Mistaken for a Masked Munchkin

“Please. Pet me.”

The words landed like a bomb.

Naturally, the atmosphere in the classroom was instantly thrown into chaos.

“You...!”

Caitlin was the first to react.

Her eyes went wide as she turned toward me.

Electricity crackled around her.

“What’s wrong with that monster bitch? What did you do to her this time?”

“No, I’m not entirely sure myself...”

“I mean, what exactly is it that you can’t tolerate...?”

“Figure it out! You’re only quick on the uptake at times like this, you idiot!”

“Rather than using hateful language like ‘idiot,’ perhaps you could use technical terms such as ‘involuntary one-person household’ or ‘bloodline-isolated household’...”

“Just shut up!”

For some reason, Caitlin was absolutely furious.

High-voltage electricity leaked from her fingertips.

The air around us had grown quite warm because of it.

Regardless, the voice asking to be petted continued from right in front of me.

“Pet me.”

“Hey, let go of my sleeve before you talk.”

Caitlin watched Rin warily.

Surprisingly, Rin obediently released my sleeve.

“I let go.”

“Now take a few steps back.”

“I stepped back. Are you going to pet me now?”

“More.”

“Okay. Are you going to pet me now?”

“Be quiet. I don’t even know where to start picking a fight with you.”

“I’ll be quiet. Then will you pet me?”

“...Hey, did you seriously knock this girl up or something?”

“Miss Gaytlin. What exactly do you take me for?”

“A woman-crazed, semi-involuntary teenage head of household.”

“That’s unfair.”

“Then why’s she acting like that?”

“I swear on my parents, I don’t know either.”

I wanted to know too.

What had gotten into her for her to suddenly react like this?

‘The only thing I can think of is what happened yesterday...’

Rin had suddenly burst into tears, and I’d comforted her by petting her.

Had something gone wrong then?

This was the first time I’d seen Rin like this.

I absentmindedly fiddled with my mask.

‘Still, I didn’t expect her reaction to be this extreme.’

Rin Glacia.

I knew she was always desperate for acknowledgment.

Rin had grown up without receiving love from her family.

She’d always lived with a massive void inside her.

She’d never been acknowledged by someone she herself acknowledged, by someone whose acknowledgment she wanted.

The story had repeatedly emphasized how that had rotted away at a corner of her heart.

‘So I figured she’d react somehow if I approached her warmly...’

At present, I was practically the only academy student Rin acknowledged.

The only person with greater talent than hers, and the only one who’d accomplished greater things.

She’d likely never met anyone like me in her life.

Even if I’d borrowed the bug’s power, what I’d achieved over the past half year was absurd.

‘There are people Rin might acknowledge at the academy, like Javert, Valter, or Valteric...’

None of those three were the type to praise Rin or treat her warmly.

In other words, I was the only one who’d expressed approval of her.

That alone was enough to shake her to the core.

I’d expected some special reaction from Rin when I made a move.

‘...But not this much.’

Blue eyes blinked quietly.

As always, there was no life in those pupils.

Still, her gaze showed no sign of leaving me.

Beyond that fathomless blue, only the face of a masked boy was reflected.

“Um... Young Lady Glacia?”

“Yes. Are you going to pet me?”

“No. I’d like an explanation first...”

“An explanation?”

“I’d like to know why you suddenly made this request and what your intention is.”

“The reason for the request. That’s what you’re asking.”

Rin nodded as though she understood.

Then she spoke of what had happened yesterday.

“When you petted me yesterday, I felt strange. I kept thinking about it all night. It wouldn’t leave my head...”

“So you wanted to feel that way again.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

“It was only a simple petting, yet it affected you that much...”

“I’d never felt anything like it before. If it’s okay, I want you to do it again.”

“Hmm...”

“Would that be difficult?”

“No, it’s just a little sudden...”

“Please. I’ll even pay you if you want.”

“No. You don’t need to pay. I can do it without that.”

Rin pulled a heavy pouch from her clothes.

I panicked and waved my hands.

Just how much gold was in that leather pouch?

Breaking out in a cold sweat, I barely managed to calm down Rin as she charged straight ahead.

‘Doing it for free is one thing, but getting paid to touch her makes the whole thing look weird.’

I’d be socially ruined.

I had to protect my honor.

“...Really? You’ll just do it?”

“Of course. It’s not particularly difficult.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“That makes me happier than anything I’ve heard lately.”

Rin quietly looked up at me.

The corners of her lips tilted ever so slightly.

For a moment, I had no choice but to doubt my eyes.

Her expression was as faint as a drop of ink dissolved in the sea.

Everyone else seemed to have missed it, but I’d watched her hundreds of times. I could tell.

‘Did she just smile...?’

Rin herself didn’t seem to realize it.

For a moment, I even wondered if I’d imagined it.

“Then, please.”

“...”

“Class E’s top seat?”

“...”

