likely hypnotizing herself for confidence.

Ershil, with what appeared to be composure, started removing my pants.

Ziip.

She removed my pants as if it was no big deal.

Gulp.

I heard the sound of her swallowing.

From below.

Ershil stared blankly at what was in front of her.

“H-Huh? H-How can it be this… b-big?”

She faltered momentarily but quickly masked it with a composed expression.

Lick.

She gave it a quick lick with her tongue, then opened her mouth wide.

And took the tip into her mouth. Chup. Chuup.

Using her lips, her tongue, and the inside of her mouth, she adjusted gradually.

‘It’s a bit clumsy.’

But compared to technique alone, it was better than Hong Yu-hwa or Kim Ara.

Though it was still unpolished, I decided not to compare. Thinking about ex-girlfriends while with someone else felt wrong.

“You’re really excited. You must’ve been looking forward to this.”

Ershil gave a sly smile.

‘But she still seems awkward.’

The corner of her lips trembled.

Despite her nerves, the illusion wasn’t working on her.

Five minutes passed like that.

Puhah.

Ershil let out a sigh and looked at me with an uncomfortable expression.

“Why isn’t anything happening? Y-You’re not, um, really impotent, are you?”

Her flustered face.

Playful eyes.

Trembling lips.

‘I should teach her a lesson.’

I lifted Ershil, who had been sitting, and laid her on the bed.

“Kyah.”

She let out a playful squeal and looked at me.

I slowly pulled down the straps of her dress from her shoulders.

Her pure white skin.

The black underwear on top of it.

…Lingerie often called “battle gear.”

“You were all prepared, huh?”

“W-Well, nobles are always prepared, you know?”

“Is that so?”

I lifted her bra and touched her chest.

Golden hands.

An ability that enhanced all skills. With it, I gently kneaded Ershil’s chest.

“Ahh…♡”

Squeeze.

I softly touched her nipples. As I played with her chest,

“Hngh, w-wait…♡”

Ershil’s body trembled finely.

…Could she have already climaxed?

Ershil had her confidence.

She thought she could make a man her captive easily, laughing softly while planning to make him hers.

The techniques she learned as a transcendent’s disciple and the 300-year expertise of the Merchen family as British nobility.

And, above all, her own charm.

Combining these, she was sure she’d see Lee Seo-ha groveling at her feet, calling her “Master,” begging desperately.

“P-Please, M-Master, just once…♡”

Everyone had plans—until they experienced it themselves.