"The situation is more serious than expected."
"...What do you mean?"
"The young lady's condition is worse than the future I observed. The next couple of months will be our last chance to treat her."
There were always discrepancies in the futures I saw in childhood. Major changes like the scenario's protagonist changing, minor ones like the baker being different. Belladia Herington's condition was also worse than the future I had seen.
"So."
The Iron Mace Count spoke with a boiling voice, while grabbing the handle of the iron mace at his waist.
"What illness is my daughter suffering from?"
"The young lady is healthy."
"Then whose curse has she received?"
"It's not a curse either. It's her innate nature."
"Then I should petition the celestial gods to correct her nature. Which god should I offer tributes to, and how much, to fix my daughter's nature?"
The Iron Mace Count was so desperate that he didn't want to accept the reality before him. That's why he kept calling magicians. Even though there were no results.
"Even dedicating your county to the temple would not be enough."
"..."
The magicians who came before must have known there was no way to cure the madness. Yet they would have fabricated nonexistent hope. Because the count needed hope. Even if it was fake.
"The killing instinct is a nature engraved in the young lady's soul. Changing a soul is a difficult task even for gods. It's not a blessing that ordinary mortals can receive by offering sacrifices."
Despair settled on the count's wrinkled face, and Tellorian summoned a tobacco pipe from subspace. It was a trophy taken from his master who had tried to kill him. That was the maximum deviation he could allow himself. As a modern person.
"...But you said you could cure her?"
"I can cure her. However, the complete cure that you wish for is impossible."
The Iron Mace Count wants his daughter's [Killing Instinct] to disappear. Because he thinks that's the only way she can live a happy life.
"...Then is another form of treatment possible?"
"The young lady will live with instincts different from others. But she can learn methods to hide those instincts. The so-called socialization process."
Vampires are monsters hungry for blood. However, if they can act like humans, they live mixed into society. Belladia Herington can do that too.
"...You're saying my daughter will do such things for life?"
"..."
The Iron Mace Count sobbed while looking at the prisoners' corpses. Skulls were opened and hearts were ripped out. The male prisoners, in particular, met especially sadistic deaths.
"Are you saying I gave birth to such a monster?!"
"..."
"I know I'm a sinner too! I've personally killed hundreds, and those who suffered from the wars I started must number at least hundreds of thousands..."
The Iron Mace Count had committed every evil deed an ordinary person could imagine. Like most nobles.
"But... but this is different!"
She enjoyed it.
Killing people.
Did it purely because it was fun.
"I lived my whole life on battlefields but only showed my daughter a gentle world! So why did she grow up more vicious than orphans from the battlefield?! How does that make any sense?!"
At the count's grief-stricken cry, Tellorian exhaled smoke from his pipe. In truth, he too had harbored similar questions since childhood. Why did his modern soul remain even after being reborn in a new world? It was just painful memories that hindered adaptation to the new world.
"First, I offer my sincere condolences for the pain you're experiencing, Count. But I imagine you want solutions more than comfort."
Whoosh.
Thick tobacco smoke fills the prison.
"Since you've shown me your true feelings, I'll give you a direct answer. In truth, I experienced similar issues to the young lady."
The lord's eyes wavered. The Tellorian the count saw was an intellectual and cold-headed magician. Yet he had suffered from cruel instincts?
"However, the direction of the problem was opposite."
"...Continue."
"I have a nature that avoids killing."
A serious flaw.
At least in this place.
"Moreover, I avoid causing pain to others. In Heartland terms, I was born with an unmanly nature."
The modern education system brainwashes to castrate wildness. That's why I still have great difficulty giving in to primal impulses. Because it's engraved in my soul that such actions are not right.
"But now killing is not difficult, and if absolutely necessary, I can massacre people I've never met. I've learned methods to act against my nature."
Even someone with a modern soul adapted to the medieval land. Then it should be possible for someone with a monster's soul to adapt to the medieval land.
"Since I've done it, I can teach the young lady. Please trust me and leave it to me, my lord."
==
I was unusual from birth. First, I became aware of memories of being a gamer from another dimension as soon as I was born. Thanks to that, I can see the future.
Another peculiarity is my insight that pierces through essence. The essence of things can be expressed in various forms, but my preferred method is having letters from my previous life appear before my eyes.
'I named this the Status Window Method.'
The [Status Window Method] is less accurate in information compared to magicians' traditional verbose style. After all, the essence of things is a very complex subject that remains difficult even when described over several pages using technical terms.
'But the intuitiveness is excellent.'
Intuitiveness.
Simplicity.
Irreplaceable.
──────────────
◆Wanderer Tellorian
Lv10 Loremaster, Human Male
— Flame Lore
■Stats
■Traits
■Class Abilities
■Spell List
■Research Topics
— Path of the Flame Mage [Completed]
— Path of the Enchanter [New]
──────────────
Select.
Path of the Enchanter.
──────────────
■Path of the Enchanter
: The minds of intelligent beings are always fascinating research subjects. Discover and study new specimens. You shall gain the power to dominate minds!
◆Research Topics
1.On Human Nature
1-1. Subject 1. Wanderer Tellorian [In Progress]
1-2. Subject 2. Helen and Adler [Completed]
1-3. Subject 3. Witch Salacien [Completed]
1-4. Subject 4. Belladia Herington [New]
■Rewards
— Gain experience while conducting research.
— Acquire unique spells upon completion.
— Special rewards given for each subject score. Next reward is [Mind Control].
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Belladia Herington is a human born with a monster's soul. If I uncover the secrets of her nature, I'll acquire new magic.
