[No title provided]
"So, according to your investigation... the maid named Luna has feelings for Mars Noctus?"
"Yes. It's already a famous story among those around them."
It was a common tale. A servant harboring feelings for their master. Whether as a stepping stone for advancement, a ploy to plunder their wealth, or perhaps even genuine affection.
Jelros couldn't be bothered with such details.
"A woman in love, huh. Simpler than I thought?"
"But she's accompanying the Saintess as her maid, so if we use any other methods, there's a high chance we'll be found out easily."
"Hmm... you're right."
The 'madness' he wielded was a power more alien than anything else in existence. If he tampered with this woman named Luna using it, the Saintess would almost certainly notice. He'd nearly been excommunicated once before, but her power was the real deal.
"Then I just won't go myself?"
Jelros possessed an ability specialized in manipulating others' emotions and molding souls. Tampering with someone else's soul would have been a hassle, but reshaping his own was a simple matter.
Once the brief manipulation was complete, Jelros infused his soul into a nearby priceless ruby necklace, just as planned. Then, as arranged beforehand, he had one of his underlings plant it in a shop near the academy that Luna frequented, ensuring it caught her eye.
Fortune-telling and superstitions had surprisingly high demand. From beggars in the slums to the lofty nobles of high society, they all believed. A few honeyed words, and she'd fall right into the trap.
Thus, safely in Luna's hands and smuggled into the academy, Jelros began his move the moment she fell asleep.
-Mm...?
-Wh-where is this? I just fell asleep...
"Hello~ Luna? Nice to finally see you face-to-face."
"...Who are you? I don't remember seeing a kid like you around here."
The sensations felt too vivid for a dream, and the surfacing memories felt oddly off, so Luna quickly went on guard.
"No need to be so wary. Believe it or not, I'm actually pretty grateful to you~"
"I don't think I've done anything to earn gratitude from a kid like you..."
"Really, I am. Thanks to you, I got into the academy so easily!"
"What are you... Ah, could it be...?"
During their exchange, something clicked for her, and Luna sighed, dropping her head.
"Haa... This is why you shouldn't pick up random stuff off the street..."
"Hehe? You figured it out already? That's right! The necklace you picked up is me! Well, technically, it has my soul in it!"
"So, what now? Planning to forcibly take over my body?"
"Hehe. Normally, yeah, but I'm in a good mood this time, so I thought I'd try persuading you instead~ I only have business with Mars Noctus, after all~"
...In truth, seizing someone else's body was far more complex and taxing than it seemed. A human's body and mind were tightly bound; without the original owner's consent, replacement was incredibly difficult. Unless the host's mind bore massive trauma or they were incapable of normal physical or mental function, brute force was required—but that risked damaging one's own soul, so it wasn't recommended.
"Why? Planning to take my body and get close to Mars for revenge?"
"Hmm? You caught on quicker than expected. In that case—"
"Fine. Take it."
"Wha—... Huh?"
Normally, she'd cry, "I can't let you do that!" or "I'll never submit to the likes of you!" But her casual offer of control made Jelros freeze instead.
"Just to confirm—you're only taking control, right? I'm not disappearing or anything?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Then we're good. I was ready to go to extremes if you resisted or surrendered, but since you're handing it over so easily..."
Jelros grew suspicious at how straightforward it was.
"Not that I should be saying this, but... what makes you so confident?"
"It's not like I'm dying, right? No need to be scared. Worst case, Mars will save me."
"Hah..."
Jelros let out a hollow laugh at Luna's matter-of-fact declaration.
"What a flower garden in your head..."
"Ooh~ Wanna bet? I'll wager you lose to Mars and die pathetically. Stakes... our lives?"
"Ha, fine. Mocked by a little girl like you, no less."
Jelros had planned that anyway, but now he vowed to make Mars suffer and despair all the more before killing him.
At least, until just moments ago...
* * *
"Wh-what do you mean? She's not Luna?"
Lady Celine Euse barely held onto her sanity as she asked Mars, who had grabbed the fake Luna by the neck and hoisted her up. The other club members were similarly slow to react to Mars's sudden move, struggling to process the scene with clear minds.
