The Velclair estate was bustling with tension. The creeping corruption from the sorcerer had finally spread beyond the estate's borders, reaching the nearby town, and panic had begun to ripple through the Velclair family. As Ryuto sat in his high chair at the dining table, feigning the wide-eyed innocence of a baby, he soaked in every word of the grim conversation.
"Reports are growing worse by the day," Duke Alphonse said, his voice sharp, commanding attention as he laid down a letter from one of the town's elders. "The crops are dying, livestock are found twisted and scorched, and people are falling ill. This sorcerer isn't just attacking us. He's turning the town into a wasteland."
Ryuto's interest piqued as he watched the family's reactions. Edwin, seated rigidly beside his father, clenched his jaw, the cold steel of determination in his eyes.
"This sorcerer needs to be dealt with," Edwin said, his tone hard. "If we don't stop them soon, the corruption will reach the estate itself. We'll lose everything."
Ryuto felt a slight thrill at the severity of the situation. He had been tracking the corruption through his Corruption Monitor App, but now he had confirmation that things were escalating much faster than he anticipated. It was clear that the sorcerer's influence wasn't just a minor disturbance, it was a direct attack on the Velclair family and their lands.
Celeste, sitting beside Ryuto with a worried expression, glanced down at her baby brother and pulled him closer to her chest. "But what if the creatures come back? They're getting more aggressive, aren't they?"
Ryuto could feel the tension in her voice. She wasn't just concerned about the estate, she was terrified for him. Her hand rested protectively over his small body, pulling him against her soft chest, as if she could shield him from whatever darkness was creeping into their lives.
Duke Alphonse nodded grimly. "The creatures are not acting on instinct. They are being driven, controlled. The sorcerer is growing more confident."
"We need to hit them before they strike again," Edwin said. His voice had the cold finality of a man who saw nothing but victory as the solution. "I'll take a force into the town. We'll defend it and track the sorcerer to wherever they're hiding."
Ryuto's heart raced. Edwin's mission to defend the town could be the key to uncovering the full scope of the sorcerer's plans. He would have to follow this closely, it was getting more dangerous, but also more interesting.
Duke Alphonse agreed with a curt nod. "Gather your men. Leave by nightfall."
Edwin rose from the table, his movements swift and precise, but before he left, his eyes flicked toward Ryuto. For a brief moment, their gazes met, and Ryuto saw something in Edwin's eyes that made him uneasy, an intensity, perhaps suspicion. Edwin didn't say a word, but the message was clear: I'm watching you.
As Edwin strode from the room, Ryuto silently sighed. Great. If he keeps staring at me like that, he'll figure something out sooner or later.
After the meeting, Ryuto found himself once again in the constant embrace of Celeste. Her affection points had skyrocketed since he had manipulated her using the Dating Sim App, and now it seemed that her protective instincts had transformed into full-blown obsession.
She refused to let anyone else near him. Even Nanny Elara had been gently pushed aside as Celeste insisted on personally attending to Ryuto's every need. She carried him through the estate, holding him tightly against her chest, cradling him in her arms as if he were the most precious thing in the world.
At first, Ryuto hadn't minded. Celeste's attention had been useful, keeping him safe, ensuring no one suspected his secret activities, and giving him control over a key player in the family. But now, it was starting to become… a problem.
"Ryuto, darling, you're so quiet today," Celeste said softly, bouncing him gently on her lap as she sat in the estate's library. She pulled him closer, her hand absentmindedly stroking his hair as she held him tightly, pressing his cheek against her chest.
Ryuto couldn't help but smirk to himself. Soft, warm, and utterly obsessed. For any other baby, this would have been the ultimate luxury.
But now… it was too much.
Celeste seemed to always be there. No moment of privacy. No time to think or plan without her hovering over him, worrying about his well-being. She never let him out of her sight, always coddling him, smothering him with her affection. It had gone from being useful to being suffocating.
Ryuto tried to shift slightly in her grip, but Celeste held him tighter, pressing him against her soft chest. "Are you sleepy, Ryuto? Do you want me to take you to bed?"
No, I want some space to breathe! Ryuto thought, internally groaning. His manipulation had worked too well. Now, he was trapped in Celeste's obsessive care, unable to move without her cradling him, kissing his forehead, or fussing over him every second.
He realized then that he might have gone too far with her affection points. He hadn't anticipated that Celeste's protectiveness would turn into an obsession that left him no room to breathe. It was starting to interfere with his plans, and Ryuto knew he had to be careful. If he didn't find a way to dial it back, things could get worse.
