Chapter 9 - Back Alley
"Frey, you there?"
"...Kania, go open the door."
"...Yes."
The promised weekend arrived, and Isolet stormed into my dormitory with fire in her eyes. For the record, the past few days had been fairly ordinary—no major incidents worth noting.
Well, except for the saintess, blessed with the power to fold even superhumans in half, constantly trying to kidnap me to the church, forcing my Villain's Intuition to trigger uselessly and leaving me on edge every moment. Or Irina muttering the ultimate curse incantation she'd crafted in the previous loop behind my back, making me tremble in fear. Or the princess flashing me cold smiles now and then, which I had to counter with a dumb grin while breaking out in cold sweat. Or the days blending into routine after sharing my life force with Kania, playing with that soft cat doll... until one night she fell asleep hugging it, and I startled when she stirred while I tried to pry it away...
Come to think of it, there were quite a few incidents. But hey, I hadn't died, so it all worked out, right?
"Welcome, Lady Isolet."
"Kania? Why are you...?"
"I am currently residing here as Young Master's servant."
Isolet stared at Kania in shock after she opened the door in my stead. Once the explanation ended, she glared at me sharply and spoke.
"Frey, are you in your right mind...?"
"...What?"
"Letting Kania... a woman... live in the same room... Such indecency...!"
Isolet's face flushed beet red as she trembled and raised her voice. Yeah, she's weak to situations like this. Raised in the Bywalk family, where martial arts were everything, she'd only trained her whole life. With her rigid personality and intimidating aura, she'd never had a proper romance. She knew she was of marriageable age, so she always reacted sensitively to such topics without realizing it.
"Kids these days move fast, sis."
"Y-You...!"
"What? Don't you think you should try it once too, sis? Or you'll end up a spinster."
"...........!"
Her face grew even redder at my words, freezing in place at "spinster."
...Did she just have a heart attack and die?
Panicking, I hurriedly used my Information Search skill to check her status, then sighed in relief.
She had the mental shock debuff, but at least she wasn't dead.
100pt gained! (Truth is bitter)
...Even the system piled on.
As I silently mourned Isolet—now officially system-certified spinster-at-risk—Kania, looking displeased beside me, spoke up.
"...It's Young Master's joke. We're not in that kind of relationship."
"Kania, right now you're—"
About to scold her out of habit, I froze at the status window floating before my eyes.
"...Kania, last night was really good."
"...Please don't."
Kania gave me a puzzled look, but when I smirked and wrapped my arm around her waist, she shoved me away with a disgusted glare.
"..........."
Glared back and tried again, only to notice Isolet drawing her sword with a look that screamed murder. I quietly withdrew my arm and asked,
"Anyway, why are you here, sis?"
"...Are you asking because you don't know?"
"Oh, right. We were going to the back alleys."
"...Get ready. We're leaving now."
She left those words, face slightly flushed, and stormed out.
".........."
"...Kania."
Confirming she'd left, I turned a cold glare on Kania.
"...Yes."
"Did you just push me?"
"..........."
"...Answer me."
As I approached with a icy expression, Kania bowed her head and spoke.
"I'm sorry, Master... I lost my mind for a moment... Eek!"
Before she finished, I shoved her onto the bed, mounted her, and whispered,
"...Getting bold lately, Kania?"
"Y-Young Master...! Please stop...!"
"Why? Push me off like before. Go on. If you don't... I'll take it as you wanting it too."
"N-Ngh...!"
Her face paled as she tried to push me, but her frail strength couldn't budge my sturdy frame.
"See... you want it too, right?"
"S-Stop! Stop it!!"
I grabbed her collar with a lecherous grin, and she started punching me.
"...Where do you think you're hitting?"
"Hic!"
I let her land a few, then seized her wrists, bound them, pinned her down, and whispered again.
"...If I wanted to, I could take you just like this."
".....!"
"Because you're my possession. Not a butler or servant... just a thing I can do whatever I want with."
"A-Ah..."
