บท 184: Chapter 185: Power of Words
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༺ Power of Words ༻
– Creak…
"…Hmm."
Seeing the carriage slow down, it seemed like we'd arrived at our destination.
"You guys, stay here…"
I instructed the animals perched on the windowsill.
– Thud!!
However, the animals rushed towards me at once.
"…Sigh."
I ended up with an owl on my right shoulder, a dove on my left, a canary in my arm, and a cat doll in my pocket.
"Everyone is…"
A faint frown formed on my face, but before I could issue any further commands, they vanished into thin air.
"…What happened?"
Still somewhat puzzled by their disappearance, I got off the stationary carriage, hitting the cat doll's head as it peeked out of my pocket.
"…Lulu, are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine. There's no problem at all."
Then, I subtly questioned Lulu, to which she responded with a cheerful smile.
Despite her reaction and her appearance not showing any issues, obviously, her previous reaction in the carriage had been anything but ordinary.
"Wait a minute."
As I tilted my head in confusion, I cautiously reached my hand towards her body to confirm something.
– Slide…
Slipping my hand into her clothing, I observed for Lulu's reaction.
"…..?"
Suddenly putting my hand inside her clothes should have made her uncomfortable, but for some reason, she simply stared at me with curiosity.
"Hmm."
Feeling a tinge of embarrassment after trying to make myself look like a villain, I retracted the diagnostic magic I had cast and muttered.
"Other than a slight fever, there doesn't seem to be any other issues… Hmm?"
While I was occupied with this, I suddenly felt a chill, prompting me to scan my surroundings.
"...…."
Passersby were all casting cold glances in my direction.
"Sigh."
I was well aware my reputation had hit rock bottom, but experiencing it firsthand drove the point home with painful clarity.
Right now, those onlookers might have concluded that Lulu was my sex slave who had become numb to this level of mild harassment, as she had been subjected to my persistent and unwelcome advances for a supposedly long time.
"Grrrr…"
I glanced at her, worried that such reactions might distress the vulnerable Lulu. However, instead of being scared, she clung tightly to my arm and glared fiercely at her surroundings.
Somehow, her demeanor reminded me of a ferocious hunting dog, and I let out a chuckle before speaking in a hushed tone.
"…Why are you looking at them like that?"
"Oh, um… that…"
Then she flustered for a moment.
"I-I was just trying to intimidate them. They're all Master's enemies, after all…"
She confessed in a timid voice.
Seeing her like this, it became evident that her criteria for judging things had shifted; it was no longer a matter of good and evil, but rather whether it involved me or not.
"…You're so impressive."
After witnessing Lulu baring her teeth and growling for a while, I turned to head inside the building. She then questioned me in a low voice.
"…So what kind of place is this?"
Copying her, I responded discreetly.
"From now on, this will be the place we will visit when I want to do dirty work."
"I see."
Lulu nodded with a composed expression and followed me to the entrance of the building.
– Creak…
As I entered the building with her, a certain person came into my field of vision.
"H-Hello there. Here is…"
The final boss of the first-year scenario and the mid-boss of the entire scenario greeted me awkwardly in Imperial language.
"…Uh, oh."
Miho was at the counter wearing an apron as she approached me.
"What, who is this? Aren't you that darn noble? Why are you here!"
Miho stared at me blankly for a while, before she suddenly trembled, letting out a startled shout.
"...."
I quietly observed her, turning my gaze when I heard a very familiar voice coming from behind her.
"Frey!"
"Oh, hel…"
Serena, whose makeup was so striking that it was absurd, was looking at me with a bashful expression.
"...Huh?"
However, when Serena noticed Lulu next to me, she looked quite astonished.
"Ah…"
Her initial surprise gradually transformed into evident disappointment.
"…Mhm?"
I shot a pitying look at Serena, before I noticed something unusual about Miho, who was standing before me.
"Haa, haaaa…"
I discreetly put my hand into my pocket where I had kept the Stone of Domination and activated it.
"E-e-e-eek!!"
In a heartbeat, Miho darted towards me.
"M-Master!"
Several things happened simultaneously.
"Uheeekk…!"
Lulu closed her eyes tightly and embraced me.
"...…"
Despite having disappeared before I entered the building, the animals suddenly reappeared on my shoulders and arms. They quietly channeled magical power within their body.
"Miho, stop!"
And Serena popped out like a bullet, hugging Miho.
