Chapter 470: Lust
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 470: Lust
“Is it possible?”
- S...sorry...
Dispelling it was impossible. Realizing that right to my face made the situation feel even more absurd.
“You... Are you serious right now...”
- S... Sorry... I messed up, I was wrong... Sob...
“To think you made something like this without considering the consequences...”
- I-I definitely ch-checked for mental contamination issues... hic... A-and I didn't think it was... s-serious... If I thought about that too, it would have taken a little more time, and I wasn't s-sure how to design the magic... Actually, I only found out about this problem later... Sob... I didn't know it would turn out like this...
In other words, there was a bug in the magic's programming.
No, it wasn't a bug. The programming was likely just incomplete. The reason she rushed an incomplete program was because it would have taken longer otherwise. Of course, she might have thought it was no big deal. As I considered before, there are no side effects other than feeling lust.
“.....................”
From her perspective, she must have been giddy with the thought of being loved for the rest of her life.
“You know we can't go on like this, right?”
- S...sorry... Sob...
She seemed so smart, yet when it came to human relationships like this, she was a complete airhead. Geniuses like her are often the ones who get scammed. This case was a little different, but it would be more fitting to say she was scammed by the Seat of Lust.
In reality, the owners of the Seats are unknowingly influenced by their respective emotions. That fact doesn't change, even if they aren't aware of it. Isaac was undoubtedly influenced by Lust. I know that influence better than anyone. Not only does it cloud your rational judgment, but you also fail to recognize your own state of mind when you act.
Maria's entire life was like that, and so was I during the Continental War.
The problem was more serious than I thought. It's not that I don't trust Isaac, but she's inept at handling emotions. Separate from her magical knowledge, she's a complete airhead on the inside.
Of course, I had no problem holding back, but even as I resisted, Isaac's image kept popping into my head. I might think it's nothing at first, but as more time passes, I started to think that just living a normal life might become impossible.
“You...”
- I'm sorry...
“You know we have to do something, right?”
- .................
“Because it seems the effect is a little stronger than you think. To be honest, it might become difficult for me to even look at your face.”
After I finished speaking, Isaac's face twisted in despair. But then, realizing that wasn't what I meant, the corners of her mouth slowly began to rise. Of course, she glanced at me and quickly hid her expression, but her lips kept twitching as if she wanted to say something.
“What is it?”
- W-well...
She seemed to be contemplating something deeply, as if debating whether she should say the line.
“Spit it out.”
- H-how about we do it... once? W-who knows? M-maybe if we have one, g-good session, it'll all go away!
A single sentence filled with both selfish desire and concern. Of course, after seeing the dumbfounded look on my face, Isaac quickly turned her head away.
“That's not how this problem is going to be solved. And do you really think that's the right answer?”
- N-no, of course not... That's not it...
The way she hastily cut herself off was truly absurd. I started to think that maybe she wasn't influenced by the Seat at all, and this was just Isaac causing trouble.
“Since you set the target of the magic as the staff's owner, if you were to renounce ownership of the staff...”
- H-huh?
“What?”
- N-nothing. It's not a bad idea, but... th-uuugh...
She looked extremely flustered, but of course, I had no intention of giving up ownership of the staff. Just because I don't use it often doesn't mean its functions are any less valuable.
Besides, I am the power source that moves Isaac's body. Unlike in the past when she relied on the Magic Tower to maintain her body, ever since the tower was destroyed, Isaac has been relying on me. I don't know what would have happened back when the tower existed, but if I were to renounce ownership now, there's no telling what would happen to Isaac.
In a worst-case scenario, she might lose her power immediately.
- Th-there must be a way. Th-there has to be...
“Think about it. I'll think about it too.”
It's impossible for the owner of a Seat to abandon it before death. You can tell just by looking at how Pride still clings to Ha Yuri. The Seat doesn't disappear just because you lose your power or suppress the emotion.
Changing its ability is also impossible.
The body gained from Sorrow, the flame gained from Wrath, the wings gained from Greed—it's impossible to change any of them.
As if shocked by my suggestion of giving up the weapon's ownership, Isaac hurriedly sat at her desk and began to write something down. She looked like she was searching for a solution, but whether that method would be effective was anyone's guess. I, too, decided I needed to find a way and idly fiddled with the weapons I had.
Levatain of Wrath, Gram of Sorrow. I felt like I was about to grasp a clue.
- Want to merge for a bit, darling?
Hearing Levatain's voice at just the right time, I nodded. First, I needed to check my own condition.
“Levatain.”
Without hesitation, I began the Weapon Integration. A great flame started to engulf me. My horns turned to fire, and I felt the very substance of my body, including my tail, begin to change. There was no pain anymore. I was so used to integrating with Levatain that it now felt completely natural.
