The classroom air still felt warm after the sneeze incident. Some students were still staring at Issei's desk, scorched in the middle, remnants of the sudden burst of flame earlier. A faint burnt smell lingered. No one dared to speak loudly—only whispers filled the room.
Amid the silence, Ddraig's voice suddenly roared in Issei's mind.
{YOU IDIOT!!}
{You revealed your magic in a place full of Devils! They may not sense it immediately since dragon magic is Will-based, but still! That Nekomata has been watching you since the cafeteria, and now she's even entered the classroom, observing you!}
Issei lowered his head, face covered by his mask, but his heart was pounding fast.
'Ughh… I didn't know. I'm sorry, Ddraig.'
{I told you not to go to school today! But no, you're stubborn! Now look at what happened!}
Issei could only sigh softly. '...I know.'
He gently patted the desk where a few embers still glowed; the flames immediately vanished, as if absorbed into his skin. The students stared wide-eyed, but no one dared to ask.
Koneko, who had been observing all along, stood silently at the door, staring at Issei without expression—but her eyes narrowed sharply.
Sniff sniff.
She sniffed the air around Issei, then murmured softly.
"Not human… not a Devil. This scent... dragon."
After that, the small girl turned, walking out of the classroom silently. A faint spiritual tail behind her back swayed gently. She would report to Rias.
Meanwhile, Ddraig's voice returned, heavy in tone.
{Now that Nekomata is off to report. There's no time. Once you've recovered, I'll pull you into consciousness. Non-stop training, even without waking in the real world. I'll slow down time in your consciousness to one year, while only one day passes in the real world.}
'One year…?' Issei thought quietly.
'Alright. I'll request a break after this and start training once I'm better.'
{That's the right call!}
"Issei," called Motohama as he approached, followed by Matsuda and Aika.
The three of them looked at Issei's scorched desk, then at him.
"Just now… you… used magic?" asked Motohama with wide eyes.
"Seriously, I saw flames come out of your nose," added Matsuda.
Aika looked at him, holding back a small laugh. "You sneezed, and fire came out. Maybe you're descended from a fire dragon, Issei-kun?"
Issei only exhaled slowly. "I don't know… I have to go to the Nurse's Room and… kind of forgot where it is. Also, I want to request a day off tomorrow. My body still has a fever."
"Nurse's Room?" Motohama responded quickly. "Exit this class, turn left, go down one floor. Turn right, and you'll see a door with a red cross sign. That's the infirmary."
Issei stood up, grabbed his bag, and bowed slightly. "Thanks."
He walked slowly out of the classroom.
Other students remained silent, some staring at the scorched desk, while others whispered in disbelief.
The white sliding door opened softly. The scent of antiseptic mixed with the fragrance of lavender filled the room. Inside, soft neon lights glowed, and white curtains swayed gently from the air conditioning.
At the examination desk sat a young woman with short light brown hair, wearing a white coat that was slightly too open at the chest—giving off a professional yet… dangerous vibe.
"Oh my," she said sweetly.
"A patient this early? You look really pale."
Issei bowed politely. "Sensei, can you check my fever? I still feel a bit weak."
The woman smiled softly, her honey-brown eyes calm yet sharp.
"Ara~, of course. Sit there for a moment. I'll check you."
Issei sat on the examination chair. Meanwhile, Ddraig grumbled heavily in his mind.
{Why the infirmary? I told you—go home!}
'I just want to get checked first, Ddraig. Maybe I can get an official rest note from school.'
{Pointless. Your body isn't fully human anymore. This isn't a normal fever.}
Mikado Ryoko—the name on the nurse's desk plaque—put on her stethoscope and approached with a gentle smile.
She placed the instrument on Issei's chest. Her voice was gentle, but her words… made Issei's heart stop for a moment.
"Hm… your heartbeat is very strong. Higher than a normal human."
Her hand shifted, pressing his wrist to check his pulse. "And your internal heat pressure… abnormal. The magic ratio in your body is very high, even your muscle tissues show unusual magical resistance."
Issei immediately stiffened.
Ddraig fell silent for a few seconds.
{…Issei, she's not an ordinary human.}
'Don't tell me she knows about dragons?!'
Ryoko looked at him sharply, then spoke again in a flat but serious tone.
"Signs of secondary spinal growth. The latent energy pattern in your body… resembles a Class A or higher reptilian species."
She stared into Issei's eyes, then asked calmly.
"Do you have dragon blood?"
Issei nearly fell off his chair. Ddraig immediately growled in his mind, his voice deep and thunderous.
{Impossible… how does she know that just from examining your body? She's instinctively analyzing mana-energy tissues. Not a Devil, not an Angel, not a Youkai. But… there's something else about her. Something scientific.}
Issei swallowed. "I… I don't know. I just feel feverish and—"
The woman gave a faint smile. "Don't worry. My name is Mikado Ryoko. I'm the nurse here, but also a magical medical researcher. I won't spread a student's private matters."
"Ah… Hyoudou Issei. Class 3-B," Issei answered nervously.
Ryoko quickly wrote in a medical report, took some medicine from a drawer, and placed them on the table. "Here's your medicine. You're feverish, right? Take this three times a day. I also wrote a leave note—submit it to the Student Council for approval."
Issei nodded quickly. "Thank you, Mikado-sensei."
Ryoko smiled gently, but her gaze still pierced like a knife.
"Oh yes, Issei-kun… may I ask for a small blood sample for medical research purposes?"
Issei froze.
In his head, Ddraig immediately shouted.
{DO NOT GIVE HER YOUR BLOOD! This scientist is dangerous. I don't know what she'll do with a dragon sample. If she finds out you're not human, she could call an organization or… worse.}
Issei swallowed, then quickly replied, "U-umm… sorry, I'm a bit scared of needles."
Mikado gave a sly smile, her tone turning teasing.
"Ara~ a man scared of injections? How cute."
Issei only gave a stiff smile, while his thoughts echoed, 'I'm not afraid of the needle… I'm afraid of becoming a lab rat…'
Mikado finally chuckled and closed her notes.
"Alright then. The Student Council room is on the 5th floor. From here, exit, turn left, go up the stairs, turn right. The room's at the end of the corridor. You won't get lost."
Issei stood up, bowed politely. "Thank you, Mikado-sensei."
He took the leave note and medicine, placed them into his bag, and walked out. The infirmary door closed softly behind him.
Once Issei's footsteps disappeared down the hallway, Ryoko stared at the door for a while, then smiled slightly.
"Interesting…" she murmured softly.
"A human trying to become a dragon."