Later that day, Ryuto found himself in the arms of Nanny Elara, who had finally managed to pry him away from Celeste. As they walked through the halls of the estate, Ryuto was lost in his thoughts, thinking about his next steps. The corruption was spreading faster, and if Edwin's mission didn't succeed, the estate itself would be in danger.
Elara, humming softly to herself, carried Ryuto as she made her rounds, and Ryuto's mind wandered.
If Edwin finds the sorcerer, I could use that information. But I need to find a way to,
", get ahead of him."
The words slipped out of Ryuto's mouth before he realized what had happened. His eyes widened in horror. Did I just speak out loud?!
Elara stopped in her tracks, looking down at Ryuto with a confused expression. "What was that, Master Ryuto?" she asked, her brow furrowed.
Ryuto's mind went into overdrive. He needed to cover this up, and fast. He let out a babbling noise, quickly turning the almost-spoken sentence into baby talk, waving his hands in the air to distract Elara.
Elara chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, such a silly little one," she said, dismissing it as a fluke. "You're just trying to say something, aren't you?"
Ryuto sighed internally, relieved that he had managed to play it off. That was close. He needed to be more careful. One slip-up like that, and his entire cover could be blown.
As Elara continued walking, Ryuto tightened his focus. He couldn't afford to let his thoughts get away from him like that again. If anyone caught on to the fact that he wasn't just a baby, everything he had worked for would be ruined.
As the day wore on, Ryuto's thoughts kept circling back to two things: Celeste's obsession and the corruption spreading across the land. He knew that Edwin's mission to the town would reveal more about the sorcerer, but with Celeste never leaving his side, he was struggling to find time to work on his magic or plan his next steps.
He would have to find a way to handle Celeste without raising her suspicions. But for now, he was stuck, smothered in affection, and feeling the pressure of the growing danger looming just beyond the estate.
The days at the Velclair estate were growing longer for Ryuto. What once had been a peaceful balance between acting the role of the innocent baby by day and training his magic by night had turned into something much more… suffocating.
Celeste had become inseparable from him. Ever since he had raised her affection points to an all-time high, she refused to let anyone else handle him. No maid, no nanny, not even Nanny Elara, could lay a hand on him for longer than a few minutes before Celeste would swoop in, cooing at him and carrying him away as if someone might steal him at any moment.
"I can handle him," she'd say sweetly, yet with an unspoken fierceness that made it clear: Ryuto was hers, and hers alone.
Today was no different. Celeste had whisked him away after lunch, taking him to the estate's large garden for a stroll. The cool air rustled the leaves of the trees, and the sun shone down in golden rays, but none of it felt relaxing to Ryuto. Not with Celeste smothering him in her arms for the third time that morning.
"Oh, Ryuto, you're so cute, aren't you?" Celeste murmured, bouncing him gently on her lap as they sat beneath the shade of a towering oak tree. She brushed a lock of hair from his forehead and kissed his cheek. "I could just hold you forever."
Ryuto, nestled against her chest, was beginning to regret every affection point he had added to her. She held him too close, her small but soft breasts pressing against his cheek, her arms around him as if she were afraid he'd disappear if she let go.
At first, he had thought he could handle it. After all, who wouldn't enjoy being pampered by a beautiful girl? But it was quickly becoming too much. She never left him alone. Celeste had become obsessed, and Ryuto was starting to realize the gravity of his mistake.
"I didn't think she'd become so clingy… This is bad. Really bad," Ryuto thought, trying not to grimace as she smothered him with another kiss. "I can't even get a minute to myself to think."
Everywhere he went, Celeste was there. She fed him, bathed him, cradled him to sleep, and woke up the moment he stirred, hovering like an overprotective mother. Ryuto's carefully laid plans were starting to unravel beneath the weight of her affection. How was he supposed to train his magic, investigate the corruption, or do anything when Celeste wouldn't leave his side?
As Ryuto nestled against her, his cheek pressed awkwardly against her chest, he sighed inwardly. This wasn't what he had envisioned. He had wanted to manipulate her, yes, make her protective enough to shield him from suspicion and keep him safe. But now, it felt like he was a prisoner of her affection.
And it didn't help that the proximity was, well, distracting. Celeste's beauty, which he had once admired with a detached sense of amusement, was now up close and personal. Her soft skin, the warmth of her body as she held him, her sweet scent, it was all too much for his teenage mind, trapped in a baby's body.
