Page 189

After that, we safely welcomed Christmas.

Even though I had made that trashy comment about wanting to spend Christmas with everyone, the party itself was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

After all, everyone gathered here sees each other daily.

Most importantly, unlike the guys who have nowhere to go except internet cafes, the women—

They could talk all night long without running out of things to say.

Thanks to that, I was already exhausted and had crashed early.

I can hold a conversation, sure, but not like that.

“Ugh, how do they even talk all day like that?”

And that included Seron.

Why was she, a fellow woman, also knocked out?

For reference, the ones leading the conversation were Isabel and Hania.

True to their social nature, they had a lot to talk about.

Iris, being the 3rd Princess, also had plenty of practice in public speaking.

So, it naturally showed in her conversation skills.

As for Eve, I had her stick with the trio to practice her communication.

Hopefully, she’ll grow steadily.

Lastly, Sharin was already asleep next to me.

When it’s bedtime, she knocks out immediately—just like a child.

Even peaceful times must come to an end.

“It’s getting late. If we stay any longer, the dorm manager will scold us.”

At Hania’s words, the party wrapped up.

It was about time we returned to the dormitories.

After roughly tidying up and stepping out, it was already early morning.

“You must be tired today, so I’ll let you go.”

Iris, kindly, spared me from her bed partner duties for the night.

I expressed deep thanks and parted ways with everyone.

“See you tomorrow, Isabel.”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

For Isabel, Christmas was just getting started.

So I said my goodbyes and began walking toward the assistant dormitory.

The assistant dormitory was quiet.

The other assistants were probably busy managing the official party.

Since I had things to do tomorrow, I needed to sleep quickly.

With that thought in mind, I opened the door to my dorm room.

Freeze—

Inside the room—

I sensed a presence.

My eyes sharpened slightly.

Someone had broken into my room.

The remnants of the ancient dragon stirred quietly.

‘No magic attached.’

The dragon’s remnants are sensitive to magic.

Since there was no reaction, it meant no magic traps had been set.

Ready to respond at any moment, I slowly pushed the door open.

Creak—

What I saw was the same room I had left.

Maybe it was just the winter, but the atmosphere felt particularly gloomy.

I stepped in, curling my fingers slowly into a blade shape.

That’s when my eyes fell on my bed.

The blanket was oddly lumpy.

I stared at it for a moment, then lowered my hand.

If someone came here to assassinate me, they wouldn’t be so obvious.

“Who are you?”

So I just asked directly.

I had no idea why this person was here.

Flinch—

At that moment, the blanket shifted.

Whoever it was clearly didn’t notice me come in.

Curious, I squinted my eyes slightly—

Rustle—

Long silver hair spilled out from beneath the blanket.

My eyes widened the moment I saw that hair color.

Because only one person had hair like that.

“Nikita?”

When I called her name, a face peeked out from under the blanket.

It was Nikita, her left cheek flushed red from sleep.

It was obvious she had dozed off.

Hugging my pillow tightly, she awkwardly cleared her throat with a surprised look.

“Vi, Vikamon.”

Nikita Cynthia.

Former vice president of student council at Zerion Academy, and the Dragon of Disaster.

She was right there.

“When did you get here?”

Judging by the fact that she had dozed off, she must’ve been waiting a while.

If I had known she was here, I would’ve greeted her properly.

Feeling guilty, Nikita waved her hand.

“Just now. I just got here.”

Anyone could tell that was a lie.

But since Nikita said so, I decided to take her word for it.

“Right. Even though you have a pillow mark on your left cheek, let’s say you just arrived.”

“Eep.”

Nikita flusteredly covered her left cheek.

Then, realizing how pointless that was, she coughed and sat up straight.

“Sorry, I fell asleep waiting for you.”

“It’s okay. Sorry for being late.”

“No, it’s fine. I didn’t tell you I was coming. Anyway…”

Her eyes briefly landed on the pillow I used every night.

Then she shook her head, as if shaking off a thought.

Soon, she scanned me up and down, and a small smile formed on her lips.

“Vikamon, you made it back safely to Zerion Academy.”

Just as she said, I had returned to Zerion Academy as Vikamon.

“I didn’t even get to see you off when you left the academy.”

“It’s okay. I wasn’t in a situation to be sent off by anyone.”

Vikamon had committed a serious act—attacking the 3rd Princess.

At that point, being seen off would’ve been stranger.

“Still, if it were now, I’d want to go back and send you off properly.”

Nikita’s warm heart was touching, even thinking back on the past.

“I have some really good cocoa. Want some?”

“You remember I like cocoa, huh?”

“Of course. I was your junior, after all.”

“Hehe.”

Nikita smiled softly, as if reminiscing.

For her, I made a cup of cocoa and handed it over.

