Episode 201
- Rattle...!
I stepped out of the carriage, frowning at the coachman who was bowing and scraping before me.
"...Why was the carriage shaking so much?"
"I-I'm sorry... there were many hills nearby..."
"Didn't you cast any anti-shake magic?"
"I-I'm not well-off enough for that..."
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue as I watched the coachman speak in a trembling voice while eyeing me nervously.
"There's no need to give this much..."
"Wait here. I don't know when I'll leave."
"Y-Yes..."
I tossed him a few gold coins and took out my staff, muttering to myself inwardly.
'I need to hire a new coachman.'
Since almost all the servants at the mansion quit, there's no coachman to drive the mansion's carriage either.
So lately I've been catching passing carriages like this, but it's terribly inconvenient.
I have to always cast soundproofing and protection magic, and given my situation, the coachman could be in danger too.
"Master, why did you give him so much money?"
While I was thinking that, Lulu, who was pressing close to my side and rubbing her cheek against me, asked in a quiet voice.
"...Commoners get all happy over pocket change like that? I find it entertaining to watch that sight."
Of course, it was consideration so the poor coachman could have a nice meal with his family tonight, but I still need to make Lulu perceive me as a bad person.
"I see."
Lulu nodded quietly.
"From now on, please tell me stories about Master like that."
"Hm?"
I tilted my head at her sudden question, and Lulu looked at me steadily as she answered.
"I want to know more about Master."
"...Hmm."
I coughed unnecessarily at those words, and Irina, walking beside me, muttered in a voice that might or might not have been audible.
"Pets should just receive affection..."
"......"
At those words, the two's gazes began to cross coldly.
'Come to think of it, who's the strongest among the heroines?'
Looking at them, an interesting thought suddenly occurred to me. Who would be the strongest person among the main heroines and sub-heroines combined?
First, the ones that come to mind are 'Kania' who becomes the final boss if you take the wrong route, 'Irina' with the officially highest combat power in the game, and 'Serena' who crushes everything with her intellect.
Then there's Peruloche, the strongest in 1-on-1 combat, Isollet who becomes almost equal to me in swordsmanship when she awakens as the Sword Saint, and recently Lulu who has awakened a cheat ability.
"Hmm..."
I can't determine who's superior right now, but just the people in the top rankings that immediately come to mind are this many.
What would happen if they ended up fighting each other?
"......."
Suddenly, my spine tingled. Just imagining it makes my heart feel frozen.
I need to be very, very careful to prevent something like that from happening...
"Grr..."
"Do you think you can beat me with just one evil eye?"
...It's not already too late, is it?
- Knock knock knock
"...Come in."
I knocked on the entrance of the mansion where Isollet resided, breaking into a slight cold sweat, and a cold voice answered.
"......"
At the same time, I opened the door and stepped inside, only to feel my breath catch as I stopped in my tracks.
"You all..."
Some of the servants who left the Starlight mansion were standing in Isollet's mansion courtyard wearing maid uniforms.
Thanks to that, an extremely awkward atmosphere flowed between me and them for a while.
'Looks like they're doing well. That's good.'
I heard that half of the servants who left the mansion went to the Imperial Palace and half went to Isollet's mansion.
And they say they take turns every day going to the hospital where my father stays to nurse him.
I was sad because I couldn't visit my father due to public scrutiny and couldn't assign a good nurse either, but anyway, truly grateful people.
"Where's Isollet noona?"
"...She's over there."
When I asked about Isollet's whereabouts with those thoughts, one maid pointed to the training ground at the end of the courtyard and answered.
"I see."
When Kania wasn't on my side, that maid used to prepare breakfast or pour tea.
We talked somewhat, and if I remember correctly, we probably had some acquaintance... should I try talking to her?
"By the way, where's Aria? I'd like to see her face at least..."
"I don't know. Please ask Isollet directly."
When I asked about Aria's whereabouts since she was nowhere to be seen, a cold answer came back before I even finished speaking.
"Arrogant."
"I am now Isollet's property, not yours. If you wish to punish me, please go through Isollet..."
"Ha."
At that reaction, I sneered and glanced at her, then moved my steps toward the training ground.
'Good, reputation is dropping properly.'
Feeling a chilling sensation from behind, it seems my reputation has indeed been cut down completely.
