"Mad Magician, let's take off... no, let's go somewhere far away, no, let's just take off our clothes and talk."

"What are you saying...?!"

This is no joke—my chastity is in danger.

I could see instinct and reason battling in Pink Faceless's wide eyes. Her hands kept rising and falling repeatedly.

I could read the trajectory of her hesitation. She'd start to push me down, then stop. Try to restrain my limbs, then stop. I trembled at these threatening movements.

"Just calm down, Faceless. This is because of my magic...!!"

"Calm, calm... In my opinion, it's not calm but arousal."

"I said calm down!"

"I say get aroused."

A blatant hunger shot toward me. And that expression.

Her trademark near-expressionless, indifferent look had changed to a dreamy one that seemed to say she wanted me unbearably.

*Thump.*

And in this serious situation... my shameless heart skipped a beat.

"Did I... ever tell you I like your eyes?"

"You haven't, but you don't need to in this situation!"

"Show me your tongue."

"Why suddenly... no, never mind. I won't listen. Hmph."

I covered my mouth first.

All her previous seductions always had a playful element. That's why I could draw a line and take a step back.

Perhaps even in moments when lines could have been crossed, I was able to hold onto my sanity because it was just teasing. Because we were friends. Just communication that went back and forth, touching lightly without deep feelings.

I need to act.

*Tap. Tap.* Yuri Lanster approached closer.

I need to stop this. I can't do anything about the pheromones that have already spread, but I should spray a pheromone neutralizer. And meanwhile, I can use the Heavenly Demon to buy time.

That's what I should do.

"......"

My gaze.

Have I been affected by a magic eye? Is this the succubus's charm ability? My body feels frozen, unable to move. After meeting such a tender gaze. My head feels dizzy, as if on fire.

*Squish.*

Faceless approached, and her chest touched mine. I even stopped breathing.

No. Even if things went that way. Even if we ended up waking up naked in the same bed one morning. Not like this.

What happens in a magically excited state, well. Isn't it like I turned on a hypnosis app? Yes. Yuri Lanster wouldn't want this either. She might even resent me.

...but even as I try to whip myself into action.

One corner of my mind is making a different assumption. I, my high-performance brain, don't create magic carelessly.

'Inhaling large amounts of pheromones at close range' means being close enough to bury your nose in my body and breathe. I didn't want Yuri Lanster to get caught up in this, after all.

And before the situation occurred, there was sufficient distance between Faceless and me. My magic would have had only a slight effect.

That means. It leads to the same conclusion as the Dark Mage's emotion amplification magic from before.

A magic circle that amplifies only 1% of emotions caused her carefully controlled lust to overflow.

Then this seduction too could be interpreted as having an effect beyond expectations because she was already seduced. So, maybe.

Yuri Lanster might have feelings for me—

"G-get away from him, Mad Magician! Away from my senior!"

Darklez raised her voice and picked up a whip. Having been stunned by the sight of her senior being seduced in real-time, she seemed to have finally come to her senses.

Both Yuri Lanster and I regained our reason for a moment.

And we both judged simultaneously. If we miss this timing, we'll cross a point of no return. We must break it off now!

"『Lust Suppression Level 3』."

"Feathered Ascension, 『Binding of True Desire』."

Our incantations crossed.

*Clank-clank-clank!!*

With the sound of chains, Faceless and I, who had been pressed together, were bound tightly by iron chains. We must have been caught up in it because we were so close. As a result, I could feel her voluptuous figure with my whole body, but that was meaningless.

What's so strange about embracing each other and feeling each other's skin? It's the natural way of the world for everyone to walk arm in arm.

My mind is calm and peaceful. Faceless also seems to have found peace in the sage-time provided by the Feathered Ascension.

Darklez was struggling to remove the chains binding Faceless and me.

"You damn Mad Magician...!! Get away from her!"

The two of us, having attained enlightenment, tried to soothe Darklez in calm voices.

"Child, why are you so jealous? We are merely sharing warmth."

"That's right, Seris. You shouldn't react so sensitively to mere contact. What meaning is there in material world interactions? And it's not your business anyway."

"...??"

"Whether I roll around with other men or not, Seris, you have no right to interfere. You and I are nothing to each other."

