After Gold Ship was taken away, Symboli Rudolf gave Trainer Mizuno no chance to escape. She shut the door, locked it, then gently scooped the despairing Mizuno off the floor and tossed him onto the bed.
She leaned in over him, knee pressing between his legs, one hand pinning his shoulder, the other resting at his zipper.
Just one pull—and Mizuno's Uma Mint constitution would be exposed.
"Well then, Trainer Mizuno, what will you do now? Because I'm about to Uma Pyoi you."
"Guh!" Mizuno clutched her hand with both of his, desperately stopping her from pulling down, mind racing for a way out.
Yank Rudolf's tail to disable her?
But from this position, her tail was too far, his hands couldn't reach—and she'd definitely intercept him. No good.
Call out for help?
Impossible. The dorm supervisor had completely ignored Rudolf when arresting Broshi just now. Yelling would do nothing.
The only one who could save him now... was her...
Fortune!
But every time Fortune used her power, it consumed her energy. And the only way to generate that energy was for Mizuno to complete tasks helping Uma.
That was why he so rarely called upon her—for the sake of avoiding Uma, avoiding risk. He always tried to solve things alone.
But this situation was desperate. He had no choice. He shouted inside himself:
Fortune! Save me!
But no matter how he called, there was no response.
Fortune, don't play dead now! If you don't save me I'm about to—wait!
His thoughts stuttered.
He realized... Fortune hadn't been pretending to be silent.
She'd already lost contact with him several days ago.
Back then, with Broshi guarding him constantly, Mizuno hadn't felt the danger, so he didn't pay attention.
But now, with Broshi gone... he finally realized. Fortune had disappeared.
Which meant—there was no one left to save him.
"I'm finished..." His eyes dimmed, hands slipping weakly from Rudolf's. His body lay limp, ready for slaughter.
"Hhh..." Seeing him give up resistance filled Rudolf with a violent sense of conquest. Her whole body tingled, for a moment making her truly want to devour him.
But she held herself back. She wouldn't act like those love-brained girls, doing something reckless without thinking of consequences.
She had never truly intended to Uma Pyoi him. Pinning him like this was just to teach him a lesson—not because she was jealous Gold Ship had just been held in his arms, so she wanted to stick close too...
Besides—though a limp, compliant Mizuno was tasty enough, it was far more fun when he struggled desperately in vain.
"Trainer Mizuno, I'll ask you some questions. If your answers satisfy me, then maybe I won't Uma Pyoi you." She tugged lightly at his zipper as she spoke.
"Really?!" Hope flared in his eyes again.
"Heh~" Pleased, Rudolf nodded.
Time to ask what had long bothered her.
"Trainer Mizuno, why are you so afraid to take off those clothes? Could it be..."
"Because I'm ugly... guji!" The excuse he usually used slipped out, but his zipper was tugged down another notch.
"Trainer Mizuno, you'd better be honest. If I catch you lying again, every time I see you after this... I'll Uma Pyoi you. Do you understand?" Her smile glowed with menace.
"Understood, understood!" Mizuno nodded frantically.
Cornered, he confessed the truth:
"It's actually because I'm... too handsome."
"Mhm." Rudolf nodded.
That was the answer she expected.
If he were truly ugly, with his fear of Uma, he'd have shown it openly to drive them away. He wouldn't need to hide.
"So what you're really afraid of—"
"No. If it were just handsomeness, it'd be fine..." Mizuno shook his head.
"My constitution... is special..."
"Simply put... Uma Mint."
"Uma Mint?" Rudolf blinked.
"Yes. Like catnip, but for Uma. A body that irresistibly attracts them."
"According to Broshi's analysis, my looks stir their protective instincts, my scent puts them at ease, and my voice... arouses them..."
"If only one of those leaks out, I can manage. But if all three are exposed together, the result is disastrous. Being Uma Pyoi'd on the spot might even be the best-case outcome..."
"That's why I always wear this outfit. Why I never take it off in front of anyone."
"I see..." Rudolf's eyes widened.
So that was why he feared Uma so much. Why he always acted like he was about to be Uma Pyoi'd whenever anyone tried to strip him.
"Wait!" Suddenly her mind connected the dots.
Uma Mint... irresistible attraction... arousal...
"So it was you—the mysterious man!" she exclaimed.
The descriptions from those ten Uma matched perfectly.
"Uh..." Mizuno turned his face away, awkward.
"So it really was you..."
His reaction was all the proof she needed.
Trainer Mizuno was the mysterious man who had appeared before the Three Goddesses' statue!
"Trainer Mizuno... you made me search so hard..." Her eyes narrowed.
She should have realized it earlier. He'd been her prime suspect. But lacking evidence, she'd foolishly believed his lies and wasted time investigating Kaneshiro Takeru instead—finding nothing.
All that extra work, the pressure of an unsolved case, the ten Uma sinking into despair... all his fault!
If she didn't Uma Pyoi him hundreds, thousands of times, how could her anger be appeased?!
Her stomach twisted with fury. She climbed further forward, straddling his hips, yanking him upright by the collar.
