Chapter 184 - I Love You
"Capture route closed..."
Riding in the carriage, I was quietly focusing my gaze on one spot.
Rosewin Solar Sunset
[Capture Route Closed]
Details...
The current status of Rosewin, as shown in the 'Affection System' that had just been updated moments ago.
"...It's bothering me."
The update to the Affection System wasn't mentioned in the Prophecy Book either, and since it happened so recently, I didn't know the details. But somehow, that 'Capture Route Closed' seemed related to my judgment.
I had just decided to push Rosewin away until the final battle, after all.
Of course, it wasn't certain, but for now, that speculation seemed the most reasonable.
"Hmm..."
Because of that, it kept nagging at me somehow.
I had no idea what 'Capture Route Closed' clearly meant.
'Could it put her life in danger, by any chance?'
Of course, I wouldn't let that happen.
The reason I made that judgment in the first place was to protect Rosewin's life.
And for the same reason, I had no intention of reversing my decision to make her hate me from now on.
For the moment, this was the best for both her and me.
"Hoo."
As I finished that thought and let out a short sigh, about to close the floating window—
"Huh...?"
I tilted my head and furrowed my brow.
"Why is she listed as a sub-heroine...?"
Wearing a puzzled expression, I muttered that.
".........."
The animals, who had been glaring at Lulu leaning on my shoulder with her eyes closed, all turned cold stares at me.
"...Hmm."
Feeling a chill down my spine for some reason, I stopped talking and stared at the system window for a while, tapping my knee with my finger.
"Hey."
I swiftly snatched the system window floating in front of me.
"What the hell are you scheming?"
It always dodged my touch before, but since I grabbed it on purpose this time, it had no choice. Staring at the system window now firmly in my grasp—
"Everything like this is just you plotting and manipulating it, right...?"
I began interrogating the Demon God, who was surely watching from somewhere, in a cold voice.
Bzzz... (low amplitude tremor)
Then the system window started vibrating with an irritating noise at low amplitude.
It seemed like it was trying to shake left and right—was that denying my words?
"This isn't your doing?"
As I thought that and asked again, this time it shook up and down.
"You think I'll believe that?"
When I said that to it, the vibration grew stronger and more unpleasant.
"Fine, do whatever. I'll play along for a while."
Enduring the gross vibration in my hand, I muttered lowly at the system window.
"But..."
I shoved aside the pitiful-looking, still-trembling system window and finished.
"...Things won't go your way anymore."
I didn't just have the system window now.
There was the DLC born from the Sun God and Perloché's efforts.
Of course, the Affection System seemed a bit different in nature from the existing 'Villain's Path' system.
Whatever. I just wanted to warn this increasingly annoying thing...
"Master?"
"Ah."
Lost in dark thoughts with a grim expression, I snapped back only when Lulu's trembling voice came from beside me.
"W-Why are you suddenly like that...?"
She was looking at me with an expression of utter confusion.
'Damn.'
Had I let my guard down thinking she was dozing off like before? Or was it because of the sudden 'Route Closed' and new variable that made me snap momentarily? Or had I unconsciously started seeing her as an ally?
I'd shown weird behavior with the system in front of Lulu.
Unlike my other allies, she still didn't know my true identity, so I had to restrain myself from such actions. What a mess.
With her Demon Eyes, her observation and analysis skills were exceptional, so she might start suspecting something...
"D-Did I do something?"
I decided on a suitable excuse.
"Sorry. I've been feeling off lately, so sometimes I see things that aren't there."
".....!"
But upon hearing that, Lulu's face paled.
"A-Already... To that extent..."
She muttered something while staring at me with a terrified expression.
"This won't do..."
Then she suddenly bowed her head, her eyes dead as she whispered lowly.
"I haven't found a way yet... You can't be like this already..."
"Lulu?"
I tried calling her softly, but.
"........."
She kept her head down with dead eyes.
"Hmm."
Thus, silence fell over the carriage for a moment.
"Lulu, are you okay? Lulu?"
With dead eyes and head bowed, Master calls to me worriedly.
His gentle, soft voice.
His warm gaze.
Warm emotions so different from the coldness I'd received until now.
Master, who gives such affection to someone as worthless as me, is truly wonderful.
Of course, Master wasn't the only one who'd shown me such interest and love.
- Lulu! Please join our party!
- Let's eat ice cream like last time! Watch plays! Chat and have fun together!
The hero Ruby who'd sent me letters nonstop a few weeks ago, and the other classmates suddenly approaching me warmly.
They'd shown me interest and love too.
But I didn't need their love anymore.
I'd once craved it so badly, but now even if they loved me, it brought no joy.
"....."
Master staring at me now.
Without his affection, love, and attention, nothing moved me anymore.
Why? Because my remaining lifespan had been drastically cut because of me—the only man in this world who truly loved me, a villain but warm to me.
