Chapter 96: Operation Arrest Crownhall Hypnosis App - 4

Chapter 96: Operation Arrest Crownhall Hypnosis App - 4

The allure of doors always sparked curiosity, enticing people to wonder what lay beyond. It was a natural phenomenon.

Regardless of whether they opened the door with care, kicked it down, or smashed it apart, there was always a possibility of treasures, ninjas, giant tentacles, or anything imaginable waiting for them. It was a Schrödinger's Box1.

Using Illusion Magic, I could harness the beliefs of others as a power source, allowing me to manifest a certain degree of physical force.

『Step into a Door, Ascend into a World (踏門昇界)』 was a spell that pushed these characteristics to their limits.

The first victim was entirely fabricated. Someone with a short temper hastily opened the door, only to be devoured by a strange monster that emerged from within—an illusion from start to finish.

However, the people who witnessed the illusion would begin to harbor fears of sinister traps lurking behind each door.

They were afraid of a monster coming out from the other side if they opened the door.

Their collective belief in something sinister beyond the threshold allowed『Step into a Door, Ascend into a World』to function as a labyrinth, amplifying their anxiety.

“A T-Tentacle! I-It grabbed me, it grabbed me!”

“Some-Something just touched my ankl⋯⋯!"

The potency of nascent magic could manifest only to a limited extent. But as their anxiety escalated and their belief in the presence of ‘something’ intensified⋯⋯

“I, I’m being dragged! I’m being dragged⋯⋯!"

“EUAAAACK!!”

Their collective fear reached a point where I could literally swallow the weaker ones.

By now, some of them who could actually use their brains began to shout warnings.

“Don’t open the door! God damn it⋯⋯ don’t open it!”

“Don’t open it! Don’t open it and just stay still!”

Seizing the moment, I made an illusion of a person once more. Among those caught in 『Step into a Door, Ascend into a World (踏門昇界)』, a random guy was shown opening a door and escaping.

“Ha, hahaha! This way! This is the exit⋯⋯!!"

Bang. The door slammed shut as I erased the used exit, dissolving it like a mirage.

“This is the way out too! Come quickly⋯⋯!"

“I’m, I’m free!”

Bang. Bang. Doors closed one after another, vanishing without a trace.

Gradually, I released a few of the weaker ones. It was then that the people trapped in the labyrinth began to understand the rules. Among these numerous doors, only a few of them were exits and that their numbers were dwindling.

Chaos ensued and their feeling of hope in finding an escape route surged. This bolstered the physical and binding force of 『Step into a Door, Ascend into a World (踏門昇界)』.

“M-Move! I’m going to open th⋯⋯ EUAAAACK!!’

“This, this has to be a way out! It says so right here!”

As the number of captives decreased and their desperation intensified, the spell's strength grew, gradually engulfing them. And if I took a moment of rest⋯⋯

“Block it! If we look for the exit as we defen⋯⋯."

“It won’t last forev⋯⋯."

“Somebody save m⋯⋯."

"⋯⋯⋯⋯."

Well, there was no one standing now.

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

Amidst the crowd lying sprawled on the ground, Pink-Haired Lesbian seized the collar of the middle-aged man with slicked-back hair and hoisted him up. Judging by his posture and his attitude of taking the lead, there was a high possibility that he was the leader of the group.

“This person will be transported for an interrogation.”

"⋯⋯⋯⋯."

“What is that look, Tower Master?”

“N-No. Nothing⋯⋯."

With a soft sigh, Pink-Haired Lesbian gently admonished the Tower Master.

“I understand that you might be thinking about things like succubi and interrogations, but it's racially discriminatory and rude. Tower Master, you are a pervert.”

Craaack-!

The Tower Master froze, as if struck by lightning. She stood there, scorched white and motionless.

I quietly hugged her, patting her gently. It was normal for someone to have a few dirty thoughts, right? It was all fine as long as she didn't fall into something too weird.

“It’s okay, Tower Master. I can love you even if you’re a pervert.”

“⋯⋯You, you’re worse!!”

A flurry of Yuna Punches landed all over my body.

As I comforted her, I turned my attention to the stone statue in the town square. I couldn't figure out its religious meaning or identify who it represented.

