Chapter 159


    The next morning after falling asleep, pondering strategies to conquer Aria.


    <em>— Knock knock knock.</em>


    What woke me up was a careful knock on the door.


    When I opened it, bright red hair was shimmering dazzlingly in the morning sunlight.


    “Ian, good morning! Oh…? You’re still in your pajamas?”


    “I just got up.”


    “Huh, did I wake you up by any chance?”


    “Don’t worry. I was nning to get up anyway. So, what brings you here, Lina?”


    Although the club room had quickly be Lina, Danya, and Elena’s hideout right after we created it, this was the first time Lina hade by so early in the morning.“Ah! Oh, I made way too many lunchboxes this morning, so I thought we could share…!”


    Now that I think about it, Lina was holding a lunchbox in her left hand.


    I always wee a morning where I don’t have to prepare breakfast myself.


    As I opened the door wide, Lina suddenly flinched and her face turned red.


    “What? What’s wrong?”


    “Th-that…”


    She squeezed her eyes shut and pointed at my lower body with her finger. Since it was morning and I was in my pajamas, things were quite… tense.


    “Excuse me for a moment.”


    After I changed my clothes and came out, Lina had neatly set the lunchbox on the table.


    Fresh vegetables, finely grated cheese, and sd topped with bacon and shredded chicken breast.


    A perfectly healthy and clean breakfast.


    Very much like Lina, who goes grocery shopping every morning.


    “Are you okay with money?”


    “Now that I’ve been promoted to Aether, I don’t have to worry about tuition fees anymore. Hehe.”


    “I see. This is delicious.”


    “Th-thank you.”


    She nced at my face once and then, after briefly looking down at my lower body again, blushed and quickly buried her head in her te.


    Hmm. I’d like to calm it down as well, but there’s nothing I can do.


    Why, you ask?


    Apparently, if you form a rtionship with a beastfolk during their Heat Day, it also enhances the partner’s s*xual stamina for a while. My junior has been up for over 20 minutes and still remains firm—it can only be exined by that.


    “Um. Sorry about this. It’s a physiological reaction. It’s not because I’m excited about you, Lina.”


    <em>Flinch.</em>


    Lina’s shoulders shook slightly as she muttered.


    “T-That’s … even worse.”


    “Huh?”


    Lina lowered her head and stared at the empty te. After about 30 seconds of silence, she finally spoke, her voice strained.


    “I don’t know how to exin it. It’s not that I’m jealous of Danya, but I want you to praise me too.”


    “Praise?”


    “Yeah.”


    Lina looked up at me, her eyes pleading like a puppy begging for food.


    ‘…Hmm.’


    Praise, huh.


    Lina’s contributions have certainly not been insignificant.


    Not only has she served as the party’s fire element dealer, but she has also practically acted as the eldest sister, looking after Danya and Elena like an older sibling.


    More importantly…


    ‘I think I promised her some sort of reward before, too.’


    I don’t clearly remember, but it feels like we’ve had a simr conversation a few times.


    Lina herself sometimes needs praise too.


    “You’ve worked hard.”


    I ced my hand on her head.


    I intended to pat her a few times, just like I often did with Danya.


    But then.


    <em></em>


    <em>— Swish.</em>


    Lina suddenly grabbed my fingers.


    Then, she brought my hand to her neck.


    The soft texture of a ck scarf.


    “…?”


    “I like it here better.”


    With each word Lina spoke, I could feel the rise and fall of her breath beneath the scarf.


    What does she want me to do here?


    Lina ced her hand on top of mine.


    “Squeeze it like this.”


    <em>— Squeeze…</em>


    Lina pressed my hand firmly.


    Naturally, my fingers tightened around her neck.


    “Ian’s hands… they’re so big….”


    Lina’s gaze, looking up at me, was filled with excitement.


    <em>Gulp.</em>


    I could feel the tension in the air, even hearing the faint sound of her swallowing.


    “Lina, this is…”


    “Just like this….”


    Lina spoke with a heavy breath, her voice soft but full of heat.


    “Just stay like this for a little while longer.”


    Her desperate eyes told me this was all she needed, as if staying in this moment was the simplest thing.


    Strangely enough, I couldn’t refuse her request.


    <em>Tick-tock. </em>


    <em>Tick-tock.</em>


    With the ticking of the clock, my consciousness faded into stillness.


    How much time had passed?


    “Hrgh… I-Ian.”


    Lina’s ragged breath brought me back to my senses.


    I realized I had been gripping her neck too tightly and loosened my hold.


    “<em>Huff… huff</em>…”


    She gasped for air, like a balloon deting, her breathing heavy and unsteady.


    Tears welled up in her eyes, and she blinked several times.


    <em></em>


    <em>— Drip, drip, drip.</em>


    Had she worked up a sweat from all the excitement?


    Droplets of water began to drip between Lina’s legs.


