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༺ Protest ༻
"Lick, lick."
"…Huh?"
I woke to a moist sensation on my face, prompting me to lift my heavy eyelids and discover Lulu licking my face while I was asleep.
"Master, we're almost home."
Upon confirming that I had awakened, Lulu stopped her licking and informed me.
"…Hmmm."
Indeed, I could see the Starlight Mansion from the carriage window.
"Yawn…"
"Lick."
I rubbed the sleepiness away from my eyes and prepared to disembark from the carriage. But before that, I petted Lulu's head as she licked my ear.
"…Huh?"
Soon, I couldn't help but frown.
"What's going on?"
A crowd had gathered around the mansion.
"W-what's happening, Master?"
"Well, I'm not sure either…"
It seemed as though the servants who had previously left the house had gathered yet again, but it might not be just them; Joining them were many more people than just the servants.
"…Firstly, it doesn't seem like a friendly atmosphere."
And all bore expressions of either cold or simmering anger.
"...…"
Sensing something unusual was happening, the animals were no longer sleeping beside me, instead staring out the window with sharp gazes.
It felt oddly reassuring, but at the same time, I was slightly worried. Hadn't they just overexerted themselves earlier?
'Wait, what are these guys actually?'
I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at them with a worried expression.
Certainly, I knew they weren't ordinary animals, but aside from the cat doll and canary, how could the owl and the dove also use magic?
I should probably ask their owners when I meet them next time.
"M-master, the situation feels strange."
Thinking this, I tried to get off the carriage, only to have Lulu grab my arm anxiously.
"…This isn't the first time I have experienced something like this, anyway."
"Huh?"
After nonchalantly replying to her, I disembarked from the carriage, and the gazes of the gathered crowd turned towards me.
"H-hey, everyone… wait! Just wait a moment…"
At the forefront of those people and blocking the way stood Irina, who sported a bewildered expression.
"Irina! Get a hold of yourself! What's making you act like this?"
"…We've come to voice our legitimate complaint."
Irina's friend, Arianne, was staring at Irina with a quivering voice, and Alice, the commoners' representative, was also present.
"Hmm."
Judging by the situation, I could roughly guess what was happening. It appeared that Alice, as the commoners' representative, had probably gathered these people to condemn me.
'Well, this is great timing, anyway!'
When taking an entirely objective perspective on the matter, one might argue that the situation, albeit somewhat absurd, held its merits.
To begin with, Arianne, who was pleading to Irina with a quivering voice over there, was one of the "sub-heroines" I had intended to seek out during this vacation.
Granted, she might have the least significance in the game, featuring weak events and sparse settings… But still, a sub-heroine was a sub-heroine.
Of course, I had no intention of conquering her. If I did, I was afraid to imagine how Irina would turn out, and besides, I had almost no interaction with her from the start.
But seriously, why were there so many unnecessary sub-heroines in "Dark Tale Fantasy"?
Maybe there was something like a "Completion Reward"?
If not, there was no reason for Arianne, who had no connection with me, to be a sub-heroine…
[Sub-Heroines Conquest]
Arianne
[Conquest Route Suspended]
Details…
"Hmm."
After a moment of contemplation, I checked the system window that appeared in front of my eyes, then shook my head in disbelief before turning my gaze to the side.
"Alice…"
Alice was the assassin of the Moonlight Family, whom the Secret Lord threatened during the Second Ordeal in the mansion attack incident.
In society, she garnered support as the "commoners' representative" and actively engaged in various activities.
Fortunately, she was not a sub-heroine. I checked the list just to be certain, but her name did not appear there.
"Everyone, please maintain order…"
However, even though she was not a sub-heroine, she still held a pivotal role.
Although she only played a minor part in the first year, by some inexplicable turn of events, she became the Student Council President at Sunrise Academy during the second year.
Of course, though, it was possible that the Fake Hero was involved in that process. At this point, Ruby would naturally become involved in virtually every aspect.
Anyway, as the Student Council President, Alice would come into conflict with the Headmaster and corrupt nobles.
Most importantly, she would also have a conflict with me, the target of those people. And it was a direct confrontation.
So, the reason for Alice's increasing importance was that she would be treated as the villain of the second-year scenario.
Of course, she was only said to be a "villain," but from her perspective, it was only natural that she would try to stop me.
– F-Frey…
Deep in thought, I stared blankly at the crowd when Irina, who was trying to stop people, sent me a telepathic message.
Despite telepathy being one of the highest levels of advanced magic, observing how Irina effortlessly used it made her truly incredible.
– What should I do? Should I do someth…
While conveying her message, she stared at me with trembling eyes.
"Ah…?"
And at that moment, Arianne, who had been staring at me, visibly flinched and cocked her head.
"…..?"
It happened in an instant, but I could immediately tell since I had kept an eye on her.
– …Darn it.
Watching her reaction, I became even more certain that my hypothesis was correct.
After the Third Ordeal, the "sub-heroines" underwent some kind of change.
Most of these changes involved them developing "some kind of" emotions towards me, and it seemed that the extent of these emotions was related to how much interaction I had with them.
I couldn't get into the details or the underlying cause because Ferloche had turned back into her foolish personality, but at this point in time, these developments were not necessarily a good thing.
Lulu, whose conquest was complete, was just an anomaly. If similar emotions were to arise in the sub-heroines, the probability of my true identity being exposed would surely increase.
So, from now on, before advancing to the second year, I planned to meet and interact with the sub-heroines to suppress any emotional changes that had occurred.
And it seemed my starting point would be Arianne, who was right before me.
…Additionally, I should also try to restrain Alice, next to her.
With the purpose in mind, I sent telepathic messages to Irina, who had been staring at me, seemingly unresponsive.
'Listen carefully, Irina. I'm going to explain the plan now.'
"....."
A brief silence followed.
"Huh?"
In that brief interlude, Irina, having absorbed my explanation, returned the telepathic messages with visible anxiety and a flush of red on her cheeks.
– F-Frey? Seriously? Are you being serious? But that's… Ugh…
– T-thank you… No, I mean, is this really okay? Are you sure? Won't it be uncomfortable? Is it really okay?
"…Phew."
Irina seemed to feel a lot of pressure, making me feel sorry for her.
Would this work out well?
.
.
.
.
.
"What are you doing?"
After finishing the telepathic conversation with Irina, Frey, who had been looking around with a cold gaze for a while, finally spoke.
"…Grind."
Hearing those words, Arianne gritted her teeth.
"We were protesting."
Alice responded calmly.
"Protesting?"
"Yes, it's a protest condemning you."
"…Huh."
Frey let out a bitter laugh at that.
"A protest right in front of the Starlight Duchy's family mansion… Have you all lost your minds?"
He then started to approach her, wearing cold expression.
– Zzing!
Suddenly, a barrier materialized in front of Frey.
"It's an assembly held under the permission and protection of the Church."
Alice spoke while staring at Frey, causing him to come to a halt and frown.
"These people are all members of the Church and they have gathered here with the permission of His Holiness."
"In my property, I am both the Pope and the Emperor. I could make you all disappear right now."
"Yes, please do that. If rumors spread that you killed Church members participating in a peaceful protest, it would further destabilize your already precarious position."
"Are you suggesting we do it now?"
"We have already put our lives on the line. We will do anything to find any pretext to remove you from your position."
As the chilly back and forth continued, a murderous intent that could rival the atmosphere between Frey and Alice was felt.
"G-Give Irina back!!"
Arianne, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly shouted loudly.
"Have you ever thought about how much pain and difficulty Irina has gone through because of you? You terrible monster!"
Right after those words, a silence descended.
– Zzing…!
Nevertheless, unfazed by Frey's expressionless demeanor, Arianne had erected an opaque barrier all around, obscuring the view of the protesters and those around her.
"Eeek…!"
With her fists clenched tightly, she began to approach Frey.
"…Irina, is that statement true?"
After looking at Arianne, Frey turned to Irina, standing beside him, and subtly asked the question.
"Uh, well, t-that…"
Irina blushed and hesitated.
"If what she is saying is true, I'll let you go back to Arianne."
"…Ah."
She casted a glance at Frey, who spoke with feigned kindness, and then turned her attention to Ariane, whose expression had shifted to one of surprise.
"…No, it's not true."
Soon after, Irina replied, bowing her head deeply.
"What…?"
Arianne's face contorted in shock.
"A-are you being threatened, Irina?"
She finally asked Irina desperately.
"Irina, it's okay now. My sister is in a safe place. Public opinion in the empire has shifted, and both the Church and the Imperial family are in the same boat. That scoundrel won't be able to…"
While approaching Irina, who still had her head bowed low, Ariane tried to convince her.
"I'm sorry, Arianne."
But Irina, after swallowing hard, lifted her head and spoke in that manner.
"But I…"
Blushing deeply, she turned to Frey and continued.
"…Now like Lord Frey."
Quietly, she answered while hugging him.
"....What?"
Arianne looked stupefied by her confession.
"That's impossible… It can't be. Irina, you?"
A cold sweat formed on her forehead as she spoke.
"You never paid attention to guys because of your magic studies. And when it came to love stories, you always shied away. Also, why do you use 'Lord' to adress Frey…??"
