Episode 69
"Young Master, it is time for breakfast."
"...You've already finished cooking?"
"Yes, the new colleague's skills are exceptional, so we were able to finish quickly."
I was sitting alone in the inner courtyard thinking about Lulu when Kania announced that breakfast preparation was complete.
"Alright, then send mine to my room..."
"Young Master, did you know?"
As I nodded to her and was about to step back into the mansion, Kania grabbed my arm and began speaking.
"Right now, Young Master is in a half-corpse state. If I wanted to, I could even use necromancy."
"You're good at joking."
"This is no joke. To recover from your current state, you need to eat a hearty breakfast. So..."
Watching Kania nag me continuously, I suddenly found myself smiling.
People say nagging is such an unpleasant sound to hear, but I don't quite understand that. Isn't nagging ultimately words spoken out of worry for the other person? Someone who can hear such words is truly fortunate, knowing that someone worries about them.
In that sense, I like being nagged. Of course, doing things worth being nagged about is rather careless behavior, but still, what's good is good.
"Young Master? Are you listening to me?"
"Ah, yes. I heard everything."
But while thinking such thoughts, I ended up missing Kania's nagging. Thanks to that, I broke out in a cold sweat for a moment and just nodded vaguely while making noises of agreement to her words.
"...I had paused speaking for a moment."
But she stared straight at me and said that, so I scratched my head for a moment and headed into the mansion while saying,
"Sorry, I had some things on my mind. Anyway, I'll scrape up and eat every bit of the meal, so send it to my room."
"You won't eat in the dining hall?"
"If I eat in the dining hall, the kids will feel awkward, won't they?"
Hearing those words, Kania quietly nodded and said,
"Understood. Since I need to carry the dishes, I'll send up one student."
"Oh right, Kania. You know what night this is, right?"
"...Tonight?"
When Kania tilted her head, I chuckled and reminded her.
"Today is the day for life force infusion. I haven't received it for a while, so today is especially important."
"Does it absolutely have to be today? Right now, Young Master is..."
"It's fine. If I rest for a few days, I'll recover, won't I? Why make a big deal out of it."
Leaving those words behind, I quickly started climbing the stairs before Kania could make any rebuttal.
"Sniff, sob..."
"...Hm?"
After climbing all the stairs and walking through the hallway toward my room, I started hearing crying sounds from somewhere.
There's no way a ghost would be roaming around the noble and sacred Starlight family mansion. Then is this an auditory hallucination I heard long ago?
"...Why is she crying again?"
No, that wasn't it. As I approached my room, the crying sound grew louder, so it seemed Lulu had burst into tears once more.
"I told her to clean, so why on earth..."
With a slightly annoyed expression, I opened the door and entered the room, only to freeze with my mouth agape at the scene unfolding inside.
"...I'm sorry."
Blood is flowing from her hand.
And in her grip were pieces of the vase she had broken earlier.
"I tried to somehow put it back together... but it didn't work well... I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."
"...Hah."
Eventually discovering the vase that had been half-restored on the desk, I wore a stiff expression and headed toward her.
"Attention, you're wrong!"
— Crash!!
Arriving right beside her, I picked up the vase she had painstakingly glued together and threw it violently against the wall.
"I brought breakfast..."
And at that moment, Aris who had opened the door and entered witnessed that sight and froze completely.
"Did you think putting that back together would solve everything? You empty-headed fool."
Of course, I didn't even glance at her as I looked down coldly at Lulu before my eyes and began verbally abusing her.
"Such high-quality decorative items, once damaged, their value is severely compromised. Even if restored perfectly with restoration magic, it's the same."
"Ah, aah..."
"Why? Did you think everything would end if you just glued it back together? Honestly, this is why lowly people..."
"Young Master Frey, I've brought breakfast."
Just as I was verbally abusing Lulu until her eyes became dead again, Aris who had been watching from the side squeezed her eyes shut and interrupted my words.
"...Leave it there and get out."
"Young Master Frey, may I say just one word?"
"No, don't. Get out."
Soon Aris tried to say something with flames rising in her eyes, but I firmly issued her dismissal.
At that, she looked at me with a cold expression, quietly set down the meal, and stepped out of the room.
