Chapter 181 - A New Plan
Trrring! Trrring!
"Mm..."
I opened my eyes to the blaring alarm clock, warm sunlight streaming through the window.
"...Tch."
It looked peaceful enough to anyone else, but knowing the true nature of that sunlight, it was nothing but irritating to me.
"Ugh..."
I pulled the pillow over my face to block the light and stayed in bed a while longer.
"Did I... really get drunk?"
Clutching my throbbing head, I muttered in a daze.
"For real?"
It had been ages since I'd gotten drunk. Back in the previous loops as a kid, when I'd accidentally chugged some booze and passed out, or during those days when I drowned my stress in drink. Back then, alcohol had been my crutch, but ever since my mental faculties had surged unnaturally, it lost all effect.
Deep down, I'd wanted to get wasted again, so maybe that's why I'd overdone it last night. My memories were hazy, barely coming back.
"Ah..."
As I rummaged through them with the pillow still smothering my face, I let out a dumb noise.
"Ugh..."
Kania pinning me against the wall for a kiss.
Kania feeding me the blood in her mouth, then swearing a blood oath.
Kania with that seductive smile, asking if I'd join her for drinks.
Her in a stunning dress instead of her usual stiff, tidy maid outfit, smiling at me.
And...
"...?"
Cold sweat trickled down my back for some reason.
Why? What was this?
Did I do something wrong to Kania?
Swoosh...
Pushed by the growing unease, I shoved the pillow aside and tried to sit up.
"Whoa!"
"..."
That's when I spotted someone flattened against the floor of my room, and I yelped in shock.
"Master, you're awake?"
Lulu lifted her head slightly to look at me.
"Lulu? What are you doing here..."
Calming my surprise, I sat on the edge of the bed and asked the prone girl.
"Good morning, Master."
With that, she crawled toward me while still face-down.
Swoosh, shhh...
Eyes closed tight, she started rubbing her cheek against my leg.
"...What're you doing?"
I stared blankly and asked. Lulu fixed her gaze on me and whispered softly.
"Being cute."
"Being cute?"
"Pets being cute to their owners... is natural."
With that answer, Lulu closed her eyes again, wrapped her arms around my leg, and nuzzled her cheek against it with utmost devotion. As if it were her sacred duty. It felt less like mere loyalty and more like something that brought her strange comfort.
"..."
After hugging my leg and rubbing against it for a good while, Lulu lifted her head slightly and stared into my eyes.
Swoosh...
I found myself stroking her hair without thinking, and Lulu closed her eyes again, quietly accepting my touch.
"Mm."
She looked just like a pet thrilled by its owner's praise, and a soft smile crept onto my face unbidden.
"So, why're you here?"
After petting her for a bit, I asked. She looked up at me and replied.
"Brought breakfast."
Lulu pulled out the meal she'd been cradling and opened the lid, offering it to me.
"Oh?"
Today's breakfast was egg-soaked toast and hot chocolate.
"...You eat yet?"
Eyeing the impeccably prepared food—clearly Kania's work—I asked Lulu. She shook her head no.
"Here."
I picked up a piece of toast from the plate and held it out to her.
"Eat."
Nomf.
The moment I said it, Lulu chomped down on the sandwich.
Munch munch...
She chewed it while staring up at me blankly.
"...So, where's Kania? Irina?"
She looked so much like a puppy taking food from its owner—adorably—that I petted her head again, then tilted my head and asked.
"Emergency came up... they just left."
She answered around a mouthful of toast.
"...I see."
Munching on my own slice of Kania's toast, I quietly stared into space.
Affection Level System Updating...
"........."
Hovering in the air was the update screen for the Affection Level System, which I'd bought in a past loop for a whopping 70,000 points.
"What the."
When the other me from the third trial bought this system, I'd been floored. All those painstakingly saved points, gone in a flash.
But.
It definitely said there was some essential hidden feature.
The Prophecy Book from past loops was different from my current Ancestor’s Prophecy Book. So it made sense that he knew the Affection Level System's secrets.
He'd retried countless times, after all.
And now, with this update popping up right in front of me, there really was something to it.
"Mm..."
I stared at the floating system for a while.
Whoosh!
Then, frowning, I swiped it aside.
That system is just another of the Demon God's tricks, isn't it?
