Fated to Be Loved by Villains
chapter-144

༺ Practical Exam (1) ༻

Silence lingered in the infirmary for a while.

This was all thanks to Faenol, who only opened her eyes wide without making a single sound upon hearing my words.

“…”

‘Woman, you’re making me anxious. Say something.’

As I thought about that, from within the amulet, Caliban let out a chuckle.

[Spouting out this kind of thing is as natural as breathing to you now, huh?]

I wasn’t saying it with that kind of intention though.

Like, I was genuinely thinking of saving this pitiful person, I really didn’t want to seduce her.

[Sure, sure, but think about it. Have you ever seduced someone intentionally?]

Putting it that way, there was no way I could have anything to retort his words with. Anyway, at the very least I wouldn’t lose out even if this woman took my words that way.

Rather, if she could feel any emotions because of it, that meant her situation was easier to resolve than I thought.

“…You’re quite good at this.”

While I was lost in my thoughts, Faenol suddenly murmured such words.

“You almost made my heart flutter for a moment there. I can definitely see why such women go raving mad at you before chasing you.”

Saying that, the corners of her mouth tilted up.

But, like usual, her smile felt artificial.

“…That was the most intense stimulation I’ve felt recently, Dowd Campbell. As expected, it was good that I asked this of you.”

From what she said, it sounded like it didn’t affect her that much.

But it still affected her albeit slightly.

System Message

[ Minor stimulation inflicted on target ‘Faenol’ is measured. ]

[ If the process repeats, the target’s emotions will awaken! ]

[ Current Progress: 4% ]

System Message

[ The content of the upcoming ‘Faenol’ Related Event will slightly change! ]

[ The probability of the target’s Favorability Level opening in that event is extremely high! ]

Just the fact that such windows even popped up spoke volumes.

The first window was self-explanatory, so there was no need to dwell on it for too long, however, the second one…

< Gift-Related Character Alert >

▼ Faenol Lipek

[ No Favorability Level ]

[ Related Event Occurs in D-4 ]

Most likely it was talking about this.

Which meant something would happen during the ‘Practical Exam’ period of the Comprehensive Competency Evaluation in 4 days

This also meant that what I had to ask her was clear.

“…Then, may I ask you for just one thing?”

Originally, I was supposed to ask Talion to convey this to her, but for some reason, he was using the infirmary room right next to mine.

From what I heard, he got half-obliterated after getting hit by Eleanor?

Anyway,

“At the Practical Exam, please join my—”

“—I don’t mind if you were to request something from me, Dowd Campbell.”

Before I could finish speaking, Faenol spoke with a sigh.

“But don’t you think it’s a bit unfair?”

“What is?”

“I’m doing everything you asked of me, but you gave nothing back to me.”

“…”

Wait a damn minute.

You were the one who asked to be seduced first.

As I looked at her with an incredulous look, Faenol slowly got up and replied.

“So, what I’m trying to say here is that I’ll also do whatever I want to do without worrying about your circumstances.”

“What is that supposed to—”

Once again, before I could even ask…

She grabbed my face with both hands.

“Since you said you would make me happy…”

And then…

Without giving me a chance to speak…

“I thought, maybe I could do this much.”

I could feel her breath up close.

“…”

“…”

It took some time for me to realize what in the ever living fuck I was being subjected to.

Perhaps the conservative image of her in my mind made me a bit slow in my realization.

Err, what I meant to say was…

I thought both sides were supposed to close their eyes and do some mental preparation before a ‘kiss’…

But she disregarded all that and immediately shoved her tongue into my mouth before intertwining it with my own tongue.

“…!”

Startled, I tried to pull away, but because she was tightly embracing my upper body with both arms, I couldn’t do that.

Her tongue swept through, as if to attack mine. I had kissed Eleanor intensely once before, but this was sticky and seductive enough to make that look like child’s play.

Saliva mixed. Her tongue explored every corner of my mouth.

“…Haaa-”

After a long while, she finally separated her lips from mine with a heated sigh.

The sight of our mixed saliva stretching out like threads couldn’t be more dizzying.

As soon as she let me go, I gasped for air and backed away.

It wasn’t a very effective action since I was already lying in bed, but I had to at least do something, anything right now.

“…What, are you doing—!”

“When you said that earlier, there was clearly a ‘stimulation’ inside my body, you see.”

Faenol licked her lips while speaking.

“…I could ‘feel’ something. Do you understand, Dowd Campbell? That sensation, which I couldn’t feel no matter what I did, came back for a fleeting moment.”

“…”

“Thanks to you, I saw hope.”

Apparently, my previous words were quite effective.

Though it did seem to be more of a problem than I thought.

“However, I’m still not sure. If I could feel that much with just a few words, I thought something more intense would come if I did this.”

She grinned while looking down at my dumbfounded expression.

“As such, I’ll try it one more time.”

“What…!”

Before I could make any protests, a second violent kiss hit me like a storm.

Earlier, she had only held me firmly so I couldn’t back away, but now, she was practically climbing on top of the bed and pressing down her body onto mine.

She pressed down on my shoulders with both hands, pinning me to the bed so I couldn’t move a muscle.

It was like a carnivore overpowering its prey.

Not a light peck to show some ordinary affection, but a clear act of ‘possessiveness’.

Right now…

She was craving affection.

She wanted me.

“Mmm…”

How many minutes did we remain like that?

After slowly separating her lips, she wiped her mouth.

“You taste good. Truly a delicacy, Dowd Campbell. Even I, who isn’t able to feel anything, felt a tingle rise in my chest.”

