Mage Manual

Chapter 165: Chapter 149 Fear

“You’re studying and doing homework again tonight?”

“Am I even a college student if I don’t study and do homework every day? I’ve paid so much in tuition and am carrying a student loan, how else am I supposed to make it worth the cost?”

“Wow, so impressive, then you keep it up.”

“Hold on, I remember the wanted poster mentioned that you went to college! Come on, how about helping me with some homework?”

“Weren’t you just being all eager to learn, determined not to take shortcuts and resolute about studying earnestly?”

“Well, some assignments are so pointless, I only do them for credit. Help me out, please—help me out—”

...

“Stop, don’t press against me, it’s so hot, I’ll start sweating. Let me see, (takes a look) hmm, oh, so that’s how it is.”

“How about it, are you willing to help me do it?”

“Um, I’m willing to offer any support except for helping.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means I don’t know how to do it either.”

“But you’ve graduated, haven’t you? You must have done this kind of homework before!”

“How could anyone remember the flavor of every bread they’ve eaten in the past? How could I remember how I did these assignments?”

Source: , updated on Ɲ0νǤᴑ.ᴄο

“Ugh, gray, subpar college students are so useless.”

“If you want to become a golden, legendary college student, then just do the homework yourself. For your own good, I’m willing to endure the shame of being a bad example to encourage you.”

“(⊙～⊙) You’ve got some nerve.”

…

“Ash—The shampoo’s run out—help me get a new one from the bottom shelf of the cabinet.”

“Weird, you actually know you can’t just come out and get it.”

“I haven’t finished bathing yet, and I’m too lazy to dry off. Coming out all wet would make the floor soggy, I do have that much common sense.”

“You’re so considerate, it’s really touching. I just hope you possess more common sense… like how you don’t need to expose half your body to get something from the bathroom!”

“(*￣ー￣) You’re so annoying.”

…

“Ha, um, um, huh~~~ ah, Ash, have you finished showering? You took even longer than me, water is expensive, you know…”

“You say that as if I was forced to shower for so long… oh, oh, I get it! Hey, I’m not even embarrassed, why are you?”

“What?”

“If you want to take care of it yourself, you don’t have to hide in the bathroom. Just don’t make a mess everywhere, I don’t mind if you do it on my bed. And though I don’t have many videos suitable for men, I know where to download some casting materials, and you can take your time finding them. Plus, I have lubricant, which is much better than water…”

“Stop, I really was just bathing, I didn’t do anything else!”

“Then did you take care of it during the day when you were alone in the apartment? Let me check the browsing history…”

“No! I haven’t done that kind of thing at your place.”

“No way, you’ve been staying at my place for three days now… could you be masochistic?”

“I can’t be bothered to talk to you, move aside, I need to use the Veil of Knowledge.”

“╮(╯▽╰)╭ You’re really quite strange.”

…

“Are you asleep?”

“No.”

“Sleeping on the floor must be uncomfortable, why don’t you come up and sleep in the bed? I’ll scoot over and make some space for you.”

“No need, I’m afraid of you.”

“Hey—that actually hurts my feelings a bit. Truth be told, while there are many who fear my Meivwa nature, there are even more who are attracted by my looks. After all, aside from the real thing, there are plenty of little games that could make you very comfortable… do you want to try?”

“Speaking of which, I’ve always been curious, Freyja, with your assets, you must get a lot of fearless guys hitting on you at the booze cafes, but why do you prefer to pay money at a mud cafe?”

“Hey, Ash, you’ve never been to a booze cafe? You really don’t know anything.”

“Wow, to think I’m being lectured on common sense by someone who sleeps naked without covering up.”

“I’ll tell you, the most significant difference between booze cafes, mud cafes, and tea cafes is that everyone is equal in a booze cafe.”

“Is equality bad?”

“But equality means mutual service. You make me feel good, and I have to do the same for you. To get as much as you want, you have to give as much. And I just happen to dislike serving others, so I’d rather spend some money at a mud cafe.”

“Hearing that, you seem quite selfish…”

“Plus, the mud cafe has buffets, baths, saunas, water therapy, and so on. ‘Mud Service’ is just one of them. Every woman can temporarily let go of reality’s troubles and find pleasure. Going to a mud bath is a very satisfying relaxation. According to statistics, each adult woman goes to a mud cafe once a month, and some high-professionals even have permanent exclusive rooms in private mud cafes, living there and enjoying top-class service every night.”

“Oh, I see, so you’re a queen, radiating confidence!”

“There’s also the fact that if you pay, you can request things that ordinary men can’t fulfill.”

“Hmm, I see… wait, what?”

“Ash, come here (pats the bed), I’m not opposed to servicing you if it’s you.”

“After you’re done with your service, wouldn’t you make demands and ask for reciprocation?”

“`

“…”

“And the request you made was for ‘special services that ordinary men can’t provide’?”

