Chapter 71

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It was a place that never felt familiar, no matter how many times she visited.

A wall entirely lined with windows.

Beyond them stretched a picturesque cityscape, almost poetic in its grandeur.

But the overly luxurious setting felt uncomfortable, like wearing ill-fitting clothes.

A high-rise mixed-use building located at the heart of District 3.

The penthouse at the top was where Regina found herself, sighing as she spoke.

“Sorry, but it looks like this won’t work.”

“Hm~? That so?”

A dry response came in return.

The girl, leisurely arranging flowers, twirled scissors around her fingers.

Snip, snip. 

She neatly trimmed flower buds, leaving a mess of petals scattered around her.

As Regina watched, the scene vaguely reminded her of severed heads.

She continued, “I acted rashly and drew unnecessary suspicion.”

Just thinking about the girl with deep ocean-blue hair and mismatched eyes made her shudder.

Since that day, Lucia had been sticking close to her, leaving no opportunity to approach.

It was clear she was being guarded—Lucia was being protected, and no chances were being taken.

Sneaking in at night was a plan that had crossed her mind, but learning that they even slept in the same dorm room together had killed that plan.

“I could push through with brainwashing if I really tried, but it wouldn’t go quietly. Things would escalate.”

The first step would involve neutralizing Alice, but her abilities made it risky.

Given how she resisted drugs and mental manipulation before, taking her down discreetly was nearly impossible.

Sure, it could be done, but the aftermath would be too much to handle.

Already under scrutiny for being a problem student, causing real trouble might even get her expelled.

“Of course, if you tell me to, I’ll do it. Just means I’d need to go all out.”

“Leave it. It’s not that important anyway.”

The girl in the red fox mask gave a casual smile.

It wasn’t meant to console Regina; she truly didn’t care about the outcome.

Brainwashing Lucia was merely a “nice to have”, not essential.

She’d never expected much from the plan to begin with, and there was no reason to risk blowing everything up.

If she’d been serious about turning Lucia into a puppet, her approach would’ve been far more aggressive.

“If it’s not working out, just drop it.”

“Got it. I’ll let Seri know to back off, too.”

Unlike Regina, who had already given up, Seri was still holding on tightly.

Grinding her teeth in frustration, she was bent on making it happen, despite being too scared to even approach Alice.

Her reactions—flinching the moment Alice looked her way—were almost entertaining.

Perhaps delivering Astaroth’s orders would finally calm her down.

With that thought, Regina voiced her curiosity.

“But why assign the brainwashing to Seri? Couldn’t your mask handle it just fine?”

The red fox mask.

It granted immense power to its wearer while also brainwashing them into complete submission.

Its control was absolute.

Even if the person was aware they were being controlled, they couldn’t resist.

If she had the mask, there’d be no need for Seri’s powers.

Kidnapping and forcing it onto Lucia would’ve been the simplest route.

After all, this very penthouse had been acquired that way.

Originally owned by a pharmaceutical company’s CEO, the company itself was now wholly under her control.

Astaroth hadn’t needed many masks—just enough to manipulate a few executives. From there, the rest fell into her hands.

Regina wasn’t privy to the details, but this likely wasn’t the only company Astaroth had taken over.

For all she knew, influential politicians or high-ranking clergy might have already been reduced to her pawns.

The mask’s power was that overwhelming. It could make anyone submit, should she so choose.

So why hadn’t she used it on Lucia? It was natural to wonder.

Why take the hard way when the easy route was right there?

Was it truly because it didn’t matter?

“It’s not that I won’t use it. I can’t.” Astaroth said nonchalantly.

Snip. 

Another flower bud fell as her lips pouted slightly.

“My mask isn’t all-powerful, you know. It has its share of weaknesses.”

“Weaknesses? Like what?”

“It doesn’t work on the same person twice. Lucia already wore it once. She took it off before I could finish brainwashing her, though.”

She’d been so close to complete control when an interruption ruined everything.

Crimson flames.

A boy as dark as obsidian.

Though unrefined, his scarlet blade had been strikingly potent.

“Thanks to him, Lucia is now immune to my mask. A shame, really.”

“…I didn’t think it had such a flaw.”

“Every skill, every tool, comes with its vulnerabilities.”

The mask might have seemed absurdly powerful, but its penalties were numerous. Break the mask, and the brainwashing ends.

Remove the mask for too long, and the effects weaken until they disappear entirely.

Certain supernatural abilities could nullify the brainwashing.

Severe mental trauma could help someone overcome it.

While it granted power, it could also cause uncontrollable outbursts.

And above all, it couldn’t be used indiscriminately on humans.

As Astaroth listed these weaknesses, her scissors kept moving. 

Snip, snip, snip. 

By now, only teal stems and leaves remained in the vase.

“…I get the rest, but what’s the deal with that last one? Not using it recklessly on humans? I’m human, aren’t I?”

“A few is fine. Too many is the problem. You know this world is under their god’s rule, don’t you?”

I’m just an illegal alien here.

“Leaving behind careless traces will eventually get you caught.”

