Chapter 12: The World Bloomed with Color Because She Was There

When I woke up, the first thing I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling. Moonlight streaming through the window was the only source of light in the room. Feeling a slight weight around my feet, I slowly lifted myself up.

...Where am I?

It seemed I had been laid down on a bed in some room. Though the place was unfamiliar, I didn't feel anxious or vulnerable. That was because Lecty was sitting on a chair, draped facedown over my feet, sound asleep.

She must have stayed by my side the entire time I was unconscious. Lecty's pale-blue hair shimmered beautifully in the moonlight.

Struck by her beauty, I almost reached out my hand when,

"...Mmn, Hugh-san...?"

Lecty stirred and opened her eyelids, and I quickly withdrew my hand.

"Ah... Good morning, Lecty."

It was already night outside, but since we had both just woken up, I offered her a 'good morning.' Lecty blinked her eyes and jumped away from my feet.

"I-I'm so sorry, Hugh-san! I wasn't intending to fall asleep...!"

"No, it's fine. You must have been tired, Lecty. And thanks for healing my left arm."

"Y-You're welcome..."

Lecty's cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and she looked down.

There wasn't a single tooth mark left on my left arm. I didn't feel any pain or discomfort. The bleeding was cleanly wiped away; it was as if I was never injured.

"Oh, right, how is Rosalie...?"

We had managed to revert her back to her original form with Lecty's and my 〈Cleanse/Purify〉, but I didn't know what happened afterward. I hoped she was okay...

"Um, Cicely-san came to tell us just now. Rosalie-san has regained consciousness."

"Really!?"

"Yes! She's answering questions properly, too!"

Thank goodness...! She had, after all, turned into a Monster... Even if her body returned to normal, there was no guarantee her consciousness would return. There was a possibility that her inner self would still be a Monster.

"Rosalie-san is currently speaking with Prince Lucas."

"With Prince Lucas? So, are we inside the Royal Castle now?"

"No, we're in the Great Cathedral. Cicely-san arranged a room for us. Prince Lucas came here to rescue us with the Royal Knights. He came here just a moment ago, but since you were asleep, he said he'd go speak with Rosalie-san first."

"Is that so..."

The Royal Knights entering the Great Cathedral was according to the plan we discussed with Alyssa-san. But I didn't expect Prince Lucas himself to lead the Knights. Perhaps it was a political judgment, considering the situation and the relationship with the Divine Grant Religion.

In any case, with Prince Lucas here, I could rest assured...

A sigh of relief escaped me, and I quickly masked it with a self-deprecating smile.

He might be a shady brother-in-law, but he was always reliable when it mattered most. I kept needing him to clean up my messes. And he never gave me unreasonable orders; he was always considerate and guided my consultations toward a solution.

...Wait, is he the ideal boss right now?

As I realized the shocking truth, I suddenly looked up, and Lecty was staring blankly at me. Her cheeks, faintly red in the moonlight, were beautiful, and her amethyst eyes reflected my image.

"Lecty? Is something wrong?"

When I asked, Lecty started, quickly adjusting her posture.

"N-No! Nothing is wrong... I mean, maybe not nothing!"

"Oh. Uh-huh, I see."

It seemed there was a reason why she was staring at me. Lecty's cheeks were so flushed I could tell even in the dim light, and she took several deep breaths.

"Um, you see... Thank you so much, Hugh-san. I truly think both Rosalie-san and I would have died if you hadn't come."

"You're right... I'm really glad you're safe."

The timing was down to a razor's edge. Rosalie, in particular, would have been unsalvageable if we had arrived even a moment later.

In hindsight, I was able to learn about Rosalie's danger because Alyssa-san had restrained me. If I had stormed out of the tent and rushed to rescue Lecty, I would have caught up to them just before the underground passage. In that case, it's doubtful I could have saved Rosalie.

Still, not everything had been completely resolved. Lecty had her arm cut by Malicious and was imprisoned. The terror she must have experienced was considerable.

