The Hypnotist's First Slave

Library assistant Maila. "...So you're saying no one else entered besides that student?"

"Yes, Principal Elina. According to the librarian, the only activity that evening was the student working as library assistant entering the underground archive to finish organizing."

"Has that student had any problems since then?"

"No. She attended classes without issue and reported for work at the library on time as usual."

"I see. You're dismissed."

Elina watched the secretary bow and depart, falling into a moment of quiet contemplation.

"Perhaps it really was just my imagination..."

When she had visited the underground archive the previous night to confirm that lingering unease, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she had sensed nothing out of place. Her security spells remained perfectly intact, and she had even walked the section where the artifacts were sealed, just to be certain. Yet nothing appeared disturbed. The armor that slowly drained its wearer's soul until they withered away was exactly as before, and the demonic sword that demanded a kill the moment it was drawn remained firmly sealed.

After circling the archive and verifying the security measures ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once more, she finally stopped before the black book sealed by her ancestor, Sylvia Lunespear.

"Hmm... No matter how often I look at it, I still can't tell what kind of artifact this is..."

Of course, she knew its general nature from the family records. Her ancestor Sylvia had fought as part of the hero's party against the demon king's army. That woman had been one of their most troublesome adversaries, and more than a few battles had been lost because of her. Yet even that mage could not escape death. She was captured by the hero's party when the Demon King fell and later executed.

Afterward, they had thoroughly investigated her laboratory and spells, but the surviving documents only offered vague theories about her research. No mage had ever succeeded in casting magic based on those principles. In the end, the solution had been to burn what could be burned and seal away everything else.

"Mind control... hypnosis... wasn't it?"

Simply hearing the description made the magic sound far too convenient to be real.

"Controlling others through magic—honestly, it sounds absurd... but the records from that era exist, so it cannot be false."

Besides, the proof was right here: the mage's grimoire, sealed away like this. Of course, no one could decipher the tome, let alone confirm its contents, so her lineage of magic had effectively been severed.

"Hmm... but did it always feel like this?"

Staring at the display case that held the book, she wondered whether it had always carried this particular aura, but the doubt quickly faded.

"Sigh. I suppose I really am getting older, entertaining such delusions."

Despite her self-mocking words, Elina's appearance showed no trace of age. Uttering the phrase that had become a habit, she finished inspecting the remaining magical tools, checked the security spells one last time, and returned to the principal's office—convinced that the underground archive's defenses were flawless.

Maila was someone who fully recognized that her personality left much to be desired. She hated her commoner status and loathed the other students who flaunted pointless arrogance simply because they were nobles. The academy claimed meritocracy as its guiding principle, yet reality fell short of that ideal. Commoners outnumbered nobles, but the gap in influence between them was beyond comparison.

Here, Maila refused to be looked down upon. That was why she had studied with ferocious determination and legitimately claimed a place in the upper ranks. On top of that, her position as library assistant let her study in her spare moments while supplementing her meager living expenses.

While spending her days like that, she had grown interested in a male student named Dave, whom she occasionally spotted in the library. True to his knight faculty major, his frame was large and solidly built. She had never imagined falling for a noble, but once infatuation took hold, Dave's minor faults became invisible to her.

Now that she thought about it, she had heard rumors that his relationships with women were promiscuous... but they were surely baseless slander born from his popularity. Besides, Dave had even invited her to spend time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with him, so he clearly returned her feelings.

"Well... if that's how you feel, I won't stop you, but honestly those rumors do seem pretty ugly, don't they?"

The words of the other student she worked with lingered in her ears, yet she paid them little mind. With his appearance and skill, it was only natural he would be popular. And Dave seemed interested in her as well.

In truth, on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their first date he had tried to kiss her right away. She had unconsciously refused, but he had simply smiled and suggested they take things slowly. It had been a relief. If he had only wanted her body, he would have forced the issue or changed his attitude afterward. Fortunately, he did neither; he had simply ended the date without making a fuss.

The problem arose the following day. While she waited for their next date and continued organizing books, she heard footsteps, turned her head, and found the student she had pushed her workload onto standing before her.

Honestly, up to that point there had been no issue. But the girl approached, attempted something, then began touching her own chest while issuing several commands. The unfamiliar sensations and the voice that seemed to rummage through her mind left Maila nodding frantically. Once the girl had obtained everything she wanted, she waved her hand in satisfaction and vanished.