"Please kill me."
"What?"
And at that moment, Lulu who had been looking at me with dead eyes spoke to me in an exhausted voice.
"I don't have the ability to repay 150 gold. I don't have the ability to keep living either. So just..."
"...You can pay with your body."
"Huh?"
When she spoke with eyes that had given up on everything, I looked at her with greedy eyes and said.
"Pay with your body, the 150 gold."
The moment I finished speaking, various expressions began appearing on Lulu's face.
Disgust, relief, anxiety, happiness, fear, comfort.
Lulu made a bizarre expression created by mixing and mingling conflicting emotions, then quietly asked me in a low voice.
"Do you... need me? Do you want me? If that's the case, then I..."
"I need a pet."
"A... pet?"
But when I raised the corner of my mouth and spoke, she began repeating my words with a blank expression.
"Yes, I was thinking of keeping a pet these days... dogs and cats are too common, and keeping a beast of prey would be dangerous, anyway none of them satisfied me."
Looking straight at her, I began speaking in a calm voice.
"Then I suddenly thought, what if I raise a person? How about it? Even you have to admit it's a pretty good idea, right?"
"Ah... that's..."
"Anyway, I needed someone to become a pet, so this works out well. From now on, you're my possession."
As I said that and quietly observed Lulu, she bowed her head deeply.
'She definitely has an affection deficiency disorder but was said to push others away... Then how will she react in this situation?'
I was quietly predicting the outcome while looking at Lulu, and after keeping her head down for a while, she quietly opened her mouth.
"I... understand."
"A dog that speaks human language?"
"Woof woof."
Seeing her make dog sounds and prostrate herself on the floor, I swallowed a groan for a moment and fell into thought.
'...Why doesn't she push me away?'
Certainly, judging by her earlier expression, she was disgusted by me. But why, unlike other people, does she not push me away?
It's hard to say she simply succumbed to my power. According to what Ferlotche added after nagging for a while earlier, she had also resisted the nobles' approaches fiercely.
She didn't just resist but resisted fiercely even to the point of self-harm, so the nobles apparently gave up... Why doesn't she show such behavior toward me?
"Woof, woof."
While I was pondering, Lulu started rubbing her cheek against my leg with a dark expression.
Feeling a chill from the expression with a hollow soul neither happy nor despairing, I soon raised the corner of my mouth slightly and stroked her head.
"...Mm."
Then Lulu trembled all over and squeezed her eyes shut.
'What on earth is it?'
Reading the relief and disgust that flickered across Lulu's expression, I felt considerable curiosity about her mental state and removed my hand from her head.
"Here, eat."
"Woof."
"Now speak in human language. I'm tired of dog sounds."
"Why are you giving this to me?"
Holding out my breakfast to her, I chuckled at her question and replied.
"You know the reason a person gives feed to a pet, don't you? It's just an animal they're keeping, so they give it food. There's no other reason."
Of course, that's not true.
I couldn't bear to watch her body condition, already gaunt and suffering from malnutrition, so I unconsciously handed over my breakfast.
"...Thank you."
Lulu, who had been staring blankly at the breakfast I offered, buried her head and started eating.
"Good girl. Well done."
When I stroked her head once more, misery flickered across her face.
'Really, I can't just leave her be.'
I don't want to do such things to Lulu who is quite pitiful, but it can't be helped.
According to the prophecy, if 'affection' and 'attention' are not given to Lulu, she will definitely commit suicide in the second semester of her first year.
Of course, even if she receives affection and attention and gets past the second semester, they say no one has survived past the first semester of second year, though.
"I've... finished eating."
"Good, you did well."
I stroked her as she thanked me and rose from my seat, then suddenly frowned and started pounding my chest.
"Cough! Cough!!"
It seems I'm going to cough up blood again. It's improved a bit compared to when I woke up after losing consciousness for three months, but it seems the intermittent hemoptysis symptoms can't be helped.
"Mmm..."
I hurriedly took out the handkerchief in my pocket and coughed, then watching the red-soaked handkerchief gradually turn white, I started heading out of the room.
"Young Master Frey... is that blood?"
