Chapter 4: Gradually Beginning Hypnosis

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Immediately, I set about experimenting with hypnosis.

There are three types of brainwashing I intend to use on Maria:

Make her keep her eyes fixed on me at all times. Make her become preoccupied with my scent. Make her aroused and horny.

Since this isn't an instant effect, it's best to start small like this.

That said, becoming obsessed with my smell and getting turned on will probably take some time to manifest. Unless she already has an interest in my aroma, that is, or maybe if she were more akin to a middle school boy from my old world who just discovered masturbation.

However, keeping her eyes glued to me seems relatively easy to achieve through hypnosis.

Maria had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the priest from the royal capital, after all. Since there was no conflict between her natural curiosity and the effects of the spell, it worked quickly.

"Is something wrong, Sister Maria?"

"What? Oh, no, not at all! I just...thought how neatly you eat!"

"Well, some of my acquaintances were quite knowledgeable about etiquette. Living for years in the royal capital seems to rub off on you."

"I can see that your devout and wholesome soul shines through even in such small gestures!"

"You think so?"

Despite my polite manners, I'm still full of lustful desires.

Besides, since the goddess herself prefers someone overflowing with passion, this might actually be counterproductive.

"In any case, nobody else around here would nitpick like that. Now please continue eating instead of staring at me."

"Oh, sorry!"

In summary, when I asked her not to gawk at me, she blushed.

Perfect. By drawing attention to her behavior, it will become more conscious in her mind. Even if she tries to stop herself from watching me, under the influence of hypnotic magic, she'll inadvertently find herself doing it anyway.

She looked just like a girl falling in love.

Really, there was no need for her to be so self-conscious about it.

All I needed was for her to misunderstand things. The emotions arising from that confusion would amplify the remaining two hypnotic effects even further.

While working in the fields...

During meals together...

When greeting townspeople...

Or while praying...

At first, these behaviors only emerged unconsciously, but as time went on, their influence grew stronger and stronger. Eventually, she started watching me even when she shouldn't have been—times when she should've been focusing on something else entirely.

"Lately, you seem distracted. Is something troubling you?"

"Oh, not at all...no, nothing's wrong."

"I won't force you to talk if you don't want to, but as your Sister, it is my duty to help."

"...Right."

During service hours, Maria pretended to pray while actually gazing at me instead.

Of course, since I wasn't actually praying seriously, it was obvious what she was doing—so that's why I called her out.

This is definitely a case of putting on airs, but thanks anyway, priestess position!

Since she really had been slacking off with her prayers, this makes me seem like quite the proper supervisor.

"Should we take tomorrow off?"

"No, no! Not at all! Tomorrow—in fact, starting today, I'll change my attitude! So please!"

"I'm not saying you should push yourself too hard. And I certainly don't mean to scold; everyone needs a break sometimes—even myself, perhaps even the goddess."

"The goddess, too?"

"It's possible, isn't it? Doesn't thinking about it that way make you feel closer to her? Well...if any bishops from the royal capital heard me say that, they might give me quite the lecture."

"...Heh-heh, yes, probably."

"Oh, and by the way, you look much cuter when you smile."

"A-adorable?! Eek!"

With his extended hand, he gently stroked Maria's hair.

The compliment flustered her even more, but there was no trace of disgust on her blushing face. Good, good—it seems like my favorability rating is steadily increasing.

"Oh, it wasn't anything...but you did startle me."

"I'm glad to hear that."

She gazed at my politely smiling face as if she were slightly dizzy.

I decided not to point this out and returned to my room to tackle today's tasks.

We had been living together for over three months now.

I already knew she wasn't particularly sexually driven. If only she would occasionally hide somewhere and masturbate, my hypnosis might have progressed faster. On the other hand, precisely because of her low libido, I can hardly wait to see how confused she'll become as her sexual desires continue to grow.

Since I'm back in my room now anyway, there's no excuse not to do some work, so at least for starters, I begin summarizing my daily reports haphazardly.

If this outpost were closer to the royal capital, I'd be obligated to submit monthly updates, but out here on the frontier, they don't mind if I compile them all once a year. Not that there is much worth reporting; it usually amounts to noting someone's worries here or healing such-and-such person's injury there, along with the amount of donations received. It ends up feeling more like a diary entry than anything else.

So, since nobody minds if I write things carelessly,

the royal capital has no way of knowing whether anything significant is actually happening.

For now, I'm only writing true things, but as my hypnosis progresses further, there will be more and more topics I can't touch on. Still, all I have to do is compile peaceful reports like nothing ever happened.

Oh yeah, that reminds me...

I've been using three different types of hypnotic spells on Maria continuously, but I've also cast enchantments on various townspeople.

The content of these spells makes them unable to perceive anything unusual about Maria's or my behavior. At present, they don't seem particularly effective, but if I keep it up steadily for half a year, eventually no one should care even if we walk around naked or stab someone with a knife—whether we're the victims or not.

To ensure this effect takes hold, though, I have to go out into town every day, listen to people's problems, and tackle their odd jobs, which gets tedious after a while. But once you make something part of your daily routine for three months, it starts feeling normal, so it isn't too bad.