Rustilla (2): A Pure Heart Beneath the Facade
I ate the breakfast Sonia had prepared and started studying. I raced through the workbook problems and took a ten-minute break. Normally I would have opened the next book immediately, but today I needed time to collect my thoughts.
“Young master, regarding the young lady from House Kersil.”
Sonia approached while I was resting.
“Hm? You mean Rustilla?”
“Yes. Wasn’t she truly beautiful?”
It was rare for Sonia to compliment someone else’s appearance. She was obviously testing me.
“Yeah, she was pretty cute.”
“This Sonia was deeply concerned that you might flirt with Lady Rustilla.”
“Why, should I?”
Sonia answered with clear disgust.
“Please do not.”
I nodded. I had neither the time nor the reason. What I needed to pay attention to wasn’t her face—it was her Constellation. The constellation contracted with Rustilla could read other people’s malice. It could even detect what type of constellation someone had contracted with. Since our eyes had met, she must have sensed Cartesia’s presence.
…I wonder if she’s mentally okay.
“How strange. To think you wouldn’t even glance at such a beautiful girl.” Sonia sounded impressed.
The original Idel had been notorious for chasing women. I gave a suitably vague reply.
“…It’s not that I’m uninterested.”
“Is that so?”
Sonia blinked repeatedly, looking intrigued. Then she raised her hand above her head. I knew exactly what that meant. It was the motion that said she was about to throw robotic ethics out the window.
“If you’re about to cause another incident, stop right there.”
“Hey, wait! I didn’t mean I’m interested in her as a woman!”
“……?”
The Deity of Wisdom and Curiosity tilts their head at your statement.
Sonia lowered her raised fist. Somehow the conversation had gotten twisted.
“What I mean is, I’m interested in her as a classmate.”
“…A classmate, you say?”
I nodded.
“That’s right. A classmate. Or, to put it another way, a potential friend. I have a decent eye for people, you know? That girl will definitely enroll at Stellarium next year. And so will I.”
I shrugged and continued.
“You said it yourself, didn’t you? My admission to the academy might become the cornerstone for leading the Rheinland family someday. In that case, it can’t hurt to get close to someone from House Kersil. There’s a reason people talk about school ties and personal connections, right?”
In truth, Rustilla would pass the Stellarium entrance exam. Later she would become a military commander guarding the Federation’s front lines. She wielded a plasma sword as if it were part of her body and would even earn the outdated title of Sword Saint. Having her as an ally would make things much easier for me. No one was better at holding back monster waves than Rustilla. If she bought me time, there would be one less obstacle in developing the Graviton Bomb.
I stroked my chin in thought.
“I originally planned to just study quietly here, but…”
My plans had changed. Even if it meant taking risks, I had to act more aggressively.
I opened my mouth.
“Sonia.”
“…Speak.”
“Let’s do a little play with me.”
“A play? What kind of play?”
“Come closer and I’ll whisper it.”
I told her the plan in a low voice. Sonia jerked her head back the moment she heard it. She frowned so deeply that her eyelashes creased.
“Young master, have you lost your mind?”
“I’m drawing a big picture here. Just cooperate with me this once.”
I pleaded earnestly. Sonia let out a sigh, then nodded with clear reluctance.
“Understood. I will trust the behavior you have shown over the past three weeks and follow your lead.”
We briefly discussed the details of the plan.
Rustilla’s shoulders trembled faintly.
That… wasn’t human.
Darkness, death, ruler of chaos. In the black-haired, golden-eyed boy she had met at the dock, Rustilla had seen true madness.
“Sister, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”
Seti asked worriedly. Rustilla shook her head.
“Ugh…”
A wave of nausea hit her.
“…Are you really okay?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine…”
Rustilla steadied her breathing and organized her thoughts. Then she retraced what she had seen. Her head throbbed. Inside the boy’s mind that she had glimpsed through her constellation, the space had been filled with tentacles. White tentacles. They had clearly been rampaging. Thrashing wildly in the gloomy space, they had violated her eyes and stomach. It felt like she had witnessed something that should never be seen.
