The square of New Haven was bathed in an eerie, dim light as Edwin lay on the cobblestone, his chest heaving as he struggled to rise. His body ached, and the force of the sorcerer's magic had left him drained, barely able to lift his head. The soldiers that had accompanied him lay motionless, their bodies still on the ground. The sorcerer, standing tall above Edwin, raised his staff once more, the dark energy crackling in the air like a death sentence.
Edwin's grip tightened around his sword, but the weight of the magic pressed him down, pinning him to the ground. His mind raced, searching for a way to escape, but there was none. He had failed. The sorcerer's power was beyond anything he had anticipated, and now, there was no one left to help him.
The sorcerer sneered, his eyes glowing brighter with malevolent glee as he prepared to deliver the final blow. "Your family will soon join you in the afterlife," he hissed, dark energy swirling at the tip of his staff. "You cannot stop the corruption."
Just as the deadly magic surged toward Edwin, a blur of movement shot through the mist. The crackle of dark energy was drowned out by the sharp ring of steel, and before Edwin could fully comprehend what had happened, the spell was deflected.
A woman, cloaked in shadow, stood between Edwin and the sorcerer, her blade shimmering as it clashed against the sorcerer's magic. Her eyes glowed faintly in the mist, sharp and intense, but there was something about her presence, something off. She moved with a fluidity and strength that was far beyond that of a human.
"Who…?" Edwin managed to rasp, still dazed from the attack.
The woman didn't turn to face him. Instead, she stood her ground, her blade raised as she faced the sorcerer. "Stay down," she said softly, her voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge of authority. "I'll handle this."
The sorcerer's red eyes narrowed as he took a step back, clearly surprised by the woman's sudden appearance. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice a snarl. "Do you think you can stop me?"
The woman remained silent, her stance unwavering. Then, in a flash of movement, she charged at the sorcerer, her blade moving so quickly that Edwin barely saw it. The sorcerer attempted to counter with his magic, but each of his spells was met with precision, the woman cutting through them as if they were nothing.
In a matter of seconds, she had closed the distance between them. With one swift strike, she knocked the sorcerer's staff from his hand and brought him to his knees. The dark energy dissipated into the air, leaving the town eerily quiet once more.
The sorcerer gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief as the woman pressed her blade to his throat. "Impossible…"
The woman's glowing eyes flickered for a moment before she sheathed her sword. "Your reign of terror ends here," she said simply, stepping back.
Edwin, still stunned, pushed himself to his feet. He stared at the woman, trying to make sense of what had just happened. "Who are you?" he asked again, his voice hoarse.
The woman turned to face him, her features mostly hidden beneath the shadow of her hood. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes softened slightly. "A friend," she said, her voice carrying a note of finality.
Before Edwin could ask more, she stepped away, disappearing into the mist as swiftly as she had arrived.
Meanwhile, back at the Velclair estate, Ryuto stirred awake in his crib, his mind still groggy from sleep. He blinked, trying to shake off the lingering exhaustion, but something immediately felt wrong. As his vision cleared, he realized with a jolt of panic that Celeste was sitting right next to him, watching him intently.
Her eyes were wide and filled with love, a soft smile playing on her lips as she gently stroked his hair. "You're so peaceful when you sleep, Ryuto," she whispered, her voice full of adoration. "I could watch you forever."
Ryuto's heart sank. Not again. He had thought he might get some time to himself while he slept, but no, Celeste was still glued to him. The more her affection points had risen, the more possessive she had become. And now, it seemed like she couldn't even stand to let him sleep without hovering over him.
"I've really made a huge mistake," Ryuto thought, his panic rising. He had been trying to manipulate Celeste's affection to make her more protective, more devoted, but now she was too obsessed. She never left him alone, constantly coddling him to the point where it was becoming impossible to breathe, literally.
He needed to fix this, and fast.
Ryuto subtly shifted in his crib, using the motion to discreetly open his Dating Sim App. His mind raced as he navigated to Celeste's profile, his heart pounding with hope. I'll just lower the affection points. That'll fix it.
But when he tried to decrease the points, an error message appeared:
Error: Affection Points cannot be decreased once they exceed 90.
Ryuto stared at the message, his blood running cold. What?! No, no, no! This can't be happening! He frantically tapped the screen again, trying to reverse the points, but the system wouldn't let him. It was locked. He had pushed Celeste's affection too far, and now, there was no going back.
I'm trapped… he realized, the full weight of his mistake crashing down on him. Celeste had become so obsessed that he couldn't undo what he had done, and now, he had to figure out a way to deal with it.