I loved him.
And because of that.
Even if he was the empire's greatest villain.
Even if our master-pet relationship was twisted.
Even if his soul was stained by his evil.
It didn't matter.
This man before me was the master I'd chosen of my own free will to own and dominate me.
But.
What if, just what if...
'If Master disappears... what happens to me?'
Fear gripped me suddenly.
Rumors of Master's health were spreading across the empire, and he looked utterly exhausted and frail just sitting there.
Examining him with my Demon Eyes...
He was too clean.
Outwardly rotten, but inside pristine.
That's why I'd been somewhat reassured until now, but his slip-up just now made it clear.
Master had been deceiving me all this time.
A man in so much pain he hallucinated couldn't have a clean interior.
Cranking my Demon Eyes to max output, I detected faint traces of mana everywhere.
In other words, Master had cast magic on himself to fool my Demon Eyes.
"Ugh, ah..."
My vision darkened.
In a world without Master, how would I live?
Could I be loved by someone again?
No, that's wrong.
I couldn't receive love anymore.
Unless it was from Master, who hid even his dying state to love me—I didn't want love from anyone else.
But Master was dying now.
Because of me.
Caught in my misfortune when I approached him to use him.
What to do? How to save him?
Was there even a way to save him?
No, did I even have the right to be like this now?
Did I deserve to be his pet?
Did I, as I was now, deserve love...
"...Lulu."
As I sank into those thoughts, Master grabbed my arms and called my name.
"Stop it."
"...Ah."
Oh no.
I'd been scratching my arms with my nails without realizing.
This was bad.
I'd promised Master never to self-harm again.
He'd surely scold me coldly, like he said he would if I did.
"...You'll need punishment."
Ah, no. I'm sorry. Don't hit me. Please...
*Slurp*
Memories of my old parents made me tremble, then Master's tongue entered me.
"Mmm..."
Our tongues intertwined.
So sudden I couldn't fully savor it.
But Master's kiss was so sweet.
"Pha..."
As I melted into him, Master pulled away.
"Feeling better now?"
He smiled softly.
"Ah..."
This was punishment?
No. This wasn't punishment.
I knew well how horrific punishment was, having lived with it always.
Come to think of it, Master had never punished me.
Never hit me, never starved me.
"I'm fine, Lulu. So don't worry."
".....!"
As I thought that, Master stroked my head and said so.
'Liar.'
That only troubled my heart more.
Thanks to my Demon Eyes, congenital but lately hypersensitive, I could easily spot lies.
"You'll live as my one and only pet forever, so getting hurt would be a problem, right?"
Master's following words.
"....Ah."
I realized then.
I was Master's one and only pet.
".........""
Though the animals glaring at me burning with unknown intensity spent time with Master often.
According to my Demon Eyes, they weren't mere 'animals.'
Spirits mixed with mana and mystical power, with masters other than Frey.
That black cat doll seemed a bit different, but...
Still, it was a pet 'doll.'
Master's pet was just me.
But as his pet, what had I done for him?
No matter how I recalled, I'd only received from him.
'Pathetic, stupid.'
I wanted to help Master as his pet.
Not just grovel, wag my tail, and perform tricks—but real, fundamental help.
Repay the man who'd saved me on a hopeless day.
But how? By what means?
I knew little, had only my female body and Demon Eyes.
Could my efforts save dying Master?
No, even without that.
Could I give real help?
I wanted to repay his grace.
Give back to Master.
I'd give everything if I could just be of use to my master...
"Aaaahhh!!!"
"Lulu!?"
As he stroked me with those thoughts, excruciating pain hit my Demon Eyes and head.
"Ughaa?"
Then a scorching heat boiled inside me.
"Ughhhh..."
Panicking, groaning—
"...You okay?"
I looked at genuinely worried Master.
"I'm fine..."
My first lie.
"It's nothing."
I didn't know what this was, but I couldn't worry him.
"Liar."
I wanted punishment from Master again, as perceptive as me.
"Hehe."
I love you, Master.
Meanwhile, at that time.
"F-Frey is coming here now?"
Unlike at night, Serena—whose detailed memories of Frey were deleted—rushed to her vanity upon her subordinate's contact and opened her mouth.
"W-When will he arrive? I need to change my makeup depending on the time."
"It seems like less than a minute..."
"U-Uwa..."
Hearing that, Serena floundered uncharacteristically, selecting cosmetics.
"...But who's that at the counter?"
She stopped and asked her subordinate.
"Uh, you know, Miho... I think?"
The subordinate scratched his head and replied.
"The one dragged to the imperial palace during the slave market incident last time, but we rescued her."
"...That fox beastkin?"
Frowning, Serena asked back.
"Somehow, I have a bad feeling."
She whispered, standing up.
*Creak...*
Frey's carriage had arrived in front of the building, visible through the window beside her.
The memos plastered on the wall too.