Episode 21
"...Then, I'll see you at the next meeting."
"...Yes!"
After petting the Saintess for a while, I confirmed that the black energy gathered in my hand had completely vanished without a trace, then bid her farewell.
At that, the Saintess beamed a bright smile, bowed politely to me, and began heading toward the classroom.
'...As expected, Perloche has a low danger level. Except for the fact that I never know where she'll bounce off to, I can rest easy.'
Perloche, so pure that even her head is pure, will probably jump to those kinds of wrong conclusions on her own even without me playing any tricks.
Considering that the Sun God Sect surely educated her about the dangers of black mages to the point of brainwashing, yet she still acts so friendly toward me... rather, it seems I need to help ensure she doesn't suffer any harm.
'...And I definitely need to be careful with the other women.'
First, regarding the Imperial Princess, her destructive solar mana is a problem, but... the power she holds is too overwhelming.
She has already begun secretly gathering her close associates, and she's expanding her influence more boldly and through more diverse methods than in the previous iteration... before long, the power structure of the Imperial Palace will undergo a major change.
Once the Imperial Princess seizes power like that, she will soon launch an all-out attack on the Young Master.
If that happens, not only the Sun God Sect and the Moonlight Duchy, but even the Starlight family, which had managed to withstand the Imperial family's influence to some degree, will soon reach its limit.
'Irina is currently in mana depletion, so she's not an immediate danger, but... the future is the problem.'
The future archmage Irina Piliad is somehow currently in a state of mana depletion. She probably tried to cast a complex curse on the Young Master and failed, causing side effects... Thanks to that, she's not dangerous right now, but in the future, she will become a serious threat.
'And finally, Lady Serena. I'm not sure how to deal with her.'
According to what I learned in the unconscious space, the person the Young Master had the most trouble deceiving in the previous iteration was Lady Serena.
Of course, she was the continent's greatest genius who managed to sustain the crumbling Empire for several years in the "previous iteration," and personally led sick and exhausted soldiers to fight a bloody battle against the Demon King's army until the end.
So, if she returns from her journey, I'll have to consider using black magic to manipulate her mind.
If I don't do at least that, the Young Master will be in danger.
"...Hah."
After finishing my thoughts, I approached the corridor window and looked down to see the Young Master coming out of the backyard, leading his followers.
I quietly watched the Young Master, who looked slightly pale as he dealt with his followers who kept talking to him nonstop, and soon fell into quiet thought.
'As expected, there are... too many unpleasant people around the Young Master.'
Based on the experience from the previous iteration, everyone around the Young Master harbors ulterior motives.
Half of the people clinging to the Young Master's side are opportunists who only think about making some connection with the Starlight family, which wields absolute power in the Empire.
And the other half are young ladies who became infatuated with the Young Master's handsome appearance or attached themselves out of greed.
The Young Master himself seems unaware of this due to his severe self-loathing, but the Young Master's status among the academy's young ladies is actually quite remarkable.
Even though the Young Master is called the Empire's greatest scoundrel and trash by people, there's a reason women keep clinging to him.
But the Young Master misunderstands that women approaching him are doing so to covet his power. That's why he reacted that way in the earlier incident.
Given that he's someone who compulsively commits evil deeds to be hated by everyone in order to save everyone, it must be hard for him to even conceive that others could approach him with genuine affection.
Still, human affairs are unpredictable.
So, as the Young Master's butler and servant, I'll need to keep my wits sharp going forward.
"...?"
As I was thinking this and about to step away from the window, familiar faces began to appear at the far entrance of the backyard.
"...Irina?"
Irina was glaring at the Young Master as if she wanted to kill him while supporting her crying friend. It seems the Young Master has committed some evil deed again.
'...Young Master, you've always lived being hated like that.'
This morning, when I supported his weakened body to the classroom, I couldn't manage my expression well.
Whenever the Young Master coughed or stumbled, whenever he complained of pain in his heart or back... it was so hard to bear that guilt.
'...The one who should be hated is me.'
The Young Master forgave me once for having cursed mana created by sacrificing his mother, and he forgave me again for now eating away at his life force and life itself.
Moreover, he told lies to make himself the bad person so I wouldn't feel guilt, showing such consideration... Every time he looks at me, his eyes are always filled with guilt and regret.
