Of course something like this happens right after my date with Ophelia.
I need to hurry, can’t take my time with the cult.
The clothes are well hidden inside the forest, students rarely go there because of monster attacks.
Here, now to check whether anyone is looking or has placed some “cameras”.
.
.
No, doesn't seem like it.
I’ll change and go to the cult’s hideout.
.
.
.
The hideout is busy only during night time. People must have a life outside the cult.
That’s one of the rules.
When you get found out… You get sent to the Death Squad.
Or in other words…
“No, NO! I wasn’t! I swear! They just suspect me, you know? I can, I can move! Move cities! YES! They, they won’t think much! Haha! They’ll forget!”
You become cannon fodder.
…That poor guy is being dragged to the Forge.
The Forge is a place of the cult even known to the public.
"Weapons" are made there, but actual forges are absent.
I’m not familiar with the process in detail. People go in, get branded and leave as mindless zombies.
I assume it’s an advanced version of whatever it is in me.
…Not everyone who goes in comes back alive.
And they can’t even think for themselves either, so the Cult won’t send just anyone in there.
That’s… where I’ll be sent if I get marked as useless.
.
It got publicized to further ruin the Cult’s image… not that it was any good before.
Regardless.
Deep breaths.
*Knock* *Knock*
“Get in here.”
Iron Hound. My so-called boss.
“...”
“You’re rather quick. Good.”
He stood up, facing me.
He’s much higher than me.
“Come here.”
He looks as if he’ll kill me if I go…
.
I don’t like this.
“?”
He made a slightly confused face and waved at me.
His face softened?
Does he… just have a bad resting face?
.
…Not like I actually have a choice.
.
.
He placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Good job in the academy, Two-Face. I heard you impressed every teacher in your year.”
…?
I did?
…damn, I overdid it.
“Unlike someone who is late, you seem to have improved over summer, keep it up.”
Why is this so… nice?
His face now looks more like a kind uncle praising his nephew?
…but why…
Why does my body tense up?
“Now then, It’s time for your mission, but before that.”
His face went back to how it was.
*Hit!* *Crack*
*Slam*
“*Gasp* Agh *Cough* *Cough*”
Shit, it hurts, fuck, my side…
You fucker, a liver shot…
Can’t stand up… it hurts too much.
My rib just broke. Damn it, it hurts like hell.
“I don’t know how you found out about your actual mission at the Academy. Good soldiers don’t snoop around, Two-Face.”
My mission… to fucking seduce the heroines is what he means?
Damn, it… how did I get caught?
*Cough*
Fuck! Blood!
*Kick*
“Aaah! *Gasp* S-stop.”
It didn’t even hurt this much yesterday!
Fucker! I’ll kill you!
“Stop pretending Two-Face. Your name fits you fucking well. You managed to fool the cult good. You fooled even me!”
*Kick!*
*Slam!*
“*Cough* *Cough*”
I’m bleeding out…
Fuck… fuck his chairs… why are they so sturdy?
Don’t come closer, you fucker, with your ugly ass face.
“Acting pathetically is your talent I see. Are you acting even now?”
…I want to spit on his face.
“*Cough* *Cough*”
“God oh God. How come they even gave you that mission? You look ugly.”
Fuck you.
…Damn it.
My mask fell off…
“Now, you better spit it out. How did you find out?”
My head feels… lighter.
“I… *Cough*”
No. No! Fuck you!
You’re not forcing me!
“Hmm?”
You can’t… make me… bend…
“I… accidentally…”
Shit! My head! It hurts like hell!
Even one word… hurts so fucking much…
“Pathetic… Did you overhear your supervisor?”
My eyes got moist from all the pain…
I need to… lie.
But I… it hurts too much to talk…
I will… nod…
Fuck! Why does even this hurt! I hate it!
“I see. I’ll have a talk with him. And you. Drop your act, do it properly. No matter how funny it was to… Ha… Hahaha… HAHAHAHA!”