As she spoke, her pupils were flashing ‘red’.

Her gaze drenched with unmistakable desire.

Something had emerged within her, who had nothing before.

“…I am really, truly glad that you are the one I asked to fulfill my request.”

System Message

[ Significant stimulation inflicted on target ‘Faenol’ is measured. ]

[ If the process repeats, the target’s emotions will awaken! ]

[ Current Progress: 11% ]

System Message

[ A portion of emotions awakens! ]

[ The target holds ‘Possessiveness’ towards you! ]

“…”

Yeah, sure.

It was great and all that the number had risen so rapidly.

But why did the awakened emotion seem a bit…

Dangerous?

“Did you say we should participate in the Practical Exam together?”

“…”

“That sounds like quite a fine idea. After all, that means we can keep sticking together. If we keep staying this close to each other—”

She pulled me into a tight hug.

Unlike before, it was a gesture that was clearly intentional.

As if she found ‘satisfaction’ in such an act.

“-Then something truly special might happen. Isn’t that so?”

“…”

Hold up. Wait.

The reason why I picked her to be my nurse was because I thought she was ‘safe’…

But for some reason it felt like I’ve turned the only safe Vessel left into a carnivore with my own hands.

“…What about nursing me?”

“Let’s just stay like this for a bit longer. All the urgent matters are already taken care of anyway.”

As I looked down with a slightly pale complexion at Faenol, who was cuddling my body…

Caliban spoke up with a solemn voice.

[It’s your karma.]

“…”

[Endure with everything you have. Your balls of steel will carry you to the promised land.]

Shut up.

‘…But still, on the bright side…’

Whether it was Seras or Eleanor, it didn’t seem too difficult to arrange them to be in the same group as me for the Practical Exam.

The problem was…

System Message

[ Emotional changes in the targets who had failed to be chosen can be intensely observed! ]

[ There is a high likelihood that these may become variables in the upcoming Main Quest! ]

This…

Yuria, Eleanor, and the Saintess.

Based on just what was written in the message, it seemed like something troublesome was going to happen.

‘…I just hope nothing big occurs.’

That wish had never been fulfilled before…

But I still couldn’t help but pray.

“…Until recently, didn’t you say you felt apologetic towards him?”

“I did.”

“You said you couldn’t even look at his face, and you said you were going to stop getting close to him for the time being.”

At Beatrix’s question, Eleanor nodded expressionlessly.

“…That is still valid.”

“Then what even is the point of your question?”

She spoke while holding her head with both hands.

Being the Student Council Secretary, she was already suffering from chronic fatigue due to an overwhelming amount of tasks. But sometimes, when this woman said such nonsensical things, a headache was added to her pile of pain and sorrow.

Of course, even so…

“…Why are you suddenly asking about ‘how to look charming and attractive as a woman’?”

When her friend suddenly slapped her with such bizarre questions, the pain just turned unbearable.

“…”

Eleanor quietly bit her lip and kept silent.

“…Regardless of my qualifications to stand beside that man…”

However…

Her eyes were shining as brightly as it was before she had fallen into despair.

“I cannot let women who are clearly less qualified than me stand by his side.”

“…”

“That man is quite popular. Flies swarm around him in droves. That’s why this time, I realized with certainty. If I do not block them off, he will easily fall for their seduction.”

“…What in the world is that even supposed to mean?”

“For example, if I develop such charm and make him look only at me, at least he will not fall for the seduction of those flies, will he?”

“…”

“This is all for the sake of protecting that man.”

Beatrix glared at Eleanor with narrowed eyes.

‘Why can’t you be honest for once?’

‘Just say that you don’t want to give that man to anyone else even if it kills you.’

She let out a sigh, the umpteenth today.

‘Fine, whatever. At least this is better than how she was before.’

Compared to the time when she seemed like she had some mental illness, devoting herself to training that was close to abuse, her determination to repel everything around that man seemed a hundred times, a thousand times more tolerable.

At the very least, it seemed to be helping her to gather her spirits.

“…Haa. Fine. I don’t know why you always come to me and ask me about these things, though.”

“You being a virgin who has not held a man’s hand at your age is not a major flaw, Beatrix. I know well that you spend all your free time devouring more mature romance nov-”

“…Shut the fuck up before I kill you.”

‘I thought she’s asking for my help, but why is she picking a fight with me?’

Though she replied bluntly, Beatrix immediately rested her chin on her hand and fell into thought.

Ways to look attractive and charming as a woman, she said…

“…In the first place, have you ever tried to appeal to him in that regard?”

“What do you mean… Appeal?”

“You know. Like his preferences. Or his fantasies about the opposite sex. Have you ever tried to fulfill something like—”

Seeing Eleanor’s expression, Beatrix immediately shut her mouth.

‘Why the hell was I even expecting this woman to do some ordinary girly approach?’

“…In the first place, it is a bit strange that you, of all people, are swayed by his reactions and dragged around everywhere. If things were as they should be, that man should be begging to you on his knees to accept him just—”

As Beatrix thought that, a certain idea struck her like lightning.

“…Huh.”

‘Wait, that might work…’

She clapped her hands in admiration of the idea she herself came up with.

“Listen, Eleanor.”

“What is it?”

“Instead of trying to ‘lure him in’, why don’t we approach it the other way around?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Let’s try seizing it properly for once. By that, I mean seizing the initiative.”

Beatrix smirked.

“You said that man is attending the upcoming Practical Exam, right?”

Without a doubt…

That sly smile was something only a reader who devoured more mature romance novels could muster.