Chapter 12: Night Raid

As the dormitory lights-out time approached, Miqi lay on his bed while Duente occupied the one next to him.

The student dormitories at Sky Dome Academy were excellent—two people per room, spacious enough.

This arrangement fostered deeper communication between roommates and closer collaboration among students on a daily basis.

Miqi stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. 

He said, “Lao Du, I thought you wouldn’t wake up today. I was really worried about you, you know?”

Duente replied, “Thank you, Miqi. I’m fine. No need to worry.”

Miqi added, “Lao Du, I feel like you’ve changed. You’re colder than before.”

Duente said, “That’s just your imagination. I haven’t changed. I’m still me.”

Miqi continued, “No, you have changed. Back then, you only had eyes for Ailisi and wouldn’t even talk to me. Now your gaze toward Ailisi seems much colder.”

Duente was startled. 

He didn’t bother hiding it and asked bluntly, “Really?”

Miqi said, “Really. The whole class noticed.”

Duente fell silent, ‘Looks like I didn’t play the old me at all today. Forget it. I can’t force myself to go back to being that fool who completely trusted Ailisi.’

‘After all, giving yourself entirely to someone means you’re bound to be stabbed in the back by them, because she becomes your only weakness.’

Thus, Duente could no longer act like his former self.

Duente changed the subject, “You said I used to ignore you. That means I was colder back then, right?”

Miqi replied, “No. Even though you only had eyes for Ailisi, you had more passion. Now you seem like a completely different person.”

Duente said, “As expected of my roommate—you know me better than I know myself. I have to thank you.”

Miqi: “You’re welcome.”

Duente: “You really don’t hold back, do you!”

Miqi: “Ah, well. At least you seem a lot clearer-headed. Even though you’re engaged to Ailisi, you weren’t really happy, were you?”

Duente: “Did you guess right?”

At least before being stabbed to death by Ailisi, he had been in the dark—that was a false happiness.

Miqi chuckled, “I’ve been your roommate for over a year. I’ve seen all your changes.”

Duente smiled too, “Maybe not. I might know you better than you know yourself.”

Duente wasn’t lying. 

During his three years at Sky Dome Academy, Miqi had always been his roommate—a loyal friend who would go through fire and water for his brothers. 

After graduation, he ended up with a decent future, but unfortunately…

Miqi yawned, “Let’s hurry up and sleep. The lights are out, and we have class tomorrow. We need to be well-rested to pay attention.”

Duente: “Miqi, actually, I have to give you an early warning…”

Before he could finish, Miqi had already started snoring.

Duente didn’t say anything more.

The lights had gone out, and moonlight poured through the window into the dorm.

The window was open. 

A gentle breeze brought a faint fragrance to Duente’s nose.

At first, it seemed fine—just the scent of flowers but then he grew increasingly drowsy.

More and more sleepy.

Duente’s eyes shot open. 

He immediately jumped up, closed the window, rushed into the bathroom, splashed cold water on his head, and soaked a face towel to cover his nose.

That fragrance wasn’t ordinary! 

It was a mist!

“Quick reflexes, kid. My Musk Soul Scent was supposed to give you a good sleep, but you’re faster than I expected.”

A black-clad woman with a veil appeared at the bathroom door, a dagger in her hand. 

In the darkness, Duente couldn’t make out her face.

“Are you after me?” Duente gathered his magic and summoned a Mana Light Sword.

“Yes and no.”

“Don’t speak in riddles. Take this!”

Duente attacked first, aiming for the black-clad woman’s vital points. 

Unexpectedly, she had already predicted his strike and dodged with a simple sidestep.

Duente spun and threw an elbow, but the woman blocked it with one hand. 

Not only that—Duente felt a heavy blow to his rear, causing his lower body to go limp. 

He collapsed to the floor, and the Mana Light Sword in his hand dissipated.

“Young man, you need more practice. Hand over the blue pill.”

Duente said, “What blue pill? Never seen it!”

“Tsk, being stubborn, huh? Let me have a look!”

Without further ado, the black-clad woman started patting Duente down, feeling all over his body.

“Lady! You come asking for some blue pill in the middle of the night? I’m only wearing boxers. No matter how much you feel around, you won’t find any pill!”

The black-clad woman suddenly stopped and said, “Right. So where did you hide the blue pill?”

Duente’s head ached. 

He really couldn’t recall any blue pill.

‘Wait. A pill?’

“Are you talking about a round blue pill?”

“Yes.”

“It’s in the white lab coat!”

“Oh, I see.”

The black-clad woman found the white lab coat Duente had been wearing earlier, habitually put it on, and pulled the blue pill from the pocket.

She returned to Duente, pried open his mouth with her hand, and forced the blue pill inside.

“Swallow it.”

She closed Duente’s mouth, but didn’t see him swallow.

“Kid, pretty stubborn, huh? Don’t blame me for being rough.”

The black-clad woman pulled down her veil, revealing only her mouth, then leaned in and kissed Duente directly on the lips. 

She used her tongue to push the blue pill down his throat.

Duente didn’t know which pressure point she had struck, but he couldn’t use magic, and his lower body was completely limp. 

All he could do was push this inexplicable woman away with his hands!

He had to admit, her lips were really soft, her breath fragrant, and her tongue… 

Duente was about to drift into unconsciousness.

The black-haired woman confirmed the blue pill was inside Duente before removing her lips.

She licked the corner of her mouth with her tongue and commented excitedly, “Not bad. Young guys have nice lips.”

Then she pulled her veil back up, put away her dagger, hoisted Duente onto his bed, opened the window, and jumped out while wearing the white lab coat.

Duente had fully succumbed to the Musk Soul Scent’s effect, and his consciousness began to blur.

He didn’t know who had attacked him.

Even more, he didn’t understand how his first kiss had been stolen under such inexplicable circumstances.

In his previous life, he hadn’t even dared to kiss Ailisi.

Now, in this life, he got kissed by some unknown black-clad woman?

That wasn’t the point.

The point was, she did all that just to make him take the blue pill?

Couldn’t she have just said so directly?

It wasn’t like Duente had refused to take it.

Why go through all that?

His first kiss was taken in such a humiliating way. 

Duente’s hatred for this world grew even deeper.

He swore he would find that black-clad woman.

Catch her, and repay everything she did to him tenfold!

What a disgrace!