By the time Illusionary Feather parted ways with the girls, it was already nearly ten. Belka reminded him that the closing ceremony started at 7:30 AM tomorrow. She’d pick him and Blazing Heart up at seven sharp. "Better get ready early," she warned, "or we’ll be late."
Illusionary Feather nodded obediently. He carried Blazing Heart, who’d somehow fallen asleep, while something else clung to his waist. Too exhausted to care, he just wanted to crash before Belka-nee scolded him again tomorrow.
He flagged down a Magic Vehicle, punched in the district code, and let it glide automatically toward Yayang’s gates. The main entrance was shut, only a small side door left open. Illusionary Feather carried Blazing Heart inside, the mysterious thing at his waist trailing behind.
He knew the way to his dorm like the back of his hand. After slipping off his shoes at the door, he tugged off Blazing Heart’s too. Even the sleepy creature clinging to him managed to kick off its own shoes.
Back in his cool room, he gently removed Blazing Heart’s coat and tucked her in. As he started undressing himself, he finally noticed what was hugging him—a petite girl with long green hair, clinging tightly. Sun-drunk or not, Illusionary Feather didn’t question it. He carefully slipped her arms loose, took off her coat, and laid her beside Blazing Heart.
He set aside the premium belt he’d bought that day, shed his classical coat, and slid under the covers.
Deep in the night, two instinct-driven creatures sleepwalked. Eyes closed, they stripped completely bare. One rolled to Illusionary Feather’s other side. In perfect sync, they peeled off his clothes and each claimed an arm.
Dawn came swiftly.
Morning sunlight slipped through gaps in the curtains as the dorm door creaked open. A group of girls marched in like it was their own space. At the entrance, they froze—spotting a pair of tiny, unfamiliar shoes.
They rushed to Illusionary Feather’s room and threw the door open. Belka strode in first, yanking the curtains aside. "Time to rise, Little Brother Yu!"
Sunlight flooded the room. What greeted them was a breathtaking sight: Illusionary Feather slept peacefully, eyelids fluttering awake. Flanking him, two adorable little girls smiled in their sleep, cheeks pressed softly against his arms.
*Two* little girls?
The girls stood stunned. Illusionary Feather blinked open his eyes, squinting against the glare. When his vision cleared, Belka-nee’s beautiful smile filled his view—and his blood ran colder than standing naked on an arctic iceberg.
"Little Brother Yu," Belka purred, her smile icy, "why is there *another* little girl besides Blazing Heart?"
—*There can’t be two.*
He felt two pairs of arms locked around him. Their bare skin pressed against his. *They’re both naked!*
—*I’m doomed.*
And worse…
"Waaah! I saw my junior’s underwear on the floor! So embarrassing!" Misa’s voice rang out. "I can’t even look!"
Kerdling whirled away, blushing. Lily raised her staff, a fireball already crackling in shame-fueled rage—only for Misa to yank her arm down. Belka’s smile widened.
Just as the tension thickened enough to choke on, Misa chirped again: "And not just his underwear! There are *two* extra pairs of tiny girls’ panties too!"
*Ptooey—!* Illusionary Feather nearly spat blood.
Instinct kicked in. He vanished from bed. The underwear on the floor vanished. His clothes vanished. The wardrobe door swung open. Even the black, flexible sword on the floor disappeared. Then—**BOOM!**—an explosion rocked his room.
Koya and Blazing Heart jolted awake.
Rushing against time, Belka dragged Illusionary Feather by his collar onto Swift’s back. To prevent "perverted acts," Blazing Heart rode with Lily, Koya with Kerdling.
Perched on Swift, Illusionary Feather shrank under Belka’s glare. He carefully recounted everything after parting with them—every detail, no omissions.
Belka studied him again, then slashed her Knight Sword into the air with a frustrated *whoosh*. A sliver of black void flickered where the blade fell. Illusionary Feather shivered.
The other girls had heard his story too. Their suspicious glares softened—except for Misa, who gave him a thumbs-up with a friendly grin.
