The Closed Door
by Afuhfuihgs
Rather than feeling bad about Raelan’s comment that I seemed inexperienced in manipulating people by exploiting their weaknesses, I was more curious.
It sounded as if I could control Bella as I wished if I exploited her weaknesses.
, “…What do you mean by that?”
“Bella is someone who will do anything for Roel. That’s the fundamental setting of Bella’s character.”
I nodded at Raelan’s cold analysis.
“She would even sacrifice her own life for Roel without hesitation.”
Raelan gave a chilling smile at my answer.
“Didn’t you think that blind love could be a good leash for us?”
I couldn’t answer Raelan’s question immediately. I had never thought about it that way.
“…You mean Bella’s blind love for Roel can be a leash?”
“Yeah, surely the author hasn’t forgotten the title of his own novel, has he?”
I could understand what Raelan was thinking at that question. A chill almost like a shiver ran down my spine. As Raelan said, I hadn’t thought of it easily because I lacked experience in manipulating others by exploiting their weaknesses.
‘The Hero’s Harem Can’t Help But Win.’ In other words, Bella’s sacrifice was for the victory of the hero Roel. The reason Bella chose to die together with the cult leader, using the capital, the imperial palace, and her own life, was to relieve Roel of his burden so that he could pour all his energy into the fight against the Demon King.
Thanks to Bella’s valuable sacrifice, Roel defeats the Demon King and eventually saves the world. But the current Roel cannot win even if he defeats the Demon King. Because the god of the Chaos Church, created by plausibility due to a setting error, remains as the final enemy.
Moreover, Roel has concluded after numerous attempts that he cannot defeat the god of the Chaos Church. He is repeating a draw, bearing everything alone for eons of time, thinking that he cannot win.
Right now, Roel and I are enemies. Knowing that Roel’s method of salvation is wrong, a clash will be inevitable. But ultimately, we must be on the same side to save the world and help each other.
If I can persuade Bella to be my helper so that Roel can defeat the god of the Chaos Church and achieve true victory… Bella, a member of the harem, will make the choice that Roel can’t help but win, just like the title of the novel.
That was how to manipulate Bella, as Raelan said.
“…That’s why an inexperienced master always has an excellent strategist by their side. I never even thought about that.”
I nodded, genuinely impressed.
“Are you already offering a carrot to your subordinate?”
Raelan twisted one corner of his mouth and continued.
“Considering that Ross of Avarice called you the last Ross… it must mean that this world is the last of all worlds. In that case, Roel’s method of salvation, which has only delayed defeat, will end not in a draw this time, but in the defeat of all worlds. It will be easy to persuade Bella if we use that point.”
Something flashed in my mind for a moment. It wasn’t a thought, but an inexplicable inspiration. Suddenly, I thought that this inspiration would be a good material to persuade Roel in the future.
I nodded and took a moment to organize my thoughts. I gathered the information that came to mind and organized the things I needed to do in the future, building the framework of the plan.
I finished organizing my thoughts and straightened my body. Raelan, who had been watching me silently, opened his mouth.
“We’ll talk about the rest when everyone is together.”
I agreed with that opinion. It was also necessary to synthesize the opinions of others. Raelan was also an excellent strategist, but Eunice and Bella are the strongest strategists in the world. From their point of view, they may see something that Raelan and I, like me this time, cannot see.
Raelan said cynically.
“Now that I’ve become your master, the deal about the Formless Breathing must be naturally broken.”
Saying that, Raelan added the last words as if probing.
“Navier will be disappointed to hear this news. She was happy that she had made a good friend.”
I gave a bitter smile. I rubbed my forehead for no reason, as if trying to sort out my strangely depressed mood.
“…I’ll explain it separately myself.”
“Yeah, you’re not in a situation where you can afford to be caught up in such things. Take care of it.”
I stroked my chin silently at Raelan’s expression of calling things related to his daughter ‘such things.’ The fact that he had put forward a date with his daughter as a condition of the deal in the first place meant that it was not an ordinary father-daughter relationship.
But even if I knew it, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Navier was a clear friend who was in charge of one axis in my few human relationships.
While I was lost in thought for a moment, Raelan suddenly tapped the table with his fingertips. My consciousness, which had been immersed in thoughts and emotions, returned to reality, and I looked up at Raelan.
Raelan, with his hands clasped in front of his chest, gave a faint smile.
“If you want, I can tell you all of the Formless of the main family right now.”
It was a tempting offer. If I were to acquire the Formless Breathing, I would achieve tremendous growth. But that’s why I immediately refused.
“I’m okay for now.”
Raelan looked at me with eyes full of interest, as if he thought my choice was unexpected.
“Aren’t you aiming to grow quickly?”
“Yes. I think now is the time to observe the situation and gather information. Roel won’t move hastily right now either. The cult won’t move rashly because of the restrictions of causality. So, for the next year, I’m just going to watch the world flow according to the flow of the novel.”
