As his consciousness returned...
The cold and oppressive basement vanished, and Ansu found himself back in Ms. Mary's bright office.
【Reality】
【Radiant Calendar Year 625, April 13th, 16:02】
【Comment: Congratulations! You've been brainwashed by the World Ending Witch once again, earning the achievement "Master of the Rinse Cycle"!】
【Compared to the first simulation, the host's ability to gather intelligence has significantly improved, and you have learned a new spell in a moment of crisis...】
【Evaluation: D+】
【Rewards: 12 Points, 「Charisma Boost Lv1」】
【Remaining Points: 50】
The rewards this time were indeed more substantial than the first simulation. Ansu quickly checked the new ability he had just acquired.
【Talent: Charisma Boost Lv1】
【Your charisma has significantly increased. When interacting with others, appropriately showing your good side will make it easier to gain their favor.】
【This talent is a passive ability and cannot be forced into effect. (PS: The attitude of others depends mostly on your own attitude. Sometimes, a sincere smile might bring you unexpected help...)】
After reading the specific description, Ansu wondered if the system was trying to act as some sort of life coach.
In truth, he would have preferred a powerful combat skill, or at least some kind of life-saving ability.
But on second thought, this ability might actually save his life too.
Was he turning into some kind of incubus?
Furthermore.
【Mage's Hand (Mastered) (Learning Progress: 50/50)】
It seemed that magic learned within the simulation could indeed be inherited. Ansu felt a surge of joy. This made his plan much more secure.
Inside the office, Ms. Mary stood with her arms crossed, watching Ansu who had remained silent for a long time.
"Well, aren't you going to speak?" she sneered. "You aren't trying to fabricate a lie on the spot, are you? Is your brain about to burst from the effort?"
"Of course not." Ansu's gaze shifted subtly toward the solid wood desk nearby.
Inside the second drawer of that desk sat the chemical that had knocked him out—ether.
"Ms. Mary, actually... this matter is quite difficult for me to speak about, because it was all for the sake of my sister."
"Your sister?" Ms. Mary frowned. "What does seeking out someone from the church have to do with your sister?"
"You know my family's current situation..." Ansu offered a helpless yet sincere smile. "We're so poor that I can barely afford school. But my sister is so brilliant. It would be such a shame if she couldn't attend..."
Ansu's smile was incredibly genuine. Ms. Mary looked at that smile and dithered for a moment.
"A church school?"
Following Ansu's lead, she instinctively thought of that possibility.
"Yes!" Ansu nodded. "A church school. If my sister can get in, the tuition is halved. So I wanted to use my connections..."
A faint surge of magic condensed into form. A Mage's Hand quietly appeared behind Ms. Mary.
"Connections?" Ms. Mary eyed Ansu suspiciously. "I know your family situation very well. Since when did you have connections with the church?"
"Ms. Mary." Ansu gave a meaningful smile. "There are probably many things you don't know..."
Ms. Mary's frown deepened. She suddenly felt a strange sensation.
"What on earth are you talking about?"
Ansu smiled but said nothing.
"It seems I'll have to use some methods after all..." She was about to step forward when she noticed Ansu had inexplicably covered his nose and mouth.
"You..."
Behind Ms. Mary, the sound of a drawer opening clicked softly.
She realized something instantly and whipped her head around.
But it was too late. The bottle filled with ether shattered right in front of her face.
Crack!
Ms. Mary's eyes widened. Everything had happened so fast.
The pungent chemical gas evaporated rapidly. The dosage in that bottle was so high that Ms. Mary's body went limp almost immediately, and she collapsed to the floor.
"How... did you know..."
Her consciousness faded into a blur, and her eyes slowly closed.
"I knew because you were the one who told me."
How the tables have turned!
Ansu held his breath, threw open the door, and sprinted out of Ms. Mary's office.
After holding his breath for nearly forty seconds, Ansu finally dared to open his mouth and gasp for fresh air in the hallway.
Ms. Mary was dealt with, and he seemed to have plenty of time. However, Ansu didn't dare waste a single second. After leaving the school, he hailed a rental carriage heading toward the Riverside District.
In the simulation, Ansu remembered Celia mentioning that she usually researched magic in her secret manor in the Riverside District.
That place should be a secret stronghold for the Echoes of Truth.
