Chapter 247: Preparation Time

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༺ Preparation Time ༻

"Uh…"

As I gently caressed Lulu's rumbling belly, I soon fixed my gaze on the affection system window that I had been manipulating until then.

Affection System Lv 4

< Details – Completed Heroine Conquest Management >

Isolet Arham Bywalker

ㄴ Worry (70%) Lust (10%) Maternal Love (20%)

The Affection System had upgraded to Lv 4, allowing me to constantly know the strongest emotions she held toward me.

'She seems to have been quite worried about me…'

Ignoring the two latter emotions, I turned my gaze to Isolet, who was staring at me with a blank expression.

I really wanted to go to her house directly, but after realizing that the pursuers organized by Vener were scattered all over the Empire, I had no choice but to give up.

Her house was prominently located in the center of the imperial capital.

It was safer to have her come here than risk going to her place.

Clana and Lulu, who had gone out for a while, also tried desperately to stop me from leaving.

"Hmm?"

As I remembered the devastated expression they had when I said I'd go to Isolet's house, I asked with a puzzled look when Lulu suddenly raised her head.

"What's wrong? Lulu?"

"…I think someone's here."

Then, Lulu whispered with her ears perking up.

"It's probably the servants."

"It feels different somehow…"

Despite my casual response, Lulu, who had been mumbling in a low voice, hopped down from my lap and headed for the door.

"I'll go check and come back."

"…Okay."

Lately, Lulu's detection ability seemed to be getting better. The awakening of her Magic Eyes should have been over, but could it still be developing?

Also, there were times when she took me by surprise, and occasionally, I found her quite charming. Was it because we've been so close?

"Ugh…"

"Sister, have you come to your senses?"

Lost in a peculiar thought for a moment, I turned my gaze to Isolet, who had been sipping on a hangover cure and looking dazed.

"…Yes, I have."

Isolet, with her face flushed red, nodded quietly.

Current Thoughts

– I want to raise Frey.

– I want to protect Frey.

Looking at her, I quietly used my newly leveled-up mind reading skill and then shook my head vehemently.

'I need to decrease her obsession a bit.'

If I couldn't stop her from worrying about me, I at least needed to decrease her level of concern.

And to do that, I first need to clarify our hierarchy.

Until now, I've been trying to disappoint her to make her worry, but now I plan to do the opposite.

In other words, a change in perspective.

I need to make her realize that I am far above her, and she should not dare worry about me.

She was a knight with an unwavering spirit after all.

"Get down."

"Wha, what?"

With that thought in mind, I soon spoke with a smug expression.

"Get down on the floor."

"Ah, understood…"

Then, looking somewhat bewildered, she began to get down on the floor as per my command.

"Lay down with your belly up. Like Lulu. If you're my knight, show your loyalty to me."

"…Ugh."

Having made her lie down to expose her belly, I gently stepped on her stomach while I remained seated.

"Now that you know my identity, there's no need to hide anymore."

Then I propped up my chin with my hand and began whispering to her in a soft voice.

"My time is indeed limited… but that's because I was drawing power from the Demon King."

"Ugh."

"Extending one's life isn't a challenging task. I also hold a rather high position in the Demon King's army."

With that, I applied more pressure with my foot, mockingly glancing at Isolet.

"You made a big mistake. Despite having a promising future, you willingly became my servant? Sister—no, you are now beneath me."

"...."

"Well, it's your decision. Regret won't change anything now. Henceforth, you'll be at the forefront of destroying the empire under my command…"

I abruptly picked up the shirt she had worn.

"No, just stay beneath my feet for the rest of your life. It suits you."

– Whoosh…

"…You perverted piece of trash."

I mockingly whispered and threw the shirt at Isolet's face. She stared at me blankly before falling dead silent.

"Thank you… for letting me… know my place… Master."

After what felt like an eternity, a quivering voice emerged from beneath the shirt covering her mouth.

Affection System Lv 4

< Completed Heroine Conquest Management >

Isolet Arham Bywalker

ㄴ Worry (15%)

"Sigh…"

Observing her worry diminish significantly, it appeared that I had made the correct decision.

I needed to assert my dominance over her consistently.

