Episode 84
"Young master, did you return safely?"
After emerging from the dark underground and stepping outside the information guild, I found Kanis waiting demurely inside the carriage.
"Yeah. I did everything I needed to."
"I see."
As I boarded the carriage and gave a short answer, Kanis quietly nodded. Watching her silently, I frowned slightly and asked a question.
"Kanis, what did you attach to my collar?"
Hearing those words, Kanis surreptitiously turned her gaze away.
"...Kanis?"
I leaned my face toward where she had averted her eyes and frowned even deeper, at which point she began to stare blankly at my face.
"Tell me quickly, what did you do?"
"I merely placed a simple spell to prevent people from carelessly laying hands on the young master."
"That's all well and good, but I sensed dark magical power when the spell activated."
"It must be your imagination."
After saying that, Kanis turned her gaze back toward the window. I grabbed her face and turned it toward me with a pouty expression, and Kanis smirked.
"It's all for the young master's sake, so you don't need to worry."
"...I'll trust you?"
Though slightly suspicious, I decided to trust Kanis's high goodness rating and commanded the carriage to depart.
"Then... please give me the report on what happened during the past week."
"Understood. First, I should start with the story about the Moonlight family and the young master's... friends."
Since it was such a secretive matter, Kanis, who had even used dark magical power to cast a soundproofing spell inside the carriage, took out a notebook from her bosom and began to speak.
"To start with the conclusion, the Council of Elders has collapsed, and the Secret Family Head has fled."
"Damn, so they couldn't capture or kill the Secret Family Head."
"That is correct. However, thanks to this operation, Miss Serena has risen from being the family's puppet to becoming the true Family Head, so I believe it's not an entirely bad result."
Hearing those words, I sighed and then spoke with a dark expression.
"Well, that's definitely a good thing, but... the 'Curse of Subjugation' placed on Serena is the problem."
Hearing that, Kanis also changed her expression to a dark one and said.
"Is there truly no way to break the Curse of Subjugation?"
"Hmm. The 'Curse of Subjugation' is one of the two things that the Ancestor, who knew almost all the information from dissecting the 'game,' couldn't find. The other one is..."
"What is the other one?"
"Ah, that is my..."
I, who had inadvertently tried to answer Kanis, came to my senses and firmly shut my mouth.
"Young master? Why did you stop speaking mid-sentence?"
"It's nothing. The other one isn't even in the prophecy document."
Answering thus, I closed my eyes gently and began to recall the contents of the prophecy document.
- Starting exactly from the 756th failure, I began searching for ways to increase lifespan and life force. Otherwise, it seemed impossible to break through. However, even after spending several months, I couldn't find even a clue.
The Ancestor's grumbling, which continued for quite a while afterward, ended like this:
- So as a last resort, I dissected the game, and would you believe it, while code for increasing lifespan and life force like the 'Curse of Subjugation' is implemented, there's no means to execute that code! What a truly broken game...
Having never experienced the Ancestor's world, I don't understand it well, but I can still roughly grasp the meaning.
In short, right now I have no way to increase my lifespan and life force.
Well, for some reason, many incorrect parts have been discovered in the prophecy document recently, so perhaps there might be hope...
"Young master, what are you thinking about so deeply?"
"...It's nothing, really."
I, who had been lost in thought for a while, came to my senses only after seeing Kanis's worried expression.
After all, rather than harboring vague hope for something with no method, it seems better to focus on the matters at hand.
"Next is the report regarding the tracking of the scroll merchant..."
"We didn't catch them, right?"
"...Yes, that is correct."
As Kanis lowered her head while saying that, I sighed and spoke up.
"It's okay. I have no intention of scolding you."
"But..."
"In the first place, that person might not be someone we can catch."
If the person who sold the scroll the Demon King had in the last scene of the 2nd trial is indeed the person we're looking for... we may have been conducting a hopeless investigation from the start.
After all, I had Kanis chase alone after someone whose identity is unknown and who even deceived the Demon King.
"Then... shall we cancel the search?"
"No, increase the search personnel. Even if it means becoming slightly more dangerous, even if it means spending more money."
However, I couldn't just sit idle. Victory and success don't come to the lazy.
"Understood. Then, this is the last report."
Kanis, who said that, cleared her throat and began to speak.
"A while ago, the Order cancelled the young master's orphanage volunteer service order."
"Hm? Why is that... ah."
I, who had a puzzled expression at those words, soon realized that I had ordered Demirkan, the second-in-command of the Demon King's army, to pressure the Pope.