Of course that itself is sad, but it doesn't matter much to me now. Originally, that's the treatment I always receive, and we're entering a section where 'points' are becoming tremendously necessary.
- Creak...
I organized my thoughts and opened the door leading to the training ground, and a familiar scene came into view.
An earth floor with dust flying about, giving off a rustic yet nostalgic feeling.
"S-Stop! Noona, please stop!!"
"I don't want to though?"
Over there, if I got pinned by Isollet, I used to get tickled for a long time.
Thanks to that, when I cried, noona bought me delicious ice cream and told me not to tell our parents... now it's just a memory.
"Oh ho."
Taking one more step inside, familiar things caught my eye.
Straw dolls that always had sword marks, now filled with deeper cut wounds.
Various types of knives, swords, and cold weapons equipped all around.
And wick of bandages with only basic healing magic applied, and low-grade potion bottles rolling around here and there.
Isollet's house, which I used to visit once a week, sometimes once every three days, was still exactly as I remembered.
"...What is it."
While I was lost in memories looking at Isollet's house, a familiar voice came from somewhere.
"What? Why did you come here, Frey."
"I heard noona was sick, so I came to visit..."
I turned my head at the voice and froze.
"No...noona?"
Isollet, drenched in sweat as if she had been training somewhere, was tying her flowing hair with a hair tie in her mouth.
"Uh, um..."
That would have been fine, but her attire was the problem.
She was wearing only a single sleeveless top and underwear.
And completely drenched in sweat at that.
"Don't call me noona."
"...Okay, but what are you doing there?"
"I was exercising."
"You said you were sick?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
I asked while looking at the empty air since I couldn't figure out where to put my eyes, and she answered.
"Hearing you were coming, I had just taken off my armor and was resting."
"......"
"Yet why do you look at me with those eyes?"
"...It's nothing."
If I told the truth, I didn't know how Isollet would react - whether she'd cut me in half or what reaction the two girls making blank expressions behind me would show - so I vaguely brushed it off.
"Hmm."
Isollet, who had finished tying her hair at some point, picked up her sword and began slowly approaching me.
"To cut to the chase, since you're here, I'll ask directly."
- Zzzing...!
"......!"
Soon, clear killing intent could be felt.
"It's dangerous."
"Master...!"
The girls behind me warned urgently, but I stopped them with a hand gesture while maintaining a calm expression, and simply stood in place.
- Fzzzzing...!
Soon Isollet drew her sword like lightning and swung it at my neck, and I quietly closed my eyes.
"......"
And a moment of silence passed.
- Tremble...
In that silence, I opened my eyes to see Isollet's hand trembling.
"Why."
I looked at her beloved sword that had stopped leaving only a very thin gap from my neck.
"Why can't you..."
When Isollet asked in a trembling voice, I began to frown slightly.
"Is it that you cannot bear to cut me..."
Isollet, still pointing her sword at me in the courtyard where the cold wind was blowing, left those words.
"......Ugh."
And slowly closing her eyes, she collapsed toward me.
"......"
And a long silence flowed.
.
"Hmm..."
I followed the startled servants into Isollet's room where they laid her down, and now I'm blankly staring at her.
"If this continues, it'll be a big problem..."
Originally, I planned to lower her affinity by treating Lulu and Irina as sex slaves in front of her.
Since Isollet is so strait-laced and absolutely loathes my sexual crimes, it would have been very effective.
"What should I do..."
But seeing Isollet before me now, breaking into cold sweats and groaning in pain, that doesn't seem like it would work.
Isollet Arham Baiwork [Affinity: 85%]
Details.....
Just from seeing me, the affinity rose by 4%. At this rate, even if I torment Lulu and Irina, there's a high probability it won't work.
Then what should I do? I need to address the fundamental problem, but the method is...
"Ugh..."
While thinking with my head in my hands, Isollet began making groaning sounds.
"Frey..."
Soon, my name mixed with groans.
"......"
Hearing that, I unconsciously reached out my hand to her face.
"Hoo."
I had no particular intention. I just wanted to wipe the cold sweat on her forehead.
"...Sigh."
Actually, I do have an intention. I hate seeing her show weakness before me to the point of detestation.
She's always imprinted in my heart as a master stronger than me, remains an upright knight, and is remembered as a righteous person.
