Chapter 10: The Girl Who Absolutely Won’t Forgive a Fall into Darkness
“No, I don’t know anything…! That’s all nonsense!!”
“How pathetic, Duke Letchery, still denying it with irrefutable evidence!”
Despite the damning proof, Duke Letchery refused to admit guilt. It was Prince Sley who raised his voice at him.
The duke’s crimes were undeniable. Rather than being dragged down with him, Sley seemed intent on cutting ties completely.
“You, Sley! Have you forgotten the favor I showed you!?”
“Favor? I owe nothing to a criminal! Lucas, seize this man at once!”
At Prince Sley’s order, Prince Lucas shrugged with a sigh.
“Understood, Brother Sley. Deputy Commander Roan.”
“Yes, sir. You two, restrain Duke Letchery.”
As two knights moved to climb the stage and apprehend the duke—
“—! Your Highness Lucas!”
Lilly shouted Lucas’s name, sensing something. He immediately ordered, “All units, full alert!”
Instantly, the venue’s windows shattered, and multiple figures burst inside.
“What!?”
“Monsters!”
“Why are monsters here!?”
What appeared were stout, bipedal beasts covered in pale gray fur, standing two to three meters tall. They resembled primates like monkeys or gorillas and wielded cutlass-like swords.
What the hell are these!? Monsters…!?
In this world, beyond wild animals, there are creatures called monsters—grotesque beings that typically inhabit dungeons scattered across the continent. Occasionally, they escape and attack people or livestock… but this?
There’s no way this is a coincidence. We’re in the central district of the capital, right under the royal castle’s nose. For monsters to hide here and attack at this exact moment is far too convenient…
“Everyone, gather near the stage!”
Prince Lucas shouted to the gala’s attendees. They scrambled away from the monsters, converging near the stage, while the knights drew their swords and fanned out to protect them.
Ten knights against over thirty monsters—a numerical disadvantage.
But these were the kingdom’s elite knights.
“Tch, what a damn mess,” Roan-san grumbled. “Don’t panic, you lot! Letting even one person die will make this a bigger headache. Protect them with your lives!”
“Got it, Master!”
“Don’t call me Master!”
Amid the banter, Roan-san and Alyssa-san slashed into the monsters simultaneously. Their sword strikes were too fast to follow. Before I knew it, two monster arms holding cutlasses were airborne.
A mere three-to-one numbers gap meant nothing to those two. The monsters charged en masse, but the other knights handled them with ease.
“Deputy Commander Roan! More are coming—twenty-three of them!”
“Got it, Puridy’s little lady! You heard her, Alyssa, move it!”
“Yes, sir!”
Roan-san and Alyssa-san ramped up their extermination speed, and, as Lilly predicted, more monsters crashed through the windows.
Trying to overwhelm us with numbers…!
“Eeeek!”
A pathetic scream came from behind. Turning, I saw Duke Letchery leap off the stage, landing clumsily with a “Bweh!” like a squashed frog. He scrambled up and ran toward the monsters.
“Duke Letchery!? Get back, are you trying to die!?”
Ignoring Prince Sley’s shout, the duke darted past the monsters.
“What—!”
Everyone thought the monsters would cut him down. But, defying expectations, they let him pass and charged at us.
“Hugh, after him! We can’t let Duke Letchery escape!”
“…! Hold on tight!”
Still carrying Lilly, I chased after the duke. But multiple monsters blocked our path, as if deliberately hindering us.
“Damn it…”
Fighting while holding Lilly was impossible. Should I trust the 〈Ninja〉 skill’s 〈Body Enhancement〉 and leap past them in one go…?
“Run, Hugh!”
“Leave this to us!”
The heads of the blocking monsters were sliced off in an instant. Roan-san and Alyssa-san had cleared the way.
“Thank you!”
I shouted my thanks and dashed through the monsters.
We’d planned for the possibility of someone interfering with capturing the duke—perhaps Sley’s supporters or the duke’s private soldiers.
Chasing the fleeing duke was Lilly’s and my role. We’d also considered the possibility of needing to escape ourselves, which is why I’d been carrying her all along…
But dodging a monster attack to chase the duke? That was beyond our expectations.
There was no sign of the duke in the corridor just outside the venue.
“Lilly, which way!?”
“Right!”
Lilly’s 〈Strategist〉 skill allowed her to view her surroundings from a bird’s-eye perspective, distinguishing friend from foe within a 1,500-meter radius. Even if we lost sight of him, she could track him.
