"Follow me."
Fortunately, Rit's actions were quick.
Follow me quickly, I'm dizzy.
Breathing little by little, I left the trash disposal site.
'This is sex.'
As fresh air enters deep into my lungs, my mind seems to clear up.
The clean magic cast on the uniform removed the remaining smell.
I feel like I'm going to live.
I hastened my steps and headed towards the professor's office.
I can see Rit, following from behind, bowing his head deeply.
'No, why is this kid making things awkward?'
Wouldn't anyone who sees this think I'm a vicious professor dragging a subordinate assistant away to grill them?
It's an unfair misunderstanding.
Already, all public attention is focused because of that practical training.
I cannot create more negative public opinion here.
"Raise your head, Rit."
People are staring, you rascal.
Straighten your expression too.
Are you going to die?
Are you going to die?
[Affection of 'Rit' increases slightly. +5]
Huh?
Why is this going up again?
***
"Follow me."
At Lucas's words filled with undeniable dignity, Rit raised his body and followed him.
He followed for now, but for some reason, his head kept bowing due to guilt.
The future, clear as fire, is also worrisome.
When these steps end, he will probably die.
Since Lucas is the one who easily disposed of that powerful Levi, wouldn't he kill me without pain?
No, I still want to live.
There is no way to hide the endlessly depressed heart.
"Raise your head, Rit."
"...."
At that moment, Lucas's stern voice pierced his ears.
He quietly raised his head and looked at Lucas.
Although he wasn't even giving a glance this way, his back evoked a strange sense of relief.
While heading to the office, many people's gazes poured down.
Everyone felt like they were criticizing him, just like when his brother died.
Just as his gaze was about to lower again, Lucas's voice was heard once more.
"Walk looking only forward. You are not guilty."
His heart... became lighter.
Walking for a long time in a somewhat dazed state, he came to his senses and found himself already arrived at Lucas's office.
Thud-!
The office door closed with a heavy sound.
Fear struck again.
"Sit down."
Rit sat down obediently.
"I will give you a chance to make an excuse."
Rit felt like his heart dropped with a thud at Lucas's words.
Yes, I am not completely innocent.
I am a spy between Lucas and the demons.
He played the role of reporting his every move, and reported the information that Lucas's practical training would take place in
Because of his report, such a disaster occurred.
He is not innocent.
He knew it well.
But, for some reason, tears began to flow.
Rit lowered his head and began to shed tears.
***
'Ah, why is he crying and making a fuss.'
I started with a light joke because I was worried he felt burdened by people's gazes while coming here, but this guy is crying.
My joke couldn't have been touching...
Ah, honestly, not showing up since the practical training is indeed negligence of duty.
But since I am a very benevolent professor, I started humorously to open the conversation while letting it slide gently, but it backfired.
'My jokes don't work on this guy.'
That was the conclusion I reached.
He seems to have a tendency to live life a bit seriously.
I opened my mouth carefully again.
"Don't cry."
Is a guy crying just because I played a prank, seriously.
I handed him a handkerchief and kindly told him not to cry, offering my own form of comfort.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I'm really sorry."
"It's done. I didn't intend to reprimand you."
"Hic!"
The guy stopped crying and looked at me.
Whew, look at the snot on that handkerchief.
But pointing this out might make him burst into tears again, so I held it in.
"I-I will wash the handkerchief...."
"It's done. You keep it."
"Yes? But...."
He opens his eyes wide and looks back and forth between the handkerchief and me.
No, why would you return something dirty with snot?
I hate it even if you wash it.
"That handkerchief is yours now."
Instantly, Rit's face became visibly red.
At the same time.
['Rit's' affection has increased significantly. +40]
Truly an incomprehensible demon.
Affection goes up just by receiving a handkerchief?
Still, it's better than hostility rising.
But this is not the end.
[Affection has exceeded 100.]
[
No, what is this.
===
Nurturing
Limited to targets whose affection exceeds 100, you can invest stats to increase loyalty or grow them.
The currency for growth is the target's excess affection, and points invested once do not disappear even if affection drops.
For a moment, I doubted my eyes.
What does this mean?
Nurturing?
Did this damned trash game even have a pet system?
Of course, there is a clear difference, but isn't this a pet system no matter how you look at it?
It's fortunate that the currency for growth is not paid currency.
[Items that increase affection can be purchased at the Gold Shop.]
...Is what I almost said.
Anyway, that is just an option, and affection itself can be raised depending on effort.
In other words, the importance of affection farming emerges once again.
'Then can I see things like pet information too?'
Simultaneously with the thought, a new notification window popped up and 'Rit's' information was revealed nakedly.
===
Rit (Lilith)
A lower-ranking demon of mixed blood between the Dream Demon tribe and the Fox tribe.
Strength : 34 Intelligence : 55 Magic Power : 20 Charm : 72 . . .
For a moment, I had no choice but to doubt my eyes.
The name Lilith clearly written in the name slot.
And the information that she is a mixed blood of the Dream Demon tribe and the Fox tribe.
As far as I know, only one such demon exists in my worldview.
'Queen of Succubi, Lilith.'
The strongest queen in the history of the Dream Demon tribe.
A queen with strong leadership who achieved the integration of the Fox tribe and the Dream Demon tribe.
That is the demon called Lilith.
I don't know why Rit evolved into Lilith, but that is not what's important.
"Rit."
"Yees, Professor...."
Rit's face answering the call flushes as if about to burst.
If I didn't know the identity, I could have thought, why is a guy acting gross like this.
But, now I know she is Lilith.
I know she is... of the Fox tribe.
The Fox tribe has a custom of giving an object with their scent to the opposite sex as courtship.
Accepting that means accepting the marriage proposal.
In other words, without even knowing it, I have proposed to that demon.
'Ah fuck.'
I ended up doing my first proposal to a demon.
Life is truly... bitter.
***
Rit, or rather Lilith, has no way to hide her pounding heart.
'Whew, why am I like this.'
Her face heats up embarrassingly, and her heartbeat is getting louder.
'The Professor gave it without meaning. Snap out of it.'
Lucas probably doesn't know the meaning of this handkerchief.
Because he knows she is a demon but wouldn't know that Fox tribe blood is mixed in.
Even if he knew, how would Lucas, a human, know the customs of the Fox tribe?
But even if Lucas wasn't aware, this series of processes is like a contract engraved on the soul.
From the moment the handkerchief was transferred, Lucas became Lilith's companion.
Even if it is meaningless to Lucas, it is not meaningless to Lilith.
No, it was something that held very great meaning.
Lilith buried her face in the handkerchief.
She can hardly... face Lucas.