Seeing someone like that suffering and just calling my name makes me feel like my foundation is collapsing.
"Sweating like this..."
But I can't reveal that to her.
Even though I know I shouldn't, even though I'm now stronger than her and know I should protect her.
I can't reveal that I unconsciously want to rely on her.
'Still, I can at least wipe her sweat.'
- Flutter...!
Thinking that, as I was reading the appointment letter I found on Isollet's desk, I fell into deep thought.
'The order's youngest paladin... she's also a problem...'
One of the sub-heroines entering the academy in 2nd year, the order's youngest paladin.
She definitely plays a major role in the story, but surprisingly, I don't know much about her.
The prophecy book also has missing explanations, and actually nothing is known.
I've tried tracking to discover her identity since long ago, but could find nothing.
At least I saw her silhouette in the third trial, but aside from knowing she uses a sword, shield, and holy power, I found nothing.
Because for some reason, from my perspective, her face couldn't be seen.
The only information I know is the brief description of her in the prophecy book.
- Update scheduled: The order's youngest paladin.
[The 'created saint' created by the order that stole the forbidden technique the Tower Master once was blind to and indulged in, the technique that caused the Tower Master and Irina to separate in the past.
Because there was someone he desperately wanted to save, the Tower Master's wish to develop a method to 'descend a soul' into an artificial body by breaking the world's rules was tragically used by the order who stole the magic to commit acts that destroy the world's rules and heavenly laws under the command of the Evil God.
That heinous act is...]
- That's about what I recalled of the update content, but unfortunately I was pulled here before the update. So I don't know much about her either.
"Hmm... she's the biggest variable, what should I do..."
I was pondering while recalling the familiar prophecy book content.
"...Frey?"
".....!"
I ended up meeting eyes with Isollet, who was having her sweat wiped by me.
".........."
Then an awkward silence began.
[Affinity: 86%]
[Affinity: 87%]
[Affinity: 88%]
"Ah... Ah."
At the merciless increase in affinity that followed, I fell into panic.
"Eek...!"
"Heup!"
Unconsciously, I straddled her and said.
"N-Noona... you really are very sick like I expected?"
"W-What are you doing!"
"I've been holding back for a really long time... such a good opportunity came. I can't just let it pass, right?"
"L-Let go!"
Then Isollet began struggling.
But perhaps because she was very sick, her struggling was tolerable enough.
"Your body is in that state, do you think you can resist me...?"
"Ugh..."
"I've always wanted to try this at least once, excuse me for a moment, noona."
I said that to her who was making a pained expression, and quietly muttered inwardly.
'I'll hold on until the affinity drops.'
To solve the 'fundamental problem' I was worried about earlier, this seems to be the only way.
If I do such things directly to Isollet, she'll hate me for the rest of her life.
It's truly sad, but to save her life... and to cut the resolve that weakens whenever I stand before her, there's no choice.
"......"
Thinking that, I pushed Isollet's arms to the bed, and she began glaring at me with hateful eyes.
[Affinity: 87%]
[Affinity: 86%]
[Affinity: 85%]
At the same time, the continuously dropping affinity.
Feeling both sadness and joy at that sight, I opened my mouth while reaching my hand toward her body.
"Just once, I'm asking just once? Don't act expensive, just once."
I began unbuttoning her top with a lecherous expression, but.
"...Very well."
"Good, just obediently... what?"
I froze at Isollet's words.
"Frey, I beg you."
She looked up at me steadily.
"From now on, ravish me, and please don't harm others."
"Uh, uh?"
"You may ravish me as many times as you like... do whatever you want, but limit these acts only to me from now on."
"...Noona?"
She looked at me with a stiffly frozen expression.
"Turning you into such trash and scoundrel is my responsibility as your master."
"Um..."
"I want to kill you somehow, but for some reason I can't kill you... and I've been subdued so humiliatingly, so I'm making a proposal."
She gradually averted her gaze to the side and said.
"I was subdued, so doesn't that mean I lost? It's a knight's duty to grant the victor's wish."
"......"
"...What are you doing, hurry up and ravish me."
At those words, I was left speechless.
"...But what do you do?"
Isollet asked with a complex expression mixing hatred, disgust, fear of unknown acts, and inexplicable subtle emotions, and I thought while breaking into cold sweat.
