Chapter 88. Im Sol's Laboratory (2)
"Wow, how do you grade all this by yourself?"
"Just work hard."
Im Sol answered while grading the answer sheets.
No matter how much I graded, the stack never seemed to end.
Since Professor Im Sol taught classes across all years, she had to grade every magic cadet's answer sheet.
Why isn't Victoria Academy automated?
They've got great systems like MMR cards.
"By the way, why doesn't the academy use automated grading?"
"Humans are more accurate than machines."
"Huh?"
What's she talking about? That sounded like one of those old managers who insists on doing calculations by hand because they don't trust machines.
"Machines can be tampered with—either by the operator or the one writing the answers."
"…If that's the standard, isn't it more dangerous for professors to do the grading? Mistakes or manipulation would be even easier."
"We make an Oath of Mana. A vow never to manipulate grades."
"…."
As expected, the Oath of Mana is unbeatable everywhere.
But isn't there a more precise method?
"Then wouldn't it be safer to have cadets make an Oath of Mana? There's zero chance of manipulation."
"Do you even know how complicated the procedure for an Oath of Mana is?"
Ah, so it's not like a novel where you just declare, 『I swear on mana…!』 and it's done.
Wait, if professors take an Oath of Mana, then I definitely shouldn't be doing this grading.
"No matter how I think about it, me grading these is kind of dangerous."
"It's not like you're gonna boost anyone's score. And if you grade something wrong by mistake, that's fine. The answer sheets are made public anyway, and even if a cadet loses one point, they'll hunt it down like a bloodhound."
"You're seriously so lazy."
"Thanks."
Im Sol didn't seem to mind my sarcasm and kept focusing on grading.
"Still, we've made a lot of progress, Professor."
Looking at the pile of remaining answer sheets still made me sigh, but it had definitely gone down since we started.
"Yeah. Doing it together really sped things up. Thanks. Now I have more time to research."
"…Yeah. Being a professor at the academy is rough. The workload is insane."
We'd been grading papers for hours and still only finished about a quarter.
Since my grading speed was nearly the same as Im Sol's, how long would it take her alone?
"They pay enough to make up for it."
"Ahh…"
Yeah, money really does solve everything.
"But it's not just the workload. Professors get cursed out by cadets constantly."
On EveryDay, students bash professors daily—saying the lectures are boring, unhelpful, or even insulting appearances. Anonymous hate just keeps coming in.
Of course, EveryDay doesn't exactly try to stop it. It helps cadets pick professors, and frankly, insults about appearance don't get any positive attention anyway.
Most of it is about lecture quality.
"I don't really get much hate though? My professor evaluations are always high."
"Well, that's because you're super talented, Professor."
While others spend ages preparing, she probably comes up with ideas in five minutes. No need to prep too much.
Plus, she's pretty, so classes are fun to watch. What's not to like?
"Hmm, well… I've heard that a lot since way back. It never made me feel good, though."
Im Sol's expression stiffened a little. The mood dropped.
"…?"
Why's she looking down after being praised?
★ Heroine Status Window
[Im Sol]
- [ Affection: 50 ]
- [ Lust: 25 ]
- [ Appetite: 30 ]
- [ Fatigue: 40 ]
Current Status: Monster this, monster that… I used to cry a lot back then. The memories just hit me. Tch.
'Oh…'
So that's what it was.
Well, who doesn't have a painful past?
I brought the mood down for no reason. What now?
"By the way, are you sure it's okay for you to be helping out this much during midterms?"
Thankfully, Im Sol changed the topic, maybe to shake off the bad memories.
True, we've been grading for over three hours now.
"It's not like I need to prepare much anyway."
"You're so confident. I'm really curious about your test results."
Im Sol looked at me with a mix of curiosity and amazement as I continued helping her during midterms.
"Those who are good have everything prepared in advance. From tomorrow, it's practicals. There's no point training now. Gotta manage my condition."
"And you're overworking yourself for condition management?"
"Spending time with you is the best way to stay in top condition."
"Sure, sure. Just do well on the exam."
That was my best line, but she brushed it off. Kinda sad.
"Wanna bet on the test results then? I'm telling you I've got this."
"I told you, I don't like betting."
"How about this—if I get a perfect score on the written exam?"
"...Perfect score?"
Im Sol actually seemed interested when I said that.
"Yep. Perfect score in every subject. That's worth betting on, right?"
"I don't know how confident you are, but… if it's a perfect score, sure."
Hooked her.
"I'm confident too, you know? So, what's your stake?"
"You choose. Just don't make it too extreme. Be reasonable."
"Then if I win… uh."
What should I pick? I was so focused on making the bet I forgot to set the reward.
I want something that would let me get closer to Im Sol… What would catch her interest?
Then I remembered the flyer I saw in the Magic Tower lobby on the way to her lab.
『The National Magic Research Expo will be held next month!』
Magic Research Expo.
That might catch her attention.
"If I win, let's go to the Magic Research Expo together."
"Magic Research Expo…? I mean, I'm fine with it, but… it's usually just old folks and magic nerds. You probably won't enjoy it."
"The important part is going with you, Professor. It's fine, right?"
"Alright. Then if I win, you have to help with research for two hours a day, no excuses."
"...Isn't that kinda too much? I'm just asking you to hang out for a day."
"Then how about every other day?"
"That's acceptable…"
I mean, I'm gonna win anyway. Still, I should act like I'm not 100% certain so she feels a bit better.
