Chapter 86 - Gotta Find a Chance to Try It!

The dormitories of St. Freya Academy were located in the southeast corner of the campus, rows of white-walled, steep-roofed European-style villas neatly arranged.

Each floor was a suite, with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a balcony—more than enough for two students.

Of course, if someone wanted a room to themselves, they could apply, and the school would definitely approve.

Perhaps it was because of Nagami and the others' special circumstances—or maybe it was just the principal opening a back door for her niece.

But they were housed in the back row of these villas, which had originally been intended for St. Freya's faculty.

These villas were impressively spacious, capable of housing an entire swarm of abin (Nagami's playful term for some random creatures, perhaps?), but for Nagami and the others, there was just one complaint: there were too many rooms.

That meant Nagami's dream of sharing a room with others was instantly dashed.

Under Himeko's guidance, everyone registered their information into the dormitory's ID system before heading inside to choose their rooms.

The interiors were not only fully furnished and well-equipped but also featured high-end facilities—some so exclusive, you couldn't buy them even if you had the money.

Special St. Freya supplies.

Nagami didn't really care about which room he got or how it was furnished.

He turned to Mei, who stood quietly beside him, waiting for him to decide.

With a casual wave, he pointed to a room that looked decent enough.

"Alright, I'll take this one."

Nagami gave a nearly imperceptible nod, his gaze drifting around the cozy room before settling on the plush, inviting bed.

That bed really did look more and more appealing the longer he stared at it.

"Then I'll take the room next door," Mei said softly.

With a graceful motion, she brushed her silky, wine-purple hair behind her ear, her cheeks tinged pink.

After all, for a girl, making the first move like this was still a bit embarrassing.

Meanwhile, the heiress Kiana/ "Sirin" and the tuna Kiana were also waiting for C.C. to make her choice.

After hesitating for a moment, the green-haired girl stepped forward, choosing the room on the other side of Nagami's.

"Sirin", knowing C.C. was essentially Nagami's other self, was a little more reserved about it.

But Kiana wasn't holding back at all—hugs, cuddles, snuggles, even kisses.

Well, they hadn't gone that far yet—not because Kiana didn't want to, but because "Sirin" had put her foot down.

Honestly, as a perfectly normal guy, facing this situation was… a bit too much. C.C.'s body might have been okay with it, but Nagami's body definitely wasn't.

After all, they were fundamentally the same person.

Whether Kiana was holding C.C. or Nagami, it was all the same for "Nagami."

The result? Nagami's already energetic body had grown even more… um, energetic.

As the girls busied themselves tidying up their rooms, Nagami retreated to the living room, flopping onto the sofa.

He stared blankly at the ceiling, deep in thought.

The memory of their earlier shared bath flickered in his mind, as vivid as a rushing torrent—and it did nothing to douse the flickering spark of desire in his heart.

If anything, it just stoked the flames higher.

Nagami shifted to his side on the couch, his eyes locked on C.C.

His gaze slid down from her perfectly sculpted shoulders to those long, smooth, snow-pale legs—graceful and tantalizing.

Maybe… just maybe… he should find a chance to try it out again?

Seriously, what guy wouldn't be tempted in this situation?

Nagami took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the fire in his chest.

Impulse is the devil.

Impulse is the devil.

Impulse is the devil!

—It had to be said three times for emphasis.

He felt like he was teetering on the edge of an abyss.

In his mind, a little devil appeared, whispering in his ear with honeyed words.

"Come on, it's just yourself, why hold back? It's not like it's with anyone else."

"It's just… trying out an old trick in a new way~"

"This is only human nature!"

But across from that little devil, a radiant little angel shimmered with golden light, her expression solemn.

She met Nagami's eyes, then turned her stern gaze on the devil.

"He's right."

The angel's gentle, holy voice echoed in Nagami's mind.

In that moment, Nagami heard an odd, almost sinister crack, as if something deep inside him had finally snapped.

In the void, his pitch-black eyes met the swirling gold of the angel's—each flashing with a hint of eerie light.

'Decision made!'

These next couple of days… he was going to find a chance to try it out!