But Lulu, who had been watching with round eyes, urgently asked.
"You're worried about me, even though you're a pet?"
"No, that's not it..."
"Don't meddle beyond your station, and clean up those vase fragments."
I dismissed her question and added in a listless voice.
"And heat up some bathwater. You're my exclusive maid and pet from now on, so do your best going forward."
"...Yes."
Hearing Lulu's timid voice, I sighed, left the room, and fell into quiet thought.
'I should ask Kania about it later.'
I need to remove that curse or whatever is on her as quickly as possible.
.
Meanwhile at that time.
"That just now... was blood, right?"
Lulu, left alone in Frey's room, began muttering with a blank expression.
"In the end... my curse is... again..."
Then Lulu, pulling her hair with a guilt-ridden expression, soon forced the corners of her mouth up and changed her expression.
'No, no... Frey is a villain, right? Even if that happens, he's a villain who deserves it.'
Stopping pulling her hair and forcing a smile, Lulu quietly rose from her seat and muttered to herself.
'To break this damned curse, there's no choice. Frey is a villain, so it serves him right to be involved in my misfortune. So, there's no problem.'
After pacing the room for a while, she suddenly felt pain in her foot and frowned, looking down to discover a vase fragment embedded in her foot, and with a depressed expression she said,
"...Now, this endless string of misfortune will end soon too, right?"
.
Time passed, and night came.
"...A brand?"
"Yes, a brand."
As promised, I went to Kania's room to infuse life force, and I asked her if she knew anything about 'brands.'
I don't know for certain, but I thought if 'brand' is a concept similar to a curse, Kania who is a dark mage might know about it.
"Well... I'm not aware of such a curse."
But Kania shook her head and answered me. From that, it seems 'brand' is not related to dark magic.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be of help, Young Master."
"No, learning that it's not related to dark magic was a big help. Thank you for always helping me, Kania."
Hearing those words, Kania stared at me blankly for a moment, then blushed and spoke.
"...Then, I'll undress."
"Huh? Oh... alright."
I answered her absentmindedly, and when she started undressing, I quietly turned my gaze to the side.
"Young Master, if I may ask an impolite question... are you perhaps embarrassed?"
"No, it's because looking without permission is not proper manners."
"...It feels quite new hearing that from the Empire's greatest playboy."
After exchanging silly jokes with her, I looked out the window at the floating moon and fell into thought.
'...By now Serena has probably regained her memories and is busily proceeding with something, right?'
I don't know how grand the picture she's painting is, but as a hero with the purpose of saving the world, I should do my best to help her paint that picture.
So from now on, I need to trample the Demon King's army.
"Young Master. By the way..."
"Ah, are you already..."
Lost in thought, I turned my head at Kania's words and ended up meeting eyes directly with her who had just finished undressing.
"..........."
Silence flowed for a moment.
After maintaining silence for quite a while, Kania naturally turned her body and lay down, then spoke in a calm voice.
"...Everything is ready, Young Master."
"Yes."
Breaking out in a cold sweat for a moment, I took a deep breath and reached out my hand to Kania who was lying showing her white back.
"Please remove your hand immediately if any abnormal symptoms appear. Unlike before, Young Master has had his life force drained three times..."
"...I understand. Don't worry too much."
Answering Kania's voice filled with worry, I placed my hand on her back where her heart is and began infusing life force.
"...Mm!"
Then Kania suddenly started making sounds of pain.
"What's wrong? Kania?"
"It, it hurts..."
"It hurts?"
When she spoke in a trembling voice, I tilted my head for a moment, then realized that star mana was swirling around my hand.
"It seems because I absorbed star mana in that cave last time, it's become a bit difficult to control the star mana during life force infusion."
Originally when I share life force, I also transfer star mana with it. Of course, that is poison to Kania so I've been intentionally controlling it, but it seems a problem arose because star mana became excessive due to my recent opportunity.
"Then, there's no choice. The life force transfer..."
"No, I just need to give it as slowly as possible... filtering it."
Of course, I who have handled star mana all my life immediately found a solution and began resuming the life force infusion.
"...My body feels hot."
"Even so, it doesn't hurt, right?"
"...No."