Celeste leaned closer, her lips brushing his forehead as she planted a soft kiss there. "I love you so much, Ryuto. You're my everything."
Ryuto's heart raced as he tried to keep his panic from showing on his face. He smiled back at her, doing his best to play the role of the adorable baby, but inside, he was screaming.
A few hours later, Edwin returned to the estate, visibly weary from his mission but alive. The sorcerer had been captured, thanks to the mysterious woman who had saved him, and the corruption in New Haven had been halted, at least temporarily.
The family gathered in the grand hall, and Duke Alphonse greeted his son with a mix of relief and curiosity. "Tell me everything," he said, his voice commanding but tinged with concern.
Edwin recounted the events of the battle in the town square, the overwhelming power of the sorcerer, and how two of his men had fallen before the mysterious woman appeared to save him. "She was incredible," Edwin said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Her skill was beyond anything I've seen. She stopped the sorcerer without breaking a sweat."
The Duchess, always intrigued by a good mystery, leaned forward, her eyes bright with curiosity. "And who was this woman? Where did she come from?"
Edwin frowned, his frustration evident. "I don't know. She refused to tell me her name, she only said she was a 'friend.'"
The Duchess's eyes sparkled with excitement. "A mysterious stranger who swoops in to save the day and disappears without a trace? How thrilling! You must find her, Edwin! A woman like that is bound to be fascinating."
As the family continued to discuss the mysterious woman and the captured sorcerer, Ryuto was too distracted to care. His mind was still fixated on his Affection Point disaster, and the system's refusal to let him undo what he had done. He could barely pay attention to the conversation as he struggled to come up with a solution.
Unbeknownst to Ryuto, Nanny Elara had been watching him closely. She had noticed the way his expression flickered when he thought no one was looking, the subtle changes in his demeanor, the small signs that something wasn't quite right. And she had seen the faint glow of his smartphone under his pillow earlier.
Elara was no fool.
As the family continued their conversation, Elara's gaze remained on Ryuto, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. Something was different about him, something she couldn't quite place, but she would find out soon enough.
The Velclair estate grew quiet as the evening settled in. Ryuto, though still playing the part of the quiet, content baby, was inwardly panicking. He could feel Celeste's eyes on him constantly, and every time she held him or cooed over him, he was reminded of the disaster he had caused with the Dating Sim App. No matter how hard he tried to lower her affection points, the system remained locked, trapping him in his own mess.
I need to fix this somehow, he thought, his mind racing as Celeste cradled him in her arms again, stroking his hair lovingly. She kissed his forehead gently, a tender smile on her lips.
"I'll always take care of you, Ryuto," she whispered softly, her breath warm against his skin. "You'll never have to worry about anything."
Ryuto barely suppressed a groan. If he didn't find a way to get her to back off soon, he'd be smothered in more ways than one. Every second of her obsessive attention felt like a ticking clock, counting down to his inevitable breakdown. He couldn't let this continue, not if he wanted to stay sane.
But more than that, Ryuto was starting to worry about something else entirely. Elara. Ever since the meeting in the grand hall, he had caught her staring at him more intently than usual. Her sharp, observant gaze lingered on him whenever she was nearby, and it was becoming harder and harder to ignore.
Does she know? Ryuto wondered, panic stirring in his chest. Has she figured it out? He had been so careful to hide his intelligence, his use of magic, and his abilities with the smartphone, but now, with everything spiraling out of control, he wasn't sure if he could keep up the charade much longer.
Celeste, oblivious to his inner turmoil, continued to coddle him. "You look tired, Ryuto. Maybe it's time for bed?"
Ryuto gave a small, sleepy coo, playing along, though his mind was far from resting. Celeste smiled and gently laid him back into his crib, tucking him in with a soft blanket before leaning down to kiss him on the cheek. "Goodnight, little one," she whispered before quietly leaving the room.
As the door closed behind her, Ryuto's relief was immediate. He finally had a moment alone.
He quickly pulled out his smartphone from under his pillow and opened Giggle Maps. He needed to check on things, to figure out where everyone was and whether Elara was still lurking around. The map loaded, showing the familiar layout of the estate. He could see Celeste moving down the hall, likely heading to her own room, and Duke Alphonse in his study.
But what caught Ryuto's attention most was the glowing dot moving toward his room. It was Elara.
Why is she coming here? Ryuto thought, his heart skipping a beat. The dot moved steadily down the hall, growing closer and closer to his nursery. He barely had time to process what was happening before the dot stopped, right outside his door.
