Chapter: 7. The Cursed Hourglass
The first day of the new semester.
After the class meeting, the students are free to choose whether to go home.
However, because Starlight Academy requires every student to participate in after-school clubs, many first-year freshmen take this opportunity to visit the clubs, and as a transfer student, Naon is naturally among them.
This is precisely a good opportunity for Nagi to implement her plan—
As a member of the Advanced Research Ghost Club, she had already learned that no one would be in the club activity room today.
After all, compared to sports or arts clubs, a niche group like Advanced Research, which is obviously just a way to spend time, typically sees very few visitors.
Thus, the Advanced Research clubroom, which is only one-fourth the size of a classroom, was temporarily commandeered by Nagi.
“So? What is your plan, Master?”
Having transformed back from a pigeon into a human form, Karura sat on the only old sofa in the Advanced Research clubroom, her crimson eyes looking at Nagi, who was tidying up the desk, with confusion.
Hearing this, Nagi turned her head proudly.
“Of course, it’s to prepare for the upcoming plan!”
“May I be so bold as to ask, is the upcoming plan the one I mentioned this morning?”
“Is there any other plan besides that?”
“Then… why are you so excited, Master?” This was what puzzled Karura. As far as she knew, what they were about to do shouldn’t be considered glorious for a human, unless there was some kind of peculiar inclination involved…..
“Because—high-spirited, optimistic, and joyful emotions can, to some extent, reflect a successful conclusion to the plan!”
“…..Is that superstition?”
“Please at least call it ‘a sense of ritual’!”
“So it’s just a sense of ritual. I thought you couldn’t contain your inner anxiety and were eagerly anticipating being peeped at while you self-comforted.”
“Please don’t suddenly ascribe non-existent inclinations to me!!!”
“But aren’t the books you read all about exposure or embarrassment… ah no, nothing at all! You don’t need to look at me with such a murderous glare—” Karura quickly averted her gaze.
“Anyway, after careful consideration, I have come up with a plan that can minimize my loss of reputation!”
Nagi forcibly changed the topic while taking a small object from the cluttered shelf in the Advanced Research clubroom—a beautifully styled small hourglass filled with pink star sand that sparkled in the sunlight.
“Star Draw 2” is originally a game world filled with supernatural powers and monsters, of course, there are other extraordinary existences, such as cursed items which are quite common.
And this pink hourglass placed in Advanced Research is the real deal.
A cursed hourglass.
“Isn’t this the extraordinary item you used frequently in the past, Master?”
“That’s right… I wasn’t using it all that often… I only experimented with it once or twice to understand its function…”
“If it’s true, then why did you divert your gaze awkwardly?”
“Anyway! I plan to use this extraordinary item—”
“—as an excuse for your self-comforting?”
Since Nagi had produced this item, Karura naturally guessed what she intended to do.
This hourglass is a very special extraordinary item, and its curse can affect an enclosed space—not too big or too small—like a room, a hall, or even a house.
Although it is an enclosed space, it doesn’t need to be “physically” sealed completely; it just needs to achieve what is commonly understood as a “private space.” Generally, a “door” serves as a boundary; as long as the door is closed, it can be considered an “enclosed space.”
Moreover, the hourglass affects everyone within the enclosed space without limitation on numbers.
The effect is simple and easy to understand—before the hourglass’s countdown ends, it makes the affected people uncontrollably enter a state.
“That’s right! Pretend you accidentally triggered this cursed hourglass, then get affected and unable to help but start self-comforting, with the protagonist accidentally witnessing it—afterward, I can blame it all on the hourglass; I won’t be seen as a pervert with a mind full of yellow waste. It’s simply perfect!”
This was the method Nagi had come up with.
This way, not only can the plan be perfectly executed, but in the future, she also won’t be viewed as someone who is indulging in the club, venting frustrations.
Just when Nagi was feeling cocky about this, footsteps could be heard outside the clubroom.
Both Karura and Nagi quickly realized that it was Kanade arriving.
They had secretly slipped the Advanced Research flyers among the stack of club flyers Kanade had received, so Kanade would definitely visit Advanced Research after school.
Although Nagi accepted and prepared everything herself, when it actually came to the last moment,
hesitation took the upper hand.
Meanwhile, Karura had already transformed back into a pigeon and flew out of the clubroom, gently pulling the door open just enough to create a crack.
At that moment, only Nagi remained in the clubroom, and in reality, she could have canceled the plan at any time.
She believed Karura wouldn’t blame her.
—Building a deep relationship with the other party doesn’t necessarily require going astray, right?
—The other party is just a small kid; having lived so long, isn’t it easy to handle a small kid?
