As Planned
"Using me? What are you talking about? And absolute obedience magic... that's impossible..."
"...Get down."
I issued the cold command to Serena, who was firing off words in a flustered panic.
"Yes."
Serena dropped to the floor as naturally as breathing and continued speaking.
"There's no way you could have brainwashed me. Even you, pretending to be a fool despite your smarts, couldn't..."
"...Stop everything for a moment."
Serena froze mid-sentence, just as ordered.
"Kania, I'm really sorry, but could I ask you for one favor?"
"...What kind of favor?"
In that moment, I leaned in and whispered to Kania, who had been standing silently by my side.
"Y-yes!?!"
Kania's face turned beet red as she let out a startled cry.
"Er... was that too much? Sorry, then let's think of another way..."
Seeing her reaction, I decided this approach wouldn't work and scrambled for an alternative, but...
"...I'll do it."
"Huh?"
Kania lifted her head with a resolute expression, and I frowned slightly in response.
"Kania, this isn't an order or coercion. If you don't want to, just say so clearly..."
"This is my own decision."
Still blushing, but with determination in her eyes, Kania replied.
"For you, Young Master, I can do anything."
"...Thank you, Kania."
I thanked her and turned back toward Serena, but Kania spoke up with a worried look.
"But... do you really think we can fool Miss Serena?"
"...We can."
I gave Kania a curt reply, then added briefly to her puzzled expression.
"...Anyway, we can."
With that, I issued another command to Serena, who had been staring blankly at us all this time.
"...From now on, stop treating my commands as natural."
"Understood."
"Then, continue what you were saying earlier."
"Impossible..."
As soon as I finished, she tried to pick up where she'd left off, only to realize she was still prone on the floor. Her face went blank.
"Why's it impossible, huh?"
"H-how? Why..."
I sneered at her and began my explanation.
"You've been obeying my commands since you were little. Because that's when I cast absolute obedience magic on you."
"No... that can't be... it can't..."
"Want to hear something even more shocking?"
As Serena spiraled into confusion, I stepped closer, locking eyes with her and whispering.
"...The reason you love me is because I ordered you to."
Her expression hardened.
"It's been pretty useful up till now, Serena."
"No... no... this isn't right..."
She shook her head wildly, denying my words, while I ignored her and reached out to Kania, who had perched on the edge of the bed.
"What... what are you two doing right now?"
I pinned Kania to the bed, clasped her hand, and gazed at her lovingly. Serena watched us with trembling eyes and muttered.
"I told you to stop the fake cheating act. You could never fool me..."
"...Mmm."
I leaned in and kissed Kania tenderly, and Serena fell silent, speechless.
"S-stop... please stop..."
"Mmm..."
"Stop it... STOP IT!!"
After staring at us with a soulless voice for what felt like ages, Serena finally snapped, unable to hold back her rage.
"What, you're still here?"
"This can't be... up till now, it was all fake, right? So why... why does this feel real..."
I pulled away from Kania slightly, wiping the saliva connecting our lips with my sleeve, and asked. Serena trembled as she mumbled.
"Something's wrong... you wouldn't..."
Slap!!
Serena rushed toward me desperately, but I slapped her cheek and pointed to the door.
"...Go back to your room and await my next command. No funny business."
"Yes."
I turned back to Kania with a loving gaze and kissed her again. Serena watched silently for a moment, a single tear rolling down her cheek, then staggered out of the room.
"...This is driving me insane."
I pulled away from Kania and activated the Mind Reading skill on her. Seeing the result float before my eyes, I hung my head and muttered.
"What the hell do you see in a guy like me... loving me even after all that."
I'd figured the effect would be diluted since she didn't fully believe it, but I thought it would still hurt her enough. I was wrong.
When receiving the System's Trials, she couldn't have 'worry'—I'd erased that. But I couldn't erase her 'love'.
Even after watching me fool around with another woman right in front of her, even after my verbal abuse and violence, Serena Luna Moonlight still loved me.
"Y-Young Master..."
"Ah, sorry... Kania."
Lost in endless guilt, I sighed. Kania, still clinging to me, averted her gaze and murmured, pulling me back to reality. I sat up on the bed.
