Ch.144144. Subjugation

“Priest.”

Seraphina’s red eyes, which normally seemed so resolute, now gleamed with an ominous light.

Gilbert almost took a step back from her suffocating gaze. If not for the system message window blocking his view, he could guarantee he would have retreated.

“Why do you look at me with such an expression?”

“You’re not acting like yourself, Your Highness.”

“Ah. Priest, you make an amusing jest. I am no different than usual.”

Seraphina rose from her seat with a smirk.

As she began to walk gracefully as if strolling through the imperial garden, her golden hair swayed with her movements.

Though the command headquarters tent was quite large, able to accommodate many people, it took Seraphina only about ten seconds to approach Gilbert until she was right in front of him. Standing close enough for their breaths to mingle, she raised a finger and gently traced it down Gilbert’s chest.

“I’ll say it again. I am no different than usual. I merely expressed that I want to possess you. Just as always.”

“Priest.”

“If anything, isn’t it you who’s acting differently? Do you mean to say that my expression of desire makes you uncomfortable?”

“No. I just recall having already given my answer to that.”

Gilbert recalled the message window that had appeared before him moments ago.

The sub-scenario that had shown no changes until now suddenly underwent a dramatic transformation. The trigger was when Seraphina openly displayed her possessiveness toward Gilbert himself. With this, he could definitively identify one of the “Seekers of Twisted Possession” that he had only theorized about before.

But that wasn’t what mattered right now.

Though he had hastily closed the message window, he clearly remembered the notification that he had reached the first branching point.

From this, he could get a sense of how the sub-scenario “Seekers of Twisted Possession” would unfold. This sub-scenario was a multiple-ending type where the direction of the story would be determined by the choices he made.

Gilbert personally didn’t particularly like multiple-ending scenarios.

Because of the numerous achievements that branched off from them, playthroughs would increase two or three times. While he did enjoy the process of unlocking achievements, having to change sub-scenario choices one by one caused extreme game fatigue. Since there was no guarantee of clearing the scenario, it often resulted in repetitive grinding gameplay.

Even for Gilbert, after several repeated playthroughs, he would get so tired of the game that he’d take a break for a few days, which is why he couldn’t fully appreciate multiple-ending sub-scenarios.

Moreover, this was reality now, not a game. With a sub-scenario bearing such an ominous name and being a multiple-ending type, there was a high probability of a bad ending existing. That’s why Gilbert judged that the system had deliberately included the “first branching point” notification in the message window.

Honestly, Seraphina’s gaze right now was not normal.

He was well aware of her excessive possessiveness, but this was undoubtedly the first time she had shown such a broken demeanor. While she did covet talented individuals, she always tried to maintain the elegance befitting a member of the imperial family.

She always tried to maintain composure, and all these factors combined made her an unattainable character. The official stance from the developers was that considering her background, a romance route with Seraphina would be unrealistic.

Yet here she was, openly displaying her possessiveness and trying to ensnare him. It would be strange not to feel a sense of crisis. This obsessive behavior was something he had never seen before, despite the countless hours he had invested in the game.

Gilbert knew he couldn’t remain in this situation.

He needed to change the atmosphere.

Looking at Seraphina, who was still tracing his chest, he quickly knelt down.

“Your Highness.”

“Priest. Suddenly kneeling—are you ready to become mine?”

“I am grateful for your high regard. However, as I have said, my loyalty is always directed toward the Empire.”

“You say the same thing again. Priest—no, Lord Gilbert. Why do you push me away?”

The coquettish demeanor that seemed capable of ensnaring any man just moments ago had vanished. What remained now was a glimpse of the Empress who would rule the Empire.

Gilbert recognized that this was indeed a crucial branching point.

Now that information about the sub-scenario had been revealed, what he needed to do was somehow delay making a choice.

He needed time.

Time to organize the information.

“Your Highness. Look beyond. Why do you fixate on me?”

“You speak strangely. I am not fixating on you. I am merely trying to obtain what I desire. You are destined to be a shining star in the Empire. I will make it so, and the Empire will make it so. Then, is it not natural that I should possess that star to reach the highest position in the Empire?”

Seraphina’s words weren’t wrong.

His mech piloting skills, perfected through countless hours of investment, were indeed special. Despite being in a game, the vast experience accumulated through numerous deaths and trials had thoroughly permeated Gilbert’s being.

And he was a veteran who could utilize that experience better than anyone else.

“I will say it once more. I want to possess you.”

“I will also repeat myself. My loyalty is always directed toward the Empire.”

“Are you saying that unless I become the successor, I cannot have you?”

“My answer remains the same. My loyalty is always directed toward the Empire.”

