Episode 68 - The Rat
"Young Master, it's time for breakfast."
"...You already finished cooking?"
"Yes, thanks to our new colleague's exceptional skills, we wrapped up quickly."
I was sitting alone in the inner garden, lost in thoughts about Lulu, when Kania came to inform me that breakfast was ready.
"Got it. Then just bring mine to my room..."
"Young Master, do you know?"
I nodded to her and turned to head back into the mansion, but Kania grabbed my arm and started talking.
"Your current state is half-dead. If I wanted to, I could even use necromancy on you right now."
"You're getting good at jokes."
"This isn't a joke. To recover from this state, you need a hearty breakfast. So..."
Watching Kania nag on like that made me chuckle for some reason. People say nagging is the worst sound, but I don't get it. Isn't nagging just born from worry for the other person? Being able to hear it means someone cares about you—that's pretty lucky. In that sense, I like getting nagged at. Sure, doing things that deserve nagging is sloppy, but good is good.
"Young Master? Are you listening to me?"
"Ah, yeah. I heard everything."
But while I was thinking that, I missed what Kania was saying. Sweating a bit, I nodded vaguely and chimed in agreement.
"...I paused for a moment."
She stared at me blankly, so I scratched my head awkwardly and headed inside the mansion.
"Sorry, I had some things on my mind. Anyway, I'll clean my plate, so send it to my room."
"Won't you eat in the dining hall?"
"If I eat there, the kids will feel awkward around me."
Kania nodded quietly at my words.
"Understood. I'll have one of the students bring it up since I need to handle the dishes."
"Oh, right, Kania. You know what tonight is, don't you?"
"...Tonight?"
She tilted her head, so I smirked and reminded her.
"It's life force infusion night. You haven't gotten any for a while, so we have to do it tonight."
"Does it have to be tonight? You're in no shape right now..."
"I'm fine. I recover after a few days of rest. What's the big deal?"
Leaving those words behind, I hurried up the stairs before Kania could argue back.
"Sob... Hic..."
"...Huh?"
After reaching the top of the stairs and walking down the hall toward my room, I started hearing sobs from somewhere. No ghosts haunt the noble and sacred Starlight mansion. Was this a hallucination like the old days?
"...Why are you crying again?"
No. The sobs grew louder as I approached my room—it was Lulu crying again.
"I told you to clean... What the hell..."
A bit irritated, I opened the door and stepped in, only to freeze at the sight before me.
"...I'm sorry."
Blood dripped from her hands. In her grip were shards from the vase she'd broken earlier.
"I tried to glue it back together somehow... but it wouldn't stick... I'm sorry, really sorry."
"...Hah."
I spotted the half-repaired vase on the desk and approached her with a stiff expression.
"Bad girl!"
Crash!!
Reaching her side, I snatched the vase she'd painstakingly glued and hurled it against the wall.
"I brought breakfa—"
At that moment, Aris opened the door and froze at the scene.
"You think gluing it back fixes everything? You idiot."
I ignored her completely, glaring coldly down at Lulu and laying into her.
"Once a high-end ornament like this gets damaged, its value plummets. Even perfect restoration magic can't change that."
"Ah... Ahh..."
"What? Thought it'd all be fine if you just stuck it back? That's why trash like you..."
"Frey, breakfast is here."
I kept berating her until her eyes went dead, then Aris, who'd been watching, squeezed her eyes shut and interrupted.
"...Set it down and get out."
"Frey, can I say just one thing?"
"No. Out."
Aris looked ready to spit fire but obeyed my curt dismissal. She set the food down coldly and left.
"Kill me."
"What?"
Dead-eyed Lulu spoke up wearily.
"I can't repay the 150 gold. I can't even survive on my own. So just..."
"...You can pay with your body, can't you?"
"Pardon?"
As she spoke with total resignation, I eyed her greedily.
"Pay it off with your body. 150 gold."
Her face cycled through emotions: disgust, relief, anxiety, joy, fear, comfort. The bizarre mash-up settled, and she whispered softly.