"I-I can't live without Lord Frey now."
"You lie! Don't lie to me!"
Despite Arianne's protests, Irina clung to Frey with a flushed face and looked up at him with unwavering determination, causing Arianne to let out a scream.
"You must have been threatened! The Irina I know is a complete novice when it comes to holding hands with guys!"
"Uh, well…"
"You've lived your whole life with magic; You've also never taken a liking to any me… Huh?"
Arianne's gaze wavered as spoke, and suddenly found her mouth hanging open.
"Irina, could it be…"
Irina raised the red light bead, and seeing that, Arianne mumbled.
"…Did you make a blood oath?"
"Yeah…"
"R-really? Is it true…?"
In response, Arianne muttered with an expression of disbelief.
"A-A blood oath… it won't manifest unless it's 'sincere'…"
She mumbled with a gloomy expression.
"I-I've told you."
Irina had an uncanny expression upon seeing Ariane's reaction, and blushed even deeper before speaking once more.
"… This body can no longer live without Lord Frey."
"What?"
"I-I've already given my body, heart, and even my soul to him."
"Given your… body?"
"Y-you know it, too, don't you? The completion of the blood oath requires… purity…"
While in Frey's embrace, Irina briefly ceased her conversation with her longtime friend, overcome by embarrassment.
"…When did this happen?"
Holding her, Frey asked with a greatly astonished expression, and Irina, burying her face in his chest, whispered.
"I lied about the p-purity part. Uuu."
"No, the blood oath. When did you do th…?"
And in that moment…
– Thud!
Arianne, her expression one of bewilderment, sank to the ground.
"L-Lord Frey."
After glancing at Arianne, Irina took a deep breath and kissed him.
"Smooch."
"…Huh?"
Arianne blushed as she looked at the scene.
"…Euuuh?"
While Irina may have shared childhood experiences with Frey as her playmate, Arianne had been singularly devoted to the pursuit of magic, devoid of any experience with men in her life.
"…Eehmmmm…"
"…Haheup."
Therefore, the sight of Irina and Frey's tongues intertwining was too stimulating to Arianne.
"…Haa… Haa…"
In the midst of this peculiar atmosphere, Frey raised his head, with saliva coated on the corner of his mouth.
"That's enough, now…"
He whispered to Irina in a low voice.
"…Habeub?"
But Irina attacked him again.
"W-We have to make her absolutely sure…"
Eventually, Irina licked Frey's lips.
"Wait, can I borrow your hand for a moment…"
"…?"
Using precise mana control she had learned while in a mana-depleted state, Irina began to control Frey's arm underneath her.
– Sssk…
"…Hieuk!"
At last, Irina slumped onto Frey's shoulder.
"I-I love you, Frey…♡"
With a face of pure bliss, she felt his touch and gazed lovingly into Frey's eyes as she whispered.
"…Ah."
Arianne had done nothing but fidget until now, but upon this sight, she froze.
"I love you… Frey… Now, I can't live without you…"
"I-Irina…"
"Even when I'm asleep, I think of you so many times… No matter how many times I see your sleeping face… Oh, no, not this…"
Meanwhile, Irina's switch had been flicked.
"I've nurtured my first love this much, so…"
"Ouch."
"…T-take responsibility."
Irina whispered her love to Frey while breathing heavily.
"Irina, for now, here…"
"…Ack."
After continuing her affectionate act for a while, Irina regained her senses at Frey's urgent words.
"Eheeeek…"
She stopped controlling Frey's arm and shivered for a moment.
– Thud.
She then slumped to the ground.
"I-I'm sorry… Please forgive me…"
Irina's began to plead after a while.
"…Go away."
"Hiiik…"
After dismissing her like that, Frey turned his attention towards Arianne, who was sitting on the floor.
"See that? The Irina you knew is gone. So…"
While Arianne was still holding her head down, he grabbed her chin and whispered.
"...…"
For some reason, Arianne just stared at Frey with a blank face.
"I have tried to remain patient, but this is too much…!"
Unable to bear watching such a scene any longer, Alice urgently moved towards them.
– Whooosh…!
"…Ack!"
From an unknown location, a stone had hit Frey on the head; that was the moment when everything started.
"E-everyone!?"
Startled by the unexpected incident, Alice looked around.
"…Didn't you say it was a non-violent protest?"
Frey began to interrogate Alice with a fierce expression.
"But what's this?"
While holding the hiccuping Arianne in his arms, he smiled coldly.
"If it's not a non-violent protest but a violent one… the situation would change, wouldn't it?"
Alice's gaze shook intensely.
You can read 505 episodes for $10. p.*atreon.com/Astrid02