The sound of the instructors' footsteps echoed through the cracked corridors like an inevitable march, each beat bringing the forming mana storm closer. The destroyed hall still carried the heavy smell of burned flesh and dissipated corrupted mana, overturned tables forming improvised barricades, fallen chandeliers scattering broken crystals across the cracked marble floor, reflecting the faint light from the surviving floating lamps. Survivors grouped together in tense lines — a few injured mobs, some girls still panting from the residual trance of the Beast's Scent, my harem close to me like natural protection.
Rebecca discreetly wiped the residual wetness between her thighs, mana pulsing around her like an instinctive shield. "Shit… the instructors are coming. They interrogate everyone, and mobs like you are the first ones blamed. Stay calm — just say you fought to survive."
Olivia squeezed my hand harder, her torn uniform exposing white skin marked by light scratches from the battle. "Shade… what do we tell them? The anomaly appeared out of nowhere, but Marie won't take her eyes off us."
The blonde — Hailey, as she introduced herself breathlessly after the battle, "my name is Hailey, my lord… use me anytime" — nestled against my left arm, eyes still glazed with residual desire. The brunette — Sophia, voice low "Sophia… yours forever" — panted nearby, hands trembling on my waist as if seeking an anchor.
[Current PV: 9,312 / Base Consumption Stable: 0.85 PV/min]
[System: Fufufu~ Reinforcements packed with high noble mana, master. Scent diluted in a large crowd now — maximum 3 targets with full effect. Don't force direct touch, or the trance breaks in chain and they all snap back to original anger. Let them initiate contact voluntarily. PV rises subtly, but risk of accusation or prison if they link the pink anomaly to your SIS~]
Fuck, the limits of the Scent hit hard in a group. Perfect for small chaos, but here it diluted — and the uncontrollable desire rose in me too, the Beast whispering primal thoughts: line up the instructors, rip off their enchanted armor, fuck their pussies and asses one by one in the packed hall. My body burned with urgent need, different from common fantasy — it was something visceral, almost out of control.
The head instructor entered imposingly, a tall brunette with silver armor shining with strong mana, sharp eyes sweeping the debris and residual smoke from the dissipation. "Survivors! Form organized lines. The creature was dissipated — who exactly defeated the tyrant? Report the full sequence of the anomaly. Precise details, now."
The few surviving noble girls obeyed quickly, the matriarchal weight hanging in the air — heiresses straightening torn dresses, semi-human servants lining up in silence. Confused reports came from the girls who saw the end: "Monster appeared suddenly… focused on mobs… dissipated after intense fight in the center… one mob and some girls coordinated the final blow."
The princes had protected Marie and fled early to a safe area, but distorted reports from injured mobs and surrendered girls kept coming: "A hick fought hard… survived when the tyrant fell."
Marie, now back with them, irritated eyes fixed on me, subtly chewing her thumbnail in anxiety. "That mob… way too suspicious. Ruined the party with the chaos."
Personal resentment bubbled deep inside me — those idiot princes with fake smiles, the selfish reincarnated Marie stealing the script. In the original game, forced to chase them because my sister made me clear that stupid otome. The old indignation whispered clearly: destroy them.
I stayed in the line of surviving mobs — Daniel and Raymond with light injuries, but with subtle supportive looks. "You saved us, man… insane fight."
The instructor interrogated general survivors first, confused reports confirming: "Tyrant dissipated after coordinated blow… mob in the center with girls."
She turned to me, eyes narrowing. "You, Bartfort. Reports say you were at the center of the dissipation. Who exactly defeated the creature?"
The diluted Scent was still affecting her subtly. I activated it lightly on the three closest targets: her, Marie, another instructor. Soft effect — blush rising on necks, nostrils flaring involuntarily.
[+150 PV – Light Diluted Trance in Crowd]
"It was me," I answered calmly, nihilistic. "With coordinated help from them — Rebecca, Olivia, Hailey and Sophia. We fought together until the core exploded. Anomaly appeared suddenly, monster focused on mobs. We survived."
Rebecca nodded possessively, subtle fire mana as threat: "True. My exclusive partner led — protected several, including scholarship student Olivia."
Olivia firm: "We coordinated everything. Without him, we'd be dead."
Hailey and Sophia backed it up, adoring eyes: "He saved us… final blow together."
The instructor hesitated, subtle desire breaking her authority. "Common mob… dissipating a tyrant with help? Suspicious. Strong weapon, corrupted mana traces detected."
Marie got even more irritated, sharp loud voice: "Indirectly suspicious! Ruined the party with his presence. Impose a substitute duel in the arena — proof of innocence or matriarchal punishment."
The princes, with noble arrogance, murmured support — Julius: "We accept. Reports say he's way too confident."
Greg: "I go first — end it quick."
Chris: "Don't imply our weakness."
The bigger problem revealed itself in the reports: the academy barrier was now impassable, cracked but with the main exit blocked by mana landslide or amplified tower echo. The "escape road" destroyed — no easy way out with harem, crystal loot and weapons.
The instructor hesitated in the light trance but approved: "Arena duel tomorrow morning. Prove the reports. Clean the hall now — interrogation closed."
The harem smiled maliciously beside me. Scent hitting its limits, but the duel was perfect — personal resentment to unload, their moral and physical support, maybe Aria intervening if the airship was positioned.
The duel would decide status, escape or dominance in the academy.
The Beast laughed deep inside me. Next feast: princes crushed in the arena, crowd watching.