At such times, it becomes really hard to manage my expression. I tried to follow the path the Young Master chose as his confidant, but... sometimes I feel the impulse to tell the truth right this moment.
That I already know everything about you.
That the one who should be hated is rather me.
But, if I say that, I feel like I won't be able to stand side by side with the Young Master anymore.
That's why, even if it's cowardly, I will continue as the Young Master's confidant supporting him from behind.
'...But at the final moment, I will stand side by side with the Young Master.'
With that resolve, pushing aside the guilt toward the Young Master for now, I began thinking about a new concern that had come to mind.
Last night, after receiving life force from the Young Master and going to sleep, I possessed the cat doll once again.
Actually, it wasn't intentional... I just forgot to erase the medium I had set up.
Anyway, since I was already in the doll, I quietly watched the Young Master for a while... but in the middle of the night, he suddenly woke up in pain.
The Young Master checked the alarm clock with bleary eyes, then sighed and picked up me who was possessing the doll.
At first, I thought about moving to avoid his hand... but his expression was so desperate that I couldn't bring myself to do it.
For a while, the Young Master held me and complained, then started pressing my belly firmly, and I, who had vowed not to make cat sounds today, had no choice but to make cat sounds when he started talking about me and pressing my belly harder.
The Young Master was almost crying when he did that.
But then, the next moment, the Young Master started pressing my belly continuously... and that caused a big problem.
"...Hah."
Just like now, my stomach had become so sensitive that it would react even to the slightest breeze or contact.
Probably, the stellar mana that mixed in when the Young Master directly touched my belly and infused life force at night, combined with him pressing my belly again while I was in doll form... it seems that's what caused this, but no matter what I do, this condition doesn't improve.
Thanks to that, all through the early morning when the Young Master gently stroked my belly or I supported him, whenever clothes touched me, it felt quite... a certain way.
'If I don't possess the cat, the Young Master will be disappointed...'
As a butler and confidant, relieving the Young Master's stress is one of the important virtues.
If making cat impersonations improves the Young Master's mood... I can do it a hundred times, a thousand times.
But if this situation continues with my stomach in this state, that's a big problem.
Moreover, the sensitivity is getting worse. Until just a while ago, I could grit my teeth and endure some brushing contact, but... now even the wind brushing against me is enough to make my legs go weak.
'...I guess I'll have to consult the Young Master tonight.'
With those thoughts sorted out, I moved my heavy steps toward the training ground.
It's time to train my strength again in preparation for the incident that will occur soon.
.
"...Frey Raon Starlight, and Irina Piliad. Are you two certain that you mutually agreed to become sparring partners?"
"Yeah."
"...Yes."
I'm now being held by Isollet again and called to the faculty office.
The reason is that I just informed her that Irina and I had become sparring partners.
"Are you really certain there was no threat or trickery involved?"
Ah, I said there wasn't? What does she take me for?
"...Yes, that's correct."
At her questioning, I answered calmly, and Irina answered quietly while clenching her fist under the desk.
Glancing at her, I thought to myself.
'...Good thing I made the Oath of Death.'
Of course, given Irina's proud personality, the likelihood of her voluntarily reporting this matter is low, but... there's always the possibility of unexpected events.
That's why I used the "Oath of Death."
The parties to the Oath of Death cannot reveal the truth to anyone other than those who witnessed the oath.
In other words, Irina sitting next to me wouldn't be able to tell the truth even if she wanted to tell Isollet.
"Hmm..."
Isollet, who had been looking at us suspiciously for a while, finally sighed and spoke.
"...If even the slightest abnormality is discovered, the sparring will be stopped. Know that."
"You worry too much. Can I go now?"
"...No, you stay. Frey."
"...What?"
I was confused when Isollet suddenly asked to speak privately, and then Irina suddenly stood up and said to me in a cold voice.
"Then... see you at the sparring, Lord Frey."
"...Sure."
Leaving those words behind, she quickly left the faculty office. If she were in her prime condition, everything within a 50m radius would be melting right now.
[Villain Points 500pt acquired! (Irresistible Proposal)]
I was having such frivolous thoughts when suddenly a villain point acquisition window appeared before my eyes.
I was momentarily stunned by the larger-than-expected point gain, and then another system window appeared.
