Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Magical Girl Corruption (6)
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Aqua Marine harboring jealousy toward Saint Rose was information far more valuable than just knowing the two were friends. Jealousy toward a friend who outshone her? This was prime betrayal material. If I played this right, it could become another ace up my sleeve for the NTR.
'So, just keep comparing them as much as possible. Got it?'
'Yes, Boss! Don't worry! I'll show you Rosemary member's true power!'
'You little... Are you a villain who's joined the Magical Girl Fan Club or what?'
'Uh... I'm a member too. Should I quit?'
'......No. Just keep being a fanboy.'
So, I decided to test the waters. It wasn't solid intel, after all. I wanted to see with my own eyes if she really felt inferior, and if so, how deep that jealousy ran.
'...Honestly, doesn't Saint Rose look better too? Haha.'
'......Grk.'
Surprisingly, Hee-eun's info checked out. Aqua Marine was genuinely envious of Saint Rose. The way she bit her lip in anger the moment her name came up confirmed it—she straight-up hated Saint Rose.
'Haha! Looking forward to working with you.'
With that, I executed the plan: kidnap her. I volunteered to guide the way, led her into a dead-end alley on purpose, then assassinated her companions while she was distracted.
"Kyaaack!"
"A, aaack!"
And right in front of her stunned face, I revealed my hidden identity.
"Welcome to despair deeper than darkness itself. I am Deok-bae of the Darkest Chain."
......No, screw that. What the hell? Why did that cheesy line come out automatically? Deeper than darkness? I graduated from middle school edgelord phase ages ago! Sigh... Looks like it's the character trait kicking in, just like when I went "Kuhaha!" as the evil lord. Blame the genre...? I might have to keep spouting this cringe forever.
"Y-You! Deok-bae! How dare you pull such a cowardly stunt?!"
"Tsk, tsk."
Complaints later—work first. I effortlessly subdued the charging Aqua Marine, stripped her of her weapons, and, per the plan, tried to win her over with the gentlest voice I could muster.
"Disappointing. Even an idiot could dodge that attack."
"Let go! Let me go! You... my companions... Hic, sob... Why... Aah, aaah!"
"Why? How naive. Don't you get it? You saw my true face."
But this time, the challenge imposed restrictions on my behavior. I hadn't planned to trash-talk like this... I could play the warm boss to my minions just fine, but magical girls get no mercy, huh? A shame.
"Hic... You're the one who showed us that face..."
"Exactly. So here's the conclusion: 'I planned to kill these two from the start.'"
"You! How dare you... How dare you!"
"Haha. Think calling me 'daring' scares me? In this situation? What poor judgment. Or should I say, poor vocabulary?"
"Ugh... You scum!"
"Hm? Calling a villain scum is a compliment. Thanks, now I'm stronger."
"Grrr...!"
Okay, but this is getting too much. Even I think it's obnoxious. Why am I mocking her like this? The 'Villain Mission Accomplished' challenge overlapping with the character trait must've birthed this monstrosity... Anyway, I have to overcome this pettiness somehow. Otherwise, persuasion fails.
"Enough games. Magical Girl Aqua Marine, I have urgent business with you. Calm down and hear me out."
I forcibly suppressed the urge to writhe and kept the conversation as steady as possible.
'......I have no intention of talking to a villain like you. You killed them because they saw your true face? Then kill me too... I'm tired of surviving alone.'
But Aqua Marine rejected dialogue outright. Ah... This was what worried me. Sigh, no choice. Time for incitement and fabrication. To sway her heart, I lied to her with a straight face.
"Even knowing these two were monitors planted by the Association, you're still going to act like a fool?"
'......What?'
"The Magical Girl Association fears the White Moca incident resurfacing. But there's one sole survivor, right? These two were assigned to watch you and ensure you didn't get ideas. Surprised?"
'L-Lies... right?'
"Haha. As someone involved, doesn't it ring a bell? Someone who gaslighted you—'Forget the past, focus on the future'—whenever White Moca came up?"
Obviously. I don't know the full story, but it was a traumatic event. They'd change the subject fast to avoid a comrade breaking down. So, what I just said was baseless incitement, pure fiction.
'No way... Could it be...!'
But to the already shattered Aqua Marine, it hit home. People believe what they want to believe. Wiki said the Association offered zero help. I figured she'd resent them—and sure enough, she distrusted them deep down.
'Is that true?!'
The way she bit the bait confirmed it.
'......So you're saying the Association is trying to bury that incident to keep it from the public. But they were the ones who blew it up back then—memorials for Moca sis and all that. Doesn't that contradict?'
"Haha. Weird, right? But you'll understand once you hear the reason."
'......What is it?'
Fully hooked? Tear-streaked Aqua Marine demanded answers with a hardened face. Her dead companions? Forgotten. She believed me that much? Perfect.
"The White Moca incident was fabricated by the Association to kill her. You got innocently dragged in."
'....Lies! What nonsense! You're insulting Moca sis right now?!'
"Hear me out. The Association needed a replacement who obeyed them. White Moca wasn't their pick. They hated her single-minded pursuit of justice over their interests."
'....How... could...'
"So they killed her and schemed to redirect the public's adoration to their chosen girl. The memorials? All part of that ploy."
'...Lies... It has to be lies... Sis couldn't have...'
"Can't believe it? Know this: the suicide bomber that day was an executive from our Darkest Chain. My brother... And he was ordered by an organization under Association orders. Get it? It was a deal between your Association and ours. We grew stronger; they eliminated White Moca. Staged from start to finish."
'Aaaah... Aaaaaah!'
Total BS, of course. As a low-rank, I'd know? My White Moca knowledge is fuzzy memories and pre-arrival Wiki. So what was all that? Told you—BS. I embroidered suspicious Wiki bits into a yarn.
'Aaah, sis... for something so petty...'
But it worked? It was fabricated, but I put thought into it. Plenty to twist: White Moca's Association clashes, the actual Darkest Chain bomber exec. Plausible fuel for incitement—I fooled her as planned.
"Again, as the survivor, suspicious stuff must've nagged you. Anything off that day?"
'......Yeah... I thought it was freak coincidence, but if staged... it fits. If the Association leaked intel... everything adds up.'
"That's what they're hiding."
(P.S. Borrowed a conspiracy from this world. Some said the suicide bombing didn't add up. Buried amid backlash, but it held water, so I tested it.)
And... it landed too. Something fishy did happen that day.
'Okay... suppose that's true. Why tell me?'
"Revenge. I have a personal score with the Association."
'......So you want me to join your revenge? I get they fooled me. Tried killing me and Moca sis together. But no reason to ally with you. I can revenge solo.'
"Sure, but revenge is easier with allies, right? You'll need my help too—against S-rank Magical Girl Saint Rose."
'...What? Me... vs. Rose?'
"Didn't I say? They wanted a White Moca replacement. Who skyrocketed after her death? Who stole all the love overnight? Who made everyone forget White Moca and cheer for her? You know best."
'Saint... Rose......'
"Convinced to join me yet?"
All my blabber built to this. She already hated Saint Rose from inferiority. Give her solid hate-fuel? Done deal. She'd be my loyal minion, aiding the NTR.
'...Can you explain more?'
"Gladly—if you join me. But you've come this far; no backing out. Gotta commit, right?"
Worried her goody-two-shoes nature rejects? Haha, no sweat. Not for now, but I prepped for this.
'W-Wait! What are you doing! That's...'
"Proof we're in this together—a contract."
I grinned villainously and clasped the Collar of Submission around her subdued neck.