The Heroines All Want to Kill Me

"Young Master, are you awake?"

"...Hmm."

When I woke up from my sleep, I saw Kania applying medicine to my wounds with a worried look on her face. I gave her a faint smile and was about to get up, but she gently grabbed my hand and asked carefully, "If the trial is too tough, do you need my help?"

"How can you help?" I tilted my head and asked. She gently held my hand and said in a low voice.

"I'll come to you in your dreams. Be with me there..."

"No, it's okay." But when I immediately refused her offer, Kania said with a worried look, "Although I don't know what kind of illusions you've seen... but if I'm by your side, maybe it'll be better..."

"No, really, it's okay. This trial is actually quite simple. If I encounter difficulties, I'll ask you for help."

"...Okay."

After refusing her offer again, I smiled at Kania, who still had a worried expression and was looking down at me. Then I fell into deep thought.

'...I can't let Kania see such terrifying things.'

What I saw in my dreams were the scenes of those "main heroines" dying in the last timeline. It also included the deaths of Isolte and my father. Of course, no matter how many times I saw them, I wouldn't feel much. After all, my mental strength was strong enough, and these images had long been turned into fighting spirit through countless recollections. However, after all, they were scenes of people dying, and they were ultimately creepy. And Kania, whose mental strength was far weaker than mine, would definitely be affected by them. So, rather than having her endure these, it's better for me to face them alone. Anyway, these illusions would disappear after a week. Consider it as mental cultivation.

"...Then I'll go deal with official business first, Young Master."

"Okay."

Thinking like this, Kania bowed slightly to me and then walked out of my room. I quietly watched her leave, and then turned my gaze to the system window that emerged in front of me.

[Accumulated False Evil Points Reach 10000pt!]

- Intermediate Comprehensive Store is now open.

- Brave's Weapon Awakening Degree Investment System has been unlocked.

- Novice Mode has ended.

"...So the novice mode has ended. What a pity."

With the end of the novice mode, the system will start to become less friendly. The "Emergency Defense" purchased from the novice skill store, and the "False Villain's Intuition" that alerts to the danger of death once a day will also disappear permanently. This is part of it. However, the corresponding rewards will be more substantial. Although the system has become quite unreliable and its significance has been greatly reduced, it still has to be used when necessary.

[Intermediate Store Stage 1]

- Potential Elixir LV2 45000pt

Description: This mysterious potion can stimulate the latent abilities of the drinker. (Purchase Limit 0/1)

- Life Recovery Speed Increase LV2 50000pt

Description: Permanently slightly increase the life recovery speed. (The total amount will not increase)

- Mind Reading LV2 50000pt

...With these thoughts in mind, I opened the store interface, but was startled by the ridiculously high prices and quickly closed the interface.

"...Anyway, the store function is practically useless now."

Because from now on, I must invest the accumulated points into the "Brave's Weapon Awakening Degree Investment System" as much as possible. Of course, if I really can't hold on, I can consider purchasing the skill to increase the life - value recovery speed. But other than that, it's best to invest all the obtained points into the awakening degree so that the road ahead will be smoother.

[15000pt Investment Completed!]

Thinking like this, I invested all the points accumulated in the system into the awakening degree, then closed the system interface and fell heavily onto the bed.

"Cough! Cough!!"

I patted my chest, coughed a few times, and felt the exhaustion that couldn't be relieved no matter how much I slept. So I closed my eyes again...

- Knock knock knock

At this time, someone knocked on the door. I frowned and shouted impatiently, "...Who is it!?"

As soon as the words were out, the door opened gently, and a figure slowly walked in.

"...Isolte?"

"Don't call my name casually, Frey." Isolte was carrying a basket in one hand and stared at me coldly. When I called her name, she replied expressionlessly, then sat down on the chair beside the bed.

"Why are you here..."

"To give you this."

I looked at her in confusion, and she still had a cold face. She put the basket on my bedside and said, "Your sister asked me to give it to you."

I silently rummaged through the basket, which was filled with snacks and fruits.

'...Aria.'

Seeing these, I couldn't help but sigh deeply and scratch my hair. In the final trial of the system, Isolte, Aria, and Serena are all likely to be cursed. And the tasks of Isolte and Serena have been completed. Therefore, Isolte has been avoiding me since the "Examination Kidnapping Incident", and although Serena still has a trace of affection for me, at least she doesn't have to worry about me anymore. But my sister Aria... When seeing this basket, it seems she is still worried about me.

"...Frey, I have a question to ask you."

"What is it?"

I recalled the cute little sister who always followed me when I was a child and would show a bright smile whenever she met my eyes. So I perfunctorily replied to Isolte without even looking up.

"There are rumors outside that you're in cahoots with the Demon King's Army."

"So?"

"...Is it true?" Isolte looked at me calmly and asked.