"Okay. Shall we grade your test first, then?"
Im Sol rummaged through the first-year answer sheets and pulled out one.
"Sorry, but question 30? No one's getting that right."
With a confident smile, she flipped to the back of the page—then her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
"W-What...?"
"Question 30. Definitely a high-level trap. Like you said, I'm probably the only one who got it right."
It was a question involving calculating the interaction between magic circles.
Most students probably just calculated the interaction between the two given circles.
But one of the circles actually had another magic circle hidden within it.
So the real question was about calculating the interaction including that hidden one—most cadets likely got it wrong.
No one tries to actually test the circles during the written exam.
Unless they can read the function of a magic circle at a glance like I can.
"H-How did you even solve this?! I wrote this question so no one could pass the exam!"
Im Sol clenched her fist, looking genuinely frustrated.
"Ah..."
Come to think of it, there was a detail like that in her setup.
That Professor Im Sol's tests were so hard that no one ever got a perfect score. Some ridiculous extra lore.
So that was her plan, huh.
"Now do you believe me? I really am confident in my perfect score. Don't tell me you're backing out of the bet now?"
"...No. You'll mess up on another part anyway."
Judging by her expression, she was sulking. Kinda cute.
"But it really showed how much effort you put into it. That was a tough question. It took me longer to solve than all the others combined."
Though in reality, it didn't even take me 10 minutes, so not by much.
"...Yeah."
"Ugh, I'm exhausted! Grading nonstop for three hours is brutal. What kind of cadet works unpaid for three hours for their professor, right?"
Tried to get some sympathy, but when that didn't work, I decided to emphasize how hard I'd worked.
"Thanks for that."
Thankfully, that worked.
"Shouldn't I get a bit of that paycheck too? I've done over a tenth of the work."
"You're giving me something else."
"Something else?"
Im Sol stuck her tongue out past her lips and made an O-ring with her fingers, moving it back and forth in front of her mouth.
"Ah…."
"Wanna do it now?"
"…Please."
Im Sol set the test papers aside and came over to kneel in front of my couch.
It was sudden, but this was always how things went with Im Sol.
She tucked her hair behind her ears, brushing her pink tee, then pulled down my pants and took out my dick.
Sniff sniff.
"...Professor. Sniffing it is kind of embarrassing."
It wasn't like we were both naked in bed for sex—I was just receiving, so it felt a bit awkward.
"I'm just curious how something from a waste organ can smell like this. I wonder if anyone else has learned that skill? I want to learn it too."
"W-Well, probably not? I just happened to pick it up on the black market…"
"Really? Too bad. Haaap."
Im Sol didn't stay curious for long—her attention went straight back to my dick.
Her soft lips wrapped around the tip. As her wet tongue slid along the shaft, I felt blood rush to my cock.
"Mmmph… slurp. Nnh. Chu."
She might actually be better at blowjobs than Liliana… Does she study porn or something?
I've realized that if you're a genius with magic, you're probably a genius at sex too.
"Suck… chuup. Slurp. Mwah."
Im Sol seriously began stimulating my cock. Taking it deep into her mouth, her tongue wrapped around the shaft—it was intense pleasure.
On top of that, her cat-like eyes kept glancing up at mine, checking my reactions. Every time our eyes met, a wave of dominance and bliss washed over me—this beauty serving me like this.
It didn't take long before I felt the climax build.
"Professor… I think I'm gonna cum."
"Mmh. Chu."
At my warning, Im Sol adjusted my dick deeper into her mouth and rapidly moved her head, focusing on the tip.
Her intention to savor the taste of cum on her tongue was clear—I couldn't hold back and climaxed with a shudder.
But maybe the timing was off—my cock slipped out just as I started cumming, splattering sticky semen all over her face.
"Tch. Ugh, it's sticky. And what a waste."
Breathing heavily, Im Sol wiped the semen off her face with her hand and licked it off her fingers.
"Professor… A-Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
She scooped up the rest of the cum with her fingers, brought it to her mouth, then cast a clean magic spell to tidy her face and clothes.
"Thanks for the meal. Come again next time."
"Y-Yeah… I'll be going now."
Im Sol's blowjobs were like parting gifts.
Her way of saying thanks for helping out.
Except for the first time when she said my cum tasted sweet, she's always only done it once—it always leaves me wanting more.
*
I left Im Sol's lab and returned to the dorm.
I had spent more time than expected, so I figured I'd rest a bit and sleep.
I'd messaged Liliana that I'd be late today, so she probably ate already.
Ding—
As soon as I came in, Liliana came running to greet me.
"You're back?"
"Yeah. You ate dinner, right?"
"Nope! I was waiting to eat with you!"
Sparkle sparkle.
Liliana's been getting brighter lately.
It started when she contacted her mom in hell and when she saw that viral video of me. Not sure why, but those were the turning points.
"Good thing I didn't eat either. What would you have done if I had?"
"Then I'd just have to eat your cum instead. What else~"
"...How about as an appetizer before dinner."
I responded seriously to Liliana's sex joke.
Honestly, Im Sol only did it once earlier, so I'd been craving more—this was perfect.
"Hmm? Now? Before we've even had dinner?"
"We can do it while waiting for the delivery, then eat, then do it again."
"F-Fine by me… Mmm… Master. Chu."
I pulled Liliana into an embrace, kissed her, and guided her to the bed.
Time to test which is better—Im Sol's blowjob or a succubus's.