"...How did it go?"
Kania, forcing a cool expression despite her flushed cheeks, asked cautiously, seeing my pained face.
"Erased the worry, but couldn't touch the love..."
I sighed again in reply, and Kania's face twisted in complicated emotions.
"...Miss Serena really is devoted."
Hearing that, I closed my eyes and sank into thought.
...Still, we got over the hurdle for now.
The goal of this operation was to make Serena turn away from me completely.
Normally, my usual villainy would have made anyone hate me easily. But against Serena? The difficulty skyrocketed.
Me, who loved and cherished her—insulting or humiliating her wouldn't work. She'd see through to my true feelings and never change her mind.
So, I came up with a ploy: use Kania, one of the Main Heroines.
It shocked Serena with my drastically different attitude. That's why her worry vanished, replaced by confusion, bewilderment, and sadness.
But she still loved me. If that persisted, she'd worry again soon.
That would leave her vulnerable to the System's Trials. And the Subjugation Curse would keep tormenting her.
So, from now on...
"Young Master, one question."
"...Yeah?"
I pushed aside my turmoil to reach a conclusion, when Kania, sitting quietly beside me, spoke up.
"...Do you love Miss Serena?"
With her usual businesslike composure, she asked. I stared at her, then let out a deep sigh.
"Saying I don't would be a lie."
I chuckled wryly, and Kania frowned slightly.
"...When we were young, Miss Serena warned me not to touch you, saying you were her first love."
"Did she?"
"Were you the same?"
Kania tilted her head curiously. I averted my gaze deliberately.
"Why ask something like that out of nowhere?"
"...I just thought, in a situation like this, we should talk about something."
"Of all topics?"
"My apologies."
I chuckled again, and she bowed her head. I waved it off, lay back on the bed, stared blankly at the ceiling, then glanced at Kania and spoke.
"Kania, this is a shameless request, but..."
"Ask anything. You have every right to ask me for favors, Young Master."
Before I could finish, she replied firmly. With guilt etched on my face, I voiced the conclusion I'd held back earlier.
"Kania, I'm really sorry, but... it looks like we'll have to keep up these kinds of acts from now on."
"...Pardon?"
Kania's composed expression cracked slightly.
"Sorry, I mean... her lingering 'love' is a big problem. And this bewilderment and confusion might not last..."
Thanks to her, my conscience gnawed at me as I rambled incoherently.
"...So, to keep her from worrying about me while eroding her love, the best way is to keep showing affection in front of her..."
"I'll cooperate."
I'd been babbling endlessly when Kania took my hand, smiled, and agreed. I finally stopped and gazed at her quietly.
"...You might end up as a target for Serena. Still okay?"
"I'm pretty strong myself."
"Even if it makes you feel the same guilt I'm feeling now?"
I asked worriedly, and she chuckled softly before replying calmly.
"I'm a wicked black mage. Guilt isn't an issue."
"...Thank you, Kania."
Asking more would disrespect her hard decision for my sake, so I thanked her briefly, flopped back onto the bed, and muttered.
"Once this is all over, how should I apologize to Serena? Not sure if I even can."
Hearing that, Kania squeezed her eyes shut, thought for a moment, then opened them and asked cautiously.
"Young Master, I know this is extremely rude, but... one question."
She was uncharacteristically tense, swallowing hard, so I assumed it was important and nodded seriously.
"Earlier, you shook Miss Serena's heart with that... act of affection toward me."
"...Yeah."
I replied evenly, and she continued in a low voice.
"If she could see through your usual fake cheating, but this shook her..."
"......"
"Um... I mean..."
She trailed off, bowed her head, blushed furiously, and whispered like an ant.
"...Thank you for cherishing me."
I stared at her blankly for a moment, then forced calm and replied.
"I should be thanking you."
Silence settled over the dorm room.
"W-well, I should get back to my duties."
Kania broke the quiet, flustered in a way unlike her, and hurried out.
"Haa..."
I watched her go, thinking I'd catch a quick nap, and closed my eyes gently, but...
"...Damn it."
Serena's tear-streaked face kept flashing in my mind. Cursing, I sat up.
"They're all precious people I want to save, no matter what..."