No wonder she was the top student—her skill was powerful. Its only drawback was losing normal vision when using the overhead view, but that wasn’t an issue with me carrying her.
“Turn left at the next corner and go up to the second floor!”
“Got it!”
I followed Lilly’s navigation through the mansion.
“Those monsters earlier—what were they? It almost seemed like Duke Letchery was controlling them…”
“Who knows… They clearly tried to stop us from chasing him. Does the duke have a skill to control monsters…?”
“He claimed it was 〈Body Enhancement〉. At dinner, he boasted it was useful for… nighttime activities.”
“That’s the worst topic choice ever.”
“—! Stop!”
I screeched to a halt at Lilly’s command, just as we reached a windowed corridor on the second floor.
Immediately, two primate-like monsters with cutlasses crashed through the window in front of us.
Only two, but in this narrow corridor, slipping past would be tough.
“Lilly, any detours…?”
“We can backtrack to the first floor via the stairs…”
As I glanced back, another monster appeared through the window right by the stairs.
“It’s like they’re reading our moves. Am I imagining it…?”
“…And my skill couldn’t detect them until they were close. That’s a first.”
Even Lilly’s skill couldn’t sense them… For a moment, I thought of the robed figure dealing with the duke, but there was no time to dwell on it.
What now…? Set Lilly down and fight with 〈Ninja〉’s 〈Martial Arts〉?
…No, three against one is too much. They might target Lilly while I’m busy.
Escaping outside could work, but…
“Huh?”
Lilly let out a puzzled sound. Following her gaze, I saw someone charging a monster from the bottom of the stairs.
With a single, unexpected swing, the man felled the monster, swept his hair back, and flashed a bright smile.
“Be grateful, Hugh Pnocis! I, Idiot Hortness, am here to aid you!”
“Idiot!?”
“Why are you here…?”
Shaking the blood off his cutlass, Idiot approached us.
“A foolish question, Lilly Puridy. If anything happened to you, Lady Lecty would be heartbroken.”
Saying that, Idiot moved past us, facing the two monsters with his cutlass raised.
“I, Idiot Hortness, will handle this! In the name of my 〈Guardian〉 skill, I’ll protect your backs. Go, with no worries!”
“…! Don’t die, Idiot!”
“Hah! Who do you think I am? I’m Idiot Hor—”
“We owe you, Idiot!”
Leaving the monsters to Idiot, we backtracked to the stairs and headed for a detour.
Fortunately, no more monsters attacked, and we reached the room on the second floor where Duke Letchery had fled.
If my memory’s correct, this is the study from yesterday.
“Duke Letchery!”
Setting Lilly down, I stepped into the room. The duke was kneeling before a small safe-like door, frantically stuffing gold coins into a bag. How much of that was earned by selling off the kingdom’s people?
“It’s over, Duke Letchery. You can’t escape. Surrender quietly.”
“Lilly Puridy…! You’ve ruined everything, you harlot!!”
“…!”
Facing the duke’s furious shouts and hateful glare, Lilly flinched, shrinking back. I stepped forward to shield her, confronting Duke Letchery.
“Who are you!? Here to capture me too, eh? Seduced by that harlot behind you, you young fool!?”
“Duke Letchery, you’ll pay for your crimes.”
“Pay for my crimes? Fool! A duke like me has no crimes to atone for! Lucas and Sley are idiots. Those two scraps of paper are your only evidence? I’ll crush them with this gold!”
With that, Duke Letchery hurled gold coins at us. Likely using his 〈Body Enhancement〉 skill, the coins came flying with considerable speed, but they wouldn’t hurt even if they hit. I knocked down only the ones aimed at Lilly.
“Go on, pick them up! Want more? Then grab that harlot behind you! Acting so high and mighty for a virgin! I’ll make her a woman right now! Go on, seize her—”
“Shut up, you filthy bastard…!”
Clenching my fist with all my strength, I smashed it into Duke Letchery’s face. I’d never punched anyone before, but the full-force straight, aided by the 〈Ninja〉 skill’s 〈Martial Arts〉, shattered his nose and front teeth.
“Guh, aaarghhh!?”
Blood gushing from his nose and mouth, Duke Letchery writhed on the floor. I followed with a full-force kick to his rear, sending him crashing through the glass door to the balcony, where he collapsed face-down and stopped moving.
I might’ve hit and kicked him too hard… He’s not dead, right? …No, my 〈Ninja〉 skill’s enhanced hearing picked up his heartbeat. He’s just unconscious.
