Beginning of Brainwashing (2)

body { font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px; }
h1 { color: #333; border-bottom: 2px solid #ddd; padding-bottom: 10px; }
p { margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: justify; }

<Side : Yustice Gostina>

『Month of the Cross – 28th (Evening)』

“Ugh…”

A splitting headache. Numb limbs. A churning stomach. Sensing that my body was not in a normal state, my tightly shut eyes opened.

“A familiar ceiling…”

My memories from before and after are not clear. I was definitely struck by something and collapsed… I don’t remember much after that. One thing I do know is that I am now in the bed of the room at the inn where I stayed yesterday, with a wet towel on my head.

“This is… a wet towel. It’s cold. Was it just put on?”

As I tried to sort out my hazy mind and figure out the situation by looking around the surroundings surrounded by gold, a familiar face was sitting on a chair in a corner of the golden room, dozing off.

“Clarice…?”

No doubt. It was definitely Clarice Siete, the child I personally took in and raised after she lost her parents to Monsters. But… why is she here?

Just as I was wondering about that, Clarice’s sleepy eyes snapped open as if she noticed my gaze, and she met my eyes.

[Ah… Headmaster. You’re awake.]

Clarice spoke to me first, still with a sleepy tone, without me knowing why I was here or why Clarice was dozing off in this place.

[Are you feeling okay?]

Unfortunately, the first emotion I felt at Clarice’s words of concern for my precious disciple was suspicion. This was because the many questions I had previously had about Clarice had not been completely resolved.

But I can’t say anything negative to a granddaughter-like child who kindly asks if I’m okay. I calmed my mind for a moment and composed myself.

“I’m fine, Clarice. I think I got better faster thanks to your concern. Hehehe.”

[Wow… that’s really a relief.]

Clarice put her hands together, expressing her relief at my safety, and continued her words.

[But… why were you collapsed near the Church?]

“Ugh… that’s…!”

Clarice’s innocent question. Why was I collapsed there in such an unsightly manner? The moment I received that question, the hazy memories of that time began to come back vividly.

It wasn’t because I suddenly collapsed due to an illness, or because of a Monster attack… When I looked at the situation at that time from a third person’s point of view, I was no different from an old woman being subdued for flirting with a young woman.

In other words, it wasn’t something to be proud of… To be honest, it was a shameful story, so I tried to change the subject.

“H-How do you know…? That I collapsed near the Church…”

[Because I was the one who brought you here after you collapsed. I was so worried. What on earth happened?]

Clarice, with an expression that seemed to have the word ‘worry’ written on her face, was stubbornly asking for the reason with teary eyes.

This old man also has his pride, so I put aside the shocking memories of that time… Unfortunately, I have no choice but to gloss over it with Clarice.

“Hahaha… well, you see. I’m quite old, aren’t I? If you roll around on the battlefield and stay in front of the fire for a long time, your health is bound to deteriorate. Maybe that’s why I collapsed on the street.”

At that time, I had received such a powerful blow that even pebbles were rolling around, so it was an excuse that wouldn’t work at all…

[Pfft… Ah…! Is that so? I heard that you suddenly collapsed, so I was really worried.]

Unexpectedly, Clarice believed my words. Is there a gap between the information this child obtained and the situation I knew? With such doubts, I inadvertently asked Clarice a question.

“Clarice… then how did you find me? I heard yesterday that you were on a mission with Alex… Did you come back already?”

[Yes! I worked hard with Bl… Alex until dawn today, and on the way back to the guild this morning to report, I heard a commotion near the Church. So I asked Alex for understanding and hurried over, and I witnessed Headmaster collapsed on the floor.]

“I-Is that so…”

While listening to Clarice’s circumstances and regretting that if I had gone to the guild first, I wouldn’t have had to receive such an unsightly sight, Clarice continued to explain the reason why she brought me here.

[I don’t know the exact circumstances, but you were unconscious and breathing heavily, so I thought I should treat you first, so I brought you to this inn! I’m not such a heartless disciple that I would leave my teacher unattended, you know.]

“Haha! That’s right. Clarice is the type who can’t stand injustice… Keuheut……!!”

As I was feeling proud while looking at Clarice, who was spreading her chest and making a small boast, I suddenly felt a dizziness as if my skull was being struck.

My sense of balance became meaningless, and my focus was not right. I grabbed my churning stomach again, put my hand on the head of the bed, and barely supported myself from collapsing.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

“Keuheue……eut…!”

Why at a time like this… The swelling of the body part lifting the lower blanket. Embarrassingly… and shamefully, my lower body heated up and I had an erection at the same time as the dizziness.

It was shameful to show such an unsightly sight in front of my beloved disciple… Clarice was sure to not leave me alone.

It was as good as certain that Clarice would be startled and approach me.

[Y-Yustice Headmaster…!!? W-What’s wrong!]

“I-I’m fine, Clarice… I’m just a little dizzy. Maybe it’s a sequelae from when I collapsed then…”

Lamenting that I couldn’t tell the truth that I had an erection while my head was ringing, I gestured to Clarice, who was running over with concern, and told her that I was okay.

However, I couldn’t be sure if this situation was really a sequelae from when I was subdued at that time. To be honest, I couldn’t understand why I was like this myself.

[A-Are you really okay? Or should I ask the employees downstairs to call a doctor?]

Ah… that’s right. When I think about it, this is an inn. An area for adventurers to wash away the fatigue of a day’s adventure and mission and prepare for tomorrow. Of course, I thought that various services would be prepared for them…

I had another thought. It was about the deep doubts I still had about Clarice. I was struggling to suppress my erection by pressing down on the lower blanket, and I was trying to speak.

“That’s right… yes. Clarice. There were a few things I wanted to ask you, but I forgot. About this inn, and whether you have been involved in any incidents while staying in the Territory. Tell me honestly.”

Now the pain was traveling down my head and circling my neck. Thanks to that, the dizziness stopped, but I grabbed my itchy neck and asked Clarice, who was worried, in a serious manner.

I was aware that it was not an appropriate situation to ask questions, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity I had managed to seize. The pain and shame are temporary, but perhaps this moment of asking Clarice may never come again…

[I thought that this inn might look strange to Headmaster. But…! It’s surprisingly cheap here, the people are friendly, and the facilities are much better than other places… It’s an excellent adventurer’s inn to the extent that you can turn a blind eye to the employees’ attire!]

“Then why hasn’t this inn’s reputation spread to others…”

[T-That’s… P-People are like that. They have a habit of trying to keep good things to themselves. I think everyone is keeping their mouths shut because they don’t want their own little space to be invaded by others. We’re the same way…]

This is… a lie. It was neither plausible nor credible.

[And I… I haven’t been involved in any incidents while I’ve been here…]

She trailed off in her second answer.

[Okay, that’s right…! Then I’ll ask a question this time! Is that okay!]

“Yes. Do as you please. It’s my fault that I proceeded with the story without your concern…”

[Then… tell me a Heroic Saga!]

Anyone could see that she was trying to change the subject. That means… there is something in this inn, and Clarice is involved in the darkness of the Territory or a troublesome incident equivalent to it.

Not as a supporting actor or extra, but as the main character of the stage. I can’t stand by and watch any longer. After playing along with Clarice’s antics for a while, I should head to the mansion right away.

The moment the doubt turned into conviction, I judged that there was no time to delay as leisurely as last time, and I thought I should meet with the Lord kid.

“Okay, Clarice. You asked me to tell you a story?”

[Yes, that’s right♥ I don’t remember the story I heard before very well. Headmaster’s Heroic Saga. I want to hear it again… but I guess it’s not possible this late at night?]

“Of course. What story can’t I tell to a child like my own daughter? Come, sit next to me. It’s an old story, but I hope you like it.”

[Wow… I’m happy. Headmaster…]

After that, I finished telling Clarice a long and long past…

“Okay. That’s all. It was a bit long and boring. So, what do you think? Clarice. Did you like the story?”

Just as I was holding my still throbbing neck and trying to get ready to leave, Clarice opened her mouth.

[Ah… I’m sorry. Yustice. Actually, I wasn’t listening to the story from the beginning♥ It was such a boring and unnutritious story that I had a hard time listening to it♥]

“What…? What did Clarice just…?”

[I guess you can’t even hear anymore. You pathetic bastard. Kikit♥ That’s why you’re a virgin at your age♥ Okay, that’s enough joking around. I’ll show you heaven♥]

The space was dominated by vulgar profanity and murderous intent that Clarice would never have uttered.

Despite my unhealthy body, all my nerves were on edge and I was shaken by the Clarice in front of me.

[Haa… It was hard playing with a virgin-smelling old man. Me too♥]

–Pshhhhh……♥

Clarice’s atmosphere changes. The air in the room pulsates in response. The neatly dressed Nun’s habit and the flat body began to twist.

The golden color of the room, the purple of the lighting… and the black of the fog. The black fog that had surrounded Clarice at some point completely surrounded her body and increased in size in an instant.

“C-Clarice…!”

I just shouted Clarice’s name like a death throe and ran out, but the fog was already gone, and in front of me was a completely different being with Clarice’s face.

“What…!”

It was the appearance of a body that was on a different level from Clarice’s body that I saw in my dream yesterday… more violent and more attractive.

############################