Chapter 41 The Man Who Demanded a Decision, and the Younger Princess Who Made It
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Well… what will she do now? My mind raced. If she showed genuine interest here, I could proceed as planned. If she didn’t seem to care, I’d have to switch to a forceful approach right away. If it came to that, making her a “Slave of Love” might become impossible to pursue—though turning her into a Magical Girl would still happen either way.
”Does that… mean that I, too, can transform like my sister and use powerful sorcery? Even though my body is corrupted by the miasma?” Liliarette asked, her sharp voice carrying desperation and intellectual curiosity.
She did have an interest. Her first move was a probe; she wanted to understand my motive. I kept my voice smooth and leaned forward. “The power of a Magical Girl works differently from the magic of this world. Once you transform, the miasma won’t matter. You’ll be able to fly through the air. I can’t promise your legs will move, but you will fly.”
I’d confirmed this with Ami-chan, the fairy. As a Magical Girl, flight was guaranteed. But the state of her legs, the reaction of the miasma—no one would know until she transformed. That was a truth I let stand.
”…I saw my sister’s power with my own eyes. It is quite potent—no, likely among the very highest class. With power like that, I thought it could only be bestowed on one person?” she asked, staring straight at me.
”The power of a Magical Girl can be given to any number of people,” I explained, confident. “But it can’t be given to just anyone. It’s dangerous, so I can only give it to people I truly trust.”
”And you believe I am trustworthy?” she countered.
”You’re Cleonora’s sister. And she desperately wished to save you after she became a Magical Girl. I couldn’t possibly not trust you.” I emphasized my trust while praising Cleonora, aiming to sway Liliarette’s Affection Level.
”I’m happy to be trusted, but… truly? Will I… really be able to fly?” she asked, the first crack in her composure.
”That’s certain. When you become a Magical Girl, anyone can handle flight magic and barrier magic right away.”
”I can’t believe it… Flight sorcery has been researched for centuries, yet no one has perfected it.” Flight clearly captivated her. With her immobile legs, mobility meant everything. She surely understood how profoundly flight would change her everyday life.
Of course, once the transformation ended, she’d return to her normal state and there would be days she couldn’t transform—but there was no need to mention that now.
Cleonora stepped in to support me.
”Actually… I was the one who asked Shouichi for this. I asked him to give this power to Lilia, too.”
”You…?” Liliarette murmured.
”We’re deep inside the Demon Forest. Monsters appear sometimes. We need a means of self-defense in case of the worst. And Shouichi readily agreed to my request.”
The power to fly—something even the greatest sorcerers couldn’t achieve. Knowing her beloved sister asked for this precious ability on her behalf surely softened her heart. Like a fan asking a celebrity for a personalized autograph for their sibling—and the celebrity gladly agreeing. The details differed, but the psychological effect was perfect.
”Cleonora was so worried about you, Liliarette. I truly understand how much she cares for you. So, what do you think?” I asked, letting genuine concern color my voice.
”…It is an attractive proposition. But a power that significant must have some risk, must it not?” she asked. Cleonora already knew her well; I had prepared her for this moment.
”There is a risk,” Cleonora admitted sadly.
”I knew it… What risk did you accept, Sister?”
”The risk is on Shouichi’s side, Liliarette.”
”What…? What do you mean…?”
”I’m sorry. Only another Magical Girl can truly understand. But for us, there’s no risk at all. It’s thanks to the danger Shouichi shoulders.”
This alone would send her mind spinning. It was true: my lifespan was constantly shrinking in exchange for the power to create Magical Girls.
This realization would shift her entire perception of me—someone willing to take on a mortal risk for her sister, and now for her sake as well.
But too much convenience breeds suspicion. So I framed it as give-and-take. “I’ll tell you part of my risk. Ami-chan is being hunted by people from another world. The power for land development and the power to create Magical Girls come from her. She’s a major target. And… by increasing the number of Magical Girls…”
”I see. You’re counting us as a fighting force to protect Ami-san and this land,” she finished.
”Exactly.” I granted them power, and in return they would protect her. A mutual exchange. With that, her resistance would crumble.
It was time for the final push.
”Incidentally, if you miss tonight, there’s a high chance I won’t be able to bestow this power on you again.”
”! Is… is that true?”
”Yes. The power manifests differently for each person. You’ll likely gain abilities unlike Cleonora’s. And the timing of bestowal varies as well.” I mixed truth with deception, denying her time to reflect. She couldn’t be allowed to request a night to think.
With all the groundwork laid—and Cleonora’s hopeful gaze on her—there was no doubt what she would choose.
”I… I understand. Shimizu-san, once more. Will you please grant me… the power of a Magical Girl, like my sister?” Liliarette asked formally.
”Lilia…!” Cleonora sighed in relief.
”Of course. I’m thrilled to welcome another reliable companion. …Now, Cleonora.”
”Yes. I’ll prepare for the ritual.”
Hah… hah hah hah! With Cleonora’s perfect support, I had guided the whole conversation to this successful conclusion. If the time limit weren’t looming, I could’ve taken days to raise her Affection Level by force. But with her starting Affection Level below zero, I had needed this complicated—but victorious—approach.
Well, it took effort, but I would absolutely reach the required Affection Level of 20 before sunrise!
—
Summary:
The calculating Shouichi successfully pressured the intellectual Princess Liliarette into accepting the Magical Girl power. He exploited her desire for mobility after her miasma corruption, her deep trust in her sister Cleonora, and a fabricated narrative of his own self-sacrifice to overcome her resistance. The key to the manipulation was the lie of urgency: the forced decision to accept the power immediately or lose the chance forever, securing Liliarette as a new fighting force before the night was over.
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Character Insight:
Shouichi’s entire motivation is revealed to be a blend of pragmatic self-interest (securing a fighting force) and leveraging the emotional bonds of others (Cleonora’s love for Liliarette) to achieve his own goals. Liliarette’s core weakness is her intellect combined with her physical imprisonment; the offer of flight was too appealing for her analytical mind to reject, especially when paired with an emotional appeal from her sister.
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Behind the Scene:
This chapter is the climax of Shouichi’s persuasion arc for Liliarette. The ‘ritual’ that follows will be the true test of his manipulative power, as the Affection Level must be forcibly raised to 20 during the process—an essential, dangerous plot point that must be achieved before dawn. The ‘risk’ Shouichi shoulders—the constant draining of his lifespan—is a real truth he uses as a psychological weapon.
Notes:
• Liliarette – The other Princess, who sacrificed her ability to walk and her sorcery talent to save her sister, Cleonora. She is imprisoned in the East Tower and is being used as a political and monetary pawn by Viorga. C-cup, true golden hair, waist-length hair, the fringe was a slightly blunt, hair on her left side was braided to the chest.
• Ami – A palm-sized fairy-like being from a world separate from both Earth and the isekai realm. She has light blue hair tied in a ponytail, mischievous blue eyes, and tiny wings that flutter behind her. Her outfit consists of a provocative high-cut leotard and a short jacket that looks like a miniskirt from the back, leaving her legs bare. Despite her playful appearance, she is actively searching for a contractor who can protect her from dangerous pursuers in exchange for the powers she offers.
• Cleonora – The second princess. Have a yellow blonde hair. Usually styled as hairbun.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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