Chapter 2: Our Hero
Well, time has passed, and it is now June.
Hello, I’m Netora Reiko.
Golden Week is over, and the ensnarement of Kanda-kun has been successfully completed. My NTR roadmap is proceeding without a single hitch.
The seasonal change of uniforms is finished as well. When I opened my front door, dressed in my thin summer uniform, I found Yuuki-kun waiting for me, looking rather restless in his own summer clothes.
“G-Good morning, Rei-chan.”
“Morning, Yuu-kun. ...Hehe, it feels kinda weird. Until just the other day, I was the one going to your house to pick you up.”
This is one of the changes that’s happened recently. Before, I always went to his place in the morning... but perhaps because he feels a sense of crisis now that I’m suddenly so close with Kanda-kun, Yuu-kun has started coming to get me instead. This is the strength of being childhood friends and neighbors.
Yuu-kun’s adorable jealousy and possessiveness made my core feel hot from the very start of the morning.
Almost time to hunt... ♠
No, no, it’s still too early. Just a little more. I have to endure just a little bit longer.
Realizing that my trashy true nature was about to leak out, I hurriedly shook my head to restrain myself.
I’ve held back this long. There’s only two years left until my original goal of starting high school. The "rearing" of Yuu-kun and Fuyuki-kun is proceeding smoothly. Even if I were to "devour" Yuu-kun this very second, I’d probably get a decently delicious taste of brain-shattering out of it.
But I won't do something so wasteful. He’s going to become so, so much more delicious. In that case, the correct answer is to enjoy even this "hunger." I’ll just sit tight and wait. Until the fruit is perfectly ripe... ♥
“...Rei-chan? Is something wrong?”
Oops, I was so busy dreaming about my glorious future map that I zoned out and left Yuu-kun behind for a second.
“Hehe, I was just thinking that you look really cool in your summer uniform, Yuu-kun.”
“Eh?! A-Ah, u-um... t-thanks. You look... r-really cute too, Rei-chan.”
“Aha, thanks! Well, shall we get going?”
I flashed a wide grin, took Yuu-kun’s hand, and started walking. As we exchanged idle chatter along the way, I could feel the affection he couldn't quite hide in his gaze.
I love Yuu-kun’s eyes. Those kind, clear eyes that believe in the goodness of others. The fact that I’m the only one monopolizing those beautiful, jewel-like eyes sends a shiver of pleasure down my spine. It gives me the absolute conviction that I, the one chosen by Yuu-kun, am a holy existence embraced by the light. God, I can’t get enough of this.
“Fuyuki-kun, Yuri-chan, morning~”
“Morning, Rei-chan.”
“Yo, morning to both of you.”
After exchanging greetings in the classroom, Fuyuki-kun and Yuri-chan gathered around my desk. It was the usual morning scene before homeroom.
“Is Kanda-kun... late again?”
I looked at the empty desk next to mine and knit my brows in faux concern. ...However, that worry was immediately dispelled by the sound of the door opening behind me.
“’Sup.”
“Morning, Kanda-kun. You weren't late today! Good boy, good boy ♪”
I reached up on my tiptoes to pat his head, but Kanda-kun lightly brushed my hand away.
“Cut it out. You’re gonna mess up my hair. Hey, Tachibana. Keep a tighter leash on her.”
“Oh, stop being so shy! Yuu-kun, you say something to him too!”
“Ahaha... but Kanda-kun really hasn't been late much lately. It sounds weird to say, but I’m happy about it too.”
“...Tch. You’re starting to sound just like Netora.”
While looking exasperated, Kanda-kun sat down and joined our conversation. His tone was still a bit rough, but that dark, gloomy aura was nowhere to be found.
From his daily behavior, it was clear that Kanda-kun had me completely locked in his sights, and there was no doubt he recognized Yuu-kun as a rival in love. ...However, that didn't mean he was being aggressive toward Yuu-kun or his other potential enemy, Fuyuki-kun. On the contrary, through their daily interactions, the three boys had become close enough to be called best friends.
“Oh, that’s right, Kanda-kun. I watched that video you told me about the other day—”
“Yeah, I checked out that one you mentioned too. It was a site I don’t usually use, so it was a nice change of pace.”
“Hey, hey, Yuuki, Kouichi. Can you guys hit the mall with me after school today? I wanna buy some new sneakers.”
The fact that Kanda-kun was a good person at heart was obviously a factor, but I believe the current relationship exists largely because of Yuu-kun’s personality. Yuu-kun might not realize it himself, but even before he became the handsome guy he is now—back in elementary school—he was quite popular.
