「Don't worry about it, Devi」
「Oh, right, is it a boy? I mean, why I
mustn't concerned about it!」
Lili is sitting on the back of a leopard-headed
macho man, who is on all fours.
So, it's difficult not to be
concerned when the guy is clearly huffing and puffing.
When my cheeks twitch, Lili shrugs
her shoulders as if she can't help it.
**a
「This man is the newest member of
Lili's army, Devi. He wants a reward, so I'm using him as a chair, Devi」
「Thank you, I'm so happy!」
Yeah, I kinda knew I shouldn't get
involved. Maybe he's a pervert.
Right now, I'm in the
"Confinement King's bedroom", face to face with the main people
involved in this death game.
Around the sofa table are myself,
Lili, Kayama-san, and Ryoko who has been healed. The two maids, Inui-san and
Saito-san, are waiting by the wall. Leopard man is not counted.
The other two maids have gone out to
bring home "Sankon" and "Monkey", who were put to sleep
using <Sleepwalker>.
I was also watching the orientation
of the love-dovey corruption game from another room, but as usual, it was quite
nonsensical.
I don't even want be bothered with
the mascot, so I'll pass on that.
Then I turn my face to Ryoko, who is
playing an unfortunate role as usual.
It seems that she has already been
healed, but it is a little bit ironic that she is always given a hole in her
stomach as a tutorial.
「Ryoko, thank you for your effort this
time too, it must have been painful」
When I said this to her, she looked a
little sad for some reason.
「It's all right. I was fine with
leaving the hole open as long as it gives one more place for insertion...」
「Don't think about it!? Make sure it's
sealed up!!」
The idea that hole = insertion is too
bizarre.
（As I thought, it might have been a
bad idea to forcefully bring it to the point of [Enslaved]...）
Ryoko is so used to being mutilated
that she is in a serious condition.
And I really, really think it's about
to get worse.
Still, I put on a tight smile, and
Kayama-san opens her mouth as if trying to adjust the situation.
「So...Confinement King-sama, what's
the point of this death game?」
「The goal is to turn the culprit, who
caused Saori-chan's injury, into the worst kind of slave, but right now I don't
want to cause any problems. This death game itself is just a way to gradually
train them while they continue with their normal lives」
「Normal live?」
「Yes, that's why I'm going to ask you
to play the role of encouraging and advising them according to the situation」
「I-it may seem difficult, b-but I'll
do my best!」
Kayama-san clenched her fist tightly,
and Lili waved her hand with a fluttering gesture.
「There's no need to be so tense, Devi.
They're just like ants falling into an ant jigoku (antlion trap) when
they entered this game, Devi」
「Is that so?」
「Devi Devi. First of all, they have to
make Fumi Fumi fall in love with them, so they have to think about Fumi Fumi
all the time, Devi. Usually, in a situation where people think about others
that much, they either like them a lot or they dislike them a lot, Devi」
「Hmm, that's... yeah, but what about
it?」
「Humans are strange creatures, Devi.
Cause and effect can easily be reversed」
「What do you mean?」
「I mean, if a person likes something,
he or she can't get it out of their head. And if they don't like it, they also
can't get it out of their heads. Liking or disliking is the cause, and not
being able to get it out of your head is the effect. But if you create a situation
where you can't get it out of your head, then it becomes the cause, and your
mind will change to either love it or hate it more, Devi」
「I see, when they put me in a
situation where they have to corrupt me, they will either love me or hate
me...but wouldn't it be bad if they hate me?」
**b
When I asked this, Lili smiled.
「That's where the function of <Love
Scale> come into play, Devi. Every night, we measure their intimacy with
Fumi Fumi, and the lowest rank gets a penalty, Devi」
I'm a little confused.
Kayama-san and I look at each other
and tilt our heads.
Then, Ryoko interrupted us, which was
rare for her.
「If they don't like Master, then their
intimacy level stops at fifty percent, doesn't it?」
「Yes, Devi. Intimacy is based on
mutual liking. Even if they can make Fumi Fumi fall in love with them even though
they don't like him, the likelihood of liking each other is fifty percent. Then
they'll never win, Devi」
「But then, I'm the winner, aren't I?
My affection for the Confinement King-sama is overflowing」
「Yes, that's right. I also like
Kayama-san」
「Uhaaaaaaa? You like me,
Itadakimasuwaaaa!」
Kayama-san, who is sitting up on the
sofa, twitches.
While ignoring her, Lili proceeded
with the conversation.
「That's why we only present their own
numbers to themselves, Devi. And then we announce only the lowest of the day,
Devi. Sometimes we might purposely choose the ringlet to be the lowest, Devi」
「I see, if someone gets a bad penalty
and desperately tries to figure out how to improve their numbers, the rest must
realize that they have to like me too」
「That's right, by the time they
realize it, their hearts are already crushed, Devi」
Lili bounces her hips on the leopard
man's back. And the leopard man immediately let out a strange
"hoo-hoo" sound.
「Uh... also, I haven't told anyone
except the people here about the death game, Devi」
I didn't think anything of it, but at
Lili's words, Kayama-san, who had been shaking with excitement, suddenly
stopped moving.
「C-Could it be... Masaki-sama?」
「Of course, Devi」
The blood drained from Kayama-san's
face.
「They say the bigger the obstacle, the
more passionate the love, Devi」
「It's too big!?」
I chuckle.
I think that's a bit too much to be
scared of.
Still, Masaki-chan would never wield
a chainsaw at school, and she is very perceptive after all. Because as soon as
she realizes that either I or Lili is going to do something, she'll know it.
Well, I am looking forward to seeing
how they are going to approach me tomorrow.
I guess I will have to wait and see
tomorrow.
However, my expectations were
suddenly betrayed.
**c
* * *
It was the end of first period.
The classics class, which was really
boring, was over, and almost as soon as I got up from my seat to go to the
restroom, I saw a girl walking up to my seat.
（...really?）
She had straight bangs like a
Japanese doll cut just above her eyebrows, and glossy black hair that almost
reached her waist.
Normally, a first-year student would
be a little cautious just by stepping into a third-year student's classroom,
but she looked straight at me without any intimidating atmosphere.
And then...
「My name is Ritsuko Sakon, Class B
from the first year. This is a bit sudden, but Kijima-senpai, I'd like to date
you!」
She shouted in a loud voice.
Instantly, the classroom was filled
with silence, and the next moment, a scream-like uproar erupted.
I involuntarily backed away, and out
of the corner of my eye, I saw Fujiwara-san with a face like a baby who
suffered a twitch.