…
What?
…why is he…
“Hahaha! You pathetic piece of shit! Ahahaha! You were always like this! How could you act if you’ve found out just recently! AHAHAHA!”
.
.
…Recently? I see. So, I was the trigger for them to find out…
.
I’m feeling pathetic.
It’s not my fault, but… even those who forced me into this stupid mission laugh at me.
“Ha~ Damn, I haven’t laughed so much in a while. Catch, for making me laugh.”
It was a potion, also known as Holy Water.
I gulped it down through sheer will.
My consciousness barely held on for so long.
His punches felt more akin to sledgehammer hits.
…It must’ve been an expensive potion…
My wounds started healing immediately.
…There will be aftereffects though.
This much damage won’t perfectly heal from just one potion.
“Anyway, you can’t go against the cult, so you will try your best. You are the cult’s property, so be glad you get to experience such luxury as love at all.”
…Fuck you.
There is only one person in this world I should love.
And it’s not whoever you tell me.
“And yes. You act pathetically. I'm sure you’ve heard it before though… Just continue being useful.”
…
Even though I’m just acting as Roland would.
I feel awful.
Roland didn’t act with how he tried to seduce the heroines.
...at least I think he didn't
What would he even try to achieve if he did act?
…
Poor Roland…
All he did was follow his heart, but that heart… was the Cult.
He knew and yet still followed it.
…If I didn’t know how hard it is to tell yourself to not love somebody, when you actually do…
I would call Roland pathetic too.
“Now let’s begin the briefing…”
…
“...”
…what is he waiting for?
“I said. We will begin the briefing.”
.
.
I soon heard a muffled “Eek!” behind the door.
The door opened and a woman walked in.
I quickly put my mask on.
…I need to stand up.
Fuck… everything still hurts…
“I-I’m sorry for being late! S-Sir!”
“...If you look at Two-Face you’ll understand what happens with eaves-droppers around here.”
She… heard all that?
“I-I… I’m sorry…”
Does she…
Know?
“...Consider yourself lucky, I don’t feel like beating someone else.”
…
“Thank-Thank you, Sir!”
“Ha~. Your mission is tomorrow, or I guess today…”
.
.
The mission was simple yet… vile.
We are to sabotage the upcoming exam, the one in two weeks to be exact.
While the mission was easy to accomplish, the results were up to chance and even Iron-Hound understood that much.
.
.
Right now, me and Canary are on our way to the location.
“Don’t lose the seeds Roland.”
As soon as we left the office, her arrogant nature showed itself.
…Who is the two-faced one here?
“You’d better not overstep.”
“Hah, you don’t have to worry, Iron-Hound himself gave me the command to not spill your identity to anyone… except you, pfft.”
“What’s so funny?”
She keeps getting on my nerves.
…I’m already pissed off as is.
“Funny? It’s not just funny, it’s hilarious! Now I understand why they gave you that code name. Quite fitting. Just how do you manage?”
“Fuck off.”
“Oh, come on. Can’t I be curious? I’m an academy student too, remember? A girl at that. Don’t you know how much we like gossip? Oh, wait, that’s right, you know shit about girls! Loser!”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
.
.
Deep breaths Michael, she’s just a child.
Controlled by the cult, and probably with a heart-breaking past.
Yes, she is not obnoxious, just pitiful.
“...Boring. We arrived, give me the seeds.”
“I can do it myself.”
“Yeah, yeah, just hurry up before guards get to this area.”
Her flare seems to be all gone.
Good. As practice shows, stupid brats lose interest if you ignore them enough.
.
.
Now.
The most important part.
To complete the mission I would need to plant these seeds all around the forest area of the test.
This is a fast-growing plant that will lure monsters from a wide area.
Students will definitely not be able to escape unscratched if I were to plant all of them.
…Although, in the game, there weren’t any serious casualties,
But that doesn’t quite make sense, given that I know precisely how these plants work.
