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༺ Emergency Situation ༻
"Hmm…"
Rubbing my aching head, I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
"...?"
Still groggy from waking up, I tried to figure out where I was. Sensing something tickling my feet, I lifted my head.
"Hmm…"
There was Lulu, curled up at the foot of the bed, eyes closed, breathing softly.
"Frey… Please be alright…"
I stared at her blankly, then turned my attention to a sound nearby.
"Please…"
Clana was holding my hand, her face buried in the bed.
'…What's happening?'
Was it because I drank again? I couldn't understand where I was and why these two were acting like this.
"What is this…"
Trying to make sense of it all, I looked at the bedside table and was left speechless.
"".....""
A black cat doll, a white owl, a dove, and a red puppy were gathered there, gazing down at me.
A canary was also placed at the far end, crouched down and asleep. I wondered why it looked so withered.
"What… what's going on?"
As I gazed at the creatures with unusually wide eyes, I couldn't help but ask.
"…..!"
"Frey…?"
Lulu and Clana glanced up at me simultaneously, their eyes widening in surprise as they rushed over.
"Master!!"
"Frey, are you back to your senses!?"
Baffled by their strong responses, I nodded. In response, the two girls embraced me tightly.
"Lick, lick, lick."
Lulu, making soft puppy whimpering sounds, intensely licked my neck.
"Sob… Sniff…"
Lulu was cuddled up to me with droopy ears and a sad expression after licking my neck. It felt like I was seeing a wet puppy wagging its tail, so I let her be.
"Frey, you've been unconscious for a week."
"What?"
Clana, her face buried in my embrace, cautiously met my gaze and spoke, her words lacking any reassurance.
A whole week had passed? What did that even mean?
"…Ugh!"
Attempting to recall my last memory, I remembered being in a carriage with Lulu, who was using my lap as a pillow.
She kept scratching the top of her head, so I had gently stroked her. Then, I closed my eyes out of exhaustion. But beyond that, everything was a blank.
So, I was unconscious from that moment until now?
"You told Lulu you'd get better soon. That's nonsense. The doctor said it's a serious injury."
Clana looked at me sharply when she saw my dazed expression.
"I used all my power to gather doctors and medicinal herbs and created a recovery room."
"Recovery room?"
"Just lying here will make your body feel better and speed healing."
It was only then that I noticed the room's surroundings.
Various rare herbs and potions from the Eastern and Western continents and recovery spells that seemed to have been torn apart were scattered around.
This collection seemed sufficient to bring someone severely injured back to full health.
"....."
But what touched my heart the most was the state Lulu and Clan were in.
Both appeared skinny with dark circles under their eyes, as if they hadn't eaten properly while looking after me for a week.
– Swoosh… Swoosh…
"So, what happened over the past week?"
However, there was no time to dwell in sorrow. Losing consciousness and wasting a week posed a significant risk.
"…Everyone thinks you have gone missing."
Clana replied, glancing at Lulu, who nuzzled her head against my stomach.
"Except for your critical injury, all the plans worked perfectly. Ferloche is almost healed, so no worries."
"…Got it."
"Vener's leading a search party… There's heavy surveillance, but we're in a secret hideout I set up. Most people think you're dead anyway."
Clana's eyes had a hint of glow as she spoke.
"There were a few small problems… but we handled them."
"…Yeah."
Lulu also looked at Clana with a similar gleam in her eyes.
"Together… We dealt with those who would get in Master's way."
Her eyes gleamed ominously.
For some reason, I was starting to feel a bit scared of these girls.
"Get some rest, Frey."
"Rest well, Master."
I broke out in a cold sweat, and the two girls hurried to wipe it away and gently laid me on the bed.
'My body is completely healed…'
Perhaps it was due to a week of intensive treatment, but I felt fit and healthy.
Of course, the penalty remained, but I felt like I could fly.
I thought about just spending some time recovering, as nothing important was happening anyway.
After all, I was officially missing.
My plan was to announce my survival before heading back to the academy for my second year. Until then, I could savor a peaceful break.