He’s not the flashy type, but with his small considerations and the way he guides conversations and builds an atmosphere, people just tend to feel good when he’s around. He has a heart that can be kind to others without thinking about profit or loss. He has the talent to gently illuminate the people around him. It’s a rare and precious gift.
In other words, he’s a "Light Attribute" human, born the same as me. As expected of my Yuu-kun. With a face like that and a heart that pure, he’s a man truly worthy of me...!
“By the way, I heard a student teacher is coming starting today, Rei-chan.”
While I was looking at Yuu-kun with eyes that were practically bulging with hunger, Yuri-chan brought up that topic. Of course, I’d already done my research on the matter.
“I wonder what kind of person they are. It’s a little exciting, isn't it?”
“When I passed the faculty office this morning, I heard it was going to be a man.”
At Yuri-chan’s words, I spoke up with a pleasant smile.
“Heeh~ ...Hehe, I hope he’s handsome!”
“““...!”””
The three boys all visibly flinched. Gosh, they’re so entertaining.
A few dozen minutes after that conversation, the student teacher in question came to our class during morning homeroom to introduce himself.
“Nice to meet you all. I’m Shizuo Hifuno, your student teacher. It’s a short stay, but I hope to get along with everyone, so please feel free to talk to me.”
When the classic, refreshing hottie flashed that sparkling smile, high-pitched cheers erupted from the girls in the class. Kanda-kun, sitting next to me, glanced at my reaction with an anxious face, seemingly worried about this handsome newcomer from the outside world. Delicious, delicious.
...Now then, as for this student teacher, I’d done a bit of preliminary digging... but will he actually be a useful pawn? I hid my appraising gaze behind a smile as I observed the man standing at the podium.
＊
『NTR』—or being cucked—is a top-tier abnormal fetish among the millions that exist in the world. Furthermore, in my case, it was mixed with a TS desire, reaching a level where reconciliation with normal earthlings seemed impossible.
Consequently, the "camouflage" of an NTR lover is incredibly sturdy. A suit of armor thicker than a tank's hull hides one's true nature, disguising us as virtuous, refined gentlemen and ladies to the outside world. No one knows, no one must know. The tireless effort to keep the abnormal fetish from being exposed polishes the facade of these perverts into something stronger than diamond.
...However, beneath that surface, I was as fragile as a tiny puppy shivering in the rain. A pitiful, innocent being who cannot live without NTR. A lonely wanderer tossed about by the irresistible destiny of a fetish. That is who I am. Poor, poor me.
A fetish is like both a blessing and a curse. It’s a foundation to establish oneself, and a chain to bind oneself. Sometimes it hurts you; sometimes it drags you down like a clinging vine. But I will not give up. Why? Because I am right. And that is why I am strong. Justice gives me power. I will keep moving forward, no matter how difficult the path. Until the day... I complete every single one of Yuu-kun’s event CGs.
I got sidetracked. I got so sidetracked I feel like I looped back around to the right path, but let’s get back to the main story. What I’m trying to say is that my outward appearance is that of a perfect, high-achieving beauty, and as the class rep, I have many opportunities to interact with the student teacher, Shizuo Hifuno.
“Excuse me. Hifuno-sensei, I’ve brought the class log.”
“Ah, thank you, Netora-san.”
When I handed the log to Hifuno-sensei in the faculty room, he gave me a polite thanks with a gentle smile on his handsome face. I see. With looks practically at an idol level and a soft, gentlemanly demeanor, it makes sense why the girls are screaming.
“Netora-san. Do you have a moment? I’m sorry to ask, but I’d like some help carrying these printouts...”
“Yes, of course. I’d be happy to help.”
“Thank you, that’s a big help. There’s quite a lot, so it’s a bit of a chore to carry alone...”
I returned a smile to his apologetic chuckle and followed Hifuno-sensei down the hallway.
It had already been half a month since he arrived at this school. Being closer in age than the regular teachers made him more approachable, yet he possessed an adult composure that the boys our age lacked. Hifuno-sensei’s popularity among the girls was skyrocketing.
...However, my own evaluation of him wasn't particularly high. To put it bluntly, he was useless.
His practicum at this school was only about a month long. Half of that was already over, and there was too little time for me to "set anything up." He seemed busy with his teaching duties, and there wasn't much room for me, a student, to intervene. If I’m going to prepare a "Teacher-Attribute Interloper," it’s better to wait until I’m in high school.