"Ha, that's ridiculous. If a professor is a member of the Demon King's Army... do you think he'll admit it honestly?"

"Look me in the eyes and answer me, Frey."

"What if it's true?" I slightly raised the corners of my mouth and said, and her hand gently rested on the sword at her waist.

"...Is that rumor true?"

"Do you want to kill me here? My sister is currently helping the Marquis of Baywom's family..."

"Don't call me'sister', Frey." Her stubborn look overlapped with the past, and I couldn't help but chuckle and subconsciously called her "sister". Isolte stared at me murderously, and I silently averted my eyes and said in a low voice, "Rumors don't come from nowhere, do they?"

"So, you admit that you're in the Demon King's Army..."

"...However, sometimes rumors can be exaggerated."

After saying that, I pulled the quilt over myself and said to Isolte in a low voice, "Go back now. You've done what you came for."

"...Hah."

Isolte let out a long sigh, stood up from her seat, and walked towards the entrance. But she secretly glanced back at me and said, "Ah, your sister asked me to give you a message."

"...Aria?"

"She said that she can no longer have affectionate feelings for you. If you have anything to hide, you'd better tell her quickly."

After saying that, she opened the entrance door to leave, but coldly added, "...However, if it's something you're hiding, listening to it will only be disappointing, right?"

After saying that, Isolte slammed the door shut, and only the sound of her gradually fading footsteps remained in the corridor.

"...Huff."

Her voice seemed to still be lingering in my ears. I quietly closed my eyes and let the incoming drowsiness take over my body. However, for some reason, I couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

".....?"

Now that I thought about it, the drowsiness that had made me so sleepy just now had completely disappeared.

"...What's going on?"

- Knock knock knock

Just as I was confused by this inexplicable situation, the knock on the door sounded again. I frowned irritably, slapped the pillow hard, and said in a tired voice, "...Who is it."

"You seem particularly rude today?"

As soon as the words were out, a young girl walked lightly into my room. I stared at her blankly, then tilted my head and asked, "...What are you doing here?"

"I hope you won't be offended by what I'm about to say…"

Before I knew it, Klana had naturally sat down on the chair beside me, crossed her legs, and with a smile in her eyes, she said, "How about some afternoon tea?"

"...What?"

I looked at her speechlessly, but she didn't care and gently clapped her hands three times.

""...What are your orders, Your Highness the Princess. ""

""I want to have some afternoon tea with Frey. Please make the arrangements. ""

Her attendants immediately responded in unison from outside. Klana smiled and gave them instructions to prepare afternoon tea, then turned to me and said, "You were so bold when you proposed to me. Why are you lying here looking so sickly now?"

"...Are you here to make fun of me?" I asked, frowning. But Klana just smiled.

"Oh, thank you."

Before long, a yellow table was placed between my bed and her chair, and various desserts and drinks were brought in one after another.

"Here, have a cup."

Then, she handed me the steaming tea and said.

"...Do you know what might be in this?"

Of course, in Klana's current position, she could easily poison me. So naturally, I took a frightened step back. But just then, the princess showed a confused expression and said, "You... are particularly strange today. What's wrong?"

"...What?"

Suddenly, she grabbed my hand and started speaking with an affectionate expression. "I still remember the kindness you showed when you risked using the covenant to save me last time."

"Ah, ah..."

"I really don't know how to repay this kindness. Although my power is weak now and I can't do much for you..."

"No!!!"

When I heard the meaning in her words, I stood up suddenly from my seat in horror.

"Yikes!?"

"The, the punishment... The punishment is coming...!"

Immediately, I started shivering in fear that a punishment window would pop up in front of me...

"What on earth is wrong with you?"

"...Huh?"

For some reason, the punishment window didn't appear. Facing this incomprehensible situation, I was momentarily stunned and carefully sat back down. Klana tilted her head and thought for a while, cleared her throat, and continued, "Ahem, anyway... If I can come to power, I will definitely repay this kindness double... No, several times over."

"....""Uh... Is that too unrealistic?"

Seeing that I was still in a daze and clueless, Klana asked with a slightly shy smile, "In Lord Frey's opinion, is this dream too illusory?"

"...I think it's a completely achievable dream."

Looking at her like that, I couldn't help but reply.

"...Huh."

Hearing my words, the princess lowered her head and started fidgeting with her fingers restlessly.

"...Thank you."

I blurted it out subconsciously, feeling both novel and a bit embarrassed, and my face turned red. I looked at the princess, and she suddenly snapped her fingers and said in a dignity voice, "Please bring out what has been prepared."

"...Yes, Your Highness the Princess."

As soon as the words were out, the attendant waiting aside placed something on the table.

"Open it and have a look. This is my gift."

"...Okay."

I opened it carefully, afraid that a bomb or a knife would suddenly pop out. As a result, it turned out to be a cat - shaped cake inside.

