Was it magic or just an illusion?
The professor, who seemed to be floating in mid-air as if standing on a transparent platform, was Engelgard, the head of the Knight Department.
Regardless of what it was, it was an excellent display of showmanship.
The attention of the students was instantly focused.
“Wow… How did he do that?”
“How much did he hone his Aura?”
Admiration erupted among the students.
However, there were also complaints among the gathered cadets.
– If it had gone on a bit longer, I could have been promoted to Aether.
There was frustration like that.
Most of the students were relieved that the survival game was over, so their complaints were restrained, but otherwise, the discontent would have been quite significant.
Engelgard, seeming accustomed to dealing with such discontent, used showmanship to control the students’ mood from the start.
Then, he spoke. Engelgard’s voice resonated widely with magic.
“Everyone, you worked hard. The exam ended earlier than everyone’s expectations; some may be happy, and some may feel it was unfair.”
As Engelgard paused, various reactions were exchanged.
He continued.
“However, there are clear regulations regarding the end of the exam. I cannot disclose those regulations. However, since it was unanimously decided by all the professors, you may discuss any doubts with the respective professors.”
As he spoke, Engelgard’s gaze landed precisely on Ian’s party.
Ian frowned.
What could those regulations be?
The Urugios hunt?
Or perhaps injuries or deaths among the students?
The number of injuries and deaths is not publicly disclosed.
If it was the condition of the Urugios, there should have been more than one or two deaths or injuries.
Well, thanks to that, he was promoted safely.
Ian shrugged.
The professor’s announcement continued.
“Everything that happened on the island should be left on the island. Dormitories have been assigned based on academic performance, so everyone should use tonight to catch up on things.”
Someone shouted in response.
— What about dinner!!
“Of course, we have prepared top-quality, specially made beef barbecue from Volta Island.”
— Waaaaa!
The cheer that seemed to fill the island.
Ian looked around with an incredulous expression.
… Were you all nobles?
Well, a noble who has been starving for three days is more greedy than a beggar who has been starving for a week.
◆
A three-day survival game.
Food and wooden tables were prepared in the spacious outdoor area.
A feast was laid out after the hard struggle.
– Ahaha!
– It’s so delicious!
Happy chatter and laughter filled the air.
Danya held a plate and looked around.
“Here, Danya!”
Lina, standing on a chair and waving her hands, was visible.
As Danya approached the table, she noticed a boy.
It was inevitable.
Ian had black hair that stood out even from a distance.
Whenever she saw that black hair, her heart always started to flutter.
Ian, who was eating, noticed Danya and grinned.
“Sit down quickly. Try it before it gets cold. It’s delicious.”
His deep, resonant voice and natural smile blended so well with the lively background of the children moving around that Danya stuttered without realizing it.
“Nyah… Uh, yes.”
Uh, where should she sit?
Danya was momentarily flustered.
Where should she sit?
She wants to sit close to Ian, but it might be too obvious.
At that moment.
Lina, winking, pointed to a seat facing Ian.
“Here, I’ve saved a spot for you.”
“Th-thank you.”
It was a seat where she could see Ian’s face clearly with just a glance.
Danya, barely eating, kept glancing at Ian.
Crunch, crunch.
The veins in Ian’s arms that bulged with each cut of the meat.
The thick arm muscles that were visible when he lifted his fork to his mouth.
Since getting to know him, Ian had been growing more and more masculine each day.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her heart raced every time she looked at Ian, and that was probably the reason.
Danya, who was secretly glancing at Ian, stared at his lips for a while.
“Hmm? What’s up, Danya?”
Ian tilted his head and asked.
It was only then that Danya realized she had been staring at Ian blankly.
“Oh, it’s nothing!”
“What? Don’t you like the meat? You haven’t eaten any.”
The same reason for the food on her plate that she barely touched.
Ian looked at her empty plate with concern.
Danya hurriedly came up with some excuse.
“I, I’m just… my arm… yeah, my arm hurts.”
“Did you hurt it when you landed earlier?”
“Yeah, I think so…”
Seeing Ian’s worried expression, Danya felt a pang of guilt.
Did he know her guilt?
Ian asked kindly.
“Let’s eat first and then have Elena take a look at it. But you need to eat something first.”
Swoosh.
Ian cut a piece of meat to make it easier to eat.
Then he offered it to Danya.
“Here.”
“… Huh?”
“If your arm hurts, you should say so. Here, open up.”
Danya stared blankly at the fork coming towards her mouth.
I-is he feeding me?
Danya’s face turned bright red.
“I-I can eat it myself.”
“But your arm hurts.”
“Still.”
“Oh. My arm hurts too.”
Ian pretended his arm hurt.
Danya, without realizing it, opened her mouth.
Ian placed the meat in Danya’s mouth.
“Chew it well.”
Ian, smiling, went back to his own meal.
His warm and kind demeanor was so comforting.
“… Nyah.”
As Danya savored the meat, she looked at Ian.
Soft skin.
The juice of the meat spreading in her mouth.
Danya’s appetite slowly turned into another desire.
‘I’m sorry. I can’t hold it any longer.’
Danya whispered quietly, so Ian wouldn’t hear.
◆
Accommodations are given out by rank.
Ian’s party was naturally the first place overall in the promotion match.
“Wow… Elena, I’ve never seen such a wonderful accommodation before!”
