The Incompetent Bratty Prince is out (3/4 chapters)
Making Good Use of Mastermind
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“Xandra!” (Harold)
Once I confirmed that Laila, lying on the floor, was incapacitated, I rushed over to Xandra.
“Haru-sama!” (Alexandra)
“Ahaha! As expected of you, Xandra!” (Harold)
“Yes! Just as you asked me to!” (Alexandra)
I picked up her small body and spun her around in circles.
That’s right… Before the battle with Laila, I made a request of her.
‘Please don’t participate in the battle, and when I give the signal, sever the limbs of the magic doll Laila to render her unable to fight.’
Why did I make such a request? Of course, to save Laila. Even though ‘Engage Hazard’ only has an ending where she is destroyed by the protagonist, I’ve already proven that it’s possible to change that fate. Just like I did with Xandra’s fate.
Also, even though the game’s narrative might have intended for her self-awareness to return at the very end, how could I accept that? As long as I’m here as Harold, I refuse to accept anything but a happy ending. That said, if we’d faced Laila when she was still fully functional, Xandra might not have been able to hold back. So, while the rest of us wore down her combat capabilities, I was waiting for the moment when she’d regain her self-awareness.
“Now then… Laila, can you hear my voice?” (Harold)
“…” (Laila)
She didn’t respond with words, but Laila gave me a slight nod.
Good. She’s regained her self-awareness.
“It’s sad to say, but you can no longer live as a human. You can never return to being one.” (Harold)
“!?” (Monica/Liliana/Carla/Lloyd)
“…” (Laila)
Everyone except Xandra, Monica, and Christia opened their eyes wide in shock at my words.
I guess none of them had realized she was originally human.
“And even if you can continue living as a magic doll, we can’t just let a dangerous being like you roam free. So…” (Harold)
I signaled to Xandra, who placed the tip of Balmung’s blade against Laila’s slender neck.
“I want you to choose. End your existence here as the magic doll Laila, or… live on as my tool.” (Harold)
It was a harsh way to say it, but she’s no longer human, just an item according to ‘Engage Hazard’. Treating her as a person would be different. So, I’ll treat her as a tool… no, as an item, and treasure her accordingly. But only if that’s what she wants. If she doesn’t, we can’t let such a dangerous existence live.
“What’s your answer?” (Harold)
“…” (Laila)
The floor of the magic tower’s top level fell into an eerie silence.
And then…
“…Please take care of me, Master.” (Laila)
“Ah, of course!” (Harold)
She… Laila chose to live on as my tool.
—
“Haru-sama, what do you plan to do with this one?” (Christia)
“Mgh…” (McLaren)
Dragging the gagged and bound McLaren across the floor, Christia asked the question.
I’d asked her to heal his near-fatal wounds, caused by Laila’s attacks.
Of course, so he could repair Laila and remove her forced directives.
“With all due respect, this filth has no place in this world. I’m sure the gods would agree.” (Christia)
“The Saintess is right! If someone’s going to end him, let me do it!” (Carla)
“Yeah! Scum like him is the enemy of humanity!” (Lloyd)
Christia’s unusually harsh words were echoed by Carla’s righteous anger and Lloyd’s clenched fists.
The Baltian Holy Kingdom teaches the sanctity of humanity, so it’s no wonder they reacted this way. After all, McLaren’s experiments involved body modification.
“McLaren. You have one job. Remove the command you placed on Laila to ‘eliminate all intruders in the magic tower’ and repair her damaged body.” (Harold)
“! Fgh! Fghhh!” (McLaren)
“Hard to understand with that gag on. Listen. I’m giving you an order. Just like you did to Laila.” (Harold)
I surprised even myself with how cold my voice sounded.
This is the only reason he’s still alive. If he can’t do it, he’ll experience hell until he begs for death.
“Choose. Die here, or fix Laila.” (Harold)
“! Fgh! Fgh!” (McLaren)
Realizing my threat wasn’t a bluff, McLaren shook his head desperately.
“Then, get to it. And don’t think you can escape. Xandra has her hand on your collar. If you try to teleport, she’ll go with you.” (Harold)
“Uuu… uuu…” (McLaren)
With crimson eyes glowing, Xandra smiled as she aimed Balmung’s tip at his chest. She had a firm grip on his clothes. Even if he tried to teleport away, she’d come along, and kill him on the spot.
“Now then.” (Harold)
“Uuuh… uuh…” (McLaren)
Weeping with fear, McLaren began repairing Laila.
Driven solely by his instinct to survive.
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