Chapter 54

Ping―

It felt like a sound was echoing from somewhere within me.

“Ugh…”

Tirisia Bruerd could instinctively sense it.

Something had just come off from inside her.

A tiny something that had been hidden away very subtly until now.

The reason she could feel that moment so clearly was that she was looking at Kerg’s face.

The face she had once felt such tender love for.

Even though its warmth had decreased compared to a few months ago, that feeling had still been recognizable as love.

That was entirely transformed in just that moment.

Now, the man reflected in her eyes gave off nothing but a loathsome vibe, devoid of any trace of love.

The man in front of her, Kerg Durakal, was just some awful punk far from her taste.

She couldn’t believe that just seconds ago, she had felt love towards that rugged face.

That couldn’t be!

There’s no way she could possibly love a man like this.

Then why had her heart raced so much until now?

And why had that thrilling feeling just vanished like smoke?

‘What has changed…?’

She couldn’t pinpoint what exactly had triggered it.

Maybe it was something that naturally occurred over time.

Or perhaps it was due to the simmering anger from Kerg’s repeated disappointing actions.

Or did it happen because she had looked back at Erto’s face and remembered her happy moments with him?

As rational questions about when and why she had fallen for the man before her surfaced,

She felt as if something that had been clouding her heart—around the area of her chest—was washed away.

“Senpai…”

A possibility struck Tirisia Bruerd’s mind like a lightning bolt.

Clear thoughts began to whirl around rapidly, coldly analyzing what had just happened.

The sudden shift from loving the man before her to Erto.

Her feelings had developed unreasonably swiftly compared to the time she had known him.

A love that had felt so huge it could betray her longtime boyfriend.

And the feelings of emptiness, disappointment, and disgust that had been gradually creeping up.

Now, realizing that in this moment, she had no reason to love him, her feelings turned icy.

No, maybe it was like returning to normal…?

That moment occurred in an instant, and there was a clear turning point.

‘Then, then.’

Her lapis lazuli eyes filled with horror as a truth that pierced through the entire situation emerged in her mind.

She had been subjected to something by Kerg Durakal.

That was the only possibility that could explain the current situation.

“What did you… do to me?”

Her trembling lips spat out the question, seeking confirmation of what she had thought.

“Huh?”

Kerg raised an eyebrow and noticed something was off with Tirisia.

The affection and kindness that had been in Tirisia’s expression were gone.

“…What?”

Noticing the change, Kerg tilted his head while checking the back of his hand.

On the dark back of his hand, a glowing red pattern appeared and then—

Crack!

With a sound of bursting, it shattered into pieces and scattered into the air.

Kerg frowned as if he realized something watching the dissipating fragments.

“Ah… Damn. No wonder things have been feeling off lately.”

“Senpai!”

Tirisia raised her voice, calling Kerg, who seemed to be ignoring her.

“Answer me. What did you do to me?”

“Ha…”

Kerg scratched the back of his head, frowning with annoyance as he replied.

“If I had known you were this resistant, I would have used it on someone from the royal family… I should have been more careful in choosing my target since it’s one-time use, you see.”

“One-time use… target… what does that mean?”

“Ah—where was it… oh, I stashed it here.”

Kerg suddenly rummaged through his drawer and pulled out a worn-out stake that looked like it was made from an old tree.

“This is one of the treasures our ancestors stole from the emperor a long time ago in the east.”

“Stop dodging the question and just answer!”

At Tirisia’s outburst, Kerg shrugged with a smirk on his face.

“Hey now, I’m giving an explanation here. Shut up and listen.”

“…”

Tirisia glared at him in silence, and Kerg continued to explain in a teasing tone.

“If you stab someone with this, an ancient curse called ‘charmed’ activates, and they end up loving the user more than anyone else. I tried it out, and the effect was spot on! Hehe.”

“That… dangerous thing…!”

“Now it’s just an empty shell and garbage, though.”

Tirisia was shocked, but Kerg threw the stake in the trash like it was nothing.

Thud!

“…!”

As she looked at him with a shocked expression, Kerg raised both hands with a grin.

“Well, our family has prospered enough by using this to establish an Academy—Such is the tale. But now, the power contained in the stake is almost depleted, and by the time I inherited it, it could charm maybe one last person.”

“Don’t tell me that’s…!”