"...Exactly what I said. This isn't Luna. Probably just mimicking her."
"What... does that..."
There were spells that temporarily altered appearance or overlaid illusions. The intruder's method was likely similar. He didn't know what they'd done to Luna yet, but interrogating the fake and rescuing her came first.
"But how can you be so sure it's not Luna?"
"You'd know if you saw. I've known her for years."
Indeed, from their earlier exchange, Mars seemed to have tested her from the start—her responses didn't match Luna's past memories properly.
'But when?'
The only conversation between Mars and Luna since entering the clubroom had been a greeting. Could he discern real from fake from that alone?
"M-Mars...!"
"Luna wouldn't come early and wait. She'd say tea's best hot, show up after we're all here, and brew it fresh. And respond sweetly to my greeting? Hah. Even a stray dog would laugh."
He stated it so absurdly—1 plus 1 equals 2—but Jelros was stunned by their bond.
'Damn it! He noticed from something that ridiculous?! You bastard!'
"Tell me. Where's Luna."
A chill killing intent swept over them like frost across the heart. Not just the group—even Jelros, gripped in place, broke out in cold sweat down his back.
'Killing intent?! This dense, concentrated aura—on par with an executive!'
That youthful exterior hid unfathomable depths of power, filling Jelros with dread.
"Kh, kuh—! You really gonna... handle me like this? I don't care, but... this body's the girl you cherish so mu—gah!"
"What?"
Mars's grip loosened at the claim it was truly Luna's body—not illusion or transformation. Jelros seized the opening.
Thwack—!
"! You—!"
Breaking free, Jelros snatched a nearby knife and held it to his own throat. Meant for slicing snack bread, it wasn't razor-sharp, but with force, it could pierce delicate female skin easily enough.
"Just so you know, this is the real Luna... What happens if I stab this in~?"
"..."
That gaze. The chilling eyes raking over him made Jelros's legs tremble uncontrollably.
"What happened... to Luna."
"Luna?"
Ah, did he think Luna was already dead? Judging that a dead Luna meant no hostage, Jelros opted to use her as a shield for survival.
"That girl? She's alive~ I just took control. Her soul's still intact~ So if you want to save her—"
"Alive?"
Mars's face lit up.
'What's this? He knows she's in my clutches, yet that expression?'
A twinge of unease, but Jelros pressed the knife closer to the skin and continued.
"Can't grasp the situation? If you want to save your childhood friend—"
Shlick—!
"Behave and lis—... Huh?"
Throb... Throb throb... Throbthrobthrobthrobthrobthrobthrobthrob!
"Gaaaaah!!"
Excruciating pain from his right arm.
"Y-You're insane!? This is her real body! You cut it without hesitation... Huh?"
Glancing down in agony like a burn, his arm was perfectly intact.
"H-How...? The pain's still there!"
His mind screamed in torment, yet no wound marred the flesh.
"If Luna's alive and this is her real body, there's one possibility. You control her body."
"You—!"
"Simple answer."
Another small knife now in Mars's hand.
Soul Severing.
Mars's unique technique, slicing only the soul.
Shlick—!
"Gaaaaah!!"
This time, pain buckled his left leg, dropping him.
"Fuck, this can't be real!? Slicing just the soul!?"
A slashing strike using aura to target only the soul, erasing the foe. It was like...
'I'll actually die at this rate!'
Writhing, Jelros suddenly froze, head drooping. Mars's next strike halted.
Moments later, the dropped Luna's face slowly lifted.
"Mm... Mars? Where... are we?"
Luna looked around in bewilderment, her confused expression at the unfamiliar scene unmistakably genuine.
"Bullshit."
Shlick—!
"Mmph! Gahk!"
Grabbed by the nape, collapsing. Luna's eyes bulged with shock and terror.
"H-How—!"
"Told you."
She wasn't the type. Jelros, who had manipulated others his whole life out of jealousy and base desires, ruining countless lives—met his end unknown and pathetic.