NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8 - Price
Price
Unique barrier.
Not only is the spell formula for constructing barriers complex, but maintaining them also consumes a lot of mana.
I heard even advanced magicians have trouble handling them freely, so I never imagined Floria would know such magic.
-whir.
Dark pink mixes with the surrounding colors, creating an alien space.
“Ugh.”
“Ha-yu. You need to stay still. It hurts if you move.”
[Current Magic Power: 1, Lost 99% control over body]
Just like with the servant bond, my body once again lost control.
What a truly passive body.
Once inside this space, it means I can only move according to her thoughts.
-stroke
She gently stroked my thigh.
“You know? When a woman caresses a man’s thigh, it’s a signal.”
“Sig….nal?”
Oh? This situation seems familiar.
“Hehe. What are you thinking?”
Though her voice is certainly gentle, it sounds scary.
“Floria……”
Words squeezed out.
Whether from the barrier’s magic power or the darkness, Floria’s eyes had even become slightly opaque. “Why don’t we just submit and feel good together?”
“Urk!”
“Now, say ah.”
No!
I shut my eyes tight and grit my teeth.
My eyes certainly closed. But thinking I grit my teeth was really just a thought.
Before I knew it, my mouth was open toward her like a hungry baby bird.
“Now, aahn~”
Never opened it except at the dentist in my life.
Thinking that made me feel somewhat sad and embarrassed.
Something of Floria’s approaches.
-tap.
And something moist touched.
For some reason I feel like crying.
But……it’s sweet.
They say first kisses are sweet, but no? This is really sweet.
Because my tongue that’s no different from a vegetable garden wouldn’t lie.
It’s definitely sugar.
‘……This is delicious…?’
I opened my eyes.
“Hehe.”
She held my chin with her delicate hand as if shy and pursed my lips.
-munch munch.
It was chocolate with very good flavor.
Floria gave a refreshing eye-smile.
“There, now you’ll only have good memories about chocolate, right?”
-gulp.
This high-calorie solid quickly melted and flowed into my body down my throat.
-clang!
And the barrier was released.
-flutter.
The surroundings had returned to being the ship’s deck with blowing wind.
“You should say thanks for the meal.”
Maybe because control of my body hadn’t completely returned, words leaked out without me knowing.
“Thank you for the meal?”
When the wind disheveled her hair, she smiled at me while tucking it behind her ear.
“Even Miss Arein won’t notice Ha-yu’s deviation inside a unique barrier. Don’t worry.”
This unexpected situation is confusing. Was I this forward of a person?
“Delicious right? Though I didn’t make it myself… next time there’s a chance, I’ll make it homemade. Anyway, you can cover bad memories with good ones right? Past Ha-yu did that for me too.”
Right, chocolate. Thanks to that vampire I almost got trauma about chocolate.
“I’m also an Academy student right? I’m not skilled enough to deploy unique barriers for long. Still, I worked hard to increase the barrier duration from one bite to two bites, from two bites to a meal. And from meals to things besides meals…”
“I’ll decline things besides meals in advance.”
At my firm rejection, she made a troubled expression for a moment before smiling brightly.
“Isn’t that my authority?”
-Attention all passengers aboard. The airship is currently—…
‘She suspects. She definitely suspects…!’
Time was delayed more than expected.
I quickly returned to first class where Rein was with cleaning supplies.
The airship will soon arrive at Atlas, the city with the Academy.
There was a lot to do, having to carry luggage and do check-in again.
-clank.
“Sorry I’m late.”
As expected, Rein was sulking at me.
“What time is it?”
“I’m sorry. It took some effort borrowing tools since we’re disembarking soon.”
“……”
As if uninterested, she looks at her book.
-scrub scrub.
I clean the chocolate stuck to the floor.
Though surging emotions came for a moment, on the other hand the sweetness from earlier still remained in my mouth.
It was a truly subtle feeling.
“You didn’t need to do it yourself.”
Rein’s gaze had moved to the bell for calling attendants.
“Uh…… You only ordered me today, didn’t you.”
She raised her head to look at me.
Her beautiful face wore an expression hard to read.
“……Are you dissatisfied?”
“No. I am Miss Rein’s possession after all.”
When I tried to leave after finishing, Rein tilted her head and pointed at the plate.
“Eat it. I’ll allow it.”
A neat cake with only the chocolate topping gone.