But at the same time, those tentacles had been unable to run completely wild. Each sucker had been locked with a sturdy padlock. Those padlocks were chained together with multiple iron shackles, and at the end of every chain sat a book.
It was enormous…
Rustilla possessed the ability to interpret other people’s mental landscapes.
But that… I couldn’t interpret it at all.
Tentacles symbolized Outer Gods, and white represented good. An Outer God contractor who was good? Is that even possible?
Humans who contracted with Outer Gods went mad. Yet that boy had been walking around normally. It had been difficult to judge whether he was good or evil in the first place. Because she couldn’t see his mental landscape clearly.
I don’t know.
Rustilla shook her head. She couldn’t decide whether she should report the boy to the Federation or not. If she made a false report, she would be the only one who looked bad.
Let’s not overthink it.
Rustilla shook her head vigorously. Her tied-back ponytail swung like a pendulum.
“Whoa! You scared me!”
Seti, accidentally hit by the swinging hair, pouted.
“S-sorry!”
“It’s okay. I’m fine.”
Seti grinned brightly.
“Are you really okay, sister?”
“Yes, I told you I’m fine.”
The contact with that mental image had lasted only a moment. She hadn’t felt her mind growing hazy. Rustilla lowered her head. The physics workbook she had promised to solve with Seti lay open in front of her. Then she lifted her gaze.
Beyond the translucent window, several robots—including the exclusive butler Jermel—stood waiting. Their eyes fixed on Rustilla with a chilling intensity. Somehow they felt more frightening than an Outer God. She hated it.
Rustilla sighed. She fidgeted with the luggage she had brought. Between the bundles stuffed with workbooks, her fingers brushed against something hard made of wood. It was a wooden sword.
I can’t even train here…
She wanted to release her pent-up stress. She wanted to keep practicing for her dream of becoming a soldier. But the environment she had been given did not allow it. Rustilla’s face fell.
Knock, knock.
“Lady Seti, this is Sonia. Excuse me.”
“Sonia? Come in.”
With a soft whir, a female android with navy-blue hair entered. Haughty expression, perfect posture. A frilly headband and a white ribbon on the back of her waist. It was the maid who had been with that boy earlier.
“I have brought refreshments for the two young ladies.”
“Refreshments? From you?”
“This Sonia prepared them in advance so that Lady Seti would not be inconvenienced while studying.”
Sonia carefully set down cookies and juice in the center of the desk.
“Wow.”
Both Seti and Rustilla widened their eyes. Every item looked delicious.
“Then, I wish you a productive study session.”
Sonia bowed politely and left at once. She returned to Idel’s room and reported.
“How was it?” Idel asked.
“The two young ladies were shut inside the room studying. There were five androids from House Kersil waiting outside. They all appeared to be guarding Lady Rustilla.”
“Really?”
The situation was favorable. Idel murmured to himself and stood up.
“Are you really going through with this?”
“I have to.”
“If it goes wrong, you could plant a bad impression not only with Lady Rustilla but with Lady Seti as well.”
“Seti might be one thing, but Rustilla won’t be.”
Idel took the lead and walked forward. Sonia followed at a distance.
“Hoo…”
Idel took a deep breath in front of Seti’s room. He opened his mouth toward the robots standing motionless.
“Hey, you fucking tin cans.”
The appearance of the delinquent Idel.
Jermel was a semi-autonomous android tasked with protecting Rustilla. Equipped with a fourth-generation AI core, he could detect threats and emotional changes in his charge.
“What the hell are you doing blocking the hallway, huh?”
This was clearly a crisis situation.
“Who are you…?”
“You don’t know who I am? Huh?”
The black-haired, golden-eyed boy approached with a sneer. Jermel narrowed his eyes sharply. The boy’s gaze carried an arrogant current.
