Lily: “No!! No, I don’t want to!”
“It seems safe to talk here.”
“Sorry for making you worry about so many things.”
“Rosalie-jou is one thing, but wouldn’t it be okay to tell Rouge? I don’t think he would avoid you just because he knows about the Brainwashing Skill.”
“That might be true, but…”
Idiot is probably right. Even if Rouge knew about my Skill, he would try his best to accept it. I know that myself, but… what if he rejects me? That slight anxiety makes my feet falter.
“I don’t think you need to reveal it just yet. Given the content, it’s definitely better for fewer people to know.”
“That’s true too… But it’s not a problem you can keep secret forever. You said you’d face the Skill, but if you keep it a secret from Rouge, won’t it be difficult to move forward?”
“Yeah, I thought so too…”
Even now, if Lecty hadn’t been quick-witted, Rouge might have come with us. Then we wouldn’t have been able to talk about the Brainwashing Skill, and it would definitely become a bottleneck when trying out the Brainwashing Skill in the future.
If I blatantly avoid Rouge, she’ll get suspicious, and more importantly, it might hurt her. As Idiot says, I can’t keep it a secret forever.
That being said, I couldn’t muster the courage to come out to Rouge. It sounds strange to say, but confessing my love would be easier…
“It’s as Idiot says, but you should be careful about how you tell her. Of course, I don’t think Rouge would reject you, but I can’t say for sure.”
“…Yeah.”
I’m so blessed with my surroundings that I’m about to misunderstand, but the Brainwashing Skill is the worst Skill. Normally, no one would accept it, and it’s a power that should be shunned. I should never misunderstand that.
“For now, let’s learn about the Brainwashing Skill as much as we can. Whether or not to tell Rouge is up to Hugh. Is that okay, Idiot?”
“I have no objection. I’m sorry for rushing you, Hugh.”
“No, don’t worry about it. It’s my fault for not having the courage. I’m sorry for asking for your cooperation, but I’d appreciate it if you could watch over me a little longer.”
“Yes, of course. Tell me anytime if there’s anything. I won’t hesitate to help.”
“Indeed. I am the same as Lily Puridi. You and I are friends, you can always rely on this Idiot Hautness.”
“I will. Thank you, both of you.”
Lily and Idiot’s encouraging words warm my heart, and I can’t help but smile. When I suddenly remember the day of the entrance exam, it’s strange how I could have such a relationship with those two. You never know what life has in store for you.
“Well then, shall we get down to business? Hugh, about your Skill Brainwashing, could you first tell us what you know about it? Of course, only as much as you can tell us.”
“Okay.”
Lily was considerate enough to say that I only had to tell them what I could, but there’s no point in hiding anything from these two now. I told them in detail what I knew about the Brainwashing Skill.
“Hmm… Hearing it again, your Skill is amazing.”
“Yes, really. I truly think it’s fortunate that you were the one who received it, Hugh. If someone else with malicious intent had received it, what would have happened to us and this country…”
Idiot looks impressed, while Lily looks pale. If someone other than me had received the Brainwashing Skill, huh…
“There are restrictions, so I don’t think it would be that bad…”
“But, for example, could you break through it by switching the Skill to another Skill similar to Brainwashing?”
“Another Skill similar to Brainwashing… Hypnosis, or Suggestion…?”
“Let’s try it. There are two test subjects right here.”
“Are you calling yourself a test subject…”
Well, it’s worth a try. If I can give multiple people the same effect as Brainwashing, it might be useful in an emergency.
“Okay. Brainwash Release. Hugh Pnosis, your Skill is Hypnosis.”
I immediately take out a hand mirror and switch the Skill from Ignition to Hypnosis.
Skill: Hypnosis Lv.Max… Relaxes the target, relieves stress and anxiety, and opens their heart.
…It’s a little different from what I expected. When I tell the two of them the words displayed in the status, Lily and Idiot also tilt their heads.
“It seems to be a Skill with a different flavor than Brainwashing…”
“The part about opening the heart is ambiguous… Hugh, could you try using it on me? You should be able to understand more by actually using it. Time is limited, and it’s a waste to worry.”
“Yeah, that’s true…”
I hate to use Lily as a test subject, but I’m far from understanding just by reading the Skill description. I can’t help but hesitate…
“Skill Hypnosis.”
I face Lily and activate the Hypnosis Skill. I feel the Skill interfering with Lily.
“How is it…?”
“Well… I feel very relaxed and have a strange, floating sensation.”
Lily answers my question with a sleepy expression. The fact that she can respond means it’s different from the Brainwashing Skill… Is Lily in the relaxed state described in the explanation?
“Do you feel like you’re opening your heart?”
“I wonder… I already love Hugh, so I might not have a heart to open now.”
“O-oh. I see…”
Maybe she’s not aware of it, but the Hypnosis Skill is probably working. Otherwise, there’s no way Lily would say she loves me in front of Idiot. This might be more like revealing your true feelings than opening your heart…
“Hugh, why don’t you try ordering Lily Puridi to do something?”
Idiot doesn’t seem to be interested in Lily’s confession and makes a suggestion with a straight face.
“Y-yeah, that’s right. An order…”
I try to suppress my agitation and think. Even if you tell me to give an order suddenly, I can’t think of anything right away. Tell her to spin around three times and bark like a dog… No, that’s no good. I don’t want to see Lily like that, and it reminds me of when I made Cervus, the old butler of my family, do it and regretted it…!
A different order… something that Lily would hate.
For example, like this.
“Then, Lily. Go run around the faculty housing three times.”
“I absolutely hate that.”
Apparently, the Hypnosis Skill doesn’t have as much coercive power as the Brainwashing Skill.