I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 146

I thought it over carefully. Lucius and Adrian had reacted most strongly to the idea that the routes had to be progressed one at a time, but they were also the most difficult people to capture.

I still couldn’t forget the cold stares they had given me during the second playthrough. Adrian and Lucius had shown no interest in me when we first met.

“Dion had the lowest difficulty level, at least.”

I said this as I looked at Dion, who was talking with Dietrich. After seeing the bad ending in the Orias single route during the third playthrough, I wanted a good ending this time.

Even though I knew that events from a playthrough didn’t carry over into reality, I still didn’t want to watch anyone die.

As I tapped the desk rhythmically in thought, I finally made a decision.

Right, I’ll start with Dion’s single route.

Dion had a setting where his favorability increased in proportion to the amount of time spent together, so as long as I stuck close to him, I’d be able to gain favorability points.

Compared to the others, that made him easier.

Well, that’s not to say Dion was easy either…

Letting out a long sigh, I pulled myself together.

Since I had to meet my brother, no matter how difficult it was, I had to do it.

***

“Dion, did we ever meet when we were kids?”

“When we were kids?”

At the sudden question, Dion blinked slowly and repeated it back.

Having decided to go for Dion’s route, I began my investigation before logging into the game.

Judging by the cases of Adrian, Orias, and Ardal, there was a possibility that there had been some connection between me and the capture targets, even if memories of it were gone.

Orias and Ardal had spent their childhood with me, and Adrian had received help from the current me. Since those three had such a past, I had a hunch there would be something with the remaining characters as well.

Lucius, Dietrich, and Dion—there had to be a reason these three had been selected as capture targets.

“No, we haven’t.”

“Could you think carefully before answering?”

“I told you, we haven’t.”

Dion shook his head smoothly as he replied. He looked like he truly remembered nothing.

Well, I didn’t have any memories of Dion either. My memories from before I was ten were somewhat hazy, but… I didn’t think I had ever met him.

Then why had Dion become a capture target?

“There’s no connection, so why Dion…?”

“We may not have met, but that doesn’t mean we’re unrelated.”

“What do you mean by that?”

As I muttered and puzzled over it, Dion casually spoke to me. Dietrich, who had been chatting with Dion, checked the time, waved to me, and stepped away.

“I have something to do… See you later, Saintess.”

Once Dietrich had left, Dion approached and began to explain.

“When I was a child, my family once searched for someone who had holy power.”

“Someone with holy power?”

“Yes, but in the end, we couldn’t find one. People with holy power were guarded like a fortress by the temple.”

I nodded in agreement. My brother and I, who had holy power, were systematically managed by the Holy Kingdom. Even Theodora and Orias, who only had a small amount of holy power, had been carefully looked after by the temple. It would’ve been impossible for a family in the Empire to find someone with holy power.

It was an interesting story. I gestured for Dion to take a seat and asked, “What was it for?”

“It’s a story related to our estate… Ah, but you probably shouldn’t hear it.”

Dion trailed off mid-reply. The way he glanced at me nervously suggested something was bothering him.

“It’s fine, go ahead.”

“Don’t regret it later. And don’t come whining at night saying you’re scared.”

Startled by Dion’s next words, I shrank back. Whining at night because I’m scared?

Surely… he’s not about to tell a scary story, is he?

Dion grinned mischievously at my tensed-up posture. As if he had never hesitated, he began to speak with a chuckle.

“So this happened when I was a kid…”

The kind of scary story I hated most began to flow from Dion’s lips. It was a bizarre tale about the mansion where he had spent his childhood.

<You have obtained route-related information for character [Dion]!>

• [Perfect Ending] entry condition: Acquiring the skill [Eyes of the Wraith] during the Saintess’ coronation fulfills the minimum requirement for the Perfect Ending.

“Uwaaah, stop talking, Dion!”

“You’re the one who asked. Keep listening—the important part hasn’t even started yet.”

“I said stop!”

With every word Dion spoke, the system updated with new information about his route. The details perfectly matched his explanation.

Wraiths? Eyes of the Wraith?

What kind of horrifying skill name is that?!

Trying to block out his voice, I covered my ears, but Dion easily brushed my hands away with a single motion. With a face lit up in excitement, he kept recounting his childhood story.

“…So that’s how my sister ended up being chosen as the heir to the family instead of me.”

“Ugh… I won’t be able to sleep tonight… You better take responsibility.”

The moment Dion finished speaking, he let go of my wrist. I immediately clutched my head and groaned.

Dion chuckled as he looked at me, slumped over the table. “I noticed it back when we were trapped in that village. Haniel, you really hate these kinds of stories.”

“I told you I can’t stand scary things… Aren’t you scared at all, Dion?”

“Well, like I said, I grew up seeing that kind of stuff.”

“Ugh, don’t say anything more about what you saw.”

“Alright, I’ll stop. If you’re that scared, why don’t we sleep together tonight?”