It’s not yet known as the Barbed Lily, but instead only by its name from the cult’s researchers, “Trapper”.
In short, it emits a smell that brainless monsters cannot resist, moreso, it’s addictive, making them go wild once all of it is consumed or destroyed.
That causes monsters to go on a rampage while searching for more of the plant.
Devastating to both people and nature alike, especially if planted in large quantities but small area… Which is exactly what the cult wants us to do.
.
Roland… He definitely didn’t follow the command.
From other incidents and my knowledge alone, it’s an easy guess.
Moreover… From limited memories I got, I can clearly feel the hate that Roland had for the cult.
And that is simply not possible under normal circumstances.
The cult does not allow us to hate it.
That is the main command everyone receives when drafted.
But he somehow does. By some means, he avoided receiving that command… or just overcame it.
Maybe even I have to thank him for it.
Who knows whether or not it would work on me if not for Roland?
.
.
Either way… how to deal with the situation on hand?
How to plant the seeds without hurting anyone?
Roland somehow managed to… but now that I’m here… I need to figure it out too.
“Are you having problems or something?”
“No. Just thinking.”
I planted just a few seeds from the pouch, it was still full.
“What? Don’t waste time, just dump them on the ground. Give it to me, I’ll do it.”
She reached for the bag, but I stepped back.
“Canary… What was our mission again?”
I think I have an idea.
“Are you dumb? Oh, right… It’s to plant these seeds here, you moron.”
…
“That wasn’t how he said it.”
“*Tsk*, “Go and plant them at the exam’s location”.”
Canary said that in a deep voice, both annoying me and mocking Iron-Hound.
“Yes, and this is just a small part of it.”
Planting them all here… Would bring the best results.
“And? He didn’t specify.”
…but she doesn’t know that.
“We need to cover a wider area, no, to cover the whole site, we have the approximate range, so we should manage before the guards come.”
By not planting them all in the same place, the concentration of the drug won’t be the same, so the range will suffer as well.
“Wait, wait, we? You fucking suck-up, you fucked up and now want to redeem yourself? Why do I have to suffer as well? I would much rather just go back to sleep!”
If we do it my way, there won’t be any casualties, as only monsters that were already living here would be present.
And even if they go rampart, the students should manage.
…But I can’t do it alone, I don’t have enough time.
“I’ll owe you.”
“Sorry?”
“I’ll owe you, be it money or favors.”
“Huh?”
She seemed to be surprised, even while wearing a mask, I could tell she was perplexed.
“That’s not quite like you… but I guess I don’t really know what “like you” even is… Okay, I can make it work.”
Good.
“Thank you.”
I hope this decision won’t come back to bite me later.
“Now, now.”
I could tell she was smiling.
“No need to thank me… This is a deal.”
…smiling widely.
“What sort of deal?”
“Nuh-uh, that would be no fun, give me a part of the seeds, let’s split to finish faster.”
…
No regrets now, Michael, it’s all for the sake of the kids.
.
.
.
The second part of our mission was to oversee the seeds during the mock-exam that was happening today.
This is probably why Canary Reaper assumed that we needed to plant them all at once, as it’s easier to, when they’re all in one place.
…But isn’t it far more conspicuous when a large amount of seeds just randomly appears in one place?
I think this is much better to not be noticed… should use that as an excuse.
Who would even suspect anything if they found a weird looking seed on the ground?
…Cien might, actually.
Yeah, her knowledge on plants is enough to discern that this sort of seed should not be present in this area of the forest…
Sure, she’ll be busy with the exam, but… just in case, I need to do something.
.
.
.
Hah~ this is so boring.
When the actual time for the mock exam came, we were told to separate into groups.
This time, we could pick our own teammates, but during the actual exam, the assignment will be up to chance.
…I was alone.
That’s better actually. I had more freedom of movement.
“Is that creep following us?”
Catherine, one of Cien’s underlings.
