Chapter 27: Hypnosis play

Was there ever a moment more crucial than this?

More than when she accidentally broke a dish while cleaning,

More than when she secretly ate bread during prayer,

More than when she diligently studied to become a saint,

This moment was paramount for Belladriel.

“Mix this evenly into the hot spring.”

She poured the powder into the bath, almost emptying the entire pouch.

“This will bring me closer to Isabel, right?”

She chuckled and stirred the water, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“If a man and a woman enter this bath, they will bear fruit, was it?”

She recalled the old woman’s words and smiled, satisfied.

The item Belladriel was using:

Secret Powder

A tool to facilitate a romantic relationship between a man and a woman.

“Isabel… you’re mine…”

Belladriel giggled, lost in her fantasies, and continued stirring.

‘Ugh…’

‘Am I feeling weak?’

A sudden chill ran down my spine.

‘Just my imagination,’ I thought, sighing.

“I should have taken some medicine.”

Attending to Belladriel had taken a toll on me, physically and mentally.

“Hahaha! Catch me!”
“Heehee!”

The cheerful voices of women echoed nearby.

I rested my arms on a bench and murmured, “Must be nice…”

–Nice? What’s so nice?

Rebecca’s irritated voice reached my ears.

I smiled as she approached.

“Rebecca?”
“What are you doing, moping all by yourself?”

Rebecca had just finished bathing, drying her wet hair with a towel.

Her kimono revealed her collarbone.

“Sigh… so refreshing.”

A pleasant scent wafted from her.

A fragrance as appealing as Belladriel’s.

Rebecca sat beside me and opened a bottle of banana milk.

She drank it with gusto.

“Ahh, nothing beats milk after a bath.”
“It looks delicious.”
“Hmm…?”

Rebecca stopped drinking and offered me the other bottle.

“Want some?”

I smiled.

“Thank you.”

Rebecca quickly turned away.

“Don’t get any ideas. I didn’t give it to you because I care.”

She continued drinking.

“I know, you’re just serving me as my servant, right?”
“Pfft! W-Who’s a servant?!”

She choked on her milk, coughing.

I chuckled.

“Just kidding. Haha.”

I opened the bottle and took a large gulp.

“Wow, this is really refreshing.”
“Aria Village’s specialty, of course.”
“A specialty…”

Besides the hot springs, Aria Village had another specialty.

Banana milk.

Apparently a delicacy…

But it tasted like ordinary banana milk to me.

“You…”
“Yes?”

Rebecca suddenly narrowed her eyes and stared at me intently.

“What is it? Is there something on my face?”
“N-No.”
“You seem to have something to say.”
“How long are you going to stay by the Shine Order’s side?”
“Well…”

‘Until Belladriel is redeemed…’

But I didn’t have to be honest.

I mumbled vaguely, “I don’t know…”

“You don’t know…? You’re a notorious villain, aren’t you…?”
“Who said that? I’m not a villain.”
“Of course villains don’t admit they’re villains.”

She sounded indifferent. I chuckled.

“Seriously, I’m a gentleman who fights for justice and peace!”

It wasn’t a lie.

A gentleman of justice, redeeming villainesses.

‘Maybe I’m pretty cool.’

But Rebecca didn’t seem to appreciate my charm.

“Huh…? Are you stupid?”

She gave me a strange look.

I laughed and waved my hand dismissively.

“Hey, I’m a gentleman who protects peace…?”
“Unbelievable. A villain who serves the nobles, calling himself a hero of justice…”

Rebecca sighed.

Her reaction was understandable, considering nobles were also villains in this world.

But coming from a knight-captain of a cult…

‘Pot calling the kettle black.’

“Why don’t you just stay here?”

Rebecca’s sudden question surprised me.

“What? Why?”
“Well…”

Rebecca sighed and looked straight ahead.

“I hate to admit it, but… thanks to you, the Shine Order seems different. The Order feels… more peaceful.”
“Hmm… really?”

Well…

Belladriel’s behavior had changed since I arrived.

The tense atmosphere had eased, and she was showing signs of a true saint.

It was natural for those around her to notice the change.

“I’m not saying this for your sake. Just… stay here.”
“Haha, I’m flattered, but I can’t just do it for free. You said it’s for your benefit, right?”
“What…? As expected of a villain. You want money, don’t you?”
“No.”
“What…?”

I smirked.

“I don’t need money. If you become my servant, then I’ll consider it.”

A lavender-haired beauty as my maid?

I couldn’t resist.

I wanted to see Rebecca saying, “Yes, Master!”

‘Just the thought makes me happy.’

“What?! Why would I be your servant?!”

She glared at me in disgust.

I shook my head, bewildered.

