Pretending to be under Hypnosis, Time to Scam!

I do not know how much time had passed when Ansu opened his eyes, feeling dazed and confused.

"Hmph, the brat is finally awake!"

Upon hearing the cold voice of Mary, Ansu snapped to full alertness and hurriedly scanned his surroundings.

Drawn curtains, dim lighting, and the fact that he was bound tightly...

This was not the utility room from his simulation, but the environment was nearly identical; he had been dragged by these two women into a dark, cramped room once again.

Ansu was speechless. Was he never going to get past this stage?

He had been cycling through being knocked unconscious, waking up, being drugged, and waking up again all day; he felt completely numb.

What was worse... this was not a simulation.

This was reality!

"Mary, you are starting to disappoint me..."

Cecilia, who was sitting on the office desk, had reverted to her original appearance.

Her exquisite face wore an inscrutable smile. She sat with her legs crossed, her long, slender legs encased in black stockings slightly raised, looking down at the newly awakened Ansu with a scrutinizing gaze.

Although the Witch of World Destruction was still young, she already exuded the aura of the bizarre and beautiful demon queen she would become in the future.

"If I hadn't been more vigilant, he might have slipped out of our control."

Though the words were calm and ripple-free, the underlying reproach made Mary break out in a cold sweat.

"I am truly sorry, Lady Cecilia..."

Knowing she had nearly ruined a major operation, Mary glared at Ansu with annoyance.

"You brat, when the teacher told you to come to the office, why did you keep running toward the park after class? Who were you in such a rush to date? And you still have the nerve to call yourself a good student?"

"Mary... Teacher?" Ansu feigned a look of confusion and fear. "Didn't I say I would go to your office right away... You're tying me up just because of this?"

It seemed they did not know he had secretly contacted the Church; otherwise, they would not still be here, nor would they be treating him this way...

That was the only good news.

Ansu quickly brainstormed a countermeasure; he had to stall for more time.

He realized that the only chance for change might lie in that split second of hesitation from Cecilia.

"Lady Cecilia, it must just be a coincidence; he doesn't know about our plan yet." Hearing Ansu's question, Mary felt a sense of relief in her heart.

As an operative of the cult who had been lurking within the empire for years, Mary was always cautious. How could such a significant plan be easily discovered by a student? She had at least that much confidence.

Unless he could predict the future, but that was impossible.

Cecilia swept a glance over the bewildered Ansu and shot a cold look at Mary. "I won't punish you this time, but remember, there won't be a next time."

Mary wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and nodded repeatedly.

Following this, the conversation between the two was not much different from what Ansu had experienced in the simulation.

Mary first reported on Ansu's family background, which Cecilia found relatively satisfactory.

"Alright, it is about time~"

Cecilia leapt lightly off the desk.

"Time to get down to business."

As she walked toward Ansu step by step, that uncomfortable, filthy magical power began to spread. Fearing the mental corruption brought by the magic, Mary retreated once again...

In the quiet room, only Ansu and Cecilia remained.

Just as Cecilia was about to cast the forbidden black magic known as [Soul Domination].

"Huh?"

Cecilia, who had revealed her ferocious demon appearance, suddenly stopped, just as she had in the simulation.

She was puzzled, for Ansu was not affected by the negative influence in the slightest.

"Are you not afraid of me?" That exquisitely beautiful face leaned close to Ansu, observing him with curiosity.

"Every time I have cast forbidden magic in the past, you humans have almost always been scared to the point of a mental breakdown, but you..."

"I..." Ansu stared intently into those dark red eyes observing him, and the plan he had formed in his mind slowly began to take shape.

In the previous simulation, he had demonstrated his utility, which piqued Cecilia's interest and caused her to delay her strike.

But in the end, he had been hypnotized by her, and his lies were exposed.

Then, he was brainwashed...

But this time was different; he held a card up his sleeve: the skill [Magic Immunity] granted by the system.

[Immunity includes all magical damage, magical item bonuses, and negative or positive effects. Duration: one full turn (from the start to the end of the magical effect). Cooldown: 24 hours.]

By this logic, the entire process of the Hypnosis should be negated by his immunity.

Perhaps he could play along, pretend to be hypnotized, and drag this out even longer...

This was his only chance!

Thinking of this, Ansu forced down all his chaotic thoughts and looked up calmly.

"I'm not afraid."

"Not afraid?" Cecilia raised an eyebrow in surprise.

She spread out her "ugly demonic claws," which radiated a gloomy aura, and said with a smile:

"In this day and age where magic is heavily stigmatized, everyone avoids this power like the plague, let alone the 'filthy magic' explicitly banned by the Church."

"The Church has taught you since childhood that magic brings madness and destruction, and that black magic is a bridge to communicate with evil gods, as the legends say."

A hint of suspicion lingered in Cecilia's smile. "Yet you tell me you aren't afraid?"

Under Ansu's gaze, a black flame suddenly erupted from the center of her palm. The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly, the flame faintly emitting a destructive aura that promised to "burn everything to ash."

This was the "Black Demon Flame of World Destruction."

As the demon flame slowly approached Ansu's cheek, Cecilia's smile gradually faded. "Is there something wrong with the Church's education of you, or... are you feigning compliance, saying things just to please me?"

"W-Witch, my lady!" Ansu stared intently at the demon flame inches away, feeling as though she might roast him alive the next second.

But while his expression was tense, he displayed a timely hint of awe.

"Wait, is... is this the legendary transcendent power?"

At this moment, Ansu delivered the greatest acting performance of his two lifetimes.

He had no choice; he was forced into it.

