Shadows of the Hanged Man
Ever since opening her eyes, the second target, Marie, had been curled up on her bed without moving. She had no desire whatsoever to step outside. Dawn passed into morning, and the dormitory began to buzz with activity—likely students heading to class. But still, Marie didn't budge.
I have to go... Somewhere deep in her heart, a voice screamed at her to run to Emil right now and apologize. He's kind, after all. If she apologized with genuine sincerity, maybe he'd forgive her. That's what she thought.
I have to go to Emil... But her body wouldn't move. The moment she tried to will herself into action, that scene flickered in her mind. In front of the academy's main building. Emil's small figure dangling there. His body limp, tongue lolling out, eyes rolled back as if staring right at her. That image kept stopping her in her tracks.
"......"
Still, she couldn't stay like this forever. Emil surely remembered that moment too. The events she'd seen in her dream were the reason he'd rejected her confession. Marie still wanted to be lovers with Emil. That desire hadn't changed even now that she had those dream memories. If anything, having memories of being his lover made the craving even more overwhelming.
Which was why she couldn't just hole up in her room.
But going out... won't change anything...
Curled on the bed, Marie agonized endlessly. How could she earn Emil's forgiveness? How could she make him love her? She pondered and pondered until nightfall approached.
"......"
After hours of torment, she reached a conclusion.
"Yeah... that's it..."
Having found her answer, Marie lifted her head and smiled faintly. Her mind felt clear now.
"I'm not in the wrong."
She could become Emil's lover. With just that thought, Marie rose from the bed. The image of him hanging flickered before her eyes again, but her determination to be with him erased the trauma.
Clunk, clunk...Rattle...
After changing clothes, Marie rummaged through her room. There it was—the item she'd stashed away for emergencies. An illegitimate child she might be, but as a noble, she kept self-defense tools just in case. Clutching an ornate knife, she grinned and tucked it into her waistband before leaving the dormitory.
Later, in the dim, secluded path between the academy and dormitory, she encountered her target: Malcolm.
Stab—!Stab—!
Fortunately, no one passed by. At this hour, no one would. Even in her mentally fragile state, Marie had checked that detail meticulously.
Stab—!Stab—!
With each thrust in and out of the knife, the light faded from Malcolm's eyes.
"It's because of you..."
Stab—!Stab—!
"Everything... happened because of you..."
Stab—.Stab...
"So... this is paying for your sins..."
What was he thinking as he grew cold? No one would ever know—he hadn't even let out a final gasp.
All that happened was a single tear falling from Malcolm's dimming eyes as he gazed up at Marie straddling him.
。 。 。
Marie didn't show up at the academy the next day either.
Guess the shock hit her hard.
Of course, my own heart wasn't as conflicted as it had been the day before. If I showed any sign of it, the system would automatically trigger Mental Healing. So I attended classes with a clear head, as usual.
...Maybe that's why her shock was so much worse—she didn't have Mental Healing. Witnessing someone die is traumatic, naturally. The first-loop Marie who slept with Malcolm after seeing me hanged was the weird one.
But even if I could excuse Marie, Malcolm skipping academy too was nagging at me.
Did getting beat up that badly hurt his pride so much?
I didn't know the reason, but if it was just from getting thoroughly thrashed by me, it was disappointing. Had I really lost Marie to a guy like that?
Anyway, after rejecting Marie's confession, my routine fully reverted to pre-Marie conquest days.
"So you're saying you have no idea?"
"......"
No, not entirely.
"I told you, I don't know."
"Weird... I thought you'd definitely know."
"Why?"
"Because Marie went on a date with you the day before she started skipping."
"......"
"I figured she'd confess that day for sure."
The one difference from pre-Marie conquest days was Sierra. She started visiting me more often. Right now, she was perched in the seat in front of me in the classroom, chatting amiably. The topic: the absent Marie and Malcolm.
"You really have no clue...?"
"......"
Sierra eyed me suspiciously as she probed about the two. Of course I knew. I knew all too well. But I didn't bother explaining to her.
No need to stir up trouble.
I might ask them why when—if—they returned, but I could just play dumb then.
"Sigh, if you don't know, nothing I can do. Guess I'll head out. See ya later."
"Later? You're coming back?"
"What, you hate me dropping by?"
Sierra shot me a glare, then grinned playfully.
"See ya later."
She waved casually, promising a next time on her own terms before vanishing.
See ya later...
I had no intention of hanging out with Sierra. For some reason, she treated me like a friend, but I had my own priorities. No time to waste on friendship games.
Especially since the next conquest timing is coming up soon.
Marie's conquest ended with the rejection. No more business with her. Time to move to the next target.
There she is.
Just then, she appeared in the scenery outside the window, striding confidently, blonde ponytail swaying. Fierce yet steadfast eyes defined her: Chris Bellmore. My second conquest target.
For reference, I'd conquered her in the 4th loop. But timing-wise, now was ideal, so she was second.
Anyway, time to start preparations for Chris's conquest.
。 。 。
To be honest, among the five heroines, Chris was the farthest from my type. That's why I didn't attempt her until the 4th loop.
The reason was simple.
Crash!
"Hmph, that all you got? Pathetic."
"Ugh..."
She was rough and violent. In a word: scary.
Even in the 4th loop, conquering her was a pain...
During practical joint class, I watched Chris's spar and recalled past memories.
Chris. Conquering her required throwing myself into intense physical training—not like with Marie, but truly pushing my body to the limit.
But with Easy Mode perks stacked up now, I should handle it fine.
Her conquest demanded combat prowess. In the 4th loop, I ditched studies entirely for practical training. I never quite reached her level, but got just barely enough to conquer her.
For reference, "barely enough" meant surviving the upcoming labyrinth practical without dying.
"Opponent not to your liking? Wanna spar with me?"
"Huh?"
During a short break after light sparring, I approached Chris, who looked dissatisfied.
Her sharp, delinquent-like eyes glared faintly. Even having conquered her once, that gaze still chilled me.
Yet she was beautiful. The total opposite of innocent Marie, with sharp features, smooth skin, and a toned figure from relentless training that made any man's heart race—enough to mistake fear for love.
"You're... that guy from the entrance ceremony, right?"
Unexpectedly, Chris already knew me.
Topping the entrance exam pays off.
No need for lengthy introductions.
"Yeah, Emil."
"I'm Chris... Heard you got knocked out in a spar recently."
"Ah......"
She must've heard about the Malcolm incident. And since the story was me getting carted to the infirmary after a training sword hit, she naturally glared in disapproval.
"Sorry, but I don't waste time on guys who fold in a basic spar. Find someone else."
She turned away, flicking her hand like swatting a bug. A demerit in an unexpected spot.
What now...
I needed to build a connection with Chris soon. In the 4th loop, starting right at enrollment gave me leeway, but Marie's conquest ate that time. Delay now, and I'd miss the key timing for her arc.
So, I played a risky card.
"Scared you'll lose?"
"Ha