“Don’t you remember? During the Bubble Gang incident, you promised to be my servant…”
“Aaaa!! Shut up, shut up!”

Rebecca’s face turned red, and she cut me off.

“Shut up! I’m not going to be your servant!”

She clenched her fists, protesting vehemently.

I chuckled and sighed.

“A knight-captain breaking a promise…”
“…Th-That’s not it…!”

I leaned closer and whispered, “Are you embarrassed?”
“Y-You…! Don’t push it! I’m always watching you…”
“Hmm, does that mean you love me…?”
“No!!”

‘She’s fun to tease.’

I wanted to continue, but she looked like she was about to cry.

“N-No one likes you…”
“Thank you for the offer, though.”
“…?”
“The offer to stay here.”
“…It wasn’t for you. It’s just… the knights and I… the Shine Order seems happy, so… don’t get any ideas…”

I patted Rebecca’s head.

“Thank you.”
“…Tch, idiot.”

–What are you two doing?

Belladriel’s voice startled us.

Rebecca jumped up and saluted.

“S-Shine Order!”
“…You two seem close.”
“We were just talking… haha.”
“Just talking…”

Belladriel crossed her arms, a displeased look on her face.

“…Isabel.”
“Yes?”
“Come with me.”
“Alright.”

‘Probably wants another drinking buddy.’

I stood up.

“…And Rebecca?”
“Y-Yes, Shine Order!”
“From now on, ask for my permission before speaking to Isavel. Understood?”

Belladriel glared at Rebecca menacingly.

Rebecca flinched and saluted.

“Y-Yes! I’m sorry, Shine Order!”
“Come along… Isabel.”

Belladriel maintained her stern expression and walked away.

‘That sly fox…’

‘When did she get so close to Isabel?’

Belladriel’s mind was in turmoil.

Isabel wasn’t supposed to be close to any other woman…

Seeing him with another woman made her uneasy.

‘Tonight, I’ll make my move.’

Belladriel led Isabel to the hot spring, determined.

“What’s this, Belladriel…?”
“I wanted to show you this. What do you think?”

She switched to her saintly tone and gestured towards the pink-tinted hot spring.

Isabel recognized the bath salts immediately.

They were meant to increase affection between a man and a woman.

“The color is pretty.”
“Isn’t it? Now, let’s get in.”
“What? Why all of a sudden?”

Isabel chuckled, and Belladriel dipped her finger into the water.

“The water is very good… Shall we?”
“Shall we what?”
“Heehee.”

Belladriel boldly slid off her kimono.

Isabel quickly covered his eyes.

“Belladriel? What are you doing…?”
“Are you embarrassed? Heehee.”

Belladriel chuckled and approached Isabel.

She took his hand and revealed herself.

“…?”

She wasn’t naked.

A white towel covered her upper body, and a long towel wrapped around her lower body like a robe.

“Oh… good, you’re not naked…”
“Why…? Disappointed?”

Belladriel smirked, her eyes half-closed.

“Haha, no…”

Isabel replied, but…

He was a little disappointed.

But he was also pleased to witness “Bathing with Belladriel: Robe Ver.”

Another CG added to his collection.

“Well, no use being disappointed. Let’s get in.”
“…Huh?”
“What? Don’t you want to?”
“N-No, it’s not that, but…”

‘Why is she so insistent?’

Isabel wondered.

The pink hot spring.

He knew the bath salts increased affection.

‘She must know too, so why…?’

“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing.”
“Let’s go.”

Belladriel took his hand and pulled him into the warm water.

“Ahhh… so refreshing… isn’t it?”

Belladriel sat down, enjoying the warmth.

Isabel nodded.

“Wow, this hot spring feels amazing.”
“Right? Haha, I used a special bath salt…”

Belladriel spoke, her mind filled with expectations.

She imagined their affection growing as they bathed together.

But she was mistaken.

These bath salts weren’t point shop items. They only worked on NPCs.

They had no effect on Isabel.

He knew this, but he played along.

“Oh, so this is what you bought from the old woman.”
“Yes. She highly recommended it.”
“It’s definitely working. I feel warmer…”

‘Might as well enjoy it.’

Bathing with a beautiful woman wasn’t so bad.

“By the way…?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you feel… different?”
“Different how?”
“Like… warmer… or aroused…”

Isabel nodded, pretending to understand.

“Oh, oh…! Really?”
“Y-Yes… I feel relaxed… and…”

…a flawless performance.

Belladriel inwardly cheered at his reaction.

She continued, “Is that so? Then I must look different to you too.”

If the bath salts were working, then…

She should appear even more beautiful to him.

Belladriel tested him.

“You’re right.”
“Really?! What do I look like!?”
“Well…”

Isabel pretended to be entranced.

“…A beautiful woman?”