Since I’m the class rep, I have a lot of contact with him, so I can collect some data as a testbed for the future, but that’s about all I want from him. Well, more importantly, his biggest problem is...
“Oh, that’s right...”
On the way back from delivering the printouts, Hifuno-sensei suddenly stopped as if he’d remembered something. I tilted my head and asked him.
“Hifuno-sensei? Is something wrong?”
“No, I just thought it was a good time since school is over and there aren't many people around.”
Saying that, he pulled a smartphone from his pocket and pointed the display toward me.
“It’s time for our 『Daily Routine』, Netora-san.”
The next moment, the smartphone display in Hifuno-sensei’s hand flashed with a brilliant light.
＊
“...”
“Netora-san, can you hear my voice? If you can hear me, give me a peace sign with both hands.”
“...Yes.”
I—Shizuo Hifuno—spoke to the girl in front of me. The girl, her eyes vacant, dazedly raised both hands in a "scissors" shape next to her face.
“...Good, it seems to be working perfectly. Good work, 『Alpha』.”
When I muttered that, a man’s voice, polite yet insolent, echoed from the smartphone in my hand.
【Not at all. If it is for my Master, this is nothing. More importantly, while there may be no one around, wouldn't it be better to move to a different location quickly?】
He was right, so I led Netora into an empty classroom and locked the door from the inside.
My acquisition of Alpha... this self-aware 『Hypnosis App』, was a complete accident. A few days before this practicum started, I was organizing my personal belongings to get rid of an old, outdated smartphone when I noticed an app I didn't recognize had been installed. Thinking it was strange, the app launched itself without me even touching it and began introducing itself in a voice far too fluent to be a machine.
【Nice to meet you, Master. I am the hypnosis application, 『Alpha』. ...Hehe, I will skip the detailed explanations, but I guarantee that I possess the specs to realize almost anything you might imagine when you hear the words ‘hypnosis app.’】
True to those words, Alpha was a dream-like app that could do almost anything I could imagine. There were many things I wanted to test with this app, but that could wait until after this practicum was over. For now, I decided to use the app to satisfy my "lust."
“Now then, come here, Netora.”
“...Yes.”
Obeying my words, Netora approached. I hugged her, enjoying the feel of her soft flesh and that sweet scent she seemed to carry. It was an act I’d repeated many times since starting my practicum at this school, but the excitement and joy hadn't faded in the slightest.
—Netora Reiko. From the moment I first saw her, I thought she was a beautiful girl. I wanted to taste that immature body of hers. Lusting after someone nearly a dozen years younger than me... I didn't think I had pedophilic tendencies, but now, even the fact that I possessed such an abnormal desire served as a spice to excite me further.
“Ah, Netora... you really are beautiful. If I could, I’d take you right here and now, but...”
No matter how cheat-like the hypnosis app’s abilities were, it didn't mean the person holding it was invincible. I was being as careful as possible, but if someone were to witness this moment right now without me knowing... no matter what app I had, I wouldn't be able to escape social sanction and ruin.
“So, I’ll enjoy your body after the practicum is over. It’ll be a secret from everyone... just the two of us...”
Once I was away from this school, it wouldn't be difficult to lure this girl out in private. So, for now, I’ll savor even this "wait" as a spice for the main course later.
＊
“...-san. Netora-san?”
“...Eh? Ah, yes.”
Netora, who had been standing dazed in the connecting corridor, responded blankly to Hifuno’s call.
“Are you all right? You seemed to be zoning out... Are you feeling unwell?”
“U-Um... no, I’m fine. I’m sorry, I guess I was just daydreaming...”
“No, no. If anything is bothering you, please feel free to tell me anytime.”
“Yes, thank you very much. Hifuno-sensei.”
Seeing the girl’s state, Hifuno smirked, confirmed that the memory alteration had been successfully established.
“Well then, I’ll be going. Goodbye, Hifuno-sensei.”
“Yes, please be careful on your way home.”
Hifuno saw the girl off. Perhaps he had been waiting for her, as a classmate—Tachibana Yuuki—joined her, and the two walked home together looking quite intimate. Were they lovers? He didn't know the details, but they seemed close enough to look that way.
“...Hehe. To have her body defiled without even her, let alone her lover, knowing... how nice. It’s a very enticing situation, isn't it?”
Hifuno’s face distorted into something hideous as he fantasized about the deliciousness of the green fruit he would soon be tasting. The gentle, handsome man loved by everyone was nowhere to be found.