“Leave him, it’s gonna get worse if you pay attention to him, just don’t leave him any monsters, so that he leaves to get points.”
Quite a strategy Cien. One that would work if not for me killing a whole stack while planting seeds.
I have enough points to score me 2nd to 4th place.
“We can use him as bait if things go south, hoho~”
Vera… a nasty bitch.
“That’s unlike a lady, Vera, moreover, what could even happen?”
“That’s true, nothing can stand in our way.”
Even her smile is eerie.
…Should I have planted a bit more seeds just for Vera?
“Girls, what are your plans for the actual exams?”
“Hm? Are you fine discussing it with him around, Cien?”
“Tsk, I told you to ignore him, have I not, Catherine?”
I don’t even know if I should be offended.
“Well… I guess the same as now? Just with other people?”
“That’s a bad idea.”
That is indeed.
“What do you think the point of the current mock exam is?”
“To get hands-on experience before grading us?”
“Not quite. It’s to get familiar with the territory.”
Cien knows her stuff.
“Huh? Why?”
“To not be at a disadvantage.”
“...I don’t get it.”
“...me too.”
“Imagine you fought a Black Rabbit.”
“Easy, even in a pack.”
“They tend to ambush their prey.”
“...we know that.”
“Then tell me from where will they ambush you?”
“...”
“...like there?”
Vera pointed at some bushes near a tree.
“Good try, but no.”
Cien pointed up.
“They usually hide in the trees.”
“Sorry?”
“Rabbits? In the trees?”
“Yes. Remember, they are nothing like regular rabbits. They are monsters.”
“...I see.”
“By having experience of fighting in a forest, you will not only be less unaware of your surroundings, but even your footing will be more stable.”
“That can come in handy indeed.”
“Then I should take this mock exam a bit more seriously.”
“Yes… however, it’s a shame that only Red Wolves and Black Rabbits are present during the mock exam…”
“Oh? Do you perhaps know who we’ll face in the actual exams?”
We were notified prior about this, however the actual exams are supposed to be a surprise.
…But its not hard to guess.
“Shhh, don’t say it, or he’ll hear it too!”
What’s the point in whispering if you’re half screaming?
“I’m sure he already knows. The information on this region is not a secret and is easily found in the books from the library. Monsters in this region are not just Red Wolves and Black Rabbits. What most likely happened is that the staff just scared them away temporarily. They will be back before the exam itself.”
…and more eager than ever after finding the plants.
“Oh-ho~, are there any monsters we should be aware of?”
“Everything from Professor Marisse’s lectures.”
“E-Everything?”
“Yes. Why did you think we learned about them?”
“Eek! I have a lot of cramming to do!”
“Gosh, Catherine, you should spend more time studying.”
“I can’t help it! I need to go on so many dates!”
…It’s not uncommon for this world to be unfair.
“...”
“...I think there are some monsters up ahead.”
.
.
.
The mock exam went on without a hunch, no one suspected anything, nor was anyone in grave danger because of me.
I was relieved. I really was. Having someone’s blood on my hands is never pleasant… especially that of a kid.
“And so the Little Prince understood what lies behind her games and laughter… was a pure and sensible soul.”
As I finished today’s chapter, Lilian stood up and left.
Her back was unchanging and her stride as always fast.
I had a bitter smile on my face, but soon I would be wearing a real one.
.
.
.
Training can wait, I have to prepare for my date with Ophelia.
.
First, to buy the usual decorations.
She’ll like the green decorations, but I should also get some yellow ones for her new sunflowers that she planted.
A small cut-out of a sun is perfect.
“Together that will be 24 coins.”
“Here.”
The concept of money obviously exists in this world.
However, it’s not that sought after as in my previous one.
…what I mean by that is coins are pretty useless, everyone wants some artifacts or technology or even real estate instead of money.
Promissory notes and cheques are common things for nobility and the church.
However, the whole economy comes down to one thing.