"Do you... need me? Want me? If so, then I..."
"I need a pet."
"A... pet?"
I smirked, and she blinked blankly, repeating my words.
"Yeah, I've been thinking of getting a pet lately... Dogs and cats are too common, big beasts too dangerous. Nothing satisfied me."
Staring straight at her, I continued calmly.
"Then it hit me—why not raise a person? What do you think? Pretty good idea, right?"
"Ah... That..."
"Anyway, I needed a pet, and you're perfect. You're mine now."
She bowed her head deeply.
She has affection deprivation, pushing everyone away, right? How will she react here?
Watching her, I pondered outcomes. After a long silence, she murmured.
"Under...stood."
"A dog that talks human?"
"Woof woof."
She dropped to the floor, barking like a dog. I swallowed a groan, deep in thought.
...Why isn't she pushing me away?
Her earlier disgust was clear, yet unlike others, she didn't reject me. Not just submission to power—Perloché said she violently resisted nobles, even self-harming. So why not me?
"Woof... Woof."
While I mulled, she rubbed her cheek against my leg, her expression soul-empty. Chilled, I forced a smile and petted her head.
"...Eek."
She trembled, squeezing her eyes shut.
What the hell?
Reading fleeting relief and disgust, I pulled my hand away, curiosity piqued about her psyche.
"Here, eat."
"Woof."
"Speak human now. Dog sounds are annoying."
"Why give this to me?"
I offered her my breakfast, smirking at her question.
"Why do people feed pets? Because it's a pet I'm keeping. No other reason."
A lie, of course. Her emaciated, malnourished frame was too pitiful; I handed over my meal without thinking.
"...Thank you."
She eyed it hungrily, then dove in face-first.
"Good girl."
Petting her again, misery flashed across her face.
Damn, I can't just neglect her.
I hated tormenting this pitiful girl, but no choice. Per prophecy, without 'affection' and 'attention,' she'd suicide in the second semester of freshman year. Even with it, no one survived past first semester sophomore year.
"I... ate well."
"Good job."
I petted her thanks, stood, then grimaced, clutching my chest.
"Cough! Cough!!"
Another bout of blood incoming. Better than after three months comatose, but intermittent hemoptysis persisted.
"Ugh..."
I pulled out my handkerchief, coughed into it, watching red fade to white as I headed out.
"Frey... Is that blood?"
Lulu's wide eyes prompted her urgent question.
"Acting like a pet, worrying about me?"
"No, that's not—"
"Don't overstep. Clean up the vase shards."
I brushed her off indifferently.
"And prepare my bath. You're my exclusive maid and pet now—do your best."
"...Yes."
Hearing her timid reply, I sighed and left, lost in thought.
I'll ask Kania later.
Need to remove that curse or whatever on her ASAP.
......
Meanwhile...
"That was... blood, right?"
Alone in Frey's room, Lulu muttered blankly.
"In the end... my curse... again..."
Guilt twisting her face, she clawed her hair, then forced a smile.
No, it's fine... Frey's a villain, right? A villain who deserves it.
Stopping, she smiled strainedly, standing to pace.
To break this damn curse, no choice. Frey's a villain—fair game for my misfortune. No problem.
Pain stabbed her foot; wincing down, she saw a vase shard embedded. Sighing gloomily,
"...This endless misfortune ends soon, right?"
......
Time passed; night fell.
"...A mark?"
"Yeah, the mark."
True to promise, I visited Kania's room for life force infusion and asked about the 'mark.'
If it's curse-like, black mage Kania might know.
"I'm not sure... I don't know of any such curse."
She shook her head. Not black magic-related, then.
"Sorry I couldn't help, Young Master."
"No, learning it's not black magic related is huge help. Thanks always, Kania."
She stared blankly, then blushed.
"...Then, I'll undress."
"Huh? Oh... sure."
I answered absently; as she stripped, I averted my eyes.
