NOTE:
Umm, I just noticed, I set the time wrong, yesterday I updated six chapters instead of the usual three.
So, instead of not updating today, for the next three days, I will only update two chapters per day, so sorry.
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Chapter 78: The Dragon in Love
"Love at first sight?"
Hearing those words, Melusine revealed a slightly bewildered expression.
"I see… perhaps if looking from the perspective of you humans, that would indeed be the conclusion you'd draw."
"Isn't that the case?"
"Haha, it is indeed so."
The silver-haired dragon girl smiled faintly, her voice as light as the night breeze brushing against a wind chime:
"If viewed from another perspective, perhaps you would understand."
Suddenly, the lights in the living room began to flicker, as though a powerful magical energy was disturbing the normal operation of the electrical devices.
In that flickering light, the fragile girl, like a delicate flower, transformed—revealing the form of a dragon.
A pair of flawless silver-white dragon horns, wings spreading from her back like those of a bat yet bearing patterns akin to a butterfly's, fine and delicate dragon scales wrapping her slender body like layers of petals.
This was Melusine's final Spirit Origin form.
"If one wishes to use the term 'love at first sight' to describe it, that would not be wrong. It is true that I 'fell for you at first sight,' only the details are different from what you imagine. Specifically, as the mightiest being, a powerful dragon, my way of perceiving things, my way of observing life, is completely different from yours—humans."
Those deep amber dragon eyes gazed at him with a tenderness like flowing water:
"Mochizuki Eikou, in the very instant I laid eyes on you, I could directly observe the distant future of us—what trials you and I would go through in one year at Chaldea Academy, what times we would share, and what ending we would receive. All of these, I could sense beforehand through instinct."
"The 'love at first sight' you humans speak of is liking someone based on the superficial first impression, while we dragons see the far future first, then decide to like the other party—now you understand, our fates were intertwined from the very start, from that very moment, you were destined to be my prey (lover)."
In the flickering light, Melusine returned to her frail, pitiful maiden form.
The lights in the room steadied again.
Melusine blinked, smiling at him.
"To be precise… Meluko will get on the bus first, buy the ticket later, ehe~"
Eikou showed a look as if he was deep in thought.
Now he understood why Melusine had clung to him from their very first meeting—it turned out she had been conquered by the "distant future."
Though it sounded a bit hard to believe, the reason she gave was still the most normal among all the women connected to him… at least it wasn't something bizarre like chasing after him in a haunted house because he ran off with a ghost.
"In that case…"
Eikou couldn't help but ask curiously:
"If you can already see the future, then what will be our ending later? What happens after I graduate?"
"Do you truly wish to know?"
Melusine's expression suddenly turned serious.
Seeing her suddenly become so solemn, he quickly shook his head.
"All right… actually, I don't really want to know, it's better to leave a bit of surprise for the future—"
Before he could finish speaking, Melusine shoved an ice cream bar into his mouth.
The sudden chill spread inside, rendering Eikou unable to say another word.
Melusine smiled.
"Haha, that's right, it's still too early to talk about these things now. Spring hasn't ended yet, the cherry blossoms have only recently fallen, and your life still has a long way to go. As for your ending… hmm, I can only say it will be a 'cherry blossom without regrets.'"
"I see…"
Tasting the sweet, cool flavor of milk in his mouth, Eikou lightly nodded as though he had realized something.
Melusine moved closer to him, lowered her head slightly, and looked at him with a smile that blended playfulness and tenderness:
"As a human, your life is very short. But precisely because of that, as your lover, I must cherish the time spent with you even more. Have you thought about where we'll go for our next date?"
"Spicy hotpot within a 50QP budget."
"Eh, taking your lover to a common budget restaurant everywhere on your first date—that will certainly be a most precious first experience in our lives. Are you sure you don't want to choose a place with more style? Or… are you actually the type who 'skips unnecessary expenses and aims straight for a girl's body'?"
"At first I only meant it as a joke, but it seems your thoughts are actually more serious…"
Eikou thought to himself: if I really took a girl on our very first date to a place with absolutely no style, I'd probably stay a virgin for the rest of my life.
"That being said, right now we can't really be considered lovers yet, can we? Even if from your perspective we've already been through a lot, on my side nothing has happened at all."
Melusine's ten fingers touched together shyly. "You mean… you want something to happen between us, to use that as proof that we're lovers?"
"…Why is there such a misunderstanding?"
Her slender, delicate silver-haired fingers rested on his chest, gently pushing him down onto the soft sofa.
Her hands were cold, like a cold-blooded creature craving warmth, and under the dim light, her dragon eyes seemed to turn into a precious, dreamlike red.
"Eikou, you must understand one thing — the Dragon race is a very greedy one. I'll soon make you understand why we're lovers, and by the way…"
Melusine gave a faint smile, wrapping her arms around his neck, her beautiful and noble face becoming even more adorable under the moonlight.
Eikou thought to himself how familiar this scene was — he had just been making out with Morgan on the sofa not long ago, and now it was Melusine's turn?
So this was a rotation tactic — Morgan leaves the field for barely a minute, and someone else is subbed in right away!
"As for our future dates, I want you to pay a deposit in advance…"
With that, Melusine closed her eyes, smiled, and pressed her soft lips against his.
Their lips fit tightly together.
They kissed.
The cool, sweet taste of ice cream blended richly with her love.
[You feel the sweet affection of Melusine.]
[On Melusine's body, you notice several of her traits.]
[You have learned "Territory Creation C+."]
["Territory Creation C+": You can quickly transform the surrounding environment into the form you require.]
[Though the specific time has yet to be decided, the date with Melusine has already become part of your plan.]
"…"
After a while, Melusine finally let him go, licking her pink lips in lingering satisfaction.
It was hard to believe such a small girl could exude such an enchanting charm.
"Look forward to the days ahead, Mochizuki Eikou,"
"Even though I already know what will happen between us, I still can't help but look forward to that day. The assault of the Dragon race will be far more intense than you imagine~"
"…"
[That night, you crawled into bed with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.]
[The moment you close your eyes, you immediately recall the soft lips of Morgan and Melusine, and the warmth when they touched your body…]
[Your head is filled with distracting thoughts.]
[Perhaps this house doesn't have any terrifying ghost woman, but it still holds women who will never let go once they're entangled.]
[Make an Endurance check.]
[Check failed.]
[Because you ate ice cream late at night, your stomach couldn't take it, resulting in stomach pain and diarrhea.]