"That's something I did. Honestly, volunteering was rewarding and fun, but... doing so would make the possibility of being exposed as the Evil too high."
"That was a good decision. Anyway, the orphanage is now fully staffed, so there won't be any problems even if the young master doesn't volunteer."
I, who smiled with satisfaction at those words, glanced at Kanis for a moment and then cautiously asked a question.
"Let's establish a charity foundation later."
"...A charity foundation?"
Kanis frowned deeply at those words, so I said while sweating cold sweat.
"No, well... I originally intended to stop at the orphanage, but every time I went to volunteer, seeing the children's smiling faces made me feel so good. And, there's another reason too..."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, so if conditions allow, I'd like to establish a charity foundation..."
"...Do you have the money?"
At Kanis's question, I answered with a confident expression.
"There's still plenty of the secret funds my father earned left, and if by any chance it's not enough, I can just take some from the Demon King's army's treasury."
"...Won't the Demon King's army say anything?"
"Well, lately those guys have been trying to offer me money. It's certainly dirty money so I'm a bit reluctant, but I thought if it's used for good deeds..."
"Sigh..."
Kanis, who had been listening to my words, sighed and began to speak.
"I understand the young master's intention well. However, unlike an orphanage, a foundation requires several times more time and manpower."
"I know. If we rush too much, we could get hurt badly. So I'd like to proceed slowly with the establishment of the foundation over time..."
"Understood."
As Kanis began taking notes in her notebook, I said with a worried expression.
"If it's too difficult, you don't have to overexert yourself, Kanis. I can somehow handle the foundation establishment myself, so you can focus on the orphanage..."
"Leaving that to a foolish young master who finds healing in creating a charity foundation rather than spending money on himself would clearly lead to disaster. Therefore, I'll take charge."
Kanis smiled as she said that.
"Thank you, Kanis. I'll use my power as much as possible for the aftermath and administrative processing."
"There's no need to thank me. Isn't that what I'm here for as a butler and your confidant?"
Kanis, who said that while bowing politely, soon asked with a sharp gaze.
"By the way, what is the 'other reason'?"
"...Ah, that?"
I, who heard that, hesitated for a moment and then deliberately averted my gaze as I spoke.
"It's nothing special, so..."
"Please tell me, young master. To support you properly, I need to know everything."
"...If we establish a charity foundation, the future main scenario will become considerably easier."
Hearing those words, Kanis asked with an expression of incomprehension.
"Couldn't you have just said that from the beginning?"
"I just... didn't want to burden you when you already have so much to do."
As I said that with a slightly sheepish expression, Kanis suddenly bowed her head deeply.
"...Thank you for always thinking of me, young master."
And silence flowed in the carriage for a while.
"By the way, earlier Irina was talking about Lulu."
In that silence, as I casually brought up the topic, Kanis, who had been lowering her head, began to look at me surreptitiously.
"Kanis, can you take me into Lulu's unconscious?"
Hearing those words, Kanis frowned and answered.
"It is possible, but it's a method I wouldn't recommend."
"Why?"
"The unconscious is a very dangerous space. Unless you're an exception like the young master, various threats lurk there."
Kanis, who said that, paused to clear her throat and then continued with a serious expression.
"Even when entering an ordinary person's unconscious, one must never let down one's guard. But if we infiltrate the unconscious of someone as unstable as Miss Lulu, safety cannot be guaranteed."
"Hmm..."
I, who had been contemplating while looking at Kanis's serious expression, soon sighed and said.
"So you're saying you'll be in danger too, right?"
"...I'll be fine. I've infiltrated the unconscious of even worse people many times."
"Good, then let's try infiltrating the unconscious."
When I reached that conclusion, Kanis began to look at me with an expression of disbelief.
"...Did you even hear what I said?"
"Yeah, you said you'll be safe."
"Haa..."
As I said that and looked at Kanis with an expression asking what the problem was, she let out a deep sigh.
"Please take better care of your body, young master."
I, who was about to argue with those words, scratched my head and looked out the window as the carriage began to rattle.
"We've already arrived home. Then, let's go see Lulu."
"...Yes."
And so I began walking toward the mansion together with Kanis, who had a dissatisfied expression.
.
"...Still sleeping."
Even though quite some time had passed since visiting the information guild, Lulu was still asleep.
Actually, rather than sleeping, it would be more accurate to say she's unconscious.
Did I hit the back of her neck too hard? Next time, I'll have to adjust my strength when hitting.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah, I'm ready."
"Let me say again... absolutely do not carelessly touch anything or any being in the unconscious, and if the manager of the unconscious appears..."