"Trainer Mizuno! Why were you there that day? Why expose yourself?"
Her face still smiled, but Mizuno felt the storm beneath. One wrong word and she'd truly overpower him.
"Uh..." He choked.
Fortune had explained before: it wasn't entirely his will.
Yes, he was drunk. But more importantly, Fortune had manipulated him.
To seal Misfortune, she'd used his Uma Mint constitution at the statue. By exposing himself, he'd made the surrounding Uma believe it was divine manifestation, gathering the hope energy she needed.
The reasoning was there. But how could he explain it to Rudolf?
He couldn't tell the truth—too bizarre, with Fortune gone, no proof. She'd only think he was lying again.
Nor could he say he'd been drunk and crazed. That would only anger her more.
So Mizuno could only shake his head.
"Sorry... I can't tell you."
Rudolf frowned—then relaxed, smiling once more.
"Heh. Uma Pyoi it is."
"No no no!" Mizuno waved his hands in panic.
"It was an accident! I swear I didn't mean to! I can't tell you the real reason, but I promise—I had no malice! Please believe me! Please don't Uma Pyoi me!"
"...Is that so." Slowly, Rudolf's temper cooled. She released his collar, sighed, and sat at the bed's edge.
"If it wasn't intentional, then fine. Another time, I'll take you to meet Air Groove."
"Air Groove?" Mizuno blinked.
Air Groove—the Empress. Tracen Academy's Vice President. Rudolf's right hand.
Her mother had accomplished countless feats, trained many successors, and lived by her ideals. Under her influence, Air Groove too held firm beliefs. Skilled at housework, commanding in leadership, strong in every respect.
But since Mizuno entered the Academy, he had never seen her once. They had no connection. Why was Rudolf suddenly bringing her up?
"Why see her?"
"..." Rudolf only blinked.
She didn't say it, but Mizuno guessed.
"Wait... she saw it, didn't she..."
"Mm." Rudolf nodded.
"Guh..." Mizuno covered his face.
So she had been there too?!
Rudolf laid a hand on his shoulder, speaking gravely:
"Since that day, Air Groove has been listless. Can't bring herself to do anything."
"She's neglected Student Council duties. Even skipped her training."
"Recently, she locked herself in her room. Her dormmates care for her, but she just cleans over and over, restless, depressed."
"To untie the knot, you must find the one who tied it. Only you can pull Air Groove back."
"..." Mizuno fell silent.
Even if he hadn't been in his right mind, his Uma Mint exposure wasn't intentional, he still felt responsible for her state.
If it was his fault, then of course it was his duty to make amends.
But...
"If I go now, won't she just execute me on the spot?" His voice trembled.
"Heh, Trainer Mizuno, don't worry. I believe in Air Groove. She wouldn't do such a thing. And besides..." Rudolf pressed a hand proudly to her chest.
"I'll protect you. I won't let you be Uma Pyoi'd."
Mizuno: "..."
There it was again—the death flag. He'd never seen anyone survive after raising one!
Shaking his head to banish the thought, he asked:
"When will we go?"
"This weekend," Rudolf answered. "Few Uma will be in the dorms then, and Air Groove's roommates will be out. Perfect time for us to visit."
"Alright."
Their discussion ended. They sat in silence, gazing at each other.
For Rudolf, it was comfortable. Just meeting his eyes was enough, filling her with reassurance.
For Mizuno, though, her stare prickled like needles. An ominous premonition grew stronger and stronger.
Finally, he couldn't stand it. "President Rudolf... is there something else?"
"No." She shook her head.
"Then why haven't you left yet?"
"I want to play a bit longer."
"But it's late. If you don't go back, the dorms will close—what then?"
"You're right..." She pondered seriously, nodding.
Mizuno finally relaxed, thinking she'd leave and he'd finally get some peace—
But then Rudolf bent down, pulled a nightgown from her bag, and smiled brightly at him.
"In that case... since it's too late to go back, I'll just stay here tonight. Please take care of me."
"Hah?!" Mizuno's eyes bulged.
"President Rudolf, this isn't right! Staying in the same room as me—"
"Why was Gold Ship-san allowed, then?" she shot back.
"Broshi's my brother, my protector! That's different!" Mizuno shouted.
"Broshi, hm..." Rudolf narrowed her eyes.
"Then fine. From now on, I'll be your sister. I'll protect you. I'll call you ototo, and you'll call me Luna-nee."
"President Rudolf, you can't just declare a relationship like that! Besides, I'm older than you! So I refuse!" Mizuno argued.
"This isn't a request. It's an order~" Rudolf crawled onto the bed, pinning him down once more, repeating the same posture, same words.
"Do you want to be Uma Pyoi'd?"
"Alright, alright, alright!" Mizuno caved instantly under threat.
"...Luna-nee." He whispered it.
"Heh~" Rudolf's ears twitched with joy. She wrapped him in her arms, gently patting his head.
"Good boy~ Tonight you'll sleep with onee-chan."
"Mhm..." Mizuno's eyes filled with tears.
Broshi, hurry back. Your brother... has been kidnapped by a bad onee-san...