Villain's Odyssey: Enslaving heroines, Conquering Villainesses-Chapter 78: A Lunatic’s Game

"Hmm," Jenny murmured, having just returned from her stroll around the academy grounds. She glanced around their shared dorm room, her eyes scanning every corner with growing concern. Asher still wasn’t there.

A frown creased her brow as she set down her jacket on the chair by a desk. What could have possibly happened to keep him away this long? The dorm master would be making his rounds soon for the daily rollcall - it was already past 6:00 PM, and Asher was nowhere to be found. This was completely unlike him, especially given how well he understood the consequences of missing rollcall.

Jenny moved to the window, peering out at the dimly lit courtyard below. Students were already heading back to their dormitories, the usual evening buzz of activity winding down. Where was he?

"Wait a minute," she said aloud, her eyes widening as a memory suddenly surfaced. Her hand flew to her mouth as the realization hit her like a cold wave.

"Maria," she whispered, the name leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

Multiple scenarios began flooding her mind, each more troubling than the last. Could it be that the desperate girl had done something to Asher? It was certainly possible, given how strange Maria had been acting that morning when they’d encountered her in the hallway. Jenny remembered the way Maria’s behavior. Something had been off about her - very off.

Jenny’s frown deepened as she recalled Asher’s parting words from earlier that day. "You know, if something does happen to me, you’ll probably feel guilty about not coming along to protect your helpless roommate." He’d said it with that characteristic smirk of his, treating it like a joke, but now those words felt prophetic.

’She couldn’t have... right?’ Jenny thought, wrapping her arms around herself as an uncomfortable chill settled in her stomach.

"Hehehe, there’s no way she would do anything... there’s... just... no... way," she muttered to herself, pacing back and forth across the small room. But even as she spoke the words, trying to convince herself of their truth, doubt gnawed at her insides. With each passing second, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something must have happened.

It was completely out of character for Asher to miss rollcall. The punishment for absence was severe - an extreme point deduction for each day missed. Given his relatively weak combat abilities compared to other elite students, maintaining his position through academic excellence alone was already challenging enough. Add point deductions to that equation, and his situation would become nearly impossible.

Jenny knew Asher was smart. So if he wasn’t here, it meant something was keeping him from returning.

But what?

To that question, only one name surfaced in her mind: Maria.

Jenny couldn’t think of anyone else who might be involved. Maria was the most likely suspect, given Asher’s physical weakness compared to her enhanced abilities, and given how desperately she’d seemed to want to get close to him that morning. The way Maria had looked at Asher... it hadn’t been normal attraction. It had been hunger.

"Should I... go to her room?" Jenny wondered aloud, contemplating whether she should really bother herself with that psychotic girl.

The academy’s rules were strict about visiting other students’ rooms, especially after hours, but these were exceptional circumstances. If Maria had done something to Asher...

Jenny was still debating her next move when she heard it.

Knock.

Knock.

Her heart jumped at the unexpected sound. She quickly crossed the room and opened the door, and what she saw made her breath catch in her throat.

"Asher?"

"You’re... back," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she took in the sight of the young man standing before her.

He looked like he’d been through hell. His usually neat black hair was completely disheveled, sticking up at odd angles and falling messily across his forehead. His face was flushed red, and what made Jenny’s eyes widen in shock were the numerous red marks scattered across his skin - some looked like scratches, others like... bite marks? They just weren’t on his face; she could see them trailing down his neck and disappearing beneath his trousers.

His shirt hung open, completely unbuttoned and revealing his lean, surprisingly toned chest. Jenny found herself staring for a moment longer than she should have, noting the way his chest rose and fell with each labored breath.

"Haah... haaa... haaa," he panted slowly, each breath deliberate as he tried to regain his composure. He looked like someone who’d just escaped from a mob chase - or worse.

"Can I come in?" he asked, his voice hoarse and strained.

Jenny nodded stiffly, stepping aside without a word.

"...Sure," she managed to say, though her voice came out smaller than intended.

Asher walked past her into their shared space, and the first thing he did was strip off his torn black shirt completely, then his trousers, standing there in just his boxers as if her presence didn’t matter at all. This wasn’t unusual - he’d never been particularly modest around her - but tonight something felt different.

"Where’s your... undershirt?" Jenny asked, remembering distinctly that he’d been wearing one when he left to visit Maria.

But instead of answering, Asher simply walked past her toward the bathroom.

The bathroom door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving Jenny standing alone in the middle of their dorm room, her mind racing with questions.

...

...

"What just happened?" I asked my reflection, gripping the edges of the bathroom sink until my knuckles turned white.

The whole experience still felt surreal. I never expected it - not in a million years.

Whoosh!

I turned on the tap, letting the cool water flow freely. Cupping some in my hands, I splashed it across my face, hoping it would wash away not just the physical remnants of what had happened, but the memory itself. The water was shockingly cold against my heated skin, and I repeated the action several times until I felt somewhat more grounded.

I gripped the sink again and stared hard at my reflection. The red marks on my neck stood out starkly against my pale skin - evidence of what I’d barely escaped.

"...Did she really try to rape me?" I whispered to my reflection.

I’d had my plans all calculated and structured before I’d even arrived at Maria’s room. I’d thought I knew exactly how the evening would play out, how I’d handle her advances, how I’d maintain control of the situation. But the moment I’d tasted that food she’d prepared... everything had gone to hell.

