Harem System In A fantasy World - Chapter 144: Boiling

Chapter 144: Boiling

People noticed him, too, of course. His uniform clearly marked him as a first-year, and that alone drew curious glances. A few second years slowed down to look at him more carefully.

One boy finally asked, “Liora, who’s this?”

She didn’t break stride.

“Oh, this is my partner,” she replied simply.

The boy blinked but didn’t press further.

Elion raised a brow at that.

“You know, people might take that the wrong way if you leave without explaining fully?” he muttered.

“Oh, are you not satisfied to be my romantic partner? I’m sorry, your highness, what lofty standards you have?” she laughed lightly.

Elion shook his head in defeat.

And then something suddenly crossed his mind.

He had forgotten to check something last time. The Love Meter! He usually forgot to use this handy skill.

He had been so focused on accumulating points that he almost never used it. As they walked side by side through the corridor, with her greeting everyone so naturally, he casually activated it this time.

A small blue panel appeared in his vision.

[Liora Blossom]

[Love Meter Reading: 3% – Barely interested in you.]

Elion blinked.

What?

Three percent?

He looked at her again as she smiled brightly at another passing student. Her expression was warm, friendly, the same as always.

All this time, they had been talking, joking, and spending time together during patrols, and all she felt was basic interest?

He had honestly expected at least thirty percent. Maybe a small crush. Something!

Three percent was barely anything.

For some reason, that number hit harder than it should have.

Am I getting too used to women gushing over me?

He kept walking beside her, but inside, his ego had taken a small blow. It was even worse because Liora continued smiling at him the same way she smiled at everyone else.

There was no special treatment and no hidden affection. Just friendly, just like with everyone else.

He sighed quietly to himself.

So she only sees me like another guy after all.

For a brief moment, that thought annoyed him more than he had thought it would. To his credit, though, he had not really put in any effort in trying to win her over.

Then a faint smirk touched his lips.

How about I work on that?

The idea alone lifted his mood slightly.

Three percent was not zero.

And he had never been the type to back down from a challenge.

After walking for a while, the atmosphere gradually shifted. The classroom doors disappeared, replaced by rows of dormitory doors lining both sides of the corridor.

This was clearly the dorm area.

But as they continued walking deeper, something became clear.

The doors began to space farther apart.

The hallway widened slightly. And the architecture grew more refined.

These were not standard dorms.

The first-year dormitories were all identical—uniform in size, design, and structure. There was no favoritism and no special privileges among the students, no matter what status you held.

Here, however, the rooms were clearly larger. The spacing alone suggested that.

Elion glanced around.

“So second years get better treatment,” he murmured.

Liora gave him a sideways look, understanding his meaning. “Only certain ones.”

They continued all the way to the very end of the corridor, where a single door stood isolated from the others.

Liora stopped in front of it.

She knocked.

Tok tok.

They waited.

Five seconds passed.

Then she pushed the door open.

Elion blinked.

What was the point of knocking if you were going to open it anyway?

He followed her inside—and stopped to look around.

They had walked into a spacious lounging area. The floor was polished dark wood, and the room was furnished with black couches lined with plush red cushions. A low glass table sat at the center, and elegant curtains framed tall windows on the far wall.

It was far too nice.

Elion’s brows drew together.

Is this a professor’s room?

The place was spotless, refined, and extravagant in a way that didn’t match a student’s dorm.

And yet—

He frowned.

It was hot.

The air felt unnaturally warm, almost heavy.

He glanced at Liora and noticed she wore the same expression.

“It’s hot in here,” she said, voicing his thoughts.

Her gaze shifted deeper into the room.

“Celeste!” she called out.

Elion’s confusion deepened.

Celeste?

Is this Celeste’s room?

Liora moved toward a door on the left side of the lounge. She pushed it open slightly and glanced inside.

Elion caught a brief glimpse of a large bedroom—neatly arranged, elegant, clearly belonging to someone who liked to keep their space immaculate.

“She’s not in here,” Liora muttered.

She then walked toward another door near what looked like a kitchen entrance.

Without hesitation, she opened it. A puff of steam burst outward immediately, rolling into the lounge like a wave.

Elion stepped closer as Liora waved her hand in front of her face, trying to clear the mist. The room beyond was spacious—but barely visible. It was heavily clouded, and the sound of something sizzling could be heard further in.

Thick steam filled the air, making it hard to see more than a few feet inside.

And the heat?

It was definitely coming from there.

They both walked in at the same time, trying to make out whatever they could. Elion could already feel a strong presence inside, thanks to his perception, boosted by the passive effects of the discerning eye.

As the steam slowly thinned, just enough for shapes to form, both Elion and Liora froze.

Their eyes widened at the same time.

For Elion, the shock came in layers.

First, the bath itself. It was enormous, built directly into the floor like a luxurious hot spring. Dark stone tiles surrounded it, and the pool was large enough to fit ten people comfortably.

The room was elegant, almost excessive, the kind of bath one would expect in a royal estate rather than a student’s dorm.

Second, there was only one person inside it.

And third—

That person was completely naked.

Her small frame was submerged beneath the water, which unfortunately covered everything below her shoulders. The thick steam clung to the surface, obscuring details, but there was no mistaking who it was.

Celeste?

She sat in the center of the bath, her pale skin flushed a deep red. Her usually ghostly white complexion had turned noticeably pink, spreading across her cheeks and down her neck.

Her eyes were fixed on them, and they were wide and intense, carrying a heated gaze that made the air feel even warmer.

But the most shocking detail wasn’t her nudity.

It was the water.

It was bubbling! Not gently steaming. Bubbling violently.

Elion narrowed his eyes slightly.

No.

It wasn’t just hot. It was boiling!

“Ahhh!! Close your eyes!” Liora suddenly shouted, snapping out of her shock as she threw her arms wide in an attempt to block Elion’s view of Celeste in the bath.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much she could do. The steam had already obscured most of Celeste’s body, and the water covered the rest. There was barely anything visible beyond her flushed face and shoulders.

Still, Liora stood firmly in front of him, flustered.

Elion blinked once, then calmly turned his head away.

“I can’t see much,” he muttered dryly.