Nikita carefully accepted it with both hands and began sipping it slowly.

It seemed she still couldn’t drink hot things right away.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had cocoa made by you, junior.”

Maybe it was the nostalgia talking, but she had even gone back to calling me by that old title.

I didn’t mind.

It felt kind of nice.

“So, what brings you here?”

According to Nikita, she was supposed to come next year.

So why had she shown up now, on Christmas?

When I asked, Nikita gave a mischievous little smile.

“What do you think, Vikamon?”

“Maybe the goddess came to give me a present?”

“That’s also true.”

Nikita was a goddess.

No wonder she seemed almost too beautiful.

She lightly swung the leg that peeked out from under the blanket up and down.

“The real reason is for tomorrow—Christmas Day.”

“Tomorrow, as in…”

“Yeah. The gathering of dignitaries coming to see Isabel. My brother is supposed to show up there.”

Nikita’s real brother, Nia Cynthia.

The very person who drove her to dabble in the magic of the ancient dragons.

Nia was officially declared dead.

But that death had been faked.

The First Prince's faction was using it to frame the Third Princess’s faction.

On the other hand, the Third Princess’s side had brushed off the incident as a reckless act by the Mysticism group.

Some even went so far as to say it was Nia’s carelessness, not their fault.

Things were tense.

And now Nia had declared he would appear on Christmas.

A story that doesn’t exist in the official records.

Naturally.

In the official version, Nia dies.

But the flow is still the same.

Right after Lucas wipes out the Mysticism group, the First Prince’s side announces that it was actually the Third Princess’s faction behind Nia’s death.

Now, Nia’s direct appearance would add to that.

“I’ll be there too,”

Nikita said.

“You will?”

“Not in this form, of course.”

Nikita had committed a crime—attacking a member of the royal family, the Third Princess.

Even if it was for Nia, an attack on royalty was a grave offense.

If she showed up with Nia, it could make things worse.

And she knew that well.

So she had decided to appear in another form.

“That will be the identity I’ll use from now on.”

“Nikita… the magic you and your brother were researching, is it—?”

Her lips curved upward.

“It’s magic that makes you younger.”

Just as I thought.

I finally understood what she meant when she said she’d come next year.

She and Nia had been researching a magic that made one younger.

And now, they had completed it.

Incredible.

I hadn’t thought they would actually pull it off.

“Of course, it can’t be commercialized. Only Nia and I can use it.”

Only the two co-researchers could use the magic.

A bit disappointing, but magic was never simple.

It was understandable.

And even considering that, it was still an incredible achievement.

It meant there was now a new way to enter the Demon Dungeon, aside from the Veil Bandages.

“…Originally, I wanted to cast it on you, Vikamon.”

Nikita reached out and gently tugged at my collar.

She knew about the emotional dulling caused by the Veil Bandages.

I smiled warmly at her.

“It’s okay. Just having you by my side gives me strength.”

Nikita looked up at me.

Her blue eyes stayed on mine for a moment before she let out a soft breath.

“You still say the sweetest things. Are you like this with everyone?”

“Only with you, Nikita.”

She let out a couple of fake coughs and fanned herself.

Her cheeks had turned a little red.

Then she tightened her grip slightly on my collar.

“…Then, don’t say that kind of stuff to anyone else, okay?”

That was easy.

Her ears turned bright red, and she quickly shook her head side to side, then stood up.

“Vikamon, from now on, I won’t be Nikita Cynthia anymore.”

Her identity as Nikita had become a shackle.

The Cynthia name had trapped and confined her.

“But don’t worry.”

She had been a bird in a cage, destined to die without ever spreading her wings.

“You’re the one who freed Nikita Cynthia, Vikamon.”

I had opened that cage for her.

So she could spread her wings and fly freely.

So she wouldn’t be trapped anymore.

The face of Nikita, who had taken flight into freedom, looked brighter than anyone else’s.

That fact filled me with warm joy.

“So take care of me from now on… Instructor.”

The title changed—from junior to instructor.

Perhaps it was a sign that our relationship had shifted, too.

“So, what’s my present?”

This was the part I’d been waiting for most.

When I eagerly asked for my gift, Nikita smiled.

“Close your eyes.”

I did as she asked.

Then I felt her arms wrap around my neck.

She rose slightly on tiptoe.

And then—I felt something soft and warm touch my lips.

I instinctively opened my eyes.

Nikita’s face was right in front of mine.

A kiss.

That’s what she had just given me.

“You joked once about my type, remember?”

As I stared at her blankly, Nikita smiled brightly.

“My type… is Vikamon Niflheim.”

The emotion in her eyes—

Was love.

“Merry Christmas, Instructor. It’s a gift that’ll last a long, long time, so make sure you keep it in your heart.”