During the time he had been tied up, Ansu hadn't wasted a single second; he had replayed the plot regarding the [Witch of World Destruction - Cecilia] several times in his mind.

He forced himself to understand Cecilia's logic, her personality, everything about her...

In the end, he even felt he understood her better than she understood herself.

The [Witch of World Destruction - Cecilia] had the tragic childhood common to "beautiful, powerful, and miserable" villains. Her childhood experiences shaped her twisted personality—sensitive, insecure, self-deprecating, yet arrogant.

Because of this, she had an almost insane obsession with power.

So what if she had no family or friends, and was neither understood nor trusted by anyone? Only power was truly her own. As long as one became strong, there would always be "great scholars to debate the scriptures for me."

Coincidentally, her magical talent was so immense that even the Echo of Truth Cult felt a sense of dread.

Therefore, Ansu had to express his approval—or even... longing—for forbidden magic in front of Cecilia.

In fact, this line of reasoning was well-founded. In the original plot, when Cecilia recruited other villains, it was mostly because they were "birds of a feather," gathering a group of ambitious people who craved power.

"Oh?" Cecilia looked at Ansu with some surprise. Not only was this guy not afraid, but there was actually a look of longing in his eyes?

"What do you think of black magic, or what is called forbidden magic?"

She really wanted to hear Ansu's opinion on this now.

"Cool! It's very cool!" Ansu said without hesitation, full of anticipation: "If only I could also possess such powerful transcendent power..."

"But this is power contaminated by evil gods, you know~" Cecilia interrupted. "At least, that's what the Church says."

Ansu shook his head immediately. "So what? It's not the first time the Church has lied. For the sake of the booming magitech industry, His Majesty has long wanted to kick theology out of the academies! Who in their right mind believes that stuff anymore?"

"That's true." Cecilia expressed deep agreement.

"Besides!" Ansu stared into Cecilia's eyes and said sincerely: "I have always believed that power itself is innocent; the key lies in the person who uses it!"

Cecilia was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

"You really think so?"

Ansu nodded. "Of course!"

Although this statement was a bit of a "sophistry," Cecilia loved to hear it, and she felt it resonated with her heart.

"Interesting..." Cecilia retracted the demon flame from her palm and looked the person in front of her up and down. She was becoming more and more interested in Ansu.

"Whether you are lying or not, these words truly satisfy me..." She raised the corners of her mouth in pleasure and suddenly cast a spell.

A familiar sense of dizziness struck, and Ansu's thoughts instantly became hazy.

It was Hypnosis!

Such fast casting speed!

Although Ansu had been guarding against her moves, he was still a beat too slow.

Just as the hypnosis spell took effect.

[Magic Immunity]

Activated!

"Tell me, what were your true thoughts just now?" Cecilia asked softly.

Ansu pretended to have been successfully [Hypnotized], his eyes dull as he replied: "I long to obtain transcendent power... black magic... is very cool and very powerful."

"Why do you long for transcendent power?" Cecilia pressed.

"If I had transcendent power, I wouldn't have been bullied when I was young..."

"And everyone wouldn't have looked down on me..."

"I want those who looked down on me, those who murdered my father, and those who bullied my sister to suffer retribution..."

After answering this, Ansu stared blankly ahead, saying nothing more.

Cecilia, however, suddenly fell silent.

She gazed at the boy she had placed under Hypnosis, her dark red eyes flickering for a moment as a multitude of thoughts and emotions seemed to surge up all at once.

But in the end, she said nothing.

"Oh, is that so..."

A boy so much like her, then...

"Then, do you want revenge?" Cecilia smiled.

"I do," Ansu replied stiffly.

"If you join us—no, join me—you can obtain power," Cecilia asked in a seductive tone. "Speak your heart: are you willing?"

"I am willing."

"Then what if... in the future, you have to stand against the powerful Church, or even... fight against the entire world? Are you still willing?"

"I am willing."

Cecilia revealed a satisfied smile, feeling that this trip had been well worth it.

At first, she had only wanted Mary to pick someone at the academy to complete the mission, but she hadn't expected her to find such a malleable talent in the vast sea of students; even her slight dissatisfaction with Mary vanished.

To turn such a talent, someone who aligned with her own philosophy and even possessed a bit of potential, into a Puppet would be a terrible waste, and Cecilia began to consider grooming him instead.

While Cecilia was filled with delight, Ansu felt a wave of misery in his heart.

It's over.

Not only had he failed to escape this trashy witch, but their relationship was getting even closer...

Ansu sighed helplessly in his heart; his plan was sprinting headlong toward the Unpredictable Stage of Destiny...

But looking on the bright side, he had at least succeeded in stalling for time.

Everything he was doing now was merely a stopgap measure...

But then, something unexpected happened to Ansu.

"What do you think... of me?"

Cecilia abandoned her usual high-and-mighty demeanor, staring intently into Ansu's eyes as she asked this inexplicable question.

"How do you... view me?"

Ansu almost couldn't keep up the act.

What kind of stunt was this? Was this something the Witch of World Destruction, Cecilia, would actually ask?

He struggled to maintain the appearance of being under mental control, his eyes unfocused as he stared ahead.

Yet, Cecilia's pursed lips and slightly nervous expression were still hard to ignore.

"Hehehe... what am I doing..." Cecilia seemed to find it strange herself; she touched her fair cheek, murmuring to herself with some discomfort.

"Is it because I finally found someone to speak the truth to, so I want to hear him praise me? Honestly, I kidnapped him, so how could he possibly say anything good about me..."

But to her surprise, after only a moment of silence, Ansu spoke.

"You're cute."

"..." Cecilia was silent for a long time.

"Huh?"