“Even hiding behind this ‘shell’ has its limits. Understood, my dear Regina?”

The penalties that restricted the monstrous beings’ activity time were all mechanisms designed to deceive the gods’ eyes.

Someday, there might be no need to avoid their notice, but that day wasn’t today. For now, caution was still necessary.

“In simpler terms, we’re criminals trying to dodge the cops, right?”

“Haha, yes, I suppose you could say that.”

Astaroth burst into a delighted laugh. She seemed to appreciate Regina’s irreverent analogy, as if finding joy in the slang used to describe gods.

By now, the vase held nothing but stems. Astaroth glanced at the pot briefly, then picked up a decapitated flower bud and began plucking its petals one by one.

Just how much do you hate flowers? Regina wondered but didn’t ask. She had a more pressing question on her mind.

“But… if the mask’s power has limitations, shouldn’t you be more careful about sharing this information with me?”

“Hm? Why?”

“What if I manage to break free from the mask’s influence someday?”

If that happened, she would undoubtedly hand over every detail she’d learned to the Celestial Corps.

Regina even knew parts of the devils’ ultimate objectives—information that, if leaked, would deal them a significant blow.

“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t tell you anything you shouldn’t know.”

“Ah, well, I guess that makes sense.”

“I’m only telling you because it’s you. I’ve never shared this with anyone else, you know. And you’d better not breathe a word of it to Seri.”

“Obviously, I won’t…”

But why me?

Regina stopped herself from asking out loud.

Come to think of it, Astaroth had never volunteered such information.

Everything Regina knew was something she had asked about first, and Astaroth had merely answered her questions.

“…”

Regina looked at the girl in the red fox mask. Her delicate fingers continued plucking petals with an almost childlike focus. She seemed innocent at first glance, but Regina knew better.

This girl was someone who could carve irreversible damage across dozens of kilometers with a mere gesture.

Erasing an entire city from the map would be a trivial task for her.

She’s my ‘friend’.

Because she’s a ‘friend’, I should do whatever she asks.

But am I her ‘friend’?

Regina doubted it.

To call herself Astaroth’s friend seemed laughable—their species were different, their powers incomparable.

At best, Regina was someone who could manufacture drugs. The gap between them was as vast as that between a human and an insect.

The only reason Astaroth shared such sensitive information so casually… there could only be one explanation.

“Astaroth, when you kill me, please make it painless.”

“Huh? What nonsense is this all of a sudden?”

Astaroth furrowed her brow, as if hearing an utterly ridiculous joke.

Regina, however, responded with a straight face.

“If you’re telling me secrets despite knowing I could break free from the mask’s control, it means you’ve already decided to kill me someday, doesn’t it? Dead people don’t talk.”

“Why would I kill you? We’re ‘friends’, aren’t we?”

“…You’re seriously saying that?”

“Do you think I’m lying?”

It wasn’t a lie. Astaroth genuinely liked Regina.

She appreciated her abilities and found her decadent appearance appealing.

Killing Regina wasn’t part of her plan. In fact, if another devil ever tried to harm her, Astaroth was prepared to step in and protect her.

“Until I get tired of you, we’re ‘friends’.”

“Ah, of course. So when you’re tired of me, you’ll kill me. Guess I’d better start drafting a will.”

“Haha, I’m not going to kill you. Why would I? Your abilities are still useful.”

Astaroth picked up a particularly darkened flower bud among the scattered remnants. Its black hue was unnatural, the product of human cultivation.

A black rose.

“If the day ever comes when I grow bored and lose interest in you as a ‘friend’…”

She gestured for Regina to come closer.

When Regina obediently approached, Astaroth tucked the black rose into her violet hair.

“Then… yes, I suppose I’ll just cut off your limbs and keep you as a pet.”

“…Wouldn’t that be worse than dying?”

“You don’t like that idea?”

Regina scratched her chin, pondering.

A pet, huh… Naturally, she hated the thought.

There might be some freaks out there who’d enjoy such a fate, but Regina certainly wasn’t one of them.

Still, her response was already decided.

“No, I don’t mind.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Regina let out a deep sigh.

She’d really gotten herself into a mess.

At this rate, she’d lose her humanity entirely.

But if it was Astaroth’s ‘request’…

Then giving up her humanity might be unavoidable.

Yeah, nothing I can do about it.

Feeling awkward, Regina scratched her head and decided to change the subject.

“So, why did you shred these flowers to pieces? Do you hate them that much?”

“No, I love flowers. Always have, ever since I was little.”

“Then why…?”

Regina glanced around.

Upon closer inspection, the chaos included slashed leaves and stems. The marble floor was a kaleidoscope of petals and buds in various colors.

Astaroth smiled, as if Regina’s question was too obvious to need asking.

“Because I love them.”

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Astaroth likes Regina.

Judging from the fact that she even gave her a black rose, it’s true.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
The most terrifying mind control of them all, imprinted suggestions!

Imagine still having your will and beliefs but you are now unconsciously someone’s slave, oh that doesn’t sound too bad—

Anyways, great chapter heh.