"Frey, do you intend to reveal you're alive?"
Picking up on my thoughts, Clana looked down at me and inquired.
"Why not stay missing?"
"What do you mean?"
"The public's opinion isn't favorable."
Clana's eyes were somewhat shaky as she spoke.
"I tried to suppress it, but there was backlash. If you're discovered alive, half the people will call for your execution, and the rest will demand your title as a noble be revoked…"
"I… I'll use my Magic Eyes to brainwash all the citizens! Everyone will become your dogs…! No, I am your only dog, so they'll be slaves…"
– Whoosh…
"Uh?"
I reached out to Lulu, who, up until then, had been affectionately nuzzling against my stomach while making those disturbing remarks.
– Shhh…
"Uhh? Uhhh…"
After gently petting Lulu's head, I used a spell to put her to sleep and turned to Clana.
"I'll announce that I'm alive soon, so temporarily take away my nobility, Clana."
"What!?"
"Only temporarily. Not forever."
Clana's eyes widened in surprise before she gave me a skeptical look.
"Have you lost your mind?"
I chuckled, watching her act differently from her usual composed self.
"There are two benefits."
"No, wait a second."
"First, it will let me earn more points and become stronger. I plan on doing this for just a few months, but it should help me accumulate many points, right?
"Hold on…"
"Second, it'll assist you in fully taking control of the Imperial Family."
Hearing my logical explanation, Clana, who was about to speak, remained silent.
"The Empress is under investigation, but her son remains, and the Emperor is in good health."
"....."
"To create a division in this situation, the best approach is to find me, the public enemy, and temporarily demote me to commoner status."
Listening to me, Clana continued to grip my shoulder, lost in thought.
"I have plans afterward, so don't feel overly burdened…"
"So, that would make you happy?"
"Huh?"
I thought we had come to an agreement and tried to end the conversation, but Clana interrupted me.
"Would you truly find happiness in that scenario?"
She wore a sorrowful expression.
"I'm not weak anymore. I have enough power to protect you."
"Clana."
"And I want to bring you joy."
I fell silent upon hearing her, just as she had earlier.
"Don't sacrifice your happiness for me or others."
She said that and gently stroked my head.
"…I was pursuing my happiness."
"…?"
For some reason, Clana no longer seemed complicated.
I perceived her as a diligent and stern ruler, challenging to deal with, yet I hadn't realized she also had this other side.
"I was in pursuit of my own happiness."
"What do you mean…"
"Seeing you become the Empress… it's one of my ten wishes and dreams."
"…..!"
After disclosing my bucket list with a bashful expression, she was surprised.
"I dream that you would look down on the world from the throne, and I would look up at you like that."
"....."
"If you were to become the Empress, this decaying empire would revert to its original state. For that, I would sacrifice anything."
After I spoke, there was a moment of silence.
"Where… will you be watching from?"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Clana blushed, whispering in a soft voice.
"From below? Or… right beside me?"
"Uh…"
"I'll respect your decision…"
I tried to understand her hesitant words while her face turned bright red.
"Yaaawn…"
"Let's talk about this later."
When Lulu woke up with a yawn, I quickly ended the conversation and pulled up the blanket.
"I'm, I'm sorry…"
"You must have been exhausted, Lulu."
I gently petted Lulu's head as she lay down on me and thought about sleeping since I had the time.
Main Quest
Quest Content: Hero's Inauguration Ceremony
Result: Cleared!
Reward: ...
"…Tsk."
Just as I was about to shut my eyes, a system window appeared. I quickly read through it, frowning.
Main Quest
….Skill Enhancement Ticket x2 (Can be used on one skill each)
"Hmm?"
The reward listed at the end of the window seemed quite appealing.
'What's up with this system…?'
Upgrading a skill that usually requires a substantial amount of points without any cost was a significant advantage.
Why would the Demon God grant me such a benefit? Shouldn't it be something earned through great effort?
"Hmm…"
After pondering for a while, I recalled that this reward was a fixed outcome for completing this scenario.