The event had been so bewildering that Maila was still wondering what she ought to do.

"...I should report this, shouldn't I?"

"Report what?"

The moment she steeled her resolve, a familiar voice spoke. Startled, she looked up to see the black-haired girl from before staring straight at her.

"Wow. I was anxious, but it's a good thing I didn't wait any longer."

"Ah, no, that's not—!"

"Enough. Come here."

The woman seized her wrist as she panicked and immediately began to mutter.

"Hypnosis initiation."

Once again, her consciousness was severed.

When I returned to the library after two days, I would have preferred to come back the very next day after the first hypnosis. But erasing that bastard Dave's memories had taken priority.

The order I gave him was simple. I altered his recollection so that on the day he went out with Maila, he had waited until her shift ended before leaving with her.

I had considered wiping my existence from his mind entirely, but since he was one of Chloe's followers, I worried about future complications. So I only touched the memories of that single day.

Fortunately, my hypnosis appeared to have settled into Dave without issue. Or rather, the fact that I had worked in his place simply didn't matter to him, so he had accepted it with a casual "I guess that's how it went."

It seems commands that encounter no resistance don't register as strange until a problem arises.

Of course, if someone pressed Dave hard about the events of that day, he might notice the inconsistency. But that was easily fixed by adjusting his memories again later.

With that, my knowledge had grown by one more piece.

The very next day I came to the library in search of Maila. In her case, it seemed she remembered the exact moment she had been hypnotized. I had considered storming in during the day again, but I could not skip class a second time, so I arrived in the evening after most students had left.

"Still, to think she was actually considering reporting it."

It was fortunate I had come before it was too late.

I turned my head and let my gaze drift for a moment to the translucent window floating before me.

"I've only hypnotized two people and it already leveled up. It really does rise quickly while the level is still low, doesn't it?"

Just like how RPGs shower low-level characters with experience, my level had risen the instant I hypnotized Dave. Reaching level two had increased the number of commands I could implant in a single person by one.

I licked my lips and studied Maila. She stood with a vacant expression, so I asked her carefully.

"Hey. Maila, can you hear my voice?"

"...Yes."

"You said earlier that you were going to report it, right? Were you planning to report what I did to you?"

"Of course I was..."

"Why?"

"Because... because you arbitrarily touched my body and molested it."

As if recalling that day's events, Maila's body gave a visible twitch. Yet in her eyes I detected an emotion beyond fear. It was clearly anticipation and excitement.

As expected, the world of adult games truly was the best.

"Maila. Tell me your true feelings from that time without hiding anything. Do not lie."

"O-Obviously I was confused and scared. Besides, it was between two girls. Feeling disgusted is only natural, isn't it?"

"But it felt good too, didn't it?"

At my question, Maila wavered before finally giving a small nod.

Good. The fact that Maila herself admitted it had felt good was valuable information. If she had stubbornly insisted it was unpleasant to the end despite soaking herself, things would have become troublesome.

With this reaction, I could begin the plan as intended.

"Maila, you said you were scared just now, correct? Then from now on, every time you see me you will recall that fearful memory and feel afraid. The terror you felt that day will grow stronger with time and torment you. And every time you look at me, that trauma will resurrect those memories."

"I... I'm supposed to fear you?"

"That's right."

This hypnosis was meant to plant fear of me deep in Maila's psyche. It was a little trick of mine to ensure the command would remain active even after the hypnosis ended. Moreover, the level-up had granted me additional command slots, so I still had opportunities left with her.

After offering the whip, it was time to present the carrot.

"However, at the same time that you feel fear toward me, if you obey my orders well you will be able to experience that excitement from before once more—pleasure even greater than the fear."

As if recalling the excitement of that moment, a faint blush rose to Maila's cheeks the instant she heard the command.

Convinced the hypnosis had taken root properly, I released her wrist at once and continued.

"Hypnosis terminated."

The moment the hypnosis ended, light returned to Maila's eyes. She looked at me and flinched violently. Her body crumpled toward the chair, and the sound of droplets falling beneath it echoed softly.

"...Hic!"

Maila stared at me with wide pupils and began to hiccup.

Did this girl just wet herself?

For a moment I wondered whether I had instilled the fear a little too strongly.