Rein hadn’t touched it at all, it seemed to remain as is. Giving sickness then medicine, whip and carrot.
I showed a faint smile. Because I’m not so lacking in pride to happily eat that.
“It’s alright. Asparagus is in season, and I ate not long ago.”
“Eat it.”
“Really, I’m fi…”
Rein takes off her magic-infused glasses and sighs deeply.
“Haah……”
And then is stubborn as always.
“It’s an order. Okay?” If you’re going to be that way, well. Let’s test once. What were the Seven Deadly Sins again……
“You know what. I’ve come to my senses.” They say you can’t spit on someone who’s smiling, so I showed my most awkward smile and acted sincerely.
“I know my reason for existing is to maintain fresh blood to offer to my master. Hahaha……”
Fortunately Rein’s expression became heavier.
“If you don’t eat, we’ll have blood drinking time tonight.”
She spoke in a hard tone as if threatening me.
I respond in a businesslike tone too.
“I’ll prepare.”
“……”
After about 5 seconds of silence, Rein’s words continued.
“……Then you won’t be able to have proper meals until next week either.”
She was more subdued than before. And I answered immediately in an agitated voice.
“Yes. I’m aware.”
-thud.
She closed the book she was reading.
She glares at me with an unmoving expression.
With a look saying ‘What is this guy thinking?’
“Haha……”
I just waited while smiling as good-naturedly as possible.
“After finishing organizing luggage today, come…to my dormitory room.”
Unlike her, she seems to have swallowed her pronunciation. While still staring at me as if waiting for my answer.
“Understood.”
“……I’ll bite painfully today.” “Yes.” “Handle the aftermath yourself too.” “Yes.” “And if even one drop of blood falls in my room…”
[Acquired 1 point of Seven Deadly Sins: Greed from ‘Arein S. Asphodel’.]
Got it.
Was nervous since it seemed neither here nor there.
“……I’ll punish you.”
-clunk
The Academy’s appearance shows through the window outside.
Bustling murmurs spread throughout the airship.
Passengers are preparing to disembark.
-… We will arrive soon so passengers who haven’t hired porters…
“I’ll keep it in mind. Is there anything else you need?”
Rein shifts her gaze from me toward outside the window.
“……Do as you please.”
“Then I’ll excuse myself first since I need to unload the luggage.”
It was the first time her voice sounded somewhat sorrowful.
-rattle. thud!
Men and women who looked like servants like me were lined up in the airship’s cargo hold to receive each family’s luggage.
While waiting, I focused my mind.
The time has finally come.
Remaining Seven Deadly Sins points: 9 Strength: 5 Endurance(Mental Power): 9 Intelligence: 5 Magic Power: 1 Flexibility: 8 Luck: 1
No need to agonize.
‘9 points to Magic Power.’
[※Magic Power 1->10 complete.]
[Blood Magic-Basic -> Blood Magic-Introduction] [Will rise to Apprentice grade when Magic Power reaches 20 points] [Random skill has been generated]
Fortunately no sparks occurred like when magic power was generated.
[Blood Magic-Introduction] [Passive – Blood] : Resource used instead of mana. Has higher output than normal mana. [Remaining Blood: 43] [※]
The question about blood magic was solved.
Simply as I thought. Using my blood instead of mana.
What divides nobles and commoners is the presence of mana.
In other words, though I’m a commoner, I can use magic by putting my life on the line.
‘A double-edged sword. What’s the random skill?’
And when I focused on the caution mark, a new window appeared.
[※You can select one of 3 generated random skills] [※Unselected skills may reappear next time] [※Will be randomly selected if not chosen within 30 seconds]
[Hemostasis-Passive] Blood consumption value decreases by 5%.
[Vigorous-Passive] Blood generation cycle becomes 5% faster.
[Equivalent Exchange(Physical)-Active] Body is strengthened by % of Blood used.
Wow……
No elemental magic like I thought, two passives and one active.
As if telling me to just carry luggage, even the one active could hardly be called magic.
But there’s no reason to choose passive when there’s no Blood consumption yet.
‘Going with Equivalent Exchange.’
[Selection complete.]
[Equivalent Exchange(Physical)-Active] Body is strengthened by 2n% for n% Blood used. Trigger word: ‘I shall pay the price with blood’
Using blood to strengthen the body… content that would shock science majors.
Performance is better than expected. The problem is…
‘Trigger word…… really?’
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Academy life, can I do well?