Chapter 22: Void and Bathroom
“Mmm! Not bad. This time…”
As the announcement ended, I felt my hopes dwindle further. Even a miracle wouldn’t be enough to help me pass the exam now.
Today is the last day of June. Tomorrow marks the start of the two-day final exams. To be precise, in twelve hours, I’ll be facing the test that determines my summer vacation. However, as you can see, I’ve only just caught up with my junior high knowledge.
What I just did was take the entrance exam questions created by Gunmizu High School. Passing it was more than enough for me.
In other words, I’ve finally met the status of a “high school student” in terms of knowledge, though it’s equivalent to a freshman who just enrolled.
“It’s already fast, isn’t it? I only spent a little over a week to grasp junior high knowledge. Although my liberal arts subjects are still a bit lacking, math, science, and chemistry are no problem now.”
“Well, this is all thanks to you. Following the study plan Teacher Lily made for me, I studied diligently for over a week. I don’t usually have much free time, but for this, I pushed aside all my organizational work and didn’t go on dates on the weekends. Whether in class or after class, I spent all my free time studying. Of course, I didn’t need to sleep. I utilized all the time I possibly could. With this kind of brainwashing study method, I successfully jumped from a fifth-grade elementary school level to a first-year high school level in just one week.”
“It might sound impressive, but it’s actually something anyone could do.”
“If someone like me didn’t need to sleep and didn’t feel tired, they could achieve this level, or even do better.”
“And this is the limit of a mortal (me).”
“Just as I suspected, I can’t even handle a normal final exam, let alone an exam with increased difficulty.”
“It’s all because you studied so diligently, Juncheng, that your progress was so fast. Seeing this, it seems I could make up for what’s lost in about a month.”
“Is that so? Just a month…” Right. I thought to myself.
I am currently at Lily’s home. The library is packed, especially this past week, as it’s almost always at full capacity. This is because many students, whose exams are important, have come to school for self-study during the evening study sessions.
So, studying at the library became inconvenient, and we moved to Lily’s home.
Of course, if it were just the two of us alone, the atmosphere would surely be quite awkward. So, until yesterday, Yu Hui was also present. However, Yu Hui said she had something to do today and wouldn’t be coming.
But, I was only here for a test today, and nothing improper happened.
Lily heard my sigh and knew what I was lamenting. She said with some reluctance,
“Actually, there is still a way.”
“What other way could there be? Cheating? Teacher Xiaozhen is personally proctoring the exam, so cheating is definitely impossible.”
“The organization has items that can help with memory.”
“But I don’t know the exam materials, so this ‘memory aid’ is useless. If I really wanted to rely on such an item, I’d probably have to eat a room full of them.”
“Such items wouldn’t be casually given to others, would they?”
“To use items that aid memory, you’d need to apply and get approval. You’re only allowed to use C-class or lower anomalous items after it’s approved.”
“A memory aid would surely be C-class or higher…”
“The organization collects these items, but not for their own personal use. Otherwise, the organization wouldn’t bother setting up a research and development department to create them themselves.”
“Most anomalous items are basically stored away after their effects and principles have been tested. And their storage locations are very secretive. To this day, I still don’t know where the organization has scattered those anomalous items in Black Street. Perhaps they aren’t even in Black Street? Well, whatever. In short, it’s almost impossible to rely on those items.”
“Of course, I also tried asking Eddie for help, but his answer was a flat ‘no’.”
“Even Eddie got caught? Teacher Xiaozhen truly lives up to her reputation as an administrator.”
“Then… then please ask the two people in the organization for help.”
“I’ve no idea what those two people can do. From past experience, once you get involved with an ‘anomaly,’ the end result is always bad. So, I want to avoid any contact with these anomalous events as much as possible. Even when investigating, I’m cautious, always afraid of attracting their attention.”
“Although it’s regrettable, I’ve done my best. From here on, it’s all up to fate.”
Lily looked disappointed. She seemed more upset than I was that I couldn’t go on vacation.