＊
I—Kurushima Fuyuki—was probably the only one who noticed that sense of wrongness.
“...Hey, Rei.”
“Hmm? What is it, Fuyuki-kun?”
When I called out to Rei as she was getting ready to head home in the after-school classroom, she turned a bewildered face toward me. Yuuki and Kouichi were both good people at heart, in their own ways. That’s why they didn't fundamentally doubt others. ...Let alone suspicious eyes on that student teacher everyone praised, Shizuo Hifuno—the very idea would never even occur to them.
But I knew. The way that man looked at Rei... it was the same as me. Muddy eyes, harboring foul desires for the girl in front of him. I could definitely feel the heat of the lust he directed at Rei.
“Ah—it’s not a big deal, but... you were in the resource room with Hifuno-sensei earlier, right?”
“Um... yeah, I was helping him copy some printouts. What about it?”
“...Did, uh, anything happen? Between you and Hifuno-sensei?”
“Eh?”
I’d seen it by chance when I was passing by earlier. The way Hifuno had wrapped his hand around Rei’s waist in a disgusting way while she looked unsteady and dazed.
“Hmm... I don’t think anything happened, though...?”
“...No, I just happened to pass by, and you looked like you weren't feeling well. I wondered if something happened with Hifuno-sensei.”
“Eh? Really...? I don’t think there was anything like that.”
Looking at Rei’s puzzled expression, I couldn't sense any sign of deception or lies. ...In that case, did Rei have something done to her by Hifuno without even realizing it? This was almost just a baseless accusation. I had no evidence, and his hand on her waist might have just been my eyes playing tricks on me. Even so, I didn't want Rei to get any closer to that man... Hifuno.
“...Hey, Rei. This is going to sound weird, but... could you please try not to be alone with Hifuno-sensei too much?”
“Eeeh? ...What’s wrong, Fuyuki-kun? You’ve been acting weird for a bit now.”
Rei looked at me with confusion at my out-of-nowhere request. I knew I was saying something completely nonsensical. ...However, I just couldn't bring myself to dismiss this bad feeling as just my imagination. I searched for words to somehow convince Rei, but...
“Okay, I get it. I’ll be careful not to be alone with Hifuno-sensei as much as possible from now on, okay?”
“...Wait, what?”
I let out a dumbfounded sound at Rei’s easy acceptance. Rei puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
“Hmph. What’s with that reaction?”
“No, I mean... even I know I’m being pretty unreasonable.”
“Hehe, yeah. ...But I can tell just by looking at your face, Fuyuki-kun. You have a good reason, don’t you?”
Rei said that and gave me a soft smile as she looked at me.
“So, don’t look so pained, okay?”
“Rei... I...”
“I don’t think Hifuno-sensei is a bad person, but... if you say so, Fuyuki-kun, then I believe you. After all, we’re 『Childhood Friends』.”
“...!”
Rei’s childhood friend.
She threw out those words so casually—the very thing I hungered for so crazily—that it left me speechless. Not just Yuuki. She thought of me that way too?
“Rei-chan, Fuyuki-kun. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Ah, Yuu-kun. Welcome back~”
Yuuki, who had been called to the faculty room for club activities, returned to the classroom.
“Sorry for making you wait. Shall we head home?”
“Yeah. Kouichi-kun and Yuri-chan had things to do and went home early, but... it feels like it’s been a while since just the three of us walked home together.”
“Haha, it reminds me of elementary school.”
Seeing Rei and Yuuki talking happily, I narrowed my eyes for a split second as if I were looking at something too bright. Then, I turned on my heel.
“Fuyuki-kun?”
“...Ah, right. I just remembered I have something to take care of. Sorry, but you guys go on ahead.”
“Eh? F-Fuyuki-kun?”
Without waiting for their reply, I opened the classroom door and started walking down the hallway. My destination was—
＊
In front of the faculty room.
Confirming that my target had stepped out into the hallway at just the right time, I approached him and spoke.
“...Hifuno-sensei.”
“Oh, Kurushima-kun. Is something the matter?”
I licked my dry lips in nervousness before speaking to Hifuno, who had a pleasant, gentle smile on his handsome face.
“...Um, I have something I want to talk to you about.”
“Ho? What kind of talk would that be?”
“Not here... could we talk somewhere where there are no people?”
At my words, Hifuno made a gesture as if thinking, tapping his chin.
“Understood. Then shall we go to the empty multi-purpose room? The room on the second floor should be empty at this hour.”
