Chapter 10

“Frey, are you there?”

“…Kania, go open the door.”

“…Yes.”

When the promised weekend arrived, Isollet came to my dormitory with fire in her eyes.

By the way, the past few days had been rather uneventful, just ordinary days.

A saint blessed with a grace that could fold even a decent superhuman in half kept trying to kidnap me to the cathedral, causing my ‘villain’s intuition’ to activate pointlessly, making me live in constant fear.

Or, I would tremble in fear as I heard Irena repeatedly mutter the ultimate curse she had created in the previous episode behind my back.

Or, I would pretend to smile stupidly while the princess gave me a cold smile, breaking out in cold sweat.

Or, after sharing my life force with Kania, playing with a soft cat doll had become a daily routine. One day, I tried to take the cat from Kania, who had started hugging it to sleep, and was startled when she squirmed.

Thinking about it, quite a few things had happened.

Still, since I didn’t die, I guess it’s all good, right?

“Welcome, Miss Isollet.”

“Kania? Why are you…?”

“I am currently residing in this room as the young master’s servant.”

Isollet, who had been staring at Kania, who opened the door instead of me, with wide eyes, glared at me fiercely after Kania finished explaining.

“Frey, are you in your right mind…?”

“…What?”

“Putting a woman… in the same room… what a shameless act…!”

Isollet, her face turning bright red, started to tremble and raise her voice.

Indeed, Isollet is quite vulnerable in such situations.

Having only trained in martial arts in the strict Barwork family, she is a naive and inexperienced maiden, with her unique conservative nature and rigid, hard-to-approach demeanor.

Isollet herself is aware that she is well past marriageable age, which makes her react quite sensitively whenever such topics come up.

“…Kids these days are so fast, sis.”

“W, wha…!”

“Why? You should try it too, sis? Otherwise, you’ll end up an old maid?”

“………..!”

Her face turned even redder at my words, and she froze upon hearing the term ‘old maid.’

‘…Could she have died of a heart attack?’

Panicked, I quickly used the information search skill to check her status and let out a sigh of relief.

She had a ‘mental shock’ debuff, but she was still alive.

‘…Even the system is confirming the kill.’

As I mourned Isollet, who had become a recognized old maid risk by the system, Kania, who had been making a displeased face, spoke up.

“…It’s a joke from the young master. I am not in that kind of relationship with him.”

“Kania, what are you saying right now…”

I was about to scold her out of habit when I froze, seeing the information window that appeared before my eyes.

“…Young master?”

“Kania, last night was really good.”

“…Stop it.”

Kania, who had been looking at me with a puzzled expression, pushed me away with a disgusted look as I wrapped my arm around her waist and changed my expression to a sly one.

“………..”

I tried to wrap my arm around her again, glaring at her, but I noticed Isollet’s expression, which looked like she was about to draw her sword and strike me, and quietly hid my arm behind my back.

“Anyway, why are you here? Sis?”

“…Do you not know?”

“Oh, right. We were going to the back alley, weren’t we?”

“…Hurry up and get ready. We’re leaving right now.”

She left the room with a slightly flushed face after saying that.

“……….”

“…Kania.”

After confirming that she had left the room, I started to glare at Kania coldly.

“…Yes.”

“Just now, you pushed me away?”

“………..”

“…Answer me.”

As I approached her with a cold expression, Kania bowed her head and spoke.

“I’m sorry, Master… I lost my composure for a moment… Gah!”

Before she could finish, I pushed her onto the bed and climbed on top of her, whispering.

“…Lately, you’ve been getting closer, Kania?”

“Y, Young master…! Stop it…!”

“Why? Try pushing me away like you did just now. If you don’t, I’ll take it as a sign that you like it.”

“Ugh…!”

Kania, whose face had turned pale, started to push me away, but her weak strength was no match for my robust build.

“Yeah… you like it, don’t you?”

“N, no! Nooo!!”

As I grabbed her collar with a lecherous look, she started hitting me with her fists.

“…Where?”

“…Eek!”

I let her hit me for a moment, then grabbed both her wrists and pinned her down, whispering again.

“…I can do this to you whenever I want.”

“…..!”

“Because you are my possession. Not a maid or a servant, but just an object I can do whatever I want with.”

“A… Ah…”

As I watched her eyes lose their light, I opened my mouth to drive the point home.

“So, don’t get closer. If you do it one more time… it won’t end well… Cough!!”

“…Young master!?”

But then, a large amount of blood started pouring out of my mouth. Unable to cover my mouth in time, I ended up spilling a lot of blood on her clothes and the bed.