“It seems the upper generations used it to charm some high-ranking nobles, and under normal circumstances, I’d do something similar… but after discovering a certain girl at the Academy, I had a change of heart.”

With a damp smile, Kerg pointed at Tirisia’s face.

“A young sorceress of the prestigious Bruerd household, burdened with the greatest talent ever. That made you a pretty tempting target, especially since you happened to be gorgeous, just my type. Hehehe.”

“You used that on me!”

Kerg nodded without hesitation, casually acknowledging his crime.

“Ah, I had already built up connections with the high-ranking nobles, so what my family needed more was a self-sustaining force to protect that power. In every way, you were the perfect target.”

“When exactly did you cast that curse on me?”

Tirisia asked sharply, her eyes wide open, but Kerg just stuck out his tongue and shook his head.

“Dunno, is that even relevant right now? Anyhow, you ended up loving me, and you obediently went along with everything. You were quite a useful woman. Thanks, huh?”

“…!”

Tirisia felt her heart plummet as memories of everything that had occurred rushed back.

She had betrayed Erto,

showing herself in a light she shouldn’t have before him,

shredding apart the heart that had loved her,

and without a single apology, rationalizing it all as being for true love, she had fled—

All because she had been charmed by Kerg Durakal…?

Had she been a pawn in this man’s malicious scheme…?

‘This can’t be…’

It was an incredibly shocking revelation, yet Tirisia managed to hold herself together and glared at Kerg, revealing her hostility.

“So you have been controlling me all this time… you!”

“Huh? Pfft… Bahahaha!”

Even though she shouted with fury, Kerg burst into laughter as if her words were genuinely funny.

“Heh… Hehehe! Come on, are you really that clueless? Control? Bahahaha!”

After laughing for a while, Kerg wiped his tears and began mocking Tirisia.

“You don’t know what charmed means?”

“…!”

At that remark, Tirisia’s eyes widened.

Seemingly realizing some opening, Kerg chuckled and nodded.

“You just ended up loving me more than anyone else. Even more than your ex, huh? Charmed is different from brainwashing. It doesn’t snatch your free will away or make you submit. You simply embraced me and felt the greatest happiness by following my words.”

“That’s…!”

“Honestly, you’ve noticed it too, haven’t you? That my words are true.”

Tirisia tried to argue back, but Kerg shook his head as if he already knew what she was about to say.

“I couldn’t force you. You know that, right? Before being disciplined at the Academy, when I was supposed to throw all the blame on you. If I could’ve controlled you, I could’ve ended everything with just a command. But why do you think I had to talk you into it for so long?”

“…”

Tirisia wanted to deny it but felt that his words held some truth.

Whenever he wanted to make her do something unfavorable, he had always suggested it rather than ordered her.

Because his whispers were so sweet, she had followed along without resistance.

Kerg slowly approached Tirisia, his snake-like tongue flicking out repeatedly.

“I merely held your hand and guided you in the desired direction. You always had the will to reject it. But you were too dumb to notice that you decked your eyes with hearts.”

“No… that can’t be…”

Kerg leaned closer, matching his gaze with hers.

His dark, thick fingers prodded Tirisia’s forehead.

“Now do you understand? Even though you were charmed, everything you did until now wasn’t solely because of my commands. Your own will was mixed in there. You weren’t under hypnosis. You acted for me out of your thoughts and judgments.”

“Ah…”

“The malice was mine, but what you followed was you. At least half the responsibility lies with you. Understood?”

“Ah… ugh…”

His black eyes were filled with disdain as they scrutinized her pale face.

“What, do you think blaming it all on me would somehow ease your guilt? You think pretending to be innocent because you were brainwashed would win your ex back? Dream on.”

“That’s a lie…”

Kerg scoffed and turned his back to Tirisia, who was staring blankly, denying his words.

“Well, the fun’s over now. You were quite the good plaything, but it’s a shame. From what I’ve heard, the upper generations had it easy; you’re the first to be freed from my charm this quickly. I’ll commend your mental strength.”

“Kerg…”

Tirisia trembled all over as she repeated his name.

But Kerg waved dismissively, signaling her to leave.

“Now scram. I’ve told you everything I needed, so you don’t have to come back. Don’t bother me.”

“Kerg…!”

“Oh, right, before we part, I should mention this.”

Turning back to Tirisia, Kerg wore a delightfully wicked smile as he said to her,

“There’s no way I could genuinely love a slut like you. I just played around a bit. Hehe.”

