I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 32

“You are here, Saintess.”

Keeping a short distance from Dion, I entered the herb chamber where several people came rushing out to greet me. Their dark, sunken eyes and disheveled appearance made it seem as though they hadn’t slept or bathed in days.

No matter how I looked at them, they seemed to scream, “I’m exhausted from pulling all-nighters.” Startled, I instinctively grabbed Dion’s sleeve.

This scene felt strangely familiar… Ah, right. It reminded me of my university days, where classmates nearing project deadlines had looked just like this.

The researchers, with their haggard complexions, greeted me joyfully.

“Welcome, please, come in.”

Their eyes sparkled as if they were genuinely seeing a Saintess—or perhaps, they were seeing a useful tool to exploit. Either way, neither was good news for me.

In real life, I had honed a sharp sense for identifying people trying to offload their work onto me. That same sense was now screaming at me to flee if I wanted to preserve a semblance of human life.

“Ah, yes.”

But there was no way to escape. To capture the target characters, I had to unconditionally accept the requests of these researchers.

Forcing a smile, I followed them into the herb chamber. The heavy, acrid smell of herbs stung my nose, much like the scent lingering near the Emperor’s chambers. It seemed the researchers were exhausting themselves trying to treat the Emperor’s illness.

However, no matter how hard they worked, the Emperor’s fate depended entirely on the player’s choices. Whether the Emperor lived or died hinged on whether I chose to pursue Crown Prince Lucius’s route.

Even if they spent sleepless nights laboring, their efforts would ultimately be in vain.

“The potions Sir Dion delivered have been tested. They were highly effective.”

“I’m just an amateur, really. You’re too kind.”

“No, no, not at all. Truly remarkable work. Not just the potions’ effectiveness but also the speed at which you produce them is extraordinary, Saintess.”

That’s only because I hadn’t slept or done anything but make potions.

I smiled faintly, nodding at their exaggerated praise. Being flattered right before work wasn’t exactly welcome. I knew it was merely a prelude to exploiting me.

Sure enough, the words I had anticipated followed soon after.

“So, as we discussed with Sir Dion, we were hoping to enlist your help, Saintess…”

<Event – ‘The Herb Chamber’s Request’>

• Supply stamina recovery potions (0/5 times).

As the event window popped up, I responded with a practiced smile.

“Of course. If it helps, I’ll gladly assist.”

“Ah! Thank you so much. You have no idea how difficult it’s been lately with our shortage of manpower!”

Their excitement over my quick agreement was so overwhelming that I felt slightly embarrassed. For such a minor commitment—just five supplies of potions—they were ecstatic. It made me wonder just how desperate they were.

Seeing their pitifully gaunt faces, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy. Even NPCs in this game led such grueling lives.

Watching extras endure such hardship in a setting meant for escapism gave me a strange sense of unease.

There are always those who bear the brunt of the workload, no matter where you go.

Though I detested exhaustion, helping them would at least let me feel like a proper Saintess.

Trying my best to project an air of benevolence, I asked, “How many potions would you like, and by when?”

“To start, we need fifty bottles within two days…”

“Yes?”

Did I mishear? Surely they meant five bottles?

“We need fifty bottles.”

“……”

<First Supply (0/50 bottles)>

• Failure Consequences: The entire Dion Route will be destroyed. Entry into both the Dion Route and Reverse Harem Route will become impossible.
• If the Reverse Harem Route fails, the Confinement Route for Pope (Orias) will be activated.

Dammit….

Making one stamina recovery potion took about 15 minutes. Producing fifty bottles in two days wasn’t impossible, but I knew exactly where this was heading.

This was the first of five supply events, and in such cases, the required quantity usually increased with each subsequent event.

If the first request was for fifty bottles… how much would they ask for next time?

It felt as though cold water had been poured over me. Staring stiffly at the event window, I nodded.

“Very well…”

“We’ll be eagerly awaiting your help, Saintess!”

Of course, I had no choice but to accept. It’s not like I could refuse a quest.

Surely, this game doesn’t include death by overwork… right?

“Fifty bottles in two days is absurd.”

“Dion?”

“I’ve heard that potion crafting takes a considerable toll on stamina.”

“We’ll supply the necessary herbs from the chamber. Saintess, you can focus solely on crafting the potions.”

“The herbs aren’t the issue…!”

“Dion, Dion.”

I grabbed Dion’s arm as he stepped forward, his voice rising. If they provided the herbs, it would save me time gathering materials. Ultimately, this would allow me to advance my potion crafting skill more quickly. It was a win-win—I could complete the quest, improve my skill, and progress in the route events.

“I can handle it.”

So let’s not waste time arguing and start crafting already.

***

“Leaving that quantity to you is just the herb chamber offloading its responsibilities onto you.”

“So what? I have nothing else to do anyway.”

“Nothing to do? Don’t you remember your welcome banquet is in three days?”

“Oh.”

Casually replying to Dion as he grumbled nonstop on our way back to my room from the herb chamber, I froze when his last remark registered. The welcome banquet—the event most crucial for raising affections.

How could I forget that?