I said I was fully prepared, but Kanis is already explaining the precautions for the fifth time. She must be quite worried about me.
"Kanis, let's stop now and depart. If we keep this up, Lulu will wake up."
"...Understood."
Only after interrupting her words mid-sentence and urging her did Kanis begin to prepare to enter the unconscious.
- Shuuu...
The black energy Kanis summoned enveloped me, her, and Lulu.
"Remember. You must absolutely be wary of the manager."
Hearing Kanis's words as my consciousness became hazy, I was sucked into the unconscious of the unconscious Lulu.
"Good heavens."
"It's more serious than I thought."
Upon entering Lulu's unconscious, what came into my view were various weapons.
"Why is the unconscious space filled with things that could be used for self-harm or suicide?"
"Probably the current strongest desire of Miss Lulu is being manifested."
"You mean the suicidal impulses?"
At my words, Kanis nodded with a hardened expression. Even for her, who has entered the unconscious of countless people, Lulu's space must have been quite threatening.
"This is quite dangerous."
As expected, Kanis, who had been looking around for a while, spoke to me with a very tense expression.
"Of course, there are many places far more bizarre and terrifying than this. But the weapons all around are concerning. If something happens, I think we'll need to make an emergency escape even if it strains us."
Hearing those words, I also nodded with a tense expression and began to look around.
"...Oh, there's someone over there."
"What?"
In the meantime, seeing a child who looked exactly like Lulu crouched down, I pointed at her, and Kanis's eyes widened.
"That's strange. Normally, the manager of the unconscious doesn't want to reveal themselves. So they tend to hide very thoroughly..."
"Could it be because Lulu is lacking in affection?"
"That would be the most rational inference. And, if that's true..."
Kanis, who had been looking at the crouching Lulu, concluded in a low voice.
"...She seems to crave 'affection' beyond imagination."
Hearing those words, I swallowed hard and began to approach Lulu slowly.
"Young master, are you really going to talk to the manager without subduing her?"
"Yeah, you said that if you subdue the manager, we can take control but she might become uncooperative. So let's try talking first."
"Be careful, young master."
Saying that, Kanis summoned black chains ready to use at any moment and aimed them at Lulu, and seeing that, I proceeded forward with a somewhat relieved expression.
"Hey, Lulu?"
Finally reaching right in front of the crouching Lulu, I began to speak cautiously.
"Shall we talk for a bit?"
Since words and actions toward the manager of the unconscious won't be remembered by the real Lulu, I tried to speak as kindly as possible, but for some reason, Lulu remained silent.
"Lulu, don't do that, let's talk with..."
Eventually crouching down in front of her and carefully lifting her chin, I couldn't help but be taken aback.
"Haha, ha..."
"L-Lulu."
"Hahahahahahaha."
She, who lifted her head, was in tatters.
Dozens of knife marks on her arms, red lines around her neck, her face full of scars and bruises, and dark circles under her eyes.
Her fingernails were chewed to bits, her body covered with wounds and bruises, and her legs hung weakly limp.
Having been in this situation quite a few times, I can confidently say that if she weren't the manager of the unconscious, she would have died from shock due to the pain.
"Frey... is it Frey? Hello."
While I was thinking such thoughts, she greeted me with hollow eyes.
"Ah, hello..."
"I'm sorry."
Just as I was about to accept Lulu's greeting, she began to speak with a soulless voice.
"I'm going to use you. While receiving interest and affection from you, I'll break the curse placed on me. Even if it's twisted affection that treats me like a pet."
"I see."
"You're going to be unhappy now. Because everyone who gave me love or attention all got caught up in my curse."
Of course, since I'm more unhappy than Lulu, I'm not affected by her curse and maintained a calm expression, at which she made an even darker expression.
"Why? Are you scared of becoming unhappy? Are you afraid?"
"No, I'm not afraid..."
"You're a villain. Trash who deserves to die. So using you is no problem at all. Rather, I'm saying that me using you helps society."
"Hey, Lulu? Can you hear me?"
"Anyway, I'm innocent. I'm not guilty... ugh..."
Lulu, who kept saying her own words without caring that I was waving my hand in front of her, suddenly started speaking with a confused expression.
"I'm innocent...? No, I am guilty."
"Guilty of what?"
"My, my misfortune dragged all the students in... This attack incident was because of my misfortune... Because of my misfortune, everyone almost died..."
The moment those words ended, deep wounds began to form on Lulu's body.
"It's my fault... because of me... I need to disappear. I'm trash. Because of me, innocent children..."
