Episode 31
"...We should start preparing to leave, young master."
"...Yeah."
The weekend arrived, bringing with it the planned visit to the ducal residence.
In truth, even if it hadn't been planned, I would have had to go anyway since there was much to handle as the temporary head of the family.
"Then, before we head to the ducal residence, let me give you the overdue report."
"...Alright."
As I rose from my seat to dress, Kania took out a notebook and began reporting on recent events in a stiff tone.
"First, regarding the 'training ground kidnapping' incident... As per your instructions, young master, we successfully downscaled it."
The training ground kidnapping incident from several days ago was safely concluded under Kania's guidance, who had received full authority from me upon arriving in the capital as the temporary head of the Starlight family.
In truth, 'safely' isn't quite the right word—'fizzled out' would be more accurate.
"To cover up the incident, bribes were given to the investigation team leader and Headmaster Lionel, and since the Magic Tower wouldn't want word getting out that they were involved in something like this, I believe you can rest easy."
"...True, if it's those Magic Tower bastards, they'd be desperate to cover it up themselves. But the investigation team leader took a bribe?"
"Yes, I even provided guidelines on how much bribery to offer for how much to cover up."
"The Empire has truly gone mad."
Frowning, I added the investigation team leader to my future blacklist, then asked cautiously,
"And the rumors spread well?"
"Yes, currently at the Academy, the rumor that you were behind this incident is accepted as established fact. It's just that everyone keeps quiet about it in front of you."
"...Good, that's fortunate. And Arianne?"
"She was released yesterday and has returned to the Academy. Of course, I've subtly spread the word that it was actually you who controlled the guards with black magic to switch the scrolls."
"Well done, Kania."
Determined to avoid passing anywhere near Arianne in the future, I turned to Kania, who maintained her stiff tone, and asked my next question.
"Lastly... Irina?"
"Yes, Irina is currently waiting outside the room."
"...Hoo, I see. Then let her in now."
As I spoke with tension, Kania quietly nodded and left the room. A few seconds later, Irina quietly entered.
"So... why did you come here?"
As I looked at her and spoke in an arrogant voice, Irina trembled before prostrating herself flat on the floor.
"From now on... I will absolutely obey Lord Frey..."
"...Absolute obedience?"
As I surveyed her with what seemed like interest, Irina crawled right up to me and began speaking while banging her head hard against the floor.
"Please... I'll obey absolutely, so please just spare my life... Please..."
"And if I refuse?"
As I raised the corner of my mouth and asked, Irina, who had been continuously banging her head, looked up at me cautiously and said.
"...I will do anything you ask. So please, just my life..."
"You just said you'd do anything?"
I cut off her words, grabbed her arm, and pushed her onto the bed.
"Huh, heuk...!"
"...Then, before I go out, care to entertain me for a bit?"
Soon climbing on top of Irina, I whispered quietly in her ear. After biting her lip for a moment, she quietly nodded and said.
"P-please be gentle..."
".........."
Watching her reaction with cold eyes, I sighed and quietly rose from the bed.
"Ha, what is this... You should resist at a time like this... Totally ruins the mood."
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Fine. Clean the room thoroughly and wash my clothes before I return."
"........"
And ignoring her as she rose from the bed and began glaring at me, I undressed, muttering inwardly.
'...Damn, she's definitely suspicious of me.'
Irina suspects me.
Several days ago when I encountered her, I used the 'Mind Reading' skill, and among her emotions toward me at that time was 'suspicion.'
That means, though I don't know what exactly she suspects, there's something about me that raises her suspicions.
So today I acted quite aggressively, and sure enough, she asked me to be gentle—practically provoking me.
And seeing how she's intently watching me undress, she's probably trying to determine whether I have any wounds or not.
But unfortunately for her, I've already prepared for the wound situation.
"Here, include these clothes too. Wash all the clothes in the room."
"Huh...?"
"What are you doing? Didn't you hear me?"
"N-no... It's nothing..."
Irina, who had been staring at my naked body, turned her gaze away with a red face as I coldly scolded her, and accepted the clothes.
'...As expected, it's Kania. To fool Irina even though she claims mana exhaustion.'
Currently, my body is disguised to appear completely unscathed, with black magic cast by Kania.
In other words, if Kania snaps her fingers just once, my body will instantly return to its battered state.
While black magic doesn't have many spells that can heal wounds, it can be applied in this way without limit.
"Then... have a safe trip."
"Ha, don't say things you don't mean."
"..........."
Having successfully deceived Irina, I threw the remaining clothes at her face and left the room.
[Villain Points 50pt acquired! (Close call)]
"...Haa."