    “<em>Haa</em>… <em>haa</em>… Hey, Ian.”


    Just as she exhaled another hot breath—


    — Knock knock knock! m!


    The door to the club room flew open abruptly.


    “Brother! I have arrived! Oh, what are you two doing? The room seems unusually hot and humid!”


    Elena.


    That girl.


    I taught her how to knock, but I suppose I need to teach her how to wait next time.


    ◆


    The [ Dessert Research Society ] is filled with peace.


    After the exhausting trials of the promotion exam, everyone seemed to be basking in the post-victory lethargy.


    One by one, the members gathered in the clubroom, lounging about in full rxation mode.


    Elena, who had stormed in with such force earlier, was now dozing off by the window.


    Danya arrived not long after, smiling mischievously. “Hey, Ian,” she greeted me with a yful wink before curling up on the ultra-soft cushion ced on the floor and lying down.


    It seems Laurent Trading Company’s “Drug Cushion” has caught her fancy. I should suggest to Silvia that they market it to beastfolk buyers—it seems like a good idea.


    s for Lina, she seemed to have calmed down, or at least was trying to?


    <em>— Swish. Swish.</em>


    As she gently brushed Danya’s pink tail until it gleamed with a glossy sheen.


    Watching this scene was like a moment of pure healing.


    ‘To think I have toe up with a n to gaslight someone in the midst of such peace.’


    ..Am I being too grim?


    I shook my head to clear the thought.


    It’s unfortunate for Aria, but there isn’t much choice. Forcing her to spill everything with drugs would be much worse than this, wouldn’t it?


    [12:00]


    The clock struck noon.


    After making lunch for thezy club members still lounging around, I grabbed my coat.


    I also slipped the ‘gift’ I had prepared for Aria into my pocket—something I’d dug out from my stuffst night.


    Elena, who had been nodding off, quickly ran up as I was about to leave.


    “Where are you going?”


    “I’m just going out for a breath of fresh air. I’ll be back soon.”


    “Safe travels, Brother.”


    Elena returned to her spot by the window, dozing off once more. It really does feel like raising a little squirrel sometimes.


    I bet Elena will grow up and have plenty of exciting storylines to explore once she matures a bit. She’ll be a key yer in the future.


    Lost in thought, I finally arrived at my destination.


    The Lichten branch church of the Deus Church and Celeste faction.


    As the service ended, I made my way through the exiting crowd.


    Inside the now-empty chapel, a priestess noticed me and greeted me with a gentle smile.


    “What brings you here today, sir?”


    “I’m not a believer. I’m just here to meet someone.”


    “I see. Who are you looking for?”


    “I’m here to see Aria Lumines Bell.”


    The priestess smiled apologetically.


    “I’m sorry, but meeting with the Saint is difficult unless you have an appointment. May I ask your name?”


    “Ian ckangers.”


    “…Oh.”


    The priestess let out a short gasp before responding.


    “She did say that if you ever came by, we should bring you in right away. Let me guide you.”


    I stopped her before she could turn to leave.


    “I don’t need to meet her. Just deliver this to Aria.”


    Aria was in a fragile state of mind right now.


    ‘Normally, Pongpong would have been the one tofort her.’


    Aria would have likely clung to Ian forfort, but not anymore.


    Aria had coldly rejected Ian, so meeting her wasn’t an option.


    Even so, she was probably still waiting for thatfort.


    I could tell from how the priestess immediately offered to bring me in the moment I mentioned Ian’s name.


    Aria was likely waiting for Ian toe to her, but the guilt she felt was holding her back.


    ‘That makes things easier.’


    I was going to break Aria’s guilt wide open.


    And the tool I would use for that was…


    “Please deliver this.”


    I ced a small figurine of a sword-wielding figure into the priestess’s hand.


    [ Chronicles of the Hero ]


    It was the board game piece Aria had thrown when she rejected Ian’s confession.


    “…Are you sure you don’t want to meet her? Aria seems to be waiting for you quite eagerly.”


    The priestess asked, her face filled with concern.


    “Yes.”


    My answer was firm.


    I couldn’t approach Aria right now. The next part of the scenario was [Act 3: The Emperor’s Assassination], and it would take ce within the imperial pce.


    I just hoped that while I was away, Aria would be consumed by her growing guilt.


    ◆


    That evening, the clubroom was quiet and empty as the members had all gone home.


    I was deep in thought, nning for the next scenario, when someone knocked on the door.


    <em>— Knock, knock.</em>


    Did Elena leave something behind again?


    When I opened the door, my vision was filled with brilliant white light.


    Moonlight illuminated the white hair of the person standing there.


    Squinting, I saw the figure chuckling softly.


    “Is my appearance still too dazzling for you?”


    Princess Asteria.


    “It’s been a long time, my dear.”


    She smiled radiantly.