Nikita’s Ideal Type

Afterward, we celebrated Christmas without incident.

Even though I’d made that idiotic remark about spending Christmas together with everyone, the party itself was enjoyed by all.

In the first place, the people gathered here were all faces we saw every day.

More than anything, unlike us guys who had nowhere to go but the PC bang when we got together, the ladies…

Could talk all night if they wanted to.

Thanks to that, I was already worn out and ready to drop.

I hold my own in conversation, but I couldn’t match that level of dedication.

“Ugh, how can they just chatter on all day?”

And Seron was included in that sentiment.

Why did she, also a woman, get worn out so quickly?

For the record, Isabelle and Hania were leading the conversations.

True to their usual social butterfly tendencies, they had plenty to talk about.

Iris, as the Third Princess, also had to possess considerable oratory skills.

So, her conversational abilities were also refined.

Eve, in her case, latched on to the three of them, practicing her communication.

Hopefully, she’ll grow up strong.

Lastly, Sharin was already asleep next to me.

When it was time to sleep, she’d just fall asleep, just like a child.

Even peaceful times must come to an end.

“It’s getting late. If it gets any later, I’ll get an earful from the dormitory head.”

Hania’s words effectively brought the party to a close.

Time to slowly make our way back to the dormitories.

After a quick cleanup, it was well past midnight.

“You look exhausted, I’ll release you for tonight,” Iris declared, generously exempting me from my usual nighttime duties.

I offered my deepest thanks and parted ways with the others.

“Isabelle, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you.”

Isabelle’s Yuletide celebrations had only just begun.

After a quick greeting I took my leave to head towards the assistant’s dormitory.

The assistant’s dorm was quiet.

The other assistants were likely overseeing the main party.

With my schedule tomorrow I need to sleep as quickly as possible.

It was with this thought that I opened the door to my dorm room.

Still-

Inside my dorm room.

A presence.

My eyes narrowed slightly, and I tensed.

Someone had intruded upon my room.

The vestiges of the ancient dragon within me stirred quietly.

‘No magic attached.’

The vestiges of the ancient dragon were sensitive to magic.

The lack of reaction was equivalent to a lack of magical presence.

Ready to respond at a moment’s notice, I pushed the door open.

Creak-

The same room I’d left behind came into view.

Winter had instilled a melancholic atmosphere within the walls.

Stepping inside, I slowly tightened my grip, forming a knife-hand strike.

My gaze landed on my bed.

The blanket was inexplicably raised.

After a brief moment of observation, I lowered my hand.

If someone had intended to assassinate me, they wouldn’t be so blatant.

“Who is it?”

I decided to ask directly.

I had no idea who or what could have the gall to enter my space.

Twitch-

Then, the blanket moved slightly.

A reaction as though they hadn’t noticed my arrival.

Squinting, wondering who it could be.

Rustle-

A river of silver hair spilled from beneath the covers.

The moment my eyes registered that color, they widened.

Because only one person possessed hair that shade.

“Nikita?”

The covers shifted as I spoke her name, revealing a face.

It was Nikita, a blush blooming on her left cheek.

She was clearly just roused from sleep.

Clutching my pillow tightly, she coughed, eyes flitting with embarrassment.

“V, Vikamen.”

Nikita Sincia.

Former vice president of the Jerion Academy and, once upon a time, the Catastrophe’s Chosen.

There she was.

“How long have you been here?”

Judging from her sleepy state, it must have been a while.

If I had known, I would have rushed to greet her.

A wave of guilt washed over me as Nikita waved her hand dismissively.

“Just now. I just got here.”

She looked anything *but* like she’d just arrived.

But if Nikita said so, I decided to accept it.

“Right. Nikita has a pillow crease on her left cheek, but I’ll count it as just now.”

“Oh.”

Nikita scrambled to cover her left cheek.

Then, realizing the futility of the gesture, she cleared her throat and straightened her posture.

“Sorry, I dozed off while waiting for Vikamen.”

“It happens. I’m sorry I’m late.”

“No, I didn’t even tell you I was coming. More importantly…”

Nikita’s gaze lingered for a moment on the pillow I slept on every night.

Then she shook her head.

As if to dispel a stray thought.

She then looked me up and down, a smile finally gracing her lips.

“Vikamen, so you successfully returned to Jerion Academy.”

Indeed, I had successfully returned to Jerion Academy, passing as Vikamen.

“I couldn’t even see you off when you left the academy.”

“It’s okay. My situation wasn’t exactly worthy of a sendoff.”

Vikamen had committed the audacious act of assaulting the Third Princess.

At that point, being seen off by someone would have been stranger.

“Even so, I wish I could go back and see you off.”

Nikita’s warm heart, still thinking of the past.

“I have some excellent cocoa. Would you like some?”

“You remember that I like cocoa.”

“Of course. Which junior was she?”

“Hehehe.”

Nikita chuckled softly, as if lost in a memory.

I poured her a cup of cocoa, handing it over.

She accepted it carefully with both hands, taking small, tentative sips.

Still couldn’t handle it when it was too hot, it seemed.

“It’s been a while since a *hoobae* made me cocoa.”