As I halted and sighed, Dion let out a dry laugh.

“You really didn’t know, did you?”

“No, I knew… just forgot.”

“Do you think it’s possible to prepare for the banquet and make that many potions at the same time?”

“Hmm, well, a promise is a promise. I’ll have to do it.”

The system had no concept of mercy. Even though Dion sounded like he was trying to dissuade me, abandoning the potion-crafting quest would destroy my route.

“I’ll leave the banquet preparations to you, Dion. I’m counting on you.”

“You’ll need proper attire, but I know nothing about women’s clothing.”

Hearing my request, Dion shook his head and replied. His tone was filled with discontent, to which I responded dismissively.

“I’ll just wear my sacred robe. No need for anything else.”

“You’re planning to attend the banquet in your sacred robe?”

“Yes. I don’t have time to prepare anything else. Potion-crafting takes priority, so just keep that in mind, Dion.”

“Oh, yes.”

There wasn’t anyone at the banquet whose affection would increase just because of my attire.

Surprised by my response, Dion stared at me in bewilderment. Then again, he seemed to think I had come to the Empire with some grand purpose from the Holy Kingdom. Whatever the goal, the banquet was the perfect opportunity to meet people, so my decision to let it pass must have seemed peculiar.

From the start, Dion had been wary of me, and even now, he acted as though escorting me was just an excuse to monitor me. Given that I had spent days holed up near the herb chamber making potions, without any outings, his suspicion wasn’t unwarranted.

Even I found my behavior odd. If not for the potions, I’d be visiting the Crown Prince’s palace daily, mingling with the capture targets. But right now, the priority wasn’t raising affection levels for characters who showed no movement in theirs; it was completing this potion event and focusing on capturing Dion.

Dragging the dumbfounded Dion back to the room, I hastily said, “Let’s hurry and make those potions. Quickly, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Dion followed close behind, tidying the herbs sent by the chamber as he moved, still looking dazed.

***

<Potion Crafting in Progress…>

<Potion Crafting Complete!>

<Stamina slightly decreases due to potion crafting.>

<Herb Chamber Potion Supply: 37/50>

“Thirteen bottles left.”

“Yes.”

“But… doesn’t it seem like the herbs sent by the chamber are far too much for just fifty bottles…?”

“What?”

Handing over a completed potion to Dion, I was sipping on an older one I had made when his muttered observation made me jump up. Moving closer to him, I examined the herbs he was sorting.

Herbs for stamina recovery potions had a shelf life of only ten days. Since they couldn’t be stored for long, it was common to convert them into potions before they wilted. When I leaned in, Dion pushed the pile of herbs toward me as if to show off.

***

“You’re right. With this much, forget fifty—you could make three hundred bottles.”

“Exactly…”

As I muttered, Dion pointed to my door with a finger. Following his gesture, I saw where he was pointing and fell silent, my mouth agape.

“Haha, Saintess. I thought you might need more, so I brought a little extra.”

“A little?”

“Use as much as you need!”

What I thought was the entirety of the delivery turned out to be just part of it. They were still bringing more. Watching the steadily growing pile of herbs take over my room, I felt a cold sweat trickle down my back.

The quantity they’d requested for two days was clearly fifty bottles, just fifty.

That amount was manageable with enough time left for rest…

“Saintess, should I send some of it back?”

“Wait, Dion.”

Frowning at the herbs filling the room, Dion asked if he should return them. Rolling up his sleeves as if preparing to act, he hesitated when he noticed my serious expression and tilted his head.

“Can you divide these into fifty-bottle portions?”

“That’s not difficult.”

“Then please do it.”

“Right now?”

“Yes, immediately.”

Hearing the gravity in my tone, Dion stood and quickly began dividing the herbs. Watching him move, I carefully observed how many fifty-bottle portions he could separate.

One, two, three, four…. As the endless line of herbs continued, my growing unease turned into reality.

When Dion finished sorting, he looked at the boxes and said, “Fourteen boxes, plus one with enough for thirteen bottles, making a total of fifteen.”

“……”

“That’s enough for 750 bottles. What were they thinking, sending this much…?”

The first supply required fifty bottles.

If I used all these herbs, the next supply would likely demand a hundred, then 150…. The increments would continue until every last herb was consumed.

“Does that mean the required amount increases by fifty bottles each time…?” I muttered in disbelief.

Meeting this demand would require giving up on daily life and sleep to focus solely on potion crafting. If I pursued this event, I’d undoubtedly miss the banquet entirely.

Staring at the unending pile of herbs, I contemplated.

Should I give up? Yeah, let’s give up.

“Saintess.”

Just as I decided to abandon Dion’s route, he leaned down and gently placed a hand on my shoulder. Looking up at him, I bit my lip.

Damn it. Dion’s face and physique were exactly my type.

When his firm fingers gripped my shoulder, a tingling sensation coursed through my body, making me shrink back. Having come this far, it felt like too much of a waste to delay capturing Dion to another playthrough.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

Dion studied my face carefully and asked with concern. Meeting his gaze, I gave a small nod.

Alright, fine. Let’s just do as much as I can and see where it goes.