"Although it's a bit sudden... I still prepared it."

The princess said, lowering her head, and then hurriedly added, her face already flushed red, "N, nothing special... Just heard that Mr. Frey likes cats..."

After saying that, Klana started fidgeting with her fingers again. I stared at the princess and fell into thought.

'What's going on? Has Klana noticed my disguise? But... even so, there are too many strange things, right?'

- Creak...

Just as I was breaking out in a cold sweat due to this incomprehensible situation, the door was suddenly pushed open, and someone walked in.

"...Oh, is this a birthday party being prepared?"

"Miss Serena, why are you here?"

Serena, who had been staring at Klana with sharp eyes, after Klana frowned and asked the question, naturally sat down beside me and replied with a smile, "Today is my fiancé's birthday. I came to see him. Is that not okay?"

"...Frey and I were having an important conversation just now."

"Even the birthday cake is ready?"

"...This is a gift prepared to thank Mr. Frey for saving me last time. It's just a coincidence that it coincides with his birthday. By the way, it's very impolite to interrupt when others are talking, Miss Serena."

"I made an appointment in advance. It's the Third Princess who inserted herself into my appointment time. Right, Frey?"

Before long, Serena and Klana started a psychological battle with smiles on their faces, while I watched them silently and said in a low voice, "...My birthday is in two weeks, though?"

"Ah, how could that be? My informant clearly said..."

"Oh, didn't you just say it was a coincidence that it coincided with the birthday?"

"...Uh."

Klana, who had a confused look on her face, fell silent when Serena accused her. And Serena, who had been staring at her coldly, turned to me and said, "Today is your birthday, Frey. Have you been so busy fighting the Demon King's Army recently that you've forgotten?"

"...Hmph!"

Serena's tone was very certain, without even adding a qualifier like "probably", as if she was sure that I was fighting the Demon King's Army. I was shocked and quickly waited for the system window to pop up. However...

"Hmm? What's wrong with you?"

"...Ah, nothing."

For some reason, the system window didn't appear this time either. Just as my brain was about to overload, the door to the entrance was pushed open again, and someone walked in.

——Bang! Crack!

"...Whoa!"

Before long, a huge rumbling sound started. I lowered my head in horror as I recalled the memories of the last round.

"Happy birthday~!"

But what fell in front of me wasn't a magic bullet or a bomb, but confetti, and it was Pelosh with a big smile on her face who shot out these confetti.

"...Ah!"

Pelosh was beaming with joy, as if she was particularly happy about something. However, when Klana and Serena, covered in confetti, glared at her, she immediately opened her mouth wide and rushed over, shouting, "S - sorry!"

Then, while bowing repeatedly to Klana and Serena, she picked off pieces of confetti from their heads one by one. Suddenly, she looked at me and said, "By the way, we made an appointment to go to the orphanage as volunteers together tomorrow, right?"

"...So that's your important appointment tomorrow, Frey."

"What about the Student Council's affairs?"

Klana and Serena coldly stared at me at the same time.

"...."

But I remained silent, thinking about the punishment window that hadn't popped up yet, which made them a bit embarrassed. Just then, the door to the entrance opened again.

"W, what's going on... Why are there so many people..."

Irina walked into the room carefully, looking a bit flustered in the face of this sudden change.

"Uh, that... T, this is for you."

She hesitated in place for a while, then took out a small gift package from her bosom and handed it to me. "T, this is a thank - you gift for you saving me in the Disciplinary Committee last time..."

I carefully took the gift, and when I heard her next words, my face instantly stiffened.

"T, then... I'll go first."

"Wait a minute!"

Irina, who was breaking out in a cold sweat and trying to leave the room quickly, was grabbed by the arm by Pelosh, who dragged her back forcefully and pressed her into a seat, saying, "Don't go. Miss Irina, join the birthday party too!"

"T, together?"

"Yeah! The more people there are at this kind of party, the livelier it is!"

Pelosh smiled brightly, while Klana and Serena started to pretend to cough. Pelosh looked at them blankly, tilted her head, and asked, "What's wrong with you? Is your throat uncomfortable? Do you want me to treat you...!"

——Creak...

Just as Pelosh, with a worried look on her face, was about to release her divine power, the door to the entrance opened again, and someone slowly walked in.

"Ah, Miss Kania is here too!"

Pelosh quickly grabbed Kania, who had been watching us quietly, and brought her to sit down at the seat. Then, she said to Klana and Serena, who had a somewhat detached expression, "Then, let's start the party!!"

A moment later, the candles on the cat - shaped cake started to burn.

"Well, happy birthday, Mr. Frey."

"You should discuss it with me in advance next time..."

"The Sun God must also be happy today!"

"...Congratulations."

