Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1076: Postpone the guilt, Please

Some might have forgotten it, but...

Every academy had its ghost stories... and Sovereign Arcanum Academy was no exception.

Students often recounted eerie encounters, exchanging tales beneath dim candlelight or between hurried steps in the corridors. They whispered about strange occurrences in hushed, anxious tones.

They spoke of mirrors that seemed to breathe with a will of their own—reflections that didnʼt mimic their actions but moved independently, with subtle grins or wide-eyed horror. Sometimes, those reflections would suddenly speak—low, ghostly voices brushing against their ears like wind from the grave, sending ice-cold shivers down their spines.

Sometimes, these supernatural episodes merely scared them, offering nothing more than sleepless nights and a growing fear of solitude... but there were times—terrifying times—when those ghostly apparitions delivered cryptic warnings. Muddled phrases, half-spoken threats, or fragmented visions that left the students paralyzed, bewildered, and absolutely terrified.

This chilling phenomenon had persisted at SAA for as long as the records dared to trace.

It was a haunting mystery that no one—not even the most powerful sovereigns with access to the whole academy—could unravel or explain away.

Some dared to believe it was that ʼArcane/Motherʼ—the whispered entity of lore—trying to reach out to the students, either to protect them through twisted riddles or simply to toy with their sanity.

”So youʼre saying... You were just washing your face in the restroom, casually looking into the mirror, and then—suddenly—your reflection grinned at you? A grin that wasnʼt yours... and the next thing you knew, everything faded to black, and you completely lost your senses? And you didnʼt remember anything until the Principal launched her investigation?” Victor asked, leaning forward slightly, his tone a mix of surprise and mild disbelief, though his eyes scanned her expression with growing concern.

The old nurse could only weakly nod her head, her face pale and gloomy like someone who had seen too much but understood too little. Her lips trembled as if words were trapped somewhere in her throat. After all, this was exactly what had happened to her—though it sounded impossible, irrational even, it was her truth.

Victorʼs gaze shifted toward the Principal, brows slightly furrowed. ”Do you... actually believe her?”

If Victor hadnʼt seen that ghostly thing with his own eyes, he would have written it off as a delusion—nothing but a figment of an overstressed mind or just tricking everyone... But he had seen it. Clearly. Vividly. And what unsettled him more was that the ghost seemed to know him—truly know him—right down to his real identity.

More disturbing still... his manipulation ability, a power that worked only on the conscious and mentally aware, had failed completely. If the nurse was already possessed by something else, if her will had already been overwritten by another entity... then his skill was utterly useless.

ʼThat means... my skill doesnʼt work on possessed things,ʼ Victor thought grimly. He nodded inwardly, mentally making a note of that terrifying exception.

The Principal let out a tired sigh, rubbing her temples slowly. ”To be honest... Iʼve never encountered something like this firsthand. But my Master—Snape—he once told me he saw the ghost himself. He said it wasnʼt malicious. Just... present. Like a lost soul that didnʼt know what it wanted.”

She paused, considering her next words. The Principal knew this could go either way. The nurse could be using the ghost as a fabricated excuse—perhaps to cover for something. Or... she might genuinely be possessed by an unseen force beyond their current understanding.

”You mean even Snape had an encounter with this thing?” Victor blinked, his expression tightening with a slight frown. ʼTalk about a total coincidence...ʼ he thought, narrowing his eyes. The timing, the entity, the involvement of Snape—it all seemed to link together too neatly.

Was there something connecting Snape to this ghost?

Something deeper, older?

”Is there any way to actually... talk to it?” Victor asked the question, escaping him before he could restrain it.

The Principal stared at him with an unimpressed, deadpan expression as if silently saying, ʼWhy are you asking me?ʼ

Victor gave a sheepish smile, scratching the back of his neck. ”I mean... if itʼs possible, maybe we could understand its intentions better. If it really tried to help good Snape, maybe itʼs not as evil as it looks?”

The Principal exhaled again. ”Thereʼs a possibility, yes. But until we encounter the ghost again—directly—weʼre in the dark. And this thing... itʼs completely undetectable within the Academy grounds. Not even the enchanted surveillance systems can track it. Not even the academy Eyes. Itʼs like it doesnʼt exist—until it wants to.”

She shrugged her shoulders, the movement small but laced with frustration. There simply were no tools in her arsenal to track or contain a ghost that chose to be invisible.

”For now... the nurse will have to be placed under strict surveillance,” the Principal said with a hardened, serious tone. Even if the old nurse was merely a victim, even if she truly did nothing wrong, the risk was too high to ignore. There was still a chance she was acting under the ghostʼs influence... or worse, spreading it.

Victor nodded slowly. Being cautious wasnʼt paranoia in this case—it was survival.

The old nurse exited the room quietly, her steps heavy, her expression etched with sorrow and confusion. Her face carried the weight of someone who genuinely had no idea what she had done or what had happened to her.

The Principal turned to Delphine, who stood silently with a confused, almost anxious look on her face, clearly unsure of what was going on. ”You... well... you can leave now.”