"Lecty, are you pushing yourself?"

"Pushing myself, you mean?"

Lecty tilted her head innocently. Perhaps my words were too vague.

"I wondered if you were having trouble resting because you were taking care of me. I'm fine now, so you should rest without pushing yourself, Lecty."

It would probably be a while before we could return to the dorm, due to discussions with Prince Lucas and other matters. It might even be dawn, so it was better for her to rest while she could.

"Ah, um... Cicely-san told me the same thing, and I did try to rest a little, but I just couldn't fall asleep... So, I came to be by Hugh-san."

"Is that so? Oh, but a moment ago..."

Hugh trailed off, recalling something. Lecty was sleeping, sprawled over my feet...

I was about to point that out, but I caught sight of Lecty's cheeks flushing crimson, so brightly it was noticeable even in the dim light, and held my tongue.

Well, I was known as a comfortable hugging cushion. I must have a passive Skill that offers a peaceful sleep effect to those around me, though I had no proof.

"I-I'm so sorry! I felt so safe by Hugh-san's side that I just accidentally dozed off..."

"No, I don't think you need to apologize. In fact, I'm glad if you feel safe enough to be so unguarded by my side, Lecty."

"............Hugh-san, that's not fair."

Lecty's cheeks remained that delicate shade of rose as she puffed out her lips in a petulant little pusu, her voice carrying that adorable hint of sulkiness. ...Yeah, okay, maybe that line came off a bit too polished, too rehearsed. Now I'm the one starting to feel a flush of embarrassment creeping in...

A touch forceful, perhaps, but before I could dig myself into an even deeper hole, it was probably best to steer the conversation elsewhere.

...And conveniently enough, there was something I'd been meaning to discuss with Lecty anyway.

"Lecti, about my skill..."

"Ah, yes. Um... You mean the one about... brainwashing? The skill thing, right? I'm sorry, I was so caught up in Rosalie's treatment that I barely got to hear anything about it..."

"Ah, yeah, figured as much."

The very word "brainwashing" didn't seem to ring any bells for Lecty at all—it was hardly the sort of term that cropped up in everyday chatter, so it made sense that it would feel foreign to her.

Explaining it outright filled me with dread. But having gone and used it right in front of her like that, I couldn't very well brush it off or clam up and leave it hanging between us.

"...To put it simply, my skill is a power that lets me freely manipulate anyone whose eyes meet mine."

"Freely... manipulate them, you say?"

"Yeah. ...So, you know. If I scare you, just don't make eye contact. Then the skill won't work on you. And if that's still not enough to ease your mind, from here on out, I can keep my eyes averted and closed tight so you can relax... wait, no, that's not gonna fly, is it?"

In the end, unless I gouged out my own eyes or something equally drastic, nothing about my inherent danger would change one iota. And needless to say, I didn't have the guts to go resorting to that kind of barbarity, so the only scrap of sincerity I could offer up was to squeeze my eyelids shut as proof of good faith.

I wonder what kind of face Lecty is making right now. With my skill still locked onto <Saintess>, I can't pick up on her presence or movements through any telltale aura.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if fear of my ability had her slipping away on tiptoe, beat a hasty retreat without a word. And honestly? I couldn't even blame her if she did. For someone like her to stick around and accept me after hearing this would be the real outlier—more like how Lily or Idiot had, against all odds.

"...Hugh-san, could you... keep your eyes closed just like that, for me?"

"Y-Yeah, sure..."

Just as Lecty asked, I clamped my eyelids shut and held perfectly still. What in the world did she have in mind? ...No clue, but whatever it turned out to be, I'd swallow it down and accept it with grace.

That's what I'd resolved myself to, when—

—Along with the gentle, sweetly floral scent of chamomile wafting in like a tender embrace, a plush, yielding warmth pressed insistently against my lips.

◇

............Eh.