"Yap! Yap!"
"Eek! Eek! Eeek!"
"The screams are weak. Not this one..."
"Kyeeeeek!"
"Ah. Here it is!"
A doll-like beautiful teenage girl giggled while dissecting a live rabbit. Like mischievous boys playing with Legos.
"Squeak!"
"Oh. It broke early."
"..."
"Nanny. A new one."
"Here it is..."
Week 1 was observation week. The subject revealed her nature while handling animals like toys. Though uncomfortable, I am a magician. I've been trained to exclude observer subjectivity and pursue objectivity.
"Did you have fun this week?"
"Yes! Teacher!"
The subject answered with a bright smile. I'm not sure what's fun, but there's no need to fully understand the subject's psychology. Just observe and interpret.
"Life must be happy."
"That's right!"
Belladia licked her blood-covered lips while examining me carefully. She was constantly trying to reconfirm our hierarchy. So I released powerful magical energy to reaffirm the difference in strength.
"..."
At this, the subject showed an uncomfortable smile. Her intention to cloud my judgment was evident as she subtly unbuttoned her top. But when I showed no interest in her body, she closed her collar with a disappointed expression. Perhaps that's how a hunter looks when prey passes by bait set in a trap.
[Research clue acquired!]
[1/5]
[Experience +10]
[20/100 until level 11]
"Sit down, Belladia."
"...Yes."
The subject sat down demurely after washing and changing clothes. It was the first lesson of week 2.
"Belladia. Do you want to live long?"
"Of course."
"You'll certainly die young living like this."
"...I won't defy you, teacher."
"Even if I don't kill you, you'll certainly die young. If you want to live long, you must become clever."
I had no intention of forcing a normal life on the subject. Just as I can't enjoy the pleasure of plunder, she won't be able to enjoy the peace of daily life.
"You said you wouldn't try to fix me."
"There's no need to change your instincts or completely hide them. Instead, you need to learn in what situations you can reveal your instincts. For your own sake."
The subject was a clever student. She understood the lesson content at once, so explanations didn't need to be repeated.
"...You're not saying I did wrong?"
"You're just living according to your innate nature. What changes by judging right and wrong in such behavior? I dislike meaningless actions."
Belladia is clearly evil. Moreover, she's extremely evil, inherently incapable of learning good. Such extreme evil tendencies are extremely rare in humans.
"Most humans are born with [grey] souls. Therefore, they commit evil when experiencing evil and do good when learning good. They become militant when learning martial arts, intellectual when learning scholarship."
That is the characteristic of the human species called [Adaptability]. They can't become extremely good or evil, complete order or chaos. However, they excel at the ability to transform quickly according to circumstances.
"But you were born with a crimson soul. So you live with aggression, bloodlust, and lust always maximized. You can't help being different."
Standard humans also show crimson desires at times, but they're only stimulated in specific situations. In contrast, the subject can be described as always suffering from crimson desires.
"But there have been those among humans whose entire souls were dyed crimson like you. War maniacs, massacrers, perverts. That's the path you must take."
[Acquired lore about souls!]
[Gained 2 lore points!]
[Experience +20]
[40/100 until next level]
[Lore Points: 2]
In the process of teaching others, one revisits their own learning. Particularly many realizations come when converting [settings] into [knowledge].
"...They're all madmen or villains, aren't they?"
"But they were excellent rulers."
"..."
"This is possible because you were born as the successor to the count's family. A ruler can be praised as a wise ruler even with a crimson soul as long as they protect their own pack."
I tell stories about the most legendary ruler-kings of the continent. Conqueror Zaherion who waged war on each child's birthday. Charlemagne who opened the age of humans by massacring other races. Warrior King Halfdan who couldn't sleep without married women.
"They were all men."
"Gender doesn't matter. Queen Berusiel made all her ugly vassals into cat food, but she became a wise ruler of her age by keeping her people well-fed. In other words, while you can't live as a good person, you can live as an excellent ruler."
[Acquired historical lore!]
[Gained 2 lore points]
[Experience +20]
[60/100 until level 11]
[Lore Points: 4]
"For that, you must distinguish between the [pack] you must protect and the [enemies] you can devour. You'll also need to practice controlling your hunger when necessary."
Until week 2, I taught about the necessity of suppressing killing instincts. I kept supplying live animals too. To maintain focus on lessons.
"From this week, we'll limit the food amount."
"..."
"Let's see if you can endure."
"...I'll try."
From week 3, I limited the number of live animals provided. The subject showed violent behavior, and her lesson attitude became rebellious.
"But you didn't cross the final line."
"...It was hard."
"Congratulations. Feast to your heart's content today."
"...Thank you, teacher."
[Research clue acquired!]
[2/5 until research completion]
[Experience +20]
[80/100 until level 11]
From week 4, we practiced controlling hunger in front of people. Acquiring teaching materials wasn't a problem. Bandits were scattered across the wasteland.
"Die! Die! Die!"
"Please don't do this—Aaargh!"
"...Failed again today."
Experiment week 6. The subject now successfully suppresses her killing instinct even with small, weak animals in front of her. But she still struggles with people. In-depth research is needed to breakthrough this obstacle.
"How are people different from animals?"
"People look much more appetizing."
"Appetizing?"
"The screams they make while feeling pain are much more vivid with people. Especially the thrilling sight of a handsome face contorting, it feels like..."
[Research clue acquired!]
[3/5 until research completion]
[Experience +20!]
[Level up!]
[0/100 until level 12]
An interim assessment is needed.
Researching such a subject is maddening.
[Select level up ability.]
Right.
Let's level up first.