All of this happened in mere seconds.
"…Step aside."
In that situation, I commanded everyone with a cold voice.
"Everyone step aside."
My voice grew louder as I issued the command. Serena, who was holding Miho, Lulu, who was holding me, and the animals clinging to me quickly stepped aside.
"Hm."
With my surroundings now completely empty, I approached Miho, who had frozen in place under the influence of the Stone of Domination.
"…Long time no see, huh?"
I smirked eerily and muttered.
"Ugh, e-eek."
In response, her face contorted into terror.
It seemed the memories of the slave market incident were still fresh in her mind.
"Y-You, human. Stay away!"
"But what were you trying to do just now?"
"Eeek…"
I gently held her neck before I began to calmly whisper in her ear.
"…Did you think you could escape?"
"...!"
"There's already a warrant out for you in the entire Empire, bitch. Even if you leave this place right this moment, you'll be arrested immediately."
"Ugh, ugh…"
"So don't even think about escaping and just wait here obediently."
As I observed her, on the brink of tears and clenching her fists, I continued.
"…If I get interested, I'll come to get you."
I pushed her forward.
"Ugh…"
Because of that, Miho collapsed and started trembling on the ground.
"..."
I looked at her, my gaze shifting to empty air as I quietly contemplated.
[Sub-Heroines Conquest]
Miho
[Conquest Progress: 0%]
Details…
'So why is she a sub-heroine?'
She was just a "mid-boss," definitely not a heroine.
Once I successfully saved her in the "Slave Market" quest, she would be designated as an NPC for the newly established "Information Guild," thereby bolstering the guild's efficiency.
Of course, that was not the end of it. She also had some pretty useful abilities.
Apart from "Hero's Power," Miho was the only one who possessed the ability to manipulate "Life Force" in Dark Tale Fantasy. Perhaps she could be the key to resolving my life force deficiency.
In the 'game', there were limitations, but in this real world, I could experiment with various things without any restrictions.
In fact, the life force enhancement ability on my walking stick was developed and tested by Serena and Irina based on her ability.
As such, maybe as an NPC, she could be helpful and even become the key to solving the life force deficiency.
However, how should I react to the fact that Miho, who clearly only had such a role, was now relegated to the status of a 'sub-heroine'?
Although, of course, I couldn't blindly trust in the response of the system window that was supervised by the Demon God. But for now, it seemed like the system window didn't know anything about the "Affection System."
So, could there be another entity responsible for the "Affection System"?
"…Tsk."
Lost in thought, I suddenly felt a growing headache and decided to push the system window aside.
'…Well, it will be fine if I just treat her according to my original plan.'
Just because she had become a sub-heroine didn't mean I had to conquer Miho. After all, my goal was to save the world, not indulge in a frivolous dating simulation game.
So, it was probably best to treat her as originally planned, both as an NPC of the guild and a potential key.
– Crackle…
"…Hm?"
As I thought about it and stepped forward, the system window suddenly started crackling.
"…..!"
Then, a change occurred.
[Sub-Heroines Conquest]
Miho
[Conquest Progress Suspended]
Details…
"…Oho?"
Seeing that, I came to understand how the system worked to some extent.
'So, according to my judgment, the situation in the conquest route will change automatically.'
With this revelation came a flood of new questions.
'Does suspending or closing the conquest route result in disadvantages? Or are there benefits to completing the conquest?'
Such questions began popping up in my mind.
'Could the conquest status change solely based on my judgment, or are there other factors?'
As I kept contemplating on this matter…
'What's the difference between suspending and closing? Can the route be reopened?'
I calmly muttered, knitting my brows in thought.
"Hmm…"…"
Those were quite interesting topics, but it was a bit impractical to think about them now as there were more immediate tasks at hand.
"Hmm…"
For now, let's just remember that I was the one to determine the status of the conquest route.
"Serena."
"Y-yes?"
I decided to explore the new features of the "Affection System" later and spoke to Serena instead, who had been standing still in her place.
"Let's have a little chat, just the two of us."
"Oh, okay! I got it. Umm…then…"
She had been sweating profusely before, but now she noticeably started to fidget.
'…She's so adorable.'
If nighttime Serena gave off the vibe of a sage or a mysterious figure who knew everything, daytime Serena was incredibly cute.
No matter how much of a genius she might have been, a girl her age couldn't help but become helpless or act like a fool when she fell in love, could she?
