《Citrine and the Heart-Pounding Date at the Celestial Tower》
《Time: Night》
Usually, Cosmos Academy has a strict curfew, but during vacation, it’s a different story.
With the security still tight, the once bustling students have disappeared like waves, and even the terrifyingly strict dorm supervisor has softened up.
“I will wait here. Please have a good time.”
“Thank you, Balkan.”
Anyway, Citrine and I decided to spend the night at the ‘Celestial Tower’ as planned.
Balkan, who safely escorted us to the tower, gave me a brief, subtle glance.
Knowing what Citrine might say during this event, I could instantly understand the emotions behind that look.
“Murmur will have fun with Citrine today. So, Grandpa Balkan, don’t worry.”
“…Thank you, Lady Murmur.”
Balkan bowed to me in gratitude.
“Now, come inside, Lady Murmur!”
Citrine grabbed my left hand with her right, interlocking our fingers, and led me into the tower.
『Murmur can understand the fragments of wisdom that permeate this ancient tower.』
『Wisdom has increased by 1!』
As expected, it’s the same as always.
Since this event is an automatic pass with Wisdom 10 or higher, it feels like an unexpected bonus.
“Lady Murmur, do you know about the Celestial Tower?”
Citrine held my hand tightly as we walked through the grand entrance of the tower.
The massive tower, shaped like a dodecagon, naturally feels like a dodecagon inside too.
“Yes, Murmur knows. Do you know, Citrine?”
“Of course! First of all, this Celestial Tower currently belongs to our Crimson Nexus Trading Company.”
Just like the fountain, this tower is part of how Citrine’s company is slowly expanding its influence.
Of course, since players can intervene in the process, the company can either go bankrupt or nearly take over the academy.
“This tower has stood at Cosmos Academy for a very long time. As you can see, Lady Murmur, it was built to observe the sky, so it’s incredibly tall.”
“And?”
“I believe that in the past, magic classes at the academy were held here. That’s why there are traces of books, classrooms, and magical energy left behind.”
Citrine led me to the stairs while explaining.
“Hmm…”
But here’s the thing.
In the game, I managed somehow, but I didn’t expect to have to spiral up 20 floors by climbing stairs.
“Ohoho, I know what you’re worried about, Lady Murmur~”
Fortunately, Citrine smiled and gently touched the wall.
─ Clatter clatter clack!
Liquid seeped from the ground and instantly transformed into bricks, then into small golems.
“Co,■, command ■lease ■aster.”
“As you can see, Lady Murmur, they’re a bit broken, but according to the inspection, they can work without causing any problems.”
In any other situation, I wouldn’t have been able to say that.
Anyway, I climbed onto the golem’s back as Citrine directed.
It felt more like a carriage seat than a back, so it was quite comfortable.
“Hehehe…”
Citrine, perhaps because the summer weather wasn’t too hot.
She sat close to me, interlocking our fingers, and giggled.
As the golem slowly ascended, the view of the academy outside the window became clearer under the moonlight.
The lights from the shops in Starry Lane twinkled like another constellation, and the buildings bathed in moonlight shone silver.
The fact that she didn’t mention the Holy Nation at all shows how much she wants to enjoy this date to the fullest.
“But Citrine, is that all you know about the tower?”
“Well… there are some suspicious magic circles and traces of magic that are hard to decipher now, but that’s about it.”
As expected, she doesn’t know.
Well, it’s not like a tower in the middle of the academy would hold some incredible secret.
However, unlike my true identity, this secret doesn’t need to be hidden, so maybe I’ll tell her a little.
If I don’t, she’ll keep rubbing her cheek on my shoulder and fiddling with our interlocked fingers.
“Citrine, do you know about ‘Astrological Magic’?”
“Astrological… Magic? I know astrology, but I’ve never heard of Astrological Magic.”
Hehe, of course.
This is a hidden skill, after all.
“The Celestial Tower was a place to learn Astrological Magic.”
“Really? I’ve never heard that from anyone before.”
“Of course. Murmur learned about Astrological Magic from a very, very old book in the library.”
Citrine looked at me with eyes full of interest.
“Astrological Magic is a magic that borrows power from the stars in the sky.”
“It sounds similar to Holy Magic.”
“Yes, that’s right. And Astrological Magic can draw power both day and night. It’s an incredible power that can read the stars during the day and night.”
Citrine nodded, gently scratching the back of my hand with her thumb.
“So, in this Celestial Tower, you can always see beautiful stars.”
“Because you need to read the stars to use Astrological Magic?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s a beautiful place to learn how to see the stars.”
I smiled at her.
“Citrine, thank you for bringing Murmur to such a beautiful place.”