I never imagined I’d see Rin Glacia smile.

What was so special about a little petting?

What had shaken her this much?

Even as I wondered, I calmly petted her.

With everyone watching, Rin stood obediently as I petted her.

““...””

With everyone watching.

For a long time.

“...Is that it? Already?”

For a long time.

“Um. Could you do it a little longer...?”

For a long time.

“Yes. A little longer.”

Throughout the entire self-study period.

For more than three hours.

* * *

The girl who’d come asking to be petted.

From that day on, Rin came to ask for my touch every day.

- Would today be okay too?

A full week had already passed.

At this point, it wasn’t easy to refuse.

How could I ignore that expectant voice, so close to pleading?

‘That’d make me a real piece of trash.’

I decided to look on the bright side.

There was nothing bad about getting closer to Rin.

If anything, it was necessary.

The House Glacia storyline was approaching.

If I built a solid relationship with her now, she’d become an excellent ally later.

Knock, knock.

“Um. I came again today.”

“Come in. I was waiting for you.”

“Thank you. You’ll do it again today.”

“I want to maintain a good relationship with you, Young Lady Glacia.”

“Yes. So do I.”

Because of that, a strange routine was added to my daily life.

Once my schedule was over each day, I spent an hour petting Rin.

“Have a seat first.”

“Okay.”

Honestly, it was a strange sight for others to see.

That was why this routine had to take place somewhere away from prying eyes.

The natural choice was my dormitory.

The petting sessions took place in my dorm room.

Once Rin started receiving my touch, she wasn’t satisfied until at least an hour had passed.

I gently ran my hand through her hair.

Stroke, stroke.

“You’re amazing, Young Lady. I truly respect you.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“I feel all soft and fluffy. Mm.”

“I’m glad you seem satisfied.”

While I petted her, I also whispered praise to her, just like I had that day.

Apparently, that was the right answer, because her reaction was incredibly positive.

I smoothed her blue hair.

Of course, even as I moved my hand, I occasionally suffered from cognitive dissonance.

‘Am I really petting the eldest daughter of House Glacia right now? While throwing in cute little compliments? I’m sitting the Snow Queen on my bed and telling her she’s a good girl? Is this some insane dream?’

Naturally, it was reality.

To clear away those useless thoughts, I focused a little more on the sensation at my fingertips.

[...Viktor.]

A silver bat was perched on my shoulder.

The princess tapped my mask with her white wing.

Her telepathic voice was full of dissatisfaction.

[Have you seduced another woman again?]

‘No, I’m genuinely innocent this time...’

[Womanizer. Lecher. Pervert.]

‘Didn’t you watch the entire process yourself, Princess?’

[Liar. Bad retainer. Disloyal retainer.]

‘...I have no excuse.’

Rin gave me trouble outside, and Carmilla gave me trouble inside.

I could only hold back my tears and continue petting Rin.

A faint chill wrapped around my fingertips.

“You’re doing well, Young Lady.”

Rin’s body temperature seemed slightly lower than a normal person’s 36.5 degrees Celsius.

That coolness touched my palm.

She was cold, but not cold enough to seem like a doll.

Whenever I stroked her blue, silk-like hair, it felt as though the scent of winter filled the room.

‘The smell of winter.’

Her natural scent was exceptionally elegant.

Then a knock sounded at the dormitory door.

Knock, knock.

‘...Who is it?’

Tilting my head, I opened the door.

A red-haired woman stood there.

“Student Viktor.”

“Ah... Chief Investigator?”

Javert was carrying several thick documents.

She’d likely come to hand over something work-related.

Her green eyes held only one boy.

Javert was about to speak, but suddenly stopped and furrowed her brow.

Sniff.

“P-Professor?”

Javert leaned in close.

Her face hovered just short of touching my neck as she quietly breathed in.

Her complexion turned cold.

[The smell... of another woman...]

Her thoughts reached me through our contract.

My heart throbbed as though it had been tightly gripped.

Thump, thump.

An emotion that seemed to boil fiercely flooded my senses.

Without changing her expression, Javert simply asked me a question.

“Are you perhaps with someone?”

“Ah... Well, you see.”

Just as I hurried to explain, a girl suddenly approached from behind me and poked her head out.

“Um... keep doing what you were doing.”

Rin was dressed casually.

She’d taken off her coat and tie, leaving only a white shirt and skirt.

She wasn’t revealing anything, but it looked strange given that she was in someone else’s dormitory.

Then she calmly walked out of my bedroom.

“Ah.”

“...”

I froze without thinking.

Javert stared at me.

Her eyes had darkened, their brightness sinking deep into blackness.

All kinds of complicated feelings flowed from her.

For some reason, cold sweat ran down my forehead.

‘No.’

It’s a misunderstanding.

I’m telling you, it’s really a misunderstanding.

===

It’s Carmilla and Javert.

That’s all for the bunny bunny illustrations.

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