Chapter 14: The Other Side of the Promise! A Masochist Beyond Good and Evil!
Recently, shifting perspectives within the same scene has been somewhat off-putting to readers.
I apologize, but this work deliberately aims to create misunderstandings, so shifts in perspective will be used frequently and extensively (^ω^;)
Chapter 14: The Other Side of the Promise! A Masochist Beyond Good and Evil!
Here, we rewind time and examine the scene where the chessboard is flipped over from a different perspective.
"Kanaho-san. You, you think of yourself as a gear in the machine, don't you?"
Maria cut straight to Kanaho, who had reached for her nightgown.
Kanaho was deeply shaken by Maria's words and let go of her nightgown.
"...O-Ojou-sama, why... how... how did you know that....?"
Having had her troubles accurately guessed, Kanaho became flustered and asked the question.
(I know from the original story!)
Kanaho's reaction made Maria inwardly smirk.
Taking this first time alone with Kanaho, Maria, the pervert, decided to turn it into a scene of their "Promise."
Based on Kanaho's character information from the original story, she devised a plan to forcibly gain Kanaho's trust.
This is a fraudulent scam called "hot reading," where fake psychics and fortune tellers investigate the target's personal information beforehand and make it seem as if they've read their mind.
While effectively utilizing knowledge from the original story is a privilege of those who have been reincarnated, this strategy was bound to draw criticism for its ethical implications.
"I'm sorry... I don't understand how this works, but there are some things that I just somehow, 'Understand'.... Like the Staff that was dormant within Tomoe-san's body...."
Even plagiarizing phrases she'd heard in some light novel or anime, Maria brazenly continued to press on, aiming to secure the promise.
"I, too, am like a gear in the machine."
The original protagonist had won over Kanaho's heart with the line, "You're not just a gear in the machine," so Maria thought, "I can't just copy that," and decided to take a different approach.
She was being sincere in a pointless way.
However, unintentionally, she ended up sounding like a , using sympathy as an entry point, saying something like, "I know you're struggling financially, but actually, my mother is seriously ill and I'm having trouble paying for her treatment. Sooo, can you lend me some money...?"
Where's the sincerity in that?
"I have something I must fulfill. A mission… no, a long-cherished wish (to be destroyed)
It is an act stained with pain and suffering, something that others can never understand but...
I must absolutely fulfill that long-cherished wish.
Otherwise, there would be no meaning to my existence in this world."
Maria's unnecessarily sincere words and actions continued.
Even if she gained trust through her knowledge of the original story, she knew that lying wouldn't move people's hearts, so she revealed her true feelings, laying the groundwork for the promise.
What she was trying to do was a forceful, power play, yet it was as meticulously planned as a scam.
"I am merely a 'Gear' that continues to turn for that purpose alone... But..... Even if I sacrifice my entire being, I don't know if that long-cherished (for destruction) wish will be fulfilled.
I don't know.... and I'm afraid.....
A future that I cannot foresee....."
Maria, avoiding direct words, began to reveal her true feelings.
To an outsider, she would undoubtedly appear as nothing more than a beautiful young girl terrified of the future.
There's a proverb that says, "," but in Maria's case, it was perhaps, "Her bewitching beauty hides clumsy tactics."
She was completely deceptive, her very appearance, her very existence.
"If you would to stay by my side forever, I feel like I could face that future with peace of mind..."
Hop, jump, and hop again, step by step, a steady and reliable lead towards the Promise.
It was a level of meticulousness that made it hard to believe she was acting on impulse or on a whim.
With a diamond-hard resolve, determined to make it happen right then and there, Maria pressed on.
The tenacity of a perverted masochist is truly frightening.
"We've only just met, and I know this might be confusing... But, Kanaho-san... If you don't mind... would you promise me?
That you will stay by my side.... forever....?"
(Having set everything up so perfectly, surely you wouldn't say "no," would you? No, you have to Promise me, or I'll be in trouble, damn it!)
Without letting a hint of her abusive boss-like thoughts show, she put her bewitching beauty into a pleading expression.
With all her might, she begged an unspoken plea, "Please promise me."
Maria's desire, which began as a spur-of-the-moment idea, now resembled a cunning and insidious trap.
It was finally baring its fangs at Kanaho.
"I promise."
Kanaho's immediate reply was a resounding agreement.
She had fallen right into Maria's trap, choosing a straightforward, enthusiastic acceptance without hesitation.
This surprised Maria, who had longed for the promise, even more. She was utterly astonished.
"Wait, really?!" she almost instinctively asked for confirmation.
