BJ Villainess Chapter 177

* * *

The <Practical Combat Magic> professor said with a troubled expression, “Since there is no basis for evaluation, a re-examination will be held.”

 

“Aah.”

 

Dissatisfied sighs erupted from here and there. Some even looked at me.

 

The exam to explore the forest became pointless due to the sudden appearance of the whale ghost.

 

The professor announced the re-examination schedule and, after a sigh that seemed to carry a mixture of resignation and consideration, added, “Theresa will be excluded from the exam.”

 

Magical animals move of their own free will, as do ghosts. So, if there’s ever a situation where they could assist me, today’s scenario could be repeated multiple times.

 

The professor, keeping this in mind, said, “Submit a report on what happened today and, going forward, research specialized exploration methods as a substitute for the exam.”

 

“Yes, Professor.”

 

“Dismissed! Head straight back to Valhalla.”

 

Students murmured among themselves as they climbed onto horses and carriages.

 

As I approached my horse, Clyde approached and took my hand. Blinking in the confusion, students, equally surprised, silently watched us.

 

Ignoring or perhaps enjoying the atmosphere, Clyde spoke gently, “My servant will bring your horse, so let’s ride in my carriage together.”

 

I was about to say I was fine but swallowed my words. To receive a token of love from him, our emotional bond needed to deepen, requiring more time together.

 

“Okay.”

 

I followed Clyde into the carriage, where towels and fluffy outerwear were prepared for two. It seems he brought the carriage intending to take me with him.

 

Clyde sat next to me, gently drying his hair with a towel. Beneath the towel partially covering his view, his full lips curved in satisfaction.

 

“Hey, Clyde.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“I’d like to keep our relationship a secret.”

 

His hand, softly rubbing his cheek with the towel, stopped. “Why?” His voice remained gentle, but a chill was palpable.

 

“If word gets out that we’re together, our families won’t stand idly by.”

 

Mentioning family issues, Clyde sighed softly.

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to meet in secret to avoid interference?”

 

“Secret.” Mimicking my words, Clyde lifted the towel to meet my gaze, “It seems there’s more to it than just that reason.”

 

My heart skipped. But nothing good will come from others finding out about us. Especially not knowing how Ilya might react.

 

Clyde gently bumped his forehead against mine, his smile gone. “I’m upset.”

 

I wanted to say it’s generally wise to keep workplace or school relationships private, but that essentially meant preparing for a breakup, so I refrained. It would only upset Clyde further.

 

Seeing me silent, Clyde spoke up, “If I say I’m upset, you’re supposed to comfort me.”

 

“I’m not good at that kind of thing…?”

 

“Should I teach you?”

 

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Romance Pass’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Teach her! Teach her! Teach her! Teach her! Teach her! Teach her! Teach her!]

 

His questioning gaze turned playful, his eyes shimmering clear and transparent yet somehow vulgar. What they say about the face being the basis of plausibility seemed true.

 

I refused. “No.” Accepting his surely mischievous proposal could only end poorly.

 

Seeing my firm expression, Clyde licked his lips. “Not as foolish as I thought. Our Theresa.”

 

It felt like I’d been insulted like this somewhere before…

 

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Bet Your Life on Theresa’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Don’t call a fool a fool!]

 

Why isn’t that comment being blocked? It’s hate speech.

 

As I frowned, Clyde, finding something amusing, laughed and hugged me.

 

“I really do like you.”

 

Then he rubbed his face against my cheek, temple, and hair, making a mess of my braids. I dropped my head to signal him to stop, but he clung to me more eagerly.

 

After three rounds of this, I found myself trapped against the carriage wall with nowhere to escape. The carriage filled with damp air grew stuffy. It felt increasingly hot.

 

Clyde, with a smile that seemed to come and go, let his long lashes fall and breathed heavily. His breath was too close, making me want to scratch my cheek.

 

“…Move over, it’s uncomfortable.”

 

Expecting him to make a mischievous face and tease, he surprisingly moved away.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

The silence became awkward.

