CHAPTER 77: RIN’S LECTURE!

The Dean leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, lips curling into the kind of smirk that made Rin want to shove the nearest paperweight down his throat. The Dean’s throat.

"You think you have a solution to a problem that’s been here since before you were even born?" the Dean asked, voice dripping with scepticism.

Rin’s jaw clenched, but his smile stayed plastered in place. "Last year alone, fifteen students dropped out because they got pregnant, right?"

The Dean narrowed his eyes.

"...Yes."

"Then listen." Rin took a breath. "I have a way to prevent that."

The Dean chuckled. Chuckled. Like Rin was telling a bedtime story.

"What could someone like you possibly do? Your solution is probably to whine about it until it disappears."

Rin’s fingers curled into a fist beneath the desk. Oh, how badly he wanted to knock the smugness off this man’s face. But instead, he dug his nails into his palm and smiled sweetly.

"I’d love to demonstrate it. Tomorrow. During the health education class."

The Dean tilted his head.

"And what exactly is this ’solution’?"

Rin hesitated. His eyes darted toward the condom in his inventory. Nope. There was no way he could pull it out right now and start explaining. What would he even say if the Dean asked where he got it?

’Oh, I ordered it from my magical shop in the void?’

So instead, Rin leaned back and said, "You’ll see tomorrow. Just... be there."

The Dean exhaled loudly through his nose.

"Fine. But if you waste my time, Rin, I’ll have you scrubbing the dorm floors for the next month."

Rin grinned.

"Deal."

He left before the Dean could change his mind.

.

.

Back in his room, Rin flopped onto his bed and called up the translucent system screen with a flick of his fingers.

[Inventory!]

[20x cup ramen, 1x Potion of Minor Healing, 1x Pack of Condoms (9 remaining), Miscellaneous Herbs for cooking, 1x gun, 1x bullet...]

[Points: 55 Kiss Points]

He stared at the pack.

"System," he said in a low voice, "if I wanted to recreate these here, would it be possible?"

DING!

[Negative. I’m a system, not a factory!]

"Ugh! Of course, you won’t be able to do it."

He pulled out a single condom from the pack and rolled it between his fingers.

"You, my friend, are going to make history in this world."

DING!

[THANK YOU!]

"I wasn’t talking to you I was... You know what? Forget it!" Rin slipped the condom into his coat so he won’t have to pull it out from nowhere tomorrow.

.

.

The next morning came far too quickly for Rin’s liking.

He followed Theron down the hallway, his face set in the kind of serious expression that made the Alpha glance at him more than once.

"You look like you’re about to be executed," Theron teased.

"You’re not helping." Rin’s voice was tight.

Theron replied with a laugh.

As they reached the massive lecture hall, Theron casually dropped a little bomb.

"By the way, the Dean wanted everyone there today. Whole student body, biggest hall in the academy."

Rin stopped dead.

"...What?"

Theron smiled in that way that said ’I absolutely did not tell you on purpose until now’.

"Good luck."

Rin felt his legs turn to jelly as he entered. Over two hundred students. The Dean. Four professors. And... oh, fantastic... Evan Vortellion, sitting there looking like sin in human form.

Rin hid behind Theron, trying to calm himself. His heart was thumping in his chest.

Theron took the podium first, speaking about some academy rules and student health, but Rin barely heard him. He was too busy mentally calculating how much trouble he’d be in if he just bolted right now.

Then Theron turned to him.

"Rin, you’re up."

"What? Now?"

"Yes... Now,"

Rin’s legs moved on autopilot. He stepped up to the podium, the crowd erupting into cheers and whistles.

"Woah! Rin!"

"Look here!"

"You’re so cute! Rin!"

The Dean actually raised his brows. He clearly hadn’t expected Rin to be popular. Of course he would be... After all, he’s cute.

Rin waved his hands, cheeks flushed.

"Thank you now. Please be quiet and let me talk!"

The hall quieted.

Rin cleared his throat.

"So. Pregnancies. They’re... common here. Especially among Omegas. And while some of you might think it’s no big deal..." his gaze flicked briefly toward Evan, who smirked "...it ruins lives. And education."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small foil sachet.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"What’s that?"

"It looks like silver,"

He ripped it open, took out the condom, and unrolled it over the waiting training model he’d smuggled in from the clinic.

Gasps. Stares.

"This," Rin began, holding it up for everyone to see, "is called a condom. It’s a barrier used during intercourse to prevent pregnancy and protect against... other problems."

He explained slowly, in simple words, letting them laugh at the shape at first before dropping the serious tone. He talked about how it worked, how it was worn, and why it mattered. He explained that it didn’t hurt, didn’t interfere, and could save someone from having their future ruined.

"It’s simple. It’s effective. And it’s something every Omega deserves to know about."

He placed the model on the table and sighed heavily.

"So, I hope that with these points and demonstrations, I hope I’ve been able to make you all understand the benefits of using these condoms,"

When he finished, silence blanketed the hall. For a second, Rin’s heart sank.

’Oh no. I blew it.’

Then...clap.

Evan’s hands came together first, the sound echoing through the hall. More claps followed, and soon the entire room was applauding.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Rin blinked, stunned, before smiling faintly.

Theron stepped forward, grinning, and hugged him from behind.

"You did amazing." He ruffled Rin’s hair, making him squawk in protest.

Evan saw the look on his face and the way Theron wrapped his hands around Rin. He stopped clapping as his gaze went cold.

’How dare that thing lay a hand on Rin?’

Students began asking questions, and Rin answered every one... how it worked, when to use it, whether it was reusable (no, for the love of everything holy, no).

Then the Dean spoke.

"And where can we get these... condoms?"

Rin froze.

"Uh... I... don’t remember. But we could talk about how to manufacture them,"

The Dean didn’t look convinced, but didn’t press.

"See me in my office tomorrow morning."

Evan’s deep voice cut in smoothly.

"I’ll be there as well."

Rin almost groaned out loud. He doesn’t want to be anywhere close to the Duke.

.

As students dispersed, Rin was talking to a small group when, behind him, Evan shook Theron’s hand.

"You have good hands for healing," Evan said with a polite smile.

"Thank you," Theron replied.

Evan’s grip tightened suddenly, his voice dropping.

"But if you want to keep those hands... keep them away from Rin."

Theron’s smile faded. He was about to answer when Rin returned.

"Everything okay?" Rin asked, looking between them.

Theron’s smile came back... fake, but convincing.

"Yeah."

Evan turned to Rin.

"When are you coming to collect your luggage?"

"Later today," Rin muttered.

"Great!" Evan’s smirk deepened as he walked away. "I’ll be waiting for you, Rin."

Rin groaned quietly.

"Great."

He turned back to Theron who was looking at his hand.

"Did that man do anything to you?"

"What?" Theron smirked. "No way! He did nothing,"

"Good," Rin smiled.