[Shop Notice: Beginner Skill Tier 2 Unlocked!]
[Accumulated pt: 1200pt]
'...Oh.'
It seems that with the acquisition of many villain points, a new skill shop has opened.
I was about to open the shop out of curiosity, but then I noticed Isollet still glaring at me and slowly opening her mouth, so I decided to check the shop later and started listening to Isollet's words.
"...Frey, are you okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"Last time... at the auction house... that incident..."
As expected, as soon as Irina left the faculty office, Isollet started asking me questions with a worried expression.
I looked quietly at Isollet, who despite definitely promising not to treat me casually last time, was now speaking comfortably to me without realizing it, and then I opened my mouth.
"Ah, the back alley?"
"...Frey!"
When I calmly mentioned the back alley, Isollet flinched and shouted at me, causing some nearby teachers to flinch and start glancing at us.
"It's fine, the date we had that day is a secret to every..."
"...Don't make me draw my sword in the faculty office. Frey."
"...Sorry."
After triggering her chronic condition to return Isollet to her stiff state, I began speaking calmly.
"At that time, some strange energy spread through the auction house, so I emitted stellar mana and escaped the auction house."
"Really?"
"Yeah, or are you mad that I didn't escape with you? You know I'm a good-for-nothing, right? The stellar mana I have is only ant-sized... I didn't have the capacity to protect the professor."
"...I see."
"And originally, Professor, you've surpassed a certain level as a swordsman... you were able to withstand that energy on your own to some degree, right? So please don't be too hard on me?"
I spoke to Isollet in the most obnoxious and unlikable voice possible to make her dislike me, and I used the mind-reading skill hoping her emotional state might change, but... I soon had to sigh inwardly.
[Isollet Arham Biwork's current emotions: Disappointment/Worry/Doubt/Pity/Compassion]
'Angry emotions have completely disappeared... and worry remains. This is troublesome.'
If this continues, Isollet will fall into danger, so I was repeatedly thinking about what words could make her distance herself from me, and then I spotted a word right among the emotions and opened my eyes wide.
'...Doubt?'
According to the mind-reading skill, Isollet is currently "doubting" me. I'm not sure what exactly, though.
"...Professor."
"What is it?"
"Well, is there something you want to ask me?"
Eventually, after thinking for a moment, I decided to probe her.
"...There is one thing I want to ask."
Then, Isollet hesitated before glaring at me and starting her question.
"What is your relationship with Kania?"
"...Huh?"
And I, who was slightly tense, made a deflated expression at her absurd question and asked back.
"...What relationship? What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. Improper relationships are prohibited at the academy."
"...That's the first I've heard of that. If you knew what's been happening in the academy's shadows lately, you'd be quite shocked."
When I spoke with a shameless expression, Isollet looked at me with a cold expression and said.
"I'm not joking, Frey. This morning, I happened to visit the dormitory and was passing through the corridor... and I saw Kania coming out of the dormitory with you, holding her stomach."
"...Did you?"
"Of course, it was when you were briefly looking elsewhere."
Isollet stopped speaking for a moment, then continued with a reddened face.
"When a man and woman come out of the same room... and the woman is holding her lower abdomen... the possibility one can think of... is only that one, isn't it..."
"............"
"...Am I wrong?"
When I looked at Isollet with disbelief, she averted her gaze slightly and asked timidly.
"...You didn't consider the possibility that Kania had an upset stomach?"
"That's... true, but considering the reaction at the cafe too... surely..."
"...Are you sexually frustrated? Professor?"
Unable to listen to her ignorant fantasies any longer, I raised my voice slightly and asked irritably, and Isollet fell silent for a moment before muttering timidly.
"Anyway, improper relationships are prohibited. If such a thing happens again before my eyes..."
"...I'm leaving."
"...Fine, go ahead."
No longer feeling the conversation was worth having, I stood up feeling a slight headache.
"...Frey."
"What now?"
But just as I was about to head for the exit, Isollet suddenly called me in a low voice. Wondering what nonsense she'd spout this time, I slightly turned my head to look at her, and she was looking at me with a serious expression.
"...The sword is not for cutting people, but for protecting them."
She then gently stroked the sword at her side and uttered words that were quite familiar to me.
Since those words were the motto of my current swordsmanship, I stopped and savored them for a moment, then briefly asked:
"So what?"