—Even if we just have a little normal interaction… right? Me?
Nagi’s mind was in turmoil, but at the last moment, her determination as a player of the underhanded route led her to cast aside her conservative plan.
—Since there is a devious method, how could I think of doing it step by step!
—Moreover… that guy isn’t exactly ugly… isn’t his personality quite gentle?
She recalled her encounter with Kanade today; she had to admit that the shy and kind boy did leave a good first impression on her. Although she didn’t like boys, if she really needed to spend her life with one, perhaps someone like him, a typical protagonist, wouldn’t be bad—well, if that doesn’t work out, there’s always plan B…
At that moment, Nagi’s desire for the underhanded method ignited fiercely, and resolute, she abruptly flipped the hourglass in her hand.
The door on the bookshelf side had not been closed yet, so the hourglass would not take effect immediately. However, to allow Kanade to enter the Advanced Research club naturally and inadvertently see her in a state of venting, she had to leave a slight gap in the door—
Thus, Nagi had to rely on her own will… slowly lift her skirt…
A strong sense of shame surged through her mind in an instant, causing her limbs to tremble slightly, and a blush spread across her cheeks at a noticeable speed, making her appear exceptionally tantalizing.
Nagi had considered using her hands, but in this situation, it felt like her fingers were not responding to her will, so she…
—Was she reduced to paying homage to the classics?
To avoid unnecessary distractions, Nagi had asked Karura to minimize her senses, so she was unaware of whether Kanade had entered the Advanced Research club or not.
The structure of the Advanced Research clubroom is quite unique—there is a bookshelf acting as a partition behind the door. It is said that this was arranged by the former members of Advanced Research to better hide behind the bookshelf and study dark magic.
At this moment, Nagi was in the light, while Kanade was in the dark.
Although Nagi had the assistance of the stars, her brain was a complete mess due to shame. For a moment, she had lost track of what she was doing and what her purpose was, merely moving her waist mechanically back and forth, her vision blurred by the mist of shyness.
Until a hint of sweetness coursed down her spine to her brain—
“Ugh~?”
But Nagi couldn’t distinguish whether this was a natural reaction from her body or an effect from the hourglass.
Her gaze was fixed solely on the slowly flowing hourglass, which was a 5-minute countdown.
No matter how far the plan had progressed, once the sand in the hourglass ran out, the plan would be deemed over.
—————–
Outside, Karura, adhering to some humanitarian principles, did not peek inside the clubroom to see what was happening.
Regarding Nagi’s devised plan, it indeed thought it was incredibly clever and would completely avoid the risk of reputational loss.
However, its master had evidently overlooked a very important point.
Although the hourglass could legitimize her venting actions, it would not only affect her; if Kanade accidentally closed the door to the Advanced Research room—
…
…
【Name: Cursed Binding Hourglass】
【Appearance: A palm-sized antique hourglass with a shell made of mottled black iron, engraved with indiscernible patterns, looking like a cheap item picked up from a flea market. The sand inside is a peculiar pink color, flowing with a soft “shushing” sound, as if someone is whispering in your ear.】
【Effect: The countdown is 5 minutes. As long as the sand starts to fall, the enclosed space around it will turn into “hell,” and everyone inside will uncontrollably fall into a “DESIRE MAX” state, with their minds filled with pink fantasies, while rationality dissipates in proportion to the sand flowing in the hourglass above.】
【Characteristics: If the sand level in the hourglass above is below 60% (i.e., after 3 minutes), every sentence heard by the affected individuals will be forcibly “translated” into ambiguous love words or blatant innuendos; and at the very moment when the hourglass countdown ends, if the affected individuals are multiple and of the opposite sex, a “penetration” event will inevitably occur.】
【Rumor: It is said that this was a cursed item formed from the obsession accumulated by someone yearning for love, maintaining virginity until the age of 30. Some call it “Cupid’s Blessing from the Great Mage,” “Last Insurance Before Becoming a Great Mage,” or “Even as a Virgin, Wanting to Pursue More Feelings.”】
【Usage Tips: Want to use it to rid yourself of virginity? Regrettably, that won’t work; the moment the countdown ends, you can only spend the rest of your life in prison. However, if you want to amplify the sensations you feel during self-comfort, then you’re using it correctly!】
【PS: Remember not to flip it when in a room with someone of the opposite sex, and don’t try to use it to get rid of virginity!】
—————–
As Karura silently counted down with the hourglass in her mind.
In the Advanced Research clubroom below, besides the faint sound of the girl’s breathing, there came a weak yet crisp sound of a lock clicking shut—
