“Huh~? Soft and slippery… Why is the floor totally covered in vines?”
“Do you guys smell that sweet fragrance?”
Closer… getting closer!
They’re already here!
Maur’s pupils trembled. Just before the other students touring the haunted house turned the corner, he activated his concealment magic.
A watery ripple spread from his body, forming a giant humanoid bubble that enveloped him.
Most students at Divine Grace Academy were only Level 2 practitioners—utterly incapable of seeing through the Level 4 concealment magic “Ripple of the Lake,” permanently enchanted on the blessed robe Evelyn herself had crafted.
Even among teachers, few could pierce it.
Maur should’ve felt safe.
But the moment those unfamiliar girls rounded the corner, their gazes locked *exactly* onto him.
“Eh?! Aah! H-how?! How is this possible?!”
All three stared straight at his spot, then huddled together and leaped back a full step in terror.
Maur: “!!!”
D-discovered?!
Damn it! He’d activated the magic—how?!
Did that perverted Forest Fey, Evelyn, lie? Was there no enchantment at all?!
His body went rigid. An unnatural flush crept up his face. Heart hammering like it’d burst.
His mage robe hung loose, chest half-exposed. Vines coiled tightly around wrists and ankles. Faint red marks dotted his neck.
…A state of disarray that’d spark scandal the second anyone saw it.
D-damn it! By sunset, the whole Royal Capital would be whispering about him and Teacher Evelyn—the Fey instructor.
And *he’d* be the victim!
After the initial shame, Maur forced calm.
‘It’s fine. Not a big deal.’
He glared venomously at the girls while a solution formed.
‘Might as well silence them… before they run off.’
Aaaaah—!
How could he stay calm?! No! Absolutely not! He refused rumors with *her*!
No! No!
…Eliminate every witness. Or lock them up. Threaten until they forgot everything.
The girls shuddered under his killing intent.
“Eep! So scary! Felt like a monster locked onto us—we’re gonna die!”
“Wahhh… Teacher Evelyn?! Was that terrifying aura *yours*?”
The trio huddled like shivering hamsters.
“So scary! Please withdraw your magic, Teacher!”
Moments ago, they’d wondered about the vines. Now they saw the legendary Fey teacher lurking in the shadows, staring with *that* “you failed the semester” expression.
Eep! Terrifying!
“We didn’t fail! Don’t throw us into the Monster Forest for makeup exams!”
Suddenly, the haunted house felt genuinely haunted.
“No need to worry. I’m not here for failing students,” Evelyn said, donning her patient-teacher mask. “I’m simply on a date.”
“You may continue your tour.”
“Y-yes! Sorry for disturbing your date! We’ll leave right now!”
Overwhelmed, they scrambled off without processing her words.
They hadn’t noticed Maur, bound tightly beside her.
Maur exhaled shakily. Heart still racing.
‘Lucky you kept your lives.’
After salvaging his pride, confidence flickered back.
Morning. Festival just started. Few students inside. Gargalia’s haunted house was vast, full of branching paths—no one would come soon.
W-wait! Why was he thinking like *that*? Like they were sneaking around?!
This was *all* Evelyn’s fault! Zero percent his!
Maur shot her a glare. “Why didn’t *you* turn invisible?! Effortless for you!”
Made him think he was exposed—heart nearly leaped out!
“The book said this would excite Maur more,” Evelyn stated earnestly. “Testing confirms it’s correct.”
The Forest Fey’s hand drifted downward. “Maur’s more excited now.”
She pondered. “Haunted houses heighten his reactions. Stronger than in the Mage Tower.”
Maur: “…L-lies! I’m not!”
“Maur lies again.” She undid his robe sash. “Your body’s more honest. It responds eagerly.”
Back in the Mage Tower, he’d never react like this without nutmeg fruit juice.
*So he finds it fun?*
Worried he’d deem her technique worse than swamp monsters again, the Fey teacher assured: “Don’t worry. I studied hard. I’ll herd students here periodically with controlled monsters.”
“I know—you get excited whenever they approach.”
“But if Maur doesn’t want discovery… stay silent. Ripple of the Lake hides form and presence, but sound… still carries… Mm.”
“Maur… Mm… You *don’t* want others finding out what we’re doing… right?”
Crouched slightly, she continued her “research.”
Human knowledge was profound. Her past efforts had been too shallow.
Time for a new method.
*Slurp, slurp.*
…
“Mm. Like it?”
“N-not at all! Damn it, l-let go… Ugh!”
Face crimson, breath ragged, Maur refused.
Can’t continue! If it goes on… he’d…
*Tap. Tap-tap.*
Footsteps.
Someone’s coming! D-damn it—*now*?!
“Should I vanish?” The Fey teacher paused, lips untouched, smudged suspiciously. “Without it… we’d be seen, right?”
“Obviously! Stop talking—turn invisible, you damn Fey!”
A vine slithered to her hand, heavy with ripe nutmeg fruits.
She plucked one, pressed it to his lips. “Eat willingly this time… and Teacher vanishes.”
‘She’s learned too well! This Forest Fey’s learned too well!’
But footsteps drew nearer.
*Tap tap.*
*Tap. Tap-tap.*
Each step stomped on Maur’s heart.
Almost at the corner!
*Crunch!* He bit the fruit, chewed hastily, swallowed. “Hurry! Vanish—*now*!”
“Hehe.”
She chuckled softly—and vanished.
*Tap tap tap.*
Footsteps quickened. A figure rounded the corner.
…!
M-Mavis?!
Maur’s pupils trembled. Wait—*her*?! Here?! *Now*?!
Before he could think—
A familiar sensation below.
“Mmph!”
A choked sound escaped.
“Oh my~?” Mavis halted.
