Ch.9595. Gaslighting

Blue fluid splattered in all directions.

I see Riru’s mouth, who was in my arms, gaping wide open. The creature that she and Talion had been desperately trying to avoid until just now had suffered such a critical wound from a single strike.

“…”

I turn around while still wearing my mask.

Beyond the tidal wave, I can see a boat bouncing in the distance as it approaches.

Standing at the front is Yuria, wielding the Severer.

“Hup!”

First things first, I need to collect what I can.

I grab the water dragon’s forearm that was severed and fell off after taking that strike.

‘Material acquired.’

The bodies of dragon-kind are considered treasures in themselves, with numerous uses.

The materials I’ve collected so far will definitely come in handy somewhere.

‘…Still though.’

It got cut off in one strike.

While dragon scales would normally be impervious to ordinary weapons, my opponent is a monster who could split an automaton made of star iron with a single blow if within range.

If it were a true dragon, that might be different, but a mere water dragon doesn’t have the capacity to withstand such an attack.

The problem is the gap between the water dragon that just took that hit and Yuria.

It’s clearly not just three steps away.

‘…What the hell?’

Why is she so strong?

Even I didn’t expect this level of power.

< System Message >

[Target ‘Yuria’s’ corruption level has reached over 90%!]

[The curse on target ‘Yuria’ grows stronger due to the influence of the ‘White Demon’ residing in the item ‘Severer’!]

“…”

So it had that effect too. I didn’t even know about this.

If I hadn’t already removed the side effect that made her indiscriminately slice anything while wearing the star iron circlet, something terrible would have happened long ago.

‘…The good news is…’

With this level of power, it shouldn’t be difficult to imprint the water dragon as I originally intended.

Even in the game, exceptionally powerful magical beasts receive special imprints through combat, which unlock certain “interactions.”

Like taming them as mounts, summoning them for support during battle, or getting special items from them.

And the water dragon’s imprint specifically involves harboring intense “rage” toward whoever inflicts serious injury upon it.

-!!!!

The water dragon’s eyes flashed with fury as it turned toward her.

Though it lost one arm, it’s still categorically a dragon-kind. It can still exert tremendous combat power-

“Eyes.”

I saw Yuria coldly mutter that from the distance.

-!

Another white slash followed.

The other arm flies off.

The water dragon twists its body, screaming in pain.

-!!

Once more.

Part of the water dragon’s body is sliced off.

-!!!

Again, one of its legs.

-!!!!

Again, part of its tail.

“…”

Talion and Riru’s expressions change to something beyond shock.

Right now, that woman is…

With each swing of her sword, she’s turning the water dragon’s body into something like minced meat.

“…Am I dreaming right now? A dragon-kind being butchered by a single human?”

“Even the legendary dragon slayers couldn’t toy with them this easily…”

And this time…

“…I agree.”

I’m not immune to such reactions either.

I expected the demon would enhance her specs, but…

I never imagined they would increase so drastically and powerfully.

I could understand it with the Grey Demon since it’s the strongest among demons. And Elnore was the final boss in the original work, so her base specs were already tremendous.

But for Yuria to be enhanced to this level?

Just from having her corruption level rise because she got angry?

< System Message >

[Target ‘Water Dragon’ is experiencing extreme pain!]

[The target’s unique ability ‘Water Current Manipulation’ is weakening!]

With that message, the tidal wave subsides, and the water dragon writhes, unable to even think straight.

It’s impressive that it’s still alive after being butchered like that, but seeing it dive underwater with its tail between its legs makes it clear that’s not entirely the case.

< System Message >

[Target ‘Water Dragon’ is retreating!]

[Target has been imprinted with ‘Fear Imprint’!]

[From now on, the target will recall this experience whenever it sees ‘Yuria’!]

“…”

This actually worked?

How did she do it?

‘…I mean…’

If I had to choose between good and bad, a fear imprint is better.

Magical beasts imprinted with fear can sometimes be subjected to “breeding,” the ultimate taming technique.

To imprint fear on a magical beast, you need to deliver incredibly powerful attacks in rapid succession without killing it.

In other words, I never even expected this would be possible.

“…”

“…”

While I’m pondering this, Yuria’s boat slowly approaches and finally touches ours.

Yuria, who was standing at the front, hops over to our boat.

The movement might be described as cute, but after seeing what this woman just did, it just looks scary.

However.

“…”

I take a deep breath.

Her specs may have become stronger than expected, but that’s one thing.