"Lec-ty...?"

"I-I'm going to go check on Rosalie-san!"

What entered my sight was Lecty's bright-red profile and her beautiful pale-blue hair, which glittered in the moonlight. She fled the room as if running away.

Did I just, with Lecty...?

I unconsciously touched my lips with my finger, and the sensation was distinctly different from a moment ago. ...No, wait. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. There are countless soft parts of the body. Like my upper arm, or my chest... That's even more dangerous!

Damn it, I'm too flustered; my mind's a wreck.

First, I need to calm down...

I placed my hand on my chest, my heart beating like a battle drum, and took deep, calming breaths.

Let's think logically. Lecty kissed me. Doesn't that mean... she likes me?

Of course, I wasn't completely oblivious to Lecty's feelings, but...

Even so, being kissed out of the blue was completely unexpected. It felt like every single problem I had been agonizing over had been blown completely out of my head.

...Was that the goal? Did Lily tell her that if I started going around in circles, she should just shut me up with a kiss... No, Lily wouldn't say something like that, and I don't think Lecty would do it even if Lily told her to.

Lecty did it herself, by her own will.

To cheer me up.

I'm truly pathetic... Should I be chasing after Lecty now? I have so little experience in romance that I can't even tell.

...In any case, I'm worried about Rosalie too. I feel shy about facing Lecty, but I'll try to head towards Rosalie's room.

I was just getting out of bed, heading for the door, when,

"Well hello, Hugh. I heard you were injured, but I'm glad to see you're well."

Prince Lucas opened the door and entered. Roan-san was behind him, but Prince Lucas just walked into the room, closing the door behind him.

It seems we need to talk alone. Checking on Rosalie will have to wait.

"Did you come here because you were worried, my brother-in-law?"

"Of course, my younger brother-in-law. Lucretia would be sad if anything happened to you, after all."

Prince Lucas sighed and shrugged. Maybe Lucretia genuinely begged him to come, but I doubted this man was truly worried about me personally.

"Well, what's the real reason?"

"It's what you call a political decision. Cardinal Malicious's actions are too severe for the Reese Kingdom to simply overlook. That underground tunnel connecting the outer wall and the city, in particular, is something that must not exist. By me, a member of the Royal Family, personally storming the Great Cathedral, I am emphasizing the gravity of the situation and exerting pressure on the Papal State in the Holy Capital."

"I see..."

It seems the Reese Kingdom intended to firmly hold the Divine Grant Religion accountable. Not only was Malicious trying to swindle donations, but he was also running a secret underground passage. There must be other reasons why they couldn't afford a weak response, such as preventing others from thinking they were weak, even besides the Divine Grant Religion.

"Now then, Hugh. Would you tell me what happened in the basement? I've already questioned Miss Lecty and Idiot Hortness and have a rough understanding, but I'd like to hear it from you too."

"Understood."

I recounted everything that happened since I split from Alyssa-san and the others and infiltrated the tunnel, giving Prince Lucas as many details as possible. The most crucial points were Malicious possessing the drug, Rosalie being transformed into a Monster by it, and the 〈Saintess〉 Skill possessing the power to revert the transformation.

"...I never thought the 〈Saintess〉 Skill possessed such power."

"The status description for the 〈Saintess〉 Skill says, 'Gains the power to oversee healing and purification, and to drive out evil.'"

"So, the force transforming people into Monsters is the 'evil,' you mean?"

"Do you have any ideas about it?"

"No. However, I know something that might be a hint. You probably have an idea, too, don't you?"

"...The fairy tale where the 〈Saintess〉 Skill appears, you mean?"

I brought the content of the fairy tale to mind once more. The adventure story of a girl with the 〈Saintess〉 Skill who cured people's injuries and illnesses, traveling around the country, gathering companions, and eventually battling the King of the Monsters.

The King of the Monsters... short for Demon King.

