After drawing major aggro during the freshman welcoming ceremony, I was walking back to the old school building.
“You’re definitely not in your right mind.”
Dean Ederson Lionheart, who was accompanying me, said while glancing my way.
“Is that a compliment?”
“About 75% of it is, and the remaining 25% is concern.”
“In what way does the concern account for that much?”
“I’m worried whether the people in the old school building can protect you from the numerous foxes in this Academy.”
As we walked, Dean Ederson subtly pointed around.
“Do you feel the stares?”
“Yes, I can feel them well. Not just from students, but from instructors, staff, and even graduate students.”
“Exactly. To be blunt, you’re like a walking ball of temptation.”
“…That’s quite blunt.”
“Naturally.”
Dean Ederson lightly tapped his arm.
“If it weren’t for someone of my caliber, no one would even notice your martial arts skill.”
“So you’re saying that because I don’t look capable of defending myself, women will try to overpower me?”
“They might kidnap you and lock you in some basement, draining your magic until it’s completely exhausted, just like countless men have experienced before.”
Dean Ederson shuddered at the thought.
“It’s dangerous out there. Esdinas Academy is relatively safe because we have staff, the so-called ‘adults.’”
“Relatively.”
“Even those adults might target you, keep that in mind. You’ve drawn too much attention.”
“What if that was my goal?”
At my words, Dean Ederson abruptly stopped walking.
“What if I said that my purpose was to attract the attention of all the women?”
“You.”
“If you’re a woman, you’d want the sweetest and most delicious reward.”
I lightly tapped my chest with my thumb.
“Those who try anything half-heartedly will be caught by the security around the old school building, while those who try to sneak in will be apprehended by its residents.”
“Hmm.”
“I apologize in advance to [Cutting Wind], but every night, those intruders will probably be students trying to sneak into the old school, mostly women.”
“Well, as a mercenary, she has been through worse, so she can handle it.”
Does Ederson know?
That his granddaughter struggles so much with her studies that she often falls asleep during class?
“If that’s the case, then even if [Cutting Wind] secures some sleep during theory classes, the instructors won’t have much to say. Although, she might still want to stay awake and listen.”
“Hmm, you have a point.”
Ederson resumed walking.
“You’re heading down a thorny path. Everyone who approaches you will have some intent behind it. Those you’ve already been involved with might be different, but…”
“In this world, is there anyone who approaches without any purpose?”
This was exactly what I wanted.
“Some may approach out of genuine attraction, others may try to uncover my identity, and some, like foxes seeking to consume the mana of an unsuspecting male, might try to drain my energy to become like an S-rank monster, the nine-tailed fox.”
“To steal your mana.”
“That’s what I think. Right now, I’m like—”
—To put it in terms men would understand, it’s like being a blonde, blue-eyed, G-cup beauty walking around in a bikini in a club full of men.
“To women, I’m someone who makes them want to act impulsively.”
Even though I wasn’t trying to sound suggestive, I had no intention of making lewd comments to Dean Ederson, the [Mercenary King], who’s also called the [Lion King].
“If someone does try something, even if it’s not with me, they’ll attempt it with someone else. I, along with those in the old school building, will simply ‘catch’ those individuals in advance.”
“…Well.”
Dean Ederson looked me up and down.
“There’s no chance of this happening, but if anyone in the old school building does something inappropriate or dangerous, come straight to me.”
His gaze held a mixture of concern and a hint of gratitude, as if he appreciated me as one man to another.
“It’s fortunate that among the younger generation, someone like you exists. The other men are cowardly fools, afraid of being drained of their mana… Ahem.”
This rough, straightforward—wild expression seemed to be Ederson’s true self, setting aside his title as Dean of Academic Affairs.
“Yes. If someone I can’t handle tries to harm me, I will definitely seek the help of the Mercenary King.”
There was no need to reject his goodwill.
“But, just hypothetically, what would you do if your granddaughter attempted to make a move on me?”
“In that case.”
Dean Ederson patted his chest.
“I would stake everything and make her take full responsibility for you.”
* * *
A little later.
After Ederson’s escort—though you could also call it a guard—ended, I returned to the old school building.
“You caused quite a spectacle, Phoenix.”
Instructor Esta greeted me at the entrance, lightly tapping her left wrist.
“I heard about it live through one of the instructors who was there.”
“Did you now?”
“…You’ll have a hard time from now on. It’s not like you didn’t already have people targeting you.”
“I guess I’ll have to ask you to work even harder.”
In game terms, it was as if intruders would try to break into the old school building every night for a battle.
Not literally every night, of course, but many women and their associates would likely try to sneak in and capture me.
“By the way, Instructor Esta, where are you headed?”
“To my room.”
“???”
Just as I was about to follow Esta into the classroom, I was genuinely taken aback by her words.
“Huh?”
“There’s something I need to check.”
“Checking something is fine, but why are we going to your room…?”
“You’ll understand once you follow. This is also part of the official curriculum.”
“I was under the impression that freshmen don’t have afternoon classes…”
“The special class requires special instruction.”
Esta confidently opened the door to her room.
“Very tidy.”
It felt like a military dorm.
A spacious bed large enough for two, a desk neatly arranged with various educational books and materials, and clothes hung tidily on hangers, without a single item strewn around.
“…What does this mean?”
“Nothing. Just, in some cases…”
Some people present themselves well outside but live in chaotic personal spaces.
