So cute!

"Y-you... what did you just say?"

Cecilia thought she had misheard. "You just said I was..."

"So cute." Ansu's gaze was vacant, but his answer was earnest.

An eerie silence settled over them.

Cecilia silently watched Ansu, whom she had hypnotized, and said nothing for a long while.

In truth, whatever he said—even something offensive—would have been within her expectations.

But that single "so cute" had left her at a complete loss...

Was something wrong with his taste?

Someone this strange actually existed?

"C-cute?" Cecilia looked at him, both awkward and amused. "I'm an evil Witch wanted all over the world. Besides that, I'm even a..."

Her dark red eyes flickered slightly. She raised her hands and studied them, these symbols of what people called her "accursed bloodline."

"Demihuman."

"As people here would put it, I carry a sinful bloodline. I'm descended from the Demons who nearly wiped out humanity..."

If humans disparaged other races as "demihumans," then descendants of Demons were the most hated and reviled of them all.

Cecilia studied her "demon claws." Those fine black markings were so ugly, and the dark aura they gave off was even more repulsive. As a child, she had wanted to cut away her demonic features more times than she could count...

She had grown up in the human world and learned about that history from a thousand years ago at a very young age.

It had been a war between races and civilizations, and a catastrophe as well. Almost every power on the continent had been destroyed by the Demon Army, leaving the whole world ravaged.

But everything had another side. That war had also reshuffled the established order. The surviving humans rebuilt from the ruins and rapidly rose to prominence, eventually spreading to every corner of the world...

And so, hatred of Demons had taken root in human society a thousand years ago and persisted to this day...

Yet she had never imagined this.

There's actually a human who likes me looking like this?

"Do you really think, um..." Embarrassed, Cecilia chose a different word. "Think I'm beautiful?"

"Yes," Ansu answered.

Cecilia felt rather helpless as she watched Ansu sitting motionless in the chair.

What she had cast was a profound spell handed down from the ancient age of magic. Any human under her hypnosis would be unable to lie.

There was no question about that.

So... this was the first time in her entire life that someone had sincerely complimented her.

The feeling was a little strange...

But she did not dislike it.

Ansu stared blankly at Cecilia as she wrestled with her feelings.

He could understand her reaction. Because of her appearance, she had suffered plenty of discrimination growing up.

But that discrimination mainly stemmed from the prevailing social attitudes, not because she was actually "ugly."

Anyone with eyes could see that [Witch of World Destruction—Cecilia] was not unattractive. At least among the players, she was not merely pretty; she ranked among the best-looking characters.

Back then, countless players thinking with their dicks had clamored to defect to her side. Unfortunately, she had no romance route in the game...

Besides...

White hair and red eyes! Come on!

Ansu would have found it a shame if she changed back. This was exactly his thing!

Wait... no!

I'm not a man who thinks with his dick.

Ansu hurriedly banished those wandering thoughts, repeating inwardly, I'm not into monster girls. I'm not into white hair...

I absolutely cannot let this wicked woman's appearance fool me. Remember the mission. Stay strong, always!

"Ugh... forget it."

After who knew how long, Cecilia finally stopped agonizing over it, and a sharp glint returned to her eyes.

"Remember! You're not allowed to compliment me like that again!"

She gave a cold snort and leaned closer to Ansu, her voice threatening. "I still need you to work for me. Take this seriously. Understood?"

"Yes," Ansu answered stiffly.

Only then did Cecilia nod in satisfaction. "Good."

He was nothing more than a "tool."

She, Cecilia, was not someone who could be swayed so easily.

Think a few compliments will make me happy? Hah. No one will ever find their way into my heart!

"Now, then..."

Cecilia's lips curved upward. "To ensure your loyalty, I'm going to implant a thought in you."

Her words sent a jolt through Ansu.

Implant a thought? Is this that whole brainwashing-him-into-a-puppet thing again?

Although Ansu had the protection of [Magic Immunity], he still grew nervous. According to the skill description, he could only be immune to one spell...

Based on his experience playing games, [Hypnosis] and [Brainwashing] were definitely not the same magic skill!

Ansu warily observed Cecilia's every move.

But Cecilia did not activate the magic circle on the floor. Instead, the foul aura of forbidden magic gradually began to dissipate.

"This is a psychological suggestion. You must firmly remember every word I'm about to say..."

Cecilia smiled as she gazed into Ansu's vacant eyes.

"You are now my possession. You belong to me."

"You will never betray me!"

Silence settled over the dim storeroom once more.

So that's what she means by "implanting a thought"...

