I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 63

Dietrich said something, but I was too preoccupied with checking the system window that appeared before my eyes.

<All actions required to initiate the route for the capture target ‘Dietrich’ have been completed.>

• Phase 1 Trigger: Any sentence implying a desire to leave (Completed).
• Phase 2 Trigger: Submission during intercourse with Dietrich (Completed).

I still couldn’t figure out when I had uttered a sentence to trigger Phase 1, but it seemed that progressing through Phase 2 had now generated his capture event. Confirming this, I was reminded once again that this game prided itself on its extreme difficulty.

What was I thinking, attempting a capture without a guide? How had I even made it this far? Even I was surprised at my progress. While I had somehow entered Dietrich’s route, I couldn’t pinpoint how it had happened.

Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter as long as I’m here.

Tilting my head slightly, I closed the system window. Other than the fact that I couldn’t log out, the system seemed oddly favorable toward me. It had prompted me to take the aphrodisiac neutralizer and reduced my sensitivity level. The longer I stayed in the game, the more it felt like everything was adapting to my situation.

Or was it adapting not to me, but to ‘Haniel’?

“You must have felt it too, Saintess…”

Lost in thought, I tuned back into Dietrich’s voice. It was time to focus on his words rather than the system. His soft tone gradually turned serious.

“It seems someone has set up a device in the prayer room. No one should have known we were coming to the temple. How could this have happened…”

His face contorted into a thoroughly feigned expression of distress. Biting his lip as if it pained him to continue, Dietrich looked down at me cradled in his arms.

“I don’t want to suspect you, Saintess, but given the circumstances, I can’t avoid pointing out that you are the only one who could have orchestrated this.”

Ah, so he’s trying to pin this on me?

So this was Gillian’s trap—a scandal involving Dietrich, notorious for his colorful romantic entanglements. That was the setup. Scowling, I thought about how unimpressive “Gillian’s Trap” turned out to be.

This was it? Pathetic.

Dietrich, seeing my frown, pressed me further with a look of innocence. With a face radiating integrity, he spewed lies effortlessly.

“Your insistence on coming to the temple raises questions, Saintess. Could it be that you planned this to gain something from me?”

“I didn’t even know the location of the prayer room I’d be using. If there’s anyone worth suspecting, wouldn’t it be you, Dietrich, who knew in advance?”

“You were the one who insisted on coming to the temple.”

“And you were the one who guided me here.”

Walking down an empty corridor, Dietrich sighed and came to a halt. He whispered to me in a low, quiet voice, “You were the one clinging to me and pleading. I simply accommodated your request.”

“For someone reluctant, you seemed to enjoy it. You even gave orders like a master. I thought you’d appreciate me treating you like one.”

“…That’s not my intention, Saintess. As I said, it was a situation beyond my control. And, just to clarify, I don’t enjoy such unpleasant dynamics. I prefer normal relationships.”

He placed particular emphasis on the word “normal.” His furrowed brow, as if deeply offended, was striking.

When people feel their secrets are exposed, they tend to react defensively. Pretending to accept his lie, I nodded slightly. With Dietrich’s affection not particularly high, I decided against provoking him further.

“That’s a shame. I thought we were quite compatible.”

Leaning my head against his chest, I listened to the steady thud of his heartbeat. It was neither fast nor slow—just an ordinary rhythm.

<Dietrich’s affection has slightly increased.>

Glancing downward, I saw the system window pop up. However, Dietrich’s heartbeat remained unchanged. I blinked in mild disappointment.

So, one intercourse wasn’t enough to win him over?

“You must be mistaken. There’s no way we’d be compatible, Saintess.”

Dietrich replied softly, adjusting his hold on me as he gazed straight ahead. His body, holding mine, trembled ever so slightly—so faintly that I wouldn’t have noticed had I not been focused on him.

Could it be that he’s too weak to carry me? No, not in a game filled with men effortlessly lifting people left and right. Perhaps Gillian was approaching.

I followed Dietrich’s gaze carefully. From behind a pillar, the sound of footsteps echoed, and soon Gillian appeared. Watching the approaching figure, Dietrich asked me a question.

“Can you stand on your own?”

“No.”

“…If you’re still in my arms when we greet Sir Gillian, you might feel uncomfortable.”

“I feel perfectly comfortable in your arms. My legs are too weak to stand on my own.”

“You might be misunderstood.”

“Misunderstood how?”

Every thought running through Gillian’s head as he looked at us wasn’t a misunderstanding but the truth. Abandoning this cozy position just because of Gillian’s schemes seemed like a hassle.

