Chapter 293: The Hate Me Potion (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 293: The Hate Me Potion (2)
Even people who always sleep in will wake up early on their own if they have something to look forward to the next day.
Like, for instance, the day before a game’s one-year anniversary event.
You have to be ready to run the second the morning maintenance ends.
That was exactly how I felt today.
The “Hate Me Potion” project, proposed by the slaves for my entertainment. It all began today.
I had my worries, but I was also secretly curious.
What would the slaves be like when they hated me?
I was curious about how their attitudes would change.
It would probably be incredibly refreshing.
The first of these changed slaves I would meet would be Mirabelle, who came to wake me every morning.
I couldn't miss such a precious scene.
That was why, despite having woken up early, I remained still with my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
About ten minutes passed.
Click.
The door opened.
The light clack, clack of footsteps could only belong to someone small. Just from the sound, I knew it was Mirabelle.
The footsteps grew closer, then stopped near me. I could feel Mirabelle’s presence right beside me.
What will she do?
A morning kiss, like always?
As I waited with a pounding heart, Mirabelle made her move.
“Blegh…”
Drip.
A lukewarm liquid trickled between my lips.
The unfamiliar substance entering my mouth made me shoot up, all thoughts of acting forgotten.
“Eek…!”
Mirabelle, who clearly hadn't expected me to wake up, let out a shrill scream and scrambled back.
Her reaction was as dramatic as a kid caught by their mom trying to eat raw ramen in the middle of the night. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and swallowed hard.
“Y-You were awake…”
My mind went blank for a second.
Then, as I realized what the liquid was, I couldn't hide my shock.
First, I swallowed what was in my mouth.
“What did you just do?”
“W-Well, that’s…”
Mirabelle hung her head low, unable to meet my eyes. Her voice was so small it sounded like it was crawling into an anthill.
Such a timid demeanor.
Just like when I first met her.
“Mirabelle.”
“…”
“Mirabelle, lift your head and look me in the eye.”
Mirabelle, who had been staring at the floor as if a boulder was resting on the back of her head, reluctantly showed her face.
Finally, our eyes met.
The liberated Mirabelle, despite bearing the fearsome title of the Hand of the Death God, was a being who could just as easily be called the Witch of Love, spreading laughter throughout the world.
Though not officially decided, she was a cheerful girl considered the mascot of the Merchants of Death.
But what about the indigo eyes looking at me now?
Displeasure.
Loathing.
Fear.
Avoidance.
A mixture of negative emotions swirled within them.
I knew at a glance that this was the effect of the magic spell, ‘Hate Me Potion.’
To think that my lovely Mirabelle would send such a look my way.
At first, I was quite shocked, but then…
‘Wow, this is new.’
It was already getting fun.
I could see why the girls suggested it.
As expected of my slaves.
They were the best when it came to looking after their master.
If Mirabelle is like this, I wonder what the others are like.
*
I left my room and entered the hallway with Mirabelle in tow.
Mirabelle, who used to trail right behind me at a slight diagonal, was now walking a full three paces away.
I could feel her dislike for me in every little gesture.
If this was an act, I would have her debut as a stage actress immediately.
Mirabelle, the Witch of Acting.
It might not be a bad idea.
“Mirabelle, did you wake the Master?”
“Uh, Mom…”
“What’s with that expression? Did something happen?”
I explained the situation to Naredi, who didn’t know the details yet. Her expression turned cold.
“They’re really doing all sorts of things.”
“I’m just grateful my slaves want to play with me.”
“So, you’re saying Mirabelle hates you right now?”
“That’s right. The other five as well.”
“Hmm, I can’t really imagine it…”
Well, I understood.
I had felt the same way at first.
“U-Um…”
Mirabelle stepped between Naredi and me, gently pushing Naredi back to put some distance between us.
And then she spoke.
And the hostility she showed.
“Please don’t… talk to my mom so casually.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Don’t bother my mom.”
She looked as if she was trying to protect Naredi.
From me, of all people.
She recognized me as an enemy.
I had thought this might happen, so I wasn't particularly surprised, but it was Naredi who reacted.
“Oh, my daughter…!”
Surprised by Mirabelle standing before her like a shield, she covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide.
“I-It’s okay, Mom. No matter what, I’ll p-protect you.”
She even added words to reassure Naredi.
Naredi’s eyes welled up with tears.