“Is it… over?”
“Yeah, it’s over.”
I answered Lilly, who stared in shock at the fallen duke.
The monsters attacking the gala were likely being dealt with by Roan-san and Alyssa-san by now, assuming no more reinforcements arrived. Idiot should handle his side too. Those opponents weren’t strong enough to beat him.
“Good…” Lilly started to say, but then—
“Lilly!”
She swayed, and I hurriedly caught her. She murmured, “Sorry,” leaning into my chest.
“Once I felt safe, it’s like all my strength left me. I’ll move soon.”
“No, it’s fine. Stay as long as you’re okay with it.”
I wrapped an arm around her back, holding her steady. She seemed like she’d collapse without support. If she needed rest, lying down somewhere would be better.
“…Idiot. Why are you so kind?”
“Lilly?”
“Because you’re so kind, because you care so much about me! I’m supposed to be strong! I’m supposed to be a perfect lady like Mother!”
Lilly gripped the hem of my tailcoat, pressing her face into it. The sobs I heard weren’t my imagination…
—I’ll do my best to be someone you can cry to without fear.
Ten years ago, at our parting, I think I said something like that. This moment might count as achieving that goal. I’d become someone Lilly trusted enough to let her guard down with. That felt incredibly rewarding and something to be proud of.
But faced with her tears, I didn’t know what to do.
Uh… For now, I’d try to put into words what I wanted to say to her. To the girl who kept up a brave front through pain, who fought desperately against an unfair fate.
My heartfelt appreciation.
“Good job, Lilly. You did great.”
“Ugh… kuh… ahh…!”
As Lilly began to sob openly, I held her gently. I wanted to keep supporting her until she stopped crying naturally.
But it seemed we didn’t have that luxury.
“You damned brats…!”
Beyond the shattered glass door, on the balcony, the bloodied Duke Letchery staggered to his feet, clutching the familiar vial of pale pink liquid.
Damn it, I noticed too late…!
The duke uncorked the vial and downed its contents in an instant.
“Guh!? What… this wasn’t—gah!”
The vial slipped from his hand, shattering with a crash. His face contorted, and he clutched his chest, doubling over.
He’s in pain…!? Lucas said it was probably just an aphrodisiac or stamina potion, but this doesn’t look trivial…!
“Poison…!?”
“No way he’d commit suicide…! Be careful, Lilly. Something’s off…!”
My senses, enhanced by the 〈Ninja〉 skill, screamed of danger. The duke’s body began visibly swelling.
His fingernails lengthened and blackened, primate-like fur spread across his body, and his once-portly frame grew three times larger with unnaturally developed muscles.
“No way… A human turning into a monster…?”
The transformed Duke Letchery resembled the monsters that attacked the gala, only about twice as large.
That liquid he drank—it turned people into monsters!? If so, the monsters we faced earlier…!
“GUGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”
An ear-splitting roar echoed. My enhanced hearing from the 〈Ninja〉 skill nearly made me pass out, but I held on, grabbing Lilly and leaping back as the transformed duke charged.
The furry giant barreled through where we’d stood, crashing into the wall with a sound like an explosion. The building shook, debris and dust raining down.
No time to feel relieved about dodging. I readjusted my hold on Lilly and ran for the balcony, the monster—once Duke Letchery—hot on our heels.
“I’m jumping! Hold tight!”
“Jumping—!? Kyah!?”
I vaulted over the balcony railing, leaping outside. Landing and turning, I saw the duke jump after us.
The giant, ape-like monster soared over our heads, landing to block our escape. It grinned menacingly.
Was it conscious, or was this the instinct of a predator cornering prey? Either way, it was relentlessly targeting us.
“Let’s escape, Hugh! If we get back to the venue, Deputy Commander Roan and Alyssa-sensei are there. They can take down this monster…!”
“I’d love to, but the problem is how to escape…”
The duke’s original 〈Body Enhancement〉 skill was likely active. This monster’s movements were far faster than the others. Even with my Lv. Max 〈Ninja〉 skill, outrunning it while carrying Lilly in a straight sprint would be tough.
Fighting head-on wasn’t an option either. The 〈Ninja〉 skill specialized in stealth, with 〈Body Enhancement〉 and 〈Martial Arts〉 as mere bonuses—not enough to face a giant monster directly.
If Roan-san, Alyssa-san, or even Idiot could take its attacks head-on, we’d have a chance…
“Lilly, any chance of reinforcements…?”
“…No good. The venue is still fighting monsters. Idiot’s taken down one and is battling another.”
