After Starting a Thread as a Reincarnated in an Unknown Otome Game, I Got Caught in a Battlefield of Beauties - Chapter 41 & 41.5

Sorry, I can’t write normally (this is entirely my own fault). Also, from Hecate’s perspective:

Note:

Hello. It’s me, the guy who didn’t update yesterday.

Well, to put it simply, I can’t write normally. 

I got too excited and wrote in a brain-dead state, so I can’t think of what comes next. 

Even if I come up with something, I can’t find a good way to continue, so I can’t write. 

Plus, I’m in a huge slump where I can’t work on any of my projects.

It’s been two full days since I’ve written anything, and that’s pretty much the end for me.

So, what I’m trying to say is… I’m sorry. 

I got carried away and completely messed up.

In the last chapter, some smart readers pointed out various mistakes I made, and I totally agreed with them.

I’m desperately trying to think of how to continue (for my own satisfaction, not because I think everyone will be happy), so I’m sorry, but there probably won’t be an update today either. 

However, I don’t want to leave it at that, so I’ll write about what happens in the palace after Alto went to look for the spy.

————————————————————————

“Wow, you really made a mess, My Contractor.”

I—Hecate—muttered as I looked at the gaping hole in the ceiling.

The hole was easily over 30 or 40 meters in diameter, making it hardly different from the outside.

Hmm… As expected of my perfect match, Contractor. Apparently, without being told, he gets high from the side effects of using magic, just like me. 

Well, it’s only about as effective as a normally serious person getting a bit wild after drinking alcohol, though.

“Hey, you can’t run away. If you do, you’ll probably get killed.”

“”!?””

I warned the idiots who thought they could sneak away now that my Contractor was gone.

It was both a warning and a threat. 

But honestly, warning them every time is a hassle… Oh, I might as well just restrain them all.

“Eiyah.”

I drew a circle in the air with my finger, and a huge amount of magical power burst out of me, binding everyone except Leticia and her family with magical ropes that would chase them forever if they tried to run.

My Contractor shouldn’t have any complaints now.

“Oh, right, I need to break Leticia’s brainwashing too.”

“…”

I took my eyes off the night sky I loved and looked at Leticia. 

She was gazing at the hole my Contractor left through, her hands clasped in front of her chest as if in prayer.

“You don’t need to pray so hard, Leticia. There’s no one in this world who can beat my Contractor, except for me and one other spirit god.”

“Of course, I know that. I know he doesn’t need any worries. But… he held back and even lied for my sake, didn’t he?”

Your secret is out, Contractor.

Love makes girls scary… I recalled something Alto had said a while ago as Leticia continued speaking to me.

“—He got angry for me, and he dirtied his hands for the first time because of me… I’m praying like this so his heart doesn’t break from it. Because I can’t be by his side right now.”

She closed her eyes again, as if in prayer. 

Watching Leticia, I thought:

—Indeed, this is an emotion I don’t understand.

Even among spirits like me, the particularly powerful ones gain emotions.

But maybe because I’ve lived for so long, my feelings are dry and fickle compared to humans.

So, killing a person or a spirit doesn’t mean anything to me.

If they become an enemy, their life doesn’t matter to me anymore.

But my Contractor is, in a good way, very human.

He dwells on past mistakes, complains about being tired or wanting to go home, and treats me roughly, yet is extremely considerate towards Leticia. 

His emotions are unstable, and he can be calm in one situation, but get sexually excited in another… It’s quite amusing.

And the most interesting part is—he’s ridiculously soft on his enemies.

Not killing soldiers who are trying to kill him is too soft.

Not killing them increases the chances of getting killed, and I don’t understand why he does something so inefficient.

Well, that’s also part of what makes him interesting, I thought as I spoke to Leticia.

“Sorry, Leticia. I’m going to put my hand on your head for a moment.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

I placed my hand on Leticia’s head and searched for the unpleasant magical energy inside her mind. 

I found it immediately. 

Even I was surprised by how nasty the magic was.

Ugh… This is really bad.

It’s amazing she grew up so healthy with this level of brainwashing… or rather, curse. 

Fenrir did a great job to protect her.

I wrapped the unpleasant magic in my own magical power. 

Then, I changed the nature of my magic to “destruction” and carefully broke down the stubborn curse that even Fenrir couldn’t lift.

“…Alright, I think the curse is broken now.”

Really, my Contractor gave me such a troublesome task. I definitely deserve a reward later.

While thinking about the sweets my Contractor would buy for me, I waited for his return.

Chapter 41: The Ruler of the Night

“Hmm… that old bastard’s magic…”

I started by searching for the magic of the old bastard who seemed to be the spy.

Damn… this is such a pain.

But he’s probably not at Leticia’s house, and if I don’t look for him, I’ll never find him. 

