Chapter 26: The Decision
A/N: POV is now Hajime
Hajime held the parched letter in his hand as he stared back into the violet eyes of Charlotte. The edges of the paper crumbled in his fingers, while the words danced before his eyes. He read the letter over and over. Yet, nothing changed. Its meaning stayed the same.
His eyes were cold, hard and flinty. His fist urged to be released into her skull. The scene played out in his head countless times. Each time Hajime's body moved on it's own. Mana gathered in his hands as he envisioned Charlotte's head exploding with a single punch. Hajime's mind filled with death, gore and blood.
He sighed, the only blood and death that would come from this would be his own.
"I'm disappointed in you.", his icy voice broke the silence, as Charlotte's expression remained unchanged.
Charlotte tilted her head, her eyes glistening with amusement. Hajime's knuckles tightened as he suppressed his urge to break her jaw.
"And I do not care."
"Did you already reply to the Empress?" he asked.
"That depends entirely on you, doesn't it."
Hajime rubbed the bridge of his nose. Charlotte's threats weren't empty. Sakura was meant to be trained as a weapon. At the Academy or by the Empress.
Charlotte's lips curled up into a mischievous smirk. Her eyes twinkled. Hajime's left eye twitched as he looked at Charlotte's smug face. She enjoyed watching him squirm. It amused her. It amused her immensely.
"Did you know, the Empress had 7 daughters?" Charlotte asked suddenly.
Hajime raised a brow, "No, and what does that have to do with anything."
"Don't you find it strange how only Princess Calantha is known to the public?"
Hajime frowned. He did not like where this conversation was going. Charlotte smiled warmly as she continued speaking.
"Her sisters were murdered because they didn't meet the Empress' standards. Princess Calantha is the youngest and only survivor."
"I wonder if the same would happen to Sakura." she finished, flashing an arrogant smile.
Hajime shook his head. He'd rather be in bed with Sakura than with the disgusting action of this woman. He contemplated about giving in. Sakura would be safe from the Empress and best of all she wouldn't become a tool. Yet this irked him. To give this woman more leverage.
Hajime's fist loosened as he thought about the problem in front of him. There must be a way to control Charlotte. To stop her from using Sakura against him.
He studied Charlotte. Her posture remained confident, her arms folded across her chest. Her legs crossed beneath the desk.
'System is there any way?' Hajime wondered.
[Fatality rate 100%]
'What about points? I still have 200 thousand left. They should be useful for something right?'
[It is impossible to kill Charlotte with the current amount of points]
'Control?'
[If the host was at the Pothos realm, it'd be possible for you to control Charlotte. However that's currently not the case]
"I know you're in a shock and all but I have other things to do, so can you make your choice." Charlotte interrupted his thoughts.
Hajime closed his eyes as he concentrated. He thought about ways to solve this problem. There had to be a solution.
'What about cripple? Can I cripple her? It should be possible to just poison her body right?'
[Poisoning Charlotte's body is possible. However, you need a higher grade than Oleander for that.]
[There is one way]
'Come on out with it.'
[Use the remaining points to damage Charlotte's brainstem]
[But the host will need to be touching Charlotte for this to work]
'Why did you just tell me this now?'
[Doing this would lose a valuable potential ally. There's no coming back from loss of brain function with the current magical and technoligical advancement. And the System can't undue what it's done. The host's chance of survival against '???' will go down along with Charlotte's Lineage.]
'So I have to commit to my choice huh.'
[The System reminds the host that living beings aren't black and white]
'Still she showed that she's willing to use my family against me. Today Sakura, tomorrow could be Sophia.'
'Fuck Aurora is close to the Empress', Hajime's throat started to become sore.
[As the System has mentioned before the host should surrender his morals and start getting stronger. More importantly focus on his safety. That is why the System suggests that the host gives in to Charlotte's demands and not antagonize her.]
'What's the point of being the strongest if I have to give up a part of me?'
[To counter the host, 'What's the point of morals if you can't protect the ones you love.']
Hajime opened his eyes, looking at the woman who rested her chin on her arms. He knew the risks of his decision. It might cost him his life and even Sophia's. But Hajime refused to let Charlotte have the upper hand.
'I'm going to cripple Charlotte. I'll survive and Charlotte won't be able to hurt those around me,' he thought.
[The System would like to give the host Additional information for 2000 points]
'Huh? Go ahead.'
[Princess Aveline is currently in the bonding ceremony with Julian. The bond will succeed and the host will lose Aveline's Lineage.]
'Her Lineage? What?'
[Aveline's Lineage is called the Winter Queen. Exact effects are unknown without using points.]
[Would the host like to use 25.000 Points to know]
'Are you jacking up the prices?'
[No, The System is providing the host with vital information, and the Host is choosing to not buy it.]
'Will I still have enough to cripple Charlotte?'
[Yes]
'Buy.'
[The Winter Queen lineage derives from the flower Drivora, more commonly known as Sin of Dependency. The more dependent the bearer is on the target. The stronger the effects. Last known bearer's accomplishment: Froze the entire Spider Galaxy due to a spider killing their target of affection.]
'I think I misheard you. She couldn't possibly freeze a Galaxy right?'
[The System is correct, The Winter Queen is capable of freezing a galaxy.]
'Shit shit shit shit. Wait, if I bond with her, will I be able to freeze a galaxy?'
[With the help of the System yes]
Hajime felt an adrenaline rush at the thought of being strong enough to freeze a galaxy.
[Reminder, Aveline is currently bonding with Julian]
[Would the host like to proceed with crippling Charlotte or killing Julian]
'Kill?'
[Yes, the only way to stop the bond now is to kill Julian]
[Host has 10 seconds]
"What's it going to be Hajime." Charlotte asked as she clicked her fingernails on the desk.
'Fuck' ran countless times through Hajime's mind as he weighed his options.
Hajime's arm tenses as he swallowed hard.
"I'll do the mission."
'Rest in Peace Julian.'
[Congratulations, The host has acquired the title: Murderer]
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone