episode_0256

Episode 256

“Are you here, master?”

What greeted me as I opened the door to the secret room was a slightly disconcerting sight.

Ayla knelt down gracefully to greet me. There was a flattering smile on his lips.

This is the conclusion Eila came to after wandering through an endless dream, whether she woke up or not. It seemed like complete obedience.

“You’ve become quite obedient this time, Aila.”

“Yes, I was really, really stupid. Princess Sera, how dare you try to oppose the one who inherited the power of the great witch… If you can relieve your anger by humiliating this body, please feel free to torment me to your heart’s content.”

Aila bows her head in an attitude that does not show even a hint of defiance. Of course, since she was naked, it was quite a sight to see.

On the surface, it could be said that the teaching assistant was a complete success, and Aila’s heart was completely captured. However, I was looking at this side of Aila a little differently.

This seemingly perfect attitude of submission is in no way sincere. Even if Aila’s heart was broken, it wouldn’t be like this.

The attitude Aila is showing right now is entirely under Aila’s control. I was sure of that.

In any case, it is only a pretense to protect oneself as much as possible until confirmation is obtained that the reality in front of one’s eyes is real reality and not a dream, and once that is obtained, a way to escape the absolute obedience spell is found.

“Look here, Aila.”

“Yes, master!”

Aila raised her head from her prone position. I said to her with an unnaturally obedient smile on her face.

“Do you want to bark like a dog?”

The forced execution effect of the Absolute Obedience spell does not activate when something is requested in the form of an invitation. Whether or not she follows it is entirely up to Aila’s free will.

Eila imitated the dog’s cry without any hesitation.

“Woof, woof, woof! Woof!”

Without any sign of displeasure, with a happy expression.

Instead of a tail, it gently wags its butt.

“Sit.”

This time I gave the order clearly. Aila knelt down and spread her legs, taking on the waiting posture of a dog, which is extremely vulgar by human standards.

“Oof, oof!”

Yet, I feel no shame or rebellion at all. It looks like he has made up his mind quite firmly.

“Hand.”

When I held out my palm, Aila happily placed her front paw on it. Still with a face like a happy puppy.

I think I know this for sure. The match with Aila has entered another phase.

Aila completely hides herself beneath a mask of utter obedience. What was still writhing deep within was a sickening malice.

So you must not let down your guard. Of course, as long as the absolute obedience order is maintained, I have an overwhelming advantage.

If the command is given to ‘Tell everything you are hiding,’ Aila will be forced to reveal all of her intentions. That may be why he shows such a desperate attitude of submission.

However, even so, I had no intention of showing any loopholes. I also have weaknesses. For example, something like the Escarade contract. That kind of information needed to be completely hidden.

Aila still has value. At least until the moment it’s over, we have to continue the tug-of-war with Eila.

The good news is that for me, this tug-of-war is a lot of fun.

“Hehe, will you lick me?”

I put my foot out in front of Eila. The shoes are still on. But this time, Aila didn’t hesitate at all and stuck out her tongue and started licking it.

A chilling feeling envelops my whole body. Even if it’s acting, it doesn’t matter. In fact, there was even a point where I was more excited because it was acting.

Aila is now licking my shoes in full consciousness without any coercion. Behind that smile was hidden a trembling anger.

Just imagining it was quite a pleasure. The greater Aila’s determination, the greater the joy I felt. How much determination must have been required for an arrogant and proud witch to completely abandon herself like this.

I put my foot down to say that enough was enough. And then I spoke to Aila, who looked up at me as if waiting for the next command.

“We have somewhere to go together, Ayla. Will you go?”

* * *

Katerina Ruins.

When I first entered this place, I was very nervous, not knowing when an enemy would come out of the dark. But today, I was able to step in feeling much more comfortable than before.

Since the knights had already searched thoroughly, it was safe to say that there was no danger at all. Still, there was a clear reason why I went to this place.

Another space was discovered inside the altar room where we fought. A large amount of documents were stored there.

But I couldn’t bring them. This is because it was sealed with a level of magic that could not be lifted by organized magicians.

That was exactly why I came here with Eila. To lift the seal and check the contents of the documents sealed by the Black Goat Association.

Unlike before, when they were escorted by numerous knights, this time there were only a few people. Aside from Aila, it was just me, Carmel, and Rika.

Aila, who was probably most familiar with this place, took the lead. We were given clothes as we went outside. The fresh air I felt for the first time in a long time and the sensation of walking must have all felt good.

The restraints were not particularly filled. There was no need for that since only flight and hostile actions were prohibited through the power of the Absolute Obedience Spell.

“Here I come, master.”

Ayla guided us while maintaining a low posture that bordered on groveling. It seemed that Carmel and Rika were not yet accustomed to that attitude.

We transformed into the shape of a giant basilisk and went deeper, passing through the room where we fought and the room with the altar with flowing water.

It was hidden in the shadow of the pillar, so it was hard to even notice that there was a door until you felt it with your hand. When I opened it and entered, a room with a musty smell appeared.

As the search team reported, there were jars full of scrolls of documents. It seemed like I could unfold it just by pulling it like this.

However, when I looked at my magic, I could see that the documents were protected by a magical barrier that resembled a tightly tangled net.

“Aila, answer me. What are the contents of these documents?”

“It records the secret arts of our shamans and the history of witch worship. It won’t mean much to the princess who is Enekra’s reincarnation.”

“History of witch worship…”

I still remember the promise I made with Enekra when I released Mystilia. It was a promise to tell her story throughout the kingdom.

I plan to keep that promise. Even if I were the reincarnation of Enekra himself, no, even more so.

If we read the records of the Black Goat Society, which has worshiped Enekra for a long time, we may be able to find the hidden truth about the founding of the kingdom. It could never be said that it had no meaning.

Of course, there may be a distorted history stained with hatred. Anyway, you have to see it for yourself to know.

“Unseal it, Aila.”

“Yes.”

Aila followed my command and deployed mana around her. When the thread-like magic power touched the net-shaped barriers surrounding the document jar, it quickly collapsed.

“Aila, please categorize and bring me things related to Enekra. Mother, please review the other documents. Rika, please follow your mother’s instructions.”

“Yes.”

“Ugh, I understand.”

“Okay.”

Here, only Carmel and Aila are able to freely read the language of the northern peoples. I could do it to some extent, but it was still at a rudimentary level.

Aila seemed to know which document was in which jar without even opening it.

Several scrolls are piled up on the dusty desk. Carmel was also taking a seat on the other side, preparing to take a look at things nearby.

But it was that moment.

“Ugh! This is…?”

Blue chains extend from the ground. I knew right away that it was made of mana. I looked at Aila in surprise, but the blue chain had even bound Aila.

Before I knew it, the room was surrounded by a right-angled mana barrier. So that even if by chance you break free of the chains, you cannot escape.

“Princess, the pendant is…!”

“Pendant…?”

At Rika’s words, I looked down at the pendant I was wearing on my chest. I didn’t notice because it was all filled with blue mana. Blue light was emanating from the pendant around my neck.

The blue light that came out from there gradually took on the shape of a person. In the form of Monaz, the court magician who entrusted me with this pendant.

“Monaz! What the hell is this…!”

Monaz looked around the room with a sad expression. His somewhat drowsy voice came through the illusion.

“I am truly sorry, princess,”