Ah, that's right.

The detached Faceless was a fact machine who answered all questions honestly.

"I'm glad to see a familiar face after so long. But your excessive interest has been uncomfortable since the old days. Now I must verbally reject you for the 37th time."

"Bwaaah...!!"

Darklez burst into tears, making a sound similar to an elephant. Her crying sound is cuter than I expected. Anyway, I thought this settled everything. She'd been rejected to her face.

I judged that the evil Darklez's scheme to steal Faceless had been crushed. But I learned that if there's a 37th time, there will be a 38th.

Darklez stopped crying, straightened her clothes, neatly arranged her bangs to look prettier, and said:

"I still like you, Senior!"

"I don't like you."

"Urgh..."

I could roughly tell what kind of relationship they had. I was secretly relieved.

===============================================================

Faceless and I had a conversation while chained together. It might look strange from the outside, but we can't untie ourselves until the duration ends, so there's no choice.

"Let me introduce you. This is Seris, a colleague from my previous department."

"Previous department, you mean the 'Annihilation Squad'? That... black uniform I saw in your closet."

"Yes."

"You still have the uniform, Senior!! I knew it. I believed you would come back to me!"

Darklez, rejected 38 times, jumped up and down, drinking liters of wishful thinking. I quietly displayed an image of a hand with the middle finger extended using illusion magic, and Darklez, seeing it, also raised her middle finger.

"...What did you do in the Annihilation Squad that got Lez hooked?"

"Well, I'm just such a charming, devilish woman, aren't I?"

"That's true."

"...It's a bit embarrassing when you agree so readily, Mad Magician."

"......"

I hurriedly calmed my heart, which had experienced a 1.5x heartbeat event. Honest Faceless's attack power was extremely high. If I don't converse carefully, I might need to use Lust Suppression Level 4.

"Well... I didn't do anything special there. I just quietly did my assigned missions. I wasn't trying to seduce anyone."

"Yes, Senior Yuri was a lone wolf in the Annihilation Squad. With a mission success rate approaching 100% and an overflowing cold demeanor. She was an object of admiration for the juniors in the Annihilation Squad!"

"A lone wolf?"

"Seris is exaggerating. Don't call me that."

It's hard to imagine.

Didn't Faceless approach me with friendly jokes when we first met? So I naturally thought she would have been the type to sexually harass junior women.

Judging by Darklez's expression, which showed sincere admiration, Faceless's image in the Annihilation Squad days must have been quite different.

"So... what were you doing?"

"......"

I flinched.

I still didn't want Faceless to know about this matter. It was my unilateral decision, and I didn't ask for her opinion, so it was high-handed. But.

I was afraid that if she harbored such a grudge, the moment she got a clue to track the Succubus Queen... she might leave my side. That's why I didn't want to tell her.

I tried to evade the question.

"Oh, it's nothing special... You know that succubus we found before. They said some minions remained, so I was just cleaning up..."

"We're searching for the path to the Succubus Queen's lair, 'The Nest,' Senior!"

"...I see."

Right, Darklez was beside us.

Faceless nodded as if she understood everything, and comfortably rested her chin on my shoulder. Then she spoke in a calm voice.

"Were you being considerate, Mad Magician?"

Her voice seemed to say, I can see right through you. I became flustered like a child caught in a lie.

"...Sorry. I got greedy."

"No. I understand. I would have done the same in your position."

Does she understand?

If so... will she stay by my side? Instead of leaving for revenge, will she just stay here, fooling around with me?

"But."

Cutting through my expectations, Yuri's words came.

"This is really important to me."

"......"

"Working as a defense bureau agent instead of living a peaceful life, not neglecting training, choosing this lifestyle. It was all for one thing."

From the moment the village burned.

"...I enjoyed the days spent with you. I won't deny that. Having a friend... it's my first time. This daily life is precious to me too."

"Then, with me..."

"Still, I can't prioritize a hobby over work, can I?"

"......"

How should I express it?

A feeling like spite, betrayal, or deprivation. That's what I felt.

Is she leaving?

Words spoken in a state of honest sincerity carry different weight. I felt a firmly and deeply embedded nail from her declaration. Yuri Lanster will leave.