Gilbert declared firmly. The moment he supports one faction, the scales tip in that direction. The image of an imperial hero would also be projected onto the lord he serves.

Nevertheless, the reason he wasn’t choosing a side was because of the existence of the sub-scenario and Prince Richard. He didn’t know how the sub-scenario would progress if he hastily sided with Seraphina, nor did he know how Prince Richard would react.

At the very least, observing and waiting for developments would make it easier to respond.

“You are the only one who makes me so desperate. I don’t understand why you refuse to acknowledge my feelings.”

“I am deeply sorry.”

“Enough. Even I think this is unlike me. If you are so determined to push me away, I have no choice but to resort to extreme measures.”

Gilbert felt uneasy. He had tried to feign ignorance and avoid the situation, but Seraphina’s obsession seemed to have grown more serious than he had anticipated.

“But for now, I have a duty to fulfill, so I will restrain myself. Commander Gilbert, you may leave.”

Though he had been hoping for dismissal, Gilbert couldn’t easily leave due to his unsettled feelings.

But he couldn’t remain kneeling there forever, so he bowed deeply and left the command tent.

[You have made your choice at the first branching point of the sub-scenario “Seekers of Twisted Possession.”]

[Information for the sub-scenario “Seekers of Twisted Possession” has been updated.]

As soon as he left the command tent, a message window appeared, causing Gilbert to let out a long sigh.

Somehow, he felt afraid to look at it.

***

Upon returning to his tent, Gilbert hastily opened the note window.

It was time to check the contents of the sub-scenario he had been curious about for over half a year.

< Sub-scenario – Seekers of Twisted Possession >

Type: Sub

Clear Condition: Guide the seekers to the right path.

Seekers: Seraphina, ???, ???

Reward: Reward grade determined by progress (F~S)

– ???

Progress: 20%

Information:

– The seekers have lost their way due to their twisted hearts.

1. Seraphina – Distortion Index 60%

– Princess Seraphina, one of the seekers, has become twisted due to her excessive possessiveness.

– Her once brilliant eyes have now become eyes of desire that cannot stop until they obtain what they want.

– The first branching point has been chosen.

You, the object of her possessiveness, have refused to become hers. (Distortion Index increased by 30%)

* You must guide her to the right path so she doesn’t stray from the proper course.

* When the Distortion Index reaches 100%, the Ruin Ending will begin.

2. ???

3. ???

Gilbert’s expression soured as he looked at the mission window, which was filled with question marks.

As he had suspected, Seraphina was one of the seekers. While it was good that his hypothesis was confirmed, none of the details were positive.

Especially concerning was the “Distortion Index,” a metric he had never seen before, which was already at 60%. The information stated that if this index reached 100%, a “Ruin Ending” would occur.

This was also an ending title he had never encountered in his many multiple-ending scenarios.

Usually, the worst was called a “Bad Ending,” but a “Ruin Ending”?

There was no denying that things were taking a serious turn. The term “Ruin Ending” itself was ominous. Unlike a bad ending, which typically involved death or disability, this was labeled a “Ruin Ending.”

Perhaps an ending awaited where death would be the happier alternative.

Isn’t this too unfair?

Gilbert shook his head and closed the mission window.

Things had been going well lately.

Brianna, who had died in every route, hadn’t died, and many people hadn’t been sacrificed in the terrorist attack.

He had made peace with the Sigurd clan, so at this point, Gilbert had done the best he could.

But now he had been blindsided.

While the ending hadn’t been determined yet, he recognized the situation as sufficiently dangerous.

The emergence of the variable called the “Ruin Ending” raised Gilbert’s tension, which had somewhat relaxed, to its peak. He had forgotten that this world could quickly turn dangerous if one let their guard down.

– Clap clap

Gilbert slapped his face hard enough to snap himself back to attention. He hit himself so hard that his face turned red.

For now, he decided to focus on lowering Seraphina’s Distortion Index for the sub-scenario, but postponed any concrete action. The subjugation battle was imminent.

Even if he was concerned about the Ruin Ending, if he died in the subjugation battle first, that would be the end of everything.

Moreover, this world had already begun to diverge from the timeline of Tactical Combat that Gilbert knew. The sub-scenario he had never seen in the game was proof of that.

Given that anything could happen in the subjugation battle, he needed to successfully complete it first. It would be disastrous if something went wrong in the battle because he was too focused on the sub-scenario.

Having traversed countless chaotic battlefields, he could easily calm his mind.

Quickly regaining his composure was his specialty.

As always, if his mind was cluttered, he just needed to tackle the immediate problems one by one.

***

“Gilbert. It’s a tradition of the Sigurd clan for men and women to join bodies the night before battle.”

Ah, except for that.