She looked at Mirabelle as if she were the cutest thing in the world and pulled her into a tight hug.
“My daughter is back to normal! This is the Mirabelle I knew! The Hate Me Potion, was it? I absolutely welcome this!”
It seemed Naredi liked it because Mirabelle was acting like her old self.
I get how she feels, but this is never going to be permanent.
One day of being hated by Mirabelle is more than enough.
Next, I went around to check on the others.
I started by opening the door to Rin’s bedroom, which was the closest.
“Huh?”
The Dream Garden was gone, and in its place was a plain, featureless bedroom.
Rin, of course, was not there, and there wasn't even a trace that anyone had used the room.
“O-Only those Rin allows can enter the Dream Garden. S-So… of course the Master can’t.”
I never would have guessed such a gimmick existed.
I had always entered so freely that I never imagined there would be an entry condition.
Denied entry.
It seemed I wouldn't be able to meet Rin until she decided to come out.
Next, I went to Azyeth’s room. Normally she would be with Rin, but since I couldn't enter the Dream Garden…
I arrived at Azyeth’s bedroom.
The door was frozen solid white.
A chill seeped from the cracks.
One look was enough to tell me this place wasn't normal either.
I grabbed the doorknob and pulled, forcing it open. The door shattered with a loud crack.
The interior was frozen over, and snowflakes were falling.
In the middle of the bed, Azyeth was curled up, her head buried in her knees.
“Azyeth?”
Creeak.
As if a stiff-jointed doll were moving, Azyeth turned her head to look at me.
Her gaze was as cold as ice.
Her clear blue eyes, reminiscent of winter, held no light, only a chilling coldness.
“Azye—”
Crack!
A sharp shard of ice shot out from Azyeth and stopped right in front of my eyes.
The biting chill made my eyeballs feel stiff.
Azyeth clenched and unclenched her fist, as if checking her body’s condition. She tilted her head, looking confused.
Her magic clearly hadn't activated as she’d intended.
That was because Mirabelle had put safeguards in place, knowing that as affection fell, hostility would rise, which could lead to the unfortunate event of them attacking me.
They had been so confident that such a thing would never happen, that their love would overcome some silly magic.
It seemed things weren't going as they had so confidently predicted.
If I hadn't prepared for this, I would have just been decapitated.
—Khh! That’s it, Princess! How could a weak, insignificant human like him possibly be your prince?
“Prince…?”
Skadia, whose upper body had appeared like a ghost beside Azyeth, began to whisper sweet nothings to her.
—Yes, prince! The prince from the fairy tale book you never let go of! Impossible! Not a chance!
Just like Naredi, Skadia was seizing the opportunity to spout all sorts of nonsense.
But I couldn't really blame him.
Using plausible bullshit to bewitch my slaves.
That was something I used to do.
Being on the receiving end was pretty damn annoying.
It felt like watching someone precious being led astray.
Well, I figured it was just desserts, so I decided not to interfere.
—So, Princess. Why don't you take this chance to rip up that pathetic book? Destroy the cursed object that binds you!
But now that bastard was crossing a line.
If she actually ripped it, the aftermath would be unmanageable. I was about to stop her when…
“…I don’t want to.”
A refusal came from Azyeth’s lips.
—W-Why? That thing is like a witch's poisoned apple, meant to bewitch you!
Azyeth gazed at the Snow White fairy tale book. Then she shook her head.
“This… I can’t.”
—Why not!
“I… don’t know either. But, I can’t do this. No.”
Her will was firm.
Skadia could only groan, not daring to persuade her further.
I was inwardly impressed.
At Azyeth’s attitude, cherishing the fairy tale book even while harboring such loathing for me.
Azyeth looked at me with emotionless eyes.
“Leave.”
At least she just said "leave."
If Azyeth had told me to get lost, I might have been seriously hurt, even knowing it was because of the magic.
“Understood.”
I obediently left and went to close the door…
‘Right, it’s broken.’
I just walked out of the room.
An ice wall immediately formed, sealing the room off.
I’ll have to get that repaired later.
Azyeth’s actions made me realize one thing for certain.
In the end, this was nothing more than a momentary prank.
I just had to think of it as role-playing and enjoy it.
I pinched Mirabelle’s cheek.
“Uuuuugh…”
Mirabelle scowled, making her displeasure perfectly clear.
‘She’s fun to tease.’
How could I miss this golden opportunity?
I’m going to mess with them as much as I possibly can.