Seeing the low villain points acquired, it seems this won't immediately dispel Irina's suspicions. I'll need to think of a plan to resolve her suspicions.
"...How was it, young master?"
As I walked down the corridor lost in thought, Kania cautiously approached my side and asked.
"...Nothing happened. Just gave her some simple chores."
"I see..."
As I answered nonchalantly, Kania nodded for a moment before asking again with sharp eyes.
"...But what was that scream from the room earlier?"
"Ah, that... well... I had something to experiment with briefly."
As I trailed off and gave a vague answer, Kania began looking at me with suspicion.
"...Frey."
As I tried to avoid her gaze, a familiar voice called from further down the corridor.
"Isolte?"
Isolte was walking toward me with a terrifying expression.
"What is it? What brings you here..."
"Let me ask you directly."
I tried to respond with my usual oily tone, but Isolte cut off my words like a knife and stopped right in front of me.
"The rumor that's spreading through the Academy right now, what's going on?"
Soon, she radiated killing intent she had never once shown before me and asked her question.
"I don't quite understand what you're..."
"This is your last warning, Frey. Tell me the truth."
I tried to brush off the situation, but hearing her rage-filled voice, I sensed the moment had finally arrived and answered with a despicable expression.
"Well, the evidence is all gone... and the case fizzled out anyway, so there's no point hiding it anymore. It's true, I did it all."
"...What?"
"As the professor heard in the rumors, the mastermind behind the kidnapping incident was indeed me."
Then Isolte lowered her head, trembling violently, and asked.
"Why...? Why on earth... Why would you do such a thing..."
"You already know, so why keep asking?"
And I prayed desperately that this time she would finally stop worrying about me as I drove the wedge deeper.
"I orchestrated the kidnapping disguised as an accident to add to my sex slave collection. Of course, I pinned the crime on that wretched girl's friend who kept interfering with me at every turn."
Then Isolte froze like stone, and I began adding to my words with an indifferent expression.
"But one sex slave helped that wretched girl escape and exposed my secret hideout to the public. So now I'll have to educate her differently..."
- Bam!!
"...Kuhak!!!"
But before I could finish speaking, Isolte delivered a kick to my stomach, and I felt excruciating pain as I collapsed to the floor.
Looking down at me coldly, Isolte began stomping on me and pummeling me with her fists.
"Heuk, wait! What are you..."
"Cruel... disgusting... horrible bastard..."
"Ugh, ugh..."
"I'm ashamed... that I once liked you..."
Being beaten by Isolte for a while, I flailed my arms and shouted.
"If you hit me any more, as the temporary head of the Starlight family, I'll formally protest to the Bywork family!! So stop now!!"
"...Temporary head?"
Stopping her assault momentarily, Isolte looked down at me in disbelief and murmured.
"Are you talking about the position you usurped from your father who collapsed from an illness caused by your disgusting deeds?"
Hearing this, I smiled shamelessly and shouted.
"That's right, you know well!! I'm the temporary head of the Starlight family!! So if you continue using violence..."
"Understood, I'll stop the violence now. Temporary Master."
Isolte, who put all her strength into one final blow, looked at me with contempt and said.
"Then, have a pleasant weekend."
Leaving those words, Isolte exited the corridor.
[Isolte Arhahm Bywork's current emotions: Fury/Disgust/Revulsion/Contempt/Regret]
"...Ha, haha. Hahaha."
Using the 'Mind Reading' skill on her as she left, I laughed with complicated feelings—relieved that worry and pity had finally disappeared from her status window, but despairing that now only Kania remained as someone who worried about me.
[Villain Points 700pt acquired! (Thank goodness)]
"Aha, haha... ha..."
"Young master..."
Meanwhile, Kania, who had been squeezing her eyes shut to avoid the situation, approached me cautiously as I continued laughing without any thought of dismissing the system window that appeared before my eyes, and whispered as she took my hand.
"Are you alright? Your wounds surely haven't healed yet..."
"Aha... What does it matter... Isolte just saved her life."
"...Mm."
Hearing this, Kania looked at me with a pained expression and reached out, but,
"...Get lost! I don't need any help!"
"....?"
When I slapped her hand away and shouted, she began looking at me in confusion.
I frowned at Kania, then quietly glanced behind her.
"...Ah."
Ferloche was walking down the corridor holding a maid's uniform.
Witnessing that bizarre situation and immediately understanding my signal, Kania naturally passed by me and began walking in the opposite direction of the corridor.
"...I have come to serve you as promised."
Standing before me, Ferloche spoke quietly, unable to hide her disgusted expression.