“If you don’t know, listen carefully and remember, you bucket-headed bastards. This body is Idel von Rheinland, the third son of the great Rheinland family!”
The boy, Idel, arrogantly swung his fist. A sudden attack without warning. But the movement was sloppy. Jermel twisted his body and dodged.
“What? I told you to move.”
“I have made way for you.”
He could not strike a human. That would violate Federation law. The moment Jermel heard the name “Idel,” he began searching.
Idel von Rheinland.
The notorious delinquent of the Rheinland family, famous for his rotten personality. Lecher, gambling addict, scum of humanity.
He must not be allowed near Lady Rustilla.
Jermel sent a radio signal to summon his fellow androids. All of them were robots guarding Rustilla. They formed a barricade in front of Seti’s door.
“If we have been rude, we apologize. The hallway is now clear, so please pass through.”
“No, I changed my mind.”
Crack, crack, crackle. Idel cracked his fingers one by one, then pulled something out.
…A wooden sword?
Idel swung the wooden sword without hesitation. Clang! It scraped the wall with a loud metallic ring.
“I’ve been getting nagged by my father lately and I’m pissed. Guess I’ll beat you guys up instead!”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Idel brandished the sword, driving the androids back. Jermel retreated in confusion.
We are private property of House Kersil. We must not be damaged. But we also cannot strike a human.
The Three Laws of Robotics. To uphold those principles, there was only one choice. The robots had to move far away from the door.
“Where do you think you’re running?”
The five androids were herded to the end of the corridor like sheep being driven by a shepherd boy. Whoosh, whoosh! Idel’s lips twisted as he swung the wooden sword.
“You stupid tin cans!”
Whirr.
At the continuous noise, the two girls opened the door and poked their heads out. Gold and silver. Rustilla and Seti.
“What is it? What’s all the commotion!”
Seti, grasping the situation, shrieked.
“That, that crazy bastard…!”
I thought he had come to his senses a little! Seti ground her teeth and dashed out of the room. She had to stop Idel. With that thought she ran quickly.
At that moment—
Swish!
A figure with bluish hair overtook Seti.
“…Sonia?!”
Sonia’s headband fluttered past the tip of Seti’s nose. Sonia had thrown her body forward and planted a dropkick squarely into Idel’s back.
“Guh!!”
Idel rolled two and a half times in front of Jermel. A sickening crack sounded. Dry vomit burst from Idel’s mouth.
“S-Sonia…! You bitch…!”
The fallen Idel staggered to his feet. His wicked golden eyes glared at Sonia.
“Young master, you were quiet lately yet you cause another incident.”
“Get out of the way while I’m asking nicely.”
“This Sonia serves the head of House Rheinland. I cannot allow you to further tarnish the family’s authority.”
“I said get out of the way while I’m asking nicely!”
Sonia sighed and assumed a combat stance.
What is going on…?
At the repeated disturbance, Rustilla also stepped into the corridor. The bluish maid and the boy were facing off.
It’s that boy.
The one suspected of contracting with an Outer God. He had definitely introduced himself as “Idel.” Idel was currently a famous problem child throughout the Federation. Just how much of a delinquent was he that everyone in the world knew his name?
A sudden curiosity rose in Rustilla.
I should check once.
The Deity of Purity and Tenacity bestows the Eye of Insight upon you.
Unique skill, Eye of Insight. It was different from the “Swift Eye” she had used at the dock earlier. Color, scent, taste, sound, texture. The Eye of Insight used the six senses to reveal a person’s true heart more clearly. Regardless of any contracted Outer God or constellation.
“Take your punishment.”
“Ack, agh! Aaaagh!”
Rustilla examined Idel’s exact mental landscape through the Eye of Insight.
“Have some shame in front of guests.”
“Ugh, fuck! Agh, ack, ugh!”
And as a result, Rustilla could not hide her astonishment. There was no helping it.
“It hurts, you crazy bitch! Aaaaaagh—!!”
Contrary to his outward behavior, the boy’s heart was remarkably clean.