“That the Saintess and I share a deep relationship…”

“As long as it doesn’t bother you, Dietrich, I’ll stay just like this.”

<Dietrich is wary of the player.>

• Dietrich’s suspicionl has increased.
• Current suspicion level: 60%

Dietrich stared at me with a distorted expression and nodded, his gaze conveying ‘Do as you please.’

While we exchanged a brief conversation and Dietrich’s suspicion level rose, Gillian approached us closely.

“Grand Duke! What a coincidence to meet you at the temple.”

“Yes, Sir Gillian.”

Coincidence, my foot. It was clear from Gillian’s sharp eyes that he had come to check if Dietrich was properly carrying out his orders. Gillian’s nauseating gaze swept over me, lying limp in Dietrich’s arms.

Satisfied, he spoke, “To meet the Saintess as well, it seems today is my lucky day. But you don’t look well… May I send a physician to you?”

“No physician is necessary.”

“Ah, the Grand Duke will handle that, so I overstepped.”

When I refused, Gillian pressed Dietrich. Dietrich, obedient to Gillian’s roundabout pressure, responded immediately.

“Yes, I plan to arrange for a physician, so there’s no need for you to worry, sir.”

“I see, this old man was meddling unnecessarily. What is there to worry about with the Grand Duke looking after the Saintess…”

As the conversation between Gillian and Dietrich continued, Dietrich’s once-steady heartbeat began pounding erratically. While listening carefully to the sound of his heart, I peered at Gillian’s face. A system window appeared in front of Gillian’s face.

<The first objective for Dietrich’s capture event ‘The Source of Fear’ has been generated.>

• Identify the source of Dietrich’s oppression and work toward understanding and cooperation to improve your relationship with him.
• First Objective: Discover the relationship between Dietrich and Gillian.
• Second Objective: Not yet generated (Objective not yet unlocked).
• First Objective Reward: A slight increase in Dietrich’s affection (affection increase does not affect suspicion level). (Current suspicion level: 60%).

<You possess the item ‘Truth Serum.’>

• Gain a hint for the first objective.
• If Dietrich consumes the ‘Truth Serum,’ you may learn his true feelings.

Listening to their conversation, I lazily blinked at the system window that had appeared.

So, I need to make Dietrich drink the Truth Serum. But how do I get him to take it?

“Saintess?”

“Yes?”

“Are you listening to me?”

Caught in my thoughts, I heard Dietrich’s voice and closed the system window. Beyond the window, Gillian was already heading toward the prayer room we had just left.

“I told you I’d send a physician to your room tonight.”

“Oh, I see. Dietrich, you’ll be coming with him, right?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“Then please come with him.”

It seemed like the perfect opportunity to administer the Truth Serum and have a conversation.

Perhaps sensing my intentions, Dietrich gave a cold smile and nodded.

<Dietrich is wary of the player.>

• Dietrich’s suspicion has increased.
• Current suspicion level: 65%

Of course, ever diligent, Dietrich didn’t forget to increase his suspicion level.

***

While waiting for Dietrich’s visit, I noticed that my sensitivity level was still set at 30%.

Because of that, even though I couldn’t log out, I didn’t feel particularly angry. When my sensitivity was normal, I had considered pursuing a Dead Ending just to end the game or even abandoning Haniel’s body, which the system was protecting.

“Adjust sensitivity level.”

I spoke while opening the system window, but I couldn’t adjust the sensitivity level.

<Adjusting sensitivity level is not within the player’s authority.>

The level will increase after a set time.

That’s actually better. Thanks to the lowered sensitivity level, I could maintain clear reasoning. If this state continued, even if Dietrich ordered me to crawl on the floor, I wouldn’t feel any shame and would simply follow his command—provided it offered me reasonable rewards.

“Saintess.”

“You’re here, Dietrich.”

Behind Dietrich, I saw someone hesitantly following. The face was familiar.

“Not a physician but an apothecary. I remember seeing you in the herb chamber.”

Recalling where I had seen the face, I spoke to Dietrich, who replied with a surprised expression.

“That’s right. I didn’t think a physician was necessary, so I called an apothecary instead.”

“I can make potions myself. I also have plenty of restorative potions left from what Dion gave me. Apothecary, I think you can leave now.”

At my words, the hesitant apothecary turned pale and looked at Dietrich. His expression was filled with dismay.

“B-but, Saintess! If you tell me your condition, I can prepare a potion suited for it…”

Listening to his protests, I raised the corner of my lips into a smirk.

Ah, so this was another scheme cooked up by Dietrich and Gillian. Were they planning to falsify records by having me receive potions from the apothecary?

Unfortunately for them, I had no intention of participating in their plans.