Chapter 17 Interlaced Feelings

"Did you use me?"

"Yes, I've been using you all along." When I said this coldly once again, Kania's expression twisted even more. I looked at her and began to speak with a cold face. "You should know that the Starlight family is a family of heroes."

"Yes, I know."

"And in our family, there is a prophecy passed down."

"A prophecy?"

"Yes. The prophecy says that exactly one thousand years after the death of the Demon King, the successor of the Demon King and the hero will reappear in this world." Hearing this, Kania slowly spoke.

"...So, the hero is you, young master?"

"Yes, but I have a curse on me."

"A curse?"

"If my good deeds are discovered, my power will weaken. And the more notoriety I accumulate, the stronger my power will become. This is a curse that the previous Demon King desperately cast on the succeeding hero before dying." After listening to my words, Kania nodded with a gloomy face. I unexpectedly felt that things seemed to be going smoothly and continued, "So, from childhood until now, I've been blatantly doing bad things. Only in this way can I defeat the Demon King."

"Is... that so?" Kania gritted her teeth and retorted. It seemed that she was extremely angry at my brazen remarks.

"Yes, so I've done a lot of excessive things to you."

"..."

"I never expected to be forgiven by you. All the humiliation and pain you've endured until now can't be washed away with just a simple apology."

"...Yes." I forced myself not to look at Kania's distorted expression, heaved a long sigh, and ended the conversation. "Since you just discovered my good deeds, I'll become weak for a while."

"...For a while?"

"Of course, there may also be a permanent decrease in ability. But don't worry. Although my body will be weak, after a little rest, I can recover the power to defeat the Demon King."

"I see."

"Anyway, it's meaningless to impose a punishment on someone who has already discovered the truth... From now on, I won't do evil to you anymore." I said as emotionlessly and stiffly as possible. Kania also looked at me expressionlessly and said, "Thank you."

"Yeah."After that, the dormitory fell into a profound silence.

"...I have a question."

"What?"

"I saw what you did to me in the early morning."

"...Ah." Hearing this, I closed my mouth. Kania stared at me coldly and threw out her question. "What were you doing then?"

"...That was using the power of the hero to help you recover."

"Recover?"

"Yes, helping you recover is a good deed, so I can only do it secretly. If you feel uncomfortable, I apologize."

"...No need."

"I'll help you recover once every night from now on. If it's interrupted one day, big problems may occur."

"Okay." After Kania replied briefly, for a while, Kania and I stared at each other expressionlessly.

'...Should this be enough?' If I say this, Kania should not attack me or kill me. Of course, the resentment she has accumulated in her heart will not dissipate because of this, but to avoid her self - blame, I can only explain it this way.

"Then, I'll take my leave first, young master."

"Okay, that's it... By the way, I plan to visit the Duke's mansion next week. Prepare in advance."

"Un...derstood..." Kania finally couldn't hold back her expression and replied resentfully after I said it shamelessly. Well, if I were in her shoes, if the person who had tortured me for a lifetime suddenly said there were difficulties and asked me to understand, I would also show a contemptuous expression. However, this is okay. Because I must bear this hatred alone.

[Earned 10 Pseudo - kindness Points! (Contradictory Feelings)] I stared at the system prompt that emerged in front of me for a while. It was stingily giving points related to Kania because my pseudo - kindness had been seen through by her. Then I looked away and suddenly had a question.

'...By the way, what's the date today?' I barely supported my body, which was creaking due to the massive loss of life force and lifespan, picked up the calendar and took a look, and sighed and muttered, "Classes will start again tomorrow." It was a rare week with overlapping imperial holidays, but instead of getting a good rest, I got a debuff. Thinking about going to class tomorrow was really painful. In my current physical condition, I'm afraid I'll faint before I can even last an hour of class. Moreover, I may need Kania's support to walk in the corridor. However, considering there are still many things to do next, I must find a way to get through it.

- Creak... I took out the "Stone of Domination" from the box hidden under the bed and muttered, "...It's time to help Irina." The attack on the civilian dormitory was about to come.

....."You're a bit late, aren't you?"

"...Sorry."

"I'm sorry!"

"Miss Pelosh, I'm not talking about you."

"...Ah." Kania, who came out of Frey's dormitory, walked towards the backstreet café where the Princess and the Saintess were waiting.

"So why are you late? Could it be that you took the initiative first?"

"That's not the case. It's just some personal reasons."

"Personal reasons? It's really curious that Miss Kania has personal reasons."

"...I also have a question."

"What is it?" Kania looked at the Princess, who was asking her with great interest, with a confused expression and raised her question. "Why was the secret meeting place chosen as a cat café?"

Klarna, who heard this, was gently stroking a cat on her lap.

"Meow..."

"So cute..."

"Haa!"

"Sorry!" And Pelosh, who was standing closely beside Klarna and wanted to touch the cat on the Princess's lap, was hissed at by the cat and deflated, shrinking into a ball.

