Episode 186
- Creak...
"...Hmm."
Seeing the carriage slow down, it seems we've arrived at our destination.
"You all, just stay here..."
So I tried to give orders to the animal creatures sitting by the window.
- Crash!!
They all rushed at me at once.
"...Sigh."
Thanks to that, I suddenly found myself with an owl on my right shoulder, a pigeon on my left shoulder, a canary in my arms, and a cat doll in my pocket.
"All of you, just..."
I was about to give them orders with a slight frown, but before I knew it, they had all disappeared.
"...What?"
Slightly puzzled, I gave the cat doll peeking out of my pocket a light bonk on the head, then got off the carriage that had come to a stop.
"...Lulu, will you be okay?"
"I-I'm okay. There's no problem at all."
When I quietly asked Lulu who was following me out, she answered with a bright smile.
That reaction, and the fact that she appeared physically fine... but she had definitely shown an intense reaction in the carriage earlier.
"Wait a moment."
Suspicious, I cautiously reached my hand toward her body.
- Swish...
I slipped my hand inside her clothes and checked Lulu's reaction.
".....?"
She should be uncomfortable with me suddenly putting my hand inside her clothes, but for some reason, she just tilted her head in confusion.
"Hmm."
Somewhat flustered since I had intended to some degree to make her see me as a villain, I withdrew the detection magic I had cast on her and quietly murmured.
"Except for a slight fever, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong... hmm?"
Just then, I felt a chilling sensation, so I looked around.
""...........""
All the passersby were looking at me with cold eyes.
"Sigh."
I knew my reputation had hit rock bottom, but experiencing it firsthand really drives it home.
Those people probably think Lulu is a sex slave who's become numb to light molestation because I torment her so much.
"Grr..."
Worried that Lulu would be vulnerable to such reactions, I glanced at her, only to find that far from being afraid, she was clinging tightly to my arm and glaring fiercely at those around us.
Her appearance reminded me of a fierce hunting dog, and I let out a small laugh before speaking in a low voice.
"...Why are you looking at them like that?"
"Ah, th-that's..."
She looked flustered for a moment.
"They were being threatening. All of them are Master's enemies..."
She said in a timid voice.
It seems the basis for her judgments has shifted from good and evil to me.
"...How dutiful."
I stared blankly at Lulu who was baring her teeth and growling, then turned to head inside the building, but she asked in a quiet voice.
"...So, where is this?"
Looking at her.
"A place I'll come when I need to do dirty work."
I answered in a lowered voice.
"I see."
Lulu nodded with a calm expression and followed behind me toward the building's entrance.
- Creak...
Entering the building with her, my sight was greeted by...
"Ah, h-hello. This is..."
Miho, the final boss of the 1st year scenario and mid-boss of the overall scenario, who was wearing an apron and standing at the counter, froze mid-greeting in awkward Imperial language upon seeing me.
"...U-uh."
"W-what? That damned noble? Why are you here!"
Miho, who had been staring blankly at me for a while, trembled and shouted.
"......."
I quietly looked at her.
"Frey!"
When a familiar voice called from behind her, I turned my head.
"Ah, hello..."
There stood Serena with makeup strikingly gaudy, looking at me with a shy expression.
"......Huh?"
But upon discovering Lulu next to me, Serena's jaw dropped.
"Ah..."
And she started making a crying face.
"...Hmm?"
I looked at her with slight pity.
"Haa, haaah..."
Noticing something ominous about Miho standing before me, I quietly reached for the Stone of Domination in my pocket.
"Grrrr!!"
And in that instant, Miho charged at me.
"M-Master!"
At the same time, several things happened.
"Eek...!"
Lulu squeezed her eyes shut and wrapped herself around me.
"".........""
The animals that had definitely disappeared earlier suddenly appeared on my shoulder and in my arms, quietly drawing up their magical power.
"Miho, stop!"
And Serena shot out like a bullet and wrapped herself around Miho.