“But you’re not an ordinary man! Have some courage, won’t you, Evil Demon Saint!”

“I find the floor quite comfortable, I’m going to sleep now.”

“Hmph, (#￣〜￣#) you’re quite the coward, aren’t you?”

….

“I’ve been wanting to ask for a long time‚ why do you always wear those sleeve and leg warmers?”

“What sleeve and leg warmers?”

“The fluffy white fur on your hands and feet, isn’t that something you put on?”

“How rude! That’s my natural charm hair, something all Meiwas have. It’s the biggest difference between Meiwas and humans.”

“I know a male Meiwa who doesn’t have that kind of fur.”

“There are no male Meiwas in this world, only males ‘with a certain Meiwa lineage.’ Meiwa specifically refers to females. Moreover, if a Meiwa reproduces, the girls will definitely be Pure Meiwas, while the boys will primarily take after the father’s racial lineage.”

“I’ve just learned another piece of knowledge that I’ll never need.”

“Hey, do you think my charm hair looks nice? I like it myself, but it seems a lot of people dislike charm hair, considering it a characteristic of beasts. There are also Meiwas who undergo depilation to look indistinguishable from humans…”

“Looks good! Can I touch it?”

“But don’t you think it looks too much like a beast?”

“Isn’t that even better?”

“Ah? Are you saying you like the type from the Moon Shadow Clan?”

“What I mean is, the charm hair only makes you look better. It gives you a wild charm, and you make the charm hair even more cute and beautiful. Or rather, what looks good is not the charm hair, it’s you – you’d look good even if you were bald.”

“Really!? I was actually thinking about changing my hairstyle…”

“—But I think your current hairstyle already looks great, no need to change it.”

“hee-hee, I think so too, o(*￣▽￣*)o You have quite an eye, huh.”

…

“What are we eating tonight?”

“Fruit salad, and…”

“Is there no fiery red roe covered rice?”

“That’s actually quite a hassle to make…”

“Oh, then I’m off to class.”

“But I do want to eat it today, so let’s replace the pan-fried steak with fiery red roe covered rice.”

“(〜￣▽￣)〜 It’s you who wants to eat it, not me asking you for it, okay?”

…

“Have you encountered any good luck these past few days?”

During class, Adela suddenly asked this, leaving Freyja feeling puzzled: “No, what do you mean?”

“Then why have you been so happy these days?”

“Am I very happy?”

“Your lips have been curving up without dropping once, it’s tiring just watching!” Adela propped her chin and tilted her cheek to look at Freyja. “I don’t think even if I got into the Red Mist Institute I’d be as happy as you.”

Freyja unconsciously covered her mouth, but quickly put her hand down again: “No way, I’m always the happy little Meiwa, every day.”

“Come on, tell me, what’s the good news? Can’t you share it with me?”

Freyja gave Adela a rather odd look, “Adela, you seem a bit… impolite.”

Although they were good friends, they were just that‚ good friends.

They could share hobbies, with Adela taking Freyja to the casino, and Freyja taking Adela to the mud café, which was perfectly fine.

But when it came to privacy, that was a ‘taboo’ neither could touch. Although it’s hard to describe what privacy constitutes a ‘taboo,’ judging whether a topic is a ‘taboo’ is simple—if the other party tries to avoid and refuses to answer, it’s a ‘taboo’ you shouldn’t keep pursuing.

Those who can’t understand this are those who can’t read the room, lack social skills, and can easily hurt others with words—a ‘Barbarian.’

Naturally, Adela was not a ‘Barbarian.’ In fact, she was quite popular, with several friends besides Freyja, and her ambition as a member of the Spirit Faction meant that reading the room should be almost instinctual for her.

Sensing Freyja’s surprise, Adela countered with a question: “You are planning to visit a psychologist soon, aren’t you?”

“How did you know?” Freyja asked reflexively.

Bull’s-eye.

Freyja had been feeling that strange emotion growing stronger inside her lately, to the extent that it was affecting her rationality.

Although it was her first time experiencing this, she didn’t mull over it or try to figure it out on her own; instead, she planned to seek treatment from a psychologist.

To the citizens of the Kingdom of Blood Moon, going to a Medical Practitioner for physical ailments and a psychologist for mental issues were skills known even to ogres, essential for survival.

Moreover, with the high likelihood of mental issues in modern times, even some start consulting with a psychologist monthly from a young age, making the demand for psychological treatment ever-growing, and even surpassing regular medical treatment—after all, modern people might not get sick or injured in a whole year, but it’s nearly impossible for them to go a year without some psychological issue.

At the same time, psychologists are a very common mainstream profession. If Freyja doesn’t become a Mage, she’s likely to become an ordinary psychologist herself.

With a broad market, numerous professionals, and university medical benefits, getting psychological treatment is cheaper than a meal for Freyja‚ so, naturally, she wouldn’t force herself to face it alone.

Adela said softly, “Because you’re scared right now.”

“`