"It seems you don't know. Cafés are the holy land for spies. Talking about secrets in a café is like selling your own secrets for free to the imperial intelligence agents."

"...Is a cat café different then?"

"Of course it's different. A cat café is a place to stroke cats and heal the soul, not a place to exchange information. How could intelligence agents go to such a place?"

" Oh, I see.." Although Kania said so, looking at Klarna, whose cheeks were flushed and who was busy picking up every passing cat onto her lap, she couldn't help but show a suspicious look. Then, she quickly changed the topic.

"So, what's the next plan?"

"Simple. Destroy Frey and then kill him."

"Exactly! He must be killed!"

"Saintess, how can you say such a thing so calmly?" Kania clenched her fists and stared at Pelosh, who was shouting loudly, in disbelief. Pelosh tilted her head and replied, "But didn't Lord Sun God already bestow his blessing on me?"

"Wait, what did you just say... blessing?" Klarna asked in surprise when she heard this, and Pelosh smiled and replied, "Yeah, I asked Him to help me tear Frey apart, and He really gave me a blessing! Did I do a good job!"

"But, but... Isn't that kind of blessing something that requires a whole year of sacred rituals to obtain?"

"Ah? I just prayed sincerely, and He gave it to me?"

"....???" Hearing these words, the Princess showed an incredulous expression and tilted her head in thought, while Kania frowned and muttered in a low voice.

"Why would the Sun God..."

"...Ah? Did you just say the Sun God?"

"Ah, that..."

"So Miss Kania is also interested in the Sun God! Great! When will you come to our church to receive a blessing..."

"I'll die if I receive a blessing."

"What!? Why!?"

"Because I'm a black mage."

"Ah..." Hearing this, Pelosh suddenly realized that the person in front of her was a black mage and began to quietly back away.

"Didn't you see me using black magic at the auction last time? Why are you reacting like this now?"

"Ah, is that so?"

"And didn't you play with the mass of my black magic by kneading it with your hands?"

"Exactly! That was so much fun!" Hearing this, Pelosh's eyes lit up, and she approached Kania again, stretching out her hand. "Oh, can you give it to me again today?"

"No."

"...What?"

"I will never give it to you again from now on." But after Kania coldly refused, Pelosh's face drooped in disappointment again.

"Um, we didn't come here to play." Klarna, who had seven cats sitting in a row on her lap at some point, stroked them and said to the two with a serious expression. "Miss Kania, please collect evidence of Frey's corruption. As his servant, this should be easy for you."

"Okay."

"Miss Pelosh, you have to study hard in this reincarnation."

"Okay! I understand... Ah? What?!" Pelosh looked shocked, and Klarna stared at her and continued, "What's wrong? Don't you want to lose the real power of the religious order again in this reincarnation?"

"Yes, that's right..."

"Then study hard and accumulate knowledge. Only in this way can you confront those old guys in the religious order."

"But, but... I'm too stupid..."

"Let me help you study. To restrain the Starlight Duke's family, we need the power of the religious order. So, I will definitely cure you... make you smart and become the real power - holder of the religious order."

"I, I will work hard!" Pelosh shouted with a determined expression, and Klarna smiled in satisfaction. Just then, someone suddenly spoke to them from behind.

"...What are you doing here?"

"Yikes!?" The Princess let out a startled scream, and the cats that were originally on her lap jumped onto the Saintess's lap. Pelosh suddenly had to take care of seven cats and froze in place, with cold sweat breaking out. Because the Princess had pushed off the important schedule of choosing a fiancé to participate in the auction, and the Saintess had missed the annual large - scale event, both of them were being pursued by the high - level.

"...Pr, Professor Isolte?"

"You don't have to use honorifics outside, Your Highness the Princess." However, the one who appeared behind Klarna was not a royal attendant or a clergy member of the church, but Isolte. Klarna looked at her in surprise and then smiled and asked, "...Why are you here?"

"I'm tracking down the illegal magic item craftsman who I almost caught in the dark alley recently."

"But why in a cat café..."

"I searched everywhere and couldn't find him, so I came here last. But it seems he's not here either." Isolte sighed and said. Klarna nodded and suddenly clapped her hands and threw out a question. "Ah, by the way, you were involved in the incident at the backstreet auction recently, right?"

"Yes, but...?"

"Why did you go to that auction?"

"Ah, that's because... with Frey..."

"...What!?" Klarna, who had originally asked the question just to gather information, immediately lit up when she heard Frey's name and began to question Isolte. "Was Mr. Frey there too? Why?"

"Ah, that... I mean..." Facing her question, Isolte showed a make things difficult for expression and was stammering, not knowing how to answer. At this time, Kania quickly interrupted and said, "I heard that Professor Isolte is dating the young master. It seems to be true."

"...Really!?"

"No, it's not!! How could we be lovers!" Seeing Isolte's shocked expression, Kania quietly looked away and muttered in a low voice. "A couple or husband and wife who enter the auction together... If they're not lovers... Do you already have a child?"

