Deep within a facility hidden beneath the glaciers of the distant Northern Continent.
In the great hall, several massive transparent cultivation pods stood upright, filled with pale green nutrient solution, where the faint outlines of human forms could be seen suspended within.
On the rightmost pod, the indicator light suddenly shifted from a steady green to a frantic, flashing red.
The pale green liquid inside began to drain in a steady rhythm. The fluid level dropped rapidly, revealing a body identical in appearance to the Deputy who had just been beheaded.
When the liquid had fully drained, the body’s eyes snapped open. Then, moving somewhat stiffly, he stepped out of the pod onto the cold, smooth metal floor.
“Number 7 ‘Proxy’ doll, confirmed destroyed. Synchronized consciousness transfer record complete.”
He murmured to himself, his voice echoing through the empty room.
“It seems a deep-thinking rat has infiltrated the Organization.”
The man turned, gazing at the other unactivated bodies in the cultivation pods, his eyes profound.
“It’s time to craft a more perfect ‘vessel’ and go to the western continent personally to clean house.”
***
Meanwhile, in Sarkax Royal Capital, at the villa where Sefina resided.
Two days had passed quietly since the purge at the snowbound ruined city.
The long days of infiltration and planning, followed by the final operation, had drained a great deal of her energy. Sefina allowed herself a rare moment of relaxation.
Sefina needed rest, needed to let her taut nerves slacken somewhat, and needed time to digest the gains and losses of the entire plan and prepare for the next step.
Versie’s efforts to secure legitimate investigative authority for the Einstein identity were still being worked through noble channels and would take some time.
Sefina could use this gap to recuperate and refine her plans in greater detail.
On a winter afternoon, snow fell thickly outside the villa, dressing the world in pure silver-white.
Inside, however, it was warm as spring. The firewood in the fireplace crackled, and the dancing flames tinted the living room in a warm orange glow.
Sefina curled up in the softest, largest sofa in the living room, a heavy tome on magic theory spread open on her lap, her wine-red eyes slightly lowered.
The afternoon quiet and warmth made one drowsy.
Her students had just prepared and finished lunch together. Perhaps the indoor warmth was too comfortable, for all three girls seemed sleepy.
Then, it was unclear who started it. Perhaps Kefi gave a soft yawn, perhaps Ellaria rubbed her eyes, or perhaps Mia mumbled, “So sleepy.”
In any case, when Sefina looked up from the pages, she found she had become a human support frame.
On her left shoulder, Kefi leaned heavily. The brown-haired girl’s eyes were closed, her breathing even, seemingly fast asleep as she unconsciously nuzzled Sefina’s neck.
On her right shoulder was Ellaria. The golden-haired imperial princess leaned solidly against her, her long golden hair spilling down, a few strands brushing Sefina’s cheek.
Even in sleep, she seemed to maintain a trace of reserve, yet her head rested firmly against Sefina’s cheek.
And the most outrageous, Mia, simply curled on her side into the remaining space of the sofa, then laid her head on Sefina’s closed knees.
Her gray short hair was somewhat tousled, and she even unconsciously smacked her lips, her arm wrapped around Sefina’s lower leg like hugging a large pillow.
Sefina: …
Sefina froze entirely in the sofa, her wine-red eyes blinking, unsure what to do.
The weight on both shoulders, the sensation on her knees, and the girls’ warm body heat pinned her firmly in place.
She couldn’t move at all. Any slight movement would likely wake them.
And besides… a faint, extremely subtle feeling rose in Sefina’s heart.
Lately, though they still called her “Teacher,” it seemed…
That sense of distance proper between teacher and student was quietly fading in some indescribable atmosphere.
Replacing it was a growing naturalness and intimacy.
Just like now, treating Sefina almost as something to lean on, falling into defenseless deep sleep.
This physical contact was so intimate… it was almost like…
Like lovers.
No, no!
Sefina immediately denied this dangerous metaphor in her mind.
Between teacher and student with a good relationship, occasionally being this close… should be acceptable, right?
Should be… probably… maybe… possibly?
Sefina tried to convince herself with reason, but her cheeks unconsciously grew warm.
Because when they pressed against her like this, deep in Sefina’s heart, aside from a trace of helplessness, she strangely had no thought of pushing them away.
Even… even a faint sense of being needed and depended upon quietly sprouted. This feeling was warm and soft, washing away the fatigue and tension of the past days.
This feeling was both unfamiliar and disconcerting to Sefina.
However, the other side of her rationality immediately sounded the alarm, beginning severe self-condemnation:
Sefina! You are a teacher! They are your students!
This physical contact has clearly overstepped the normal boundaries between teacher and student!
Your duty is to guide and protect them, not to indulge or even… enjoy this ambiguous closeness!
This is wrong! Push them away now!
But… despite the condemnation, that soft warmth lingering in her heart kept Sefina’s arms from rising, kept the words of pushing away stuck in her throat.
Inside, it was as if two little people were fiercely arguing. One raised the banner of “Teacher’s Code of Ethics” shouting, the other curled in the warm corner of “being needed” whispering in defense.
Finally, Sefina looked at the silent snowfall outside the window, listened to the crackling firewood, and let out a soft sigh.
Never mind… just… let it be.
They’re tired too. When they wake up, I’ll go to my room and take a nap.
Sefina turned her gaze back to the book on her lap, wanting to read a little more.
But this warm environment and the relaxation of body and mind made her eyelids gradually heavy.
Perhaps she too needed a short rest.
However, just as Sefina’s consciousness was on the verge of being gently captured by sleep—
“Nn…”
An extremely faint groan escaped her lips.
Her entire body gave a sudden jolt, and deep in her lower abdomen, a familiar burning sensation surged, instantly engulfing her whole body.
Sefina’s heartbeat instantly lost control, pounding wildly! Her breathing became uncontrollably rapid, and her cheeks and neck flushed with a vivid crimson.
The magic crest… it was acting up again!
And at a time like this! In a place like this! With three students sleeping defenselessly pressed against her!
Sefina’s wine-red eyes snapped wide open, filled with panic and shame. She tried to bite her lower lip to suppress the sounds about to spill from her throat.
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