Chapter 334: A Silent Infiltration

"Hmm-hmm~♪"

"..."

Frey walked through the palace corridors, his expression brimming with excitement. Ruby silently trailed behind him, with her head bowed.

"How was last night, Ruby? It was your first night, wasn't it?"

"Uh, well... It was good. Very good."

"Really? That's a relief."

Frey, who initiated the conversation with Ruby, turned his head with a relieved expression at her answer.

Good? What's good about this...

Ruby, casting a sidelong glance at him, felt a burning sensation inside and gritted her teeth.

I endured all sorts of crazy things all night. Where's the good part, you lunatic bastard?

After becoming lovers with Frey yesterday, Ruby found herself unable to follow the plans she had originally intended, and instead she was harassed by Frey until night.

Of course, just because it was night didn't mean the torment stopped.

The image of him sitting beside her bed all night, watching her as she tried to fall asleep, was still vivid in her mind.

From an outsider's perspective, it might seem cute at first. Frey, who spent the night gazing intently at his beloved, sitting curled up like a cat, actually looked quite adorable.

However, from Ruby's perspective, it was nothing but a chilling experience.

Whenever she tried to fall asleep, he would trigger the stellar mana embedded in her heart, causing it to surge. When she woke up screaming, he would grin and murmur.

"Sorry, you look adorable when you're trying to sleep."

"T-then why did you wake me up and do that...?

"Because I want to keep watching you fall asleep?"

"Fuck."

There was no way it didn't give her the chills.

She wanted to sleep peacefully by holding the broken and battered Frey, like a broken doll.

Instead, what she got was nightly torment from a cursed doll.

"Young master, are you leaving?"

Walking with a scowl, Ruby, who was being held by Frey, quietly lifted her head at the sound coming from ahead

Damn.

Kania, Irina, and Serena were leaning at the exit of the Imperial Palace with twisted expressions, glaring at her.

"Yep! I'm going to subjugate the Church with Ruby!"

"How long will you be gone?"

"A week!"

After hearing Frey's cheerful answer, the girls' expressions became even more distorted.

Seeing the girl's expression, Frey simply tilted his head while still wearing that cheerful expression, but Ruby's mind was on the verge of collapsing

"By the way, what hurt so much that you asked him to be gentle because 'it hurts'?"

"I could hear the moaning all night long."

These girls probably think Frey and her had a passionate night last night.

It's not like what you guys think.

Instead, she had only received torture from Frey all night long, especially with that stellar mana embedded in her heart.

How about you help me out instead of just glaring at me! Please!

Ruby was hoping that these girls were here to prevent her and Frey from going out of this place.

Spending the entire week alone with the lunatic Frey? Isn't it obvious what would happen to her?

"...For now, we need to step back. Ruby is in charge for now."

However, that voice completely shattered Ruby's heart and mind.

"If we act rashly, we don't know what Ruby might do to Frey. So, let's leave them alone for now."

Serena covered her face with a fan and concluded with a discerning look in her eyes.

"It's not that... Ugeuk."

Ruby, whose terrible mood had become even worse thanks to that, tried to say something.

However, before she could say anything, Frey stomped on her foot and stimulated the mana in her heart.

"Of course, that doesn't mean we will remain passive, we'll do what we can. It's fine as long as we refrain from launching a direct attack, right?

"...!"

"There are plenty of ways to drive someone insane without directly attacking,you know?"

That bitch clearly was my servant...

Ruby went outside with Frey in a cold sweat. When she heard Serena's chilling words, she looked flustered and started muttering quietly to herself.

- Wink.

"...?"

However, at that moment, Serena gave her a vague wink.

"Hoo..."

Upon seeing her acting like that, a gentle smile began to appear on Ruby's lips.

.

.

.

.

.

"Ehmhmmm, Frey. So, where are you going? Are you planning to completely destroy those bastards from the Church? Yes, if that's the case, I'm willing to help..."

As Ruby exited the Imperial Palace, smiling as if she had a hidden agenda, she turned toward Frey and struck up a conversation.

- Smooch...

"...Eubeub."

However, Frey's tongue invaded her mouth before she could finish her words.

...Why is he so skilled at this?

To her great annoyance, he kissed her sweetly.

- Thump, thump...

Again...?

Ruby, embracing Frey outside the Imperial Palace, became restless. She pushed him away and took a step back as her heart started pounding again.

"What's wrong, Ruby?"

Suddenly, Frey spoke with a sad expression.

"Do you hate me?"

"...?"

Ruby cowered as she thought he was going to kick her stomach. Instead, she looked puzzled when she saw his sad expression.

"I... I want to be loved by you, Ruby."

"Why are you acting like this again, you crazy bastard?"

"I love you..."

Frey ignored the annoyance in Ruby's eyes and grabbed her hand, his expression resembling that of a kicked puppy.

"...Only you."

Then, he raised the corner of his mouth so slightly that only she could see it.

"What is it this time... Oh."

Seeing his expression, Ruby looked around anxiously, but she eventually froze in place.

"..."

Isolet and Lulu, who were standing in front of the carriage, glared at her with hostility.

"Frey, I'll go with you too..."

"Master, I'll accompany..."

"This time, I'll go out with Ruby only!"

Although they were speaking with deliberate, calm voices, with Frey's cheerful exclamation, they ultimately failed to maintain their composure and started glaring at Ruby again.