This way, I could maintain control over her for some time, right?

Affection System Lv 4

Impulse (39%) Patience (41%) Desire to Teach (5%)

For now, I should disregard the other emotions that have emerged.

– Whoosh…

While stepping on Isolet's stomach, I turned my head quietly toward the door.

"Mas, Master."

To my surprise, Lulu appeared shocked.

"Please, control only me…"

I glanced at the flustered Lulu, tilting my head. Then, I kicked Isolet and felt cold sweat break out.

– Peek…

Someone cautiously stuck their head out next to Lulu, making me freeze in place.

– Whoosh!

At the same time, that person hastily pulled back.

– Peek, Peek…

But soon, they timidly resumed scanning the room.

'I'm losing my mind.'

I couldn't believe I found myself in this surreal situation.

Current Thoughts

– I genuinely like you, Frey—a lot.

– I just like you. Just seeing you makes me happy.

– I'd love to go on a date with you, Frey.

The duration of the mind-reading skill was about to end, but it managed to catch those thoughts. The unmistakable moon-colored eyes made the visitor's identity clear.

I had a hunch from the moment the date mission came up earlier, but…

Current Thoughts

– I want to have a baby with you, Frey.

"Sigh."

It appears my fiancée has tracked me down.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Hehe… Hehe…"

Serena settled down, gazing at Frey with a childlike, dreamy smile.

"…Why are you here?"

Frey looked annoyed and asked Serena grumpily, resting his chin on the sofa's armrest.

"Oh, well… You see…"

Thinking she should wear a patient gown like Frey while caring for him, Serena quickly turned to him and explained.

"Yo-you… You're hurt, right? So… I want to take care of you."

"I'm all healed up."

"Wh-what?"

"I'm healthy enough to be discharged right now. So, I don't need any nursing."

She appeared shocked as Frey spoke firmly, derailing the grand plan she had in mind.

"You still need to rest, right? If you're not feeling well, you should rest. In the first place, you're officially missing right now."

"Yeah, sure."

"So, I should be by your side…"

"I don't need you."

Serena, trying hard to be vital, was left dumbfounded when Frey hugged Lulu, who was beside him.

"…Kiss."

While looking at Serena, Frey suddenly leaned down and kissed Lulu lying in his lap.

"Lulu and Isolet will take care of me. So, I don't need you."

After Frey's assertive statement, a heavy silence settled in the room.

"I… see…"

Serena, visibly disheartened, bowed her head.

"It was me… who wasn't needed."

Lulu claimed her place at Frey's feet, monopolizing his affection.

Meanwhile, Isolet casually toyed with a knife in the background; her sharp eyes hid some dark intentions.

Serena saw them as intruders, but Frey's perspective made her realize she was the intruder.

"Even so…"

Nevertheless, she whispered with a cheerful smile.

"I like you, Frey."

Serena's thoughts in Frey's mind reading skill hadn't changed since childhood.

"Well, in that case… Huh?"

Frey's eyes widened abruptly as he looked at Serena, preparing to dismiss her.

"…What?"

Suddenly, Frey began to break out in a cold sweat.

"Uh, hmm…"

His gaze was fixed on thin air.

"Hmm…"

Serena's eyes gleamed as she noticed Frey's unusual behavior.

"What kind of black magic is that?"

"What?"

Serena, curious, asked a question.

"It seems like there's a rectangular thing in front of your eyes with writing on it… it's about this big… um…"

"…Oh."

It was the system window she had seen during Clana's engagement ceremony a few months ago.

"Just forget about that."

"…Okay."

Frey shook his head and Serena's tense expression eased.

"As expected…"

"...!"

Seeing this, Lulu recognized the situation, while Isolet looked surprised.

"What, what…? What was that just now?"

Miho, crouching and glaring at Frey, looked shocked.

'She pushed it this time.'

Even though black magic was used in front of them, only Miho's affection decreased.

Frey looked troubled.

"…Get ready."

"Huh?"

He told Serena, who had just regained consciousness and stood up.

"Get ready for our date."

"Yes, alright… Wait, what!?"

Serena grumpily responded, but then she understood Frey's words and got excited.

"Why, you don't want to go?"