"Oh, right. There's that place."
"..."
"F-follow me."
As I had such thoughts, the dejected Serena led me to the underground.
"You guys stay here. Get along peacefully, and don't fight."
With that, I left the animals behind.
.
.
.
.
.
"What is this place?"
"Um, well, y-y-you see, this is…"
As I surveyed the underground space that Serena had prepared to serve as the headquarters for the new Information Guild, Serena began to stammer in response to my question.
"Uh, um… it's the meeting room."
"Tsk."
After she finally managed to answer, I gave her an impatient look. Sensing my irritation, Serena, who had been watching my reaction closely, flinched.
"F-Frey…"
After a considerable amount of time had passed, she cautiously approached me.
– Ssk, Ssk…
"Um, there. We can talk there. Right?"
Saying so, she came in, pushing her way into the spot where I was seated. In doing so, she also carefully rubbed her body on my outer clothing.
It was as if she was trying to get rid of the scent of Lulu, who had been clinging tightly to my side and nuzzling her face.
"…Stay away from me."
I almost lost my composure due to such an unexpected situation, but I exercised exceptional patience…
– Lick.
Serena suddenly licked me.
"It's okay if you don't treat me as your fiancé."
I found myself momentarily dazed by the sudden turn of situation, and Serena clung to my chest and spoke earnestly.
"It's okay if you treat me like a pet too. It's okay if you treat me like a maid or a slave. It doesn't matter how you treat me, so just let me stay by your side, please?"
"Serena."
"Do you know how long it's been since the last time I've seen you like this? So, please, please… I feel like I'm going crazy missing you…"
She was trembling as she spoke.
"…I've liked you since forever, Frey."
She lowered her face, her face turning a deep red as she mumbled.
"....."
And then, there was a moment of silence.
"…I can't stand it any longer."
Despite having already guessed Serena's intentions from the moment we entered the room, I couldn't hold back anymore and stood up.
"F-Frey?"
– Click!
Finally, I reached for the room's switch and turned all the switches down.
– Beep, beep, beep!
Then I also pressed the keypad below without hesitation.
– Woooonggg…
A complex set of hieroglyphics briefly appeared in the room.
"….."
And shortly, the room was filled with complete darkness.
"Serena."
I called out Serena's name.
"…Frey."
Serena, her memories now fully restored, responded shyly as she settled into her seat and looked at me.
"You managed to figure it out. Here is the dark occurrence space that I designed perfectly to avoid the Demon God's surveillance. But by the way, how did you know the password…"
"You always set your password as my birthday."
I interrupted her as she spoke in a low voice.
"…You silly."
I grinned and leaned closer to her.
– Smooch…!
And then, from that moment on, a kiss began before we knew it.
"Hmm…"
"..."
Serena, passionately exploring with her tongue, cautiously slipped her hand into my clothes.
– Whoosh…
And a moment later.
"…Ah, ugh.."
Her chest touched mine.
– Thump, thump…
As our bare skin made contact, our heartbeats synchronized as well.
"…Gulp."
Serena slowly reached down, and I swallowed nervously, feeling a slight tension.
"....."
And thus began a long silence.
– Rustle, rustle…
In a situation where nothing could be seen, I relied solely on the faint rustling sound, feeling the weight of her on top of me while quietly closing my eyes.
"…Argh!!"
"Serena?"
However, suddenly, Serena began to scream in pain, so I stood up in surprise.
"Wha-what's going on?"
"Ah… Ahhh uhhh…!"
"…This."
After a while, as I felt her flesh more carefully, I was able to figure out the problem.
"Is it… because of the curse?"
"I-I'm s-sorry… I'm so sorry."
I cautiously asked, to which she answered with a low voice.
"I tried to endure the pain with pain-relieving potions and pain-relieving magic, but… I couldn't… Ugh…"
She began to cry in pain again. I hastily moved away from her, put on my clothes, and asked.
"The Secret Lord has been captured, hasn't he?"
"Y-yes, we have caught him… But when I researched the Curse of Subordination, I found a problem…"
"A problem?"
"After searching through ancient texts, I found that if the person who cast the curse is killed, the curse bearer won't receive orders anymore, but the curse will remain…"
"…Huh?"
Upon hearing that, I let out a short groan.
"T-therefore, I tried to endure the pain somehow, but… I-I'm sorry…"
"…Serena."
