I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 158

The decision didn’t take long. I gave up on receiving help from Dietrich.

From what I’d experienced so far, Dietrich was the type of character who wouldn’t be satisfied unless he got everything. To capture Dietrich again, I’d need to be prepared to risk my life.

If I had three or four lives per round, I could afford to use one on capturing Dietrich—but unfortunately, I only had one life per round. Even if the gameplay became a bit harder, it would be better to give up on capturing Dietrich.

I turned my gaze to Dion, who had been frowning. When I shook my head slightly while looking at him, he caught on to my intent and said to Dietrich, “There’s no need for company. I can take responsibility for the Saintess’ safety.”

“You sent her alone once and she came back with her hand like that.”

Even though Dion firmly rejected him, Dietrich replied without a single blemish marring his composed face. His soft voice caused guilt to flood Dion’s expression.

Dietrich continued, undeterred even as he looked upon Dion’s grim face, “If the Saintess hadn’t shown mercy, it would’ve been a matter serious enough to cost you your position as her escort.”

“Grand Duke, that’s enough.”

As Dietrich continued to speak and Dion’s face contorted in despair, I stepped between them.

Dietrich shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “My apologies, I didn’t mean to sound critical. I spoke carelessly.”

Dietrich gave me an insufferable smile and added, “Still, what I said wasn’t entirely false. If you wish, Saintess, it’s not too late to change her escort.”

“No, I’m fine with having Sir Dion by my side.”

“You must’ve grown quite attached to each other in such a short time.”

When I rejected him just as firmly as Dion had, Dietrich responded with a sarcastic tone. His expression remained one of cordial amusement.

“I see. If that’s how both the Saintess and Dion feel, I won’t accompany you.”

The moment Dietrich ended his sentence, a system window popped up. It contained a considerable amount of information.

<You have failed to recruit the support character [Dietrich]!>

• You will not be able to receive help from this support character in future gameplay.

<Dietrich’s affection has drastically decreased!>

• [Dietrich]’s affection is now extremely low.
• All routes for [Dietrich] have been destroyed.
• [Dietrich]’s affection guidance system is now deactivated.

<Gameplay data has been updated.>

• The relationship between character [Dietrich] and player [Haniel] is extremely poor. It will be difficult to obtain a favorable reaction from Dietrich in your 4th playthrough.
• Dietrich cannot be captured during the 4th playthrough.

Once I reviewed the information, the system window disappeared on its own. Dietrich’s eyes, which I could see through the translucent system display just moments ago, now stared directly at me without any filter.

There wasn’t even a trace of warmth in those eyes. He had always been cool-headed in the early stages of the game, but this felt far colder than that.

Come to think of it, was this the first time I’d failed to capture someone because of low affection?

I thought back over my previous playthroughs. I’d only gone through three rounds so far, so the answer came quickly.

Yes, this was the first time.

I turned away from Dietrich’s gaze, which was colder than expected, and moved to stand beside Dion.

“…Saintes?”

As I leaned my body slightly against Dion’s arm, he looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Dion, let’s return to the mansion as soon as the welcome banquet ends…”

It was unbearable to be stared at like I was an object. I whispered softly. If he was going to look at me with no emotion at all, I’d rather be hated or manipulated.

***

I pulled myself together and resolved that when I returned to reality, I’d start by reworking those guys’ personalities. If they stayed like this, it was certain no one would stick around them in the future.

After the welcome banquet, which had only left me wounded, I returned to the mansion with Dion.

<New capture event triggered! – [Dion] Mansion Search (3/5)>

• Objective: Investigate the previous head of the family’s whereabouts
• Reward: [Dion] affection greatly increased, progress toward [Dion] single route increased

As soon as I set foot in Dion’s mansion, a system window popped up, notifying me of a new capture event. The goal it presented wasn’t far from what I had expected.

During the carriage ride back to the mansion, Dion and I talked about the illusion we had experienced last time. Dion seemed convinced that the scar on his neck had originated from what he had gone through in that illusion.

“Wouldn’t it be helpful to find out whether what we saw in the illusion really happened?”

“Yes, I was thinking we should investigate that first as well.”

I closed the system window and asked, to which Dion immediately nodded—but then hesitated and added, “I’m sorry, but since it’s related to my family, I don’t think you’ll be allowed to access the records.”

“Ah, I suppose that’s true.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s perfectly reasonable. You don’t need to apologize.”

Seeing Dion’s apologetic expression, I shook my head. The only way to uncover the previous head’s past wasn’t through documents alone.

