Incense

“Uh, ugh…”

“Did you sleep well?”

“…?”

Had she been utterly exhausted?

Orca, who had slept nearly an entire day, seemed confused as she failed to grasp her current situation.

I knew sleep deprivation must have piled up, but…

I never imagined she’d sleep straight through a whole day.

Thanks to that, I ended up staying overnight at the academy dormitory while waiting for her to wake.

It was more comfortable than I expected.

…Since I have nothing to do at home anyway, should I just sell my studio apartment and live here?

Meals are provided through dinner at the academy, so that’s sufficient.

With Principal-nim’s favor, it might not be a bad idea.

But I needed to set aside such personal thoughts for now.

It was better to focus on Orca before me.

To derail my straying thoughts, I took a sip of coffee from my mug and spoke to her.

“How much were you planning to sleep, student? I worried you might be dead.”

“…I slept? Me?”

“Well, yes. Your throat must be parched from all that sleeping. Here’s some water. Drink slowly.”

She seemed startled by the revelation that she’d slept.

Though awake, she still appeared disoriented as I handed her a glass of water.

“…Thanks.”

“?!”

Having expected only curses and demands to leave, I was shocked by her unexpectedly polite gratitude.

Orca accepting kindness so readily was practically unheard of.

Had proper rest made her more docile?

“What? Why so surprised? Is it that strange for me to say thanks?”

“N-no… It’s not that…”

“Hmph. Whatever. Give it here.”

She roughly snatched the water from my hand, unscrewed the cap, and gulped it down violently.

…Maybe I overreacted.

That rare gentle version of Orca was precious.

I wanted to pound the ground in regret, but could only weep internally thanks to the Orca before me.

“…Nothing happened?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if anything happened.”

Only after finishing the water did anxiety seem to hit her.

Orca asked me while poorly concealing her unease, much like someone hungover nervously wondering what they did during a blackout.

Though tempted to tease her…

I decided to hold back this time.

If she got really angry, she might refuse to see me again.

Even if I honestly said the demon inside her could no longer act out, she wouldn’t believe me.

So I opted for a white lie.

“Nothing happened.”

“That’s… impossible.”

“Really, you just slept like the dead. Guess that expensive purchase was worth it?”

“…Expensive thing?”

Got her.

Of course she’d show interest when something pricey was mentioned.

I smiled brightly like someone eager to show off an expensive acquisition.

“Yes! Want to smell this incense?”

“Ah, no need…”

“Come now, none of that! Here!”

Momentum was key in these situations.

Driven by this conviction, I leaned in excessively close, making her fluster as she protested.

“W-wait! Too close! Back off!”

“Aw, don’t be like that…! You really need to see this!”

“Fine, fine! Just move back! Your chest is touching me! It’s hot!”

“…Huh?”

Chest?

Hearing this unexpected remark, I dumbly looked down at myself.

Just as Orca said, my chest was pressed against her thigh.

“Ah, sorry. Got too excited.”

Ugh, annoying.

This is the most inconvenient thing since becoming a woman.

These uselessly large breasts.

Adapting was tough initially, and even now they occasionally cause headaches.

When I act like my old self, awkward situations like this happen.

Orca didn’t seem the type who enjoyed physical contact.

…Was she angry?

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, I checked her expression as she sighed and spoke.

“…So? What’s that incense you’re making such a fuss about?”

Thank goodness.

Not angry.

Maybe proper rest improved her mood?

Orca seemed unfazed.

“Ahem, this incense is…! Truly a premium among premiums! Its price alone surpasses imagination!”

“…What? Is it an artifact?”

“Hoho, exactly…!”

Lie.

No way I could afford an actual artifact.

This was just top-grade incense by civilian standards.

Though enchanted, it was infinitely cheaper than actual artifacts worth more than houses.

A real artifact would cost more than all the gems the Principal gave me.

Most artifacts were reclaimed by the Imperial Family anyway, making them hard to obtain… supposedly.

“This is an artifact that brings mental tranquility!”

“Mental tranquility…?”

“Yes. What was it? They say mana stabilizes around it, subduing curses. Never tested it, but they say it works on demons too.”

“…!”

As mentioned earlier, artifacts require appraisal by specialists.

Ordinary people can’t distinguish real artifacts – a fact exploited by scammers in side quests.

And Orca couldn’t interact with appraisal NPCs.

…Meaning she had to believe whatever I claimed was an artifact.

Even overpriced incense could masquerade as one.

Of course, if ineffective, the lie would be exposed…

But hadn’t she already experienced its effects?

Slept all day with no incidents – proof enough.

The Haze she knew wouldn’t miss such opportunities.

Waking to neither chaos nor imprisonment proved its efficacy.

She couldn’t disbelieve.

“I see, so that’s…”

“How is it? Okay? This is my first time lending it to someone.”

“First time?”

“Well… Its effects are limited. Hard to notice normally. Usually just smells really nice.”

Now, what reaction would she show?

Suppressing my pounding heart, I watched Orca.

After some time, she finally nodded.

“…Good. I like it.”

“Glad to hear it!”

“So that’s why you weren’t so afraid of me.”

Huh? Did it come across that way?

Stumbling over how to respond to her self-conclusion, I vaguely agreed.

“Something like that.”

Well, better this way.

Less explaining since she convinced herself. Convenient.

“Good, sorry but I’ll take that…”

“Ah-ah. No way. Do you know how much this costs?”

Orca froze mid-reach for the incense.

Though rebellious, she wasn’t unreasonable. She realized genuine artifacts aren’t freely given.

Extorting academy staff would bring severe repercussions.

“…What do you want?”

“Huh?”

“Money’s out, but I’ll do anything. Give me that.”

Negotiations then.

“Anything” was dangerous phrasing, but she clearly wanted the incense badly.

…Though the artifact claim was fake!

To maintain the lie, I couldn’t give it to her.

“You said ‘anything’ just now?”

“…”

Orca gulped nervously, tension evident as she awaited my request.

Her cuteness amused me.

“Then attend all your classes properly?”

“…What?”

“And stop the foul language. Deal?”

Orca, who’d braced for something worse, looked incredulous at my proposal.

“You’d give an artifact for just that…?”

“No? I’m not giving it.”

“Then what…!”

“That’s all I want from you. Trading that for an artifact feels unfair, no?”

I swayed the incense before her eyes like showing a treat.

Her gaze followed it like a puppy’s as I smiled slyly.

“So if you keep your promise, I’ll let you sleep comfortably in the counseling room. Deal?”

Fortunately, the counseling room had two beds. Accommodating Orca wasn’t difficult.

Convenient for controlling the demon too.

After long consideration, Orca finally nodded.