"It seems the fairy tale about the 〈Saintess〉 Skill is not just a work of fiction. It might have originally been a form of oral tradition."

"It was created to preserve events that actually occurred?"

"I think that's possible. If so, the relationship with the Sacred Scripture might be the inverse."

"The Sacred Scripture wasn't based on the fairy tale, but the fairy tale was based on the Sacred Scripture...?"

"Or, the description of the Saintess was added to the Sacred Scripture later on."

Indeed, this would better explain why the 〈Saintess〉 Skill existed. The appearance of the Saintess in the 〈Sacred Scripture〉 was somewhat sudden, or rather, out of place. It was also strange that the Divine Grant Religion's Scripture lacked any depiction of the Saintess being gifted the Skill by God.

"I will have the Knight Order and historians look into this. If it is a type of oral tradition, there might be ruins or folk tales scattered throughout the country. We might also learn something about the goals of those who are distributing the Monster-transforming drug."

"Is there a possibility that Malicious was part of that group?"

"I can't be sure, but I don't think so. From what you told me, Malicious did not intend to turn Miss Rosalie into a Monster. He probably believed it was a drug to awaken her Skill."

"Skill awakening... Is such a thing possible?"

"No, I have never heard of it, at least."

Prince Lucas shrugged and shook his head.

"The definition of 'awakening' itself isn't clear, and the real issue is that the Cardinal of the Divine Grant Religion believed such a thing. Doesn't that strike you as unnatural? The Divine Grant Religion should be the most knowledgeable about Skills."

"You're right..."

Is it possible that Skills can awaken, but it just hasn't been publicized...? No, isn't the entire point about encouraging the awakening using a drug strange, anyway...?

More accurately, everything Malicious did, from start to finish, was bizarre. He called Lecty's God-given 〈Saintess〉 Skill an imitation and forced Rosalie to administer treatment for illnesses that her Skill couldn't cure.

Cicely-san said Malicious was consumed by wicked ideals and became a heretic, but does that mean he was normal before he was consumed...?

"I spoke with Miss Rosalie. She grew up in an orphanage Malicious ran in the Royal Capital. The Malicious she knew was a genial, friendly old man, who showed no particular obsession with the Saintess. She hadn't seen him for about half a year, since she was selected as the Saintess and moved to the Holy Capital, but she was quite perplexed by how different he was when she saw him again."

"Did something happen in those six months...?"

"That's the logical conclusion. And whatever happened is crucial. Hugh, I'd like your opinion on the hypothesis I've formulated. Is it possible that Malicious was controlled by someone using a Skill?"

"—!"

Prince Lucas seemed to have sensed the existence of a Skill similar to 〈Brainwash〉, which manipulated people's will, in connection with this incident. If such a Skill truly existed, it would explain Malicious's delusional faith in the Saintess.

"I can't say for certain about the possibility... But it would be difficult with the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill, at least."

"I concur. I saw you demonstrate it to Miss Lily, and that cuts off the target's consciousness. Its effect is also limited to the duration of the Skill's use, so it's not suited for continuously manipulating a person's will."

"However, it might be possible if the Skill were changed. For instance, to 〈Suggestion〉 or 〈Hypnosis〉."

There were countless possibilities, just off the top of my head. I didn't want to try to find out, though...

"I see, 〈Suggestion〉 or 〈Hypnosis〉. They might have implanted an obsession with the Saintess with those Skills, or perhaps amplified a minor obsession he already had. ...We should also consider the possibility, albeit remote, that someone else besides you possesses the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill."

"............"

The thought of another person possessing the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill sent a chill down my spine. Even a similar Skill would be terrifying.

It's incredible that Lily, Prince Lucas, and Idiot accepted me so readily...

"But who would do it, and for what purpose...?"

If a Skill that manipulated people's will was used, what was the goal? Was it to make Rosalie, the Saintess, drink the Monster-transformation drug? Or was it to make Malicious, a Cardinal, perform some kind of favor?