The Mana Stones… I mean Holy Crystals exchange rates.
Those things are what powers the entire world.
Electricity doesn’t exist out here, yet, there’s lightbulbs, flushable toilets, ovens and even television, although that one is rather expensive.
It lacks in comparison to the modern world, but it has a stark contrast to the usual religious fantasy world.
…Honestly, I’m just glad I get to enjoy proper food… especially when it’s with Ophelia.
.
.
Here I am.
.
My palms are sweaty.
Am I nervous?
I saw the inside of her house thousands of times, know it like the back of my hand.
I don’t need to be nervous.
.
.
I really should knock.
.
.
*Knock*...*Knock-Knock*
“Coming~”
.
Am I missing something?
Breath? Fine.
Tie? Fine.
Hair? Fine.
I should be ready.
*Creak*
Here she is.
…Huh?
“Hello… Why are you dressed like that?”
“I…um… dressed for a date?”
“...you said we would be at my place?”
“...but a date, yes?”
“In my garden?”
“...yes?”
“Dressed like that?”
“...ah.”
Here’s what I get for going off script.
“Pffft. Did you forget or something?”
“...I had a rough day, okay?”
“Fine, fine, come in, I think I have some “unisex” clothes for you. Hehe.”
“...”
I really hope it’s not women's clothes… I went through enough cross-dressing for not 2 but 3 lifetimes.
…Damn you Fox.
.
.
“Here try it on.”
“...No peeking.”
“...doesn’t it usually go in reverse?”
“Not for me.”
“Huh?”
…didn’t mean to say that.
“...get out.”
“Geez, okay, okay, I’m going to be in the garden.”
Shoo.
.
Okay, this looks fine, not too feminine… or is it because of my face?
Shit, am I glad to be uglier?
…anyway.
.
.
Here she is, in her casual clothes.
She always wears those shorts to her garden. Might change her top depending on the season, but shorts always remain, even in winter… Something I got no answer to till the very end.
This time will be different.
.
.
“Here you are… Oh, it fits you well~”
“...”
Do all women react like that to cross-dressing?
Wait, no, I’m not cross-dressing, it's unisex.
…I hate it.
“Don’t make that face, come help me with the sun you brought, you’re taller than me.”
Barely.
“In the corner closer to the sunflowers, right?”
“I like your idea Roland. Go on, but check if it won’t scratch the glass first.”
“It won’t.”
This one is always there.
Her greenhouse is yet to look as I remember it.
It’s spacious right now, with a lot of room for new flowers, and especially new decorations.
We will decorate it as time goes by… as it should be.
.
It’s still surprising how she managed to afford a house with a greenhouse, even if it’s closer to the edge of the capital.
Well… I know how she did it, but it’s still surprising.
“Roland, do you know how to tend to sunflowers?”
“Yeah, yeah, do you have stakes, or should I make some?”
“I do, they are in the storage, the watering cans are there as well.”
Storage should be here, to the left.
.
Yeah, and the stakes are on the upper shelf as usual.
“Got everything! Com- Did you forget anything?”
“...I never told you where the storage was, right?”
“Nope.”
“...I’m not even gonna ask.”
“Great idea, do I also take the seeds from the back?”
“...stalker.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
.
.
“*Phew*, you do know your way around a garden, don’t you Roland?”
“I sure do, my skills are a bit rusty though.”
“Doesn’t look like it… Why did you even learn gardening?”
“Hmm… I’m sure you can guess~”
“...was it because of me?”
Heh, I can’t help but smile.
“No, you silly, do you think I do everything for you?”
.
Why do you look disappointed?
“Then why? Just a hobby?”
“...No. I learned it to… court a woman…”
Not my proudest of moments.
“*Gasp* And not for me?”
“You don’t even sound angry, try better. But no, not for you.”
“...Who was she?”
“Jealous?”
“...maybe?”
That’s… weirdly pleasant to hear?
