Chapter 154. Grade Announcement
"Haa... haa... good work."
"You too."
Nam Daeun and I were catching our breath on the sparring platform.
The magic circle in the arena made it so we didn't have to worry about each other's safety.
I thought I'd have the advantage if I fought without considering Nam Daeun's wellbeing, but that was a huge miscalculation.
Nam Daeun came at me with the intent to kill, making her tough to handle.
On top of that, she'd gotten way stronger than last time. I had no idea what kind of training she did.
What is she, a sponge? How can someone get stronger just by training?
"Phew... Come to think of it, did you visit your sister yesterday?"
"Yeah, I went yesterday. And I'll probably go again the day after tomorrow."
"Oh, really? You visit her often."
"It's usually once a week, but as a reward for getting first place... No, wait. That's not it. The hospital changed their policy."
"Ah... I see."
Nam Daeun realized her slip and blushed a little.
Since I'm a sweet gentleman, I pretended not to notice.
Still, that's a relief.
As long as she sees her only living relative often, I don't have to worry about Nam Daeun's mental health.
She's the type who might go berserk out of nowhere, after all.
"Oh, and thanks for what you did during the last special exam."
I pulled out a wallet I had in my pocket.
"Huh, what's this?"
"A thank-you for helping during the test, and for sparring with me too. Just take it, no pressure."
"This... This is a bit...."
Nam Daeun stammered, maybe surprised by the expensive gift.
If this kept going, she'd reject it.
Before she could say it was too much, I made my move.
"Come on, it's us. We even sparred."
"Is that so...?"
"Yeah. If we're close enough to spar, then we're close enough for this. It's from my heart, so please take it."
"...Alright. I'll show it off to my sister."
Nam Daeun smiled faintly and accepted the wallet.
Whew, I feel better now.
Seeing her carry around a wallet with holes all over it broke my heart too.
When grades are announced tomorrow, she'll probably look even happier. Hopefully she'll make some friends too.
I looked at Nam Daeun, who was gripping the wallet with both hands, and smiled warmly inside.
"How about wearing something sexy and waiting for him in the room? He might get so excited he'll pounce right away."
"Isn't that a bit too obvious?"
While I was sparring with Nam Daeun, Liliana and Scarlet were working on a plan to properly catch Lee Hoyeon.
"Hmm... You're right. I don't like predictable stuff."
"How about showing Master Hoyeon a different side of you than usual?"
Liliana perked up at Scarlet's suggestion.
"A different side?"
"Yes. Since you're usually bright and playful, you could show a more serious or considerate side."
"Oh... not bad! It's really nice thinking together with you, Scout."
"Thank... you. Hhn... Huh."
Pat pat.
Liliana used her tail to stroke Scarlet's pussy.
It was her version of praise.
"I, I have something Master Hoyeon asked me to do, so I'll go now. Please think more about the rest, Liliana."
"Okay. When will you be back tomorrow?"
"Um... I'll come after lunch."
Liliana removed her tail from Scarlet's body, and only then did Scarlet begin gathering her clothes.
"Got it, got it. See you tomorrow, Scout."
"Yes. Goodbye."
Tap.
Scarlet clung to the ceiling and swooshed her way out.
"I think I told her not to do that... Guess it's hard to break habits."
Liliana shook her head and sat on the sofa, closing her eyes to think.
"A different side... A different me...?"
It was an idea she had come up with during the chat with Scarlet, but thinking it through alone was tough.
That's when she remembered the stationery Lee Hoyeon gave her.
A letter that let her communicate with Liliana's mother in Hell.
Lee Hoyeon had told her to ask about the Demon King, but she had left it on her desk and forgotten for days.
"Should I ask Mom?"
Her mom didn't talk much about her dad, but sometimes she dressed up and went out, making it seem like she was seeing someone.
Even if not, Liliana felt like her mom knew everything.
Except for nagging her during games, she was the perfect mom.
"Yeah. When you don't know something, ask your mom."
Liliana picked up a pen and began writing a letter to her mom, asking how to seduce a man.
*
Victoria Academy's girls' dormitory.
Lumi was groaning into her pillow while lying in bed.
"Ugh... Is this too perverted? But I really want to..."
She tried sending a message to Lee Hoyeon but kept writing and deleting it, ending up just lying on the bed.
Lumi turned on her smartwatch again and began typing.
- Me: Mr. Hoyeon. Are you busy next week? If you're free... I'd like to do our next secret friend activity at a motel.