'The Demon God can manipulate the system… but perhaps there are limits?'
If my guess was accurate, this was positive news.
Could it mean that there were constraints on the Demon God's malicious tricks?
[Affection System] (Lv 3 -> Lv 4) – Overall System Enhancement [Mind Reading] (Lv 1 -> Lv 2)
– The limit on the number of uses has shifted to a cooldown application.- Displays the thoughts the target currently holds, arranged by intensity. (Max. 4)
Furthermore, I hadn't had the chance to invest in skills since all the points went into awakening the Hero's Armament, but this was a no-cost opportunity.
Grateful for this, I smiled at the system for the first time in a while and meticulously upgraded my skills.
"Master?"
"…Frey?"
While happily completing the leveling process, I decided to test the enhanced mind-reading capabilities when I noticed Clana and Lulu tilting their heads in confusion.
[Clana's Current Emotions: Anxious/Touched/Worried/Sad/Excited/Fluttered] [Clana's Current Thoughts]
– I want to hold hands with Frey.
– I want to protect him no matter what.
– It is disheartening to always be overshadowed by the other girls.
– I don't want to make him my husband; I want to be his wife.
"Uh… um…"
The potency of mind reading exceeded my expectations.
– Swoosh…
"F, Frey?"
With a blushing face, I looked down and gently held Clana's hand.
"…Hehe."
She gazed at me wide-eyed, soon closing them with a radiant smile and leaning onto the bed.
"I, I can… do it too…"
Observing the delighted expression on her face as she feigned relaxation, it was clear she was genuinely happy holding my hand.
"…Hmm."
With my suspicions confirmed, I turned my attention to Lulu.
Originally, mind-reading could only be used once on a person, but with the cooldown period, I wondered if it could be used continuously, so I checked.
[Lulu's Current Emotions: Blind Loyalty/Eternal Love/Worry/Ticklishness/Desire To Be Dominated]
As expected, the mind-reading worked exceptionally well.
[Lulu's Current Thoughts]
– I wish Master would pet my belly.
– I want to rescue Master. If I can't save him, I'll die.
– I want to faithfully serve Master as his pet and be laid to rest in the same grave.
– I want to be under the control, dominance, and restraint of Master.
It worked too well, was the problem.
"…Huh?"
– Swish, swoosh…
"Ah, uh… Th, thank you…"
I sighed and started petting Lulu's belly gently to check the upgraded Affection System.
"Cuckoo!"
"Ouch."
Suddenly, a pigeon on the headboard pecked my forehead lightly, and I stared at it in confusion.
"…Hmm?"
The typically clueless-looking bird was now holding out a letter with a serious expression.
"What's happening…"
With a worried expression, I accepted the letter.
"...?"
Shortly after, I tilted my head in confusion.
– From Clana.
[Professor Isolet, please don't worry.
Frey Raon Starlight is currently in our custody.
To explain in more detail....]
Strangely, the letter it presented was from Clana to Isolet.
"Huh? That's…!"
Simultaneously, Clana's eyes widened in shock, and she stared at the letter.
"Why, why is that letter there…?"
"Cuckoo… Coo…"
"Eh?"
At the same time, the bird, referred to as Gugu by Ferloche, weakly fell into Clana's arms.
"It, it's hurt…"
There were several injuries on its body.
"Hold on."
I looked at it with a flustered expression.
"I don't know what's going on… but if this letter is here…"
Shortly after, I mumbled in fear.
"…Does this mean Isolet doesn't know I'm alive?"
It seemed like I should get ready to go out.
.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile…
"Ugh…"
Isolet was heavily drunk and sprawled out on her bed.
"Frey… you rascal…"
She clutched her sword, a gift from Frey, and a photo of him.
"I've given my body and heart to you… where on earth did you go…"
She sobbed, her entire body soaked in tears.
"I can't even get married now…"
Her room echoed with mournful cries for a long time.
You can read 505 episodes for $10. p.*atreon.com/Astrid02