Ansu began to understand. She was using [Hypnosis] to brand this belief deep into his mind. Dark mages in the game had done similar things.

But this method was much more difficult than brainwashing. Human thought was extremely complex, and a hypnotized person could wake at any moment. It therefore required repeated hypnosis, day after day, to deepen the "brand."

Since she wanted to keep him by her side this way, he would probably have to deal with her quite often from now on...

Ansu inwardly sighed, but he still had to keep up the act.

He nodded stiffly. "Yes."

"I will never betray you..."

Cecilia immediately broke into a pleased smile. She reached out in front of Ansu's eyes and gently snapped her fingers.

"You can wake up now~"

A moment later.

Ansu looked around groggily, then his eyes gradually widened.

"I..."

"What just happened to me?"

He stared in surprise at Cecilia a short distance away. With the power of the forbidden magic gone, she had returned to her original appearance, with black hair and purple eyes.

"Lady Witch, what did you just... do to me? Why can't I remember anything?"

"It was only a test," Cecilia said indifferently. "To see how talented you are, and whether you meet the requirements to join us."

"Then... did I pass?" Ansu looked at her with a trace of nervousness. "Can I learn magic that powerful?"

"You were average!" By now, Cecilia had completely lost the emotional openness she had shown earlier. She folded her arms and gave a disdainful scoff.

"You're still far from meeting our standards. But since you do have a tiny bit of talent, I suppose I'll reluctantly take you in!"

"Wonderful!" Ansu was genuinely delighted.

Not because he could join an evil cult, but because this ordeal was finally fucking over...

He was almost unable to keep up the act. God only knew how hard it was to look like a slack-jawed idiot for so long.

"But remember, you are not joining the Echo of Truth Cult, nor are you one of our peripheral members."

Cecilia glanced toward the door and instructed him in a low voice, "You answer only to me."

Ansu was just about to say yes when the storeroom door suddenly swung open, and Teacher Mary, whom he had not seen in quite a while, hurried inside.

"Lady Cecilia, people from the Church are coming!"

"Oh?" Cecilia raised an eyebrow and instinctively glanced at Ansu.

Ansu's expression did not change.

"Our informants learned that the Church suddenly made a move. Apparently, someone high-ranking is coming to inspect the academy." Mary frowned.

"But we don't know exactly who. It's rather strange. Why all the secrecy, and why now, of all times?"

Ansu immediately thought of the note he had sent out. This supposed high-ranking visitor was most likely the Church's Saintess.

So he dared not show the slightest unusual reaction.

"I see. And I was planning to take him back to the Order..." Cecilia could not help feeling annoyed.

She despised people from the Church. Having just taken Ansu in, she had intended to bring him back to the Order's base and give him further instructions...

"Never mind. He can't escape anyway." Cecilia gave Ansu a meaningful look, then ordered coldly, "Let's leave first."

"Withdraw all our informants near the academy. After I leave, you should lie low as well, just to be safe."

"Understood." Mary immediately nodded. "I'll arrange to resign from the academy afterward."

Cecilia continued, "Ansu will carry out the subsequent assignments in your place. All right, untie him first."

Mary took out a dagger and walked toward Ansu.

"Hey! Be careful..."

The sharp blade nearly nicked Ansu's skin. He gave Mary an exasperated look. "Are you cutting the ropes, or trying to silence me for good...?"

Mary looked Ansu over in surprise.

Seeing how quick-witted he sounded, and that he could even complain, she could not help feeling confused.

"Lady Cecilia, have you already... completed that magical ritual?"

"No." Cecilia glanced at her. "Why?"

"Huh? But..." Mary looked at Ansu hesitantly.

Although she had long known that this boy would replace her as the Order's Executor, Lady Cecilia had originally intended to brainwash him. This was not the initial plan.

"This is my decision," Cecilia said dismissively. "I need his ability to adapt. I need his intelligence, not merely another pair of eyes."

"But... can we trust him?" Mary looked astonished. What was Lady Cecilia up to now?

Cecilia's expression chilled, her deep purple eyes fixing on Mary without a trace of emotion.

"Since when did you dare question my decisions?"

The atmosphere in the room seemed to turn icy as well. Mary's heart clenched, and she lowered her head in fear. "I wouldn't dare. I wouldn't dare..."

She had nearly forgotten that the woman before her was someone no one in the Order dared provoke...

If she upset her, she really could die...

Cecilia snorted coldly and headed for the door.

Ansu watched eagerly, longing for her to leave.

But just as she was about to exit the storeroom, she suddenly turned back.

Her taut expression softened ever so slightly.

"Well, then... next time, let's meet at your house."