Watching her eyes go dead with a blank expression, I drove the nail home.
"So don't get bold. Do it one more time... and it won't end here... Cough!!"
"...Young Master!?"
Suddenly, blood poured from my mouth. Failing to cover it, I splattered her clothes and the bed.
"......Cough, cough! Urgh!!"
"W-What is...?"
"...Get out."
"Pardon?"
"I said get out!!!!!"
I bellowed, and Kania stared wide-eyed before fleeing the room.
"Cough, cough! Damn it..."
I glared at her retreating back, coughing blood.
"...Phew, crisis averted for now."
I did this for one reason: Kania's life was in danger moments ago. Glancing at her status while checking Isolet's, I freaked out at the changes. Her "frailty" had worsened to "critical," and "mana instability" to "mana rampage."
She seemed fine because the rampage hadn't progressed far. Mana rampage causes reverse flow over time, leading to body-tearing agony, madness, or death. Even survivors face lifelong disability.
In that emergency, I faked assaulting her to maximize contact and share life force.
...But why did her mana rampage suddenly hit? I'm pouring life force into her nightly...
It didn't make sense. Is she using black magic behind my back? That could explain it without my help. I need to investigate what she's up to.
Finishing that thought, I noticed the blood-soaked sheets. She'd ask about this soon... What to say?
...Blame a heart condition? No, that wasn't in past loops... Say it's a side effect from that brooch?
Pondering, I remembered Isolet waiting and hurriedly changed clothes, shelving the worry. Problems keep piling up.
......
"Frey, where are we headed?"
"Huh? To the back alleys, obviously."
I'm walking the market alleys with Isolet, both cloaked in black robes. She's tense for the dangerous back alleys, wearing armor under her clothes, gripping her family sword, scanning everywhere.
But the back alleys aren't as dangerous as she thinks. Entry's punishable by death in theory, but never enforced, so it's basically a pleasure district. Though some spots are truly risky.
"H-Help... Please help..."
"My body... it hurts..."
"J-Just a piece of bread... anything..."
Suddenly, beggars swarmed us.
"...Ah."
Isolet looked saddened. Most were children.
Why? Our empire's corrupt. Nobles ignore the people for their own comfort, so poverty spreads. Parents abandon kids in markets to save food. They beg for days before starving. Corpses vanish overnight; survivors avoid begging for a while. You can guess why.
This happens everywhere. Why no revolt? Simple: it erupts soon, nationwide. Starting with Sunrise Academy's "Commoner Dormitory Raid."
The mastermind? The Demon King stirring. But it'd happen anyway.
This hopeless dark fantasy world is like a pufferfish, per my ancestor's words—plagued by rebellions, uprisings, droughts, disasters... ending with the unbeatable Demon King.
Even if I, the protagonist, follow the classic route, awaken the Hero's Armament, and defeat him without the system, the world ends anyway, leaving me alone.
How bleak and unfair.
"Please... my sibling's sick..."
"...Hm?"
Cursing this world inwardly, someone tugged my robe. I looked down.
"Please... just one coin... please..."
".........."
"I want to give my sibling... at least a piece of bread..."
"...A piece of bread?"
"Before my sibling... dies from illness... I just want to see them smile once... Sob... Hic..."
The ragged but cute girl tugging my robe burst into tears, overcome.
I almost snapped coldly out of habit, then remembered the robe hid me and spoke softly.
"...Stop crying."
"Sob, hic... Sniff..."
"Good girl."
I gently stroked her head as she sniffled, glancing sideways at Isolet.
"Please... knight lady... my child..."
"Sis... I'm hungry... save us..."
"Big sis... please help..."
"W-Wait! I'll share equally, so line up!"
Isolet sweated, handling the beggars after they spotted her sword and noble status.
This kid was too weak to join.
In that chaos... she won't see my actions...
I pulled out a gold pouch and placed it in the girl's hand.
"...Use this to treat your sibling and find a home."
"...Y-Yes!? B-But...!"
Seeing the pouch full of gold, her eyes widened, voice rising.