"A-Are you sure? Answering so easily... This 'Promise' might bind you and torment you for the rest of your life. This might just be a childish, selfish remark, you know...?"
(You can think about it a little longer, you're still young, after all.)
Maria thought, even though she had said it herself, she was trying to give Kanaho time to consider.
Even as a perverted masochist, she wanted a "Promise," but she apparently felt quite guilty about making a young girl make a decision that would throw her life away on her own.
It's undeniable that someone would retort, "Then don't do it in the first place!" if they were to read Maria's mind right now.
"Then, let me make my own Promise to you."
Far from calming down at Maria's words of hesitation, Kanaho seemed to heat up even more, intertwining her finger with Maria's little finger.
"I, Igodome Kanaho, will always be by Maria-ojou-sama's side. I hereby swear to live alongside you and continue to support you!"
(Wow, that's heavy! Did Kanaho's promise always sound this heavy?)
Even though her wish had come true, Maria was slightly confused by the difference in impression from the original game.
But she didn't remember the text very well, and, unaware of the fact that she had skipped almost all the text except for the H-scenes, Maria decided not to think about the original any further.
First, to celebrate the fulfillment of the promise, she gave Kanaho a grateful and touched smile.
"Ahh...! Thank you, Kanaho-san.... I... I don't know how to thank you enough...!"
These words alone are 100% true and genuine from Maria.
(The always condescending maid GETTO!!!)
She thinks to herself.
(Yeehaw!)
She stands up, raising her fist like an ASCII art character, and enters a fever time, her voltage at its peak.
Just as Maria was ecstatic, Kanaho said something that poured cold water on her.
"Ojou-sama, please, just call me Kanaho. There's no need for honorifics.
From this moment on, I, Kanaho, am your servant for life."
(No, that's too much, Kanaho!)
Maria thought, conveniently ignoring her own perversion, and recoiling slightly.
(Servant? You mean like a slave? Is this an Eroge? No wait, this IS an Eroge! If anything, I'd rather be your slave!?
That's why, you see, we don't need that kind of unhealthy stuff anymore.)
Thinking this, Maria gently tried to correct Kanaho's perception.
"Thank you, Kanaho. But, 'Servant' is kinda... It sounds unpleasant to me, and I don't like it. .... Oh, how about 'Big Sister' Yes, Big Sister definitely sounds better.
However, Kanaho seemed to be deeply moved by this suggestion to correct her perception.
She showed strong agreement, as if in fervent consent, and even ended up shedding large tears.
Kanaho's reaction left Maria surprised, flustered, and bewildered, thinking, "What's going on with this person's emotions...?"
If anyone could read Maria's mind, they would have delivered a fierce retort, something like the punchline in the legendary two-person comedy routine from "."
(Is it really that bad to make a Promise with me that you're crying over it?
You can still cancel it now, you know?)
Maria reluctantly flashed the Buddha-like compassion that resided in a corner of her pink-eyed brain.
The answer she received was that Kanaho was happy to have met her and made the promise.
"I totally don't understand," Maria muttered to herself, like some kind of utterly despicable, inhuman being.
Of course, no one knew Maria psychological state and asked her, "Don't you have a heart?"
Well, anyway, Maria is happy that the promise was made, Kanaho is happy too, and just as planned, everyone is happy!
(Let's wrap up the 'Promise' scene here.)
Maria thought, and taking advantage of Kanaho's reply, she decided to say something that would give it a nice, clean break.
"I should be the one saying thank you, shouldn't I? Kanaho... I look forward to working with you from now on."
"Yes. Likewise, I look forward to working with you, Ojou-sama!"
(Yes! The promise is now completely secured! No matter what individual future route unfolds, it's a feast of customers and a bang!
I've won! Ha ha ha!)
Convinced of victory and destruction in the future, Maria's joy was ecstatic.
What is this nauseating 'evil'?!
It's about taking advantage of those who know nothing and are ignorant...!
It's about using them solely for their own benefit...!
By that definition, this reincarnated Maria must be the epitome of perfect "evil."
However, Kanaho, who was supposedly being used by Maria, has been freed from her pent up frustrations, and is now cheerfully beginning a new life with a clear mind.
Kanaho's heart was completely saved.
Even the Goddess of Justice, who judges all sins, would find it difficult to determine that Kanaho is the victim in this situation.
Frustratingly, thanks to the reincarnated Maria, another young girl's fate has been drastically altered.
What will this "Promise" bring about in the future?
No one knows anymore.
It's a misunderstanding, but they both end up happy...
That's the kind of thing I like... ( ˘ω˘ )
Author's Note
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