At 7:28 AM, they finally landed on the plaza before the main building. Belka scanned the assembled crowd, shooting Illusionary Feather a reproachful look. "All because of you, Little Brother Yu. We’d have been here ages ago."
—*How is this my fault?*
Belka stepped forward. The chatter died instantly. She began summarizing the academy festival. Just as she neared the end, Illusionary Feather’s expression turned uncharacteristically serious.
**BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!**
Explosions ripped through the plaza—from the building’s corners, even from the crowd itself. Chaos erupted. Belka and the others rushed to calm the panic. Illusionary Feather stood calmly aside while Koya and Blazing Heart crept over, each clinging to an arm. Blazing Heart glared at Koya Linxina like a kitten guarding its food.
Illusionary Feather watched the turmoil unfold. A strange joy bubbled inside him—he couldn’t explain why he loved this chaos so much.
Suddenly, he sensed someone slipping into the main building, searching. After Belka stabilized the crowd, she and the others began patrolling. Illusionary Feather’s eyes tracked a figure leaping from a tenth-floor west window, vanishing into the sky amid the commotion.
*Hahaha…* He couldn’t help but laugh. Blazing Heart paused her glaring, looking up at him curiously. Koya did the same.
"Rare to see a Spatial Mage these days," Illusionary Feather murmured toward the spot where the thief had disappeared, a smile playing on his lips.
Blazing Heart immediately resumed glaring at Koya Linxina. Koya lowered her head, nuzzling Illusionary Feather’s arm. He sighed. Time to check on the other students.
First, he gently pried his arms free. During Belka’s speech, few had noticed them. But now? If they saw him with two little girls clinging like this, he’d be branded a lolicon pervert forever.
Less trouble this way.
He walked over. Koya and Blazing Heart trailed behind.
The girls shot him reproachful looks. Lily spoke first: "Why were you just *standing* there earlier?"
"Gathering intel," Illusionary Feather replied calmly. "From those explosions, I guessed the target was the main building. Right after you left, I saw someone sneak in—and later escape through a window."
"Then why didn’t you *say* anything?" Lily pressed.
"Division of labor," he explained smoothly. "You helped classmates. I observed the enemy. Belka-nee patrolled. Efficiency."
Lily fell silent. "...Fine. Help us now."
Illusionary Feather tended to the injured—first aid for minor wounds, arranging hospital transfers for serious cases. Kerdling dismissed unharmed students. Bellka and Misa handled nearby shop damages; no casualties reported.
As the crowd thinned, Blazing Heart and Koya latched onto his arms again. He sighed inwardly. *Blazing Heart, fine. But Koya too…?*
"Koya," he suddenly remembered. "The improved quacker—I finished it. Want to test it?" He pulled his arm free, reaching into his pocket. "I’m calling them communicators now."
"Really? It’s done?" Koya’s eyes lit up.
He handed her one device, explained its use, then stepped back. After punching numbers, their communicators crackled to life.
Within seconds, Koya bounced over, hugging him tightly. "It works! It *works*!!"
Blazing Heart’s glare sharpened, her grip on Illusionary Feather’s arm tightening possessively.
Lily and Kerdling exchanged puzzled glances. Soon after, Belka and Misa returned with good news: only minor property damage in the commercial district, zero injuries.
Kerdling tilted her head. "What were you and that little girl so excited about, Illusionary Feather?"
"Ohh~?" Misa’s eyes sparkled mischievously. "Junior, are you *expecting*?"
"You’re the one expecting!" Illusionary Feather thwacked Misa’s head with a sharp *thwack*.
"Little Brother Yu got Misa *pregnant* too?" Belka grinned wickedly.
"W-What?! Pregnant?! Misa-sempai is one thing, but such a *little girl* too?! You beast!" Lily shrieked, fireballs already flying.
Illusionary Feather scooped up both Blazing Heart and Koya and bolted. No explaining this. Besides—he had something to confirm. Best to make a quick escape.