"There was definitely something in it," I muttered, turning toward the bathtub where I channeled a small amount of ether into the heating core. Hot water began filling the tub with a steady, soothing sound.

That was the only explanation that made sense. I’d never tasted anything so... overwhelming. The flavor had been incredible at first, better than anything I’d ever eaten, but then it had become something else entirely. Something that had clouded my judgment and made me lose control in ways I’d never experienced before.

The more she’d spoken to me, the more I’d found myself falling into some kind of trance. My ability to think clearly had gradually slipped away, replaced by an almost animalistic hunger - not just for the food, but for... more. I’d just wanted to eat and eat, and the more I consumed, the more desperate I’d become.

What the hell had she cooked?

The thirst had been the worst part. I’d become incredibly thirsty. I’d grabbed a cup from the table without even thinking, draining the water inside in desperate gulps. But it hadn’t helped - if anything, the thirst had gotten worse.

I’d reached for another cup, drinking that too, but the relief never came. That’s when I’d heard her voice, purring in my ear: "That won’t help~"

But I’d ignored her, too desperate for relief to listen to reason. I’d grabbed yet another cup, downing the contents, but I was still desperately thirsty. My throat felt like it was on fire.

Then I’d turned around, and there she’d been.

Maria’s almond-colored eyes had been fixed on mine with an intensity that bordered on deranged. Her snow-white hair had fallen across her face in perfectly calculated waves, framing features that would have been beautiful if not for the predatory gleam in her gaze. The sweater is had been wearing had lessened to show another cream-colored dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, the neckline dipping low enough to be distracting, the fabric so sheer I could make out the outline of her undergarments beneath.

She’d slid her hands down my chest with deliberate slowness, her fingers tracing patterns across my skin that had sent unwanted shivers through my body. "I can help you quench that thirst~" she’d whispered, biting her lower lip in a gesture that was clearly meant to be seductive.

I’d gulped, my throat working frantically as the burning sensation intensified. I’d felt like I was going insane from the thirst, like I’d die if I couldn’t find relief soon.

"Get me water, now!" I’d demanded, panting like a wild animal, but she’d only grinned wider, clearly getting some twisted pleasure from seeing me so disoriented and desperate.

"But that won’t help~" she’d purred again.

"What... the hell...?! What... did you... put in it?" I’d asked, clutching my throat as the burning sensation spread down into my chest.

She’d grinned then, and I’d suddenly realized that she was sitting on my lap. When had that happened? How had I not noticed her moving closer?

"A little something special," she’d said, her face coming so close to mine that I could feel her breath against my skin. It had smelled sweet, like vanilla and something else I couldn’t identify.

The heat in my body had intensified, spreading outward from my core like wildfire. Then she’d kissed me.

It had been brief at first, almost innocent, but then her tongue had slipped into my mouth and a completely alien sensation had overwhelmed me. The burning thirst had suddenly... shifted. Changed into something else entirely.

That was when I’d realized with dawning horror that water wasn’t what I needed to quench this thirst. It was her. The sensation, her touch, her taste - somehow, she was the key to making this torment stop.

I’d pulled her against me with desperate strength, kissing her back with a ferocity that scared me even now. It had been insane, animalistic, but I couldn’t stop myself. Some part of my mind had been convinced that the answer to ending this torture lay somewhere in her touch, in her kiss, and I’d been determined to find it.

I’d pulled her hair and she’d moaned, the sound sending vibrations through both our bodies. Her hands had gone wild across my skin, tearing at my shirt, my undershirt, anything that created distance between us. But I hadn’t cared - I’d been too far gone to notice or object.

The kissing had helped somewhat, had dulled the burning sensation, but it hadn’t solved the underlying problem. If anything, it had made me more desperate, more frantic. When she’d reached for my trousers, something in my mind had finally snapped back to awareness.

I’d grabbed her neck in a chokehold, slamming her back against the table with more force than I’d intended. Her face had started turning blue as I’d cut off her air supply, but instead of fear, I’d seen something else in her eyes - excitement.

"Tell me how to stop this! What the fuck did you do?!" I’d demanded, my voice rough with desperation and rage.

But all I’d gotten in response was a loud moan as her eyes rolled back in her head. Her body had started trembling violently, and that crazy grin had spread across her face as she’d clearly reached some kind of climax from the violence.

That’s when I’d known for certain that she was completely insane.

"Sigh," I exhaled heavily, lowering myself into the hot bath water. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

I had to stop thinking about it. Dwelling on what had happened wouldn’t change anything, and it certainly wouldn’t help me figure out how to deal with the aftermath.

That girl was a complete lunatic. A psychopath who’d drugged me with... something. Some kind of aphrodisiac or mind-altering substance that had nearly made me lose control completely.

I’d only managed to escape through sheer willpower, breaking free from whatever spell she’d cast over me long enough to get out of there. But the effects were still lingering in my system - I could feel them like a low-grade fever, making my skin hypersensitive and my thoughts occasionally foggy.

I thought it would fade before tomorrow, but until then, I needed to stay away from Jenny. With whatever that substance was still affecting me, being in close quarters with another person - especially an attractive female roommate - could lead to disaster.

"What the hell was that stuff?" I had to ask once more, sinking deeper into the hot water and hoping it would help flush whatever remained of Maria’s concoction from my system.