I Reincarnated as a Mob in a Depressing Erotic Video Game World. When I Saved the Main Heroine That Fallen Into Despair, Her Overwhelming Obsessive Love for Me Wouldn’t Stop. - Chapter 27

After that, I decided to go to the student council room alone, just like Ralthea told me.

Ena… actually didn’t argue. Maybe she was just too scared to go against what I said.

“…Take care, Shiruto-kun.”

“I’ll be back soon. See you later, Ena.”

Ena’s shoulders were shaking.

I gently ruffled her beautiful hair.

“…Yeah. I’ll be waiting the whole time.”

Hehe. Ena gave me a big smile, and I left while she watched me go.

◇◇◇

I knocked on the student council room door and waited for permission to enter.

Inside, Ralthea was sitting in the president’s seat, and she was waiting for me.

“Ah, hello, kouhai-kun. I’m sorry for calling you here like this.”

“…No, it’s fine. After hearing what I did, I couldn’t just ignore it.”

I remembered Ralthea’s words from the device.

Ena… a public execution.

Hearing that had thrown me into chaos. I was only starting to calm down now, but I still wasn’t completely composed.

“For now, don’t worry. I’m not going to scold you for skipping class without permission. And not for the… other thing either.”

“…Ralthea-sama, are you really okay with that? That’s a serious invasion of privacy. And you’ve been skipping without permission, too.”

“I really am sorry about spying. I don’t know if you can believe me, but normally, I never watch the students. This time was an emergency. I had to check on you and Ena.”

She brushed off the part about skipping class without much trouble.

Well… that’s not important. No need to dig into it.

“So, Ralthea-sama. Is what you said earlier true?”

If it were a joke, it was cruel.

But honestly… I thought it would be better if it were true than if it weren’t.

“Yes. It’s true. Ena Refine, the student council, the teachers, and the imperial judicial system have decided to carry out a public execution.”

Her voice was calm, yet cold.

She looked straight into my eyes as she spoke.

“You’ll explain the reason, right?”

“Of course. I’ll tell you everything. There’s no hiding anything―”

She gave a gentle but eerie smile.

“—Ena’s magical power shows traces of something called the ‘Witch’s Seed.’”

“…!?”

I couldn’t hide my reaction. The words were shocking.

“That reaction. You’re not just surprised, are you? You seem nervous. So maybe you’re hiding something even I can’t see.”

“…Forget about me. Just continue.”

I glared, but Ralthea didn’t stop smiling.

“Of course. But first, just so you understand. The ‘Witch’s Seed’ is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a seed of disaster.”

In this world, every magician is born with a certain type of magical power. That decides what kind of magic they’re good at and what they’re not.

Those chosen by the magical factor called the “Witch’s Seed” can wield magic far beyond that of normal magicians. Magic is so strong, it could rival forbidden spells.

But.

As Ralthea said… the “Witch’s Seed” is a seed of disaster.

“The ‘Witch’s Seed’ causes magical power to go out of control. And Ena is a rare talent, as she was born with an enormous amount of magic. If we leave her unchecked, she could bring a huge disaster to the empire someday. That’s why we can’t just let her live.”

…The “Witch’s Seed” amplifies magic without limits. But the problem is, it also makes the magical power unstable.

Irwin stole Ena’s magic and caused a runaway magic incident. That was almost certainly because of the “Witch’s Seed.”

“Wait… Ena’s magic was taken by Irwin using that magical tool. Didn’t that remove the seed, too?”

“Unfortunately, no. The ‘Witch’s Seed’ is strongly tied to life itself, so removing it is impossible. Also, Irwin didn’t seem to know, but that tool only works for a limited time. By now, all of Ena’s magic has probably returned to her body.”

“…Damn it…”

But I knew something.

Ena’s case was special.

“…Ena won’t go out of control. If you leave her alone.”

Because Ena’s “Witch’s Seed” was implanted artificially.

Normally, magicians born with the “Witch’s Seed” have their minds corrupted by its power. They become obsessed and eventually lose control of their magic.

But Ena isn’t like that.

Since the seed was added later, and her mind was already mature, she wasn’t corrupted.

That means the risk of a magical explosion is unusually low for Ena alone.

(How and why they implanted the “Witch’s Seed” in Ena… is awful, but that’s not important right now.)

In Ena’s route in the story, when Irwin was in danger, she used the power of the “Witch’s Seed” to cast magic to save him.

She controlled her magic perfectly. That’s why I thought Ena and magical runaway were unrelated.

But… Ralthea seems to think differently.

“kouhai-kun. Can you swear to me that Ena’s ‘Witch’s Seed’ will never go out of control?”

“Th-That… but even so, executing her…!”

“No. I think it’s a necessary measure. The people of the empire are always afraid of the ‘Witch’s Seed.’ But if we carry out Ena’s public execution, it will show the world that the empire has prevented a disaster caused by the seed.”

“Th-That’s not the point!!”

My voice rose. I couldn’t help it.

“Ena… she’s finally able to smile again…”

In this messed-up and depressing world…

I can never forget the first time I saw Ena. Her empty eyes and scared movements, the tears running down her cheeks. I will never forget. And I have no intention to.

“And yet… you’re talking about executing her? Do you really think I can allow that?”

I clenched my determination while letting the magical power in my body burn.

If anyone tries to take Ena’s happiness away again.

I will never forgive them. I decided that, right then.