“I see…”
No backup, then.
That means I have to deal with this thing that was Duke Letchery. It’s probably not that difficult.
…It just requires resolve.
“Lilly, wait here for a moment.”
“Hugh…?”
“…I’ll end this quickly.”
I set Lilly down from the princess carry and faced the beast that was once Duke Letchery. The giant ape grinned ferociously, breathing heavily as if ready to pounce.
I’d reveal this power to Lilly.
Suppressing my fear, I said,
“〈Brainwashing〉 Release.”
Using the hand mirror from my tailcoat pocket, I released my own 〈Brainwashing〉.
And then,
“Skill 〈Brainwashing〉.”
—The 〈Brainwashing〉 skill effortlessly dominated the monster that was Duke Letchery.
Confirming the 〈Brainwashing Active〉 text above its head, I exhaled. This was my first time using the skill on a monster.
The skill’s status description read:
Skill: Brainwashing Lv. 1 … Manipulates the target you make eye contact with at will (max targets: 1)
Since it didn’t specify humans, I figured it’d work on monsters, but I was nervous. If it hadn’t, I’d be dead…
“Can you understand me, Duke Letchery?”
“…”
The ape-monster showed no reaction.
“Who gave you that drug? Raise your right hand if it was a man, left if it was a woman.”
“…”
…No good.
The 〈Brainwashing〉 skill was working, so it likely just couldn’t understand my words.
“Raise your right arm.”
The monster slowly raised its right arm. It couldn’t comprehend language but could follow commands, like moving a puppet. It wouldn’t act on its own, but I could control it.
“Return to your original form.”
“…”
No response… Even the 〈Brainwashing〉 skill’s compulsion couldn’t reverse the transformation.
Communication was impossible, and extracting information was tough. Switching skills might reveal something, but…
“Sleep!”
“…”
That didn’t work either!? Not even a yawn…
To switch skills, I’d need to release 〈Brainwashing〉. If I did, this monster would rampage immediately. Too risky.
Its body couldn’t revert, and releasing 〈Brainwashing〉 would unleash it. Keeping it under control until Lucas or Roan arrived was an option, but that risked exposing my skill to Sley or other nobles.
Maintain control and leave it here while heading to Roan and the others? No, running into more monsters would be disastrous.
What do I do…?
Killing it would be quickest, but I couldn’t cross that line. As long as I maintained 〈Brainwashing〉, it was safe. Unless there was an immediate crisis, killing it was too much…
Still, I was at a dead end. Should I accept the risk of exposing my skill and wait for Lucas to decide?
At the very least, I should move this monster somewhere less conspicuous. As I prepared to give the order—
—Plop. The monster’s raised right arm fell.
“…Huh?”
Before my eyes, the monster’s body began melting rapidly. Its left arm fell too, and its legs gave out, collapsing forward into a gooey mess.
The 〈Brainwashing Active〉 text had vanished.
Wait, hold on. I didn’t tell it to die or self-destruct…!
Stunned by the sight, the monster that was Duke Letchery melted completely, leaving only a stain on the ground.
What just happened…?
“Hugh…?”
“—!”
Lilly’s voice nearly stopped my heart.
“Did you do that…?”
“N-No… I don’t think so.”
I wasn’t sure. But I couldn’t rule out the possibility that my skill had misfired unconsciously. I knew too little about this power…
“Then stopping its movements and giving it orders…?”
“…That was…”
I’d resolved to reveal everything to Lilly the moment I used the skill in front of her… or so I thought.
But the words wouldn’t come.
I was scared to speak.
Scared to turn and see her face.
What kind of look was she giving me? Fear? Terror?
Or…
“That’s your real skill, isn’t it…?”
“Y-Yeah… My real skill is 〈Brainwashing〉. It lets me control anyone I make eye contact with.”
Please accept it. Understand it. Don’t be afraid…!
Such selfish wishes couldn’t be voiced.
Footsteps approached from behind.
“Turn around, Hugh.”
“It’s better if we don’t make eye contact.”
“Just turn around.”
“No… What if I brainwash you…?”
“Then I’ll do this.”
“Wah!?”
Lilly grabbed the back of my neck, yanking me toward her.
Her beautiful face appeared before me as I stumbled. I tried to look away, but she held my face with both hands, locking it in place.
Her emerald eyes stared into mine.
“What are you doing…!? Aren’t you scared of being brainwashed…?”