However, this didn’t seem to be the case with Esta, perhaps because it was an instructor’s quarters, not her home, and she likely kept it as organized as possible.
“By the way, where are Yunia, Ludmila, and Evangeline?”
“They’re undergoing mana sensitivity training with Kadisha. She’s been quite helpful as an instructor.”
“And what about me…?”
“You and I will engage in a different, special mana sensitivity training.”
Esta pulled me further into the room and then…
Click.
She locked the door.
“Um, Instructor Esta?”
“I’m not planning anything suspicious. On the contrary, I want to check something suspicious about you.”
“Wait, what?”
“After I told your teammates about what you pulled at the freshman welcome event, Yunia said something interesting after lunch.”
Instructor Esta threw off her coat.
“She said one thing in particular about your so-called [Hand of the Sun]. Specifically, she wondered, ‘What if he shows his special ability to other female students?'”
“Well, that’s…”
“She seemed both concerned about you showing interest in other female students and also about others finding out about your abilities. So—”
Rustle.
“I’ll check for myself.”
“Um…”
“What?”
“Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“Why would I be?”
Esta spread her arms and shrugged.
“It’s just a swimsuit, nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“But that’s not an instructor’s standard swimsuit—it’s a bikini.”
She had apparently prepared in advance, wearing a white bikini.
“Whether it’s a competition swimsuit or a bikini, the only difference is the amount of fabric.”
With a chuckle, Instructor Esta lay down on her bed, face down.
“Try using that [Hand of the Sun] on me. If you can control your mana while working on me, then I’ll need to raise my guard.”
“You want to verify that I can use my ability on ‘anyone’?”
“Precisely. Go ahead.”
Esta removed the instructor pad from her wrist, placing it on the bedside table, and buried her face into a pillow.
“Do it.”
“Physical contact will be inevitable.”
“Hmph. Don’t you see what’s flowing through my body?”
Instructor Esta tugged lightly at the side of her abdomen.
Swish.
Instead of revealing skin, something white and opaque, like plastic film, stretched under her fingers.
“Mana skin. With this, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“Well… if you say so.”
I activated my mana and climbed onto Esta.
“Is this okay?”
“…Yes.”
I straddled her legs, sitting on her thighs.
Her face didn’t change color, but I sensed a slight tension in her voice.
“I’ll begin now.”
I placed my thumbs on her back, pressing my hands firmly against her waist.
“Still okay with this?”
“Go on, it’s fine.”
“…Even if you fall asleep during this, the mana control will continue.”
“Then let it.”
Instructor Esta closed her eyes while lying face down.
She let go of the tension in her entire body and laid face down without paying attention to my touch.
‘This is it.’
I wouldn’t foolishly throw away such an opportunity.
However.
‘I’m not foolish enough to fall into a trap.’
I could feel it—
Another set of eyes watching this place.
While Instructor Esta might appear defenseless, the room was filled with a multitude of unseen gazes monitoring my every move.
Yunia, Ludmila, and Evangeline, perhaps, watching from another classroom.
Or Instructor Kadisha, observing the situation in real-time through her wrist-mounted instructor pad.
This was, in essence, a trap. While the male students of the Academy worried about me being devoured by women, the Academy itself seemed more concerned about what the “Golden Sun” might do to the women.
Thus, I said.
“I’ll make sure to relieve your fatigue properly.”
Even though I was massaging a woman in a bikini and channeling my mana to relieve her tension, I proceeded with caution.
“If you happen to fall asleep midway, I’ll wake you in two hours.”
Without anyone noticing, I subtly began my real task, one that only Esta would feel.
– There’s a method to drive the heroines wild and make them develop feelings for you: the [Incubus Meta].
In the Demon World, we’ve studied methods for conquering heroines.
– You make them dream. Whether it’s a heroine or anyone else, they will be drawn into a dream where you can approach them even in their sleep.
It’s known as the Dream Trick.
– While a real mana massage takes place, in the dream, you mess with their perception, making them wonder, “Wait, am I dreaming about doing something with him?”
A typical trick of the succubi.
– To them, it’s just a dirty dream. After all, everyone has the occasional vivid dream, right? Hehe.
As I released Esta’s mana, I gently began to guide her into sleep.
* * *
And then.
In her dream.
A different setting from the Academy’s instructor office—a noble family’s estate.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
A messy room.
A spacious bed.
And on top of it—
“Oh, you’re here… Ah?”
There lay Esta, sprawled out in a loose white T-shirt and dolphin shorts, lying on a unicorn plush, staring at something on her magic pad.
She even had long hair.
This was proof that this was a dream, and more importantly, it was proof that this appearance represented [Esta’s deepest desire].
“You’re here a bit early, aren’t you, honey?”
“Honey?”
“…Then should I call you ‘my lord’ instead?”
Without moving from her spot, Esta puffed up her cheeks and narrowed her eyes, smirking slyly.
“Honey. Guess what? I handed over my research to the graduate students today.”
“Is that okay?”
“Well, you said you’d be home early today, so…”
Even in the dream, I felt a bit sorry for those poor graduate students.
“You still think it’s weird that I have a unicorn plush?”
In reality, she’s still the [White Maiden].
But this dream reflects her desires.
“It’s time for even unicorns to graduate.”
In this dream, I am the [Kyun-Kyun Demon], here to fulfill her wishes.