“I… I just wanted to spend a really good night with Lady Murmur.”
Citrine blushed as red as her hair and nuzzled her face against my shoulder.
She’s still such a child.
“But Lady Murmur, I have a question.”
Thump thump thump.
The golem carrying us had already climbed about halfway up the tower.
“Why doesn’t anyone use such amazing Astrological Magic anymore?”
“Astrological Magic is similar to what you mentioned earlier, astrology. It’s about reading the constellations.”
Citrine nodded.
“So, the end of Astrological Magic is predetermined.”
“Predetermined? I thought elemental magic or summoning magic had no end.”
“Yes, but the end of Astrological Magic is predetermined. Reading countless stars and learning their power ultimately has only one purpose.”
I held Citrine’s hand gently.
“Mastering Astrological Magic allows you to see the future.”
“…The future.”
“That’s why no one learns Astrological Magic anymore. Those who understood its end all deemed it taboo.”
It’s not exactly ‘forbidden magic.’
Those who understood the teachings gave up on taking disciples.
With no one to teach it, it faded away.
That’s the story.
“That’s strange. If it were me, I’d use Astrological Magic to see the future and handle any sad events brilliantly.”
I patted Citrine’s back, impressed by her words.
“Arrived, ■as… ■aster.”
“Oh! We arrived sooner than I thought. This way, Lady Murmur.”
Citrine got off the golem first and helped me down, holding my hand tightly.
“So, you wanted to see the stars from here.”
“Come this way!”
Citrine led me to the center of the tower.
The dodecagonal space had large windows on each side, with stained glass depicting different constellations.
But the ceiling at the top of the tower was completely transparent.
“Thanks to Lady Murmur’s words, I now understand the reason behind the tower’s structure.”
“Yes, just as you thought. The twelve sides each face different constellations, so you can study their positions even during the day.”
“And at night…”
Citrine pointed upwards.
Through the transparent roof, the night sky was visible at a glance. It felt like floating in the middle of a sea of stars.
“Citrine and I can see such beautiful stars together.”
”It feels like floating in a sea of stars with Lady Murmur.”
Citrine smiled slightly and led me to a cozy sofa with a prepared blanket, holding my hand tightly.
The top of the Celestial Tower.
In this vast space, we could freely gaze at the ‘sky.’
The roof, made with dwarven craftsmanship, was transparent, shielding us from rain and wind.
“There’s some cold black tea here too.”
A plate of sweet cookies and macarons, likely prepared by Balkan, sparkled on the table, reflecting the moonlight.
“If we eat this now, the dorm supervisor will scold us.”
“Ohoho~! It’s vacation, so it’s fine.”
Citrine laughed brightly and handed me a glass with ice floating in it.
Sitting together on the sofa, we leaned our shoulders close and looked up at the sky.
Even though summer vacation had started, the weather should have been hot, but the Celestial Tower was so high and enchanted that it felt slightly cool.
Citrine naturally rested her head on my shoulder, and I pulled the cozy blanket a bit closer to her.
“Lady Murmur, do you know how to read the constellations too?”
I nodded and pointed to the sky.
“Do you see those seven stars, Citrine?”
“Hehe, Lady Murmur. You’re treating me like a child. Those seven stars are part of the famous ‘Theocrasia’ constellation, right?”
“Yes. Remembering the position of that constellation always helps us find north.”
Citrine giggled and pointed to a cluster of stars that looked like a cross.
“Lady Murmur, do you know the name of that constellation?”
Many people would call it the ‘Grace’ constellation, but that’s not the answer Citrine wanted.
“It’s the ‘Harmonia’ constellation.”
“Correct! Lady Harmonia watches over us from the sky with her black wings like that.”
“Lady Harmonia is truly a good person.”
Despite how the demons serve her, her essence remains pure.
“I never thought I’d see the Harmonia constellation with Lady Murmur like this.”
“There’s something even more beautiful to see. Do you see that distorted diamond shape?”
Citrine blinked and pointed upwards with our interlocked hands.
“There! There! Are you talking about that star over there?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s a pretty famous constellation. Do you know it, Citrine?”
Following Citrine’s finger, I also pointed to the sky. Our hands overlapped, and Citrine let out a small laugh.
“Wait a moment! Hmm… It’s not the Aries constellation, is it? The Helen constellation? Hmm…”
As expected, she couldn’t guess it.
“It’s a very famous constellation, you know?”
“Ugh! I don’t know!”
“The shape of that star cluster. It’s a bit distorted, but doesn’t it look like a gem? That’s why it’s called the ‘Virgilia’ constellation.”
“Lady Virgilia’s… Oh my, I had no idea!”
Citrine laughed brightly and shook my hand up and down.