“She was… an older woman. A woman I didn’t want to let go.”
“...How much older?”
“...In my defence she didn’t look her age.”
“...Don’t answer… but continue.”
“I was at a hospital at the time. She was volunteering there, and I was among many she pitied… but she was different from everyone else. As someone who was met with pity for my entire life, I could tell how genuine she was. Everything about her was… angelic.”
“...could it be?”
“No, no, she wasn’t an actual angel. Those almost never descend from heaven.”
“You talk as if you know.”
“...”
“Screw you.”
“Well, I know a lot, okay?”
“...you aren’t joking?”
“May I finish?”
“...Sorry, yeah.”
“She… She gave me something I didn’t know I wished for… That warmth is still something I remember fondly… Yet… If I didn’t do anything I knew I’d lose her… That’s where the stupid idea of courting her came into my mind.”
“And so you learned gardening?”
“Ah…no, actually that came much later in the story.”
“?”
“This is a bit embarrassing, but I was 15 at the time, so the best I could think of was just to follow her around… I was a bit clingy, and I’d rather not say to what extent.”
“...like a puppy?”
“...exactly like a puppy.”
Don’t give me that smile, I’m still embarrassed about it.
“How did she react?”
“She… um… called her son.”
“...Of course she has a son.”
“...”
That’s not even the worst part…
“...How old was he?”
“...don’t read my thoughts.”
“...By?”
“...8 years.”
“...have you been to the confessional yet?”
“Don’t… just don’t mention it… he still haunts my nightmares about it.”
“...how long were you at it?”
“Much…much longer than I should’ve.”
“...do you regret it?”
That…
.
“Not a bit.”
“Hm? Now you’re shameless out of a sudden?”
“I’m embarrassed about it, but I will never regret it.”
“Why so?”
“After she told about me to her son, he came with her to the hospital. I thought he was a thug, trying to get me off of his mother… and he was, but his means were… a bit weird.”
“Elaborate?”
“He told me that his mother cared too much about me, and that was a bad thing, so I should stop.”
“How is that weird?”
“Because he thought I pestered his mother out of boredom and lack of friends.”
“Huh?”
“So he said he’d play with me.”
“Did you… agree?”
“Of course not, especially considering how he looked, and that he sucks at playing games.”
“...”
“...Those were good times. times where I somehow forgot about my predicament, forgot about my health, and about my environment… I was happy for the first time in a while.”
“...”
“And one day, that happiness was bound to end. She was going to leave. It’s not like her stay was permanent in the first place. She overstayed by a ton because of me.”
“...”
“But I wouldn’t let go. My stubbornness didn’t have limits back then. I would follow her despite anyone’s opinion… That is what led her son to make a deal with me… A deal I simply could not refuse.”
“...”
“...”
.
.
“Don’t leave me hanging!”
“Oi, oi, no violence! I just can’t say!”
“Again!? Why even tell me in the first place!?”
“Cmon! I don’t really think about what I can or cannot say to you all the time!”
“Grrr.”
“Fine, fine, I can at least tell you the outcome.”
“...”
“That’s how I met my Family.”
“?”
“He is a person I’ve come to respect the most in this world, the one who taught me almost everything I know… and even saved my life… Partially, he’s the reason I even met you.”
He was the one who advised me on streaming.
“...the Eldest Brother.”
“Indeed.”
“...the Hero, that one?”
“That’s… I guess.”
“...and you… courted his mother?”
“Well… Yeah?”
.
.
“Pffft! Ahahaha! Are you insane? Haha! And how long did that last, you say?”
“...until even after I found out what he’s capable of.”
“Hahaha! Stop! No more!”
“I went through hell because of it, don’t laugh.”
“Ahahaha. Sorry. Sorry, I can’t help it. Hah, *phew*. To tears, Roland, to tears.”
…
Although, I really don’t feel like laughing… seeing her smile like this…
It really makes me happy.