"...In the upcoming sparring, don't treat her too harshly."
"Good grief, I thought it was something else. It's just a battle between two good-for-nothings anyway."
I answered with a chuckle and walked out of the faculty office, muttering inwardly.
'...So you still remember those words, Nuna.'
Feeling inexplicably better, I hummed as I walked down the corridor, but then thinking of Irina, I became dejected again and trudged toward the classroom.
It seems I'll need to drink some alcohol today.
.
"Hmm..."
Meanwhile, Isollet, who had been sitting in the faculty office closely observing Frey's expression, quietly propped her chin on her hand and muttered.
"...So that was an illusion after all?"
Frey's life was being threatened in more places than she had thought.
.
"Ugh, my head..."
Having drunk with some noble students after class because I felt oddly out of sorts, I came back to the empty dormitory and threw myself onto the bed.
"...Did I overdrink?"
Since I used to drink frequently in the previous iteration to relieve stress while playing the scoundrel, I ended up pouring alcohol into my body like in the old days just because I felt a bit down.
Thanks to that, my already weakened body, having lost considerable life force and lifespan, couldn't handle it and seems to have gone on strike.
However, due to my high mental strength stat, I have to drink this much alcohol just to feel slightly better. There's nothing I can do about it.
Of course, to the public, I'm known as a lightweight who gets drunk after just half a bottle.
"...Let's check the new skills."
Grabbing my throbbing head, I opened the newly unlocked skill window, and a large window appeared before my eyes.
[Shop / Beginner Skill Tier 2]
- Life Force Recovery Speed Increase 1000pt
Description) Permanently increases life force recovery speed by a small amount. (Total amount does not increase)
- Deceiver's Guile Lv2 700pt
Description) Permanently slightly increases the persuasiveness of lies.
- Information Scan Lv3 1000pt
Description) The degree of a person's good and evil is displayed numerically in the information scan skill. (-100~100)
"...I definitely need to buy the first skill."
Since I'm already this weak despite having received the penalty only once, it seems I'll need to buy the first skill as quickly as possible.
Of course, it won't restore the life force that's already been lost... but given that my body condition is completely ruined after giving Kania life force at night, having the life force recovery speed increase will be a significant help.
'...The other skills would be nice to have, I suppose.'
After briefly reviewing the second and third skills and judging them useful, I was about to close my eyes to rest even for a moment before Kania arrived, but...
[Notice! There is an important change!]
"...Huh?"
I reached my hand forward with a startled expression as a notification window appeared before my eyes.
[Main Quest: Hidden Route Triggered!]
[Achievement Method: In the
[Content: Win the duel against Irina!]
"...Ah, this."
And reading the content of the window before me, I soon lost interest and dismissed the system window without even looking at the reward.
The Ancestor, who was a veteran of this game, left information about this hidden quest in the prophecy book.
And according to that prophecy book, this hidden quest must not be accepted. The reward is good, but if I accept this quest, the probability of Irina discovering that I'm a villain skyrockets.
I'd rather become a mana vessel a hundred times over. If I receive the penalty one more time, I really don't know what will happen.
- Creak...
I was thinking such thoughts and about to close my eyes again, but frustratingly, the dormitory door opened. It seems Kania has entered.
'...Sigh, can't be helped.'
Thinking that with the life force recovery speed increase skill, I'll just have to push through with my body for now, I got up from the bed to share life force with Kania, but...
"Y-Young Master..."
"...Kania?"
I discovered Kania holding her stomach and breathing heavily, so I urgently ran to her.
"...What's wrong suddenly? Kania?"
"M-My stomach... the stellar mana... side effects..."
"...What?"
"Hah...! D-Don't touch me...!"
She complained of severe abdominal pain, so when I reached out to touch her stomach, Kania convulsed and pushed me away.
"I-I'm sorry... but... I can't endure it anymore... even just staying still... my stomach... sob...!"
"...Kania? Kania!!"
She continued speaking with a trembling voice, then grabbed me and started shaking violently.
"Any more... is impossible... I know it's a shameless request, but... please help... before it's too late..."
"...Hah."
I quietly looked at Kania as she began looking at me with teary eyes, then sighed quietly and began leading her toward the bed.
It seems tonight will be a long one.