Her honorifics reverted to the old days, perhaps triggered by nostalgia.

Not an unpleasant feeling.

“So, what brings you here?”

According to Nikita, she wasn’t supposed to come until next year.

So, how did she end up showing up on Christmas?

When I asked about it, a slightly mischievous smile played on Nikita’s lips.

“What do you think, Vikamon?”

“That a goddess has descended to give me a gift, perhaps?”

“That’s also correct.”

Nikita *was* a goddess.

Somehow, she was almost overwhelmingly beautiful.

Nikita lightly flicked her leg, which was peeking out from under the blanket, up and down.

“The real reason is for Christmas tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow, you mean…”

“Yes, Isabel’s gathering, where various dignitaries will be. Your brother will be making an appearance there.”

Nikita’s older brother, Nia Sincia.

The person who was the cause for Nikita to eventually dabble with ancient dragon magic.

Nia was currently considered dead by the public.

However, that death was faked, and the First Prince faction was using it to corner the Third Princess faction.

But the Third Princess faction, on their side, dismissed Nia’s incident as the Mystics acting as they pleased.

They even went as far as to say that it was Nia’s carelessness, not their fault.

A tense situation, just like that.

And now Nia had declared he would appear on Christmas.

‘It’s not a story in the official history.’

Of course not.

Because in the official history, Nia dies.

But the general flow is the same.

Right after Lukas crushes the Mystics.

The First Prince faction announces that Nia’s death was the Third Princess faction’s doing, not the Mystics’.

And now Nia’s direct appearance is added on top of that.

“I’ll be there too.”

“Nikita as well?”

“Though, of course, I won’t look like this.”

Nikita committed a crime, attacking the Third Princess.

Even if it was for Nia’s sake, an assault on royalty is a grave offense.

If Nikita appeared with Nia as she was, things might take a turn for the worse.

Nikita knew this all too well.

So, she decided to appear in another guise.

“It’s…it’s also the identity I’ll be using from now on.”

“Nikita, could it be the magic you and your brother researched…”

The corners of Nikita’s lips tilted upward.

“It’s a magic that makes one younger.”

As I suspected.

Now, I understood the meaning of Nikita’s words about coming next year.

Nikita had been researching magic to become younger, together with Nia.

And finally, they had achieved success.

Incredible.

To think she would actually complete that magic.

“Of course, commercialization was impossible. No one could use it except for me and Nia’s brother.”

Magic that only the two collaborators could use.

A pity, perhaps, but magic isn’t meant to be easy.

It was understandable enough.

Besides, even considering that, it was a truly remarkable achievement.

It meant a new way to enter the Magic Palace, besides the Curtain’s bandages.

“…Originally, I wanted to cast it on you, Vikamann.”

Nikita reached out and gently grasped my collar.

The emotional loss caused by the Curtain’s bandages.

Nikita was aware of it.

I smiled at her, a gentle curve of my lips.

“It’s alright. Just having Nikita by my side gives me strength.”

Nikita looked up at me.

Her blue eyes lingered on me for a moment, then she let out a breath.

“Vikamann still speaks so prettily. Do you do that to other people, too?”

“Only to Nikita.”

Nikita cleared her throat and fanned herself with her hand.

Her face was slightly flushed.

Then, she tightened her grip on my collar, just a fraction.

“…Then, don’t do it to anyone else. Just to me, from now on.”

An easy thing to grant.

Nikita, seemingly embarrassed by her own words, had the tips of her ears turn a bright red.

Then, she shook her head from side to side, and finally stood up.

“Vikamann, from now on, I won’t be Nikita Sincia anymore.”

For her, the identity of Nikita was a constraint.

The surname Synthia bound her, kept her confined.

“Still, don’t worry about it.”

Caged, she was fated to die without ever spreading her wings.

“Nikita Synthia was liberated by Vikamun, after all.”

I was the one who opened the door to that cage.

So she could unfurl her wings and soar.

So she wouldn’t be trapped living somewhere again.

I opened the cage door wider than anyone else.

Nikita’s face, wings spread in freedom, shone brighter than anyone’s.

That fact brought a warm joy to me.

“So, please take care of me from now on, Teaching Assistant.”

Her title changed, from junior to Teaching Assistant.

That was, perhaps, a signal that the relationship between Nikita and I had shifted.

“So, what’s the present?”

This was the part I anticipated most.

I urged her to give it to me quickly, and Nikita smiled faintly.

“Will you close your eyes?”

Nikita told me to, so I closed them.

Then, I felt her arms wrap around my neck.

Nikita’s small feet rose onto their toes.

Soon, a very soft and warm sensation touched my lips.

Without thinking, my eyes fluttered open.

Nikita’s face was right in front of mine.

A kiss.

That was the act Nikita had bestowed upon me.

“I once joked about my type, remember?”

As I stared blankly at her, Nikita smiled brightly.

“My type is Vikamun Niflheim.”

The emotion held within Nikita’s eyes.

“You’ll be my Teaching Assistant forever.”

It was love.

“It’s a Christmas gift, Teaching Assistant. A gift that will last a long, long time. Keep it safely in your heart.”

Christmas Day.

The Goddess declared she would give me love as a gift.