Chapter 6: How to Use the Brainwashing Skill
As I chased after Lily and the others toward the school building, I noticed several lines forming inside from the entrance. It seemed that the participants of the entrance exam had to line up in one of these queues.
I took my place at the end of the line, right behind Lily and the others.
“Um, Lady Lily, what exactly is this line for…?”
Lecty asked Lily, and it was a question I was also curious about.
“Lecty, there’s no need for the honorifics! You and I are going to be classmates at this academy from now on. Feel free to call me however you like, whether by my name or with a cute suffix!”
“W-Well then, Lily-chan…?”
“Hehe.”
Whoa, that was a creepy laugh!
Lily wiped her mouth with a finger and put on a composed expression. Lecty tilted her head in confusion.
“Now, back to your question. I’ll explain for the backwater poor noble eavesdropping behind us.”
“Much appreciated.”
“At the front of this line, they’re using a special magical tool to assess the participants’ Skills. It’s to confirm whether you possess a Skill worthy of entering the Royal Academy. First, they’ll evaluate your Skill here, and then decide if you can proceed to the next exam.”
“N-No way…”
Isn’t that extremely bad news…?
I knew about the existence of a special magical tool that allows others to see Skills, which normally only the individual can perceive. However, I never expected to encounter it this early.
If this continues, my Brainwashing Skill will be exposed!
“D-Do I really have to show my Skill…?”
“Of course. If we allowed self-reporting, anyone could participate in the entrance exam. Some Skills granted by the gods are so dangerous that even the person who received them can’t fully control them. This inspection is necessary for the academy to understand those dangers.”
“Y-Yeah…”
From start to finish, her reasoning was too sound to disagree with. Just as Lily said, it was indeed a measure to discover extremely dangerous Skills like my Brainwashing.
“Could it be that your Skill is…?”
“Whoa! Sorry, I suddenly have a stomachache! I’ll be right back!”
“Wait a moment!”
I brushed off Lily’s attempt to stop me and dashed into the nearby men’s restroom. Peeking outside, I saw Lily with her hands on her hips, letting out a sigh.
That was close. I might have raised some suspicion, but it was much better than being interrogated right there.
More importantly, this situation was extremely dire. If I did nothing, it would undoubtedly be revealed that I possessed the Brainwashing Skill. That would lead straight to the guillotine—certain death.
I leaned against the sink, deep in thought.
What should I do? If this continues, my life is over. Should I just escape from here…?
No, that would be difficult. Going against the flow of people to head outside would draw too much attention. If a guard called out to me, it would be game over.
Even if I managed to get outside, I had no knowledge of the Royal Capital. If Lily and Lecty reported my disappearance to the academy, I would be pursued. At that point, escaping the capital would be nearly impossible.
Even if I were lucky enough to get out of the capital, where would I go? Pursuers would be sent to Pnosis Territory. A life on the run with no destination would be nothing but despair.
Could I somehow use my Brainwashing Skill to get out of this…?
For instance, could I brainwash the examiner to alter the records…? No, eventually, the truth would come out. Besides, the fact that the examiners were in pairs meant it was impossible. I could only brainwash one person with my Brainwashing Skill.
Who should I target for brainwashing? It would have to be someone in power. The academy head or the vice-head… but that’s impossible. Where would I even find the academy head? I don’t have time to search for them.
A nearby authority figure… Lily?
If I could brainwash the marquis’s daughter, Lily, I might have a chance with her family’s influence… but that’s unlikely. She’s just another participant in the entrance exam like me. Regardless of her family status, I doubt she could pull any strings.
Is my life really over…!?
Damn it! Stupid god! Why did you have to give me such a troublesome Brainwashing Skill? If only I could target more than one person, I could manage something!
What am I supposed to do by brainwashing just one person?
Who should I brainwash to get out of this situation—
Suddenly, I looked up and saw a mirror in front of me.
Reflected back at me was my own distressed face, hands clutching my head.
—What would happen if I brainwashed this guy?
The thought crossed my mind.
Brainwashing myself.
Convincing myself.
That my Skill isn’t Brainwashing, but Firekinesis. If I could pull that off, maybe I could at least disguise my Skill display!
“…No, no, that’s just too far-fetched.”
It’s impossible. I know that. It’s a desperate idea. It probably won’t work anyway.
But trying it out is easy enough.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I don’t have any better ideas.
“Alright. …Skill: Brainwashing!”
I felt the sensation of my Skill activating. But aside from that, I didn’t notice any other changes. Was it a failure…? Just as I thought that, the words “Under Brainwashing” appeared above my head in the mirror.
So it is possible to brainwash myself using the mirror!
Then next,
“Hugh Pnosis. Your Skill is not Brainwashing, but Fire!”
I heard a click in my mind, as if something had switched.
I definitely felt the brainwashing take effect.
“S-Status!”
I hurriedly checked my Skill.
A translucent panel appeared in my view, displaying the following:
Hugh Pnosis
Skill: Firekinesis Lv.Max … Manifest fire in any target.