He tried not to think about it, but it was getting harder every day.
"I need to find a way to fix this," Ryuto thought, his gaze flicking up at Celeste, who was staring down at him with that adoring, all-consuming smile. "If she gets any more attached, I'll never be able to shake her off."
But how could he reverse the affection points without raising suspicion? If he suddenly became less affectionate or less dependent on her, she'd notice. She might even become paranoid, thinking something was wrong with him, and that was the last thing he needed.
For now, he had to endure it. He'd figure out a way to fix it later, but first, he needed to regain some control.
While Celeste coddled Ryuto, the situation outside the estate was growing more dire by the hour. Edwin had left that very morning with a force of the Velclair family's best soldiers, heading to the town to defend it from the corruption spreading from the sorcerer.
Ryuto, ever the schemer, had been keeping tabs on Edwin's movements through the conversations he overheard. Edwin was focused, determined to stop the sorcerer's influence from reaching the estate itself. The corruption was spreading faster than anyone had anticipated, and even Duke Alphonse was growing concerned.
But Ryuto's interest wasn't in Edwin's heroics, it was in what they might uncover.
"If Edwin finds the sorcerer, I could learn something. If I can get ahead of this, I'll have more power than they realize," Ryuto thought, though his frustration quickly returned as Celeste tightened her hold on him.
"I won't let anyone hurt you, Ryuto," she whispered, her voice soft but fierce. "You're my little brother. No one will take you from me."
Ryuto nearly groaned out loud. "Celeste, you're taking this too far!" he wanted to shout, but he had to keep his baby act intact. He needed her trust, not her paranoia.
Still, his mind was working overtime, thinking about how Edwin's mission could benefit him. If Edwin was successful in tracking down the sorcerer, Ryuto would be ready to seize the opportunity.
But first, he needed to find a way to get out from under Celeste's constant gaze.
Later that afternoon, back inside the estate, Ryuto was once again trapped in Celeste's arms. This time, they were in her room, where she had laid him on the bed beside her as she read aloud from a storybook. Ryuto, lying on his back, stared at the ceiling, barely listening to her soft, lilting voice.
The story didn't matter. Nothing mattered except figuring out how to get some space from her. He had tried everything, babbling, squirming, even pretending to cry, hoping she'd hand him off to Nanny Elara, but nothing worked. Celeste refused to let anyone else near him.
As she read, Ryuto's mind began to drift. He thought of his plans, his growing magic, the corruption. But more than that, he found himself thinking of his sister. Celeste. Not just as the overly affectionate girl smothering him with attention, but as his actual sister.
That thought gave him pause. She wasn't just some pretty girl he could manipulate anymore. She was family, someone who genuinely loved him, who had risked her life to protect him from the corrupted creature that had attacked him. She was becoming more than just a tool in his plans.
And that scared him.
"I need to be careful. I can't afford to get too attached. She's useful, but I can't let this go too far."
But even as he thought that, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was starting to care about her, whether he liked it or not.
As the day wore on, Ryuto felt the weight of his situation pressing down on him. He had pushed Celeste too far, and now he was paying the price. But he was nothing if not resourceful.
That night, as he lay in his crib, Ryuto opened his smartphone and pulled up Celeste's profile in the Dating Sim App. He needed to dial things back, reduce her affection without raising alarms. But how?
He tapped through the options, reviewing her current affection level. It was sitting at 95, dangerously close to maxing out. If he wasn't careful, she'd reach 100, and who knew what that would do?
"I can't lower her affection points without her noticing. But maybe I can divert her attention elsewhere…"
It was a risky move, but if he could shift her focus, make her think he was safe, cared for by others, she might relax her hold on him. It would be delicate work, but Ryuto had no choice. If Celeste's obsession continued unchecked, it would smother him and his plans.
As he laid his phone aside and closed his eyes, Ryuto felt a small sense of relief. He had a plan, finally. Now, all he needed was the right moment to put it into action.
Night had fallen, and the estate was finally quiet. Celeste had reluctantly left Ryuto alone for a moment after fussing over him for the entire day. The moment she had stepped out of the room, Ryuto let out a long sigh of relief. At last, he had a few moments to himself.
Nestled in his crib, Ryuto quickly pulled out his smartphone and scrolled through the familiar apps. He had been growing stronger each night, practicing his magic in secret and pushing the limits of his power. His control was improving, but he still had a long way to go. And then there was the ever-growing corruption, which now threatened not just the estate but the town of New Haven as well.
