Master, I Swear I Didn’t Mean To! - Chapter 33

Cassius stood with his arms crossed, his expression growing darker by the minute as he watched the Association Head’s antics.

Eki could’ve sworn on her precious drafting tools that his anger level had just surpassed eighty the instant she and Ikelid made eye contact.

“On the surface, you seem fine enough. I suppose it’s alright if I take a closer look at the young lady too?”

“Young lady?”

“I mean your precious disciple.”

“Drop that disgusting form of address. And don’t act so familiar with her—wait!”

Ignoring Cassius’s sharp tone, Ikelid pushed past him and suddenly caught Eki’s hand.

Startled, she froze just as his smooth lips brushed across the back of her hand. Inside, Eki screamed. Though, considering the man’s face, it wasn’t exactly a scream of fear.

“Then, my little lark, pardon me for a moment.”

Eki’s jaw fell open. His words were too slick, too teasing, they made her stomach twist.

Following her hand, his unusual violet eyes wandered—her neck, her shoulders, her chest, her waist—as if devouring her inch by inch. Eki tensed, shrinking away wherever his gaze landed.

“Hmm. Looks like nothing’s wrong with the young lady either.”

“Stay away from her.”

Cassius quickly grabbed Ikelid by the back of the neck and yanked him back.

Though Ikelid stepped away with a smile, his thoughtful frown didn’t fade.

“She was soaked in a top-grade luck potion, so I expected at least some rash or irritation, but she’s perfectly fine. Seems your suppressant worked well.”

“I already told you through the communication spell, this isn’t that kind of side effect!”

“Haha. Then what’s the problem?”

Eki clutched her pounding chest and took a slow breath.

It was the first time such a handsome man had gotten this close to her. Well, except for Cassius.

But that was different. The intense physical contact between them lately had only been because of that blasted ultra-strong luck potion.

Cassius glanced at her, frowning slightly, then abruptly covered her eyes with his hand.

“Ah! Master?!”

“Go and work on your magic circles.”

“W-What? Shouldn’t I explain the luck potion to the Association Head?”

After all, she was the one who’d been drenched in it.

Eki hastily pried his hand away.

“You called him here because of me, right? You’re trying to find a way to undo the effects?”

Cassius closed his mouth. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed deeply before explaining to Ikelid.

“The potion’s effect is too strong. It’s manifesting in a way that wasn’t recorded during testing.”

“In what way?”

“……”

Cassius’s lips parted, but he seemed unsure how to begin.

When the silence dragged on far too long, Eki’s face flushed red and she finally spoke up.

“Actually… something a bit improper happened between Master and me.”

“Improper?”

“I mean, um… something a little private, and not exactly appropriate…”

“Eki!”

Cassius, flustered, clapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes went wide as she shook her head wildly.

But unfortunately, Ikelid’s languid gaze had already sharpened with amusement.

“Hooh. Are you saying there’s been some s****l contact?”

Damn it. Cassius muttered a quiet curse under his breath. Startled, Eki’s lips twitched slightly. The large palm that had been covering half of her small face flinched and dropped away. Cassius rubbed his hand roughly against his white outer robe to wipe it, his ears turning red.

Eki couldn’t help feeling wronged. He was the one who’d covered her mouth!

“N-Not to that extent. Just a bit of touching.”

Well, not just a bit, but she had to lie. Otherwise, Cassius might actually kill her later.

“I see. Certainly not an effect I anticipated when I designed the potion. So that’s why you called it a side effect?”

“…Shut it.”

“Hahaha! No wonder you didn’t explain properly over the call!”

Ikelid chuckled and rubbed his chin, clearly entertained, while Cassius’s face turned an even deeper crimson.

Cassius then shot Eki a look that could have burned through stone.

But Eki had no choice. She knew as a mage that to receive Ikelid’s help, she had to describe the potion’s effects truthfully and in detail.

‘I just don’t want to keep seeing my Master’s bare body, or grabbing that, or flashing my underwear anymore!’

Whether or not it felt good, it was mortifying. Completely mortifying.

And, in the end, wasn’t it her own desire that had caused all this? Cassius might have spilled the potion, but she was the one whose emotions had turned the results so indecent. A faint guilt lingered in her chest.

“Alright. Then tell me the situation in more detail. I’ll think of how to help.”

With a knowing smile, Ikelid looked between Eki and Cassius.

Cassius bit his lip, while Eki, knowing this was all the result of her own impulses, braced herself and began to explain.