Reincarnated as the Weakest Shadow Queen in the Academy-Chapter 36: Confession (3)

The witch’s step was halfway out the door, ready to tell the world of Summer’s defilement.

"Ah! Let go of me, you Queen-fucker!"

Before a firm grip from behind tugged her body up by the collar, her arms thrashing about in the air.

The Queen in question, Ciel, sat up watching this scenery.

Summer stood behind the pink-haired witch, her expression a mask of cold fury as she held the struggling intruder aloft.

Her question afterwards was blunt. "Did you just attempt to monitor us earlier, Melisra?"

The thrash ceased. All energies from the witch subsided, reduced to a timid squeal. "I...was concerned for your safety? You know, after the Queen of Hunt shooting from the moon thing."

Summer’s unamused scoff broke through the excuse. "Just say if you want to meet Ciel."

"...Ciel?"

"Ciel." The dragon nodded. "I didn’t name her, if you’re wondering."

Melisra’s shoulders shook. Then, her hand sprang to cup her chin, eager with an inquiry.

"You mean she made the name herself?" Melisra hummed. "That’s... actually fucking adorable, but- ah!"

A rough pull, that dragged her across the floor, cut off her investigative monologues.

Ciel killed a wry smile at her lips. Summer, still grumpy and irritated, hoisted one of Melisra’s arms, allowing them to meet face-to-face.

"This," Summer gestured to Ciel. "Do you see her as your fellow witch, Melisra?"

Melisra, with her muscles straining against Summer’s grip, froze at a look on Ciel.

As her foxy white eyes grew examinitive, Ciel’s legs coiled ever so subtly.

The discomfort in Ciel contrasted well with Melisra’s later glee.

"Mother of-" Ciel watched as the witch’s hanging body almost sprang. "How?! Summer... uh, probably wouldn’t lie about you being a Queen, but why did your blood veins structure similarly to us?!"

The observation sent Ciel to ponder.

If judging by the System’s numerical terms, perhaps Melisra’s INT stats must be so high that her eyes could observe even inside her body.

And Melisra didn’t bleed when muttering Miss Dragon’s name, unlike her and the others.

Ciel hesitated.

Up until now, Summer and Quia were her only contacts. Conversing with another, a ’fellow’ witch no less, made her chest tighten.

But as Melisra’s gaze intensified, a fist drove her witch hat into the senior witch’s head.

"Ouch!" Melisra groaned, then glared up at Summer. "You want a fight? Stop bonking me!"

Summer shrugged. Then her grip discarded Melisra as the witch’s body plopped onto the cold floor.

"Melisra," Summer called out the name as she sat beside Ciel again. Her hand found Ciel’s back before stroking it tenderly.

Ciel shuddered. It didn’t make her feel any less uncomfortable, not at all.

Yet as her body leaned more into the touch, the dragon ordered. "Ciel’s human-witch body was gifted by a... parasite that latched itself to her."

A serious glint flashed through Melisra’s gaze, even as the Witch’s body awkwardly sprang up to sit on the floor.

Ciel observed. The respect was palpable in the air as Summer continued.

Summer seethed through her teeth. "I’d give you the details later. For now, investigate all the academy’s records of individuals who suddenly rose to power."

"Hm..." Melisra’s index finger rested on her cheek, a contemplative gesture. "Sure? What do you want to do with it?"

"What wouldn’t I do?" Summer sighed. "This thing is too dangerous without a discerning origin. Plans are for later, but we need more information now."

Ciel smiled in defeat. Her System, ironically, had only burdened Summer more.

The tentative strokes on her back softened. Then a firm palm pressed against her head, rubbing it in gentle circles.

Ciel’s hands rose as she clenched onto Summer’s wrist. Don’t let go, her thought flickered, as if her world depended on each stroke.

An audible groan came from Summer, the pats lingering with a pause in between, before-

"Ah- Ah... my eyes... save me!"

A certain senior witch couldn’t bear this sight, too sweet and heartwarming.

Melisra covered her face, rolling across the floor with theatrical exaggeration.

That was before a firm kick knocked her off balance. Now sprawled on the floor, her head tilted up, catching Summer’s annoyed glare and Ciel’s confused gaze.

—---------

After concluding their business, a stern dragon tossed the nosy Melisra outside.

Shutting the door with a click, Summer’s back pressed upon it, her ears peeking up as if to confirm something.

Ciel stood just a few steps apart. She watched as the dragon’s eyes closed, a strange calm settling in the room.

Then it burst apart as Summer’s eyes opened and found her again, filling a trembling hesitation and need.

A dragon only ordered. So, she ordered her possession to step forward.

Ciel obeyed, each foot dragging slower than the last, till she ended in a gentle embrace by Summer.

It trapped her. Made her more alive than even back in the black sea.

Ciel’s small body pressed against Summer’s more, an innocent effort to map out its every curve.

"Sorry."

She muttered, hoping Summer wouldn’t mind working a bit more because of her System.

Summer’s waist nudged against Ciel a little. An unsatisfied groan erupted in the dragon as she murmured.

"Don’t mind. I will just strip away that system from you, should I find it a threat." Her palms explored down Ciel’s back as she continued. "But we will feed its needs for now. In the meantime..."

The palms curled as they lifted Ciel, whose arms folded to the dragon’s chest.

Their eyes met, lingering in a silence that neither found the courage to break.

Summer stared with a bated breath, her grasp tightening as if afraid.

"I promise. Even without that parasite, I will find a way to retain your human body."

Ciel’s eyes widened. From the moment she confessed, she realised that Summer had been treating the System as a presumed threat.

She also distrusted the System, but Ciel couldn’t help but whisper.

"You don’t need to."

’If one day, the System betrayed humanity and Ciel, Summer could just annihilate her along with it.’

Summer’s features warped at Ciel’s implication, her teeth grinding against the air. "You’ve an unnatural talent in annoying me."

A chuckle let itself slip from Ciel, soft and unhelpful to wane the dragon’s ire.

Then, Ciel’s body burrowed further into the embrace, offering her neck to the dragon’s lips.

The stuttering groans softened into a deep purr, heavy with restrained rage and desire.

It wasn’t long before a wet, smooth kiss settled on the skin, the unspoken intimacy breaking through their enchanted bond.

Summer drew back, and Ciel could see through her.

The dragon wanted more.

The former shadebeast, shameless as she was, felt the same, too.

For now-

Summer’s face turned away, flushed. "I’ll not sleep tonight again."

Ciel nodded. "Then should I... stay awake with you?"

A flat ’no’ escaped from Summer’s lips.