Delphine blinked in surprise. ”Leave? B-But everyone else is still working... A-Are you mad at me? Is this some kind of punishment?”

The Principal let out a soft sigh, her voice calm but firm. ”I know exactly whatʼs been going on out there. Iʼve seen it all. And I know... how much effort youʼve put in. I know whoʼs earned their rest and who hasnʼt. You, Delphine... youʼve worked hard. So, for everything youʼve done, Iʼm giving you a break. You can take... half a d—”

She stopped mid-sentence, catching Victorʼs blank, obviously unimpressed deadpan expression.

The Principalʼs lips twitched slightly. ”...One day.”

Still no reaction from Victor.

She huffed. ”...Fine. Two days.”

Victor finally smiled.

Delphine stood frozen for a moment, blinking in disbelief. ”B-But... really?”

The Principal raised her fingers with authority. ”You are not allowed to argue. You are dismissed.” As she waved her hand, an invisible force gently pushed Delphine out of the room before she could protest further or demand an explanation.

Then the Principal turned to Victor, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly, ”Looks like someoneʼs starting to order me around... I wonder why...” she muttered with a faint frown pulling at her lips.

Victor let out a soft chuckle before casually walking toward her, his steps light but deliberate. ”Well, you know exactly why...” he said with a teasing smirk, his eyes glinting mischievously as he leaned in and pulled her into a warm, confident embrace.

The Principal blinked, momentarily stunned, her body tensing ever so slightly against his. ”Youʼre getting rather brazen, arenʼt you?” she murmured, her voice laced with half-hearted reprimand. ”Hugging your Principal like this... What kind of student are you turning into?”

Victor grinned, inching closer as his breath brushed against her ear. ”What can you do?” he whispered, his tone low and playful, ”Youʼre my Principal... and more than that... Iʼll do anything~”

The Principalʼs body shuddered for a second, a fleeting tremble betraying her composed exterior before she regained control. Her cheeks colored faintly as she laughed and gave him a firm push, scoffing, ”Get out, already! Your innocent teacher is waiting for you outside—go and play with her!” She shoved him away, though her eyes held a spark of something else—an emotion dancing between teasing jealousy and amused irritation.

Victor couldnʼt help but laugh again. Was that... jealousy? Or was she genuinely annoyed?

He wasnʼt entirely sure, but seeing her like this—pouting ever so slightly, hiding her blush behind mock anger—was honestly kind of cute.

He stepped back, his smile softening as he gently patted her head, fingers briefly brushing through her hair. ”Youʼre working hard too... I love that about you.”

The Principal blinked, her lips parting in surprise as she stared at him, clearly thrown off. Then her expression darkened slightly, and she slapped his hand away. ”Donʼt treat me like a child!” she said, her voice sharp and a little too fast.

Victor was almost taken aback. For a second, he truly worried heʼd gone too far—maybe crossed some unspoken line. But then...

[+9000 AP]

He blinked as the notification appeared, and just as quickly, his eyes caught it—the tiniest blush painting her cheeks. Barely there, but unmistakable.

”Well then... Iʼll be seeing you again, My Dora~” he whispered with that familiar teasing lilt before disappearing from sight.

In the next instant, he reappeared right behind Delphine, who had been crouched near the door, clearly trying to listen in.

Victor grinned, leaning over her shoulder as he scooped her up into his arms with ease. ”Naughty girl... were you trying to secretly eavesdrop?”

Delphine flinched in his arms, her whole body going stiff before her face exploded into a deep, furious blush. ”W-Well! I didnʼt mean to! I wasnʼt... I mean...!” she stammered, her words collapsing as her face turned a vibrant, tomato-red shade, radiating heat.

Victor chuckled again, tightening his hold on her just a bit. ”Relax. Iʼll tell you everything... Donʼt worry,” he whispered gently, though his voice carried a weight—a seriousness that hadnʼt been there moments ago.

Delphine blinked, suddenly catching on to the shift in his tone. It felt heavier... more final. Something was different. She looked up at him, questions forming in her eyes.

Victor didnʼt say anything more.

He teleported them both to Delphineʼs house.

Now... was the time. Time to finally deal with her—not in battle or manipulation, but with truth. To tell her everything. The full truth.

The last truth.

Once he did this... once it was said... the weight he carried would finally be lifted.

He wouldnʼt need to lie anymore.

He wouldnʼt need to feel this constant guilt.

Removing his mask, as he dropped his disguise, he gently placed Delphine back down onto the soft carpeted floor.

And then...

”A-Aether~” Delphine whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. Her eyes widened, lips slightly parted, and her expression twisted in an overwhelming mix of frustration, tiredness, longing... and unmistakable arousal?

Victor swallowed hard.

She looked like she had been holding back for far too long. Her hands clenched at her sides, her face flushed, her gaze locked onto his with a desperation that sent a shiver through him.

Her entire posture screamed of pain... and pent-up need.

ʼLetʼs... postpone the guiltʼ