Roel is in a state where he can even use the Formless Breathing that I learned. If I learn the Formless of the main family here, Roel will also be able to use the Formless of the main family. If that happens, there will be few beings in this world who can stop Roel.
“Hooh, you’ve read the flow of plausibility? Well, your growth is Roel’s growth. I think I’ve found a clue to solve that problem.”
Raelan, who had received my memories intact, could quickly understand my intentions without having to explain them. Thanks to that, there was no blockage in our conversation.
“It’s a small clue, but it’s worth checking.”
I smiled and explained further.
“What’s important now is to control the situation in a way that is advantageous to us without touching the big picture, and to create a force that can respond to the movements of the cult and Roel at any time.”
Raelan asked with low, sunken eyes.
“Do you have something in mind?”
I nodded and took out a small notepad from the space warehouse. It was the kill list I had written before. I handed it to Raelan.
“I think it’s time for Lily to be active. If you recruit Eunice and Bella, please rewrite the kill list with the three strategists putting their heads together.”
Raelan, who had checked the contents of the kill list, stretched his lips long and said.
“You’re going to reduce the number of cult followers and Demon King followers without touching the plausibility?”
I didn’t bother to answer. I just didn’t avoid Raelan’s gaze.
“Looking at your eyes, you seem to have made a firm decision. Good, the future will be interesting.”
My appearance in Raelan’s eyes, which were glistening with madness, was no different from usual.
***
After the conversation with Raelan, I stood in front of Navier’s door. It was late to have a conversation, but I had promised, so she must be waiting for me to come.
I didn’t think in advance about what to say to Navier in front of the door.
If I thought too much, I thought I would hesitate to knock on this door that much. So, I raised my hand and knocked on the door without thinking.
I heard hurried footsteps from behind the door, and then the door burst open. Navier, who opened the door in her pajamas, greeted me with a happy face.
“Welcome! I was dying of curiosity.”
When I sat down at the table, Navier recommended cocoa and dessert, but I shook my head and refused. With a nervous cough at Navier’s expectant expression, I went straight to the point.
“I have something important to say.”
Navier, who had been expecting to hear an explanation for why I had returned in half a day, tilted her head at the contextless introduction.
“What, weren’t you going to explain why you came back in half a day?”
“In a way, yes.”
I looked straight into Navier’s eyes and slowly continued.
“I’m thinking of marrying Luna when I graduate from the academy.”
Navier’s eyes widened at the sudden declaration. A strange silence filled the room for a moment. Navier didn’t even seem to realize that she was gaping blankly without saying anything.
“I suddenly felt sure. I’m sure that I can spend my whole life with this person.”
“….”
“So, I came back to make my heart clear. I broke the deal I had with your father just now. Luna said it was okay to date you, but I couldn’t feel comfortable.”
I could see Navier’s face hardening as my words continued, even though she had been faithfully expressing her emotions all along. So, I hardened my heart too.
Navier, who had been slowly examining my face, opened her mouth in a slightly subdued voice.
“That means….”
“It means you don’t have to go on a forced date with me once a month anymore.”
Navier’s beautiful brow furrowed. Navier, who had lowered her gaze and bit her lip, denied my words.
“At first, I had no choice but to do it because of my father’s orders… but it’s not forced now. It was really fun and enjoyable to be with you.”
Saying that, Navier looked straight at me. Our gazes tangled in the air. I indifferently ignored the emotions and heat contained in her gaze.
“Yeah, but it’s time to 정리 (jeongni – clean up/organize/settle things) now.”
Navier’s brown eyes trembled at my firm voice. Navier, who hesitated for a moment and tried to say something, barely asked me in a cracked voice after several attempts.
“H, how…?”
Instead of answering, I leaned my upper body towards Navier. Navier, startled by the sudden action, shrugged her shoulders. At that sight, I smiled and said as if it were nothing.
“From now on, we can make appointments when we have time.”
“Huh…?”
Navier asked back with a blank face. I smiled bitterly at Navier’s appearance, which seemed to have a strange expectation.
“That’s what friends are for, right? Meeting comfortably.”
Navier’s expression crumbled at those words. Her face was full of dismay. There was no way that Navier, who had good observational skills, wouldn’t know the clear line I had drawn.
“…That’s right. That’s what friends are for.”
Navier’s voice, which had been bright until just now, had now changed to a voice that seemed to suppress her emotions. It was a clear change that even someone insensitive to emotions could tell that she was hurt. So, I couldn’t help but give a playful smile.
“You weren’t thinking of not being friends in the future, were you?”
Navier didn’t answer my joke for a moment. Navier, who had slightly lowered her gaze, raised her eyes again and was smiling brightly.
“…There’s no way.”
I smiled at her calm voice. Since there was nothing more to say, I got up from my seat. Navier said to me as I turned away and tried to leave the room.
“Ross, I’m a bad friend.”
I opened the door with a long sigh. And then I said without looking back.
“Me too.”
I closed Navier’s door like that.
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