There’s no way a spy would still be at Leticia’s house… right?

“Is that old bastard really that stupid? Well, they do say the criminal returns to the scene of the crime. Still, what an idiot.”

Detecting the old man’s magical presence at Leticia’s house, I kicked off the ground and accelerated.

“Huh?”

On my way, I noticed a strange magical presence and came to a sudden stop.

It was near the top of a hill that overlooked the capital.

The amount of magic was too large and refined for an ordinary person, and it was completely stable.

…Suspicious.

I changed my direction and headed towards the hilltop. 

Soon, my enhanced vision spotted a person in black clothing sitting in a tree, focusing magic into their eyes to watch the capital.

“No abnormalities to re—”

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“!?”

I interrupted the woman (judging by the voice) who was communicating with someone using a magical device like a radio.

Although her face was hidden, I could sense her surprise. Before she could say anything, I quickly snatched the device from her and destroyed it.

“Sorry, I can’t let you report this to anyone.”

“You—”

“Oh, you’re the maid from Leticia’s house.”

When I snatched the device, her hood fell back, revealing her face. It was the maid I had seen at Leticia’s house.

So… she’s the spy who brainwashed Leticia.

“Hey, were you reporting to the butler just now?”

“Who would tell you that—”

“Well, never mind then.”

Realizing she wouldn’t talk, I created a sword with my magic and swung it.

With the sound of slicing wind, the maid’s head flew off. 

She had been highly skilled, but in her surprise, she couldn’t resist and her eyes lost their light.

I looked down at her head as it rolled on the ground.

“Don’t take it personally. This is all your own fault.”

As I said this, I destroyed her body and wrapped her head in magic to float it in the air. It might be useful to threaten that butler spy.

I still didn’t feel any sign of my magic depleting or my body reaching its limit. It seemed like the [Mantle of the Dark God] spell was becoming more compatible with me.

“Now then…”

Under the starry sky, I hovered in the air. 

The old bastard’s magic presence started moving quickly, probably sensing that something had happened to the maid.

He had already left Leticia’s house and was heading straight towards the direction of the empire.

“…I won’t let you escape.”

The night was still far from over.

[3rd POV]

“Huff… huff, huff…!”

Ludrich, the former butler of Leticia and a spy for the empire, was running at full speed towards the empire under the night sky, not looking back. There was only one reason.

(Mae’s signal stopped… I can’t sense her magical presence… Did someone kill her?)

Mae, who had infiltrated the Freezing household like him, had suddenly been killed by someone.

Both Ludrich and Mae had undergone rigorous training in the empire and were strong enough to defeat a group of adventurers or royal guards.

Moreover, they were among the top agents in the empire’s elite intelligence unit.

Ludrich felt a sense of danger from Mae being killed in just a few seconds. He abandoned one of his missions to return and carry out the highest priority task.

(Who could it be? The Freezing family members, the generals, the royal palace. Alto, the irregularity of this world, is fighting with the kingdom’s army… So who could it be?)

His question was soon answered.

“!?”

Suddenly, Ludrich detected an immense magical presence.

And this powerful presence was heading straight for him, despite him trying to hide his own magic as much as possible with a magical device.

It couldn’t be, he thought, accelerating and changing direction in panic. But the magical presence also changed direction, following him.

(This can’t be…! How do they know where I am!? This magical device was custom-made by the empire’s best craftsmen! What on earth—)

“Hey, long time no see.”

—A chill ran down Ludrich’s spine.

The moment he heard that voice, Ludrich was overwhelmed with extreme fear and tension.

Half-unconsciously, he turned around and saw Alto floating in the air, backlit by the starry sky. Alto’s black eyes, symbolizing the night, were fixed on him, and his black hair, reflecting the faint starlight, flowed as he wore his dark military uniform.

(No… there’s no escaping him—!! I have to fight…!!)

Abandoning any thoughts of fleeing, Ludrich pulled out a dagger from inside his tailcoat. He swiftly turned to face Alto, aiming the dagger at his throat in a precise and rapid motion.

“What are you doing?”

“!?”

Ludrich’s fastest and sharpest attack was effortlessly caught between two fingers by Alto.

Alto’s abyss-like black eyes pierced through Ludrich, paralyzing him with profound fear.

(Damn it… He’s the one who killed Mae…! No wonder she was killed so easily… It’s impossible… I can’t win against this monster…)

Completely losing his will to fight, Ludrich listened as Alto spoke.

“Tell me everything you know.”

—————————————————————————

I just remembered that this is supposed to be a comedy.

And I realized something:

—It’s okay to go a bit over the top sometimes!!

Thank you, everyone, for all your comments. I’ll work hard to keep writing. It’s going to be chaotic, but stick with me!!

Thank you for reading this far!!

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