'...Right, Isollet has almost no sexual knowledge.'
She's only trained and trained, so she's never met a man even less than Irina or Ariane.
She even clashed with her family because she stubbornly refused social arts and refinement education as a woman, so she has no sexual knowledge either.
'No, surely she doesn't have absolutely none. She understands the act itself.'
Anyway, how should I deal with such a woman? Right now I honestly don't know.
[Affinity: 85%]
The affinity isn't even dropping. If I don't do something in this situation, she might notice something strange...
- Bang!!
At that moment of desperate crisis, suddenly the door opened with a roar.
"Get down immediately."
And a refreshing yet cold voice came.
".....!"
I couldn't help but widen my eyes at the person who suddenly appeared before me.
"As a trusted paladin of the order and Isollet's disciple, I warn you. If you don't get down immediately, I will attack."
Soon, somehow managing to hear the latter words in a bewildered situation, I reluctantly got off Isollet.
- Crash!!!
At that moment, she who had been glaring at me attacked me and I collapsed helplessly.
"Remember this."
She, having crushed me down, opened her mouth with terrible killing intent.
"Today I'll let it pass because there are many eyes watching... but I will somehow kill you. By any means necessary."
"Kuhek..."
"Before I become like that, if I see even a hint of it happening, immediately..."
I looked at her with difficulty as she rambled incomprehensible words.
"Goddess... nim?"
I eventually asked.
"What?"
She frowned and tilted her head, with a mysterious appearance.
"Why are you here...?"
When I asked her, she made a coldly frozen expression and said.
"Calling me goddess to someone I just met. Everything I heard must be true. Have you always approached people like that?"
"No, that's not it..."
"...Say that crap one more time and I'll kill you. You disgusting bastard."
"........"
Looking at her suddenly cursing and emitting killing intent again, I asked with a cold expression.
"Then, are you the Evil God?"
"...What?"
An awkward silence began.
"......"
"I am a paladin of the order. As of today, I came here to become Isollet's disciple."
After hearing her answer that followed, I cursed quietly.
"Damn it."
'Tower Master, what kind of experiment did this senile old man do?'
For some reason, the order's youngest paladin had the exact same face as the goddess I saw in the third trial.
.
Meanwhile at that time.
"...Is someone badmouthing me?"
In the Magic Tower standing tall on the outskirts of the Empire, the Tower Master muttered while scratching her tickling ear.
"No, someone definitely is? I put a spell that makes my ears itch when someone badmouthing me curses."
The Tower Master, who stopped making magic scrolls midway, got up from her seat and sighed.
"What could there be to badmouth an old person getting on in years... tsk, tsk..."
She flopped down on an armchair and muttered.
"Still, life is really comfortable these days... that brainy bitch is quiet... my crazy former disciple seems to have met a man... and my new disciple is at least normal."
The Tower Master, slowly closing her tired eyes.
"Well, that red-haired girl did have a reason for her crazy personality."
Soon smirked and began recalling the past.
"But originally that girl..."
"Master!!!"
"Oh my goodness!!"
When someone opened the door and burst in, she was so startled she kicked and flipped backward.
"Oh my... oh my..."
"Yap."
- Slide...
Glare, the Tower Master's disciple who had been blankly staring at that situation for a moment, used the magic she learned a few days ago to set the chair upright.
"Can I ask one favor?"
She quickly ran to the dazed Tower Master and asked while looking at her with bright, eager eyes.
"Sure, try asking. You're my only disciple, so I should listen to you."
The Tower Master, whose sulky feelings melted away at that sight, smiled and brought the warmed tea beside her to her lips.
"You know Sunrise Academy, right...?"
"Yes. It's the place I hate most in the world... the headmaster too, everything..."
"P-Please enroll me there!!"
"Pffft...!"
Hearing Glare's following words, she spectacularly sprayed the tea.
"E-Even if I don't meet the age requirement... with Master's authority..."
"Grr... Grrrr...!"
The Tower Master, who had been staring blankly at Glare while covered in tea as she destroyed her mental composure with her bright voice.
"Why are all my disciples like this!!!!"
Finally couldn't hold back her anger and screamed.
"...Hehe."
A soft light emanating from Glare's body was drying her clothes.