Chapter 57: A Peaceful School Life? As If!

“Phyllis.”

The voice was closer this time, carrying a hint of hesitation.

Phyllis reluctantly lifted her head again.

It was Bella, the chestnut-haired Havana Brown cat.

Bella stood by Phyllis’s desk, her green eyes holding a glint of unwillingness to admit defeat.

“Hm? Bella, what is it, meow?”

Phyllis tried to keep her voice friendly.

‘Does Bella have something she wants from me?’

“About that problem earlier,” Bella’s voice was crisp,

“Your solution was very concise. But I have a question—what if the path isn’t straight, but circular? For example, a flowerbed with a circumference of 12 meters, planting a tree every 3 meters. How many trees would you need?”

This question was slightly more advanced than what the Priestess had taught, but it was still well within Phyllis’s knowledge.

After all, it was just a variation of a practical math problem.

Phyllis immediately understood Bella’s intention.

It was both a genuine inquiry and, to some extent, a test and challenge.

She wanted to see if Phyllis was truly smart or just lucky.

A few nearby Candidate Saintesses were drawn in by the conversation, gathering around to hear Phyllis’s explanation.

Mia was blinking her eyes, clearly never having considered the possibility of a “circular” arrangement.

Phyllis’s inner vanity was subtly piqued.

She sat up straight and offered a confident smile.

“A circular path? That’s even simpler, meow~”

Phyllis deliberately drew out her tone.

“Since the ends connect, the number of segments equals the number of trees. 12 meters divided into 4 segments means 4 trees. No need to add one more.”

“I see… Thank you.”

Bella was taken aback for a moment, then nodded slightly, the competitive light in her eyes transforming into recognition.

But Bella wasn’t done.

“Then… what if you plant nothing on both ends? Or only on one end?”

“Eh~ So many questions,” Phyllis tilted her head.

“Nothing on both ends means segments minus one, so 4 minus 1 equals 3 trees. Only one end planted means the number of segments itself—4 trees. Is that clear enough, meow?”

Phyllis’s explanation flowed smoothly, even carrying a hint of “Isn’t this obvious?” ease.

After all, it really wasn’t hard.

Phyllis felt like she was explaining things to elementary school students.

‘To be honest, it’s kind of fun.’

Phyllis’s friendly attitude made Bella’s face feel warm with embarrassment.

The surrounding Candidate Saintesses listened intently, fully confirming that Phyllis was far ahead of them in mathematics.

“Very clear. Thank you, Phyllis.”

Bella politely expressed her thanks, then turned and returned to her seat, starting to jot something down in her notebook.

The Candidate Saintesses dispersed as well.

“Phyllis, you’re amazing!”

Mia praised her sincerely.

“It’s nothing, just basic stuff, meow~”

Phyllis waved her hand and slumped back onto the desk, this time genuinely intending to sleep.

“I’m going to take a nap, Mia. Make sure to wake me when class starts, meow…”

Phyllis closed her eyes, feeling a bit smug inside.

‘Hmph, child’s play. But that Bella… she seems like the serious, slightly prideful type?’

Having been interrupted twice, Phyllis was now a bit too keyed up to sleep.

But she didn’t get up. Instead, she remained on the desk, resting her eyes.

She could vaguely hear Mia and another Cat Girl nearby discussing the problem in hushed tones.

She could also hear the faint sounds of sweeping coming from somewhere outside the classroom, and even catch the subtle scents in the air—the unique smells of different Cat Girls: floral notes, fruity notes, and the smell of fur dried in the sun.

‘Maybe this kind of life is actually…’

Just then, from a hidden pocket inside her clothes, something moved ever so slightly.

Phyllis’s body instantly tensed, all drowsiness gone.

‘No way… Carola? Now?!’

Phyllis dared not make any sudden movements, struggling to maintain her sleeping pose while her heart raced uncontrollably.

She had a pretty good idea of what was happening.

Carola, having transformed into the Bat Decoration, had detached from the Mirror Magic Tool and was now gently brushing the tip of her wing against Phyllis’s skin, right at her waist, tickling her.

‘Is it because Bella came over to talk to me earlier?’

Phyllis wanted to cry but had no tears.

With no other choice, Phyllis quietly slipped one hand under the desk, pressing down on the restless spot through her clothes, tapping it lightly with her fingertip, signaling Carola to ‘stop it.’

The Bat Decoration stopped moving.

Phyllis had just let out a sigh of relief when she felt a very faint, sharp sting near her waist.

It didn’t hurt much—more like a tiny static shock… Had she been pricked by a miniature fang?

“…”

Phyllis was completely speechless.

‘She’s definitely jealous again! Absolutely!’

With a little thought, Phyllis could easily imagine Carola’s current mood.

She had just been appeased after last night’s jealousy, and now she was jealous again!

Phyllis felt the helplessness of a man in a relationship with an often-jealous girlfriend, like something she’d seen on TV in her past life.

Especially when that someone was the Blood Princess… who had a bit of a yandere personality.

Then something happened that made Phyllis’s heart race even faster.

Phyllis felt the Bat Decoration, apparently unsatisfied with her waist, begin to move extremely slowly upward along the curve of her side.

The clothes Phyllis was wearing today had a cinched waist design, with fabric that hugged her skin closely.

But now that design was working against her.

Under the tightness of her clothes, the tiny movements of the Bat Decoration amplified the sensation of its friction against her skin several times over.

‘Hey hey hey! No!’

Phyllis could no longer stay lying on the desk.

She had to sit up.

But she still didn’t dare make any big movements, afraid the Candidate Saintesses around her would notice something was off.

Phyllis could feel the touch of the Bat Decoration creeping up little by little, brushing past her ribs, then moving down again, stopping at her lower abdomen.

If it went any further down…

“Phyllis? Are you… feeling unwell? Your face is a bit red.”

Mia’s concerned voice came from beside her.

“N-no, it’s nothing, meow!”

Phyllis snapped back to reality, quickly burying her heated cheeks deeper into her arms.

“It’s just… a bit hot! Yeah, the weather is a bit hot, meow!”

She scrambled for an excuse.

“Hot?”

Mia glanced at the relatively mild sunlight outside the window, a little confused, but didn’t think much of it.

“Oh… class is about to start.”

‘What do I do, what do I do…’

Phyllis’s inner kitten was clawing at the walls.

Directly explain?

Not only would that be unrealistic in this classroom…

Would Carola even listen?

This one’s version of ‘listening’ often came with her own interpretations and… well, actions.

‘Got it!’

Phyllis had a stroke of inspiration.

She reached her hand down again toward her lower abdomen, where Carola was.

Her fingers traced a pattern on the fabric.

Not writing words, but drawing a simple shape.

A heart.

Phyllis drew a circle around the area where the Bat Decoration was, then gently tapped the spot.

‘My heart is right here, and it belongs only to you.’

Phyllis tried to convey her feelings through this childish, straightforward gesture.

Hoping it would appease Carola.