All of this happened in less than a few seconds.
"...Move aside."
In that situation, I gave a command to everyone in a cold voice.
"Everyone move aside."
When I raised my voice even further, Serena who was holding Miho, Lulu who was holding me, and the animals clinging to me all quickly stepped aside.
"Hmm."
With my surroundings now clear, I approached Miho who had been frozen in place under the influence of the Stone of Domination.
"...Long time no see."
I said with a chilling smile.
"Hic, uhh."
She started making an expression of sheer terror.
It seems the incident at the slave market had come back to her.
"G-go away human. I told you not to come."
"But what were you trying to do just now?"
"Grr..."
I lightly grabbed her by the throat.
"...Did you think you could escape?"
"......!"
I began whispering in her ear.
"An arrest warrant for you has already been spread across the entire Empire. The moment you leave this place, you'll be arrested immediately."
"Uuh, uu..."
"So don't even think about escaping. Just stay quietly here and wait."
Grabbing her chin as she clenched her fists while sobbing.
"...When I'm interested, I'll come for you."
I finished speaking and pushed her forward.
"Ugh..."
Thanks to that, Miho fell on her bottom and started trembling.
"......."
Looking at her, I gazed into empty air and fell into thought.
[Affection Management System]
Miho [0 percent]
Details.....
'So why is she a sub-heroine?'
This one is just a 'mid-boss,' not a heroine at all.
If you succeed in saving her in the 'Slave Market' quest, she gets designated as an NPC for the newly created 'Information Guild,' increasing the guild's efficiency.
Of course, that's not all. Her ability is quite useful.
In Blacktail Fantasy, aside from the 'Hero's Power,' she's the only one who can manipulate 'life force,' making her potentially the key to solving my life force deficiency.
In the 'game' there were various restrictions, but in this reality, I can experiment without constraints.
Actually, the life force support ability of the staff I currently have was developed through Serena and Irina's research into her abilities.
However.
A helpful NPC, and possibly a key to solve the life force deficiency.
Miho, who should only have this much significance, has become a 'sub-heroine' - how should I take this?
Of course, since this is under the Demon God's jurisdiction, I can't blindly trust the system window's reactions, but the system window seems unaware of the 'Affection System.'
If so, is there a separate entity managing the affection system?
"...Tsk."
Thinking and thinking, I felt a headache coming on and pushed aside the system window.
'...Well, I'll just treat her according to the original plan.'
Just because she became a sub-heroine doesn't mean I plan to conquer Miho. I'm trying to save the world, not play at debauched romance.
So, treating her as both a guild NPC and a key as originally planned seems right.
- Zap...
"...Hmm?"
Just as I was about to take a step with those thoughts, the system window started glitching.
".....!"
And the change that occurred.
Miho [Conquest Suspended]
Details.....
"...Ohh."
Seeing that, I somewhat understood how this system works.
'Depending on my judgment, the conquest route situation automatically changes?'
And the new questions that arose right after.
'If conquest is suspended or closed, does some penalty occur? Or are there benefits to conquering?'
Those questions rising fresh in my mind.
'Is my judgment the only factor that changes the conquest status? Can it change due to other factors?'
I mulled over them slowly.
'What's the difference between suspended and closed? And can it be opened again?'
I frowned and murmured to myself.
"Hmm..."
Quite interesting topics, but thinking about them now is a bit much. There are things I need to do right now.
"Hmm..."
For now, let's just remember that I'm the one who decides the conquest route's status.
"Serena."
"Y-yes."
Deciding to learn about the 'Affection System's' new features gradually, I spoke to Serena who had been standing stiff the whole time.
"Let's you and I talk for a moment."
"Ah, yes! I understand! Th-then..."
She started sweating visibly and began to fluster noticeably.
'...Cute.'
While night-time Serena gives off the feeling of a sage or mastermind who knows everything, day-time Serena is just too cute.
No matter how much of a genius she is, a girl of this age in love can't help it, can she?
