Chapter 200 - Declaration of Candidacy

...Thud...!

Stepping out of the rattling carriage, I frowned and addressed the groveling coachman.

"...Why was the ride so bumpy?"

"S-Sorry... There were a lot of slopes nearby..."

"Didn't you cast any anti-shake spells?"

"I-I'm still not well-off enough to afford..."

"Tch."

I clicked my tongue at the coachman, who was glancing at me nervously with a trembling voice.

"Y-You don't need to give me this much..."

"Wait here. I don't know when I'll leave."

"Y-Yes, sir..."

I tossed him a few gold coins and pulled out my cane, muttering to myself.

'Gotta hire a new coachman.'

With almost all the servants at the mansion quitting, there was no one left to drive the family carriage. Lately, I'd been hailing random street carriages like this, but it was a real hassle. I had to maintain soundproofing and protective spells constantly, and given my situation, the coachmen could end up in danger too.

"Master, why'd you give him so much money?"

Lost in thought, I felt Lulu pressing close, rubbing her cheek against me as she whispered the question.

"...Commoners love a bit of pocket change, don't they? I enjoy watching them grovel."

Of course, I'd really just given the poor guy enough for a nice family dinner tonight, but I still needed Lulu to see me as the villain.

"I see."

Lulu nodded quietly.

"From now on, tell Lulu stories like that about Master."

"Huh?"

I tilted my head at her sudden request, and she gazed up at me intently.

"Lulu wants to know more about Master."

"...Ahem."

I cleared my throat awkwardly, and Irina, walking beside us, muttered just loud enough to hear.

"Pets are supposed to just get pampered..."

"......"

Their eyes locked in a chilling stare-down.

'Come to think of it, who's the strongest among the heroines?'

Watching them, a fun idea popped into my head. Who was the absolute strongest, main heroines and sub-heroines combined?

First off, Kania—who turns into the final boss if you take the wrong route; Irina, publicly acknowledged as the strongest fighter in the game; Serena, who crushes everything with her brains. Then there's Perloché, the 1v1 specialist; Isolet, who matches my swordsmanship once she awakens as a Sword Saint; and Lulu, who's recently unlocked her overpowered abilities.

"Hmm..."

Hard to rank them right now, but even just the top contenders were formidable. What if they ever fought each other?

"......."

A chill ran down my spine. Just imagining it froze my heart. I needed to be extra careful—extremely careful—to prevent that.

"Grrr..."

"Think you can beat me with just those Demon Eyes?"

...It wasn't too late already, right?

- Knock knock knock

"...Come in."

Wiping cold sweat from my brow, I knocked on the door of Isolet's mansion. A cold voice replied.

"".........""

As I opened the door and stepped inside, my breath caught, freezing me in place.

"You lot..."

Some of the servants who'd left the Starlight Mansion stood in Isolet's courtyard, dressed in maid outfits. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠An awkward silence hung between us.

'They're doing well. Good to see.'

I'd heard half went to the imperial palace, half to Isolet's place. They even took shifts nursing my comatose father at the hospital. I couldn't visit him myself or hire proper caretakers without drawing attention, so it pained me—but these guys were a godsend.

"Where's Isolet?"

"...Over there."

Asking about her, one maid pointed to the training ground at the far end of the courtyard.

"Got it."

This maid used to prepare my breakfast or pour my tea back when Kania wasn't on my side. We'd chatted a bit; I think we were somewhat friendly...

Should I say something?

"By the way, where's Aria? Just to see her face..."

"I don't know. Ask Isolet yourself."

Asking about the conspicuously absent Aria, I got a curt, icy reply before I could finish.

"Cheeky."

"I'm no longer your property—I'm Isolet-sama's. If you want to punish me, go through her."

"Hah."

I snorted, glanced at her dismissively, and headed to the training ground.

'Good, my reputation's tanking properly.'

Feeling the chill from behind confirmed it—my image was in tatters. Sad, sure, but irrelevant now. It was the treatment I always got, and I desperately needed points soon anyway.

- Creeeak...

Sorting my thoughts, I opened the door to the training ground. The familiar sight greeted me: rough, dusty earth that felt nostalgic.

"Th-Those eyes! Sis, stop!!"

"No way~?"

Over there, someone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was pinned by Isolet, enduring a tickle torture that used to make me cry until she bought me ice cream and begged me not to tell our parents...

Just memories now.

"Oh ho."

Stepping further in, more familiar things came into view: straw dummies scarred with deep sword marks; an array of blades, swords, and cold weapons everywhere; bandage cores with only basic healing spells; scattered low-grade potion bottles.