But tonight, there was something new. Ryuto blinked as a notification popped up on his phone:
New App Unlocked: Giggle Maps
Track locations you've been and monitor the movements of those close to you.
"Giggle Maps? Really? They couldn't come up with something better than that?" Ryuto smirked to himself but quickly tapped on the app icon. As much as the name made him cringe, he knew the app could be incredibly useful.
When the app opened, a familiar map of the estate appeared on the screen, with little glowing dots showing his exact location. But more than that, it showed the locations of his family members as well. He could see Celeste, currently lingering in the hallway just outside his nursery, pacing back and forth as if she couldn't stand being away from him for more than a few minutes. Duke Alphonse was in his study, as usual, probably poring over reports of the corruption. But the glowing dot that interested him the most was moving further and further away from the estate, Edwin.
Ryuto zoomed out on the map and watched as Edwin's location was tracked in real-time. He was heading directly toward New Haven, the town under the Velclair family's protection. The app even showed the roads and landmarks Edwin was passing, giving Ryuto a full overview of his journey.
"So that's where he's going. New Haven…" Ryuto murmured to himself, making a mental note. "This could be useful."
Ryuto was fascinated by the app's ability to show him places he had already visited, but even more so by the ability to track the movements of his family members. This meant that he could follow Edwin's progress, monitor Duke Alphonse, and, unfortunately, keep tabs on Celeste, who would undoubtedly be all over him again soon.
Just as he began to tinker with the map, seeing how far it could zoom and what other information it might reveal, he noticed the little dot of Celeste moving toward his nursery. His heart skipped a beat as he quickly slipped his phone back under his pillow and pretended to be sound asleep.
The door creaked open, and Celeste tiptoed into the nursery, her soft footsteps barely making a sound on the polished floor. Ryuto felt her presence before she even reached the crib, her energy, her obsessive need to care for him. And as much as he was growing weary of it, there was something undeniably comforting about the way she hovered over him.
"Oh, Ryuto, you look so peaceful when you're asleep," Celeste whispered as she bent over the crib and gently scooped him into her arms. "I just couldn't stay away. I missed you, little one."
Ryuto was careful not to react too soon. He kept his baby act up, blinking drowsily as if he had just woken up. Celeste smiled warmly and kissed his cheek, pulling him close to her chest.
"You're always so quiet. You must be such a good boy," she cooed, cradling him against her. "I'll always take care of you, I promise."
Ryuto blushed slightly at the affection, unable to help himself as he nestled into her embrace. As much as her obsession was a problem, it was hard not to enjoy the extra attention. Her kisses, her soft voice, it was all so overwhelming, in a way that made him feel… special.
But then, as Celeste pressed him closer, his face became fully buried in her chest. The softness that had once been comforting quickly became smothering. Ryuto's breath hitched as he found himself unable to get any air, his face completely pressed into her small but suffocating breasts.
"Too much… too much!" Ryuto thought, his heart racing as he tried to squirm in her arms. But Celeste only held him tighter, mistaking his movements for a need for comfort.
"There, there," she whispered soothingly, rocking him gently. "You're safe with me."
Ryuto could hardly breathe. His face was completely engulfed, and the lack of air made his head spin. "If I don't stop her soon, she's going to kill me with love!" he thought in desperation.
Just as he was about to tap out or cry out, Celeste finally pulled him away slightly, allowing him a gulp of precious air. He gasped softly, but she didn't notice, too caught up in her own doting affection.
"There, now. Let's get you back to bed, my sweet little Ryuto," she whispered, placing him gently back in the crib and kissing his forehead. "I'll always be here for you."
Ryuto gave her a small, sleepy coo in response, but inside, he was screaming. He needed to fix this situation before she literally smothered him.
While Ryuto was being smothered with love, Edwin and his force of soldiers were making their way into New Haven. The town was eerily quiet as they approached, the usually bustling streets now empty, the houses dark. The corruption was spreading fast, and even without a direct attack, the sorcerer's magic had taken its toll on the townspeople.
The soldiers moved cautiously, their weapons ready, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of the corrupted creatures that had been attacking the estate. But as they moved through the town's square, something felt… off.
"Stay alert," Edwin ordered, his voice cold and commanding. "The sorcerer's close."
The soldiers nodded, tightening their grips on their swords and shields as they followed Edwin deeper into the town. They passed by withered crops, burned-out homes, and signs of strange rituals, symbols etched into the ground that pulsed faintly with dark magic.