 

I looked out the right window and Clyde at the left. The carriage jolted, and despite the loud rain beating on the roof and windows, the rustle of clothing and soft sighs sounded like thunder, all because Clyde was intertwining our pinky fingers.

 

* * *

Ten days remained until the start of summer vacation. A day had passed since the quest appeared, leaving nine days.

 

Clyde was not as persistent as I thought. Yesterday, upon arriving at Valhalla, aside from diligently escorting me to lectures, the cafeteria, and the library, he didn’t do anything else.

 

Well, upon reflection, there was something. He naturally joined me for lunch, and in the library, he took the seat next to mine, stacked books in front of us, and shamelessly watched me. His gaze was distracting, so I asked him why he was doing that.

 

His nonsensical response was, “I hid behind books. You couldn’t see me.”

 

Did he really think setting up a book fort in the library would make the conspicuously lying student council president invisible?

 

The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. It’s like human Clyde’s doing but without his unique hair and piercings. It’s so confusing.

 

Several times, I looked closely, wondering if Clyde had returned. Each time, his grin made it clear he hadn’t.

 

Anyway, being lovers seems like a much lighter relationship than I expected. I had braced myself for something stickier and more troublesome.

 

Being an incubus’s lover. Having hugged and kissed the male protagonists before, I assumed it would be no less intense. Have my standards for relationships decayed? I felt a bit of self-loathing.

 

“What exactly is a lover?”

 

Muttering to myself, Eloise, who was tending to my hair, responded. “A lover?”

 

“Yeah. I was wondering what people do when they start dating.”

 

Eloise dropped her comb. “Milady, are you dating…?”

 

“No! It’s not about me; I’m just curious. I don’t really know what newly dating people do.”

 

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Fact is Violence’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Not about me = definitely about me.]

 

Eloise narrowed her eyes and slowly picked up the comb from the floor. “At the beginning of a relationship, it’s usually eating delicious food together, watching plays, and taking walks. Just sharing leisure activities.”

 

“Ah… Is that so?”

 

The content was unexpectedly wholesome compared to my thoughts of holding hands, hugging, and kissing, making me feel embarrassed. I really might have become weird. I wanted to tear my hair out.

 

Eloise pressed me again. “You’re really not dating, are you?”

 

“It’s not like that. Who would I be dating?”

 

“Always be cautious of men, Milady. Especially now, when your situation is unique.”

 

I finally grasped Eloise’s concern. With the Squire family possibly regaining their past glory and rediscovering lost arcane magic, she worried about opportunists.

 

Those types were easier to handle. But the male protagonists didn’t care whether I had butterfly or dragonfly wings in my shadow; they were solely focused on my affection.

 

“Got it. I’ll be careful.”

 

“Anyone approaching you now has ulterior motives, so don’t even give them a glance. Kick them hard here, and it’s a one-shot!”

 

“Uh…”

 

I couldn’t bear to look where Eloise was pointing and stood up. “I’m off to school.”

 

“Wait, Milady! It’s raining, so take an umbrella.”

 

I took the yellow umbrella Eloise offered and left the dormitory. The rain that started yesterday continued today.

 

“Today, the clouds are ash-colored.”

 

Though it was time for the sun to be up, the sky wasn’t as clear as yesterday and oddly murky. I opened the umbrella and stepped out. Then, someone suddenly hugged me from behind.

 

“!”

 

The strength of the embrace lifted my feet halfway off the ground. The breath on my exposed nape sent shivers down my spine.

 

It was Clyde. He looked slightly angry as he stared at me.

 

“Do we need to hide the fact that we’re dating?”

 

He must have overheard my conversation with Eloise.

 

His sulkiness aside, I curiously asked, “How long have you been here?”

 

My departure time for school was quite early. Moreover, today, I was about to head to the library for exam study at the crack of dawn, but Clyde ambushed me as if he had been waiting.

 

Clyde gruffly replied, “Don’t know,” and rubbed his face aggressively against my nape.

 

Hmm… Was this his way of complaining, asking to be soothed because he was very upset?