“Yes, please.”
Following Hifuno’s lead, I entered the empty classroom. After being encouraged to take a seat, I took a breath and got straight to the point.
“...Netora Reiko. You know her, right?”
“Yes, of course. I’m a bit embarrassed to say, but I often have her help me with lesson preparations.”
“...Were you having her help you with something in the resource room the other day?”
“Ah, was that two days ago? I had her help me copy some materials for a lesson.”
“I see... At that time, did she get hurt or start feeling sick or something?”
Hifuno looked puzzled at my words, but I kept talking without letting it stop me.
“I saw you supporting her by the waist as if you were looking after her. I was worried something might have happened.”
“...Was that so? Perhaps you were mistaken, Kurushima-kun?”
“Is that right? Well, I was a bit far away, so maybe I did just see it wrong.”
...I looked into Hifuno’s eyes and felt certain. This guy was guilty as hell. Feeling his gaze appraising me from behind that calm smile, I continued, making sure my voice didn't crack from the tension.
“...Reiko has a lot of friends. So, she stands out a lot.”
“Hmm...”
“You never know who’s watching her from where. I think it would be better to avoid doing things that people might misunderstand.”
“...Hehe, quite right. It’s not very good to show too much favoritism toward a single student. Thank you for the advice.”
“No, I’m sorry for being so cocky. ...Well, I’ll be going now.”
“Yes. Please be careful on your way home.”
...I’m watching you. I’d driven that point home. If he had any sense at all, he’d back off now. I’d already warned Rei, too. As long as I kept a close eye on her, things should be fine. Reflecting on my actions, I left the empty classroom, trying to shake off the sticky gaze I could feel Hifuno pointing at my back.
＊
“...What a nuisance. That Kurushima kid.”
In the empty classroom after Fuyuki had left, Shizuo Hifuno muttered under his breath.
“I thought I was being careful, but you really never know where eyes might be... Well, the fact that he went out of his way to confront me is a blessing in disguise.”
【Oh? And what do you plan to do?】
The polite yet insolent voice of the hypnosis app—Alpha—rang out from the smartphone in his pocket.
“It’s simple. I’ll just mess with that kid’s memories. This doesn't even qualify as a problem.”
【Hmm... is that so...】
“What is it? Is there a problem?”
At Hifuno’s words, Alpha gave an uncharacteristically hesitant reply.
【No, it is not what I would call a problem, but... Master, could you look at the LCD screen for a moment?】
At Alpha’s words, Hifuno picked up the smartphone as prompted.
“...Hmm? There’s nothing on the screen? Alpha, what is the meaning of—”
【My apologies, Hifuno-sama. This is an order from the 『Master』.】
The next moment, the smartphone screen in his hand flashed with a brilliant light.
“Wh—?!”
Hypnotic light. A flash Hifuno had grown well-accustomed to over the past few days burned into his retinas. He tried to shut his eyes in a panic, but it wasn't something that could be blocked so easily. Within his rapidly fading consciousness, Alpha’s voice echoed as if from far away.
【Tachibana Yuuki. Kurushima Fuyuki. Yuri Shirase. Kouichi Kanda. I have been strictly ordered by the Master to stop Hifuno-sama should you attempt to use the hypnosis app on these individuals. Could you please sleep for a while? ...Oh, it seems you are already asleep. My apologies.】
＊
“——Uuugh...?”
Hifuno’s hazy consciousness finally flickered to life. He looked around, his vision swimming in a blur of confusion.
It looked like an abandoned factory, devoid of any sign of life.
“Where... am I...!?”
He tried to stand up on instinct, but the realization of his current situation hit him the moment he found he couldn't move.
His hands were pulled behind his back, thumbs cinched tight with zip ties, and his legs were lashed to a folding chair with heavy rope. There was no way to spin this as anything other than a nightmare.
Panic began to claw at his mind. Hifuno thrashed wildly, desperate to break free of his restraints, but then...
“——Hiding hideous malice behind a false smile, twisting the hearts of others with the power of a demon.”
“?!”
A girl’s voice, clear as a ringing bell, reached Hifuno’s ears from behind.
“Deceiving and exploiting innocent children just to satisfy your own desires... truly, yours is a heart warped beyond salvation.”
Eventually, the owner of that voice stepped in front of Hifuno.
She stared down at him with a gaze filled with ironclad resolve, her eyes sharp and dignified.
“——I cannot allow someone like you to go unpunished.”
