“Oh dear, I'm sorry, but I'm just that twisted. I simply love making pretty girls wear uniforms and obey my every command, enjoying the envious looks of others who want what they can't have.”
Seeing Lillian about to refuse, Ain clutched his wound and let out a painful groan.
“Hiss! Taking two of Sevis's Holy Light Judgments... I don't even know how many ribs I broke.”
“Ugh...”
“What? You're not willing?”
“Your request is a bit too perverted...”
Lillian lowered her head and murmured, “Besides, do you really want to... with someone like me?”
Ain interrupted her, “Actually, the thought of you being a future witch, yet having to call a nobody like me your master today, makes me even more excited.”
“It gives a real sense of accomplishment, doesn't it?”
“Sigh, if you're not willing, then forget it. Just buy me wraps for a week instead. How about that?”
Lillian pouted.
“I didn't say I wouldn't...”
“What?”
“...Nothing.”
“In that case, I'll be going?”
Ain stood up, making as if to walk out the door.
“Wait!”
Lillian grabbed the hem of Ain's shirt, biting her lip, struggling to find the words.
“After saying all that, you just want to know about my witchification, don't you?”
“Ah, I've been found out...”
Ain sighed. Just as described in the game, witches naturally possessed the ability to read the thoughts of living beings.
Even though Lillian hadn't fully undergone witchification yet, she had likely detected his motive because of this ability.
The game had only mentioned that Lillian would completely lose control at the end of the second act, not only undergoing witchification but also triggering a magical beast riot at the academy.
As for why Lillian would lose control, or why she contracted the condition of witchification in the first place, the game had never mentioned it.
And the witch species was a race that belonged to the demon race hundreds of years ago. As for why they ultimately went extinct, no one knew.
Seeing Ain sit back down on the chair, Lillian poured out everything that had happened in her childhood.
“Hiss, so from what you're saying, your parents corrupted you into an evil entity for the sake of the family's development, making you the scapegoat for that day?”
“There was no scapegoat. The culprit behind everything was me all along.”
“And your parents just abandoned you like that?”
“...Yes.”
“That's great. That way, I won't have to visit your parents to ask for your hand in marriage in the future. It's actually quite convenient.”
“???”
Was he really just blathering whatever random thoughts popped into his head?
Ain smiled and said, “Is it that strange? I've always liked pretty girls. It's only normal to look around a bit at the academy, right?”
“Who wants to... Even, even if you insist on pursuing me, Erylin—Erylin definitely wouldn't agree to it!”
“If you put it that way, how about I win over Erylin as well?”
“Huh?!”
“She's the universally acknowledged number one beauty of the academy. Pursuing her would probably give a great sense of accomplishment too.”
“No, no, no! No way! How could you ever successfully pursue Erylin!”
“And even if you tried to get close to Erylin, Vanessa—Vanessa would definitely stop you!”
“Oh? There's a third person in your little circle of best friends?”
Ain licked his lips.
Lillian's expression at this moment was like this.
⊙_⊙
The young girl's clear eyes instantly widened into perfect circles. As if she hadn't fully processed the meaning of those words yet, she blinked blankly a couple of times.
Clearly, Ain's grand blueprint of juggling three girls at once completely exceeded her meager imagination.
“You, I...”
The girl pointed at Ain, then at herself.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Erylin?”
“Yep.”
“Vanessa?”
“Exactly!”
“You pervert!”
Lillian couldn't help but spit in disgust. She never would have imagined that the man before her could have such filthy thoughts.
“If you dare to hurt them, I'll, I'll!”
“You'll what?”
Ain continued to smile, seemingly unafraid of Lillian taking action against him.
“See? Don't you still have many people you care about in this academy?”
“Are you really willing to abandon them?”
“I...”
Lillian froze instantly, her mouth slightly open but unable to make a sound. She clearly hadn't expected Ain to suddenly throw such a question at her.
“Your past doesn't define your life. The idea of going to your death alone is what's truly selfish to those who care about you.”
“But! If one day I...”
Ain didn't give Lillian a chance to continue.
“Do you think you can protect everyone this way?”
“How ridiculous!”
“Do you think dying will just resolve everything? But have you ever thought about what they would do if you really died! Your death won't bring release; instead, it will become a lifelong shadow branded on their hearts! It will make them live in guilt for the rest of their lives!”
“I...”
“You'll be at peace, putting on a show of generously marching to your death so the world can praise your noble character. But what about them? What about the people who care about you? Even in death, are you going to torture them for the rest of their lives?”
“Have you never thought that your death is actually the most cruel punishment for them?”
Lillian bit her lip tightly. When Ain had declared his intention to pursue both Erylin and Vanessa at the same time, her heart had indeed been filled with extreme resistance.
She didn't want the people she cherished most to be hurt ever again.
“The most cruel punishment...?”
Lillian murmured. She finally understood why Ain had spoken so much nonsense.
Going in such a huge circle... it had all been for her, to change the foolish thoughts in her mind.
Tears glistened in the corners of Lillian's eyes, her emotions slipping out of her control.
“You big liar, you've been doing this from the very beginning!”
Ain smiled and didn't deny it.
“None of them want you to disappear from this world. Neither do I.”
“After all, if the girl I like suddenly vanishes one day, I'll be very sad.”
“...Can't a single honest word come out of your mouth?”
Lillian wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. An unusual sensation welled up in her chest, and an indescribable emotion flooded her mind.
Gratitude, guilt, sadness...
Lillian couldn't put into words what kind of mood it was, but the heavy throb in her chest was washing over her soul without a moment's pause.
It took Lillian a full few minutes to calm down before she spoke in a soft voice.
“Why are you being so nice to me...”
Ain stood up and patted Lillian's head.
“What? Feeling a bit better?”
“Yes.”
Ain gathered his things and walked toward the door.
“Nothing else?”
Lillian nodded.
“Then I wish the future Lady Witch sweet dreams tonight.”
Ain turned off the lights.
“Oh, right, don't forget that week's worth of wraps.”
“Wait, don't!”
The door had already been closed; the girl's voice ultimately failed to reach his ears.
“He's gone...”
In the dark room, the girl stared blankly in the direction Ain had left, curling her body up, her eyes filled with loneliness.
Then, Lillian let out a bitter laugh.
“How could someone as sinful as me ever deserve his gentleness?”
How could she dare to crave his affection?
Rate on N.U.
