Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Finally, the Conditioning Begins (2)
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Aria was under a hypnosis deep enough to remember Kalt's words, and Kalt spoke.
"Aria, you can't move until I allow it. Aria, you must obey every command I give."
He withdrew his hand and flashed a grin.
"See? That proves it."
"Kalt? You just spread your hand and said some words—what exactly does that prove? Are you joking around?"
"Who knows? Try it yourself, Aria. Can you move right now?"
"Of course I... Huh?"
Aria still didn't grasp the situation.
She just thought Kalt was pulling some mischievous prank.
But.
"Wait, why won't my body..."
Aria's body refused to budge an inch.
She remembered what Kalt had said to her.
She couldn't move without Kalt's permission.
She had to obey every command he gave.
"Why...!"
"I told you, Aria. You can't move without my permission. This is the effect of my hypnosis."
"Hypnosis...? When did you hypnotize me, Kalt!"
Aria's voice rose in bewilderment and shock.
"Just a moment ago. You probably didn't notice, but while I was speaking, you were completely entranced and dazed under hypnosis."
"N-No way... Ugh!"
Aria desperately tried to force her body to move.
But no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't respond.
"Relax, Aria. Struggling like that must hurt."
And the instant Kalt told her to relax.
Aria couldn't even muster proper strength in her body anymore.
"W-What is this...?"
"You get the idea of how my hypnosis works now, right? Oh, you can move again."
"Ah!"
Even while trying to relax, she'd been exerting some force, so as Aria kept attempting to move, the binding released, and she nearly toppled over.
Kalt gently caught the stumbling Aria.
"There, you're okay."
"K-Kalt, what... what did you do to me? I couldn't move, and suddenly I could..."
"I told you. It's hypnosis. I'll explain in more detail, so sit on the bed first."
Aria experienced the eerie sensation of her body moving on its own to sit on the bed.
'My body is moving by itself...! Is this hypnosis? Kalt hypnotized me, and that's what's causing this?'
It was hard to accept, hard to believe, but the fact remained—her body was obeying Kalt's words against her will.
With that in mind, Aria accepted that Kalt had used hypnosis and asked.
"...Kalt. Why are you telling me now that you're using hypnosis?"
"Good question. Well, I did mention it earlier... but at least you're willing to listen properly now. That's a relief. As I said, I've used hypnosis on the Mabel Party before to solve problems. But I never told them outright. That I helped by hypnotizing them."
"Why not?"
"Back then, I didn't see the need. I didn't want to brag about how I fixed their issues. I figured we could get along fine without saying it. Well... as you know, that was all wishful thinking. No, I was the fool."
Kalt chuckled and continued.
"I had no idea that constant favors could make people take them for granted. I never dreamed they'd try to kick me out. After that incident, my thinking changed a lot."
"Changed how?"
"Up until now... I tried to live as kindly as possible, partly because of a promise to my late parents. But getting treated like that by people I saw as comrades made it feel pointless. Why was I putting up with it? So I decided to be honest with myself. No more holding back. From now on, I'll live true to my desires. And when I form a new party, I'll make sure they truly appreciate my worth."
Kalt sat beside Aria and draped an arm around her shoulders.
"K-Kalt!?"
"I think I've proven my hypnosis enough, so let's get back to what I wanted to say. Aria, your issue is almost cured. But that's only while my hypnosis is active. If I release it... you'll probably revert to just a tiny bit better than before."
Kalt's words sent a chill down Aria's spine.
"N-No way..."
To Aria, her problem was the trauma itself.
The signs of recovery she'd seen now...
Even as a saintess candidate, if she couldn't perform at full capacity, reverting to near-original state...
She didn't even want to imagine it.
"Hard to believe, right? Just stay still for now."
Kalt spread his hand toward Aria again and said.
"Aria, if I say 'release' and snap my fingers, the hypnosis resolving your mental issue will temporarily lift. But if I say 'again' and snap, it'll reactivate."
He withdrew his hand and poised to snap his fingers.
"Shall we test it?"
"W-Wait, Kalt! I don't think—"
"Release."
Snap! Kalt snapped his fingers.
"...!"
Aria's body jolted.
"No need to panic, Aria. It's just the hypnosis fixing your mental issue that's temporarily gone. Your body's fine."
"What... what was that hypnosis supposed to fix?"
"Remember the counseling I talked about? It's hypnosis to make those effects even stronger. If you doubt it... try praying. Like when you cast Blessing."
At Kalt's words, Aria's hands automatically clasped as if to cast Blessing.
'W-Why are my hands moving on their own!'
Still doubting Kalt's words, Aria followed them and prayed as if invoking Blessing.
'God... please...'
First prayer.
Still fine.
Second, then third prayer.
No issues.
'It feels normal. S-See? My problem coming back was a lie!'
Clinging to that hope, she continued to the fourth and fifth prayers.
Trauma began surfacing in Aria's mind.
'N-No. Why? It's too soon... I shouldn't be breaking down yet!'
It had clearly been healing.
At this stage, she should've been able to use Blessing lightly ten more times.
Yet the trauma surged strongly already.
The burning village, villagers being massacred, horrific screams echoing, monsters' roars, the stench of blood assaulting her nose.
The thud signaling her father's death above, her mother's form dying before her eyes.
"Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah!"
Aria's breathing grew ragged. Cold sweat poured out in moments, her heart pounding fiercely.
"Aria, stop praying."
At Kalt's command, Aria could stop.
The trauma-induced symptoms gradually subsided.
"See now?"
"Kalt..."
Aria looked at Kalt and had to admit it.
Her trauma hadn't truly healed. It had improved only thanks to Kalt's hypnosis.
"Is this... the value you wanted me to know about you, Kalt? That without you... my problem would still persist?"
"Exactly. I need to make that crystal clear. Who knows if another party would shamelessly forget my help?"
"..."
Aria felt confused.
Kalt suddenly revealing his hypnosis ability.
Her problem not being fully healed.
The fact that Kalt could control her condition.
Aria desperately tried to regain her composure and think about Kalt.
'Kalt... Kalt doesn't have malicious intent.'
If he did, he wouldn't have fixed her or Scarlet's issues.
He wouldn't have acted so much for their growth.
'Kalt must have been hurt by the Mabel Party. That's why he's doing this. To make it clear this time.'
Aria tried to think positively.
Kalt revealing his ability like this could be his way of not keeping secrets from comrades.
By disclosing it and explaining the benefits he'd brought via hypnosis, he was approaching them more honestly.
"I... see, Kalt. Got it. I was shocked to learn you have hypnosis powers... but that doesn't change the fact that you've helped us. You're irreplaceable to us. So, Kalt, first... could you fix my problem again?"
The recent rapid relapse left her mind uneasy.
She wanted Kalt to say "again" and snap quickly.
"Sure, of course. If you meet the condition I state from now on."
"Kalt?"
"The main point starts now, Aria. I told you—I decided to live more true to my desires."
"What do you...?"
"You understand your position now, Aria. You know how valuable I am to you. So, Aria."
Kalt beamed with joy at the long-awaited moment.
"Make me happy. Then... I'll reapply the hypnosis."