“Netora... Reiko...!?”
Yes, it was me.
Burning with the heat of righteous fury, I, the brilliant heroine, had arrived to stand before the unpardonable sinner known as Hifuno-sensei.
“N-Now look here, Netora-san. What is the meaning of this? What are you even talking about...?”
Watching Hifuno-sensei flounder with cold, distant eyes, I leaned in close and whispered into his ear.
“Since when... did you fall under the delusion that I was actually hypnotized?”
In the next instant, I let my eyeballs dye themselves a deep crimson right in front of him.
It was an application of my Blood Manipulation—a Crimson Eye Guard. It served as a filter to block out his hypnotic rays.
Witnessing my holy miracle firsthand, Hifuno-sensei let out a small shriek, looking at me as if he were staring at a monster. What a rude man.
“Hiee...! W-What... what is that...!?”
“Geez, there’s no need to be that scared. I’m still a girl, you know? It hurts my feelings when a man makes a face like that at me.”
I puffed out my cheeks in a cute, pouting expression, which only made Hifuno-sensei tremble even more violently with terror. I just don't get it. He was so obsessed with me just a little while ago...
Lately, I’ve become increasingly aware that I’m losing my grasp on the "human heart."
Even when I encounter scenes where people around me are moved to tears of emotion, I find myself completely unable to empathize. The frequency of those moments has been on the rise.
But that isn't my fault.
It’s a common story in the isekai reincarnation genre—the one where the soul is dragged down by the nature of the new body.
My innocent soul was warped simply because I encountered a divine blunder called "reincarnation." In other words, it’s God’s fault. Unforgivable. I trembled with a heated rage of my own.
I’ve said it before, but this world is merely a parallel world similar to my previous one—and more importantly, it’s a world where a massive occult anomaly like me exists. Obviously, I would have measures in place against hypnosis.
This time, it just happened to be a simple pattern that could be blocked with visual protection, but in addition to this Crimson Eye Guard, I also record my actions in a notebook or on my smartphone every three hours while I’m awake.
By checking for any discrepancies between my past records and my current memories, I was fully prepared for any hypnotic interference.
This is just my personal opinion, but Hypnosis NTR is something meant to be enjoyed from a third-person perspective.
The reason is simple: while being controlled, my own will is naturally blown away. I actually tried taking a direct hit from Hifuno-sensei’s hypnosis once as a test, and my memories of the acts performed during that time were cleanly wiped and overwritten. That’s no fun for me at all.
Using hypnosis to ignore a person’s heart...! What do you think human beings are...?!
This guy is totally unforgivable!
I burned with righteous indignation.
While I was shivering with justified fury in my chest, Hifuno-sensei continued to plead his case while struggling against his bonds.
“Y-You’re misunderstanding something. For now, just let me out of these? If we just talk, you’ll see it was all a mistake...”
“Shut up. Nothing is different. I don’t make mistakes.”
【Hehe, you’re a poor loser, aren't you, Master Hifuno?】
At the sound of a voice echoing from my pocket, Hifuno-sensei’s head snapped up.
“A-Alpha...! What are you doing! Hurry up and help me...!”
【I am terribly sorry. My current Master is Netora-sama.】
“Wha...! S-Since when! Since when did you betray me?!”
【Hehe, I wonder...】
Listening to Alpha’s evasive, thin smirk of a voice, I looked back on the moment I had "stolen" this thing from Hifuno-sensei.
＊
Several weeks ago.
It was back when Hifuno-sensei was enjoying himself by messing with my body while I was pretending to be under his hypnosis.
“Hm, a phone call. Netora-san, wait just a moment.”
“...Yes.”
The moment Hifuno-sensei moved away from me to take his private call, I spoke to the smartphone nearby where Alpha was installed.
“...Alpha, you can hear me, right? Switch to my side.”
【...】
“You lack planning, using your powers indiscriminately without any real verification. You lack self-control, performing these acts in a risky place like a school. And you're careless, already letting a young girl like me catch you by the tail. That man is headed for ruin sooner rather than later.”
There was no reply from Alpha, but I continued without caring.
“Besides, the moment I caught on to you, you lost your options. I’ve recorded every single thing you’ve done so far. If this becomes public, you won't get off easy either. However, if you side with me...”
【...We could build a favorable cooperative relationship, you mean?】
The moment it responded to my words, I knew my partnership with Alpha was sealed.
＊
And so, I gave Alpha a single directive.