"⋯⋯⋯⋯?!"

The Tower Master expressed her joy. Since Senior Scarface wasn't foolish enough to do this without a disguise, she was convinced that the actual culprit was trying to frame her.

Pink-Haired Lesbian whispered softly to me, her face distraught.

“Possibly uh, did the Tower Master and Lorei have a bad relationship⋯⋯?"

“They generally got along. Hey, Pink-Haired Lesbian, listen to me for a second. This is just a hypothesis but⋯⋯."

Wasn’t this information too obvious? I explained my theory to Pink-Haired Lesbian that this could be a plan to frame someone falsely. She nodded as if it made sense.

However, she added cautiously, “But.”

“The likely culprit is 『Puppet』 Lorei. You’re aware of that, right?”

“I am. That’s why I’m going to determine her innocence right away.”

“Are you saying there is a way to find out?”

Of course, there was. What was the simplest way to prove her innocence?

“We could just ask her directly.”

"?"

I decided to contact and ask her directly. Clarification had to come from the source.

Pink-Haired Lesbian asked what we would do if Senior Scarface turned out to be the culprit and went into hiding. However, she backed off when the Tower Master firmly declared that she would take responsibility and eliminate her if necessary.

The calm before the storm.

The Senior Scarface could indeed be an overconfident culprit. This could be like telling the criminal to flee now. The Empire might say, ‘You’re on the same side as that fucker, huh?’ It was a risky move that could arouse unnecessary suspicion.

But, both the Tower Master and I⋯⋯ wanted to bet on trusting her.

I borrowed the emergency communication crystal ball and the necessary mana for communication from Yuna. The call was forcibly connected. After a moment of crackling noise, the voice of Senior Scarface emerged.

-This is sister’s body⋯⋯ I feel strange.

-That's right, Lauren. Try moving slowly. It will become easier once you get used to it.

-Your heart is beating really hard. Sister, are you sick?

-No, I’m just happy. Right now it's only for three hours, but soon we might be able to go on a trip together⋯⋯.

The conversation continued, but only one voice was heard. It seemed like a younger brother had entered Senior Scarface’s body. Ahem. I cleared my throat and interrupted her.

“Hm, excuse me. Senior?”

-⋯⋯⋯⋯Esteemed Junior? What?

Even someone caught watching porn couldn’t have sounded more shocked to hear my voice. I calmly stated my business.

“Well uh, Senior, you have been accused of conspiring with a subversive force. If you don’t clarify the situation now, the Tower Master will shoot lasers at you.”

-Fuck⋯⋯ Where do I need to deliver myself to, Esteemed Junior? No, Lauren, it’s fine. It's nothing, so you don't have to worry. No, no. Your sister didn't do anything like leaking and⋯⋯.

Craaaash.

There were hurried sounds of people changing clothes, the sound of someone rolling, and Senior reassuring her younger brother not to worry. I spoke softly into the crystal ball.

“We got a room at the Seagull Inn⋯⋯ in the Crownhall.”

-Yeaah, tell them to wait a day.

Thud. The signal abruptly cut off.

“She’ll be here soon. Let’s retrieve the statue, place it in the inn room, and then get some rest.”

"⋯⋯The siblings seems to have such a good relationship, huh.”

Hearing Pink-Haired Lesbian's reluctant words, the Tower Master quickly defended Lorei.

“Eu-Eung! Lorei is really caring. She looks after her brother so well! l, I like that! She’s not the type to leak our research and do bad things⋯⋯!"

“Uh, I don’t think that was a compliment”

After I finished erasing 『Big Brother』 from the minds of the people lying around in the town square, Pink-Haired Lesbian called the guards, and they were all taken to prison one by one.

That marked the end of Day 1 in the Crownhall.

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

Senior Scarface, having traveled all night using the warp gate and then the carriage, looked at the statue with a haggard and weary face.

“This indeed is my magic.”

"⋯⋯LO-LOREI!!”

“D-Don’t shoot me! It is my magic, but that doesn’t mean I did it⋯⋯!!"

The Senior Scarface’s explanation festival has /genesisforsaken