“Exactly! Lady Virgilia has been guiding us on our destined path from the sky too!”
Although we can meet her anytime at the academy.
I didn’t want to shatter Citrine’s dream as she beamed with joy.
“Lady Murmur, you really know everything. You’re amazing.”
Citrine’s voice carried a strange seriousness, unlike her usual playful tone.
As the moonlight illuminated her face, her usual innocent expression disappeared, replaced by a solemn look, like a saint from an old painting.
“Murmur just learned a little from books.”
『Murmur understood an ancient, forgotten magic by reading the constellations in the night sky.』
『You have acquired a new magic!』
【Astrological Magic LV. 1】
Great, I naturally learned Astrological Magic while chatting with Citrine.
If I show this to the Demon God, she’ll be really surprised, right?
I hope she praises me and maybe even boosts my stats…
“Lady Murmur?”
While I was lost in happy thoughts, Citrine grabbed both my hands and looked up at me.
Under the moonlight, Citrine’s red hair sparkled, and I wished this moment could last forever.
At the same time, I felt a heaviness in my chest.
“What is it, Citrine? Are you sleepy already?”
Considering the time, it made sense.
“Not really.”
“If Citrine is really sleepy, Murmur is fine with sleeping here together tonight.”
“I was planning to do that from the start.”
Citrine smiled beautifully at me.
Since this was a building for learning Astrological Magic, there were spaces for showers and baths.
In fact, even in this vast space, such facilities were prepared, and the sofa was so large that Citrine and I could sleep holding hands without any issues.
“Lady Murmur. I’m really happy to spend time like this today.”
“Yes, Murmur is really happy too. I hope we can play together like this tomorrow, next year, and forever.”
“Hehe, it would be even better if Nicasia weren’t here.”
Citrine snorted cutely and joked, then placed her hand on my shoulder.
“Lady Murmur. You know…”
Citrine’s appearance subtly changed as the moonlight grew stronger.
At first, she was a child with flushed cheeks, playfully rubbing her face against my arm. But as we talked about constellations, she began to change. Her voice carried a strange tension, and her palms, holding my hand, were sweaty.
…I had been ignoring it, but the change was clear.
“Today’s date was really fun and happy.”
As the moonlight illuminated her red hair, it shone as vividly as blood.
Her usual playful smile had disappeared, replaced by a look of awe, as if she were seeing something sacred.
No, don’t look at me like that.
“Thanks to Lady Murmur, I learned the tower’s secret, and I also learned that Lady Virgilia is watching over me from the sky on this sacred day.”
“Citrine… …”
No. I really hate this event.
Can’t this be twisted like Lady Jepar or Aunt Colette’s events?
“Lady Murmur, because today is so happy, there’s something I want to ask of you.”
Despite her young age, Citrine looked at me with her long, beautiful eyelashes fluttering.
“I want to be Lady Murmur’s bride.”
“…That’s a misunderstanding, Citrine.”
“No, it’s not. Despite your young age, you understand and wield so many magics, Lady Murmur.”
Citrine began to unbutton her blouse with her small, white fingers.
“You show clear insight no matter what happens, Lady Murmur.”
Under the moonlight streaming from above, Citrine pulled down the shoulders of her blouse, revealing her white shoulders.
I was prepared, but I already felt my stomach churning.
“You do anything for your friends, Lady Murmur. Even after learning that I’m a changeling, you still stayed my friend.”
“…That’s only natural.”
“You, who are respected by the Seven Sisters of Paradise. You, who can read and write the ancient demon language.”
Citrine smiled and reached behind her back, undoing something with a click.
Then, slowly, she leaned her neck towards me and closed her eyes.
…
She smells nice.
“Lady Murmur, you are undoubtedly the ‘Flesh of the Demon God’ that we, the ‘Descendants of Nectar,’ have long awaited.”
This is why I hate the Demon King route.
“…So. I’m ready. I never thought I’d enjoy a date with someone so noble, but I did.”
I hate this.
I really hate this.
“Please, Lady Murmur.”
Citrine took my hands and brought them to her chest.
Thump thump!
Thump thump!!!
Citrine’s heart was beating so dangerously fast, it felt like it might explode.
Her skin felt like it was burning as magical energy overflowed.
The ultimate reason she brought me to this tower, where we could bask in the moonlight, was for this.
…
I’m getting hungry.
“Lady Murmur. Please devour me.”
Demons cannot communicate with devils.
Demons do not know the true love of the Demon God.
That’s why lost lambs like her beg.
“I was born to be devoured by Lady Murmur.”
To offer themselves as sacrifices.
There’s no other way.
Their faith is so strong, it makes me nauseous with the stench of blood.
