Chapter 5

A technique to neatly extract only the cells for work…

‘Maybe in the modern world.’

But there was no such thing in this tragic “pregnancy escape” romance world.

If information about the test subjects leaked from the lab, or if, after posting a recruitment notice, Erin’s lab was watched all day by vulture-like journalists who then published an article?

‘Wow. Just imagining it is terrible.’

While worrying, Erin even tried recruiting people who were already couples.

But that didn’t go well either.

‘Couples who claimed to be using contraception but then showed up on the day to collect the medicine only to announce they were pregnant, people who took the medicine and the money and then disappeared…’

How could she have such bad luck with volunteers!

Standing one step away from success and then hitting a wall made Erin anxious and impatient. Ash, her assistant, remained indifferent as ever.

“Maybe you should just give up?”

“What? How can you say that! I’m almost there!”

Erin widened her eyes in protest, but Ash just gently brushed her hair and added,

“I know how hard you’ve worked. The Duke even promised to pay you well for all your effort…”

“…….”

“You never know. It’s not just anyone, but Duke Aston Clebania who’s paying you.”

Ash leaned in towards Erin, pressing his lips to her ear and whispered,

“He might give you enough to live a life of leisure forever.”

The breath tickled the rim of her ear a little. Erin shrugged her shoulders at the sensation but replied firmly,

“Hey, that’s not it. I’m just one of the sponsored researchers, like everyone else.”

“…….”

“What’s so special about me that he’d pay me that much?”

Of course, her compensation would be higher than what other labs gave.

But honestly, that was enough for her. All she needed was to commercialize the contraceptive.

‘Still, I do want to be acknowledged.’

She hadn’t come this far just to take a payout and quit the experiment.

But Ash was just as firm.

“Or maybe he’ll offer you a permanent research position at the Clebania Duchy’s lab, or even hire you personally.”

“Personally?”

“As Duke Clebania’s private alchemy tutor, for example.”

Ha ha. Erin burst out laughing.

“That’s a bit much. Why would the Duke want to learn alchemy?”

“He’s a reclusive, eccentric Duke. It wouldn’t be surprising if he did something like that.”

It sounded more and more far-fetched, but Erin just smiled instead of arguing.

“Still, thank you.”

“…….”

“Thanks to you, I feel a little less tense.”

Imagining the Duke, hooded and working on alchemy experiments in the shadows, made her smile.

‘A private alchemy tutor. What would the Duke need to learn alchemy for?’

If he really wanted to, maybe it was to make joint medicine for old age.

Or maybe, as the rumors said, he was hiding because he was bald, and he wanted to experiment with hair-loss remedies…

While Erin chuckled to herself, Ash leaned in even closer and whispered again. His breath was even nearer than before.

“You never know.”

“What?”

“If he’s not satisfied… maybe he’ll recognize your potential and set up an independent lab for you.”

At that, Erin couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She clapped her hands and laughed so hard she teared up. Wiping her eyes, she patted Ash’s shoulder.

“I may be talented, but an independent lab… Even if you’re my assistant, you’re overestimating me.”

“I really mean it.”

“Honestly, why would the Duke do that for a researcher who barely made the deadline?”

“I don’t know. Just…”

“Just?”

“…If it were me, I wouldn’t let you go.”

Erin’s heart skipped a beat at those words.

He probably meant not letting go of talented people, but it sounded a little different.

‘That’s cheating…’

Ash’s gentle hand tidied her hair as Erin was moved.

She smiled, feeling that whatever else happened, she’d been truly lucky with her assistant.

“To think you care that much. Ash, you’re really the best assistant.”

“…….”

“When this experiment ends and the Duke’s sponsorship is over… I probably won’t be able to keep you on.”

“Doctor.”

Ash’s expression subtly hardened at those words. Erin shook her head as if to say not to worry.

“But I’ll write you a recommendation letter that’s second to none. Any lab or research institute will have no choice but to hire you.”

