Reverse Hypnosis (1)
"I didn't expect Bella to fall like this."
"Hehe, Leon..."
Murmuring my name in her sleep, she was fast asleep, clutching Belia tightly. Their legs entwined around each other, lost to the world—it looked just like a pair of affectionate twin sisters.
No extra suggestions were even needed. The affinity I'd amplified with Word Spirit had snowballed on its own, pushing her across the line without any further prodding. Through all those repeated rewards, she'd come to see me as a proper love interest. She'd tried so hard to avoid "line-crossing rewards" by creating Belia... but in the end, she'd given them with her own body.
I thought back to that first impression of her. Back then, she'd radiated a chill like icy mist rolling off her skin, her eyes filled with contempt as she lectured me—like I was some filthy trash she didn't want to touch.
There wasn't a trace of that old self in her attitude now, reshaped by Word Spirit. Brimming with affection for me, she showed nothing but fanatical devotion.
I rested my hand gently on her head and invoked Word Spirit.
To conquer this world, I needed to twist the heroes... and I wanted Bella's full cooperation in the process. I hoped she'd see brainwashing those Demon King-slaying heroes as no big deal.
The love she held for me was so immense, it could twist into horrifyingly intense jealousy. Making her fall for me had been a key victory in my conquest, but I didn't want her jealousy boiling over.
So while she slept, I used Word Spirit to tweak her values and thought patterns.
There wasn't much that needed overhauling. She was already so changed that she'd joyfully obey any command I gave.
I just gave a subtle twist to her notions of main wife and concubine.
[Among Leon's females, I am the first]
[No matter what woman Leon embraces next, this fact never changes]
Next, I redirected the jealousy she'd feel if I met other women.
[Leon making other women is annoying]
[But if it's not 'meeting a woman', just 'using an onahole', that's fine]
[Me, Leon's first female, getting jealous over some onahole? That's weird]
With suggestions like these, she'd welcome the heroes' fall from noble figures to vulgar onaholes with open arms. From her perspective, these "arrogant bitches eyeing Leon's spot" were just plummeting into their rightful place as his property.
She'd always been wary of the heroes—mostly women anyway—so reshaping her mindset took barely any mana.
Once I'd twisted her thoughts to my liking, I got out of bed and headed downstairs to the workshop.
There on the table sat the orange gem, loot from our last battle.
"Incredible mana reserves."
The gem that had served as the monster's "eye" brimmed with vast energy. It put magic stones to shame—a priceless treasure, and unlike them, not a one-shot deal.
If the monster's body had been a weave of countless creatures' flesh, this gem was a masterpiece binding their souls. Trapped within the solid yellow crystal, those souls endlessly generated mana.
"With this much mana, I can wield Word Spirit way more freely."
Until now, mana costs had held me back from casual use. This would change that. Even Word Spirit I'd skipped due to low plausibility—too mana-hungry to even attempt—would be feasible now, empowered by the gem.
It had been worth risking our lives for that monster. A stroke of luck to snag this boon before facing the continent's heroes.
I embedded the gem in my sword's tip, gripped the hilt, and tested Word Spirit. Mana flowed not from my body, but from the gem first, shaping the power perfectly.
A satisfied smile crossed my lips. I returned to my room to rest ahead of tomorrow's journey—we had to meet the heroes gathered at the Holy See come morning.
"Leon, aren't you curious? What kind of people the heroes saving the continent will be?"
"Yeah, pretty curious."
Ever since yesterday, she wanted me treating her like a lover. Addicted to the taboo thrill of incest, she seemed to relish this role reversal.
Every time we fucked and I called her "Bella" by name, she'd clench even tighter.
Anyway, Bella and I zipped to the Holy See in seconds via the transfer gate in Zarfurt.
The divine heart of the Holy See—blessed by the gods—was adorned in near-pure white shot through with gold, symbolizing the goddess.
My heart raced at the thought of meeting the heroes. Hope they're worth the corruption...
The building where they'd gathered buzzed noisily even from afar. Already bonding?
I eased the door open cautiously.
"Roys, how dare that woman claim there's only one god right in front of the saintess?"
"Your Highness, this is the core of the Holy See, and that lady is the saintess of Goddess Lumina."
"Hmph! A god's servant who won't worship with a god right there?"
"Your Highness, this isn't your desert..."
A haughty woman with bronze skin sat imperiously while a beastkin woman in gold-rimmed glasses flailed to calm her. Her dog ears drooped limply—she looked seriously flustered.
"How can the Emor rebel general claim to represent Emor?! Unacceptable! Saintess!"
A knight in gleaming silver armor burst out, pink hair swaying with fury.
"W-well, you two did slay the monster together..."
"The Holy See's official stance? Recognizing those Emor rebels as the legitimate government?!"
"...Hmph."
A man hefting a massive gun that reached his chest eyed the raging pink-haired knight with pity.
The saintess, clearly unprepared for this chaos, looked on the verge of tears and begged them to calm down.
"Sis, check that out. Humans are hilarious, right?"
"Yeah, totally pathetic... humans never change."
In one corner, two elves giggled at the circus.
In another, a gloomy-looking mage huddled under a deep hood, scribbling unknown runes on the floor, utterly absorbed. If not for the curves peeking from her robe, even guessing her gender would've been tough with that hat pulled so low.
First impressions of the hero party? Total shitshow.
"Different from what you expected, right?"
"Huh?"
The bespectacled dogkin from earlier approached me.
"The hero party, I mean. Oh, late intro—I'm Roys Chapel, head of the Luna Merchant Guild, here representing Free Harkion."
She winked, introducing herself first.
Free Harkion—the beastkin trade powerhouse, yeah.
"Leon Sodus of Lucas Duchy."
"Lucas Duchy! Heard your city took zero damage from the monster raid. Impressive!"
She lavished praise, eyes sparkling.
"Just luck."
Her tail swished as she leaned in.
"Come on, saying that to someone who's fought monsters? Doesn't even sound humble. Everyone here knows how brutal that thing was."
"I burned through gold like water just to hold it off."
Ears perking, she pressed: "So, what do you think of the hero party now?"
"...Yeah, way off from expectations."
"Hmm, makes sense when you think about it. Totally different from 400 years ago."
"Really?"
"Looks like young master Leon isn't big on history."
She laughed and led me to an inner lounge piled with mysterious merchant goods. She pulled out a continent map—far more detailed than the one I'd bought at the general store.
"400 years ago, the continent was one nation. A massive empire under a single emperor, leading all races."
"Is that so?"
"Know the cursed land's gimmick? Why only elite squads can raid it?"
She tapped her teacup rhythmically with a silver utensil.
"Not really..."
"In the Demon King's domain, he can spawn forces equal to any enemies."
Assemble an army, and he'd match it with empowered demon legions. No wonder elite raids were mandatory.
Huh, so that's why they can't just swarm the Demon King with numbers. I finally got why a handful of heroes had to do it.
"Back then, the empire bound all its heroes with patriotism. United, they toppled the Demon King."
The clock ticked steadily. Her teacup clinked in sync, the sound clear and soothing. A warm, cozy breeze carried a faint, comforting scent.
What's this?
If I hadn't sensed the subtle mana ripple, I might've missed it. She was trying to manipulate my mind.
"...Go on."
I listened to her history lesson while plotting countermeasures. Or maybe flip this on her?
Gripping my sword hilt, I slowly drew mana as her explanation continued.
"The continent shattered."
Full of scheming ambition, she masked her intent, spinning the tale of the continent's divisions.