99. The Mental Healing Center
Fusion Experiment Body 76 stepped up to respond while his junior 80 was setting things up.
Both of them hadn't been "completed" for very long.
Still, they seemed satisfied enough to have consumed magic.
They had a pride in thinking they were well-versed, as they themselves thought.
When I stepped out of the break room, I saw four people sitting in a row.
Including the Saint's son with purple eyes, familiar from the pictures.
It was like a string of beads.
What on earth was going on?
Originally, it was supposed to only mess with a few Stille students.
Once turned into slaves, they would keep using them to use on others.
But this place's original owner had been killed, so this couldn't last long.
It would be strange for his family or acquaintances.
Originally, the owner had tried to turn him into a slave too, but he was a capable person who used the mental cultivation center.
The resistance was strong, so it ended up breaking.
But they walked in on their own volition.
It was a huge stroke of luck.
The four people's appearances, suspicious and bewildered, looked innocently cute.
Haha, Fusion Experiment Body 76 let out a laugh and approached the four.
"Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Mental Healing Center. Is this your first time visiting?"
"Yes... But how does the program proceed?"
"I'll explain that later. First, I'm glad you all came here. What prompted you to come here?"
"A friend recommended it."
"The friend recommended it."
"The friend recommended it."
"That friend is me."
"... Ah, yes. Then, why did the student bring his friends here?"
"To become stronger? To build up mental strength. Isn't this the place for that?"
"Building up mental strength... It can vary by perspective, but it can be said to be correct."
"What perspective?"
"By relying on others for the pain and suffering of the heart, to overcome them. Depending on the perspective, there might be those who say it's weak. But how can people live alone in this vast world? Isn't that so? This place is where we heal the heart to face the difficult world together and overcome it."
"... Huh. Yes."
Was this place claiming such a spirit? Sugar muttered.
"Students of Stille. Today, it's a special service. With the four of you, and the noble person among you. You don't have to pay."
The fact that the Saint's son had entered Stille was already widely known across the continent, so it wasn't surprising.
At that, Sugar's face lit up especially. Since she brought them, she would pay the first fee herself.
"In return, please visit again next time."
"Of course! We'll come until we get enlightenment."
"Eh? Ah, yes... Enlightenment... It can be obtained right away."
Enlightenment? This is a healing center.
The Saintess of the Shadow Cult has a somewhat unique personality. 76 answered vaguely.
"Then, let's proceed. Two people will enter at a time. Since there are only two staff members, me and my younger sister... The method is similar to hypnosis, so don't be nervous. Just sleep and wake up, and everything... will be over. Your heart, your mind will be a bit more at ease."
"Ooh..."
Sugar recalled old memories. After paying, the screen would turn off and stats would immediately increase. It was proceeding as is. I don't remember having such pretty older sister staff, but it's much better than the uncles.
When Sugar was thinking leisurely. 76 was managing his expression while carefully watching the four.
'... Why is there such a strong female scent from the beginning?'
Their gender ratio was clearly three men, one woman. But instinctively, he felt it.
Upon thinking, there was one who showed an exceptionally feminine line. Unlike the men next to him, narrow shoulders and protruding hips. A handsome man with purple eyes... To ordinary people, he could be called a man, but his eyes and nose couldn't be fooled.
'Is it possible that the Saint's son... is a woman?'
If this is true, it's huge information. The power inherited from the maternal line—
——
———...
————……
'Is the Saint's son... a woman?'
'Is the Saint's son... m m?'
'Is the Saint's son... a man.'
'Is the Saint's son... human.'
'Is the Saint's son... a student.'
'Is the Saint's son... from the Saint's bloodline.'
...
Suddenly, the knowledge flooding his mind made 76 shocked.
'Recognition manipulation has entered now!'
Urgently telepath to the junior.
The tingling magic flow made Ryly look at 76 suspiciously. In contrast, Ian was gently whispering while stroking Leon's back, "Are you nervous? It'll be okay."
'Senior. First, calm down. They aren't ordinary students, so such things are possible.'
'No sign at all! But... but... this... What am I thinking? The facts I knew were repeating...! No, is this really the fact I knew?'
'At least I realized I was under 'recognition manipulation', which is fortunate. Then, somehow we'll manage. Now, watch the students. Are they pointing the staff? Are they trying to fight?'
'That's not it. They seem calm...'
'Then, the safety device... perhaps something that activates without them knowing. Pre-cast magic or holding magic tools. Or perhaps they have superb acting skills to fool us. Ah, then we're completely in the palm of our hand.'
'Unlucky words!'
'Anyway, we have no choice but to comply. If we retreat here, punishment will follow. You know. At least in the former case... As long as we bring them into our territory, it will be fine somehow. Anyone will become our slave. Let's proceed for now.'
'... Okay. I'll do that.'
76 straightened his mind and cleared his throat in front of the four.
"... Now, I'll guide two people at a time. It was late because there was a problem with the setting side and I had to check. Sorry. First, which one of you would like to go in first?"
The four people started looking at each other and checking each other's eyes.
Then, Sugar moved first.
"Hey, Ryly... You don't have to, right?"
"Why?"
"Do I need to build up more mental strength there? Ehh? Or at least enter later than me..."
While mumbling, her eyes widened looking up. With a coquettish tone, she hugged Ryly's arm and pressed her chest against him. She gently bit his arm with her soft, petite size, carefully asking.
It's not intentional. It's just instinct.
Watching this, 76 was amazed this time.
'Wild scent... almost matching ours.'
This group is all not ordinary.