Knowing that and still having to play along pissed me off to no end.
But no choice. To be the last one laughing, I had to take the L for now...
Wait.
Do I?
Isn't there something that could flip everything?
"Right, the DLC story."
"Yes?"
"...Nothing."
I shot up from the bed, ignoring Lulu's confused look, and started pacing as I thought.
Rest is important, but... now I've got stuff I have to check during this break.
Originally, I'd planned to fully recharge over break. No major events usually happened, and I had a year's worth of damage, fatigue, and stress piled up. Plus, the second-year story was when things got seriously grim for me, so prep was key.
The war with the church dominating the year, my escalating privileges and wealth drawing heat. The imperial family and church turning on me, political and physical pressures from all sides, and...
The academy becoming a puppet show with the fake hero as its pillar.
To navigate the far darker, tougher obstacles than first year, I needed max mental recovery and prep over break.
But now... it's different.
I could skip how the DLC might affect second year, but one thing I couldn't ignore.
"M-Master...?"
Lulu, who'd tried ditching me for the hero party but chose me instead, now slinking up submissively.
Isolet, who'd tried killing me multiple times but couldn't draw her sword, harboring some mysterious emotion even the system couldn't detect.
What they had in common? All sub-heroines.
Maybe... this DLC story is...
These stark changes since the third trial ended could be the key to flipping it all.
So, time to tweak my break plans. Add "meet the sub-heroines personally" to the simple rest-and-prep agenda. It felt essential.
Won't be too hard.
Break was long enough. Even visiting every girl the system labeled "sub-heroine," I'd have rest time to spare.
Aisi was on the western continent now, but she'd transfer to Sunrise Academy this break, so no issue.
"Hm?"
As I slipped on my outer coat, something nudged my leg.
"........."
Looking down, Lulu had sidled right up, pressing against my leg and gazing up.
"What's up, Lulu?"
I asked her.
"Ah..."
Blushing, she asked with a flushed face.
"Walkies in the morning?"
".........""
Silence fell.
"...Yeah, let's go."
The slave mark on her shoulder seemed to glint ominously, so I answered her.
Then...
I murmured inwardly.
...start with her, obviously.
.........
The empire's back alleys, teeming with info, criminals, and filth.
"Hm-hmm~♪"
In the basement of the largest info guild there, a girl hummed a tune, engrossed in something.
"Miss Rosewin, message for you..."
The counter girl entered to deliver it.
"...Huh."
She froze, speechless.
"What're you doing?"
The employee finally asked after staring blankly.
"What else."
Rosewin, beaming ecstatically, replied without looking away from the photos plastered everywhere.
"Staring at the hero."
"Sigh..."
The employee sighed at Rosewin.
"That really the hero?"
"...What?"
Rosewin shot her a sharp glare.
"Couple weeks ago, you bring in pics of some weird girl and wallpaper your room... now you're decorating with flowers you used to toss..."
"........."
"You hit with charm magic or something? Or maybe women are your type..."
"Shut it."
Rosewin cut off the employee's barrage.
"The imperial family and church are verifying soon. I'll be there."
She smiled and replied.
"Not verified yet?"
The employee gawked and pressed on.
"Why before verification..."
"Felt it the moment I saw her."
"Huh?"
The employee tilted her head.
"Heart went all tingly, goosebumps everywhere, y'know?"
Still glued to the photos, Rosewin added.
"...Is this fate?"
Her cheeks flushed as she said it.
".........""
Silence again.
"Yeah, sure."
The employee shook her head and replied.
"Oh, right, news."
"What?"
She smiled.
"Frey Raon Starlight's on his way."
"...Ah."
Rosewin's face soured instantly.
"Gonna give me flowers again? You did last time..."
"Out."
Rosewin waved her off irritably as she tried to speak.
"...I'll go then."
The employee kept smiling, leaving Rosewin tending the blooming flowers on her desk.
"Haa."
And then.
"This is maddening."
Her expression flipped 180 degrees.
"Damn it, if not for this forced contract... Should've accounted for this when I signed a thousand years ago."
Staring into space with hollow eyes, she muttered.
"Scroll? Whatever, you finally did something with it? Things'll change now, so look forward to it, you drunken peddler bastard."
She stuck a cigarette in her mouth, grumbling irritably.
Shaaa...
Moon mana flowed from her body.