Today, I discovered just how draining it could be to stay in class. I’d experienced this in my past life, but it was surprising to feel it all over again.
“I guess schools are pretty much the same, even in another world,” I muttered to myself.
As I walked back to my dorm, something caught my eye.
“Mmmm~”
I glanced over to see a strange woman sprawled on a bench, her body curled up tightly as if trying to ward off the cold. It was no surprise, really, given the chill in the air—winter was just around the corner. She was clad in a short skirt, her bare legs exposed to the icy breeze that nipped at her skin.
The woman in question had silver ash-colored hair that framed her face, and her eyes, when open, were a striking blue. Her name was Yr.
I recognized her immediately—she was one of my classmates, and someone I had my sights set on dominating.
“Mmm… Mn?”
Her eyes fluttered open, revealing their vivid blue hue as they locked onto me. As she stared, a thin stream of snot began to trickle from her nose and slowly ran down her face. She didn’t even flinch, leaving it there as she closed her eyes once more. Then, with a slight opening of her mouth, she muttered,
“…Pervert.”
I felt a vein throb violently on my forehead. Who the hell does she think she is, calling me a pervert? I was just—well, a bit concerned, that’s all.
“Hey,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “If you stay here like this, the patrol will find you and punish you. You know that, right?”
“I don’t want to talk to a pervert,” she shot back, her voice muffled.
The vein on my forehead bulged even further, almost like it was about to burst. I decided it was better to just walk away. But as soon as I spun around, I heard her sneeze loudly.
“Achoo!”
I sighed and then went toward her.
“Why would you sleep here especially since winter is coming?” I said to her. “And don’t call me a pervert for asking. I’m just wondering since it’s pretty ballsy of you to do it here. I know you like sleeping, but I can’t just believe that you love it so much you’d risk getting a cold.”
She remained silent, ignoring me completely.
I sighed again, the exasperation clear in my breath. Without waiting for a response, I began stripping off my uniform. I still had a white long sleeve underneath, so I wouldn’t be completely exposed. I carefully draped it over her, hoping it would offer some warmth. The moment I covered her, I heard the distinct chime of a metallic bell, signaling that I’d managed to pique her interest.
—
You’ve captured the interest of Yr. You can now proceed to dominate her.
Name: Yr
Race: Demon-Human Hybrid
Requirements to dominate Yr:
1. Make her sleep on your lap for five hours straight
2. Unlock
3. Unlock
4. Unlock
….
—
Her first requirement was quite challenging, but I figured it was something I could handle later. As I scanned over her list, I noticed her pulling my uniform tighter around her shivering frame. Her eyes, once half-lidded, were now wide open, staring at me with a mix of gratitude and desperation.
“Once you’ve had your nap and the sun sets, make sure you head back to your dorm. Otherwise, you’re going to catch a cold,” I advised, turning to walk away. But before I could take another step, I felt a soft tug on my sleeve. The way she held onto it, so delicately, made me stop in my tracks and look back at her. Her gaze was locked on me, snot still trailing from her nose, adding a bizarre contrast to her otherwise innocent expression.
“Can I sleep in your dorm?” she finally murmured, her voice thick with drowsiness, barely able to stay awake.
What did she just say? No, I heard her loud and clear. She was actually asking if she could crash in my dorm.
“Why?” I asked/
“I lost the key to my room,” she admitted, her voice muffled by the thick, runny snot dripping down her face. She didn’t even bother to wipe it away; she just sniffled it back up, only for more to trail down in a continuous stream.
“You lost the key to your room?” I repeated. “Why not just ask the dorm mother for a spare key?”
“I’ve lost my key more times than I can count,” she admitted. “The dorm mother made it clear that this was my final warning. She practically bit my head off the last time I asked for a spare key. But… I lost it again.”
I almost face-palmed right there. Seriously? This woman was on a whole different level of scatterbrained. It was almost absurd how she managed to find herself in these situations. But what really threw me off was her next request—no, demand.
“You told me if I didn’t get to my dorm before sunset, I’d catch a cold out here,” she continued. “I don’t want that, but I can’t get into my room because, well, I lost my key again. So, since you’re the one who decided to be all concerned, it’s only fair that you let me stay in your dorm. You’ve got the responsibility now.”
Now she was trying to shove the responsibility onto me.
“Well, it’s not really a problem,” I said. “I barely spend time at my dorm anyway, but don’t you think it’s a bit off to ask me instead of your friends? Even though the academy is pretty lenient about sexual relations, it’s still risky to crash in someone’s room, especially when it’s the room of the opposite sex.”
“I know you’re a pervert,” she said. “But I don’t think you’re the type to take advantage of someone while they’re asleep.”
That was an unexpectedly accurate description of me. Yr must have a sharp eye for reading people if she could figure that out, especially since we barely interacted.
“Besides, I don’t have any friends to ask to let me stay in their room anyway.”
Her words struck a chord with me. It was true—Yr was pretty much a loner. She spent most of her time sleeping through class and often looked so disconnected that it felt like she was in a different reality altogether.
I sighed deeply. I was prepared to offer her a temporary spot in my dorm until she managed to get a new key. Just as I was about to agree, she interrupted me with a sudden remark.
“If you let me sleep in your room, I’ll tell you a secret. Something about the girl who likes to skip class.”
I had been ready to let her stay without any strings attached, but now she dangled a juicy tidbit in front of me like a carrot on a stick. It made me even more inclined to agree. I had no idea how she knew I had an interest in Trill, but then I remembered Yr’s skill. She had the ability to gather information effortlessly, even from a single spot. It was a powerful tool for uncovering details that even the most skilled information brokers would envy.
