Chapter 71: Second Day at the Federation

It had taken hours for Lillith to finish feeding. Even my mana was starting to strain from the ridiculous amount of healing magic I was outputting.

Unlike my joke from before, it seemed her evolution into a vampire queen really had turned her fangs into straws. Or at least, it goddamn felt like it.

The last thing I remembered was Lillith pulling away, her lips stained red, her eyes apologetic. Then the world tilted sideways, and the floor rose up to meet me.

And then, nothing.

Sunlight peered through the curtains as I took a minute to process what had just happened. I was back in my own room. In my own bed. The sheets were clean, the curtains were drawn, and there was no sign that I’d collapsed in a blood-soaked dormitory the night before.

"Did I... did I actually pass out?"

The thought alone made me shiver. If that was true, she had enough power to probably destroy this entire academy by now.

Sure, I might be exaggerating. But the sheer fact that she had overpowered my healing magic, despite my absurd mana capacity, and caused me to pass out was a feat I couldn’t even verbalize properly.

Before I could dwell on the absurdity any further, I noticed a small, clean note beside me as I sat up.

It was a letter, and on its front was the name ’Lillith’ written in what was obviously blood. Whose blood, however? That was something I didn’t know.

"I cleaned everything up and brought you to your room when I noticed you stopped talking. I hope you’ll forgive me for overfeeding...?"

I read the letter aloud, and I couldn’t help but laugh. She was like a vampiric version of Trish in the letter.

But obviously, I hoped there’d be more to it than that. The more distinct the villainesses, the better.

✧ ✦ ✧

I went to the special training room the moment I got my bearings. But I couldn’t help but rub the part of my neck where she’d bitten.

Despite my healing magic, some unique phantom pain remained. There was no bite mark, yet the pain stayed.

"Stiff neck?"

"Very, guess I’m not used to this place’s bedding..."

"You sound spoiled."

"You aren’t wrong."

Aqua greeted me by the door, holding a Citadel-labeled textbook all about ice and fire. It looked like they were finally starting to teach in earnest after using up all of yesterday helping us fit in.

Although they were definitely doing the bare minimum to teach us. Their main goal was Lucius, after all.

While Aqua got a book, which I guessed was useful, Lucius had an entire entourage. Even Jean by the side stared at him with envy and bewilderment. In his hands was a book all about different kinds of stones.

He had it even worse than Aqua. While she got an actual magical book, he got a literal book about geology.

"You’re doing great, Lord Lucius."

The headmistress said as she watched Lucius project a blade of light from his swing. Even Rhaegar and Seraph were there, the first helping with his form, the other with his magical control.

Even Celeste was indirectly benefiting. In the novel, the Citadel had only given her better treatment than the other extras because of their intimate relationship with Lucius.

But for us? We got almost nothing.

"I see Lord Brimstone has finally come to join us."

The headmistress didn’t even look at me, flicking her arm as a book from a nearby shelf began to glow blue and hover before flying toward me.

I caught it without issue.

"Read that. It will be your task for today."

I’m getting a book as well, huh? I already expected this from the novel itself.

But there was something bugging me...

I glanced toward Lucius. He had turned toward me when the headmistress acknowledged my existence. I expected neutrality, like usual.

Or at least faint bitterness for me stealing Anna. But what I saw was completely different.

Unexpected, even.

He looked like he absolutely despised me.

"What...?"

I muttered.

✧ ✦ ✧

Deciding the book was useless, I ditched it entirely and sat on the benches at the side, increasing my mana output on the spells I was still maintaining even now.

The least I could do was push my mana capacity up another thirty percent before we returned to Leonis. It wasn’t like I could learn anything useful in this biased academy.

There wasn’t even any particularly useful information I had about the Federation that I could hunt down for an unfair advantage.

This place was as dry and boring as it could get for a background country that only existed because of one plot point.

Could I complain to Professor Lycan about this unfair curriculum? Yes. Would it ruin the plot? Also yes.

And fortunately for Lucius, that meant I had to keep making him powerful. Some of the villainesses I was gunning for would only exist if Lucius followed the exact script.

"Reyn, train me."

Aqua approached me after twenty minutes of swinging her sword around, practicing with her dual elements. After using them in yesterday’s fight, she saw no purpose in hiding them anymore.

"You’re finally accepting my offer?"

"More like forced to. We’re stuck here for a week, and I don’t think those professors will actually teach us anything."

She glanced toward the entourage that had nearly doubled around Lucius. Professional chefs, massage experts, and even a damn comfy recliner had been brought in for him.

He was living the high life, and Celeste was right there with him.

"Sure, but I want something in return."

"And what would that be?"

"I want you to look into Lucius for me, he’s been staring daggers at me everytime we make eye contact. And I want to know why."

"Now that you mention it..."

Aqua crossed her arms, briefly glancing toward Lucius and Seraph before looking back at me.

"...Never mind. Sure, I’ll accept your terms."

"Oh, and before we start, call me master."

"Don’t push your luck, Reyn..."