“Don’t underestimate me. I’ve been with you long enough to know you don’t have the guts for that. Right, you spineless, poor, rural noble?”
“Y-You…!”
I tried to retort to her provocative smile, but—
“—Is this feeling something your 〈Brainwashing〉 skill planted in me?”
Her tearful eyes questioned me directly.
Her flushed cheeks made her look even more delicate.
“…No, absolutely not.”
“Then I’m relieved. There’s no reason for you to use 〈Brainwashing〉 on me anymore.”
“Well, not necessarily. There could be… other uses.”
“Other uses? I’d do anything you asked, you know. Naughty things, embarrassing things. I’m quite the devoted woman, despite appearances.”
“Stop with the bad jokes…”
“Hehe, you seem pretty overwhelmed by that 〈Brainwashing〉 skill, huh?”
“…Yeah. If I could, I’d get rid of it. …Also, could you let go? This is getting a bit embarrassing.”
“No way. I’m in the mood to keep looking at you.”
“Give me a break…”
Lilly, with her alluring smile, didn’t let go for a while.
◇
“Satisfied…?”
“Very much so.”
I could only manage a wry smile at Lilly’s bright grin. She’d stolen my lips multiple times, and by the end, I was completely lost. Even now, my mind felt foggy.
We sat side by side on the grass, a short distance from the stain that was once Duke Letchery, holding hands, our shoulders touching.
“I hope I managed to overwrite some of your negative emotions.”
Apparently, Lilly saw right through my feelings.
“Thanks to you, I feel a lot lighter.”
The anxiety of revealing my 〈Brainwashing〉 skill to Lilly hadn’t completely vanished, but it was much lighter.
I was almost embarrassed at how easily a kiss from a beautiful girl could lift my spirits.
…No, that’s not quite right. It wasn’t just any beautiful girl. It was Lilly who kept me from breaking.
If she hadn’t accepted me then, I might’ve thrown everything away or stepped into a dark abyss with no return.
“Thank you, Lilly.”
“You’re welcome. …So?”
“So?”
Her sudden prompt made me parrot back.
Lilly sighed, giving me a half-lidded stare.
“After being so passionately pursued by such a beautiful lady, you’re just going to say ‘thank you’? I’m asking if you’ll accept my feelings.”
“Uh, uh…”
Even I could pick up on Lilly’s feelings after all those kisses. No one would passionately pursue someone they didn’t like to cheer them up.
Her emerald eyes locked onto mine, a testament to her trust and resolve to accept all of me.
I had to answer honestly.
“…Sorry, Lilly. I’m grateful for your feelings, but I don’t think I can love only you.”
Lugue’s dazzling smile flashed in my mind. For now, being friends was fine, but eventually, I wanted more.
I was in love with Lugue.
“So, you can’t love only me?”
“Yeah. So, sorry, Lilly. I can’t—”
“Then I’ll yield the first wife position to Lucretia and support you as your second wife.”
“…Huh?”
“Let’s build the Pnocis domain into the richest territory in the kingdom together, okay?”
“…Wait, hold on! Don’t start some frontier reclamation saga! Second wife? You’re okay with that!?”
“Isn’t it better than being the seventh wife of a creepy old man?”
“That’s the worst comparison ever!”
Her judgment must’ve gone haywire from that engagement to Duke Letchery…!
“Why are you so flustered? Polygamy isn’t that unusual among nobles.”
“…Isn’t it rare for a marquis’s daughter to marry a baron’s family?”
“If we’re talking rare, a poor baron’s son aiming to marry royalty is unheard of.”
“Guh… That’s… true.”
“No harm in being unprecedented. If you rise under Lucas’s banner, it’s fine. Rack up achievements, become a frontier count, and marrying a princess as your first wife and a marquis’s daughter as your second won’t seem strange at all.”
“My goal isn’t to climb the ranks—it’s a leisurely, carefree life…”
“You’re too young to retire. We’re only fifteen, you know?”
“Well, yeah, but…”
I couldn’t exactly tell Lilly I wanted to live slowly this time because I overworked in my past life. She’d probably just say, “What nonsense are you spouting?” with a straight face.
“Get it together, future husband.”
“That’s way too much pressure…”
My inability to outright refuse showed how tempting Lilly’s proposal was…
In my past life’s ethics, this was unthinkable, but in this world, noble polygamy was encouraged. A noble like my father, with only one wife, was the exception.
…Yeah, clinging too much to my past life’s values isn’t good!
With the lingering warmth of Lilly’s kiss, my past life’s ethics crumbled away.
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