Though he hated to admit it, the only person who could save him right now was that wicked witch who had brainwashed him into a Puppet twice.
Just thinking about the fact that he might be entangled with her for a long time in the future made his head ache.
What a twisted fate.
After getting off the carriage, Ansu looked at the elegant surroundings of the wealthy district, feeling a bit lost for a moment.
The problem was, how was he supposed to find her?
The environment in the Riverside District was a world apart from where Ansu lived. It had wide, clean streets, manicured lawns, and luxurious manors. A few maids trimming the gardens looked at Ansu with curiosity.
Ansu wandered aimlessly for a bit, feeling like the servants were watching him as if he were a thief.
After thinking for a moment, he came up with a good idea.
Ansu sat on a roadside bench, closed his eyes, and began his Meditation.
Meditation was a mandatory course for all mages. By concentrating on perceiving the world and entering a state of immersive spiritual experience, one could slowly recover magic and reach an optimal state for cultivation.
Ms. Mary's level was too low to notice such a faint and continuous flow of magic, but Celia was a supreme genius in the field of magic.
If someone dared to play with magic right at her doorstep, she would surely come out to see what was going on.
After an unknown amount of time...
Ansu opened his eyes and saw Celia staring at him with a suspicious expression.
She was wearing an elegant long dress common among the ladies of the Empire's high society, looking like a noble young miss.
"How did you find me here?"
"Ms. Mary told me," Ansu replied.
Celia knit her brows slightly. "Why aren't you in school? What are you doing here?"
Ansu quickly looked left and right, intentionally putting on a nervous act. "Lady Witch! I escaped from the school. There's something wrong with Mary! She wants to kill me!"
Celia's expression showed a hint of surprise. "Why would she want to kill you?"
Ansu lowered his voice and spoke a name. "Elder Hall."
Celia's gaze changed instantly, becoming much more dangerous.
"Mary came to the library today to find me, saying that a high ranking member of the organization, Elder Hall, wanted to see me. I felt her attitude was off, so I wanted to report to you first and let you decide... then she chased me, and I ran..."
"I understand." Celia interrupted Ansu. "This isn't the place to talk. Follow me."
At dusk, the sky grew dark.
Celia brought Ansu to her home.
Celia's home, or rather her secret stronghold within Benalu City, was a somewhat secluded manor. Upon entering the residence, Ansu glanced at the magnificently decorated living room, his eyes falling on several expressionless maids who were cleaning.
"Welcome home, Miss Celia."
The maids stopped their work one by one and bowed respectfully.
Celia ignored them and walked straight up the stairs.
Ansu followed behind Celia, curiously observing the maids. He felt that their voices lacked any inflection and their eyes held no warmth, giving off a subtle sense of stiffness.
These maids had likely been subjected to Celia's Soul Dominion, clearly having lost their own will.
"Are you curious about my maids?"
Celia suddenly stopped, and Ansu nearly bumped into her.
"Huh?" Ansu paused. "No, not at all!"
"They were assistants sent to me by the Echoes of Truth. I found them bothersome, so I turned them all into toys~" Celia looked at Ansu with a beaming smile. "You were very close to joining them!"
"......"
What could Ansu even say? He could only put on an expression of profound gratitude.
"I thank the Lady Witch for not turning me into a toy..."
"No need for thanks!" Celia said with a smile. "You're much more useful than they are. I wouldn't have the heart to turn you into a toy."
Just as Ansu was about to thank her again, Celia suddenly pulled back her smile.
"But if I find out you've betrayed me or lied to me..."
"You won't just be turned into a toy."
Celia broke into a wicked grin. "I have a much more interesting way to play. Do you want to know what it is?"
Ansu's heart tightened. "What kind of way?"
"Hmm..." Celia rubbed her smooth chin and looked up, pretending to think.
"Among the many schools of magic, there is a rather taboo and niche magic related to life, flesh, and reshaping. Hmm... let me give you an example!"
"Do you know what a splicing toy is?" she asked playfully. "The kind of toy figure where the limbs can be detached and plugged into different places, eventually being assembled into all sorts of weird shapes. It's quite fun!"
"Is there even such a ridiculous toy..." Ansu muttered silently in his heart. With such macabre things, the parents of this era were truly broad minded.
Rate on N.U.
