Leaving the house in a rush, I ran for a while before arriving at my destination—the old Felix Ducal residence.
"Lord Takumi, what brings you here? Where is Lord Nao?"
The Duke was relaxing on the veranda, sipping tea.
"...I've made up my mind."
Perhaps sensing the unusual tension in my demeanor, the Duke set down his teacup and fixed his gaze on me.
"Because of Tsugumi, Nao and I suffered. If it weren't for her, that soldier probably wouldn't have died either. To ensure no one else is oppressed, I need power. To achieve that, I must complete 〈Mind Control〉."
"...Lord Takumi, there's no need to torment yourself over this—"
"Duke, we don't have time. Let's start the training now."
"Very well. I acknowledge your resolve, Lord Takumi."
Duke Felix tossed me a green badge—a tool necessary for otherworlders to use their unique skills. I fastened it to myself.
"Until now, we've been using rabbits, but today, I'd like to try mice. They're even smaller creatures. Don't you think the effects of 〈Mind Control〉 might be more pronounced?"
"Unnecessary."
"...Hm?"
As the Duke tilted his head in confusion, I extended my hand toward him.
"Felix Duke."
It was the gesture for activating 〈Mind Control〉.
"Obey me."
In an instant—
The Duke's head drooped limply. Though still standing, his arms hung lifelessly, his fingertips brushing the ground, his posture so slumped he looked ready to collapse at any moment.
"Speak. Tell me everything you've been hiding."
The Duke's body trembled violently, as if resisting, but soon the shaking subsided, and his mouth slowly began to move.
"I-I... I had no idea... Lord Takumi's 〈Mind Control〉 was already complete..."
The completion of 〈Mind Control〉.
That was something I had suspected as well.
"That girl soldier... When she came here for surveillance, she accidentally fell under 〈Mind Control〉. The command was, 'Obey Duke Felix.' And then, at the presidential palace, I said, 'The guilty must commit seppuku.' Defining guilt is a tricky matter, but... she likely believed herself culpable. Having heard the command by chance, she slit her stomach outside the room."
Like a dam bursting, the Duke's words spilled out uncontrollably.
"Everything... was because of me and Lord Takumi. I had to... conceal it."
That must have been everything the Duke wanted to say. His mouth closed again, leaving him standing there like a lifeless doll.
...I thought.
I slowly digested the Duke's words from moments ago.
...I see.
So that's your answer, Duke Felix? Then I suppose I have to steel my resolve too, huh?
I pulled a needle from my pocket and hurled it at the Duke.
"It's a fast-acting poison needle. Stab yourself in the arm and die, Duke Felix."
The Duke swayed unsteadily as he picked up the needle from the cobblestone ground. He removed his glove, raised the needle to his left hand, and then—
Threw it back at me.
"...?!"
Caught off guard, I reflexively caught the needle with my bare left hand. The tip pierced my exposed skin.
The Duke stood up casually. Gone was the lifeless, "controlled" demeanor from before—his movements were now perfectly normal.
"My, my, Lord Takumi. Silencing me after learning the truth is rather harsh, don't you think? I never took you for such a cold-hearted man..."
"Relax, Duke. That was just a sewing needle. No poison."
"Hahaha! Well played."
That's right.
I hadn't come here today to practice 〈Mind Control〉 with Duke Felix. I came to use it on him and extract the truth.
Of course, since I was betraying him to get answers, I already suspected his villainy to some degree.
The poison needle was insurance—a precaution against the possibility that the Duke might pretend to be controlled and feed me lies.
And now, I knew.
This man was an enemy. A cunning, intelligent foe—one quick enough to spin convincing lies to save his own skin.
"Is this badge a fake?"
"Indeed. I've prepared several decoys for situations like this. I've slipped them to you during training before."
I recalled all the times I'd practiced my unique skill.
There were even moments when I'd tried using 〈Mind Control〉 on Duke Felix himself. If every badge had been real, the Duke Takumild have obeyed my commands.
But in reality, I'd only ever been able to use 〈Mind Control〉 when it suited the Duke.
"You pretended to train me in 〈Mind Control〉, but you were the one making me use it. Your main targets were Tsugumi's subordinates, the soldiers sent here to monitor us. The command was, 'Obey Duke Felix.' You used me to make them obey you, planning to turn them against Tsugumi. Am I wrong?"
I wasn't sure if the skill worked just by hearing the voice or if direction mattered, but given how long we'd been practicing—over a month—he'd had plenty of opportunities to manipulate things.
And most likely, 〈Mind Control〉 had some kind of "overwrite" function. Otherwise, my command of "Obey me" Takumild still be in effect.
"My, my, you've figured it all out... What a shame, Lord Takumi. Just a little more time, and everything would have been complete."
Felix sighed deeply, genuinely disappointed. His proud Kaiser-style mustache even seemed to droop slightly.
"Until now, you've been dancing in the palm of my hand."
Tsugumi... was right.
Her accusation that I was using 〈Mind Control〉 to aid Duke Felix in rebellion was 80-90% accurate. The only thing missing was my own awareness of it.
Looking back, the growing rift between Tsugumi and me might have been this man's doing too.
I was a fool. I let my guard down because we were fellow otherworlders, and this is where it led me.
"For reference, may I ask what tipped you off?"
You're really asking me that? Fine.
"Nao is kind. And shy."
Then I'll tell you.
"So when she hikes up her skirt and says, 'I want you to hold me'? 'It's all Akaishi's fault'? Like hell I'd buy that! You didn't just use me—you used Nao too!"
Felix covered his mouth and lowered his head. He was laughing. Trying to stifle his laughter.
"Hahaha! How unfortunate. I tried using the girl to provoke you, but... it seems I dug my own grave."
He'd used Nao. Like a tool.
This bastard was no different from the nobles and sages I'd met when I first arrived here. To him, women were nothing more than slaves.
"I was controlling that detestable woman's subordinates, weakening her influence. Just two more, and I'd have had a majority. So close... Just one more step..."
If I'd kept blindly practicing 〈Mind Control〉, more soldiers would have fallen under Felix's control. And then, his rebellion would have succeeded.
"Lord Takumi, let me make you an offer—why not join me?"
Felix extended his hand, as if beckoning me closer.
"I—no, we—are lenient toward men. And if it's just Nao, I can guarantee her safety as your personal slave."
"..."
"Ah, that's right. You prefer younger girls, don't you? It's not my taste, but there are plenty of nobles who share your... proclivities. I can provide you with a real pleasure slave, not some amateur. Within three days, you'd forget all about Nao—"
"Shut your damn mouth!"
At this point, words were meaningless.
"I'll never forgive you for using Nao. I'm siding with Tsugumi. I'm your enemy now."
We glared at each other. No compromise. No cooperation.
We were enemies now.
"King of Glaciers, Fenrir—"
...!
Magic?
"King of the Sun, Neusellar—"
Without hesitation, I began my own incantation.
"Piercing spear, blade of zero—strike him down!"
A chilling aura enveloped Duke Felix as a lance of ice materialized.
"Holy hammer, towering sword—cleave my foe!"
Glittering white particles scattered around me, coalescing into a radiant sword.
"—〈Judgment Sword〉!"
"—〈Ice Lance〉!"
Our spells collided.
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