From the moment I anticipated she would come this way, what I needed to do was already decided.

‘…I’ve been thinking about this since Elnore went berserk.’

I figured if she was so devoted to me that she’d chase after me in anger like that, this one would definitely come too.

< System Message >

[Target ‘Yuria’s’ corruption level is in a dangerous state!]

[With the wrong response, you may immediately enter an emergency event-]

Blah blah blah.

Such messages appear before my eyes.

I know.

Just like before, she’ll get angry about why another woman is more important than her, and if I can’t handle it, I’ll die.

It’s a pattern that’s been repeated several times already.

“Yuria.”

And.

Right now, that’s not what’s important to me.

What matters is that I need to set a clear “milestone” here and now.

‘…To be honest.’

With my abilities, I can’t completely prevent this kind of clinging.

No matter how much special knowledge I have from the original work, no matter how much I’m constitutionally loved unconditionally by them, how could I, a mere human, stop love quarrels happening at the demon level? All I can do is endure so I don’t get swept away.

The only solution is to continue multi-relationship dating without anyone finding out. Inevitably.

But.

This kind of interference during a “main quest” progression can’t continue. Especially when dealing with a Demonic Vessel like Riru who needs delicate management.

To prevent that, I need to take some strong measures.

“Why did you interfere?”

“…What?”

At my words as soon as I saw her face, Yuria responded in a voice of disbelief.

From anyone’s perspective, it would seem strange that the man who should be questioned is asking such a question instead.

I notice Elia, who was on the same boat as Yuria, gaping at us.

From the looks of it, she seems to know why Yuria rushed all the way here with a boat in this weather.

So she probably thinks what I just said is like playing with fire in a powder keg, but.

“…”

I may not have dating knowledge, but after thinking hard, this is the conclusion I reached.

Showing this kind of thing once will actually make things easier later.

That relationships, whatever they are, aren’t one-way but two-way.

That is.

Even though the relationship between a demon and a human is

As long as ‘they’ love ‘me’.

It’s not just them who holds the dagger.

[The effect of the title ‘Philanderer’ is activated!]

[Your actions receive a correction!]

“I don’t recall asking for your help.”

As soon as she heard my cold voice, Yuria’s body visibly stiffened.

The atmosphere was even icier than I had intended.

This must be the first time she’s seen me like this.

What I’ve shown this one until now, though varying in degree, has mostly been consistent goodwill.

No matter what she did, I received her well, did everything she wanted, and played along nicely.

In other words, my current appearance is the first time she’s seeing me ‘angry.’

“…No, no, that’s not what’s important-“

Yuria opened her mouth with difficulty, stammering.

What’s important to her is probably why I’m alone with another woman again without telling her, but.

“It’s important to me?”

Before letting the topic shift to that, I cut her off and seize control.

It’s important to delicately control the atmosphere. Getting too angry would be counterproductive.

I must never forget the ‘weight class difference’ between us. She’s a demon who could blow my head off if things go slightly wrong.

Intense expressions that could ruin the relationship itself are absolutely forbidden. I’d die immediately if that happened.

However.

Creating a sense of crisis that the relationship could ‘twist’ is entirely possible.

“I was planning to handle that water dragon without your help, with a plan I had made. It was going well, and if you hadn’t interfered, I could have achieved exactly the results I wanted.”

As if that could be true.

Without Yuria, I would have likely died with high probability.

But more important now is creating a perception.

That ‘I’ suffered damage because of ‘your mistake.’

“…T-that aside, why is Darwood now-“

“Is only what you want important even in this situation?”

As soon as Yuria’s slightly shrinking voice came out, I cut it off with an even colder voice.

“That water dragon was important to me, you know?”

Yuria’s body flinched. She shrinks further and takes a step back. The anger in her eyes fades.

“…”

Even in a relationship between a demon and a human.

The most fundamental aspects are the same.

Not wanting to disappoint someone you like. Not wanting to be abandoned by that person.

In other words, right now, she is…

Scared.

The woman who was just standing in place and butchering a dragon-kind with a few sword strokes, just from a few words from me.

Just from the possibility that her relationship with me might twist.

Just from my attitude being much colder than usual.

“…”

Even as I speak, my heart aches.

I’m already dreading what Calivan will say to me in reproach.

But even so.

“You know.”

For the sake of the future, I have to close my eyes tight and do this.

“For the first time, I’m a bit disappointed in you.”

Yuria’s eyes begin to shake wildly.