I'd visit her place weekly—sometimes every three days—and it was exactly as I remembered.

"...What."

A familiar voice cut through my reminiscing.

"What're you doing here, Frey?"

"Got a letter saying you were sick. Came to visit..."

Turning at the voice, I froze solid.

"S-Sis?"

Sweat-drenched from training, Isolet had a hair tie in her mouth, ponytailing her swaying hair.

"Uh, um..."

That alone would've been fine, but her outfit... Just a sweat-soaked tank top and shorts.

"Don't call me sis."

"...Fine. So what're you doing?"

"Working out."

"You're sick?"

"No idea what you're talking about."

Unable to decide where to look, I stared at empty air. She answered flatly.

"Heard you were coming, so I just took off my armor for a break."

"......."

"Why're you looking at me like that?"

"...Nothing."

No way I'd tell the truth—I'd get bisected, or who knows what the girls behind me would do. I brushed it off.

"Hmph."

Her hair now tied, Isolet picked up her sword and approached slowly.

"To the point, since you're here, I'll ask directly."

- Zing...!

""......!""

A blatant killing intent washed over us.

"Dangerous!"

"Master...!"

The girls behind warned urgently, but I calmly gestured them back and stood still.

- Schwing...!

Isolet drew like lightning, swinging at my neck. I closed my eyes quietly.

"".........""

Silence lingered.

- Tremble...

Opening my eyes, Isolet's hand shook.

"Why."

Staring at her cherished sword, halted by a hair's breadth from my neck.

"Why can't I..."

As she asked in a trembling voice, I frowned slightly.

"Cut you down..."

In the chilly courtyard, still holding her blade to me, Isolet murmured that and...

"......Ugh."

Her eyes fluttered shut as she collapsed toward me.

"".........""

A long silence followed.

. . . . . .

"Mm..."

The startled servants had laid her in her room. I followed and now stared blankly at her.

"This is bad..."

Originally, I planned to treat Lulu and Irina like sex slaves in front of her to tank her favorability. Her uptight nature hated my sexual crimes, so it'd work great.

"What now..."

But seeing her sweat and groan in pain, that wouldn't fly.

Just seeing me bumped it up 4%. No matter how I torment Lulu and Irina, it probably won't stick.

So what now? I need to hit the root issue, but how...

"Ugh..."

Gripping my head in thought, Isolet groaned.

"Frey..."

Her moans mixed with my name.

"......"

I reached out unconsciously to her face.

"Hoo."

No real intent. Just wanted to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

"...Sigh."

Who am I kidding? I hated seeing her weak like this. She was etched in my mind as my stronger mentor, steadfast knight, upright soul. Seeing her sickly, calling my name—it crushed me.

"Sweating like that..."

But I couldn't show it. Even knowing I shouldn't, even knowing I was stronger now and should protect her, I couldn't reveal my urge to lean on her.

'At least I can wipe the sweat.'

- Flutter...!

Reading an appointment letter from her desk, I sank into thought.

'Church's youngest Holy Knight... She's a problem too.'

One of the sub-heroines entering the academy in year 2: the Church's youngest Holy Knight. She plays a major story role, but surprisingly, I know little about her. No details in the Prophecy Book, nothing public. I'd investigated since early on—nothing. In the third trial, I saw her silhouette with sword, shield, and divine power, but her face was hidden from my view.

The only info I had was her brief Prophecy Book description.

That's all I recalled from the update notes, but I got pulled in before it dropped. So yeah, clueless about her.

"Hmm... She's the biggest wildcard. What to do..."

Mulling over the familiar Prophecy Book entry, lost in thought.

"...Frey?"

".....!"

I locked eyes with Isolet as I wiped her sweat.

""..........""

Awkward silence ensued.

"Ah... Ahh."

Panic hit as her favorability skyrocketed mercilessly.

"Eek...!"

"Hah!"

Unthinkingly, I straddled her and blurted,

"S-Sis... You're hurting more than I thought?"

"Wh-What are you doing?!"

"I've held back so long... Such a golden opportunity. Can't pass it up."

"Let... go!"

Isolet struggled, but her weakened state made it manageable.

"In that condition, think you can fight me off...?"

"Ugh..."

"Always wanted to try this once. Excuse me, sis."

Grinning lewdly at her pained face, I muttered inwardly.

'Hold out till favorability drops.'

To fix the root problem, this was the way. She'd hate me forever for it. Tragic, but to save her life... and my resolve that weakens before her, no choice.

"........."

