Reverse Hypnosis (2)
"The expression 'shattered to pieces' isn't an exaggeration. Seven pieces—no, make that eight now that the Emor Kingdom has erupted into civil war. With eight pieces, doesn't 'shattered to pieces' fit perfectly?"
Like a metronome, she kept tapping her teacup against the saucer at regular intervals. The clear chime drew attention.
"The 400-year Demon King took much even after death."
She traced her finger across the map, explaining the scars left by the fourth Demon King.
"The continent splitting into seven nations was the result of the empire growing complacent in victory and neglecting internal affairs."
"Internal affairs?"
"Yes, the emperor who should have restored order after the war was utterly incompetent."
"Plus, it was an era overflowing with heroes capable of founding nations."
Sipping her tea, she pointed to the eastern part of the continent.
"First, the elves and beastkin broke away from the empire to establish their own kingdoms."
"Ha, why?"
"My, my, Young Master must have truly only studied swordsmanship, haven't you?"
She smiled playfully and began her explanation.
"When the continent fell into chaos with the Demon King's revival, slave trading boomed."
"Slave trading?"
"Yes, countless elf and beastkin free folk lost their rights and were sold as slaves."
"Ha, unbelievable. Did the empire just sit idly by?"
"Yes, the emperor of that time... was lost in the delusion of a humans-only empire. Can you believe it? The ruler of the empire holding such ideology..."
She gauged my reaction, tapping the teacup once more to make a sound. I began to understand her method of guiding me unconsciously. Like waves growing with each repetition, she led me into the unconscious through cycles of relaxation and awakening. Matching the repetitive ticking of a clock, she tapped the cup at set intervals to awaken my consciousness. That awakened mind then relaxed again under the warm breeze, the tea, and the pull of her magic. Like a swing gaining momentum with each push, she drew me deeper into the unconscious through repeating relaxation and awakening.
Shall I play along a bit? I consciously faked an unconscious response. With a slightly dazed expression, my pupils dilating just a touch, I said to her,
"Whew, somehow... I'm feeling a bit sleepy."
With a clear ting, she tapped the teacup again, reawakening my mind.
"Hehe, focus, Young Master."
Evidently thrilled by the visible results, she smiled and continued her explanation.
"One of the heroes who defeated the fourth Demon King, a noble high elf, founded Elvnia and declared protection for all elves."
"The Wolf King, a beastkin, likewise proclaimed himself guardian of all tribes and vowed to protect the beastkin."
As she explained the turbulent era of continental history, she worked to pull me deeper into the unconscious. Pointing to spots on the continental map with gestures, she subtly infused magic into the movements—barely noticeable—repeatedly captivating my eyes. She labored tirelessly to shake my mind.
Well, it was all for naught.
"What did the empire do?"
"Naturally, they tried to suppress the independence with force. They failed, of course."
Sipping her tea, she reminisced about the empire's failures.
"Repeated military defeats, food shortages from losing the vast eastern breadbasket, the emperor's tyranny..."
"The empire's chaos deepened, and the heroes didn't miss their chance."
"The knight order called the Empire's Sword established an independent nation in the south, named after their captain."
"Two saints from rival faiths claimed divine revelations to protect the empire's believers, rallying followers and claiming the western continent."
"The Magic Tower seized the chaos to declare permanent neutrality, uninvolved in any conflicts, and gained vast privileges."
"When even the emperor was assassinated in that era, Duke Lucas negotiated with other powers to preserve the empire's remaining legacy."
"The chaos was barely quelled, forming the current landscape."
"The duchy that inherited the continent became land ruled by a duke without an emperor to serve."
She explained how the postwar chaos that divided the empire into seven pieces left deep conflicts—too deep to ever unite again.
Ting-ting-ting— Matching her persistent hypnosis attempts between explanations, I faked the 'appropriate responses'.
"...Y...eah... right..."
Utterly relaxed speech, slightly slurred; pupils fully unfocused; body sinking into the plush chair as tension melted away. I acted as if I'd fallen completely for every device she intended.
"Hehe, Young Master Leon?"
"...Yes."
"Are you focusing on my words?"
"...Yes."
"Are you listening well to what I say?"
"Yes... I'm listening well..."
"Are you ready to obey whatever I say??"
Seeing me blankly obey and repeat her words, she twitched her ears in satisfaction.
"Haa, it took so long. I thought with how you wield that stupidly huge sword, your mind would be soft... To think I'd have to put this much effort into an ignorant brute who doesn't even know continental history..."
She sighed softly, voicing her complaints. Revealing her true colors, she crossed her legs arrogantly and began implanting suggestions.
