Chapter 82 A Maiden’s Modesty and the Sorcery of Substitution
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Last night, for the first time in a while, I had Cecilia dress up as a dog beast-kin and Lizel as a cat beast-kin. I thoroughly enjoyed playing with them.
Of course, when it came time to sleep, both of them changed into proper nightclothes.
The cosplay costumes they’d worn during the evening were left carelessly discarded on the bedroom floor.
And then, morning came.
My personal maids, Lilia and Mina, arrived to wake me—and dutifully began gathering the scattered costumes.
”S-sorry! We left such a mess…,” Cecilia said, her face burning crimson.
”Ah, w-wait! I’ll clean those up myself!” Lizel added, scrambling forward.
The two of them had just woken up at that very moment, and catching sight of the scene, their faces flushed crimson. Their cheeks were so hot they seemed about to steam, their gazes wandering in embarrassment.
Both of them are high-born noble daughters, so they’re certainly used to having servants attend to their daily needs. But having another woman see the “special costumes” from last night, bearing the fresh evidence of our activities… that’s a different matter entirely.
”You two. You can just leave the costume cleanup to the maids.”
I watched their adorable flustering from the comfort of my bed, thoroughly enjoying the show.
”Just as Lord Xenos says. We couldn’t possibly trouble our guests with such menial tasks,” Lilia said, her voice carrying that elegant, refined tone she always used.
It seemed Lilia, my personal maid, also wanted to see more of their shame-filled reactions.
—How thoughtful of her.
”Master! I want to wear that bunny costume again, too!” Mina chirped, bouncing on her heels.
Mina, my other maid, apparently didn’t quite grasp the strange but sweet atmosphere that hung in the air. But eh, she’s cute, so I let it slide.
”Sure. You can show me next time.”
I made that request because I wanted to see Mina’s adorable stuffed-animal-like form again myself.
After finishing breakfast, Cecilia and Lizel returned to their respective family estates by carriage. Today might be a holiday, but even as noble daughters, they have their duties and lessons to attend to.
Even I couldn’t keep them at my estate forever. And besides, I had matters of my own that I absolutely needed to take care of today.
—Research into sorcery, and its practical application.
It’s the kind of research I’d rather not show to those who walk the “Path of Light,” like Cecilia and Lizel. The kind I don’t want them involved in.
The kind I need to keep hidden.
Dark research.
My mana is dark-attribute.
And the sorcery I excel in, while useful, is… not exactly the sort of thing that earns you brownie points in polite society.
For example: summoning monsters.
It’s a versatile and highly practical sorcery. But public perception? Hardly favorable.
And the sorcery I’m about to perform is even more taboo—something I could never openly practice in the eyes of the world.
It’s [Substitution Sorcery].
Perhaps it’s easier to think of it as a curse rather than magic.
The subject of my recent research has been this demonic sorcery: the ability to transfer every injury I get to a pre-prepared “substitute” when I choose.
First, I summon twenty goblins through monster summoning.
The stench of rotting meat fills the room.
These creatures are disposable servants, absolutely obedient to my commands.
Next, I attach a magical artifact I’d created specifically for this purpose—a [Substitution Collar]—to each and every goblin. It uses the same technology as the [Collar of Submission] I have Elena and the others wearing.
Then, to transmit the damage through the collars to the goblins, I wear a ring-type magical artifact myself.
A cold ring, set with a jet-black stone.
With this, all physical and mental damage I sustain should be passed on to these pitiful goblins.
I’ve been attending my classes at the Royal Academy of Magic fairly seriously. As a result, my understanding of this world’s fundamental magical theory has been progressing smoothly.
On top of that, there’s my naturally huge mana—far beyond normal parameters, inherited from my role as the game’s final boss. And the natural skill to control that mana at will.
By combining all those elements, I can develop new magical artifacts that change the rules of this world.
”…After all, every time I have a meeting with Her Highness, I end up half-dead.”
I was making these preparations to ensure I wouldn’t die, ahead of my upcoming audience with the ‘angel’ of the Asgard Kingdom—Princess Liliana. A meeting that was only days away.
I housed the summoned goblins in the monster pen in the garden. Their tiny eyes stared at me from within the cage.
Then, an idea struck me.
Perhaps my mind had been tainted by darkness, having spent so much time researching dark sorcery.
I called for Lilia.
”You called for me, Master?” she asked, appearing at my side.
”Yeah. Get in that cage over there.”
I pointed to the goblin cage and gave the order.
Lilia caught her breath—but obediently complied.
On trembling legs, she stepped into the monster-packed cage.
The goblins pressed in close. Their sheer presence, their stench, their unsettling breathing—it all overwhelmed her. Her legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground.
Then the goblins began swarming around her.
The summoned monsters are absolutely obedient to my commands. They’d never actually harm her.
But their beastly instincts were very much intact.
They reached their filthy hands toward her pale skin.
Monsters swarming a busty maid. Quite the sight, if I do say so myself.
”P-please, save me, Master…,” Lilia whimpered, her voice trembling.
Her voice trembled. Tears glistened in her eyes.
I ordered the goblins to back away.
”Enough. You can come out now.”
Lilia dragged her shaking body out of the cage and came to me.