But no monsters appeared. No corrupted creatures lunged at them from the shadows. It was too quiet.
The tension hung thick in the air as Edwin and his soldiers advanced through the eerie stillness of New Haven. Their boots echoed against the cobblestone streets, the only sound breaking the silence of the desolate town. The once-bustling village was now a ghost town, its people hiding indoors, terrified of the corruption and the monsters that had plagued their lands.
Edwin's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword as his eyes swept over the square. "This doesn't feel right," he muttered to himself.
The soldiers at his side seemed to sense it too. They exchanged nervous glances, their hands gripping their weapons as they scanned the shadows. The entire town seemed frozen, as if it was holding its breath, waiting for something terrible to happen.
And then, the air grew cold.
A thick, unnatural mist began to creep into the square, swirling around the soldiers' feet, thickening until it obscured their vision. Edwin stepped forward, raising a hand to signal his men to halt. His heart pounded as the mist grew heavier, carrying with it the unmistakable sense of dark magic.
"Stay alert!" Edwin commanded, his voice firm, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
The mist swirled faster, and the hairs on the back of Edwin's neck stood on end. Something was coming. He could feel it.
Out of the mist, a figure emerged, tall, cloaked in shadows, and emanating an aura of pure malice. The figure's eyes glowed a sickening red, and in his hand, he carried a staff, crackling with dark energy.
The sorcerer.
The soldiers immediately moved into formation, shields up and weapons ready, but the fear in their eyes was unmistakable. This wasn't just some wandering mage, they were face to face with the one who had unleashed the corruption upon their lands.
The sorcerer's voice echoed through the mist, low and menacing, filled with an ancient, bone-chilling power. "Fools. You dare to challenge me?"
Edwin's jaw clenched. "Face me, sorcerer!" he shouted, stepping forward with his sword raised. "Your corruption ends here!"
The sorcerer's glowing eyes fixated on Edwin, and a dark, twisted smile spread across his face. "Brave… but foolish."
Before Edwin could react, the sorcerer raised his staff. A pulse of dark magic shot forward, hitting the two soldiers closest to him with such force that their bodies collapsed instantly, lifeless before they hit the ground.
The remaining soldiers recoiled in horror. Edwin gritted his teeth and steadied himself. He had trained for moments like this, facing death, standing against overwhelming odds. But this… this was different. This was power beyond anything he had encountered before.
"Stand your ground!" Edwin barked at his men, though the tension in his voice betrayed his own fear.
The sorcerer took a slow, deliberate step forward, his staff crackling with dark energy. He waved his hand, and the mist thickened, swirling around the soldiers, disorienting them. The ground beneath them pulsed with strange, glowing symbols, ritual marks etched into the earth.
Edwin's pulse raced. These weren't ordinary attacks. The sorcerer had planned this, a trap.
Without warning, the sorcerer raised his staff once more, and another surge of magic shot toward the remaining soldiers. Edwin saw the deadly spell coming, a streak of black energy that seemed to rip through the air itself.
He reacted on instinct, raising his sword to block the attack. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through his body, nearly knocking him off his feet. His vision blurred, and he grunted in pain as he felt the energy ripple through his armor.
But he didn't fall. He held his ground, barely managing to stay on his feet.
The sorcerer let out a low chuckle, his voice dripping with condescension. "You think you can stop me, boy?"
Edwin straightened, his grip on his sword tightening as he locked eyes with the sorcerer. "I don't need to stop you. I just need to hold you off."
For a moment, the sorcerer seemed amused. But then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent another pulse of dark energy hurtling toward Edwin, faster than before.
Edwin's heart raced as he braced himself, raising his sword in a desperate attempt to block the incoming spell.
But this time, the force was too much.
The blast struck his sword with a deafening crack, sending Edwin flying backward. He hit the ground hard, the wind knocked from his lungs as he skidded across the cobblestones. His sword slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground out of reach.
The sorcerer slowly approached, his eyes glowing brighter, the air around him crackling with dark magic.
Edwin struggled to rise, his body aching from the impact, but the weight of the sorcerer's magic bore down on him, making every movement feel like an impossible task. He glanced up, watching as the sorcerer raised his staff high, dark energy swirling at the tip, ready to deliver the final blow.
The sorcerer sneered. "You fought well… but this is where it ends."
The deadly spell surged forward, aimed straight for Edwin's chest. There was no time to dodge, no time to react.
As the blast of magic hurtled toward him, Edwin braced for impact, knowing he was out of options.