If that were the case, the system would’ve included something like “investigate through documents” in the event’s objectives.

If the documents had been meant to be off-limits from the start, then simply gathering information from Dion would be sufficient.

I turned to Dion, who still looked guilty, and said, “I’ll ask around outside while you look through the records, Sir Dion. Would you mind letting the servants know that I’ll be asking questions?”

“Ah, yes. I’ll let the butler know right away.”

Dion nodded as if the request was no trouble at all. He immediately summoned the butler and gave his instructions.

“If the Saintess asks questions about the family, answer her in detail. Tell the other servants to assist her as best they can.”

“Pardon? Why would the Saintess be asking such questions…?”

“Only if the questions are about the former head of the family. If you judge the matter to be a family secret, don’t disclose anything.”

The butler stammered with a displeased tone. He wore a similar expression to the one he’d had when Dion declared he would be staying alone with me.

The butler seemed to see me as a succubus who had seduced a virtuous knight. It wasn’t the way one should look at a saintess, but rather at something detestable. When the butler turned to me with clear discomfort on his face, Dion scolded him.

“Don’t look at the Saintess so rudely. She’s only doing what I asked, so you don’t need to worry.”

“But this is…”

“I won’t ask anything difficult, so there’s no need to worry. If you don’t want to answer, you can simply say so.”

“…Understood. If it’s just that much, I’ll tell the servants to cooperate.”

“Thank you.”

When Dion stepped in to shield me, the butler’s gaze grew darker. Seeing Dion furrow his brow, I quickly stepped forward. As he looked between the angry Dion and me stepping in to calm things down, the butler slowly nodded.

“I’ll go inform them of your instructions.”

“Good.”

The butler left first.

Dion rubbed his forehead and stared at the butler’s retreating figure. Though he had behaved rudely toward me, the butler’s reaction was likely driven by his concern for the family and Dion.

Judging by Dion’s expression—whether to punish or forgive him—he seemed to think the same. I touched his arm and said, “He’s a good man. He stayed by your side the whole time when you collapsed. Did you know that?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a natural reaction, really. A saintess suddenly appears and starts digging into family matters—it would be stranger if he welcomed that. If you’re thinking of punishing him because of me, there’s no need.”

“…Thank you for understanding.”

<Dion’s affection has slightly increased!>

As I smiled and spoke, Dion let out a small sigh and replied.

We promised to meet again after our investigations and headed in different directions—Dion to the library that held the family records, and I toward the direction the butler had gone.

The butler was seated, clutching his head, sighing heavily. Perhaps sensing my presence, he looked up. As our eyes met, he jumped up in surprise.

“S-Saintess.”

“I have a few questions. Would you spare a moment?”

“Yes, of course. But, Saintess, are you perhaps thirsty? I can bring you some tea…”

“No need for tea.”

The butler fumbled as if trying to flee the situation. When I rejected the offer outright, he slumped his shoulders and gestured to the seat across from him.

“If it’s something I’m allowed to speak about, I’ll answer. Since it’s Master Dion’s command…”

He trailed off, clearly feeling awkward about the situation. If I kept tiptoeing around his discomfort, I’d waste all the time until Dion returned just speaking to one person.

Ignoring his unease, I chose not to sit and got straight to the point.

“Was there ever a previous head of the family who married a commoner woman?”

“Yes, there was.”

The butler, who had been extremely tense, blinked and answered. It seemed like the question wasn’t what he’d feared—it deflated him.

Relaxing, he asked in return, “There were three, in fact… but why are you asking something like that?”

I let his question drift past me as I mulled it over.

Three? I thought I’d get the answer right away, but three different heads married commoners?

Fidgeting with my fingers, I frowned in thought, then ignored his question and asked another.

“Then, among them, was there one who held a wedding in the greenhouse?”

The blinking butler stiffened. With a forced smile, as if he’d misheard, he replied, “There was no such person.”

“Hmm, even if it wasn’t an official wedding ceremony, that’s fine…”

“I’m sorry, Saintess. I’m afraid I can’t answer any further. I don’t think I can be of any more help on that subject, so I’ll excuse myself now.”

“Ah, wait—”

The butler bowed politely, then quickly left the room. I reached out in vain as he dashed off before I could stop him.

“What was that…?”

<Information Acquired!>

• Information obtained: (1/3)

<Meet more people to acquire information.>

• Conversation with ‘Butler’ completed.
• Speak with ‘(Unavailable)’ to obtain information.

Well, of course.

It’s not like I expected to get everything from one person. I sighed, closed the system window, and turned toward the direction the butler had gone.