”M-Master.” Her voice was tight, higher than usual—anger and lingering fear bleeding through. “Your little games have gone quite far enough.”
It was rare for her to scold me so firmly.
”Sorry about that.”
I apologized and lifted her into my arms. Her body felt cold to the touch.
”I’m drawing you a bath.”
”Oh! Honestly, I don’t know what to do with you!” she huffed, though a hint of warmth crept back into her voice.
I put her in the bath and warmed her chilled body.
”Now then. Shall we head to the bedroom?”
”Yes, Lord Xenos.”
Lilia’s mood had completely recovered.
As I gently stroked Lilia’s hair while she slept beside me, I thought about my mana affinity.
Those with dark-attribute mana tend to be drawn to wrongdoing. And for that reason alone, they’re met with suspicion—and sometimes outright hatred.
Perhaps it was inevitable that “Xenos,” with his huge dark-attribute mana, became the final boss of this world.
”I must be careful not to let myself be consumed by the darkness…,” I murmured.
After muttering that edgy line to myself, I closed my eyes and slipped into a quiet sleep.
—
Summary:
Xenos enjoys a morning of watching Cecilia and Lizel’s embarrassment over their cosplay activities before they depart for their noble duties. He then delves into dark magical research, summoning goblins and experimenting with Substitution Sorcery to transfer damage to disposable vessels. His maid Lilia becomes an unwilling participant in his goblin test, enduring terror before being comforted with a bath and intimacy, while Xenos reflects on his dark-attribute mana and the looming meeting with Princess Liliana.
—
Trivia:
The [Substitution Collar] technology is derived from the [Collar of Submission] that Elena and others wear.
Xenos has been attending Royal Academy of Magic classes seriously, contributing to his understanding of magical theory.
The “twenty goblins” summoned are specifically for damage transfer testing.
Xenos’s overwhelming mana is described as “inherited from my role as the game’s final boss.”
Princess Liliana is referred to as the ‘angel’ of the Asgard Kingdom.
Lilia’s quick forgiveness and mood recovery suggests a pattern of abuse and reconciliation in her relationship with Xenos.
Xenos is self-aware about his edgy protagonist behavior, mocking himself with the “cool-sounding line” about darkness.
Notes:
• Cecilia – Eldest daughter of the Vermillion Duchy, former saint, and Xenos’s fiancée, this noble has flame-like red hair, blue eyes, and a white-coated pet, Lumiá. Outwardly cold yet playful, she walks the “Path of Light.” She rejected Prince Liam, adores Kuuko, and teases friend Lizel. She uses a ring to disguise in a revealing dancer’s costume, though embarrassed by the aftermath.
• Lizel – A petite, graceful Blanchet count’s daughter, academy student, and wind mage with pink twin-tails, purple eyes, and a smirk. Luca Dalton’s fiancée and Grimlock’s classmate, she walks the “Path of Light.” A protective, anxious tsundere who acts tough but enjoys attention, she is Cecilia’s playfully teased friend and Xenos’s paramour and deeply devoted companion, disguised in a dancer’s costume.
• Lilia – Xenos’s fiercely loyal, trauma-resilient Head Maid and slave is a lovely, pale, busty woman with long dark hair, large eyes, a chest tattoo, and a nullified crest. Wearing a black uniform, she speaks with refined Kyoto elegance, masking her subtle jealousy and anxiety for Xenos. Formally efficient with Mina and guests, the devoted maid finds deep joy sleeping by her master’s side.
• Mina – Kai’s sister is a personal maid for the Grimlock estate who serves Xenos with childlike devotion. Adorable in a bunny kigurumi over dancer’s attire with soft brown hair, she uses playful gyaru speech and is oblivious to tense atmospheres. She shares a loving bond with Kai, cares for Lumiá and Kuuko, and has a deep affection for Cecilia and the estate’s kitten as she settles in for the night.
• Xenos – Xenos Grimlock is an athletic, sharp-featured reincarnated otome villain and former game final boss with glowing red eyes and dark hair. A calculating, morally gray strategist with overwhelming dark-attribute mana, he uses game knowledge, [Magic Seal], Substitution Sorcery, and monster summoning. He leads the Rebellion and Star of the Desert, master to Lilia and Mina, and paramour to Cecilia and Lizel.
• Elena – Job: [Collar of Submission] wearer; Relationship: Collar subject to Xenos; Appearance: Not specified; Item/Magic: Collar of Submission; Note: Mentioned only as reference to earlier chapters.
• Liliana – A princess renowned as the “Angel of the Asgard Kingdom” for her unparalleled beauty and purity, she is the younger sister of First Prince Liam and Elenor. Not yet attending the Royal Academy of Magic, she has golden hair like woven sunlight (shorter than Elenor’s) and large, deeply intelligent sky-blue eyes full of curiosity. She sends a letter to the protagonist.
• Asgard – Elenor Asgard, the esteemed Saint of Light, and Prince Liam share a prestigious royal lineage. While both belong to the noble Asgard family and maintain a high social standing, they navigate distinct public roles and responsibilities within the realm. Their shared identity defines their status, balancing the expectations placed upon them as they fulfill their unique duties to the kingdom.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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