"Ah, right. Yes. That's where it was."
"......."
"C-come with me."
While I was having such thoughts, the intimidated Serena started leading me underground.
"You all stay here. Don't fight and get along."
I said that to the animals left behind.
.
"What is this? This place..."
"W-well, th-this is..."
I asked while looking around the space Serena had created in the basement of the building that would become the new information guild, and she started stammering.
"Ah, um... it's a meeting room."
"Tsk."
When I looked at her with a dubious expression after she finally answered, Serena who was watching my reaction flinched.
"F-Frey..."
After quite some time passed, she cautiously approached me.
- Swish, rub...
"H-hey. Let's talk, okay?"
Saying that, she squeezed into the seat where I was sitting, cautiously rubbing her body against my outer garment.
As if trying to erase Lulu's scent that had been clinging right next to me.
"...Move aside."
Thanks to that, I almost lost my reason for a moment, but exercising transcendent patience...
- Lick
Serena licked me.
"Y-you don't have to treat me as your fiancée."
Stunned by that sudden action, Serena burrowed into my arms and spoke desperately.
"I'm fine being a pet. A maid or slave is fine too. You can treat me however you want, just please let me stay by your side, okay?"
"Serena."
"Do you know how long it's been since I've seen you like this? Please, please... I feel like I'll go crazy wanting to see you..."
Trembling as she spoke.
"...I, I'll love you forever, Frey."
She murmured with her face buried, flushed red.
""........""
And silence flowed for a while.
"...Can't hold back anymore."
I had already gauged Serena's intentions since entering this room but had been holding back. Now I rose abruptly and began taking large strides.
"F-Frey?"
- Click!
Arriving at the room's switches, I flipped all of them down.
- Beep, beep, beep!
And the keypad below, I pressed without hesitation.
- Whoom...
Then, complex hieroglyphic characters rose in the room.
"....."
And shortly after, complete darkness descended upon the room.
"Serena."
In that situation, I quietly called Serena's name.
"...Frey."
As expected, Serena, who had regained her memories and was sitting demurely looking at me, answered shyly.
"You figured it out impressively. This is a perfect darkness-generation space I designed to avoid the Demon God's eyes. But by the way, how did you know the password..."
"You always set your password as my birthday."
I interrupted her rapid-fire explanation and whispered in a low voice.
"...You fool."
Smiling gently, I moved into her.
- Kiss...!
And from that moment, a kiss began with no need to ask who started first.
"Mmm..."
"......"
Serena, who had been devotedly exploring my tongue, cautiously slipped her hand inside my clothes.
- Whisper...
And shortly after.
"Ah..."
Her chest touched mine.
- Thump, thump...
Our bare skin touching each other, sharing even our heartbeat sounds.
"...Gulp."
In that situation, as Serena slowly reached her hand downward, I swallowed dry saliva with a slightly tense expression.
""........""
And a long silence began.
- Rustle, rustle.
Relying solely on the faint rustling sounds in complete darkness where I couldn't see an inch ahead, feeling her weight on top of me, I quietly closed my eyes.
"...Ah!!"
"Serena?"
Suddenly Serena started screaming in pain, so I rose from my position with a flustered expression.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah... ahhh...!"
"...I see."
I felt her bare skin and figured out what the problem was.
"Is it... because of the curse?"
"I'm... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
When I cautiously asked, she answered in a gloomy voice.
"I applied pain-relief potion and even cast pain-relief magic to endure it... but I couldn't overcome... uhh...!"
When she complained of pain again, I hurriedly separated from her and put my clothes back on.
"Isn't the Secret Bureau Chief captured?"
"She is... but when I researched the Curse of Subordination, some problems emerged..."
"Problems?"
"After searching through old records... if you kill the person who cast the curse, you can refuse commands, but the curse remains..."
"...I see."
Hearing that, I let out a short sigh.
"S-so... I tried to somehow endure the pain, but I'm... I'm sorry..."
"...Serena."