I pictured the five Main Heroines, each scarred by experiences I'd caused. Sighing, I approached the window where my owl perched and gazed outside.
"...Keep hurting them like this, and even after it's over, they might never forgive me."
Cruelly, a brilliant sun hung high, illuminating the world.
Knock knock
"...Who is it?"
I'd been staring blankly out the window when someone knocked.
"Hello."
Irina entered, dressed neatly.
"I've come for slave duties."
"Haa..."
Already tormented by the heroines I'd hurt, seeing Irina—now my slave because of me—made it worse.
...I was planning to share my mana with her originally.
The Death Oath was to justify giving her complete mana. But I unexpectedly beat her, forcing her into direct slavery.
Rumors were rampant: the genius top enrollee Irina reduced to Frey's sex slave, the noble mage bowing to filthy power. Infuriating even to hear.
If it annoyed me that much, how humiliating for proud, fiery Irina? Past loops proved it—nobles who insulted her regretted it deeply.
"...Rest well while I was gone? You look healthier without me around."
Still, I had to play the villain today. No matter how troubled or reluctant I felt.
"I've cleaned your dorm spotless every day, Lord Frey. As your personal slave."
"Yeah? Must've been tough. Come here for a sec."
I eyed her impassive response with a lecherous grin and patted the bed.
"...Understood."
Realizing my intent, she squeezed her eyes shut, then approached slowly.
"There... feel your shoulders loosening?"
"......."
I began massaging her shoulders gently.
"...This side's really knotted."
"Is it?"
"Yeah, so... like this, it should loosen up?"
I pulled her into a hug.
"......."
"...Hm?"
Something was off. Normally, she'd twist away immediately, but she accepted my touch quietly.
"...Hey, what are you doing?"
"........."
No, not accepting—she was tentatively groping me back.
What the hell?
"When I do this... you fight back, fight back..."
Unable to endure, I pulled away, hid my fluster, and poked her cheek.
"...My apologies."
She stared straight at me and spoke.
"After three months of reflection, I decided this suits a personal slave better."
I grimaced, grabbed her chin, and spoke coldly.
"I've got plenty of obedient bitches around me already. So many it's boring."
"I... see..."
"So rebel against me... that's the fun of breaking you."
"...Understood."
She still glared fixedly.
"Haa... ruins the mood. Fine, clean the floor to..."
Sensing something odd, I pulled away coldly and pointed to the floor, but...
"Cough! Cough!"
A tightness gripped my chest; I clutched it and coughed.
"...Are you alright?"
"Don't worry about it. Just clean."
Irina frowned and approached; I waved her off irritably.
"......."
She stared sharply at my mouth.
I quickly wiped it—blood smeared my hand.
"...What? Clean faster."
I stared blankly, then hid my hand behind my back and ordered her.
"Lord Frey, one question."
"What?"
Instead of cleaning, she asked abruptly.
"...When's your birthday?"
"Me? Two weeks."
"I see. Then perhaps..."
"Shut up and clean."
Feeling interrogated, I cut her off and headed to the bathroom.
"Ah, I brought some saplings for the dorm... which one's best?"
She blocked me, holding out seedlings. I shoved past indifferently.
"...Put any."
I locked the bathroom door and unleashed the held-back coughs.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!!"
Looks like I need a self-cleaning handkerchief soon.
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Magic Tower.
"...What the hell kind of cheat is that?"
"It just worked after trying."
The Magic Tower Lord stared blankly at Glare, who shattered magic stones, mithril, and adamantium with a mere finger snap.
"I knew your mana was unprecedented, but..."
Seeing her shatter his full-power barrier with a crisp snap, he marveled.
"Your mana and abilities... they're nothing short of a miracle. - Roooar!!"
"Egg money!!"
Gaping at the child who would upend magic entirely, he grabbed his staff as a white owl burst through the window, pecking his head wildly.
"Rooo!!"
The quick owl spat out a letter and fled.
"Urk..."
Staring blankly, he gingerly opened the saliva-soaked letter.
As Planned
"Haa..."
Scowling at the brief message, he tossed it to Glare, who shattered it, then sighed deeply and muttered.
"...That damn bitch."