———————————————————————

Elsewhere, a floating city slowly emerged from the clouds, one of the world's most cutting-edge technological marvels: a sky island.

On the island rose towering steel structures, exuding the stark, futuristic vibe of cyberpunk design.

Airships and small floating craft traced meteor-like paths across the blue sky, leaving fleeting trails above the city of metal and glass.

Yet for those standing atop the island, the view was something else entirely: a crystal-clear blue sky, clouds drifting lazily, birds gathering on the lush green lawn, and the morning breeze rustling through the leaves—peaceful and serene.

Amid it all, a ship unlike the others streaked across the sky like a falling star…

With a deafening roar of engines, the floating battleship finally came to a halt on a landing pad at the heart of the aerial island.

The thrusters powered down, the rotors stopped spinning, and the entire vessel fell into complete silence— like a slumbering steel behemoth.

The hatch opened with a hiss, and from within emerged the Archbishop of Schicksal, dressed in ceremonial robes adorned with a golden cross over his chest.

Following close behind was a nun with long white braided hair—Amber, the Archbishop's personal secretary.

Golden strands of hair fluttered around his forehead as Otto calmly observed the scene before him: two lines of Valkyries stood at attention, flanked by several researchers in white lab coats.

They looked as though they were awaiting an inspection from a superior.

"That won't be necessary. Take me to the little princess."

Otto's tone was calm—too calm.

And yet, his words carried a weight that could suffocate.

"Y-Yes, sir!"

———————————————————————

Due to a sudden order halting her scheduled experiment, the girl returned to her empty room—just like always.

After a bath, she changed into a light, airy set of loungewear.

Her moonlight-white hair cascaded down her back, and her bare, delicate shoulders glowed with a faint blush—rosy and pale, like porcelain kissed by wine.

The blue-and-white porcelain that used to decorate her desk had all been removed.

In their place hung a portrait of a green-haired girl and a black-haired boy.

With slender hands lifting the hem of her dress slightly, the silver-haired girl sat before the desk, quietly sketching the unfinished portrait with utmost care.

Her movements were light and deliberate, as if she were drawing the most precious treasure in the world.

The figures on the canvas reflected in her sapphire eyes, catching a hint of shimmering light.

The sorrow that had lingered on her delicate features slowly faded, and the corners of her lips lifted into the faintest of smiles.

Thanks to a series of inexplicable "dreams," she had come to know their names:

Nagami and C.C.

Whenever she dreamt of being with them, it felt as though she was crossing endless space and time—rekindling emotions she thought she had long forgotten.

A cool breeze drifted through the open window, gently stirring the strands of long hair flowing down her back.

"You've really done a beautiful job~"

A gentle voice suddenly echoed by her ear, pulling her back from the depths of her inner world.

She had been so engrossed in painting that she hadn't even noticed the knock—or the footsteps.

"…Otto? You actually came here? Is there another special experiment?"

Her voice was ethereal and clear, tinged with a faint chill.

She shot a sidelong glance at Schicksal's supreme leader, her exquisite face bathed in sunlight as if wrapped in ice.

"There's no need for the Archbishop himself to come in person. Whatever the experiment is, I'll cooperate."

Her tone remained indifferent, as if she weren't the subject of the experiments at all—but merely an object.

"Don't be so cold. I'm simply here to visit the little princess today."

Otto offered a polite, elegant smile and reached out to pat her head, only for her to evade his touch.

"I'm not some little princess."

Her voice turned cold enough to freeze the air.

The white-haired girl stared into Otto's emerald eyes.

"All right, all right. No need to be angry, Kiana."

Otto's expression remained as gentle as ever.

(TL Note – Yes, this chapter was written on July 23, 2021, which is five months before Durandal's identity was revealed in the game. However, the author will catch up and explain in a later chapter about this)

"Why are you really here?"

Kiana raised her finely arched brows, her tone devoid of any respect for the Archbishop.

Otto didn't answer.

Instead, he picked up the sketch she had been carefully working on.

Even as Kiana's winter-like gaze fell upon him, he remained perfectly composed.

A slight smile played on his lips as he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Would you like to go find them?"

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