Chapter 90

…No, this didn’t feel right.

Seeing the smile of the bespectacled ex-professor, I instinctively felt like I should run. If that mad scientist looked excited, then it definitely meant death by overwork.

I slid my hips back and gave an awkward laugh.

“M-magic of charm… on the Duke…?”

“It’s still in the draft stage. Before casting it on the Duke, we have to test if it works properly.”

“Then… Altair will…”

I gave him an uneasy smile. Altair shook his head firmly while staring at me without blinking.

“I already love Roy, so I can’t be the subject for this experiment.”

He pointed straight at me.

…Me?

Wait, don’t tell me… he wanted to test it on me? This guy—wasn’t he just using this as an excuse to satisfy his own desires?

“Me? On me?!”

“Have you ever felt sexual attraction to me?”

“No!”

I jumped and waved my hands furiously. But no matter how I reacted, Altair didn’t budge. Behind the reflection of moonlight on his round glasses, his reddish-brown eyes curved like a fox, staring straight through me.

“Then you’re a suitable test subject. Otherwise, I’ll have to find someone else nearby who is alone…”

“……”

I followed his gaze toward the rose pergola.

From the shaking flower bed, indecent moans tickled my ears.

“Haaang! Ah! Ahhh, deeper! Mmm!”

“Ahhh, yes, so good… ahh…”

Unfortunately, this place was full of couples having secret trysts.

“……”

I held my aching head and bit my lips.

Altair calmly pulled out a pocket watch from his coat and opened it.

“Don’t worry, Roy. The magic of charm will automatically end when the midnight bell rings.”

11:47 p.m.

He said it as if nothing was a big deal.

“Thirteen minutes left. I set the time limit based on the magic in Cinderella’s story. Without this restriction, it could easily turn into black magic. That’s why I wanted to meet you tonight.”

“……”

“What will you do? If you use it after midnight, the magic will last nearly a whole day.”

“……”

If it was only ten minutes… maybe it was fine.

I sighed deeply, closed my eyes, and nodded.

“…Alright. Please explain the magic of charm to me in detail.”

Altair, looking as if he’d been waiting for that, pulled out a bundle of papers filled with formulas and explanations.

The magic was much more complicated than I imagined.

[Regulation and Principles of the Magic of Charm]

This magic is named “Magic of Charm,” and its main purpose is to make a specific subject (who meets condition A) feel sexual attraction toward the target (the caster and client).

(1) Casting Conditions and Requirements

It causes psychological and physical reactions: blushing, rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, stuttering, dilated pupils, increased desire, fever, and more.
Caster must clearly set “Condition A” (the subject’s preferred traits) and “Condition B” (the trigger for activation).

(2) Duration and Limits

Lasts until midnight from the moment “Condition B” is activated.
Can only be cast once per day, only on one subject.

(3) Long-term Effects and Side Effects

Repeated use can create emotional attachment and trust.
If the subject realizes they are under the magic, they may suffer psychological and neurological rejection, permanently nullifying the spell.
If the subject is aware and agrees in advance, side effects won’t occur.

Three full pages, written front and back, were completely filled.

Of course—it was Altair. My shabby little wind spells couldn’t compare at all.

“Wow… you turned all this into formulas?”

“It’s still just a draft. Long-term effects, subject range, side effects—there are still parts to improve. If you’ve understood the side effects and agree, sign at the bottom.”

“Y-yes.”

Time was short. I signed at the bottom of the paper.

Altair rolled the draft paper, raised it, and drew on his mana.

“I, Altair Oswal, designate myself as the caster of this magic of charm. The specific subject A is Roy Dover, who signed Article 3.3 of this draft. Roy Dover, do you agree?”

“Yes, I agree.”

When I answered, the paper in Altair’s hand began to glow faintly.

“There isn’t much time, so the activation condition will be eye contact with the caster. Roy Dover, do you agree?”

“Ugh… eye contact feels too straightforward…”

“Eight minutes left. Can you confirm the effect within that time…”

“Ah, yes! I—I agree!”

I shut my eyes tight and answered quickly.

A moment of silence followed. The sound of insects and moans in the background filled the strange quiet.

Haa… Altair sighed and cupped my right cheek. His hand touched me without a word, making my shoulders flinch.

“Open your eyes.”

Was this the magic’s fault? The atmosphere felt too strange. I clenched my hands tight.

“Um, Altair… could you step back a little? With your face this close, I feel nervous and strange. I won’t even be able to tell if the magic is working properly.”

“…Six minutes, ten seconds left.”

His thumb brushed over my lower lip. The sexual intent was so obvious I couldn’t open my eyes at all.

“Ah, no, please let me go! I’m supposed to feel attraction to you, but if you do this…”