"...!!!" Hearing this, Isolte froze in place for a moment, with cold sweat breaking out, and wanted to defend herself.

"No, that's not the case..."

"Will the child be more like the young master or Professor Isolte? Personally, as the housekeeper of the Starlight family, I think it will be more like the young master..."

"Woo, wu..." Kania's remarks became more and more explicit. Her old habit flared up again, and her whole face turned red. She hurriedly ran out of the store.

""...."" The Princess and the Saintess stared blankly at her back and then turned their eyes to Kania. Kania shrugged and replied, "It seems that Professor Isolte has an unusual relationship with Frey. Coincidentally, Professor Isolte said she would give me private tutoring. So, from now on, I'll be responsible for prying information about Frey from her." Hearing these words, the Princess and the Saintess nodded with embarrassed expressions, and Kania stood up with a satisfied smile.

"Then, I'll take my leave first."

"Leaving so soon?"

"Yes, there are still many things to do to destroy Frey."

"That's true. Then, goodbye."

"I, I should go too...!"

"You have to come to the library with me."

"...What? But, but..."

"Have you already forgotten what you said just now?" Just like that, Kania left Pelosh, who looked desperate, and Klarna, who was severely reprimanding her, behind and walked expressionlessly towards the door.

.....'...From now on, I must prevent Professor Isolte from having private contact with the other two. The same goes for Irina and the fiancée.' I walked out of the store, stared at the back of Isolte running in the distance, and fell into deep thought. This morning, the young master lied to me. At first, I was very flustered, but listening to his explanation, I understood the reason why the young master lied. He made up a lie to ease my sense of guilt. The hero who gave up the route of easily defeating the Demon King by sacrificing himself and also gave up the route of defecting to the Demon King and chose to embark on the path of a pseudo - villain. The cruel fate of having to do evil to earn "points" in order to defeat the Demon King. A bumpy life that no one understands. If it was just like that, I might feel pity and want to help him, but it wouldn't be so heart - rending. However, I heard it. The shocking truth that the young Frey told me in his unconscious world. When I asked him to tell me if there was any act he had done because he loved me, after he said "constantly giving me life force to save me," the terrifying truth that followed.

"Frey's mother... died in a battle with your parents, who were black mages. Your parents coveted her starlight magic power, which was more dazzling than anyone else's."

"Wh...at...?"

"They wanted to steal that most dazzling starlight magic power, pollute it... and then inject it into the young you, thinking that they could create the most powerful artificial black mage in the world."

"Wha...t does this mean...?"

"But the experiment failed. The black magic generated by the fall of the starlight magic power was extremely powerful... But the imperfect mixture of starlight and darkness created a self - destructive curse that is eroding your life force."

"What did you say!!"

"After that, the sealed prophecy book woke up, and Frey's father learned of this and broke into the laboratory. But the aftermath of the self - destructive curse had already killed your parents. In the end, Frey's father cut off their heads with the family's precious sword and adopted you and your younger brother into the Starlight family."

"...Impossible. The clan leader was clearly on the street at that time..."

"After that, Frey read all the unsealed prophecy books. He was worried that he would hate you - the daughter of the parents who killed his mother, so he chose to tamper with his own and your memories with magic."

"Memory... tampering...?"

"His father, who respected his choice, copied the original prophecy book onto another piece of paper with his own clumsy handwriting, only modifying the prophecy about you, and then gave it to Frey."

"....""...This is the reason why Frey loves you. He made that choice because he was afraid of hating you." After hearing these words, when I learned that I had even cut his life at the cost of my own lifespan, I couldn't help but retch. As an evil black mage who had received "cursed" magic power, I felt unbearably disgusted. I loathed myself for my ignorance of constantly absorbing his life force to cure the curse imposed at the cost of the young master's mother's life while trying to use this power to kill him. Although the young master once said that he alone should be the one to be hated, I should have been the one he should have hated. So, I made up my mind. I will secretly help him. Even if he decides to push away my help and walk towards the end of his life alone, I will respect his choice and silently support him from behind. Because someone like me, who should have been hated by him, has no right to walk side by side with him.

"Of course, when the time comes, I will tell the truth and willingly accept the young master's hatred..." I muttered to myself as I quietly walked towards the dormitory. "...That is the day when I decide to disappear together with the young master after everything is over." It was time to enhance my strength to deal with the upcoming attack on the civilian dormitory.

....."...Lady Serena, what on earth is that?"

"Ah, this?" At the same time, in a certain place on the Western Continent.

"...That crooked thing looks like an earthworm. Why on earth have you been holding it all the way?"

"Who knows?"

"And why did you change the travel route to the ruins left by the hero a thousand years ago - Starlight Rahn?"

"Wanna take a guess?"

"Um... Every time we go to the ruins, I notice that you will carefully observe the words similar to the ones in Lady Serena's hand... I don't know much else..."

"Ah, this means 'hero'."

"...What?"

"Nothing." Serena Luna Moonlight, Frey's fiancée, was unknowingly threatening Frey's life