Ian’s party was given an ultra-luxurious villa with an ocean view and a swimming pool.
Elena, who was the first to enter, expressed genuine admiration.
Lina and Danya, who entered after her, couldn’t stop their amazement.
“What is this place? It’s so beautiful!!!”
“The sky looks so open! The moon is shining too!”
Lina looked around with awe.
The distant sunset over the sea was incredibly beautiful.
‘… If it hadn’t been for Ian, I wouldn’t have seen such a view.’
The accommodation provided by Ian.
Thinking about it made Lina’s face flush with warmth.
Did Danya’s influence affect her?
Since arriving on the island, Lina’s face had been constantly flushed. The difference from Danya was that it was her neck, not her lower abdomen, that was turning red.
If only she had a mating season like Danya, she could use that as an excuse to cling to Ian.
Of course, Lina wasn’t without a plan.
‘First, I need to keep my promise.’
She needed to find a way to get Danya and Ian together.
That was Lina’s top priority right now.
Having helped Danya with her kissing practice and other things, Lina was confident that Danya would be able to handle it now.
“I’m going to step outside for a moment to get some fresh air.”
At that moment, Ian left the room.
Lina secretly called Danya.
“Hmm?”
Danya tilted her head. Lina glanced around to make sure Elena was bouncing on the bed, not paying attention, then whispered to Danya.
‘Today’s the opportunity.’
‘Ah… Yes!’
Lina was surprised by Danya’s proactive response, which was different from usual.
‘Looks like Danya made up her mind too.’
She felt a little jealous.
But still, a promise is a promise.
“Good luck.”
Lina gently pushed Danya towards the door Ian had just exited.
◆
Ian sat on a bench with a view of the sea.
He was taking some time to sort out his thoughts.
Looking at the setting sun beyond the sea, he felt much lighter.
‘Oh, right.’
Ian rummaged through his pocket.
In his hand was the light attribute ring.
He had realized during the fight earlier that he should have given the ring to Silvia, but he had brought it back with him.
“Don’t forget to give it to her.”
As he muttered, a voice naturally interjected.
“Hee. Who are you planning to give that ring to?”
“Oh, this? I meant to give it to Silvia, but I forgot.”
“Hm? When were you planning to give it?”
“As soon as we get back to Lichten. I should have given it before we came.”
“It must be a precious ring, then.”
“Is it? Hmm. I guess so.”
As Ian unconsciously continued answering, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck.
‘Who am I talking to?’
Ian turned his head to find Danya standing there, tears in her eyes.
“Idiot! Fool!”
She then ran into the building.
… Hmm.
For some reason, Ian felt a strong sense of guilt.
◆
Danya’s bedroom
After begging for about ten minutes, Ian managed to enter the room.
He kneeled without hesitation and started to explain.
“Were you really preparing to propose?”
“I swear it wasn’t.”
“Hm…”
Danya’s mood quickly improved.
It was a misunderstanding that had arisen from her expectation that Ian might give her the ring.
Ahem.
Clearing her throat lightly, Danya spoke.
“Well then, I suppose a reward is in order.”
“… A reward?”
Rustle.
Danya took off her fur slippers.
Why slippers in such a warm room?
As if she had heard Ian’s internal question, Danya explained.
“I heard that it makes your feet soft. I always take good care of them.”
Ah, that’s why.
Well, understand… No, he still didn’t understand.
“Because you like feet.”
“I do?”
“When we first teamed up in the Shadow Forest, you kept commenting on how much you liked my feet.”
Just as Ian was about to respond.
“Hmm.”
Danya’s toes pressed against Ian’s mouth.
The pink, flushed toes emitted a sweet peach fragrance.
“Since that day, I’ve practiced using my feet a lot.”
The wiggling toes teased Ian’s tongue.
The moist, sticky sensation naturally flowed from Danya’s feet.
Ian looked up and met Danya’s eyes.
Danya gazed down at him with eyes softened by desire.
A sweet voice emerged from her lips.
“You look cute like this, Ian.”
With a teasing smile, Danya removed her feet from Ian’s mouth.
Then she slowly caressed Ian’s body.
Chin. Neck. Shoulders. Chest. Abdomen.
Her toes slowly moved downward.
Softly.
Her feet came to a halt at Ian’s waist.
“Danya, wait… ah.”
Danya’s feet skillfully removed Ian’s lower garments.
Ian’s exposed lower body was revealed without a single piece of cloth.
Danya’s gaze paused momentarily on the inside of Ian’s thighs.
“… Haa♡”
A hot breath escaped her lips.
Then, Danya swallowed hard like a cat that had found its prey.
Swoosh.
Danya’s feet skillfully moved to probe the inside of Ian’s thighs.
Ian let out a small breath at the sudden touch of Danya’s feet.
Danya’s small, soft feet.
‘… This is dangerous.’
The exquisite pressure from her feet felt so good it was nearly unbearable.
Blood rushed to his lower body, making him twitch.
Danya, observing this, let out a purring sound.
“Hmm…? You’re quite honest about this, aren’t you?”
“W-wait, Danya. If we continue like this…”
“Relax and enjoy it. We’re both adults, aren’t we?”
Danya’s lips curved into a sly smile as she looked down at Ian.
“Want me to do something even better?”
The small arch of Danya’s feet embraced Ian in a delicate, exquisite manner.