For Sugar, it was because she didn't like 'mental healing' with those big-breasted older sisters. Or because she wanted to know first how those pretty older sisters whisper in the ear and massage the head. It was pure coquetry without sexual intent.
Those watching this didn't think that. Especially Ryly was clenching and unclenching his fists, showing patience.
Ian, who had observed all this, quickly stepped in to mediate.
"Hey! Rock-paper-scissors! Let's decide with that!"
"Wait... Before that, there's a question."
Ryly looked at 76 and asked.
"Do two people proceed separately? Can't we enter together?"
"Yes. One staff and one student per room. If not, it could disturb and damage the mind. By the way, you can't suddenly intrude during the program. If you do, both the staff and students in progress will be in danger. As magicians, you all know that, right?"
The magic to awaken the mind is like that. In fact, 76 wasn't a magician originally, but based on what his junior said, he answered.
"... Where did you learn this from."
Ryly reprimanded Sugar. Somehow suspicious mental healing center. Brought them saying to build up mental strength right away. How dangerous it is to show someone's mind.
Sugar just laughed hehe.
"I'll do it too. Now, back off a bit."
"In... okay."
Since she decided not to be possessive, Sugar easily backed off.
Thinking that it had gone smoothly, Ian and Leon had relaxed faces.
"Then, don't use magic or mana to restrain. Start!"
With that, the rock-paper-scissors result came out.
Today's protagonists won.
Sugar and Leon. The reason they came here. Originally, the two started because they couldn't control their emotions.
"Very satisfying."
Sugar looked at Ryly with a smug smile and followed 76.
...
Leon received guidance from his junior, 80. Unlike the sharp-looking 76, she has a gentle feeling.
Watching the back of such a woman, the question deepened. Will this really help train mental strength?
'Upon thinking, it seemed like it came from a dream...'
The content of the continuing dream. There was a memory of going to the mental cultivation center there. But here it's a mental healing center, so it must be different.
Scanning the fragmentary memories, entering the guided room, a faint fragrance enveloped the whole body.
"Okay, please lie down comfortably here."
As instructed, lying down, 80 placed a black cloth over her eyes.
"Th... is it okay? You're not doing something weird, right?"
"You're quite timid... hehe... don't worry. I only touch the head, so..."
To relax, and then... focus on my voice.
" ... "
"Okay... let's try deep breathing first. Inhale deeply... exhale... inhale again... exhale... you're doing very well. Repeat that. Then, let's remove the tension in your body... shall we start from the legs? Pay attention to your feet. And relax. Slowly, slowly... releasing the strength..."
...
Putting hand on the sleeping man's head and closing eyes, a feeling of consciousness rising.
80 enjoyed this feeling. The starting point to break an human's life. The beginning.
They, dream monsters fused with humans, can lull people by entering dreams. They can make them slaves. Actual dream monsters can only enter the dream of the opposite sex, but they transcended that. After all, it was the product of experiments to create such attraction.
'Then... let's see once.'
80 looked around her appearance. Slightly worn dress with apron. When she reached behind her head, she touched her tied hair.
By creating a mirror, inside it stood a woman who seemed to be in her late 20s to early 30s. Currently, she resembled the dream owner a lot.
'Is the person the man trusts most his mother?'
The person most trusted. Dream monsters that transform into the appearance of such a person to shake the target's heart.
'But... the age difference isn't that big.'
Upon thinking, this man, this man's mother.
Because there was memory read in the report. Recalling that.
'It's pitiful... the mother is a fusion experiment victim. Then, the son will become a slave of the fusion experiment body.'
Perhaps this appearance is from the past.
The thrill made 80 laugh. Pleasure. Joy. It's too good that others are breaking. What good is the Saint's staff. Even this can't be stopped.
80's body trembled with omnipotence. She opened the door. Then, in a white space with faint light, the man standing blankly.
"Leon. Come here. It's mom."
To match the mom's image. Smiling kindly and gently, gesturing. The mom from the time when he was healthy. The person deepest in his heart that he trusted most.
"Come. Come and hug me."
With such mom's gesture, Leon's eyes widened.
They widened as if to pop out, then distorted. It was a different reaction from 80's expectation.
The man closed his eyes. Covered his ears. Pretended not to see.
The guilt, regret, and longing felt during that time, the space distorted and began to collapse, as if showing all that.
'What... the rejection reaction is too strong... wasn't he the person he trusted most?'
Was the trauma that deep?
"Leon, calm down. It's me. Mom. The person you trust most. The person who loves you most."
His body trembled. Just covering his ears more. All the words 80 spat were like sharp knives digging into the chest. The mom's voice from that time. However, for Leon, it was no longer comfort.
Rather, he wanted to scold, blame, and accuse. This whole thing was pain.
'I can't do this. I have to do it at night.'
Such a fact touched even 80's skin.
If he rejects like this, it's not good. Forcefully wake up or consciousness reverse. No matter what, it's not good for each other.
Due to the dream monster nature, perfect control can be shown at night. After all, connection was made. Once connected, can continue connecting.
80 who disconnected the connection woke up in reality.
Leaving the groaning Leon to sleep, she left the workshop.
She wanted to check if the senior was doing well. Passing the waiting room with Ryly and Ian, she went to another room.
"Senior? It ended quickly?"
The one who came out faster than herself during the work.
But the state was a bit odd. Head down, no words. Unlike appearance, a weak person. Did he eat fear from the recognition manipulation effect earlier?
When I got closer, I could confirm that the state was not good.
"Ha... haah..."
"... Senior?"
76 answered without reply, only sweating coldly and trembling.