"That's not your fault. I'll explain the reason from now on, so just listen to my story for a moment..."
"It's all my fault!!!"
I tried to somehow have a conversation with her, but she wasn't communicating at all.
"Lulu, please listen to my story... heuk!"
- Kwa-duk... kwa-du-duk...
"It's all... all my fault... hehe..."
At the moment I tried to speak to her once more with a sliver of hope, an unknown force began to press down on me.
"I need to die... yes, if I don't die, the world will be in danger... so, as soon as possible..."
- Chwa-rr-rr-rr!!!
Thanks to that, I was left dangling in the air struggling, and the chains Kanis had summoned began to rush at Lulu.
"...Pu-ha!"
Thanks to that, Lulu was bound by the chains and fixed in the air, and I was freed from the unknown force and collapsed on the floor.
"Young master! Are you okay?"
- Seu-geok! seu-geu-geok!
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts... it hurts..."
As I stood up with Kanis's support, she ran to me with a pale face, I could see Lulu, bound in the air, bleeding from being cut by invisible knives.
- U-u-ung...
"...Good heavens."
And the next moment, all the weapons in the unconscious space floated up and began aiming at me and Kanis all at once.
'Rather than living in such pain... I'll just die.'
"Young master, steel your mind."
Finally, when ominous words flowed from Lulu's lips, Kanis, who had been watching the situation anxiously, whispered to me in a low voice.
"It seems we'll need to make an emergency escape."
- Shu-shu-shuk!!
And as soon as Kanis's words ended, the weapons in the air began flying at us all at once.
- Pa-ji-ji-ji-jik!!
At the same time, Kanis emitted black energy from her body, and the surroundings began to distort endlessly.
"A-eu-eu-eu-uk..."
"Just endure a little longer, young master."
As I gritted my teeth against the terrible pain rushing in, Kanis whispered to me in a gentle voice.
- Pa-ji-jik! pa-ji-ji-jik!
I, who was held in her arms, began to look toward where Lulu was bound in the air right before my consciousness faded.
"I need to... die..."
The weapons Lulu had summoned and rained down on us and herself were stopped right in front of her body.
"Heu-a-ah... ha-ah..."
And the next moment, I was lying face down on the mansion floor, breathing heavily.
"Young master! Are you okay!?"
"...Not really."
Normally I would have said I was fine to keep Kanis from worrying, but this time I couldn't say I was fine.
It feels like I forced my way out while feeling terrible pain as if my whole body was being separated.
"Kanis, are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
When I came to my senses late and asked Kanis, she looked at me with a worried expression and said.
"Actually, emergency escape was devised for me alone to escape... so it's natural for strain to occur when the young master escapes together."
"...I see."
I nodded blankly at those words and fell into deep thought looking at Lulu, who was lying dead-still on the bed.
"So, what will you do?"
When I had been thinking for a while about what to do with Lulu, Kanis surreptitiously asked me a question.
"As confirmed in the unconscious, Lulu's current mental state is very poor. You know that too, right?"
"That is correct."
"And the reason is the 'Brand of Misfortune' placed on her. You know this well too, right?"
"Yes, but what's the reason for continuing to ask such things..."
I looked at Kanis, who tilted her head questioningly, and soon sighed and answered.
"...Then, there's only one solution, isn't there?"
Hearing those words, Kanis frowned deeply and said.
"However, that would impose a penalty on the young master..."
"If I adjust it properly, it'll be fine."
I answered calmly to such Kanis, and when she started making an expression of disbelief, I added in a low voice.
"...It'll work out somehow."
.
"Ugh..."
Lulu, who had been lying dead-still on the bed, opened her eyes with difficulty.
"I want to die..."
Mumbling the words she always said when opening her eyes, Lulu began to rise from her place with a groan.
"You're awake now?"
"...Kyah!?"
However, realizing that I was beside her, she made an appalled expression and recoiled.
"Hey, hey, don't do that. You'll hurt yourself again."
"Huh?"
But when I spoke in a gentle voice instead of threatening her as usual, she looked bewildered and asked back.
"Is your arm okay? It was injured, so I treated it myself."
"Uh, uh..."
Hearing those words and looking down at her arm, Lulu discovered that a high-quality bandage was wrapped around it and asked with a trembling voice.
"W-why are you treating me so well...?"
"Hm?"
Hearing those words, I...
"Why treat you well..."
Answered while stroking Lulu's head with an expression asking why she would ask such a thing.
"...If my pet gets hurt, its product value decreases."
The time to save her had arrived.