Ryuto froze, his breath caught in his throat. He quickly slipped his phone back under his pillow and pulled the blanket up to his chin, pretending to sleep.
A moment later, the door creaked open.
Elara stepped quietly into the nursery, her movements soft but deliberate. Ryuto, his heart racing, kept his eyes closed, hoping she would simply check on him and leave. But something felt off. He could hear the click of the door's lock as she shut it behind her.
Her footsteps approached the crib, slow and measured, until she was standing directly over him. Ryuto remained still, forcing his breathing to stay steady, though his mind was a whirlwind of panic.
"Master Ryuto," Elara's voice broke the silence, low and calm. "You can stop pretending now. I know."
Ryuto's blood ran cold.
He kept his eyes shut, feigning the peaceful sleep of an infant, but Elara wasn't fooled. She leaned down, her voice soft but with an edge that sent shivers down his spine. "I know you're not what you seem," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "You can drop the act."
She knows! Ryuto's heart pounded in his chest, but he couldn't let her see his panic. He needed to maintain his cover. Desperately, he let out a soft babble, turning his head slightly as if he were simply shifting in his sleep.
Elara straightened up, and for a moment, Ryuto thought she might drop it. But then her voice came again, more insistent this time. "Don't play games with me, child. I know what you are."
Ryuto's panic reached its peak. There was no more pretending. He opened his eyes, staring up at Elara, his mind scrambling for an explanation, for something to say that would throw her off. But the look in her eyes told him there was no escape from this.
"I've been watching you," she said, her tone cold but calm. "You're no ordinary baby. The way you look at things, the way you react, I've seen it. You're… different."
Ryuto, realizing he was caught, clenched his tiny fists under the blanket. He didn't have a choice anymore.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ryuto said quietly, his voice coming out small but clear, the words unmistakable.
Elara's eyes widened slightly at the sound of his voice, and then a slow, chilling smile spread across her face. "I knew it," she whispered, almost triumphantly. "I knew I wasn't imagining things."
Ryuto swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice low but steady.
Elara's smile grew wider. "Oh, it's not about what I want," she said, reaching into the folds of her apron. "It's about what must be done."
And then Ryuto saw it, a sharp knife gleaming in her hand.
His blood turned to ice. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice shaking now as his panic surged.
Elara's eyes gleamed with a cold, determined light as she stepped closer to the crib. "You've been sent to this world for a reason, haven't you?" she whispered, her voice taking on an almost reverent tone. "The cult knows. They've been watching for someone like you, a child with power, destined to take on the Demon King. You're the one they fear. And that means… you must die."
Ryuto's breath caught in his throat. The cult knew about him? They knew he wasn't an ordinary child, that he was the one sent to defeat the Demon King? This was worse than he had imagined.
Elara raised the knife high, her eyes burning with a fanatical gleam. "It must be done."
Panic surged through Ryuto. He didn't have time to think, to plan. Instinctively, he threw up his hands, releasing a burst of light magic from his palms. The magic flared to life, blinding Elara momentarily and sending her stumbling back with a cry of surprise.
The burst of light was enough to give him a moment of breathing room, but Ryuto's heart was pounding as he realized how close he had just come to being killed. He could hear Elara scrambling to recover, the knife still clutched in her hand.
But then, the door to the nursery flew open with a crash.
Celeste stormed in, her eyes blazing with fury. "What's going on in here?!"
In a matter of seconds, Celeste was on Elara, grabbing her wrist and twisting the knife out of her hand with surprising strength. Elara struggled, but Celeste quickly subdued her, pinning her to the ground.
"Get off me!" Elara hissed, but Celeste held her down with a fierce determination.
Ryuto, still shaken, watched as his sister fought to restrain the maid. His mind was spinning, he had been seconds away from death, and it was only thanks to Celeste's sudden arrival that he was still alive.
"Father!" Celeste called, her voice echoing down the halls. "Father, get in here!"
Within moments, the sound of heavy footsteps filled the hallway, and Duke Alphonse appeared in the doorway, his face pale with shock and anger. His eyes flicked between Ryuto, the knife on the floor, and the struggling Elara, and his expression darkened with fury.
"What is the meaning of this?!" he roared, storming into the room.
Celeste didn't hesitate. "She tried to kill Ryuto," she said, her voice tight with anger. "She's part of some cult. She was going to, "
"I know what she was going to do," Alphonse growled, his gaze hardening as he looked down at Elara. Without another word, he grabbed the maid by the arm and dragged her to her feet.
