Chapter 68

This is a status update.

--- Too busy to update.

That's all.

"Damn it--- why is this happening?"

Aaron clenched his teeth on the bed.

He was bare-chested, with his lower body hidden under the blanket.

Aaron's eyes were filled with frustration.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, and a senior entered the room with two coffee cups.

This was the senior's room.

The senior, with his black hair slicked back, had his shirt unbuttoned, revealing his well-toned upper body.

"Another hangover, Aaron?"

"Ah, yeah, sorry, senior."

Every time they went out drinking, Aaron would end up drunk, and he would always wake up in the senior's room.

At first, he was suspicious, but as this kept happening, he became numb to it and accepted it as normal.

No, there was something else that bothered Aaron.

"Stop being so formal. Call me Daryl. We're close in age, after all."

"Sorry, Daryl."

Though he was a senior, Aaron was wary of this easygoing man.

No---

(Damn it--- why is this happening? Why does my heart race like this!)

He was supposed to be pursuing Libia, but he found himself getting drunk more often. Losing confidence in his ability to handle alcohol, he now found himself looking at men more than women.

Aaron was frustrated with himself.

He took the coffee from Daryl and drank it; it was delicious.

"Good."

"I'm confident in my coffee."

Daryl sat on the bed.

It was Daryl's bed, so it wasn't strange.

It wasn't strange, but--- Aaron noticed a chill run down his spine.

(Before, I was more cautious and felt in danger!)

Aaron was confused by his own changes.

◇

In Ange's room.

Clare was checking the video and audio from the device, nodding her single blue eye in satisfaction.

"Excellent results. To fall in love so easily just by creating the right situation."

Libia, who was changing in Ange's room, heard this dangerous statement.

"--- Is Aarle doing something strange?"

"Strange? That's rude. I'm just conducting animal experiments."

Upon hearing "animal experiments," Libia became angry.

But it seemed Libia thought the experimental animals were mice or something similar.

"That's strange enough! Tell me what you're doing!"

Clare responded with a sigh.

"What do you think I'm doing? I'm not doing what you think."

"But, falling in love, excellent results---"

Libia must have been thinking of experiments involving syringes and dissections.

Clare was truly exasperated.

"You know, there are different types of experiments. I'm not using any drugs. Right now, I'm just observing under what conditions love can grow."

"Love?"

"Yes, love. Don't you like love? I do."

Libia was perplexed.

"I think love should be natural--- I mean, something that attracts people to each other."

"Like Master and you?"

Libia's face turned red.

"Um, well--- yes."

"But if you didn't have any contact with Master--- or, to put it another way, if the situation was different, would love have blossomed?"

Confused, Libia struggled to answer, and Clare gently advised her.

"Don't worry. When I say love, I'm just researching how to make people get along. I'm putting individuals of different types in specific conditions to see if they can become friends."

"Is that okay? But, it's still not right. Aarle sometimes gives off a scary vibe."

Clare complained.

"That's harsh. Master would have been delighted and agreed. He might have even scolded you for being too soft. No, he would have told me to do more. But--- stupid Libia! You're so stubborn!"

Saying this, Clare left the room, and Libia reached out to follow her.

"Wait, Aarle!"

◇

In the hallway.

(If I do this, he'll feel guilty and be nice to me for a while.)

Watching Libia search for her, Clare hid and thought about the future.

(Amazing. A womanizer can fall for a man without any drugs. I was considering using love potions, but this surprised even me.)

She intended to discipline a bad boy.

But wouldn't it be more efficient to conduct drug experiments in the process?

Several male students became victims of Clare's experiments.

Clare is having fun at school today.

Reon (；゜д゜) "What do you think of me? I won't say it. I won't tell you to do more or that you're too soft. I'd be grossed out!"

Clare (○) "Master wouldn't say that! He would have told me to do more!"

Reon (#゜Д゜) "No way! I'd expel that guy and ruin him socially! You're too malicious! I'd hesitate to go that far! Turning a womanizer into a man-lover is too much!"

Clare (○) "That hesitation, so charming!"

Luxion ( ●) "As expected of Master. You're so wicked, it's mesmerizing."