I gently grasped the shoulder of Serena who was trembling as she spoke.
"Let's find a way together. There's definitely a way to lift it."
"Uhh..."
"I said we'd find that one coincidence? It's not impossible, so just a little more..."
I started comforting her in a gentle voice.
"B-before vacation ends, we have to find it."
"Hmm?"
I tilted my head at the quiet sobbing Serena's statement.
"Before vacation ends... I have to find a solution..."
"Hmm."
Listening to Serena speaking in a trembling voice.
"So I can... make love with you..."
Hearing her sorrowful words.
"I see. Then let's do our best."
"Huh?"
I answered with a smile.
"...I want to do it with you soon too, Serena."
""..........""
And a long silence flowed.
Though it was complete darkness so I could only see vaguely, Serena who had frozen stiff at my words.
"...♡"
Looked at me with trembling eyes, then her whole body shuddered as she clasped my hand and began whispering in a low voice.
"Love... I love you... I love you Frey..."
"...Y-yeah."
Serena's switch had completely flipped.
Thanks to that, I was somehow reminded of that Serena from the third trial.
"By any means necessary... definitely... hehe..."
"S-should we go out for now?"
"...Yes."
Feeling that staying here any longer would mean getting devoured in a different sense, I hurried to the switches with her.
"During the day, I have no choice but to treat you harshly. I'm really sorry..."
"...♡"
"Never mind."
I stroked the hair of Serena who was burying her face in my clothes with ragged breaths.
- Click!
Then I flipped all the switches up at once.
- Whoom...
Light returned to the room at the same time.
"...Huh?"
In that fleeting moment, her memories were readjusted to the present moment.
"I have no more business with you."
"Uhh..."
Hearing my cold words, she made a crying face and hung her head.
- Thud, thud...
Leaving her behind, I climbed the stairs while rubbing my reddened face.
".....Huh?"
I sensed something strange in the atmosphere and tilted my head slightly.
"What is it?"
But deeming it insignificant, I turned the doorknob to head to the first floor.
"Noooooo!!!"
".....!?"
I froze for a moment seeing Serena rushing toward me with pale face, having noticed something, adjusting her disheveled clothes.
"Graaaaaah!!!"
- Crash!!
In that instant, something happened.
"Ahhh!!"
Thanks to Serena throwing herself at me after running at full speed from behind, I fell to the floor with her.
"Grrr..."
".....!?"
I was horrified to see Miho who had smashed the steel door to pieces in one blow.
"W-what? What's going on?"
"B-berzerk mode...?"
For some reason, she had taken the form of a 'Demonic Beast' - the final boss of the 1st year scenario.
"Hate... humans... hate nobles..."
"Tch."
In this incomprehensible emergency, I frantically searched for the Stone of Domination in my pocket.
"...Damn."
But I soon realized my pants were torn and grit my teeth.
"This is crazy."
The Stone of Domination, torn off along with the side of my pants, was lying far away, shattered to pieces.
"Grrr..."
"I-I'll handle this. You go down to the basement..."
"Huu..."
In this desperate crisis, I closed my eyes firmly and began infusing mana into my staff and sword at my waist.
- Zap... zap zzzzt...
The animals, who had been holding Miho back by expending even the magical power that constituted their bodies, began forming self-destruct magic circles in the air.
"Stop."
But the situation ended all too simply and cleanly.
"Kgh...!"
Miho, who had been struggling to break free from the spirits' restraints, suddenly stopped moving.
"Sit."
When a tremendous voice echoed through the guild once more.
"Whimper..."
Miho, whose legs had been trembling, dropped her tail and sat on the ground.
""..........""
Then silence flowed.
"........"
Meanwhile, Lulu, the protagonist who created this situation.
".....Huh?"
Had been looking down at Miho with a cold expression, then suddenly came to her senses and tilted her head with a blank look.
- Zap...
Her magic eye.
"M-Master? What is this situation...?"
Was burning with the deepest ruby color of anyone.