Operation Siegfried Severance
"Hm."
I looked down at the finished product. A pair of bracelets woven from mistletoe branches harvested from the World Tree was complete. To awaken the mistletoe's magical properties, I'd poured in every material Emily had prepared. Mana faintly emanated from the bracelets.
And at their center lay the red core.
To test the bracelets, I activated the core embedded in the middle.
Bzzz.
Red light poured from the core, enveloping the entire bracelet.
'Perfect.'
It worked flawlessly. Now there was just one step left: soak them in the venom extracted from the white-patterned lizardmen.
This venom was a hallucinogenic substance. Even mere skin contact or ingestion would induce vivid hallucinations—its effects were guaranteed.
I submerged both bracelets into the vat of venom.
Sizzle.
No sooner had I dropped in the glowing bracelets than the venom began bubbling furiously. A clear sign that its power was seeping into them.
"Excellent."
About thirty minutes later, I pulled the bracelets out. The once-green mistletoe had turned pure white.
'It's done.'
These bracelets would show hallucinations to the wearer. I planned to slip them onto Seria and the envoy from Siegfried.
Two magic formulas were engraved into them:
1. They displayed the image I'd programmed as a hallucination to the wearer.
2. The hallucination magic only activated between paired bracelets. Normally, it was off like a switch—no visions appeared. But upon sighting the other wearer of the matching pair, the effect triggered.
The worst possible image the bracelet's wearer could imagine of the other.
'I considered using these to train Seria at first.'
But it wasn't my taste. And it wouldn't have much impact. Getting stabbed in the back by someone you trust and believe in hurts far worse than mere hatred from someone you despise.
'Even a swordmaster will fall to the hallucination.'
No matter who Siegfried sent, the magic would take hold.
My head throbbed. To properly infuse the materials into this artifact, I'd worked straight through the day and night.
"I'm beat."
Even for an archmage at my level, fatigue was rare—but today, I felt it. That was how demanding the work had been.
"Time for a break."
That was when it happened.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped at the door.
"Who is it?"
There was a brief silence outside.
"......It's Seria."
Unexpected. As if she'd been waiting for the perfect moment.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Seria entered carrying a tray. On it sat a meal paired with red wine. Was it her noble upbringing? Grace lingered in her movements as she set the food on the table.
Her eyes still glared like axes, but her silent obedience in serving spoke volumes of Sebastian's hard work.
"Insolent."
She glared wordlessly.
"But you're learning properly, at least."
I sipped the wine she'd brought. Clean, with deep flavor.
"Th-that's Julia vintage wine. The subtle mana from the Julia region's brewing method adds to the bouquet."
"Sebastian taught you?"
"......"
I made a snapping motion with my fingers.
"Yes."
She bowed her head. With every bite, Seria added explanations from the side.
"Tenderloin steak made from pork from the Tow and region."
I finished my meal listening to her soft voice. She still hadn't adjusted to speaking formally—it felt unnatural.
"Seria."
She looked up from clearing the dishes.
"Do you hate me?"
"Of course...... I do."
"I figured. You must curse me. To you, I'm probably the devil incarnate. But listen."
"......?"
"What about the emperor? Or your father, the family head?"
"What?"
"Who sent you here? Did I? No, it was the emperor. Did I sever your ties to your family? No, that was Duke Siegfried."
I'd merely received their handiwork—Seria—due to an imperial decree.
"So why do you hate me?"
"You're the one tormenting me right now."
Seria slipped back to her old tone.
"Is that so."
I swallowed the words on the tip of my tongue.
'I've got to survive, and so do you.'
No point saying it—she wouldn't accept it anyway. Better to stoke her hostility toward me for now.
"Then why go after the emperor? Don't climb trees you can't reach."
"Eek!"
As she cleared the dishes, Seria raised her hand to strike at my words. But her attempt ended there.
"Kyaaak!"
I levitated the falling glassware with magic while grabbing her wrist with my hand.
"You still haven't learned."
"Let go!"
I shook my head.
"I think it's time you truly understood your position."
"What?"
I released her wrist. A white bracelet now adorned it.
"Wh-what is this?"
Memories of the choker around her neck, perhaps? Terror filled her face as she stared at the bracelet.
"No matter how hard you try, you won't get it off."
Not unless I removed it.
"We're done here. Out."
Snap!
Her body floated up and flew out the door. I neatly placed the tray of dishes beside the ejected Seria.
"Don't break anything next time."
A stern warning to boot.
"It's been a while."
The envoy from Siegfried had arrived. Seeing the man at the mansion's entrance, I couldn't help but smirk.
'This'll be fun.'
It was Musk, captain of the duke's guard knights. One of the empire's seven swordmasters—the nobility's greatest asymmetric weapon.
