It really does need magic to be called an otherworld!

“No!”

Before I could even voice my thoughts, Yani, who stood behind me, loudly interjected, startling me so much I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Honestly, I had been about to agree, but it seemed my plans were once again ruined.

“Fine, I won’t go.”

Slumped and dejected, I must have been radiating an immense amount of negative energy.

If this energy were to coalesce and transform into a malicious Yōkai, wreaking havoc upon another world, then Yani, it would all be your fault.

“Is that so? What a pity.”

Lance shrugged, feigning regret.

“Today, the academy is hosting a grand magic festival performance by the magic class students. I was hoping to invite Airi to watch it with me…”

Magic?

My small ears immediately perked up at the mention of the word.

As Lance spoke, he subtly glanced at my reaction, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

‘Damn it, this guy was practically tempting me with his words! Having transmigrated from a world brimming with technological marvels, I was naturally fascinated by magic, something I’d only ever encountered in novels and anime. I truly yearned to witness it firsthand.’

‘But even if I wanted to…’

I discreetly glanced back at Yani, whose face clearly spelled out ‘Miss is forbidden,’ and ultimately let out a sigh.

“Ahem, Miss Yani, my tea cup is empty.”

At that moment, Lance pushed his cup forward on the table, gesturing for Yani to refill it.

Yani nodded, picked up the teapot from the table, and refilled the cup in front of Lance.

Lance smiled, and just as he lifted the cup to drink, it inexplicably slipped from his grasp and fell.

The falling cup landed perfectly on Lance’s white casual attire, instantly drenching him with water.

‘This guy is such an idiot.’

I watched Lance, trying to suppress a laugh.

“Oh dear, how unfortunate.”

Lance cried out in surprise, quickly standing up and frantically patting away the water droplets.

However, the stain had already soaked through a large portion of his clothes.

Yani also leaned closer, her hands clasped into concerned fists beneath her chin, and asked, “Lord Count Paritch, perhaps I should fetch you a towel?”

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly trouble you.”

Lance waved his hand, yet he cast a reluctant glance at his soaked clothes.

After a moment of hesitation, he finally agreed, “Er, then I’ll have to trouble you, Miss Yani.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Yani smiled, then suddenly turned to me, fixing me with a chilling gaze that screamed, ‘Miss, you better not run off.’

‘Seriously? Are you that afraid I’ll wander away?’

My scalp prickled under the maid’s intense stare, leaving me no choice but to honestly declare, “Go on, go on. I won’t run off.”

Only after receiving my assurance did Yani nod with relief and depart from the small pavilion.

“Phew, what a hassle.”

Finally out of Yani’s sight for the moment, I let out a sigh of relief, collapsing onto the table.

I then looked at Lance and scoffed, “But seriously, you’re quite clumsy, aren’t you? Dropping a cup right out of your hand.”

To my surprise, Lance showed no sign of annoyance at my teasing.

Instead, he simply smiled, then suddenly stood up and began walking towards me, step by step.

“Wait, what are you doing? Don’t you dare try anything! I’ll scream for help…”

I instantly panicked, quickly propping myself up into a defensive posture.

‘Oh my god, this bastard Lance isn’t trying to intentionally send Yani away just to assault me, is he?’

‘Ya-ma-te! I’m telling you, don’t come any closer! I—I’m actually a man, alright? Even though my current body is a girl’s, I’m really a man! Do you even realize this would be homosexuality? In China, homosexuals are looked down upon!’

Yet, Lance continued to advance, step by step, until finally, one of his hands firmly grasped my right hand.

‘It’s over, it’s all over. I knew I shouldn’t have let Yani leave. Poor me, a lifelong virgin, am I really going to be defiled here today?’

‘Noooo!’

Just as I was wailing endlessly in my mind, Lance did not proceed as I had imagined.

Instead, with a forceful tug, he pulled me out of my chair, still holding my hand, and began to run towards the distance, away from the pavilion.

“Hurry, or Miss Yani will be back soon!”

“Huh?”

“Huh? Huh?”

Being passively dragged along by Lance, my hand held firmly in his, I was utterly dumbfounded.

I asked, bewildered, “Where are you taking me?”

“To the academy!”

Lance replied, glancing back as he ran.

“Don’t you want to see the magic festival performance?”

“That’s it?”

My eyes widened, and I felt a blush of shame for my own paranoid fantasies.

“In any case, we need to get away from Miss Yani quickly.”

Lance added.

“Oh, right!”

I responded repeatedly.

‘Hmm, this guy isn’t so bad sometimes.’

I smiled, but then suddenly noticed something, and my expression darkened.

“Hey, Lance, I need to tell you something.”

“Hm?”

Lance turned his head back, smiling.

“Stop touching my hand!”

I exclaimed, angrily yanking my right hand free, and then delivered a punch to Lance with a “thump.”

“Ow!”

Lance yelped.

‘Ah, damn it, that masochistic streak of his is showing again.’