The night at St. Celestia Academy turned out to be far colder than what I had described in the novel.
The night wind pierced through the thin black robe I was wearing, sending goosebumps across my skin. But the main problem wasn't the cold air, it was... these damn shoes.
CLACK... CLACK...
The sound of seven-centimeter stiletto heels clicking against the silent stone corridor floor.
'Who's the idiot writer who designed the female dorm uniform with high heels for walking around at night?! Oh right, that was me. Damn you, Past Me!'
I cursed myself inwardly while trying to walk stealthily—which was, of course, impossible in shoes like these. My destination was the Old Library in the east wing.
According to my novel's lore, behind the bookshelves in the Ancient History section, there's a secret box containing the Aether Ring. That item can create an automatic mana shield capable of withstanding any physical attack for 10 seconds. It's my only hope of surviving the Chimera's claws next month.
The hallway was pitch black, lit only by moonlight streaming in from the high windows. The shadows of gargoyle statues on the pillars seemed to watch me with hungry eyes.
'I'm scared... I swear, I'm terrified of dark places like this. Why didn't I just write a Slice of Life genre?'
Suddenly, my ears caught another sound.
Scuff...
The sound of footsteps dragging softly. Not the sound of high heels. Did that sound like house slippers?
My heart stopped for a second. There was someone else here. Security guard? Teacher on duty? Or the dorm ghost I wrote about in the Halloween side story?
I froze, trying to hold my breath.
From the corridor corner up ahead, a silhouette emerged.
Moonlight hit her face. Round glasses reflecting the light, messy short brown hair, and... a thin silk pajama that was somewhat transparent?
Jessica Miller.
She stood there, hugging a worn-out teddy bear, staring at me with wide eyes.
'Jessica?! What is she doing wandering around at this hour? And... wait a minute...'
My eyes... unconsciously, I looked her up and down, settling on her pajamas. The silk was incredibly thin. And because of the cold air, something beneath that fabric was visibly protruding.
'RENJI! YOUR EYES! WATCH YOUR EYES! DON'T BE A PERVERTED OLD MAN!'
I mentally slapped my own cheek. But on the outside, Olivia's body reacted in its own way. I straightened my back, crossed my arms over my chest, and stared at Jessica with a sharp, judging gaze.
"O-Olivia-sama?" Jessica squeaked. Her voice trembled.
I wanted to ask her. "What are you doing here? It's dangerous, go back to your room quickly, you might catch a cold."
My mouth opened.
"A lost little rat," my voice hissed low, full of mockery. "Is your cage too small that you have to soil my private hallway with those cheap pajamas?"
Jessica didn't run. Instead, she took a step forward. Her bare feet touched the cold floor.
"I... I couldn't sleep," she answered quietly. "I was looking for a book."
'A book? At this hour? What kind of excuse is that?'
Before I could even process her lie, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway behind me. The sound of iron boots.
THUD... THUD... THUD...
Night Watch Patrol! Crap. If I get caught, my dorm points will be deducted and I could get detention. I can't have a bad record before my escape plan is solid!
Panic set in. I had to hide. But where?
My eyes caught a narrow gap between two large trophy display cabinets beside us. Just enough for two people if they squeezed in tight.
Without thinking, I grabbed Jessica's wrist.
"Come with me," I hissed.
I pulled her roughly, throwing her into the dark gap, then I followed in and pressed her body against the wall so we wouldn't be seen from the outside.
The situation was... very bad.
This space was incredibly tight. My body was pressed firmly against Jessica's.
My chest pressed against hers. Our thighs touched.
Her scent... a mixture of vanilla soap and sweet sweat, instantly filled my nostrils. She was so small, so soft, and so... fragrant.
'AAAAAAH! THIS IS TOO CLOSE! MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE, DAMMIT...!'
My blood rushed wildly. As a guy who had been single for 28 years, being pressed up against a sexy woman (even while in another woman's body) was the toughest test of faith in my entire life.
Jessica looked up at me. Our faces were only five centimeters apart. Her warm breath brushed against my chin. Her eyes behind those glasses glinted in the darkness.
"O-Olivia-sama..." she whispered.
"Quiet," I cut in quickly.
I wanted to cover her mouth with my hand so she wouldn't make a sound when the guard passed.
But my hand movement was interpreted differently by the "Villainess Filter."
Instead of covering her mouth, my hand gripped Jessica's chin, forcing her face up. My thumb brushed her trembling lower lip with a slow, sensual movement.
I had her cornered, a perfect Kabedon in a narrow space.
"If you make a single sound..." I whispered right into her ear, my voice husky and low, "I will make sure this sweet tongue of yours never speaks again."
Jessica's body tensed up. But strangely, she didn't struggle. Her hands clutching the teddy bear actually squeezed the fabric of my robe.
Her breathing grew heavy.
"Do it..." she whispered softly, almost inaudibly.
'Huh? Do what? Does she mean kill her? Or...?'
THUD... THUD... THUD...
The guard's footsteps got closer. Lantern light swept across the floor in front of our hiding spot. I held my breath, pressing my body even tighter against Jessica so our shadows would blend into the darkness.
I could feel Jessica's heart going crazy. Thump-thump-thump-thump. Just as fast as mine.
Was she scared? Or...
The guard stopped right in front of the cabinet gap.
Rustle.
He adjusted his sword belt. Then, after a moment that felt like a century, he walked away again.
THUD... thud... thud...
The sound of footsteps faded into the distance.
I let out a long sigh of relief.
"Hahh..."
I was about to let go of Jessica and back away. But suddenly, Jessica's hand grabbed my waist. Her grip was surprisingly strong, unlike the weak girl I had depicted in the novel.
"You're looking for the Aether Ring, aren't you?"
The question slipped from Jessica's lips, calm and flat.
I just stood there frozen, hearing that question.
Slowly, I looked down at her. That innocent face was now adorned with a faint smirk. Very subtle, but enough to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
"How..." my voice choked. "How do you know about that thing?"
The Aether Ring was a Secret Item. Not even Kevin knew about it. Only I, the author, knew.
Jessica released her embrace, smoothed out her slightly rumpled pajamas, then looked at me with a gaze that was hard to decipher. There was longing, there was pain, and there was hidden dominance there.
"The item isn't there anymore, Sister," she said softly. "I've already moved it."
What?
"Moved it?" I repeated, confused.
Jessica stepped closer again, forcing me to take a step back until my back hit the wall. She, an innocent Heroine, was now the one cornering me.
Her hand reached out, touching the Black Rose mark on my exposed upper chest. Her index finger traced the flower petals with a seductive motion.
"This curse will kill you faster than that Chimera if you're not careful," she whispered. "Come to my room tonight if you want that ring. I'll give it to you... but it won't be for free."
She then stood on her tiptoes, bringing her lips close to my ear.
"You can pay for it with your body."
Jessica then stepped back slowly, and smiled sweetly as if she hadn't just said the craziest thing in the world, then turned around and walked casually into the darkness of the corridor.
I was left alone in that narrow gap, completely dumbfounded.
My brain lagged a bit.
'What... what was that just now? A Heroine blackmailing a Villainess? Asking for my body as payment? WHAT KIND OF CHARACTER IS JESSICA ACTUALLY?! I NEVER WROTE DETAILS ABOUT HER BEING A PSYCHOPATHIC LESBIAN!'
I slid down to sit on the floor, clutching my chest that was thundering.
This manuscript isn't just ruined. This manuscript has been burned to ashes, the ashes thrown into the sea, and then eaten by a shark.