“…Cough, cough! Ugh!!”

“What… what is this…”

“…Get out.”

“Huh?”

“Get out!!!!!”

As I shouted, Kania stared at me with wide eyes for a moment before quickly running out of the room.

“Cough, cough! Damn…”

I glared at her retreating figure as I coughed up blood.

“…Phew, I’ve passed this hurdle.”

There was only one reason I did what I just did.

Just now, Kania’s life was in danger.

While checking Isollet’s information, I suddenly looked at Kania and was shocked by the special note that appeared before my eyes.

Her original ‘frail’ status had changed to ‘critical,’ and ‘mana instability’ had turned into ‘mana surge.’

She seemed fine because the ‘mana surge’ had just started. As time passed, the mana would start to reverse and flow back into her body.

If that happened, the subject would feel the pain of being torn apart, go insane, or die. Even if they survived by some miracle, they would likely live the rest of their life with disabilities.

Given this emergency, I had no choice but to act as if I was overpowering her, maximizing the contact area to share my life force with her.

‘…But why did Kania suddenly experience a mana surge?’

I had been pouring my life force into her every night… why did she experience a mana surge? I couldn’t understand it.

‘Could she be secretly using dark magic?’

If she had been using dark magic without my help, the mana surge would make sense. I would need to investigate what she’s been up to.

After finishing my thoughts, I realized that I had spilled a lot of blood on the bedsheet in front of her.

She would definitely ask about today’s events soon… how should I answer?

‘…Should I just say I have heart disease? No, that didn’t happen in the previous episode… then, should I say it’s a side effect of that brooch?’

Lost in thought, I remembered that Isollet was waiting for me and quickly changed my clothes.

It seems like the things I have to think about keep piling up.

.

“Frey, where are we going now?”

“Huh? Of course, we’re going to the back alley, right?”

I am now walking through the market alley with Isollet, both of us wearing black robes.

By the way, Isollet is so tense about going to the dangerous back alley that she’s wearing armor under her clothes and tightly gripping the family’s sword, keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings.

However, the back alley isn’t as dangerous as she thinks. Although it’s known that severe punishments are given if caught, the rules are rarely enforced, making it no different from a typical pleasure district.

Of course, there are a few genuinely dangerous spots, but not many.

“H-Help… Help me…”

“My body… My body hurts…”

“P-Please, even a piece of bread… would be fine…”

As we walked quietly through the market alley, beggars started to gather around us.

“…Ah.”

Seeing this, Isollet’s expression turned sad. Most of the beggars were children.

This situation arose because our empire is corrupt.

The nobles only care about their own safety and ignore the common people, leading to inevitable poverty. As a result, parents abandon their children in the middle of the market to reduce the number of mouths to feed.

These abandoned children beg for days and eventually starve to death.

The next day, their bodies disappear.

When the bodies disappear, the other children don’t beg for a few days. The reason is something that those who know, will know.

This happens frequently throughout the empire. One might ask why the suffering people don’t rise up.

The simple answer is… they will, soon. It will start with the ‘Commoner Dormitory Raid Incident’ at Sunrise Academy.

Of course, the mastermind behind the raid is the Demon King, who is starting to move more actively. However, even without the Demon King, this uprising would have happened eventually.

In this dark fantasy world, as my ancestor once said, it’s like a sardine.

Rebellions, uprisings, droughts, and disasters frequently occur… and in the end, the Demon King, an unbeatable enemy, appears.

Even if I, the protagonist, follow the proper route and awaken the hero’s weapon to defeat the Demon King, it will be too late, and I will be left alone in a destroyed world. What a dark and unreasonable world.

“Please, I beg you… my little brother is sick…”

“…Hmm?”

A ragged but cute little girl started shaking my robe, and I snapped out of my thoughts and looked down.

“Please… just a coin… please…”

“……….”

“I want to give my little brother… at least a piece of bread…”

“My little brother… before he dies from his illness… I want to see him smile… Sniff… Sniff…”

The little girl, who had been shaking my robe, started to cry, overwhelmed by her emotions.

Looking at her, I was about to scold her coldly but then remembered that my face was hidden by the robe and spoke softly.

“…Stop crying.”

“Sniff… Sniff…”

“You’re a good girl.”

I gently stroked the little girl’s head, who had stopped crying and was now sniffing, and glanced at Isollet beside me.

“Please… sir… help our child…”

“Big sister… I’m hungry… please save me…”

“Big sister… please help us…”

“Wait! I’ll distribute the money equally, so form a line!”

Isollet, whose noble sword had been seen by the beggars, was sweating as she dealt with them. The little girl seemed too weak to join the crowd.