"Young Master Leon? As you know from history, heroes can't unite easily due to old grudges."
"...Yes."
"So, inevitably, even if a bit forceful... I have to lead the heroes. You understand, right?"
"...I understand..."
"Young Master Leon, it would be great if you became my finger, Roys Chapel's, and did as I command."
"Leon is Roys's finger..."
"Hehe, strange? Not at all. You're a finger, Young Master, so just obey orders without worry."
"Fingers obey Roys's commands..."
"Yes, nothing strange about it? It's the finger acting, not Young Master Leon, so what's odd?"
"A finger's actions aren't strange..."
"When I clap three times, you become a finger, Young Master—from Leon to Roys's loyal finger."
"Three claps, and Leon becomes Roys's finger..."
[Leon is Roys's finger]
[Obey the finger's commands]
[A finger's actions aren't strange]
[Three claps, and Leon becomes Roys's finger]
An environment perfect for inducing the subject's unconscious is equally dangerous for the hypnotist. The relaxed tension from successful hypnosis, the drowsy scent especially potent for beastkin, and most crucially, the combination with Word Spirit—she fell to the suggestion.
"Young Master, now... wake up again to the sound of the teacup."
One, two...! With three, she quickly tapped the cup.
With the ting-ting, I pretended to regain my senses. Facing me with an innocent puppy-like expression once more, she said shamelessly,
"Really, Young Master! I told you to focus! Did you doze off for a second?"
The suggestions took hold perfectly. I felt one step closer to my goal of reuniting the continent with massive capital. Sure, infringing on the heroes' free will is a bit bad... but in the end, it improves life for all continentals. They'll thank me eventually, right?
As I tidied the teacups and prepared to return to the heroes' gathering, my finger—Young Master Leon—stood first.
"Ah, Young Master. Shall we head back together?"
"..."
He said nothing, stood, and locked the door.
Huh? Why lock the door?
"Young Master? Why the door...? And why draw the curtains...?"
I couldn't finish my questions. Suddenly, Young Master Leon clapped three times, and I...
Huh? I was in the same room as my [finger]. My [finger] had locked the door. Why did I lock the door? Strange. I clearly thought I needed to leave...
As I tried to open the door again, the [finger] grabbed my wrist. Seated back in the chair, confusion swept over me.
"Huh? Huh? Um?"
Clearly nothing strange... but something felt off. Why was I trying not to leave the room?
Then, my finger provided the answer. It slipped under my skirt, rubbing the slit covered in soft fuzz.
Now it made sense. I'd locked the door to [masturbate]!
"Um? Huh? Um?"
I didn't like masturbating much, but apparently pent-up frustration. After all, I felt far more sensitive than usual. Though touched by my [finger], it felt like someone else touching me. But did I like masturbating this much? Regardless of time or place, unable to hold back even here?
"Ah...♥ Ah...♥ Ah...♥"
Questions in my head vanished under waves of pleasure. Was I unconsciously masturbating more intensely? Strangely, my [finger] felt thicker than usual, almost painfully so. Reaching far deeper, I felt it hit my hymen.
"Ah..♥ No...♥ Tearing my hymen while masturbating...♥"
Objectively as a merchant, my virginity held great value. I shouldn't waste proof of it on something like masturbation. The [finger] toying with my hymen stopped—satisfied with confirmation?—and began tormenting my clitoris.
"Ah, aaah...♥ Hnng...♥"
Afraid my moans would leak through the locked door, I bit my sleeve hard to muffle them. My aroused, swollen clit was ruthlessly ravaged by the [finger].
"Mmph..♥ Mmmph..♥ Hn...♥"
Only after my legs trembled with pleasure did the [finger] stop its teasing.
"Ah...♥ What am I doing right now.."
Unable to control the [finger], I'd masturbated in a trance. How did this happen?
Devastated, the [finger] explained everything was just my delusion. Phew, what a relief. I nearly became a crazy pervert masturbating in the heart of the Holy See.
The [finger] commanded me to forget such silly delusions upon hearing three claps. Good idea—no need to remember worthless fantasies. I obediently agreed to my [finger].
My finger clapped three times, and I...
"Young Master Leon? Why'd you lock the door?"
"Ah, I messed up how to open it."
A bit worried my suggestions might be noticed, but it was unfounded. Young Master Leon just opened the door and left.
Truly, a stupid swordsman who can't even open a door properly.
As I followed the departing Young Master Leon, intense pleasure struck my head.
"Hngh?!"
Only then did I realize my shameful place was soaking wet, and the room filled with pheromones from a beastkin in heat.
"Wha... why...? How...?"
Confused, I hurriedly opened the window for ventilation.
Really, truly bizarre.