He was the opponent who'd given me the most trouble on the battlefield.
"Didn't expect you."
"You must've caused the duke some trouble."
"The package was a hassle."
"Insolent."
"How's the left arm?"
I pointed to where his arm had been severed at the shoulder.
"Still aches, thanks to someone."
In our grueling battle, I'd lopped off his left arm. Ever since that defeat, Musk always wore black armor. Losers couldn't don bright colors, or so he claimed.
Anyway, sending a swordmaster meant one thing.
'They won't bend to me.'
What a waste of effort.
"Complete severance from Siegfried."
"Urgh."
Musk's shoulders slumped, his face grim.
"No choice. If it saves her."
He clenched his remaining right fist.
"She's still the one I served. Handle it gently."
"Think that'll work?"
"What?"
"You saw it yourself. If she were the type to yield that way, they wouldn't have come begging Siegfried."
Musk ground his teeth.
"Play along properly. If you don't, that precious lady of yours dies."
To the emperor, that is.
"Understood."
He gritted his teeth. I slipped the bracelet onto his right arm.
"What's this?"
"Essential for the plan."
"Nothing suspicious, I hope?"
I just shrugged, saying nothing.
"Your task is simple. Officially acknowledge that Siegfried has cut all ties with Seria."
"......"
"Make it brutal."
"Don't worry."
Both pairs of bracelets had found their owners. What came next was straightforward: let bracelet-wearing Seria and Musk meet.
Under the venom's hallucination and my magic, they'd see the worst in each other.
Reality would be utterly different, of course. Seria would see Musk despising her as a lowly maid. Musk would see Seria raped by me.
It wouldn't stray far from that.
'The bracelets show the images I set.'
Confirming the faint glow from the bracelets, I led Musk inside.
"Then let's begin."
I entered the mansion with Musk.
"W-welcome...... Huh?"
Seria, greeting me, widened her eyes at Musk trailing behind.
"M-Musk?"
Musk scowled at the sight of Seria.
"Morris......"
"Come in. Oh, and leave your clothes with her."
I pointed at Seria. Musk turned his head, unable to look at her.
"Wear that out."
He probably thought it courteous, but to Seria, it felt like utter contempt. Dismissal from the knight who'd always followed her loyally. Even someone as proud as her would struggle.
"Morris!"
Musk followed me into the audience chamber, grinding his teeth as he glared.
"Even you wouldn't cross that line!"
"What line?"
"How dare you! Reducing the lady of Siegfried to that! How dare you!"
He looked ready to draw his sword any second. His eyes were bloodshot.
"That?"
"Aren't you ashamed of raping the lady?!"
It worked. In Musk's eyes, Seria must look half-naked, greeting guests.
"Hey, you're mistaken. That woman's no lady of Siegfried. Just a nameless maid. What I do with her is no one's business."
"Is that why you called us? To humiliate House Siegfried?"
"I've said it a hundred times. Cut ties if you want to save your master."
Blood dripped from Musk's clenched fist.
"Urk!"
Soon, Seria entered.
"M-Master...... Did you call for me?"
I beckoned her with a finger. I took Seria's hand as she entered the chamber.
"You were amazing last night, weren't you?"
"Pardon?"
"Naked, bound to the bed, moaning in ecstasy."
All to provoke Musk. He squeezed his eyes shut. Seria, who would've resisted endlessly before, stayed silent. Shocked by her most trusted vassal's silence.
My heart raced at her reaction.
Sexual Sadism
"The way you surrendered to pleasure without resistance was impressive. Your beastly cries all night are still fresh in my mind."
Excitement built as she trembled, avoiding my gaze. Pressure stirred below.
'Whew.'
Focus. The job wasn't done. I turned from toying with Seria to the tight-eyed Musk.
"By the way, how's the duke?"
"He's well."
"Must be heartbroken, losing a daughter."
"Daughter? Our house has only the young master as heir."
He stuck to the script.
"Oh dear, my mistake. Forgot Siegfried had just the one child."
Musk opened his eyes, glaring at me—never at Seria. Determined not to see his lady exposed. Impressive loyalty.
On a normal day, she'd feel it. But under the lizardman venom's hallucination, Seria wouldn't. Consecutive slights and being treated like air shook her eyes.
Time to drive it home. I grabbed Seria's breast.
"Kyaaak!"
"New slut I brought in—tastes great. Want a go?"
Perfect acting, if I do say so. My Sexual Sadism shone.
Sexual Sadism
Seria shuddered at my sudden move—the restraint I'd placed kicked in. Arrogant thoughts triggered electric shocks through her body.
Musk's brow twitched at the sight. It must look like she felt pleasure from my touch.
"Morris Dmitry! You dare dishonor Siegfried?!"
Musk finally drew his sword, unable to endure.
Perfect.