Feeling as if I had become a great flame myself, I sighed and began to think of her. After a moment, her voice came through.
- Looks like you're in a bind.
‘Just as you see.’
- Not a single one of them is normal. Not one... I thought that staff might be a little more decent, but my goodness... Don't you agree, darling?
‘.........................’
- Isaac of Lust, it's just hilarious... Well, she's still young, so I guess I can understand... Everyone's like that at that age... So? How is it now?
‘It's a little better.’
After integrating, I definitely felt more at ease. Even before the overall increase in my abilities, Levatain was playing the role of blocking the incoming emotions. If it stayed like this, I should be able to endure it.
- Still, you can't stay like this forever. Right?
She was right. I didn't want to pass out like before.
- To be honest, I'm a novice in this area, so I don't know what to tell you. I want to help, but... hmm... It's not the kind of thing you can just block... It's basically the same as completely changing a weapon's effect. If you were to use me as an example...
‘Would it be like stopping me from summoning flames?’
- Something like that. The thing on that staff is basically a continuous effect, so if I had to make a comparison, you could say it's like a stat boost or an additional effect. It's a bit funny to call a curse like that an 'additional effect,' though... Pfft. Isn't it basically the same as a penalty that crazy bitch has?
One could see it that way.
- See? There's no weapon as good as me, right? Ahem. I've been quite popular lately. Enough to make Mistilteinn jealous... and Ridil, well... Ah! Ridil asked me to tell you to visit her more often... She was sad, saying you two have grown distant...
“..................”
For someone who acted like she was going to help, she was strangely talkative. Her real goal was probably to promote herself. I figured she was trying to appeal to me that there was no weapon better than her in these chaotic times.
- Now you're making me sad again.
The voice I heard was clearly far from sad. It sounded like someone who had just been caught red-handed.
- Ahem... ahem... Anyway, that's how it is. If you don't want to feel like you did before, you have no choice but to integrate with me often, even normally... A-and if you're going to integrate, I might be a better choice than the silent Gram. This is the only way.
‘What about the Item Shop...’
- You'd better not get your hopes up there. There's a limit to what they can tamper with. I told you. This is about changing a weapon's inherent, continuous effect. It'll be pretty difficult.
‘If I integrate...’
- Something would change, sure. But I wouldn't really recommend it... The effect would only get stronger, not weaker. In my case, at least, there's some leeway since I received the emotion from you... but that's not the case with that staff, is it?
‘What if I were to receive the emotion from her?’
- That's...
‘................’
- A novel idea. Are you saying you're going to become the weapon?
It didn't seem like a bad idea. Until now, I had been the one giving emotion to the weapon. This time, the weapon would be the one sharing its emotion with me.
When I first accepted the Seat, both Gram and Levatain showed incredible reactions. Even before their reactions, the weapons' specs themselves improved dramatically. It was a tremendous change, enough to say they were on a different level. If I assume that Isaac can share her Seat with me, then I, too, might undergo a change.
- I don't know if that will be a positive change or a negative one. You might get stronger, but... I can't predict whether you'll be free from that effect.
‘Hmm...’
- The idea is good. Really... I don't like it for some reason, but... it might not be a bad idea to try.
If it succeeds, Isaac and I will become mutually complementary beings. I give her magic, and she supplies me with the Seat. Assuming she has this level of ability, the amount of emotion Isaac has accumulated must be quite large. She may not have collected the emotions of others like me, Maria, or Ha Yuri, but the amount of emotion she has built up personally should be considerable.
Whether negative or positive, a change will come one way or another.
And I don't dislike that change.
- Hmm... Well, this is as far as I go. Figure out the rest on your own.
‘Thanks.’
- It's not like I was much help... Still, I'm a little envious of that staff. I don't have anything I can give you. Anyway, good luck. I'll be cheering for you, darling.
When I released the integration with Levatain, a great sense of exhaustion washed over me. Levatain said she had nothing to give me, but in reality, I had received countless things from her. I had been in her debt ever since I first met her, back when she was the Ancient Flame. I quietly slipped Levatain back into my cloak and raised my head. Isaac was still engrossed in something. I tapped her on the shoulder, and she quickly turned around.
“Isaac.”
- Huh? J-just a minute... There must be a way... Th-there has to be a way!
“Integration.”
- Huh? Th-that?
“Come here.”
- Huh? Huh? M-merge? W-why all of a sudden... Really? Are we really... d-doing it?
It was a way to break through the situation.
However,
Unlike me, who was thinking about it quite seriously, Isaac's face was strangely flushed.
- A-are we doing it?
I immediately reached out to Isaac. She took my hand, and a flash of light erupted.
[ Weapon Integration ]
[ Target - Isaac of Lust ]