Chapter 113: Curve Ahead, Slow Down

In the quiet laboratory, Ruby and Eve were both deeply engrossed in their work. Several days had passed since the incident at Thousand Island Lake. The Rhine Magic Academy had suffered no losses in the event, and the attack had become merely a topic of casual conversation among the students. Although the pink-haired girl had expressed some strange perceptions during the incident, Ruby had not distanced himself from her, continuing to treat her as before.

“Hey, hey.”

A call came from above Ruby’s head—Dragon’s voice. The branch had completed its task surprisingly quickly and hadn’t lingered in the comfortable refuge for long. This morning, it had returned to Ruby’s room, dragging a large bundle with it. Now, it called out in a voice meant only for the two of them.

“What is it?”

“That pink-haired girl has peeked at you one hundred and eighty times already.”

“So what?”

Ruby turned to look at Eve, who was not far away. As expected, the pink-haired girl averted her gaze guiltily.

“Go for it! Don’t tell me you can’t see it. An idiot like that can easily trick you into bed a hundred times without any responsibility.”

“You’re really boring.”

“Tsk, what an unqualified partner. Or could it be that you already like someone?”

Dragon let out a disappointed shush. It was hard to believe that the lord of lust had chosen a human who was still a virgin. If word got out, the other desires would surely poke fun at him, even though he lacked a spine.

“A special someone, huh.”

Ruby’s movements slowed slightly as Dragon spoke of someone he liked, and suddenly, an image of the girl who had shielded him from harm flashed in his mind.

“Ruby, when are you going to confess to me?”

Seeing Ruby’s indifferent demeanor, Eve felt compelled to act. She shyly stood in front of him, mustered her courage, and asked.

“Don’t worry, I won’t do that.”

“Why not? You like me so much already, don’t you?”

“Miss Eve, I told you that was a misunderstanding. I’ve always regarded you as an excellent disciple.”

“If I’m so excellent, why don’t you confess to me?”

“What... what are you roasting?”

Ruby truly felt like he was conversing with a creature other than a human. Just as he was about to correct Eve’s misunderstanding, a burnt smell wafted through the air. On the alcohol lamp on the next table, something seemed to be cooking.

“Mushrooms.”

“I told you not to put everything on the alcohol lamp!”

Ruby pinched Eve’s cheek in admonishment with one hand, while using tweezers to pick up the charred mushroom with the other. This surprised him; he wasn’t unfamiliar with this mushroom. Just a few days ago, he had borrowed a book about medicines from the school library, which described this very mushroom.

“This is the Desire Mushroom? Where did you get this thing?”

“Where... Ceylan gave it to me.”

Eve also sensed something was wrong. Her body felt unusually warm, and her eyes shimmered with moisture as she looked at Ruby. She tightly pressed her legs together, trembling as she tried to shake off the strange sensation.

“That old hag!”

Ruby had interacted with Ceylan a few times, mostly when she called Eve home for meals. He knew she was the steward of the Xingye family, but he hadn’t expected her to quietly bring such a thing.

Ruby wasn’t feeling well either. He seemed to hear his blood rushing faster. He wanted to leave the room, but his feet moved involuntarily toward Eve. The pink-haired girl’s body was as light as cotton; a gentle push sent her collapsing to the floor.

“Dragon, help me.”

Ruby propped himself beside Eve’s ear, unable to take his eyes off the girl beneath him. Both heard each other’s heavy breaths. This compromising position was not his intention; he could only seek assistance from Dragon.

“No way. I’ll help you document this thoroughly. Don’t be shy, go for it.”

Dragon felt remarkably prescient. Just as he wanted to help his partner lose his virginity, this happened. There was no way he would listen to Ruby now.

“Stop joking and get me out of here.”

“Who’s joking? Do you remember what you said? You like to act without reason, don’t you?”

Dragon jumped onto the table, conjuring a plate of popcorn, a cup of cola, and a miniature sofa to lounge on. He was ready for a show.

“This isn’t the kind of situation I meant!”

“That’s fine, as long as you take good responsibility for our child.”

The girl pinned beneath Ruby blushed deeply. Whether from the drug’s effect or their close proximity, she simply accepted her fate and spoke softly.

“Miss Eve, may I ask why you’re so sure you’ll get pregnant?”

Ruby suddenly realized a serious problem. When had the otherworld’s health education taken place? He only knew this was a magic academy, but there was no such course here. So who taught the children about these matters?

“Isn’t kissing enough to get pregnant?”

“Absolutely not!”

Ruby should have known better about the foreign world’s lack of proper sex education. Even Moyuna, an adult, didn’t understand why her monthly visitor came. If he had acted on his previous fondness for Eve, perhaps he would have gone along with it and dealt with the consequences later. But now, with a girl who risked her life for him in his heart, he clenched his right hand tightly into a fist.

“Are you going to hit me?”

Eve looked scared as Ruby raised his fist. It seemed she thought she had made another mistake and was ready to accept whatever punishment he dealt. But instead, Ruby’s fist struck his own chin with force, knocking himself unconscious.

Since the Desire Mushroom didn’t have any strange effects like body explosions if left untreated, and since they only inhaled a bit of its scent rather than consuming it directly, its effects would gradually fade over time. Besides, Eve alone couldn’t do much.

“Oh dear, I still failed.”

Just then, after Ruby passed out, another person entered the room. She sighed as she lifted Eve’s limp body, clearly understanding the young girl’s feelings for Ruby as an outsider. That was why she resorted to this plan: to cook the rice before it was fully cooked. Otherwise, Eve’s future love life would surely be fraught with difficulties. She had a strong premonition.

As for Ruby, she had observed him for some time. He was of good character, knowledgeable, and capable of managing a household. Still, she hadn’t expected his willpower to be so strong. She gently touched the fevered cheek of the girl in her arms. It seemed there was still a long road ahead.

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P.S. Nearly lost control, but luckily the author’s driving skills are superb.

P.S. Thanks to Mr. Mantou, Shaohua Qingfu’s Huachenghai, for their generous 500 tip; Tiandadi Xiaowo Ruchen for 200; and Yingmo Shenyin, Teacher Watermelon, Feng Jianchao, Azure Meteor Shower, and SleepMyth for 100 each.