"You'll answer for this," Alphonse snarled, his eyes blazing. "You'll tell me everything."
As Alphonse dragged Elara away, Ryuto sat in his crib, still shaken by what had just happened. The cult knew about him. They knew he was destined to fight the Demon King.
As Duke Alphonse hauled Elara from the nursery, her cries of protest echoed through the halls, growing more distant with each passing second. The heavy slam of the door as Alphonse took her to the dungeon sent a final shudder through the room, leaving only the silence of Celeste's heavy breathing and Ryuto's rapid heartbeats.
Celeste remained by Ryuto's crib, her hands still shaking from the struggle. Her normally gentle face was twisted with anger and fear as she looked down at her baby brother. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Ryuto," she said, her voice shaking but filled with fierce determination. "Not her, not anyone."
Ryuto, still stunned, managed to coo softly, playing the part of the innocent baby despite the turmoil raging inside him. In truth, his mind was racing. The cult knew who he was. They had sent Elara, someone who had been a trusted part of the household, to kill him. That realization left him reeling.
I'm not just some reincarnated guy with powers, he thought, his tiny fists clenching beneath the blanket. I'm the chosen one, their enemy.
As much as he had joked in his mind about dominating the world and gaining power, the idea that there were forces out there actively trying to kill him had felt distant. Now, the threat was real. The Demon King's cult had eyes on him, and they wanted him dead.
Celeste remained by his side for the rest of the night, her protective instincts now fully ignited after the assassination attempt. She sat in the room, her eyes glued to him as if she feared someone else might come through the door next.
Ryuto, for once, was grateful for her presence. As much as her obsessive affection had driven him crazy in recent days, right now, he needed her nearby. His heart was still racing from the near-death experience, and his mind was grappling with what it all meant.
Down in the dungeon, Duke Alphonse threw Elara into a cold, stone cell, his face etched with fury. "You'll tell me who you're working for," he snarled. "Or you'll face something far worse than the dungeons of this house."
Elara, bruised from the struggle and clearly shaken, still managed to give him a defiant glare. "You don't understand," she hissed, her voice filled with conviction. "The boy is a threat. He's the one who will bring destruction if he lives."
Alphonse's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"The prophecy!" Elara spat. "The one who will stand against the Demon King! He's not a normal child. You've all been blind, but the cult has known. He must die before he grows into his power!"
Alphonse's fists clenched at his sides, but he didn't show the shock that ran through him. "You think I'll let you kill my son because of some prophecy?"
Elara smiled darkly. "You won't stop what's coming. The corruption you're fighting, this is just the beginning. If you keep him alive, you're dooming us all."
Alphonse said nothing, his mind racing as he processed what she had said. He gave her one last cold glare before turning on his heel and locking the cell door behind him. "We'll see about that."
He stormed back up to the estate, his face a mask of fury, but inwardly, he was deeply troubled. He had known that something about Ryuto was different, he had seen the odd things his son could do. But a chosen one? A prophecy? And now this cult?
If they think they can take him from me, they're wrong. He was determined to get to the bottom of it, no matter the cost.
Back in the nursery, Ryuto had finally drifted off into a light sleep. But even in his sleep, his mind was plagued by what had happened.
In his dreams, he saw visions of shadowy figures, their faces obscured by dark hoods, whispering about him, about the Demon King, about his destiny. He saw the world crumbling under the weight of dark magic, entire cities falling to corruption, and at the center of it all was him, standing against the tide of destruction.
He woke with a start, his tiny body trembling with the remnants of fear from his dreams.
They want me dead because I'm the one who's supposed to fight the Demon King. The thought made him shudder. He had never asked for this, never wanted to be part of some prophecy. He just wanted to live in peace, to use his powers for his own benefit, maybe even build that harem of monster girls he had dreamed of.
But this was bigger than him now. The cult wanted him dead because they feared what he could become, and if he didn't get stronger, if he didn't figure out how to control his magic and protect himself, they might succeed next time.
His heart raced again as another realization hit him like a punch to the gut: Celeste. She had no idea what was happening, and yet she was caught up in it, protecting him without even knowing the full story. And with her current level of affection, she would keep putting herself in danger for him.
I have to fix this, Ryuto thought desperately. I need to find a way to lower her affection, to stop her from getting hurt because of me.
But no matter how many times he opened the Dating Sim App, the system still refused to let him lower her points. The error message flashed every time, mocking him with his mistake.
He was trapped. Trapped by his own manipulation.
"Me? The chosen one? Shiii…I signed up for hot babes and the fame, not the killer maids and terrifying monsters. This sucks!"