"No, no no no! I do!!"

Frey asked softly, and Serena quickly nodded.

"Get ready then."

"Um…"

"We're leaving in 30 minutes."

"Gasp! Oh! Huh?"

With that, Serena started making strange noises as Frey surprised her.

"M, Miho, pinch me."

Hastily, she ran to Miho, who was in a corner and asked her to pinch her.

– Squeeeze…

"Eek…"

Miho, seemingly upset, pinched and pulled Serena's cheek, making it stretch.

"…What should I do? Where do I start? A storm? Do I summon a storm? No, first I have to buy an island… No, wait…"

"Calm down, human."

Feeling the pain, she realized this was reality; Serena's sharp mind started to overload.

"What should I do? What am I supposed to do?"

"Why are you asking me, human?"

"Well, first… the very first thing I should do is… um…"

Serena went on like a broken machine.

"…Ah."

"What, what is it?"

Suddenly, she grabbed Miho's shoulders, dragged her over to Frey, and began speaking.

"Miho, ask Frey for 'that treatment'!"

"…That treatment?"

"Yes! The spell you said was super effective on Frey!"

Upon hearing this, Miho's face began to turn pale.

"That, that is…!"

"I need to plan our date, so you need to restore Frey's vitality! As much as possible!!"

"But…"

"Please! Make him as lively as possible!"

However, it didn't matter to Serena, who looked like she had lost her mind.

"A date, my first-ever date with Frey… What should I do? Can I, can I hold his hand as we walk? And other people shouldn't see Frey, so how do I disguise him…"

With that, Serena opened the door and hurriedly ran somewhere, her mind still working overtime.

""...….""

And then, a moment of silence followed.

"You, you don't even know what this treatment is… Foolish human…"

"Hmm?"

As everyone's gaze focused, Miho, sulking, mumbled in a low voice.

"I need to step outside for a bit."

Until then, Isolet, who had been standing calmly in the corner of the room, tilted her head and walked toward the door.

"…I can feel someone's gaze."

Similar to Lulu earlier, she sensed something was amiss.

"Good."

Lulu was delighted when she realized that only she, Frey, and Miho were left in the room.

"Why would I give my life force… to that kid… Well, it's a contract but…"

"Open your mouth, Miho."

"…Ugh!"

With a cold expression, she ordered Miho.

"Bu…"

The Demon King had demonized Miho; still, she had difficulty resisting Lulu's Magic Eyes. Following her command, Miho slowly opened her mouth.

"Good job."

Now that what she had to do with Frey was clear. Miho looked at Frey with disgust as if she had chewed a bug.

Uhm…

From her outstretched tongue, her fox bead was slightly vibrating.

"Hmm."

Frey stepped forward and saw Miho flinch with tears forming in her eyes.

"Gugu!"

"…..?"

When Gugu appeared by squeezing through the slightly open window, she looked confused.

"Where have you been…?"

"Goo?"

Gugu, who had flown off somewhere despite her injuries and the other animals' discouragements, now appeared dumbfounded.

– Ferloche Astellade

And so must have been the sender of the letter Gugu handed to Frey.

– They're going to attack right now!!

Contrary to popular belief, pigeons were smart creatures.

– With the Hero Party! Annoying Vener is the leader! The party members are…

"Oh, dear."

Reading the letter, Frey's expression quickly hardened.

– Brace yourself! Lousy? Third-rate? Villain!

"Hu, hully…! Uman…! (Hu, hurry…! Human…!)"

Miho, who had been sticking out her tongue at Frey, urged him with a flushed expression.

.

.

.

.

.

Meanwhile…

"What… what do I do… What should I do…"

Roswyn, confined to her room, looked into the void with swollen eyes.

Helper System

> Identity of the Hero

– As you know, the identity of the Hero… [Fre]

System Restoration…[60% completed]

[

>Everything about the Hero

>Everything he has done

>Truths of the world

>Limitations that will be applied to you

>Etc.

….Will be available when System Restoration is complete

]

An indescribable fear was gradually closing in on her.

"Ugh, uhh… uhhhh…"

– Beep Beep… Beep…

The call from the Hero Party muffled her cries.