"Young Master, if I may... Are you embarrassed?"
"No, it's rude to stare without permission."
"The empire's top playboy saying that—quite novel."
We bantered lightly; I gazed at the moon outside, thinking.
Serena's probably regained memories, pushing her plans. Whatever her grand scheme, as the hero saving the world, I must support it fully. Time to roll over the Demon King's army.
"Young Master. But..."
"Ah, already done..."
Snapping back, I turned—right into eyes with fully naked Kania.
".........'"
Silence hung.
Kania lay down naturally, voice steady.
"...All prepared, Young Master."
"Yeah."
Sweating, I deep-breathed, reaching for her pale back.
"Stop if anomalies appear. You've lost life force thrice unlike before..."
"...Got it. Don't worry."
Hand on her heart-side back, I infused life force.
"...Ngh!"
She groaned suddenly.
"You okay? Kania?"
"It... hurts..."
"Hurts?"
She trembled; tilting my head, I noticed Star Mana swirling in my hand.
"Guess absorbing Star Mana in that cave made controlling it during infusion trickier."
Normally, I filter it out—poison to her—but my recent power-up overflowed it.
"No helping it. Life force transfer..."
"No, slowly... filter it out."
Lifelong Star Mana handler, I adjusted and resumed.
"...Body's hot."
"Not painful, though?"
"...Yes."
She felt heat but no pain; we continued.
"...Ugh."
Sweat poured as I infused; the delicate mana control drained energy.
"Hotter... Young Master."
Stripped to shirtsleeves, her sweat started too—residual mana effect.
"Hang on... Almost done..."
Steamy situation, but near end, I pushed harder.
"J-just a bit more..."
"Young Master?"
Something wrong. No strength in hand—or body.
"Damn."
Realizing my depletion, I cursed, trying to pull away—but hand too heavy.
"Ahh... Ah..."
Couldn't stop; vision blurred, eyes closed.
No overdoing it next time.
......
Unconscious Frey toppled forward.
Splat!
Sweaty Frey flopped onto equally drenched Kania's back, shirts sticking with a wet smack.
"Kyaa!?"
Startled by the cold sensation, Kania shrieked, then froze realizing Frey clung to her back, body quivering.
Bang bang!
"Kania! What happened!!"
"...Hah!"
Irina pounded the door; pale, Kania froze.
"N-nothing! I'm fine!"
"Really? Thought you were attacked."
Kania yelled desperately; Irina's relieved reply let her exhale.
"I'll go then? Scream if trouble."
"Yes."
Replying, she whispered to Frey on her back.
"...Young Master, wake up."
"Ugh..."
"Told you to stop if anomalies... Whoa."
No waking; turning to dislodge, unconscious Frey burrowed into her arms—she hugged reflexively.
"Mmmnya..."
"Sleeping?"
Deep asleep, she smirked, trying to rise—but
"Umm..."
"......."
He frowned, clinging; troubled, she muttered.
"This won't do..."
Frey finally detached much later.
......
"Umm..."
I woke to a familiar feel.
"Cat doll's been a while."
Black cat doll curled inside my clothes.
"Purrr..."
Gently stroking its chin, staring at the ceiling blankly, I bolted up, scanning around.
"Oops, must've troubled Kania."
Memory cut at infusion; now I was in bed, Kania on cot, changed clothes—her doing.
"I should treat Kania better..."
Feeling guilty for not reciprocating enough, the cat doll climbed my clothes, licked my face.
"Hey, tickles!"
Smiling, reaching for it—something flew at me.
"Coo!!"
"Meow!!"
It pecked the doll's head furiously. Serena's white owl.
"Meeow! Meow!!"
"Cooo!!"
Owl talons grabbed, pecking wildly. Doll clawed back, thrashing. Trying to separate them, I noticed a letter dropped before me.
"This...?"
Carefully opening the envelope, reading it, I smirked coldly.
"...Look at these rats?"
Seems I've uncovered the identity of the rat hiding in our house.