A cafeteria where children crowded around a single long table. It was in that room, dimly lit to conserve light, when Panilla (René) was having a thin soup and bread supper.
“Panilla, come to my room before you go to bed today.”
The director of the orphanage passed behind her.
“Panilla” did not know the director’s name, nor did she know his background. At least, he was already the director when “Panilla” came to the orphanage, and he was still the director.
He was an old man with a bald head like a meatball.
Perhaps because it was an orphanage affiliated with the temple, the director always wore a priest’s uniform. He probably worked at the temple when he was young. However, he was not a man who could use holy magic. But since it was said that the majority of the clergy could not use holy magic, it was not unusual.
“Yes, Director.”
Panilla (René) replied as if it was nothing, but she was reading the Director’s mind with her ability to perceive emotions.
Maybe this was what the Thames River was like during the Industrial Revolution, Panilla (René) thought.
Panilla (René) quickly devoured her meal and sighed.
It was a small matter before the big event, but she had no idea that such an unnecessary event would occur.
–What a lot of extra work.
Panilla (René) rechecked the strategy she had prepared in advance in her head.
＊ ＊ ＊
The Director’s office was still a barely presentable place in the poor orphanage.
But there were only a few simple pieces of furniture, such as a bookshelf and a desk for office work. The next room was the director’s bedroom, where he lived.
“Welcome, Panilla. Well, have a seat there.”
When Panilla (René) entered the room, the director greeted her amiably.
He offered her a chair and she sat down.
“Viscount McGregor will be here tomorrow. You know the Viscount-sama?
“Yes, I do. Yes, he is the one who donates money so that we can eat and live every day.”
“Yes, of course. You know exactly what I mean.”
The director nodded in agreement with Panilla’s (René’s) exemplary answer.
The orphanage was funded by the temple, but it was tough to make do with just that.
Asking for donations from knights, wealthy people, and ordinary citizens was a common practice everywhere.
This orphanage received donations from Viscount McGregor to that extent.
The orphans also met with Viscount McGregor, who visited the orphanage from time to time, and ceremoniously expressed their gratitude.
However, there was a rumor that most of the money went into the Director’s pocket…, and Tracy found out that this was almost certainly the case.
Of course, the orphans, including “Panilla”, had no idea what was going on behind the scenes.
“We have to thank Viscount-sama properly. This time, I would like to entrust you with this great task. I will instruct you so that you will not … make a mess of things with the Viscount.”
“Instructions… is it?”
The director smiled.
She heard a sound like a sticky spatula being stirred up.
— …I never thought I would be called at this timing.
She had no idea what was going on behind the scenes at this orphanage, even though she had searched through the memories of “Panilla”.
So she thought she would never be targeted like this, but of all times.
She knew what was going on at the orphanage from Tracy, who was well-informed about it, before she went undercover.
She also knew why Viscount McGregor was supporting the orphanage and visiting it so often.
The price was the children’s bodies.
–Good thing I thought of a way to deal with it just in case.
The prick in front of her had zero fighting ability.
Well, he had the physique and strength of an adult male, so it would be hard for the children to resist him, but to the “Rose Princess of Hellrage”, he was as weak as a baby.
But she could not kill him here.
If the Director who should greet the Viscount disappeared, she would lose the Viscount.
It was also not a good idea to turn him into a Revenant. The city’s Holy Beast surveillance network was watching for any sign of the undead.
Therefore, she needed to first manipulate the Director’s memory and plant a false memory that the “instruction” to Panilla had been completed.
If not, the aftereffects of the memory manipulation would make him look suspicious, and incidentally, the director would catch an appropriate cold. A cold that was not enough for him to be seen, but not enough to be shown to the priests.
The plague that existed in this world were the household of the Evil God.
René, who specialized in curse magic, could make other people sick at will.
All she needed to do was to refrain him from seeing anyone for a few days. If he met someone and said something strange, they would think it was because of the fever.
The possibility that Viscount McGregor would miss the visit is… well, not worth worrying about. He was looking down on the commoners for free, and he was in a position to pay for the orphanage. He was not likely to cancel his visit because of his concern for the director’s health.
At the very least, it would buy her enough time to kill Viscount McGregor and allow René to retreat.
That would be enough.
The Director approached with impassive steps.
“Take off your clothes, Panilla.”
His hand grabbed her shoulder.
At that moment, a bolt of lightning shot through Panilla’s (René’s) body. A terrifying sensation was transmitted to her brain.
Several memories came back to René in a vivid reliving.
Her head and core felt as if they were going white numb and cold.
Her hands trembled.
Her heartbeat intensified.
Her breath labored.
Something pricked and tightened in her chest.
She knew this feeling.
This was.
――…Fear, huh.
“Hiiii…!”
Panilla (René) let out a hiccup-like scream.
The director gripped her shoulders firmly.
Panilla (René) was afraid.
A mere sc*mbag who didn’t even have the strength to fight.
Panilla (René) was afraid.
Panilla (René) was afraid.
“Oh, dear? You seem to know what I’m going to do. You … bad girl.”
The Director’s smile deepened. A black gleam of desire flashed in his eyes.
Panilla (René) was afraid.
–Manipulating memories,… making him sick,… camouflaging him as if nothing had ever happened…
In her head, she repeated what she had to do next. Repeat it as if to cling to it.
Panilla (René) was afraid.
She could not interfere. What could this man do?
Panilla (René) was afraid.
“Is this your first time? Or have you done this before Well, relax. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Yes…, nothing to be afraid of. Just relax and surrender. You’ll feel better soon…”
Something was noisy.
It was her own teeth. They trembled and the roots of her teeth didn’t fit together.
Panilla (René) was afraid.
“I’ll teach you so that you can properly serve Viscount-sama. Everything.”
A stone cold world.
A n*ked man with glaring eyes.
Hands clutching at her.
Memories of ‘torture’.
“No, no, nooooooooo!”
The next moment.
Panilla’s (René’s) chantless «Shock Ball» magic spell hit the Director directly, turning his body into an organic wall stain.
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