"...What?"
As I tilted my head and asked, Ferloche clenched her teeth for a moment before speaking clearly with fury.
"As you commanded last time... to serve you... I have come at exactly 7 o'clock... Master."
Staring blankly at her, I replied calmly.
"I told you to come at 7 in the evening, not morning."
"...Ah."
Silence followed for a moment.
"...I will come again at 7 in the evening, Master."
"Very well."
The saint replied coldly, then turned and left the corridor.
'Ferloche, what on earth happened to you...'
Normally I would have chuckled at such a foolish and amusing sight, but having seen her past in the dream I had recently, it wasn't funny at all.
What exactly happened... to make the once-intelligent Ferloche turn out like this?
And why was I living with memories that were manipulated enough not to notice such a change?
"...Young master, are you alright?"
"I'm not alright."
"Pardon?"
"Ah... no, I'm fine. No problem at all."
Having pondered with a troubled heart for quite some time, I spoke incoherently to Kania who had approached my side, then stood up.
"...Let's go, Kania."
"Yes."
Leaning on Kania's support and stumbling through the corridor, I stopped and asked in a quiet voice.
"By the way, are you investigating how the scroll was switched?"
"Yes, but... tracking is extremely difficult. As you instructed, we must proceed in complete secrecy, and those involved and witnesses are limited..."
"However long it takes, you must find them."
Looking at Kania quietly nodding, I added in a cold voice.
"Since Isolte provided the opportunity to turn her back on me, I should repay her when I find them."
.
- Neigh!!!
"We seem to have arrived, young master."
"Yes, so it seems."
Having left the dormitory and passed time chatting with Kania in the carriage, we arrived at our destination—the ducal residence.
""Welcome, temporary master.""
"...Yes, watch your titles properly."
As I stepped down from the carriage, the servants of the Starlight family who had been waiting outside all bowed at 90 degrees and greeted me. I answered with a forced pleasant smile at the title 'temporary master.'
""............""
Then, several servants who had been loyal to my father frowned deeply.
I considered shouting at them to earn some villain points, but having had too many mentally draining experiences in the morning, I gave up and began walking toward the entrance.
"Y-young master! Please forgive me!!"
Suddenly, as I walked, one of the maids standing in a row on the right rushed out and prostrated herself at my feet.
"What is this..."
"P-please... forgive my sister...!"
"...Ah, it's you?"
Momentarily confused, I recognized her as Arianne's older sister and gave a cold smile before kicking her.
"...Heuk!"
She tumbled onto the dirt ground, and the servants watching began looking increasingly grim.
"P-please... I beg you... young master... she's my only sister... I've lived only for that child..."
Arianne's sister, trembling, crawled over and grabbed my leg, begging again.
It seems she's been living in daily anxiety despite Arianne's release, knowing my evil reputation for never letting go once I've targeted someone.
"...I'll remember your face."
Speaking the usual line out of necessity, Arianne's sister pressed her face into the dirt and murmured.
"T-thank you... thank you... sniff..."
""...........""
Looking satisfied as I surveyed the surroundings, the maids standing in a row all carefully avoided my gaze.
"...Let's go, Kania."
"Yes."
I winked at them and walked into the ducal residence with my arm around Kania's waist.
[Villain Points 100pt acquired! (Grand entrance)]
True to the system's words, it was indeed a disgustingly grand entrance.
.
"Kania, where is your sister right now?"
After arriving at the ducal residence and unpacking, I first began looking for Kania's sister, Cadia.
"...Cadia is currently asleep in her room."
"Is that so? That makes things easier."
"...I apologize for not being able to help."
"No, it's fine."
Hearing from Kania that Cadia was sleeping in her room, I left Kania with her worried expression and headed toward Cadia's room.
The reason I'm leaving Kania behind is that in the current state, Kania's dark magic power would resonate with Cadia's healing power and cause Cadia pain.
Therefore, until Cadia's healing power is activated, Kania must avoid approaching her as much as possible.
- Potion of Potential LV1 700pt
Description) This mysterious potion can draw out the potential of the person who consumes it. (Purchase limit 0/1)
[Accumulated pt: 2200pt]
"...Alright, it's finally time to purchase this."
Therefore, feeding the potion to enhance Cadia's healing ability will be my task.
I'd prefer to have another servant do it, but if they misunderstand and throw away the medicine, it would be a serious problem, and mixing it into food or drink might not achieve its full effect.
- Creak...
Having purchased the Potion of Potential while thinking, I quietly opened Cadia's door and entered.
"Mmm... mmnya..."
"...As expected, she looks exactly like a miniature Kania."