Pinning her arms to the bed, she glared with pure hatred.

Mixed sorrow and relief as favorability fell. Reaching for her body, I said,

"Just once, c'mon? Don't play hard to get."

Starting to unbutton her top with a sleazy grin, but...

"...Fine."

"Yeah, that's more like it... What?"

I froze at her words.

"Frey, please."

She gazed up steadily.

"Ravish me from now on. Just don't hurt others."

"Wh-What?"

"Ravish me as much as you want... Do whatever. But limit this to me."

"...Sis?"

Her face stiffened as she stared.

"It's my fault as your mentor that you became such trash and wastrel."

"Wait..."

"I want to kill you, but for some reason I can't... Now you've humiliated me like this, so here's my offer."

She averted her gaze slightly.

"You've subdued me, so I've lost. A knight honors the victor's wish."

"........"

"...What're you waiting for? Ravish me already."

Speechless, I stammered,

"...So, uh, how do I...?"

Her eyes mixed hatred, disgust, fear of the unknown, and some inexplicable feeling as she asked. Cold sweat beaded on me.

'Right, Isolet's basically sex-knowledge zero.'

All training, no men—not even like Irina or Ariane. She'd clashed with her family refusing women's etiquette and culture lessons, so zilch on sex ed.

'No, she gets the concept at least.'

Anyway, how to handle this? No clue right now.

It wasn't even dropping. If I didn't act, she'd notice something off...

- Bang!!

In mortal peril, the door burst open with a boom.

"Get off her now."

A clear, icy voice rang out.

".....!"

Seeing who appeared, my eyes widened.

"As the Church's esteemed Holy Knight and Isolet-sama's disciple, I warn you. Get off, or I'll attack."

Stunned, I slid off Isolet, catching her last words.

- Boom!!!

She charged, glaring murderously. I toppled helplessly.

"Remember this."

Pinning me down, she radiated terrifying intent.

"Lots of eyes today, so I'll let it slide... But I'll kill you somehow. Whatever it takes."

"Kek..."

"Before I end up like that, if it even seems like..."

Struggling to look at her rambling incoherently,

"G-Goddess...?"

I blurted.

"Pardon?"

She frowned, tilting her head—her mysterious beauty striking.

"Why are you here...?"

Asking, she went stone-cold.

"Calling the girl you just met 'goddess'? Everything I heard is true. Always pulling that line?"

"No, that's not—"

"...Say that crap again, and I'll kill you, you disgusting bastard."

"........"

As she suddenly cursed and exuded killing intent again,

"Then, Demon God?"

I asked coldly.

".....What?"

""........""

Brief silence.

"I'm the Church's Holy Knight. Here to become Isolet-sama's disciple starting today."

Hearing her reply,

"...Fuck."

I muttered under my breath.

'Magic Tower Lord, what insane experiments did you do, you senile old hag?'

For some reason, the Church's youngest Holy Knight had the exact face of the goddess from my third trial.

. . . . . .

Meanwhile...

"...Who's cursing me?"

In the towering Magic Tower on the empire's outskirts, the Tower Lord scratched her itchy ear, muttering.

"Huh, it is. I cursed anyone badmouthing me to make their ears itch."

Pausing her scroll-making, she stood, sighing.

"What'd a dying old coot like me do to deserve curses... Tch."

She flopped into her armchair, grumbling.

"Life's been comfy lately, though... That smartass foster kid's quiet; my bitchy old disciple's busy with her man; new one's normal enough."

Her weary eyes drifted shut.

"Well, that redhead's bitchiness has reasons."

She chuckled, reminiscing.

"To begin with, she—"

"Master!!!"

"Eek!!"

The door flew open. She flailed in shock, toppling backward.

"Ow... Owwie..."

"Yup."

- Schwing...

Staring blankly a moment, Glare—using magic she'd learned days ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ago—righted the chair. The Tower Lord's disciple approached the dazed woman with sparkling eyes.

"Can I ask a favor?"

"Sure, go ahead. Gotta spoil my one disciple."

Her annoyance melted into a smile as she gulped warmed black tea.

"You know Sunrise Academy...?"

"Yeah. The place I hate most... Dean and everything..."

"P-Please get me in!!"

"Pffft...!"

She spectacularly spat her tea.

"E-Even if I'm underage... With your influence..."

"Th-This... This little...!"

Dripping tea, staring at the innocently wrecking Glare,

"Why are all my disciples like this!!!!"

The Tower Lord finally snapped, screeching.

"...Hehe."

A soft glow from Glare dried her clothes.