2-1 Inn Room, Last Night's Intruder (Heart - Hypnosis Rape♥) (1)

Stonevic. Heretics. Ritual. The Most Noble Knight.

I mentally reviewed everything that had happened in the previous playthrough and everything about to unfold now, one by one. Which should I tackle first? I couldn't repeat the exact same moves as last time. I had to prioritize some and cut others.

Come to think of it, in the last playthrough, why did that woman come all the way to our territory?

The goal seemed to be subjugating the King of Ruin, but she wouldn't have come blindly without any leads.

There must have been something that drew her in.

Gaon spent the night pondering that.

...

Eve, the holy knight of the Holy Light Kingdom, felt like she'd had a strange dream. It seemed long and vivid, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recall the details. Dreams were just dreams, after all, so Eve decided not to dwell on it.

"Lady Eve. Do you have a moment?"

Having finished her duties and returned to the church as usual, Eve was suddenly summoned by Saintess Lemon. Ever since that incident, she often chatted with Lemon. It felt like they'd grown a bit closer.

Building rapport with those around her raised their Affinity levels. The higher the affinity with key figures, the more bonus Resource Magic she got for growth, so Eve made a point of tending to her relationships.

She's such a beautiful person, though.

Even setting aside the bonuses, Eve wanted to befriend her. Lemon's looks and personality were right up Eve's alley. Her downside was that she was too kind, which weakened her position in the church's web of politics...

"What is it, Saintess Lemon?"

"Noa contacted me this morning. She says she'll wrap up the investigation soon and head back. So stubborn about pushing through with it."

Lemon looked immensely relieved as she said it. Sure, it was at her request, but the long expedition had her worried on multiple fronts. She'd even consulted Eve about it several times.

"Does that mean there were no issues during the investigation?"

"Seems like it. There were more Ruin Seed monsters, but they found and cleared the dungeon they were spilling from."

Lemon's dream. The recent surge in Ruin monsters. Eve had suspected the King of Ruin as the cause, but it was just a false alarm—a dangerous dungeon had popped up, and Noa's team had conquered and sealed it. Nothing left to worry about.

All Eve could say was the perfunctory, "That's good to hear."

Lemon, trusting her little sister's word without question, sighed in great relief and asked Eve what dessert she could gift them upon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their return. Lemon rarely left the church and wasn't savvy about such things, so she sought advice from Eve, who was more worldly. Eve answered with a smile, offering her best suggestions.

Yet a nagging unease lingered, hard to put into words. Something tugged at her chest—was everything really okay?

But I've already sent Heart...Hmm, maybe I should have her stand by for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now.

No matter how you sliced it, the Bewitching Forest wasn't something Heart could investigate alone. Eve had hoped she'd collaborate with Noa's advance team, but if they were returning first...

Eve decided to mull it over more.

* * *

"A sudden standby order..."

In a room at some inn, Heart—en route to Stonevic on Eve's commission—sighed at the abrupt message from her client. Looked like the prior scouting party was coming back early. She couldn't scout the Bewitching Forest solo. The holy knight from the scouts was trustworthy, so doubting their results felt off. Still, Eve wasn't recalling the job outright, probably not fully convinced yet.

Heart didn't care if it was canceled or continued. She'd already pocketed a hefty advance, and dodging hassle was ideal. Only downside: the long trek from the Holy Light Kingdom's capital, crossing the border. A bit regrettable.

If I'd gotten word before the border, I could've turned back easier.

Border checks cost money, but it was covered in Eve's advance anyway. Since she was already across, if the job got axed, she could sightsee around. She liked travel, and her line of work meant friends everywhere.

...That aside.

Feeling oddly off, Heart checked herself in the mirror. Same as always. But her reflection looked more fatigued than usual. The past few days, her condition had dipped strangely. Heavy, limp—like she was soaked. No clue why. Travel was routine for her.

She'd had weird dreams when falling asleep, too. Nightmares... no, erotic dreams lately.

Something building up?

Should I date a guy...? Nah, somehow that doesn't appeal.

No answers from pondering, so Heart brushed it off. Just as she thought, Maybe hit the night market for a mood boost~,

Knock knock.

"...Yes~? Who's there~?"

Heart replied lightly, eyes sharpening. Her hand drifted to the knife and pistol nearby. No room service ordered. This inn didn't offer it anyway. Staff would've stated their business with the knock. She called out again.

"Who is it? What's the matter?"

Lies. Heart saw right through the voice.

"Sure, one moment. Not dressed."

Heart's mind raced. Two presences outside: man and woman. The woman felt stronger. Fight or flee? As a Lv.2 Hero Unit, she could handle half a dozen thugs easy. But instinct screamed danger—opponents to avoid.

Not quite Eve-level, but Heart's intuition was sharp and often clutch.

Flee it is. As she grabbed her gear to dive out the window,

A man's voice—not the woman's—came from beyond the door.

No way I'm opening for that.

How does he know my name? ...Definitely dangerous. Better steer clear. Hurry and—!

Click.

"Whoa, you finally opened up. Thanks, Heart. Good girl for listening."

"...Huh?"

Heart stared blankly, alternating between the open door and her own hand that had opened it.

Beyond stood a vaguely familiar man—the one from her recent dreams—grinning.

...

The sudden intruders, a man and woman, barged into Heart's room without hesitation, shut and locked the door. They stripped the unresisting Heart naked, bound her limbs. Weapons confiscated, naturally. Down to her underwear, she was neutralized.

Embarrassing for someone who prided herself as elite. But it was effortless. Heart hadn't resisted—in fact, she'd offered herself up.

Not her will, of course. That man's voice made defiance impossible.

"Wh-what the hell are you...! What'd you do to me...!?"

Heart glared at the man—Gaon—then shifted to the woman beside him.

"You're Noa the holy knight, right? I've seen you a few times... Why are you doing this? Betraying the church?!"

No answers from either, apparently.

"Shh."

"......?!"

Gaon pressed a finger to Heart's lips, and she went mute. No voice escaped her throat. Some sorcery or spell? Was that why her body wouldn't obey since earlier?

"Finally quiet. Anyway, no memory, huh? Figured as much since the Renoa city lord thing."

"...! ......!"

"No point resisting. Until I allow it, you can't move ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or speak at will."

Gaon beckoned Noa to prop Heart up. He placed a hand on her smooth, pale lower abdomen. Resource Magic flowed lightly, revealing a faint, glowing Erotic Tattoo.

Wh-what is this...? What're you doing to my body...?!

Heart's eyes widened in futile struggle—body still unresponsive, per his word.

Actually, he wasn't inscribing it now; he was manifesting one already there. His regression item—the one that saved his life and rewound time—hadn't reset everything. Including this tattoo, some changes persisted.

"Your agency's mine now too. Can't defy my orders. Unless you beat the dice roll on Persuasion."

".........!!"

Heart couldn't grasp his words. And voiceless, she couldn't ask. He wouldn't answer anyway.

Gaon covered Heart's eyes with his hand and activated Hypnosis.

Propped by Noa, Heart trembled standing—but ultimately surrendered to the hypnosis, consciousness plunging into darkness...