Looking at Cadia who closely resembled Kania with affection for a moment, I uncorked the Potion of Potential and began pouring it into her mouth.
"Mmm..."
"That's it... good girl."
Cadia frowned but swallowed the potion without spitting it out. Pleased, I gently stroked her hair and murmured.
"...Soon you'll be able to embrace your sister again."
Having said that and poured all the potion into Cadia's mouth, I left her room with a satisfied smile.
- Boom boom boom boom!!!
"Kuhek!!!"
The next moment, my entire body was struck by glittering light, and I flew across the corridor and crashed hard into the opposite wall.
"Cough... cough... W-what is..."
"Y-you bastard... what did you just do..."
Unable to comprehend the sudden situation, I leaned against the wall dizzily as a girl approached me with a disgusted expression.
"What did you do to Cadia, you filthy bastard!!!"
Soon she grabbed my collar and began screaming at me. Only then did I realize who had attacked me.
"Arya... let go."
She was none other than my younger sister, Arya Raon Starlight.
"You... that's an aphrodisiac, isn't it? It's an aphrodisiac, right?"
"What aphrodisiac..."
"If it's not an aphrodisiac, you have no reason to give Cadia a potion, you trash bastard!! You did that before too!!"
"Haa..."
As I sighed at her words, Arya began crying while still holding my collar.
"Father collapsed because of you... is that all you have in your brain?"
"So I'm telling you this is..."
"Mother died because of you too!! And now Father is going to die because of you!! You come home and what do you do—threaten maids and give aphrodisiacs to a girl my age!!"
"........"
"Y-you should have died instead of Mother back then... You should have died instead of Mother!! You devil bastard!!!"
Arya began screaming loud enough to shake the ducal residence, but I couldn't say anything to her.
Because, even though it was an accident... it's true that Mother died because of me.
"......Mm."
Listening calmly to Arya's continued cries that I should have died instead of Mother, I saw Kania approaching from afar with a deeply distorted face, and then lost consciousness.
Today of all days, I wish I could see Mother again, even if only in a nightmare.
.
Meanwhile, at that same time, somewhere in the Western Continent.
"Hello, you withered old has-been witch."
In a shabby villa, Frey's fiancée Serena was eating sweet cake when an old woman draped in a worn cloak opened the door and entered. Serena smiled mischievously.
"Ha, you're probably the only one who'd call the legitimate master of the Sunrise Empire's Magic Tower like that."
"Actually, you probably prefer being called that way rather than Tower Master."
"Haa... such a cunning girl."
Surprisingly, the old woman who introduced herself as the Magic Tower Master of the Sunrise Empire removed her cloak and sat across from her.
"...So, what's this urgent request?"
Serena answered with a sharp expression.
"It's simple. Please erase my memories."
Hearing this, the Tower Master burst into laughter before speaking.
"Puhahahahah!! So even you have memories you want to forget, do you? Did you get rejected by Frey again? Or did you witness him cheating again?"
"...Who knows?"
"Puh... Fine, that's none of my business. So, how much of your memories should I erase?"
After laughing for a while, the Tower Master wiped her tears and asked, and Serena answered with a calm expression.
"...What?"
Hearing what followed, the Tower Master completely erased her smile and asked with a serious expression.
"You want to return to childhood?"
"...Who knows?"
"...I tried not to ask, but I must ask this. What exactly is your intention?"
When the Tower Master asked with an unusually serious expression, Serena frowned slightly and began explaining.
"Hmm... who knows... Whether interpreting in words rather than sentences was the right move... or whether my habit of 'doubting' everything to the end helped... I'm not sure..."
"...What?"
"Still... forcing myself to 'doubt' has its limits... and since a 'conclusion' is about to be reached, I want to prevent that."
In her hand was a paper with check marks and circles scattered here and there.
"...What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Ah, and I have one more request."
The Tower Master began looking at her as if she were crazy, but Serena paid no mind and made another shocking statement.
"...Please cast an 'Absolute Obedience Spell' on me."
"......!!!"
Hearing this, the Tower Master stood with her mouth agape staring at Serena, then quietly asked.
"...The target of obedience?"
Serena answered with a soft smile like moonlight.
"Frey Raon Starlight."
After her answer, the Tower Master, who had been silent for a while, asked with an expression of complete disbelief.
"What exactly is the reason for doing these crazy things?"
Serena answered with a bright smile.
"To screw over the System... no, the Sun God."
Having finished speaking, Serena stabbed her cake with a fork and began chewing, and the Tower Master, who had been staring blankly at her, shook her head and muttered.
"...Crazy bitch."