‘In this situation… my actions probably won’t be seen…’

After thinking for a moment, I rummaged through my robe and pulled out a pouch of gold coins, placing it in the little girl’s hand.

“…Use this to treat your brother and find a place to live.”

“…Yes, yes!? But…!”

Seeing the pouch full of gold coins, her eyes widened, and she started to speak louder.

“Shh…”

“Mmm… Mmm…”

I quickly covered her mouth, looked around cautiously, and then removed my hand, whispering.

“…What if you get caught?”

“But… it’s too much…”

“…Huh?”

“I have nothing to offer in return… What should I do…? Even when I grow up, I won’t be able to repay you… Mmm!”

After stroking the little girl’s head, who was determined to repay me when she grew up, I whispered again.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to repay me.”

“R-Really…?”

“Yes, but help me for a moment.”

“…Huh?”

“What you’re about to do is worth several times more than this gold.”

After saying this, I whispered something in the little girl’s ear, and she tilted her head in confusion before smiling and saying,

“I don’t know what it is, but I’ll try my best!”

“…Good, when you’re done, take your brother and leave this place immediately.”

After saying this, I pulled out a whip from my robe and started to lash the little girl with all my strength.

“…Ahh!!”

As she let out a weak scream, the beggars and passersby, as well as Isollet, who had been taking money from the beggars, turned to look at us in shock.

“…You lowly thing, how dare you try to pickpocket?”

“I’m sorry!! I won’t do it again… Ahh!!”

“Shut up!! You scum, you deserve to die!”

As I said this, I increased the force of the whip, and her screams grew louder.

‘…Ah, it hurts.’

Of course, this whip, bought from a store in advance, doesn’t cause much pain to the person being hit. The little girl is probably gritting her teeth and enduring the tickling sensation.

“No, don’t!! Stop!!”

As I acted out the method, lashing the little girl, Isollet ran over with fire in her eyes, shielding the little girl and shouting at me.

“Are you in your right mind!? What did this little girl do…”

“She tried to steal my wallet.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to beat a child like this!!!”

Enraged, Isollet laid the little girl on the ground and approached me with a fierce look.

“Alright, I’ll stop. Let’s get going…”

“…You are truly a despicable person. Truly.”

“…You finally realized?”

“I was a fool to trust you. From now on, I won’t worry about you or treat you personally. So, don’t call me ‘sis’ anymore.”

“Do as you please.”

After saying this, she glared at me with a look of contempt for a moment before turning to the little girl.

‘…Is it over?’

I watched her for a moment, then used the ‘Mind Reading’ skill with hope, but…

“…Sigh.”

I sighed deeply, realizing that worry, pity, and compassion still lingered in her emotions.

‘She says she won’t worry… but she’s lying.’

If Isollet continues to ‘worry’ about me… she will be in great danger in the main scenario that will come soon.

That’s why I tried to cut ties this time… but it seems that this overly kind sis is still worried about this unruly me.

“…………”

Seeing the little girl, who was looking at me with a slightly fearful expression while hugging Isollet, I quietly raised my thumb.

“…T-Thank you!”

She quickly separated from Isollet, bowed deeply, and loudly thanked me before disappearing into a secluded alley.

“…Let’s go.”

At the same time, I looked at the notification window that appeared before my eyes and then calmly said to Isollet, who was still glaring at me.

“…Where to?”

When she asked coldly, I pointed to the secluded alley the little girl had entered and replied.

“…To the back alley.”

.

“…Huh, is this really the back alley?”

“Yeah, it is.”

As we entered the back alley, Isollet was momentarily speechless, looking around at the lavish scenery.

I would be surprised too.

Just one block back, children are dying of hunger, but just one block forward, the surroundings are beautifully decorated, and people adorned with jewels are walking around.

However, this is the ridiculous reality of the decaying empire.

“…Do all these people come here through the entrance we used?”

“No, that’s not an entrance. The nobles consider it unclean and only use it as an emergency exit.”

“………..”

“Welcome to the heart of the empire… Professor.”

When I changed the way I addressed her, Isollet frowned and said coldly.

“Lead me to that shop.”

“It’s right in front of us.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t come through that entrance for no reason. I came this way to save time.”

“…Wait here. I’ll take care of it and come back.”

After saying this, she started walking towards the magic item shop.

“Sorry, shopkeeper. Even though I hired you, I’ll keep you from getting bored…”

“Mmm…!”

“…Huh?”

I was silently mourning the quirky shopkeeper, who I had grown fond of, when I suddenly heard a moan