Kania complained of heat, but since she no longer felt pain, I decided to continue the life force infusion.
"...Mmm."
After infusing life force for a while, sweat started flowing all over my body. It seems the mana control I'm doing right now is quite delicate and complex work, so a lot of energy is being used.
"It's, it's hot... Young Master."
So I continued the infusion wearing only a shirt after taking off my clothes, but sweat also started flowing from Kania's body.
I'm filtering out as much of the star mana in my body as possible, but it seems this is an abnormal phenomenon caused by the residual energy.
"Just endure a little... It's almost over..."
Thanks to that, quite a suggestive situation unfolded, but since only a little remained until the appropriate amount was infused, I decided to continue the infusion and put more strength into my hand.
"Just a little more... just a little..."
"Young Master?"
But something is strange.
Strength isn't entering my hand.
No, not just my hand, suddenly strength started draining from my whole body.
"Damn... shit."
Realizing anew how much my life force has been depleted, I cursed and tried to remove my hand from her back, but for some reason my hand was incredibly heavy.
"Aah... ah..."
Unable to remove my hand from her back and continuing the life force infusion, I eventually couldn't overcome my fading consciousness and closed my eyes.
From next time, I absolutely must not overdo it.
.
Frey, who lost consciousness, lost his balance and fell forward.
— Squelch!
When Frey fell onto Kania's back which was soaked with sweat, his equally soaked shirt met Kania's back making a wet sound.
"Kyah!?"
Startled by the cold yet strange sensation, Kania screamed, and when her sense of touch conveyed that Frey was stuck flat against her back, she started trembling all over.
— Bang bang!
"Kania! What's happening!!"
"...Hah!"
Kania, who didn't know what to do for a moment, turned pale when Irina who heard her scream came running and started pounding on the door.
"I, it's nothing! I'm fine!"
"Really? I thought you were being attacked or something."
Hurriedly shouting to Irina, Kania breathed a sigh of relief when she answered in a relieved voice.
"Then I'll go. Shout if anything happens?"
"Yes, understood."
Answering Irina's words, Kania began whispering to Frey who had been lying on her back until then.
"...Young Master, please wake up."
"Mmm..."
"See, I told you to remove your hand immediately if abnormal symptoms occurred... Eek."
When Frey showed no signs of waking, Kania tried to turn her body to escape from him, but when the unconscious Frey burrowed into her embrace, she ended up holding him.
"Mmm..."
"He's sleeping?"
Realizing he had fallen into deep sleep, Kania chuckled and tried to rise from her seat, but,
"Mmm..."
"......"
When Frey frowned and wouldn't let her go, she made a troubled expression and muttered.
"You shouldn't do this..."
It was quite a while later that Frey separated from Kania.
.
"Mmm..."
When I opened my eyes, I felt a familiar sensation.
"It's been a while with the cat doll too."
A black cat doll was curled up inside my clothes.
"Purr purr purr..."
Carefully stroking its chin while blankly staring at the ceiling, I suddenly sprang up from my seat and started looking around.
"This is bad, Kania must have been quite troubled."
My memory cut off at the point of giving life force to Kania, but somehow I was lying in bed and Kania was lying on a spare bed.
Seeing that my clothes had been changed too, it seems Kania took care of things.
"I should treat Kania better..."
I was making a gloomy expression thinking I don't seem to treat her who always helps me well enough, when the cat doll that had crawled up my clothes and poked its head out started licking my face.
"Hey, that tickles!"
I was smiling and reaching out to the cat doll, when suddenly something flew in toward me.
"Kuuu!"
"Meow!!"
Something that flew right in front of me started pecking at the cat doll's head, and only then did I realize it was a white owl Serena had sent.
"Mrow! Meow!!"
"Kuuuuu!!"
Serena's owl grabbed the doll with its talons and started pecking its head in earnest.
Then the cat doll also extended its claws and started struggling, and as I tried to separate the two, I noticed a letter had fallen in front of me.
"This is...?"
Carefully opening the envelope and checking its contents, I soon raised the corner of my mouth and muttered coldly.
"...Look at these guys."
It seems I've figured out the identity of the rat that snuck into our house.