I carefully grabbed Serena's shoulders which trembled as she spoke.
"Let's find a solution together. There must be a way to lift that curse."
"Y-yeah."
"Remember what you said about that one coincidence? If we find that, we can solve this, right? It's not impossible, so just wait a little more…"
With a soothing voice, I started to reassure her.
"W-we have to find it within the summer break."
"Huh?"
Serena, who had been sobbing, calmly raised her head at my remark.
"Before the vacation ends, I-I need to find a solution…"
"Hmm."
I listened intently to Serena's quivering voice.
"So, you and I can share our love…"
At her mournful words, I replied with a grin.
"Is that so? Then, stay strong."
"What?"
"…I want to do it with you soon, too, Serena."
"...…."
And then, a long silence followed.
Although I couldn't clearly see her due to the complete darkness, Serena stiffened after hearing my words…
"…♡"
With trembling eyes, she gazed at me, then grasped my hand. Her whole body was shivering as she whispered in a soft voice.
"Love… I love you… I love you, Frey…"
"…Uh, yeah."
Serena's switch had completely flipped.
Seeing her behaving this way somehow made me recall the Serena I had seen in the Third Ordeal.
"By any means necessary… I will… Hehe…"
"S-should we leave this place first?"
"…Okayyy."
Feeling like staying here any longer might lead to another kind of danger, I urgently headed to the keypads with her.
"During the day, I'll have to be harsh with you. So, I'm really sorry…"
"…♡"
"It's fine."
I briefly stroked Serena's head as she buried her face inside my clothes, breathing heavily.
– Click!
Then, I raised the switches simultaneously.
– Wooong…
In that fleeting moment, the light filled the room again, and her memories adjusted to the present.
"…Huh?"
"There's no need for you to see me anymore."
"Uh…"
Serena lowered her head at my cold words, her eyes welling up with tears.
– Step, step…
Leaving her behind, I climbed the stairs while gently caressing my flushed face.
"…Huh?"
Strangely, I sensed an unusual atmosphere and momentarily raised my head.
"What was that?"
However, thinking of it as nothing, I dismissed the feeling and grabbed the doorknob leading to the first floor.
"Nooo!!!"
"…..!?"
After noticing something, Serena, who had been fumbling with her disheveled clothes, suddenly rushed toward me with a pale face. I momentarily froze upon seeing Serena charge towards me.
"Khhhooooo!!!"
– Crash!!
Something happened at the instant.
"Uwaack!!"
Because Serena rushed at full force from behind, I was sent tumbling to the ground along with her.
"Grrrr…"
"…..!?"
I was shocked to find that Miho had shattered the steel door with a single strike.
"W-what's that? How could that happen?"
"I-Is she going berserk…?"
For some unknown reason, she had taken on the appearance of the final boss in the first-year scenario, the 'mystical beast transformed into a monster.'
"I hate… humans… I hate nobles…"
"Keutt."
In this incomprehensible situation, I desperately searched for the Stone of Domination I had kept in my pocket.
"…Damn it."
Realizing that my pants were torn apart, I cursed under my breath.
"This drives me crazy."
Along with the side of my pants, the Stone of Domination inside my pocket had also been flung far away, shattered into pieces.
"Grrrr…"
"I-I'll deal with her. You go down to the basement…"
"Hooo…"
I calmly closed my eyes in the face of this life-threatening situation and infused mana into my walking stick and the sword at my waist.
– Crackle… Crackle…
The animals that had been restraining Miho, depleting even the magic that had composed their very essence, began to conjure a self-destructing magic circle in the air.
"Stop it."
The situation ended abruptly.
"Keeeit…!"
It was because Miho, who had been using all her strength to release the spirits' restraints, suddenly stopped moving.
"Sit."
After a while, a terrifying voice once again echoed throughout the guild.
"Kiiing…"
With trembling legs, Miho soon lowered her tail and hunkered down.
"...…."
Shortly after, silence fell.
"....."
On the other hand, Lulu, the protagonist who had created this situation, gazed down at Miho with her cold expression.
"…..Huh?"
After she regained her senses, she suddenly made a surprised sound and tilted her head.
– Crackle…
Her Magic Eyes were burning with a more intense, deep, ruby hue than anyone else's.
"M-Master, what kind of situation is this…?"
You can read 505 episodes for $10. p.*atreon.com/Astrid02
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