“Are you going on vacation too, Lily?”
“Yes, I’ll be going with you as the team leader teacher.”
As someone who can no longer go, all I could do was offer my blessings.
“I… I’ll steal the exam questions for you!”
Lily suddenly stood up and said excitedly to me.
Before she could finish, I cut her off decisively.
“No, I don’t want you to have any stains on your record because of this. If a teacher were to steal exam questions, and it were discovered, Lily would surely be thrust into the spotlight.”
“But, Lily is so pretty, maybe she’ll be forgiven? But then, I’d be the one in trouble.”
Rejected by me, Lily sat down dejectedly.
She hunched over like a wronged child, her head drooping, and even felt like her wings behind her were drooping.
“I just wanted to do something for you…”
“Thank you for your kindness, but I don’t want you to do anything bad.”
As I said that, I naturally extended my right hand and petted Lily’s head, stroking her newly grown tender horns with my thumb.
Lily let out a comfortable sigh.
“Ahem! Lily is my teacher. She’s no longer a servant or a slave.”
Seeing my reaction, I cleared my throat and said to Lily.
“Since the test is over, I should be heading back.”
“Eh? Stay a little longer… I’ll see you off!”
Lily, who intended to ask me to stay longer, saw me standing up and packing my bag. She didn’t say anything else but also stood up to see me off.
At the door, I turned back, about to say goodbye, but seeing Lily’s expression, the words got stuck in my throat.
She looked at me with such longing, her mouth slightly parted, like a little puppy reverently seeing its master off. Would she be startled if I kissed her now? Or would she happily cooperate and stick out her tongue?
Wait, what am I thinking… I’m going to be charmed…
Tsk, this demoness… I can’t help it.
Hesitating for a moment, I reached out again and petted her head, saying to her.
“I’ll come again next time.”
My demon tail wagged happily, completely revealing my mood.
Lily, Lily, you don’t actually think of yourself as my little slave, do you?
Leaving Lily’s house, I started my journey home.
Passing by the park, I suddenly thought of Xuan’er.
The night I changed Lily’s horns, I confessed to the Principal in my dream that Xuan’er wanted to eat me.
But the Principal didn’t know what was going on either. He made a few deductions, which were mostly similar to mine. The most plausible one was the “taste theory.” Just as vampires have preferred blood types, ghouls have preferred corpses. To me, it seemed I was a ‘delicious meal’ level corpse.
But, is it really just that?
Although I saw Xuan’er at school later and we even talked. But since that incident…
It’s awkward. When we speak, it’s very unnatural. Sometimes I even wonder if I can restore our relationship.
However, the recent events on the Tokyo-bound express line… While it’s good for me, it feels like the calm before the storm. I feel like something is about to happen. Or maybe it’s because I’ve been studying so hard…
But recently, she’s been spacing out a lot at school. And I don’t know what she’s looking at, she always stares into the void, as if she’s looking at a title.
The strangest thing was the day before yesterday when she asked me, “Juncheng, can you see me?” This question was completely nonsensical.
I answered, “Yes, I can see you.” After that, she asked, “How many can you see?” What the heck is this?
Perhaps it’s because it’s the end of the semester and everyone is on edge… That’s the only explanation.
Sigh, in short, it’s all the exam’s fault!
Once this darn exam is over, I can finally enjoy the long summer vacation!
As I reached my doorstep and opened the door, Keling rushed out and called out to me.
I caught her steadily and said.
“Then I’ll accept it unceremoniously. Well then, how was your exam revision?”
Hearing me say that, Keling jumped up happily and shouted.
“…Because this way, Brother will be home all summer!”
If I can’t go on vacation, I’ll just have to stay home.
“Hehe~ Keling is really looking forward to it~”
“Right, why are you standing at the door so late? Are you… going out somewhere?”
No, where is my younger sister going out so late!
How can I let my younger sister go out alone so late at night!
“Where? I…”
“Come on, come on~ Let’s go together~”
“I can’t wait. Keling, you can’t bring Brother along!”
At this moment, Xinran also came downstairs, also with a bag, and wearing clothes suitable for going out.
“…Then I won’t go! Today Keling will sleep with Brother!”
“You say that every day.”
“But Brother hasn’t been sleeping lately! How can that be considered sleeping together!”
“Alright, stop fooling around. You’ve already agreed to them. It’s not good to go back on your word now. Besides, Brother has been busy with his final exam revision. Let’s not disturb him.”
Keling pouted unhappily. I could hear her muttering, “I didn’t say I wanted to participate, they forced me to come.” Even though she’s sulking, Keling is quite popular among her classmates.
“Brother, Keling and I are going to a friend’s house for a study session today, and we’ll be staying overnight.”
“How could that be?!” Keling roared, her voice full of disbelief.
“You can see us off at the door. You don’t need to come out. You’ve been studying so hard lately, Brother. You must be very tired, so don’t push yourself. You should rest well today. Since Keling and I won’t be here, you don’t have to worry about anything.”
…She noticed that I haven’t been sleeping every night.
It seems Xinran thinks that she and Keling’s presence forced me to sleep with them, disturbing my rest. Although there’s some truth to that, it’s mainly because I’ve become a ghoul…
However, from another perspective, this is also a good thing.
She noticed that I haven’t been sleeping every night. It seems Xinran thinks Keling and I have been bothering me by insisting on sleeping with me. Although there’s some truth to that, it’s mostly because I’ve become a ghoul…
However, from another angle, this is also a good thing.
I’ve managed to brush past it by pretending it was a coincidence. She wants to pull me in, and I want to avoid it. But she doesn’t seem to do anything extreme. It’s just that sometimes the posture is a little awkward.
“Brother, I’ll miss you!”
“Oh, oh! Be careful and call me when you get there.”
Keling stood on tiptoe and kissed my cheek before walking out first.
Xinran came over, put on her shoes, and stood up. As she passed by me, she whispered in my ear.
“…Don’t let any ‘wild women’ in while Keling and I are away.”
Isn’t that a threat!?
SF Light Novel
I covered my ears and looked back at Xinran. Xinran waved at me and then left the house.
I want to play some games.
I shrunk my neck and returned to my room. My mom and dad were already dressed and ready to go, wearing black professional suits.
As soon as I turned on the PS4, I saw my dad say, “This is urgent. I need to go out.”
“Wait, I need to go to the hospital too. You can drive the car away after we get there.”
“Uh, the doctor on duty called, saying there was a car accident.”
“…We’re likely dealing with a… Let’s not delay, let’s go!”
“That’s how it is. Please look after the house, Juncheng.”
Before I could react, my parents had already rushed out.
They even forgot to close the door—
I numbly got up, walked over, and closed the door. Then, scratching my head, I looked at the empty living room and said in disbelief.
“…They’re all gone.”
It’s a rare situation for me to be alone at home.
My parents’ departure felt like a coincidence.
Thinking about it, even though no one is home, I don’t feel any sense of freedom. Sigh…
Perhaps it’s because I’ve been studying so hard lately that my happiness level has dropped below the danger zone.
Looking at the desolate house, I lost the mood to play games.
Today, I’ll take a comfortable hot bath, read a book, and go to bed early.
With that thought, I turned off the game console I had just turned on, got up, and went to the kitchen. I took a carton of yogurt from the refrigerator.
After drinking half of it, I walked to the second-floor bathroom.
However, as soon as I entered the locker room, I heard a dripping sound.
Did someone forget to turn off the faucet after using the restroom?
Well, I’m about to take a bath anyway, so I’ll just turn it off then.
After that, I grabbed a towel and pulled open the bathroom curtain—.
Why is there steam?:
As I stepped into the bathroom, the mist slowly dispersed.
The bathtub at home was filled with hot water.
A naked woman.
She stretched lazily.
She was probably taking a bath.
Hahahaha?
What the heck is this!