Klana, Serena, Pelosh, and Irina started chatting one after another while looking at the candlelight, but I couldn't look them in the eye.

'...The system, this madman.'

Because I finally realized what was going on. Seeing that I had no reaction to those painful and torturous scenes, the system seemed to have decided to show me some happy and joyous pictures. Even the events that actually happened on my birthday according to the normal route.

"....."

"Frey? What's wrong?"

"You seem a bit off today."

"Mr. Frey? Are you feeling unwell?"

"...What's going on?"

As I lowered my head and stayed silent, the heroines looked at me with worry and asked one after another.

'No... My choice was right... If I had chosen that path, perhaps I would be happy now, but in the end, everyone would die... Surely my choice was...'

I repeated these words in my mind, trying hard to avoid their gazes and waiting for my mind to clear.

'Young Master, please hurry.'

'...Kania?'

Before I knew it, Kania had come to my side, grabbed my shoulder, and said with a smile. I looked at her in disbelief and asked, 'Did you actually barge into my dream?'

'You've been sweating profusely and tossing and turning all night, so I took the liberty of coming to check on you.'

'...Hah.'

Hearing this, I smiled helplessly and turned my gaze to the cake.

At this moment, Serena, who was beside me, suddenly spoke with a smile.

'Well, I kind of get what's going on.'

'...Serena?'

'Forget it, just blow out the candles. I don't care.'

As she spoke, she gently grabbed my left shoulder.

'W - wait a minute... I'm the one who bought the cake!'

Klana blushed with indignation and said, but then she sighed and continued, 'Although I don't know what's happening... you should still blow out the candles, Frey. Even though I don't quite understand, I just feel like you should.'

'Exactly! The Sun God... no, I think so too!'

'...What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and blow.'

Then, everyone sitting at the table started to encourage me. I stared at them blankly for a while, and finally, I lowered my head and blew out the candles on the cake, murmuring in my heart, '...Sure enough, I'm right.'

- Whoosh!

The moment the candlelight went out, I unconsciously found myself staring at the ceiling of the dormitory.

'I'll go and pre - order an identical one from the pastry shop in advance.'

'...Thank you.'

I replied in a low voice to Kania, who was talking to me beside me, and then started to gaze out of the window.

'...Such a fantasy isn't bad.'

It was an especially bright moonlit night.

"Ah..."

At the same time, Serena and the other heroines had the same dream and woke up from their sleep simultaneously, looking out of the window blankly.

'...So it was just a dream.'

The image of Frey's happier - than - ever smile when he blew out the candles kept emerging in front of Serena's eyes. She sighed, thinking that she had slept enough for the night and was about to get up to read for a while. However...

"You really wake up in a strange way."

".....!"

Suddenly hearing the Demon King beside her speak, she opened her eyes wide and pulled out a fan from her bosom.

- Slap!

"Ouch!!"

However, the Demon King quickly tapped her on the head with his cane and sneered, "Your memories have all come back, right? Now go and tell your subordinates to stop spreading my weaknesses everywhere."

"Ugh..."

Serena staggered around, holding her head for a while, and then showed a knowing smile and murmured in a low voice, "Frey, I knew it would be like this... probably."

"...Can I ask you a question?"

The Demon King looked at her with disgust, rushed towards his desk, and threw a question at Serena at the same time. "I really can't figure out what you're up to... How far have you planned?"

"That's it so far. I can't predict the next part. It's uncharted territory."

Serena replied straightforwardly, while writing a telegram to be sent by her subordinates, and added, "...So, we have to make a new plan."

The Tower Master watched her with great interest and then started to approach her to confirm the content of the telegram.

"Ah, later, please restore my memory to the state it was just now. That's a piece of cake for you, right?"

"What!?"

"And come to me at this time every day from now on to help me restore my memory."

"You, you damned..."

However, when Serena casually made an absurd request, he flew into a rage and raised his cane, but...

「...If this letter doesn't reach the spies, soon, your secret will be completely exposed in the empire.」

「Hah...」

She handed the telegram to the owl, with a world - weary look on her face, and slowly slumped into the chair.

「Why on earth are you making me do such crazy things?」

A moment later, the Tower Master asked her with a wronged expression. Serena, bathed in the moonlight, murmured in a low voice, 「...If you want to play tricks on the Sun God, you can only do it at night. There's no other way.」

「Sigh...」

The Tower Master, who shook his head repeatedly and sighed deeply after hearing those words, noticed a letter on the desk, frowned, and reached out to take it, but...

"...You can't just look at other people's things."

She, who had approached unnoticed, snatched the letter away, stared at him with glaring eyes and a contemptuous look, and asked, "What's that?"

"This?"

Serena slightly frowned and replied. "The only variable."

As she spoke, Serena began to slowly corrode the surface of the envelope with moonlight magic power, and Klana's golden seal shone on the envelope.