The next morning.
I woke up on the boat, unable to remember when I had fallen asleep.
Silvia lay covered in a thin cloth and blanket, her graceful curves catching my eye as I stared absentmindedly.
She looked elegant and beautiful, her delicate, fluttering eyelashes adding to her charm even in deep sleep.
Her milky-white skin was so soft and smooth; it was hard to believe she had been in my arms last night.
“...”
She really was sound asleep.
— Rustle, Rustle.
When she’s awake, Silvia is graceful and a bit like a feisty cat.
But while asleep, she looks irresistibly cute and lovable. Maybe that’s why her usual sharp gaze appeared gentler now?
“I’ve seen two different sides of you.”
Silvia looks adorable when she’s asleep.
But when we’re together like this, she can be so poised, uttering bold words with that dignified expression.
It was fascinating to see these new sides of her.
— Slip!
And I felt a surge of excitement, too.
“When will this insatiable desire end?”
I wrapped a blanket around my lower half, though it seemed pointless. Still, the fact that I tried was what mattered... I think.
“Hmm.”
I noticed Silvia’s hair brushing the floor.
As I was gently arranging it, she slowly opened her eyes.
Blink, Blink.
She blinked twice gracefully and asked,
“...Ian, did you sleep well?”
“Yes. And you?”
“I did. I don’t even remember when I fell asleep. I usually don’t sleep well at night.”
Silvia tilted her head curiously, genuinely wondering. I recalled last night... or rather, the early hours of the morning.
During one of our many close moments, Silvia’s body tensed, and she began to tremble.
— Haah... Mmm!
What escaped from her mouth was less of a moan and more a deep, heavy breath.
It was as if the sound came from deep within her.
Shudder!
Silvia’s legs quivered, and soon her entire body started trembling.
Then she collapsed, her eyes losing focus.
— Silvia, are you okay?!
I was quite startled at the time, right until she began breathing softly in her sleep.
‘Come to think of it, Danya has been like this before, too.’
I checked on Silvia’s condition—her breathing, pulse, and pupil response were all normal.
She seemed at peace, so I laid her comfortably, watching her until I drifted off myself.
“Ahh, I feel refreshed! I wish I could wake up like this every day.”
Silvia stretched, extending her arms, a slight yawn escaping her lips.
My gaze lingered on the smooth, fair skin of her underarms, and I quickly averted my eyes.
When would this fervor finally end?
I sighed softly, adding another blanket to cover myself as Silvia tilted her head and asked.
“Hey, Ian.”
“Yeah?”
“How was it yesterday?”
That was an unexpected question.
Of course, I sometimes wonder if Silvia was satisfied too, but...
There was an unusual coolness in her tone.
“It was... wonderful.”
“Hm.”
Silvia crossed her arms, looking down at me.
I felt a strange pang in my chest.
Her next question revealed the reason for this unease.
“Was it better with me than with Danya?”
A chill ran down my spine.
Silvia’s direct questions are always so piercing.
I hadn’t hidden it, but when had she figured out that Danya and I had been intimate?
And how should I answer this?
“...”
After a brief hesitation, I shook my head.
This isn’t just my problem; it’s everyone’s problem.
“The issue is that there’s no way to prove it.”
All I have are suspicions and doubts.
And if I share this theory with someone and turn out to be wrong, I’d definitely be seen as some weirdo.
It’s a kind of conspiracy theory, after all.
“Who could I turn to for help?”
That was the dilemma—if you could call it that.
“...Actually, I might know just the place.”
A flash of insight struck me.
◆
The ‘Occult Research Club’ was located in the same building as the ‘Dessert Club.’
As soon as Lupina, the only member and head of the Occult Research Club, saw me, she trembled and started backing away.
“Ah... Eek...!”
...What’s this?
Is she chanting a spell?
I tilted my head in confusion, and Lupina squeaked, hurrying to a corner.
“D-Don’t hit me!”
...What exactly does she think of me?
Instead of scolding her, I raised my hands.
It was body language meant to reassure her I had no intention of harming her.
People like her were never convinced by words alone.
Finally, a slightly calmer Lupina asked cautiously.
“A-Are you here because of last time?”
“Last time?”
I tilted my head, wondering what she meant by that.
Did we even have a “last time” worth mentioning?
“When the D-Dessert Club first tried to secure a room... I, um, interfered...”
Ah, right.
Now I remembered. Lupina had tried to monopolize the building and even used hypnosis to try and drive us away.
Honestly, I didn’t mind too much.
Thanks to her, we basically have this whole building to ourselves.
One thing, however, came to mind.
“Didn’t you promise to do something as a forfeit for losing back then?”
“Eek!!!”
Lupina scurried back to the wall once again.
What on earth did she agree to that she’s so scared about now?
“I... I haven’t showered for two days, so I probably... smell. I-I’ll help you next time, I promise.”
“???”
I couldn’t follow this conversation at all.
Her eyes filled with tears, so I decided to get straight to the point.
“Whatever it is, I’m not here to claim any compensation today.”
“R-Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Then... is it about rent? A friendship fee?”
Friendship fee? Seriously?
“Nothing like that. I came to ask for some advice.”
“A... advice? From... from someone like me?”
Despite her words, a wide grin spread across Lupina’s face.
It seemed I might be the first person to ever seek her out for advice.
‘She really wears her emotions on her sleeve.’
I guess spending all her time alone researching dark magic in a place like this must get lonely.
Though she might seem gloomy, her nature didn’t seem all that bad.
After finishing my mental assessment of her, I finally got to the topic.
“It might just be a conspiracy theory...”
“C-Conspiracy theory?”
Haa, Haa.
Lupina’s breathing grew heavier.
...I really had come to the right place.
Her cheeks flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkled.
I presented my hypothesis to her.
“It seems that all the academy students are... in heat.”