She wouldn’t even have to make anything up. Ash really was a wonderful, meticulous, and outstanding assistant.

‘It’d be a shame to part ways just like this.’

He was almost too good to be working for such a meager wage. Erin smiled as she patted Ash’s shoulder.

“Now, back to the experiment.”

“Didn’t you say there were no volunteers?”

“There’s a way.”

“A way?”

“Yeah. It can’t be helped.”

“What will you do, Doctor?”

Ash looked at her with a hint of concern. Erin deliberately kept her mouth shut.

At least, she wanted to leave a good impression on Ash.

‘He’ll probably hate it if I bring up this idea.’

She’d been putting it off, but now it was time for her last resort.

【 Unintended 】

“Hm, so.”

“…….”

“You mean, from now on, I’ll be your partner, Doctor?”

In a cafe in broad daylight.

The man sitting across from Erin had been eyeing her up with a sleazy gaze since earlier.

Erin hid her discomfort and smiled softly.

“Yes. That’s how it’ll be.”

“That’s really unexpected.”

“Is it?”

“I thought you’d find another female volunteer.”

‘I thought so too, at first.’

So, this was Erin’s last card, her final resort.

It was…

“So, from now on, you and I will do ‘those things’ to test the effectiveness of the contraceptive?”

“Of course.”

Erin herself was volunteering as the test subject.

‘The only ones who know this for now are the male test partners I’ll be meeting soon…’

When Erin announced she’d be the female test subject, the man seemed quite surprised but pleased.

Erin glanced at the male volunteer she’d carefully chosen.

‘I won’t only be doing it with this guy, though.’

To properly analyze the effectiveness, she’d made up her mind to sleep with several men.

Still, among the many applications, she’d picked the most decent and reliable-looking man first.

“But if you do that, it’ll be hard for you to marry later.”

“…….”

“If you act carelessly with your body, it’ll be a big problem, Doctor.”

The man’s smug tone was irritating.

Actually, it wasn’t just a little, it was a lot.

“I’m also an academy graduate, so technically I’m your junior.”

“Yes, I saw in your paperwork.”

Were there only juniors?

Erin had even spotted a few names of her classmates among the applicants, before she’d volunteered herself.

But she didn’t have the courage to face them, nor could she guess their intentions, so she hadn’t called them. It felt unpleasant.

But the first applicant she’d chosen to avoid them…

“To think I’ll be with a senior like you, it’s exciting.”

“…….”

“Is this your first time? Thinking I’ll be your first makes me a little nervous. Not that I mind, of course.”

“Ah, yes.”

“How will the test go? Will there be f*replay…”

‘If I listen any longer, my ears will rot.’

It was ridiculous.

He went on listing his preferences, subtly evaluating Erin’s body with his eyes. Some of his comments sounded like s*xual harassment.

“…So when you meet me, wear this kind of underwear…”

Feeling more and more mortified, Erin stared off into space.

This was a disaster.

‘I thought I’d chosen carefully.’

She’d checked his health, his attached portrait, whether he was trustworthy…

‘So how did I end up with this?’

Even the portrait seemed fake. It was clearly ten times more flattering than reality. He’d even exaggerated his height.

‘And this was the best candidate.’

She didn’t even want to look at the next round of applicants.

Did she really have to sleep with someone like this to prove her drug?

If this experiment weren’t such an important project she’d spent years on, she’d never do it.

‘…For my first time, I wanted someone at least decent.’

Of course, Erin didn’t have any particular fantasy about s*x, nor was she obsessed with chastity or purity.

As someone with a modern mindset, she thought it was silly to restrict women’s clothes or behavior in the name of chastity.

She didn’t care about the ladylike behavior forced on noblewomen or the strict gender norms.

Besides, rather than asking another woman to be a test subject, it felt a bit more ethical for her, the lead researcher, to step forward herself—even if it was a little awkward.