[471] Thoughts

Looking at Asagi Aiba, whose face was as radiant as a peach blossom, August couldn't bring himself to disturb her.

It had to be said, Asagi's drawing skills were impressive. The figure in her sketch was outlined with remarkable precision and lifelike detail.

But as August observed her, a trace of doubt crept into his mind.

Wasn't this progressing a bit too quickly? The leap felt enormous. Just a short while ago, she still had lingering feelings for Kojou Akatsuki. How had she suddenly developed an interest in him?

He'd overlooked one crucial detail: as the embodiment of desire, August naturally exuded an irresistible charm to women.

Once that spark ignited, her affection skyrocketed like a rocket.

"Hm?"

At that moment, Asagi noticed August standing close by.

The realization snapped her out of her daydreams in an instant.

"Hey, you're awake?"

"Uh…"

Embarrassment, frustration, awkwardness…

Asagi had never felt so mortified in her entire life.

Fantasizing in her head was one thing, but being caught red-handed by the very person she was thinking about? It was beyond humiliating.

"Thinking about it is one thing, but today, I'll take you for some hands-on experience."

"W-What?!"

The bombshell hit her hard, and Asagi froze.

Having no prior experience, she felt as though she'd been petrified in that moment, completely at August's mercy.

August, of course, took full advantage. Staying composed and unaffected? That wasn't his style.

---

Half an hour later, Asagi's face was so red it looked like it might drip water. Covering her face, she bolted out of the art room.

August felt a twinge of disappointment. In that brief time, he'd taken every opportunity to tease her, savoring every moment.

But her lingering reservations held her back, and he hadn't fully succeeded.

At the critical moment, Asagi had fled in a panic.

He tucked away the half-finished drawing.

Today had already been a big step. Asagi was practically his now—she couldn't escape.

Come to think of it, it seemed like he'd stolen all of Kojou Akatsuki's girls.

Wait, there was one more—Kojou's childhood friend, Yuma Tokoyogi, the girl created to free her mother.

And thinking of Yuma naturally led August to another person: Aya Tokoyogi.

Then there was Natsuki Minamiya, the witch who had been asleep in the prison barrier for years, her life's purpose reduced to guarding it even now.

After tidying up the art room, August returned to the office.

Natsuki was already back, seated at her desk grading assignments. Astalotte stood nearby, dressed in a maid outfit, ready to assist at a moment's notice.

These days, Astalotte seemed less like August's maid and more like Natsuki's.

"Hm? Where were you just now?"

"Chasing a girl."

"Chasing a girl? Hmph."

Natsuki didn't believe him. In all the time he'd been at Saikai Academy, August hadn't actively pursued any ordinary female students.

It made sense, she supposed. Despite his flirtatious nature, he wasn't desperate enough to go after just anyone—a small silver lining.

What Natsuki didn't realize was that August's tastes had simply become too refined. Having been with so many stunning women, he had little interest in ordinary girls.

"By the way, Natsuki-chan, I've got a question for you."

"Go ahead."

"Do you want to break free from the prison barrier?"

Snap.

In an instant, the pen Natsuki had been using to grade papers snapped in her grip.

Did she want to escape the prison barrier?

How could she not? No young woman in her prime would willingly accept being cursed to eternal sleep, forced to serve as the key to a prison. Anyone in her position would yearn to be free.

But as the guardian of the prison barrier—its gatekeeper, its gate, and its key—Natsuki had resolved herself to this fate long ago. She'd accepted that she would spend her life alone, sleeping eternally within the barrier.

"Don't bring that up again."

Her voice was calm, but a faint tremor betrayed her emotions.

"I can help you escape the prison barrier."

"No need. I'm fine with things as they are."

"But I'm not. After spending this time with you, Natsuki-chan, I've made up my mind. I'm going to make you my bishop. What do you think?"

"I think it's a terrible idea. Who'd want to be your bishop? And why 'bishop,' anyway?"

"Bishop is a rank among my vassals. I'm the king, and below me are the queen, knight, chariot, bishop, and soldier."

"You want to turn me into one of your vassals? In your dreams."

She rejected him without hesitation, but August wasn't fazed. He'd expected her to refuse.

Compared to others, Natsuki was far more challenging—but that only made her all the more enticing to conquer.

"Don't be so quick to say no. I can set you free, and then you can throw yourself into my arms without any worries."

"Get lost. Who's throwing themselves into your arms?"

"Come on, Natsuki-chan, we're so close now. No need to be shy."

"Who's shy? I'm denying it—denying it, got that?"

"No, you're just saying one thing and meaning another."

"Leave me alone."

Natsuki refused to entertain him further. She wanted to end this conversation quickly.

She had no doubt that August might actually do something to the prison barrier.

Freeing her was next to impossible.

A witch, after all, was a woman who had made a pact with a demon.

Through their role as a demon's "guardian," witches could wield powers akin to those of demons. Despite being human, they could manipulate magic on par with high-ranking demons, their skills surpassing even the most elite mages.

But such a pact came at a cost. For Natsuki, the price of becoming a witch was her role as the prison barrier's keeper.

Alone, she was destined to seal away that vast, empty prison until her death.

The prison barrier existed as her dreamscape, meaning she had to remain trapped in that otherworldly realm, sleeping forever to maintain its seal.

And if August wanted to free her—to wake her up—the cost would be the prison barrier reemerging into the world.

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