At his mocking words, her lapis lazuli eyes glimmered with rage.

“Kerg Durakal…!”

Gooo―!

With that, potent silver mana began to shimmer around Tirisia’s body.

Clang!

From her hands, ice shot forth, taking the shape of a sword.

“I’ll never forgive you…!”

With fiery anger in her eyes, Tirisia aimed the sword at his face.

“Oh, you wanna have a go?”

Kerg spread his arms in a theatrical manner, pretending to look frightened.

“I won’t let you…!”

“But, are you sure you can handle it?”

Tirisia’s step forward halted at Kerg’s words.

He still remained relaxed in front of the Academy’s top-ranked student, even with her seething anger.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten? Our family’s vision.”

“…!”

At those words, the tip of Tirisia’s sword wavered.

“You must know just how strong I am right now?”

As Kerg pointed his thumb at himself, Tirisia recalled the essence of the power of the Durakal family.

Predation.

A sinister ability that absorbed the mana of others with whom a contract was made and made it its own.

That was a perilous beast-like ability, endlessly expanding by devouring weaker foes.

“Thanks to the contract you made, I took down your ex in a single blow. Hehe!”

Indeed.

Right now, Kerg was not only using the mana he possessed but also absorbing Tirisia’s mana, thanks to the charm, alongside the mana of the noble students who flattered him for his power, making him absurdly strong.

Now he unequivocally held the upper hand.

If a fight broke out here, she would certainly lose.

Tirisia felt the instinctual realization of that fact, glaring at him with trembling eyes.

Noticing the anxiety reflected in her expression, Kerg shrugged his shoulders, signaling her to stop with any futile resistance.

“Well, if you want to go for it, I’ll entertain you. But you already have a fair idea of how it’ll turn out, right? If you lose to me here, I’ll have my way with you without any charm. You’d better leave quietly if you want to avoid that.”

“…”

Tirisia let out a shuddering breath as she wrestled with her thoughts and,

Fizzle―

Eventually dropped her sword and suppressed her mana.

Kerg watched her with a triumphant grin on his face.

“Now, off you go. Princess. Who knows? Your ex might even take you back, even as a used cloth?”

“…Trash.”

Tirisia spat the only accusation she could muster and turned her back on Kerg.

“I’ll be cheering for you~”

As she heard Kerg’s mocking voice drifting from behind her, she fled the scene with all her might.

Emerging from the cave, she disappeared like mist.

“……!”

Crunch―

Tirisia dashed through the void, clutching her chest, which felt as though it might explode.

Kerg’s words echoed incessantly in her mind.

‘At least half the responsibility lies with you.’

She couldn’t argue against it.

No matter how much she thought about it, that was the truth.

Even if she had been charmed by Kerg, nothing had changed.

She was still a trashy girl who had betrayed Erto of her own will.

“Ugh…”

A cowardly person who sacrifices a small love for the sake of a greater one.

“Aaaaaaah!”

Letting out a scream that no one could hear, as if her chest was tearing apart, she continued to take aimless steps.

Somewhere, anywhere,

She needed a place to spill this maddening sentiment.

Otherwise, she felt like her head would really explode.

*

As evening fell and darkness settled in.

Suddenly, ominous clouds gathered, and heavy rain began to pour down from the previously clear sky.

Passersby on the road murmured and cursed at the unpredictable weather while starting to run for cover, shielding their heads with bags.

In an instant, the dark streets were emptied of people, and tranquility fell among the pouring rain.

And,

Tirisia Bruerd stood soaking wet in a certain place.

After running unconsciously,

After wandering restlessly through various locations,

As she regained her senses, she had arrived there.

The only person she could face at that moment.

But the only one who didn’t deserve to be seen.

Still, she wanted to meet him.

If there was someone she could place her last hope on, it would be no one other than him.

The person who had shown her kindness more than anyone else.

Perhaps he might still be willing to listen to her voice.

She nurtured a hope that he might give her one last chance.

“Erto…”

She called his name, her damp silver hair sticking to her face.

In the extreme circumstances,

Driven by instinct, the girl sought the arms of the boy she longed for.

No one else came to mind.

Now, having realized the whole truth,

She had to face him for real.

Her childhood friend and former lover whom she had betrayed of her own will. Erto.

In front of his house,

Knock, knock—

Tirisia knocked on the door, grasping for straws.

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