"H-How can I send this... This is insane."
Early in their relationship, she had gone to a motel with him twice.
But since then, they'd only had sex in bathrooms or clubrooms.
That was fine too, but sometimes she wanted to do it comfortably on a bed.
'Still, there's no way I can send a message like that.'
Lumi shook her head, but then felt a deep pulse in her lower belly.
Throb.
Her womb ached as if it were craving his cock, and Lumi trembled.
"Ahh... screw it."
She hit the send button, thinking embarrassment was only temporary.
Ideally, she should've started with small talk and eased into it, but she didn't have the skills or confidence.
Just then, Lucy came out of the bathroom and tilted her head as she approached Lumi.
"Lumi, what are you doing?"
"I-I was just texting. You startled me, Lucy."
Lumi panicked and quickly turned off her smartwatch.
"Aha... Who was it?"
"Uh... Just someone I know."
"I see~."
Lucy laid down next to Lumi as if it was nothing and thought to herself.
'Lumi doesn't have anyone else to text but Lee Hoyeon.'
Lumi had few friends. The only person she could text comfortably was Lee Hoyeon.
Why would she hide it from me?
I don't hide anything from her.
Lucy felt uneasy again.
*
After finishing the sparring match with Nam Daeun, I left the arena.
I showered in the training center and got dressed.
When I checked my smartwatch, a few messages had come in.
- Lumi: Mr. Hoyeon. Are you busy next week? If you're free... I'd like to do our next secret friend activity at a motel.
"Huh? Out of nowhere?"
It was a bit abrupt without any build-up, but I didn't mind.
I wasn't really losing anything.
I sent Lumi a positive reply and checked the other messages.
- Professor Im Sol: I saw it. I'll help however I can. I'll make sure you won't suffer any consequences, so don't worry. Min Yeji and A-Young said they'll help too.
"Ooh... Professor Im Sol. No, Im Sol noona..."
Capable women really are the best.
Her promise that I wouldn't suffer any consequences was incredibly reassuring.
Since she said Baek A-Young would help too, I checked to see if I got a message from her, but nothing yet.
- Me: Ms. A-Young. I heard from Professor Im Sol that you offered to help me. Thank you. I'll come find you, so please let me know a good time.
I decided I'd visit Baek A-Young to check on her condition.
Originally, I planned to wait until she couldn't hold back and approached me first, but she might break down if left alone too long.
And Min Yeji... I should probably meet her at least once.
But since I have no plans to join a guild, there's not much to talk about.
Still, I should hear her terms.
I was deep in thought when I arrived at the dorm.
Ding.
Scarlet was already gone, and only Liliana was sitting on the sofa.
"I'm back. What are you doing?"
"Oh. I just finished streaming and was relaxing."
"I see. Did you eat dinner?"
"No, I waited for you."
"I'm hungry, let's eat. Chicken sound good?"
Since we had sandwiches for lunch, I figured we should eat something Liliana liked for dinner.
"It's fine. Eat whatever you want."
"?"
Did this crazy succubus eat something weird?
Why the sudden act?
"Why are you acting all nice? Let's just have chicken."
"What do you mean? I'm always like this."
"...?"
Is she hitting puberty or something?
I placed my hand on Liliana's forehead.
"No fever..."
"I'm fine. Let's eat. You pick the menu, Hoyeon."
Normally, this would be the time she whined about eating chicken, but she was weirdly calm today.
Even when I touched her forehead, she didn't react. That was suspicious too.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Liliana]
- [ Affection: 93 ] ( +1.2 )
- [ Lust: 92 ]
- [ Appetite: 45 ]
- [ Fatigue: 35 ]
Current status: I have to show a bolder side today. I'm a succubus who follows through!
"...."
What kind of breeze is blowing today?
"Then let's get sashimi."
"Ugh..."
Liliana hated sashimi the most.
She said she could never eat fresh things since she'd never had anything like that in Hell.
"Why, do you not like it?"
"N-No... sashimi is great. Let's get it. Ahem!"
Still not giving in, huh.
"Okay, I'm ordering sashimi~."
"Y-Yeah..."
Liliana's expression got gloomier by the second.
I kept teasing her about the sashimi while chuckling inside.
I didn't know what her deal was, but if she was going to give me teasing material like that, I couldn't let it go to waste.
Of course, I ended up ordering chicken with my phone since I knew she'd freak out once she dropped the act.