"Shh..."
"Mmph... Mmmph..."
I clamped her mouth, scanned around, released, and whispered,
"...You'll get caught."
"B-But... it's too much..."
"...Huh?"
"I have nothing to repay... even if I grow up, I can't... Ngh...!"
I stroked the bold beggar girl's head, whispering again.
"It's fine. No need to repay."
"R-Really...?"
"Yeah. But help me with something first."
"...Pardon?"
"What you'll do next is worth far more than that gold."
I whispered in her ear. She tilted her head, then beamed.
"I don't get it, but I'll do my best!"
"...Good. After, take your sibling and leave here."
I drew a whip from my pocket and lashed her hard.
"...Eek!!"
Her shrill cry drew stares from beggars, passersby, and Isolet—all horrified.
"...You filthy rat, trying to pickpocket me?"
"S-Sorry!! I won't again... Eek!!"
"Shut up!! Vermin like you deserve death!!"
I whipped harder; her screams grew louder.
...Ow, my arm hurts.
Of course, it's the Villain's Whip, bought special—no real pain.
She's probably gritting her teeth against the tickle.
"N-No!! Stop it!!"
Isolet charged, shielded the girl, and yelled at me.
"Are you insane!? What did this child do...?"
"Tried to steal my wallet."
"That doesn't justify beating a kid like this!!!"
Furious, Isolet laid the girl down and advanced on me, eyes blazing.
"Fine, I'll stop. Let's get going..."
"...You're truly vile. Disgusting."
"...Now you know?"
"I was the fool for trusting you. From now on, I won't worry about you... or treat you personally. So don't call me sis."
"Whatever."
She glared in contempt, then turned to the girl.
...Did it work?
I watched, activated Mind Reading expectantly, but...
Isolet Arham Bywalk's current emotions: contempt / rage / disappointment / worry / pity / sympathy / sadness
"...Sigh."
Worry, pity, sympathy lingered. Deep sigh.
Won't worry, my ass. Lying.
If she keeps worrying, she'll face big danger in the upcoming main scenario. I tried cutting ties now... but this soft-hearted sis still frets over a scoundrel like me.
"............"
The girl in Isolet's arms eyed me fearfully; I gave a thumbs-up.
"...Th-Thank you!"
She broke free, bowed loudly to Isolet, and vanished into an alley.
300pt gained! (Charity Angel)
"...Let's go."
I glanced at the alert, then calmly told Isolet, still glaring.
"...Where?"
She asked coldly. I pointed to the dark alley the girl entered.
"...To the back alleys."
......
"...Hah, is this really the back alleys?"
"Yeah, it is."
Isolet gawked at the flashy sights upon entering.
Makes sense. One block back, kids starve; one forward, jewels everywhere.
This is the empire's rotten, absurd reality.
"...Did those people all come through our entrance?"
"No, that's not even the proper entrance. Just a filthy hole the elite avoid."
"..........."
"Welcome to the empire's heart... Professor."
Changing her title, she frowned coldly.
"Guide me to that shop."
"Right there?"
"...What?"
"Didn't come through this hole for nothing. Shortens time."
"...Wait here. I'll handle it."
She marched to the magic shop.
"Sorry, shopkeep. I'll make sure you don't get bored..."
"Mmph, mmph...!"
"...Huh?"
Mourning the quirky shopkeeper fondly, a groan turned my head. I froze.
"Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph...!!!"
"...Kid, stay still. No one's saving you."
"Heh? Doesn't look fed much, but full of energy? Scored a good one."
In a dark gap between buildings, the girl who'd taken my gold pouch struggled against masked thugs.
"Pwah... S-Save... Gah...!"
"This'll fatten up nicely."
"...Pulling back for today."
"Hey, let me have fun too?"
She punched in the gut, went limp. Thugs hoisted her, chatted, vanished.
"Ha..."
Watching silently, I fiddled with my hidden sword, wary of beggars.
"...Looks like I need to change plans."
Time to play hero again after so long.