Dion’s blue eyes narrowed as he watched me sprawled across the table. His tone was shameless, like he was offering me a special deal. Annoyed, I ran a hand through my hair.

How is he the same knight as Ardal and yet this sly? Shouldn’t a knight stop when someone clearly doesn’t want something?

Sure, I had told him to tell the story, but I didn’t want to hear that kind of terrifying tale to the end. He had clearly kept talking just so he could suggest sleeping together.

Even though I was angry at having played right into his hands, that night, I ended up clinging to Dion and spending the night with him, just as he intended.

It was better to swallow my pride a little than be terrified all night…

That’s how I justified it to myself.

***

“Phew…”

“If you’re that reluctant, I don’t mind postponing my turn.”

“It’s something I have to do anyway. Besides, you’re the easiest out of all of them.”

Even though Dion had teased me with scary stories for days, when I mentioned logging into the fourth playthrough, he looked at me with concern.

I’d deliberately joked that he was the easiest, but he didn’t seem to care about that part at all.

“If it’s the first meeting point, there’s a high chance I’ll be uncooperative with you. I don’t know what you’ll experience, but if anything scary happens, don’t try to endure it alone—come to me right away.”

“You’re the last person who should be saying that after tormenting me for days.”

Relaxing a little from Dion’s concern, I smiled as I adjusted the system.

I had gathered plenty of information on Dion. Since I’d already met the requirement to enter the perfect ending, I’d be able to complete the route quickly and come back.

All I had to do was acquire the skill Eyes of the Wraith during the coronation ceremony.

I opened the system, checked Dion’s route information, and took a deep breath.

As I leaned against the bed to log in, Dion prompted me for an answer.

“Haniel, answer me before you go.”

“Alright. Whether it’s here or there, you’re still the same Dion. What’s there to worry about?”

“That’s exactly the problem. I hated you at first. Every single thing you did rubbed me the wrong way…”

“Stop. If you keep going, I’ll get mad and won’t be able to log in.”

“Be careful of Dietrich, too.”

“Ah, I almost forgot. I definitely need to watch out for Dietrich.”

Frowning at Dion’s never-ending warnings, I nodded. If I encountered Dietrich the wrong way, I was highly likely to get caught in his confinement-ending route.

Since the game and reality ran on a 1:1 time ratio, if Dietrich got his way, I could waste time trapped in the bad ending.

The person I needed to be most wary of while playing Dion’s route wasn’t Dion—it was Dietrich.

Because I hadn’t pursued anyone else yet, my charm stat would be lower than Dietrich’s, so I had to make sure not to be left alone with him.

I nodded seriously and launched the system. My holy power responded naturally.

***

<Please select your entry point for the 4th playthrough.>

1. Restart (Includes tutorial)
2. Saintess’ Coronation (Before the Holy Grail ceremony)

<Beginning point for the 4th playthrough is set.>

-2. Saintess’ Coronation (Before the Holy Grail ceremony)

<You have selected your starting point. This cannot be changed.>

<The Saintess Is a Spy! – 4th Playthrough ->

<Starting point is confirmed.>

<Moving to: 2. Saintess’ Coronation (Before the Holy Grail ceremony)>

……

<Transferring point…>

<Transfer complete!>

<Welcome to the game.>

***

<The Saintess Is a Spy! – 4th Playthrough ->

<The time ratio between game and reality is 1:1.>

<While the game is in progress, your real body will remain in a sleep state.>

I opened my eyes, familiar with the returning sensations.

Now that I was more comfortable using my holy power, I could manipulate the system to some degree.

It was the moment of the Saintess’ coronation, right before the Holy Grail ceremony. It was also the moment I would gain a new ability.

“Haniel.”

As I looked around to acclimate myself, Orias, dressed in ceremonial robes, handed me the Holy Grail.

The chalice, shimmering with an unreal golden light, was passed to me.

Okay. All I need to do here is obtain the ability called Eyes of the Wraith, right?

I calmly tilted the Holy Grail.

Gaining a skill with my holy power should be easy. I confidently drank the holy water.

The cold liquid slipped past my lips.

<The holy water grants a mystical ability.>

• You have acquired the mystical skill [Heat].

…What?

<Ability Acquired: [Heat]!>

• This skill applies to the player, Haniel.
• [Heat] is an automatic skill.
• It activates automatically under certain conditions.

What glowed above the system window was not the ability I had expected, but something completely different.

One of the most useless skills: Heat.

Ah. I’ll have to reset. That was my immediate thought, without even a second of hesitation.

This ability wasn’t just useless—it actively interfered with gameplay.

Without any regret, I closed the skill information and opened the sensitivity settings window.

<Admin Mode Activated>

• Sensitivity settings are adjustable.

‘Sensitivity 1, set.’

Once I finished the necessary steps, I returned the Holy Grail to Orias and stepped down from the altar.

The fastest way to restart the playthrough was the player’s death.

It didn’t take long to find the dagger hidden in Ardal’s clothes as I descended the altar.