"I can't begin to guess the purpose, but I have an idea about who."

"What?"

"The Royal Academy's school nurse. The person who is believed to have kidnapped Miss Lecty."

"...!"

Now that he mentioned it, I hadn't seen the school nurse who abducted Lecty at all. My vision was clear even in the dark underground passage with the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, so I shouldn't have missed him.

It didn't seem like Cicely-san or Idiot had killed him in the underground prison, either.

"The corpse of the aforementioned school nurse has not been found. He's likely still alive, but it will be difficult to find him."

"Why is that?"

"...Something unusual is happening. Hugh, do you know the name of the school nurse?"

"No, I never had direct contact with him, so..."

I memorized the names of the teachers who taught classes, but I couldn't remember the name of the school nurse. But that wasn't particularly unusual, was it?

"Then, describe his appearance. Was the school nurse male or female? What color was his hair and eyes? Did he wear glasses? Was he tall or short? Try to remember."

"............Huh?"

It was only when he asked that I noticed the strangeness. I couldn't recall anything about the appearance of the school nurse I should have interacted with.

Not his gender, hair color, height, or even his voice. His entire being was absent from my memory. It was as if his existence alone had been cut out with a pair of scissors, as if only he were shrouded in mist.

"It's not just Lucretia and Miss Lily. Even Alyssa doesn't remember the school nurse's appearance. It's undeniable that some kind of Skill was being used."

"I see, so that's why..."

Idiot, who was with Lecty, was neutralized so easily because a Skill that inhibited people's perception was used...?

"Wait, but the school nurse's Skill should be a healing type..."

"Have you actually seen the school nurse healing wounds, Hugh?"

"Yes... Wait, I should have seen it, right...?"

When many people were injured during the mock collective battle to determine the class commander, the school nurse was supposed to have treated several students. ...No, did he actually treat them? Lecty treated all the severe injuries, and only minor injuries were left. I felt like those were only minor scrapes and bruises.

"We were made to believe he was healing them...?"

"That's a possibility. If it was a Skill that exploited human perception and belief, that would explain it."

"Should we chase after him...?"

If I switched my Skill to 〈Chaser/Tracker〉, I should still be able to follow him. It would be troublesome if he had escaped outside the Royal Capital, but he might still be lurking inside the city. I felt we should capture him before he could execute any more covert schemes, but,

"No, there is no need to chase after him."

Prince Lucas did not nod in agreement.

"Why is that...?"

"For example, if it were a lone perpetrator, we would capture him, and that would be the end of it. But that's likely not the case. What do you think would happen if it were an organization of two, three, or even dozens of people? If we miss even one, retaliation could begin. We're dealing with people who possess a drug that turns people into Monsters. If they sprinkle that in all the wells in the Royal Capital, the damage would be irreparable."

"...!"

If that were to happen, the Royal Capital would be in an uproar far worse than just a commotion. The outcome would obviously be more horrific and cruel than spreading a common poison.

"Then, at least just to confirm the scale of their organization..."

"You should avoid that, too. That man who handed the drug to Lecheley sensed your presence, even through your 〈Clairvoyance〉, didn't he?"

"That is true..."

"It is wiser not to provoke them for now. Frustrating as it is."

"...Understood."

I felt his reaction was too passive, but Prince Lucas's concern was justified. The thing I should avoid most of all was my own rash action making the situation worse. The urge to make the people who involved Lecty and Rosalie pay was burning my guts out...

Although I possess the 〈Brainwash〉 cheat Skill, which allows me to do anything, I'm not confident I can utilize it to its fullest potential. I don't want to use it ever again, and I even wish I could just throw it away.

But if this power is the only thing that can protect them, then...

When the need arises, I won't be able to use this power effectively if I remain as I am.

It's time I finally faced reality...

My 〈Brainwash〉 Skill.

To gain my ideal slow life.

And to protect them, who are more precious than anything else to me.