According to the documents Kirby handed over, there had been no effective tracking method for the Succubus Queen's lair until now. It was a well-hidden secret that didn't yield information even when several succubi were captured and interrogated.

So... because everything was in a stagnant state. It seems Faceless was also waiting for a chance for revenge while carrying out other missions.

Being assigned to the "Annihilation Squad," which is the first to be deployed on high-risk missions. Waiting for the day to take revenge on the Queen...

Waiting, she must have grown tired of the indefinite wait.

So she left the "Annihilation Squad" and changed her assignment to a general field agent. Then, by the 2nd Prince's order, she became my dedicated agent.

And then, I. I seized the opportunity.

I created a chance to track the Succubus Queen.

Should I have just eliminated that succubus instead of capturing it alive? Would that have prevented this?

If I had stolen and hidden the feathered robe...

*Tap.*

Interrupting my thoughts, Yuri's voice was heard.

"I have a debt to repay to the Succubus Queen. I'm not saying I'll leave forever, Magician. After I strangle the Queen to death, I'll come back here."

"...You think I'll take back someone who left once?"

"Yes. I know you will."

"Yeah, I guess I would..."

If it's already decided, then. Let's accept it. They say you can't sleep well without achieving your revenge, right? And Yuri Lanster is a strong person. She'll surely achieve her goal and return.

Also, I can help. Yuna will help too. If the number 1 and 2 of the Purple Tower go out together, we can turn this so-called Queen into a twisted pretzel.

That will work.

There's nothing to worry about.

Yuri Lanster smiled and said:

"If you want me to finish my revenge quickly and return... you'll have to help me diligently. Isn't that right?"

"...Yes. That's right."

Let's pull myself together. Setting aside anxiety and regret, let's help her as she says. I'll cast magic again. I don't need to adjust the power since Faceless is using Feathered Ascension.

"『Sugar Lump』."

I cast the spell large enough to cover the entire Academy at once. As the magical pheromones spread again, we wait for a bite.

"There's a delicious smell here... Huh?"

A succubus appeared, lured by the pheromones. She looked at me, the source of the smell, and then at Faceless, who was chained together with me.

After looking at Darklez, who was standing beside us with fierce eyes and holding a whip:

"...A trap? Someone's already caught?"

Yes, it does look suspicious. Coming for a delicious smell, only to find people who look like they're trying to capture succubi.

Even Faceless, who is also a succubus, is wrapped in iron chains, so it would be stranger not to recognize it as a trap.

Then, Faceless calmly said:

"Yes, it's a trap. So, are you not coming?"

"Uh, um... no, I should go."

The succubus, entranced by the hypnosis-app-level pheromones, couldn't resist her instincts.

The succubus approached with an awkward gait and stuck close to me. Then Faceless moved the chains to bind her tightly as well.

Now the three of us are bound together.

And so, in what felt like a sticky trap for cockroaches, we caught succubi. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.

After Faceless's Feathered Ascension duration ended, and we folded up the succubus and extracted information, we were able to find out our next destination.

===============================================================

"The path to 'The Nest' is in the mind of 3rd Prince Sredo Crown?"

"To be precise, one of the paths is there."

"I know that, man."

So I'm getting entangled with royal bloodlines again. This makes it a hat trick.

Darklez, having already barged in on Alexon, seemed intent on barging in on the Prince too, as she finished preparations for departure, holding sampling devices in both hands to examine people bewitched by succubi.

"Then let's rush in right now and examine..."

"Royal bloodline is royal bloodline. No matter how impulsive you are, you could lose your head if you make a mistake. Think before you act, Darklez!"

As I scolded Darklez, Faceless quietly placed her hand on my shoulder and said softly:

"I don't think the Mad Magician is in a position to say that. You know?"

"......"

I had nothing to say.

The Mad Magician who charged in with "You're the Fallen Emperor" is no more. I came up with a perfect plan where everyone would be safe and no one would get hurt.

A way to avoid getting severely punished by royal power later.

"We've caught succubi, right?"

"Yes."

"So let's disguise ourselves as those succubi and meet the 3rd Prince."

"What?"

A disguised identity.