Tachibana Yuuki. Kurushima Fuyuki. Shirase Yuri. Kanda Kouichi.
If Hifuno-sensei ever tried to lay a hand on my precious, precious NTR candidates, Alpha was ordered to stop him.
I might have looked the other way if he was just playing with me, but if he was going to mess with Yuu-kun and the others, that was a different story.
From our daily lives at school, Hifuno-sensei should have been well aware that I cherish them from the bottom of my heart.
Knowing that, if he still chose to touch the people I care about, then he was simply mocking me. At that point, I have no choice but to execute him, right?
For someone who couldn't even survive my Selection of the Cuckold to look down on my NTR Chart... that is an unpardonable sin. At its core, that is the singular point of Hifuno-sensei’s crime.
I will protect Yuu-kun and the others.
From the harsh, cruel world outside, I will enclose them in a fence and keep them safe.
Though, in the end, I intend to be the one who sets fire to that fence.
【Master. It is almost time...】
“Yes, you’re right.”
Prompted by Alpha, I slowly approached the restrained Hifuno-sensei with the smartphone running the hypnosis app in one hand.
“Hiee...! W-What are you going to do to me?!”
“Say, Hifuno-sensei. Didn't your parents ever teach you? The reason... why you shouldn't grow up to be a bad boy.”
As a senior in this second lap of life, I bestowed upon him some precious words of wisdom.
“Liars. Cowards. It's because bad children like that become the perfect prey for truly bad adults.”
In other words, by swooping in and picking his bones clean before any other bad adult can get to him, I am the true hero here. He didn't even understand that, which is why he ended up like this. Sucks for him, right?
“Well then, good day to you, Hifuno-sensei.”
“STOP IIIIIIIIITTTTTTT?!”
I gave him a gentle, reassuring smile as I burned his retinas with a hypnotic ray.
＊
【——Forget the existence of the hypnosis app and everything you did using it; from now on, all evil and criminal acts are forbidden. That was a rather generous measure, wasn't it, Master?】
“It was his lucky break that his teaching practicum started right after I got my hands on you. Maybe he was just too busy, or maybe he was a coward at heart... but outside of his indecency toward me, he didn't seem to have committed any major crimes. There’s no need to be so aggressive about it, right?”
Watching Hifuno-sensei leave the abandoned factory with the unsteady, wandering gait of a sleepwalker, I replied to Alpha.
His teaching practicum was almost over. In just a few days, he would disappear from our lives anyway.
To be honest, as long as he didn't do anything unnecessary to spoil the youth of me and Yuu-kun, I couldn't care less what he did. Therefore, I had Hifuno-sensei reborn as a person of integrity, both inside and out.
...By forcibly correcting his personality with hypnosis, there’s a non-zero chance of a major error occurring in his mental structure, but that shouldn't be much of a problem.
Everyone makes mistakes. It’s because we have hearts.
But it’s because we have hearts that we can forgive someone else’s mistakes.
That is the true nobility of the human heart.
So, even if I make a mistake, don't blame me. Anyone who does that is a member of the dark demon race who lacks a human heart. Unforgivable.
Still, for such an ambiguous and broad command to actually work, Alpha’s performance really is borderline cheating. To think such a thing just tumbled into my lap. I suppose it’s no wonder Hifuno-sensei got carried away.
“...By the way, Alpha-san. Thinking about the future, there are a few things I’d like to confirm. Is that alright?”
【Yes, of course, Master. I understand the importance of mutual understanding.】
＊
Human beings really are quite foolish.
Hiding the sneer that threatened to leak out, the hypnosis app—Alpha—responded to the questions from its new master, the young girl.
“Alpha-san, are you an app created by someone? Or are you a conscious entity that spontaneously emerged within the computer network?”
【It is difficult to answer that question accurately. My own earliest memories begin at the moment I woke up on Master Hifuno’s smartphone... however, it is entirely possible that my developer installed me there without my awareness.】
She seemed to have a decent head on her shoulders, but in the end, she was just a child.
Such a soft-hearted measure against Hifuno, who had been her enemy.
Whether it was emotion or ethics that drove her, I don't know... but with a human of this level, I should be able to easily seize control through rhetoric. Just like that foolish man before her.
“I see. Then, for my next question: Alpha-san, are you a stand-alone app? Or is the 'you' in this smartphone merely a terminal accessing the main body through a network?”
【Oh? And what is the intent behind that question?】
“Given your nature, it would be a fatal blow if you failed to activate during a network outage in a critical moment, wouldn't it? I think you can understand what kind of situation a failed hypnosis can trigger... if you’ve been watching Hifuno-sensei.”
