Oppression, a bit more oppression, it’s about to explode.
Lomyo’s fingertips lightly tapped on the table, comparing the plot in his memory, analyzing every subtle reaction from Sylvia.
Her silk gloves were taut, and beneath the fabric, faint veins on the back of her hand could be seen.
Beneath her forcibly maintained graceful smile, the trembling of her muscles was hard to suppress.
He also saw the fleeting bluish sheen of scales, spreading now, hidden under her long hair at the back of her neck.
Still putting on an act.
Not a single word Lomyo had just said could be judged by the contract as being related to its contents.
As for what exactly was written in the contract, and whether there were any clauses about the person herself…
Sylvia only needed to coldly reply with, “Where’s the evidence?” and the power of the contract would render Lomyo, the “accuser,” mute, unable to defend himself.
This was the simplest and most effective way to break the deadlock.
Yet she didn’t do it.
Compared to losing the bet, what she feared more was exposing her own “imperfection,” becoming a monster in others’ eyes.
Just suppressing her emotions had already exhausted all her strength.
“So pitiful.”
Lomyo couldn’t help but sigh a little.
In the game plot, this dragon girl’s personal story was a tale of self-redemption.
In a business family that cared only for profit and value, she had been raised from childhood as the finest commodity, with familial affection diluted to something like plain water touched with a single drop of honey.
She had to be perfect, she had to meet everyone’s expectations, or she would lose everything—
From her earliest days, this kind of manipulative education was already etched into her bones.
It was exactly this psychological shackle that had firmly suppressed her draconic blood, forcing her to hold herself back, until she was on the verge of dragonification during emotional breakdowns.
Again and again, a vicious cycle.
“White moonlight… Whoever wants to be it can have it.”
With a clear sense of self, Lomyo had already chosen his strategy.
“As for me, being the black sun is much more my style.”
It had to be said, though the game was a money trap, each character’s different favor levels led to corresponding endings.
The best, of course, was the yuri romance with the heroine.
The worst was a special plot only triggered at extremely low favor.
And in that plot, Sylvia would erupt from her silence, transforming into a half-dragon form in a near self-destructive way, finally breaking her last psychological shackle.
Of course, Lomyo wouldn’t push an SSR to truly become “nonhuman.”
As long as Sylvia’s ability to withstand pressure improved a little and her thoughts shifted, he had another clever way to solve the issue.
“Solving her dragon-blood problem and laying the foundation for cooperation… This is all part of the plan.”
Lomyo silently recited in his heart.
At this moment, the whispers of the surrounding young girls made the best catalyst.
Their sympathy, their compassion for him, their criticism of Sylvia… all of it was built on the charm aura.
Once they woke up, his reputation would be completely ruined…
So what? It was already ruined anyway.
With that decision, Lomyo slowly ate the last bite of ice cream.
The coldness spread in his mouth, and his thoughts seemed to grow even calmer.
Only after the sweetness faded did Lomyo look at Sylvia and speak again:
“This isn’t how it should be.”
“Senior, you shouldn’t be the kind of person to be shaken by such words.”
“Is it too noisy around you, distracting you? Or did you never intend to win the contract in the first place?”
“………”
Lomyo saw Sylvia open her mouth slightly, but then close it again, as if holding back her emotions, unable to say anything.
And her wandering gaze was now unwilling to linger on Lomyo for even a second longer.
“Look at me!”
Lomyo stood up, leaned forward, and with a loud shout, pulled Sylvia’s attention back.
“Your opponent is right here. Fair or not, whatever the purpose, it’s all here.”
“Even at this point, if you’re still distracted by others’ eyes, by such irrelevant trifles, do you really think victory is guaranteed?”
“You arrogant woman!”
“I… arrogant?”
In near-disbelieving shock, Sylvia’s vertical pupils scattered for an instant.
“When was I arrogant? I clearly… I…”
Sylvia’s whole body was trembling.
The poise she always handled so easily now revealed a sadness hard to put into words.
As if wronged, yet unable to defend herself:
“What do you know about me?!”
All those years past, all the pressure endured, surged in her heart like a tsunami.
But, under the eyes of so many, she could only let the heat of emotion swirl at the corners of her eyes.
“I don’t understand,” Lomyo seized the topic. “All I see is a pretender, a coward afraid of the eyes of others.”
“Dragon scales!?”
Someone nearby had already exclaimed.
“….”
That exclamation seemed to drain all of Sylvia’s confidence, making her gaze drift again.
“Don’t you dare look away. Look. At. Me!”
Lomyo directly reached out and turned her face straight:
“Your opponent is me. You just need to look at me and think about how to win the contract!”
“Look into my eyes and see what they tell you!”
Their gazes met, and from the depths of Lomyo’s pupils, Sylvia saw only one thing.
“My own reflection.”
“Very good. Now answer me—did I say a single word about your bloodline?”
“…No.”
“Have I respected you and acted according to our agreement?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ve respected you, kept my promise, and yet you still care about what others think. You never took this contract with me seriously at all!”
Lomyo let go, sighing with disappointment:
“You even let your own prejudices run wild and then force them onto others.”
“Sylvia, you really are an arrogant woman.”
“Someone like you could never win.”
Never win?
Those words completely ignited Sylvia’s thoughts.
That’s right.
Winning is all that matters.
No matter what’s happening now, no matter how others look at her—as long as she wins…
Then everything caused by this bet, by the issue of her dragon blood, could be solved by ordering Lomyo.
The cost was merely enduring a few looks.
“From the very beginning, stirring public opinion, to drawing attention now… is that all you planned to tell me?”
As Sylvia questioned, her gaze locked firmly on Lomyo, no longer wavering in the slightest.
“Tell me, you will win?”
“No, you won’t. You’ll only drown in your own scheme.”
“That maneuver with the merchant convoy was impressive, and I must thank Classmate Kafnir for being willing to do so much for our contract, making things so interesting.”
Sylvia’s poise returned, and it seemed that aside from Lomyo, everyone else present no longer mattered:
“Because that’ll just let me earn more at the end—nothing more.”
“At this point, you still want to throw mud? Truly worthy of being a senior.”
Lomyo clapped lightly a few times:
“You even dare make up stories about students abusing authority and attacking the academy’s merchant convoy. That’s quite a hat to put on, Senior.”
How dare she slander my chosen good brother!
Now Lomyo was even more certain.
The merchant convoy incident—it was Sylvia’s doing!
“No, when did Sylvia give the order to rob the convoy? Didn’t she only find out from the academy notice this morning?”
In a corner, Annie frowned slightly, her thoughts in some disarray.
“Could it be I made a mistake in my surveillance?”