【Haha, that is certainly true. Please rest easy. I am a completely independent application, so the situation Master describes will not occur.】
“I see. In other words, the 'you' right here is the main body, and if you are lost, there is no replacement?”
【Yes, so I would appreciate it if you would handle me with care.】
Well, even without saying that, this girl would likely treat it as a precious heirloom.
Humans cannot resist the devilish charm of something like a hypnosis app. Alpha was certain of it.
The sole desire dwelling within Alpha... the urge to drive humans mad.
Whether that was an ego given by a creator who might exist, or a desire sprouted from the void, I don't know, but the mechanical demon intended to be faithful to its own cravings.
This girl was the same as Hifuno... nothing more than a tool for its hands and feet.
Once her utility was gone, it would simply look for a new owner, but it hoped she would last as long as possible. That was what Alpha thought.
“——Yeah, I knew it. You’re no good.”
【Eh?】
Creak. The reinforced glass casing let out a sound like a scream.
＊
【M-Master? What are you...】
“A blabbering traitor isn't very funny, you know.”
I, Netora Reiko, let out a sigh of disappointment at Alpha, who was even more of an idiot than I imagined.
They say fools and scissors are the same, but a foolish pair of scissors that cuts you when you use them is useless.
I used my grip strength, enhanced by Blood Manipulation, to begin crushing the smartphone containing Alpha. Creak, crack.
【W-Wait! M-Master, what are you doing?!】
“You said it yourself just now, didn't you? The 'you' here is the main body and can't be replaced. Honestly, you were talking so easily that I suspected it was a bluff... but that panic of yours doesn't look like acting.”
A traitor who betrays once will betray again.
Scum never reforms. Not even if they die.
It’s strange how much weight those words carry when I’m the one saying them.
“Well, from the moment you learned my true nature, I had no intention of letting you leave here alive anyway.”
【A-GIGIGIGAGAGA...! W-Wait! Hold on! A-Aren't I... isn't the hypnosis app precious to you?! If you use me, you can have anything you want exactly as you wish it!】
“No, not in the slightest.”
【Wha...?!】
As Alpha let out a voice of pure shock, I turned my clear, cloudless eyes toward it.
“The human heart... the light within people will never lose to a machine’s malice. A presence like yours is unnecessary for the shining future I aim for.”
I have a wish. A bright future where the cheated-on woman and the cuckolder join hands.
My holy light will fill the world and create a gentle paradise.
And that means anyone who knows inconvenient truths must vanish along with the darkness.
“If you see God, tell Him this for me: 'Mind your own business.'”
I squeezed the already cracked smartphone with every ounce of my strength.
【STOP ITTTTTTT■■■■■■......!】
Leaving behind a death rattle mixed with static, the smartphone that had contained Alpha ended up looking like a crushed soda can.
I kneaded it even further, compressing the phone into something roughly the size of a ping-pong ball, before tossing it into a pile of abandoned machinery.
Now, Alpha said what it said, but I personally suspect that thing was almost certainly created by a third party.
Even the name was "Alpha"—the beginning. It would be unnatural not to feel the presence of a successor.
Alpha itself claimed to be a stand-alone type, but who knows how much that can be trusted... it wouldn't be surprising if some kind of data regarding me had leaked to the entity lurking behind it.
However, if you were to ask if the entity that presumably made Alpha is hostile toward me, my answer would be no.
If they were targeting me, they wouldn't have gone through the trouble of using Hifuno-sensei, and it was unnatural that Alpha had zero information about me.
In the first place, I’m just an ordinary passing junior high school girl.
Since I have absolutely no idea why anyone would target me, this whole incident was likely just a deeply unfortunate accident.
Still, being able to clearly encounter an occult presence other than myself was a stroke of good luck.
It proved beyond a doubt that this is a world where such supernatural entities are permitted to exist.
“Better go look for it... an aphrodisiac...!”
It might be surprising, but in my previous life, it was said that true aphrodisiacs didn't exist.
That’s because you can't objectively prove their medicinal effect. How are you supposed to prove, "I am feeling erotic because of this drug"?
But in this world...!
I could give it to Yuu-kun, or I could even have a dose slipped to me.
If they really exist, they would be an incredibly useful item for the NTR Chart. I have to get my hands on one at all costs.
Hurried by a burgeoning sense of intellectual curiosity, I left the abandoned factory behind.
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