After their recent passionate night with Frey, there had been a strange mutual restraint between the two, but now, their intentions were oddly in perfect alignment.

"...Hoo."

"Oh, Ruby. Have you seen this?"

"What?"

Ruby, who was resignedly lowering her head, frowned when Frey took something out from his pocket and handed it to her.

"This crazy..."

After a while, her eyes widened significantly.

- Frey & Ruby, love affair! Will the forbidden love set the empire ablaze?

- The Hero Party is currently investigating the truth. Detailed announcement to follow.

- A complete analysis of the actions of the Hero and Frey so far.

"Kkeuuuu..."

Suddenly, Serena's earlier words began to echo in Ruby's mind as her blood pressure rose, causing her to stumble.

- There are many ways to drive someone insane without attacking them, right?

"These bitches are fucking crazy, damn it."

That statement was true.

The amount of damage those girls would inflict on her would be on par with the physical harm Frey had caused her.

This crazy bitch claims to have a perfect plan to resolve the situation. Where is the perfect plan in all this?

Wasn't it Serena who, until recently, insisted on trusting only herself?

It seemed like she needed to review the contract she had with her once again. If not, maybe check the state of her mind.

For some reason, those around Frey seemed to be gradually becoming more like Frey.

"Frey, you bastard."

"Huh? Why?"

Ruby, who was shaking in her place for a while, suddenly grabbed Frey by the collar and began to send mental transmissions.

- What method did you use? What kind of method allows you to do such things?

"What are you talking about?"

- You're attacking me under the guise of love! Acts of affection, my foot! It's all part of your plan, isn't it?

Ruby tightened her grip even more.

- What method did you use? No way, did you purchase that skill?

"That skill? What do you mean?"

- Don't pretend you don't know. I'm talking about the skill that is at the top of the special ability options.

And then, Ruby displayed her own system window in front of her eyes.

[Absolute Love]

Description: ???

No matter how much she thought about it, the only explanation for the current situation was that Frey had purchased this skill.

There were no other skills related to 'love' among other special abilities.

However, if that were the case, he would face a significant problem.

- Reset all earned points to zero upon purchase.

It wasn't for no reason that this skill existed at the top.

A year after awakening the system, if Frey had bought this skill now, he would undoubtedly have been defeated without being able to fight back.

Even though he was crazy, Frey was not someone who would do such a foolish thing.

- Could it be that someone is supporting you with points, too?

Therefore, Ruby made one assumption.

- Did that brat give you points?

She assumed that 'Glare,' the Hero's Helper she recently learned about, might be supporting Frey with points.

"Indeed, it's true that I've received points from that little guardian angel."

- As expected, I knew it...

"However, not this time."

- What?

Ruby furrowed her brow at Frey's denial.

"In the first place, If I had received points from that kid, all of them, including those points, would have been reset, right?"

"Hmm."

It was certainly a valid point. No matter how much Glare poured points into him, it would be pointless if everything reset when he bought the ability.

The reason why Ruby, who was getting a lot of points under the Demon God's support, refrained from even daring to purchase that skill was precisely because of this.

- Then, how in the world...

"The answer is simple, Ruby."

Ruby asked with a puzzled expression, and suddenly Frey placed his hand on her cheek and wore a gentle smile.

"It's because I really like you."

Then, Frey whispered while wearing smiling eyes.

- Lick...

"What..."

Then, as he closed his eyes and licked her lips, Ruby's eyes began to waver.

- Thump, thump...

Eventually, Ruby's heartbeat began to race again.

"Wh-what is this?"

As Ruby made a confused expression due to the strange and tingling sensation, Frey wore a big grin.

"Y-you. What the hell have you done to me..."

- Thud....!!!!

"Keheuk!"

And in the next moment, Frey's fist struck Ruby's stomach with full force.

"Guek... Gueeeek..."

Frey grinned at Ruby, who had let her guard down. Frey embraced her when her legs gave way, and she spewed saliva from her mouth. Then he whispered softly into her ear.

"From now on, I'll hit your stomach every time your heart races."

"Why, whyyy?"

"...Just because."

Ruby just stared blankly at Frey when he added that with a smile. Then, he suddenly opened his eyes wide and continued.

"Do you need a reason to be affectionate?"

"Fucking... Cough, cough..."

Instead of cursing at Frey, Ruby grabbed his collar again.

"You enjoy isolating people, don't you, Ruby? After isolating them, you use overwhelming irrationality to break and dominate them. That's your idea of life's pleasure, isn't it?"

"Khek..."

"Do you 'roughly'... Pfftt... get what I'm saying? Hehe... Pfft..."

"You... fucking bastard."

"And, I really love you."

"...Ugh."

"I really, really love you, Ruby."

Frey closed his eyes and started to rub his cheek against Ruby's. Her face blushed once more as Frey professed his love to her again.

"Huh?"

"W-wait, no. This is... s-something's strange."

"Did your heart race again?"

Frey abruptly stopped rubbing his cheek against her and asked. Ruby's expression instantly turned pale by Frey's chilling gaze.

"It's because of the damn stellar mana in my heart. I wouldn't do such a thing. Y-you bastard. What have you done to me..."

- Crackle...!!!

"Keheuukkk...!!!"

Ruby's face contorted in agony as Frey activated the stellar mana within her heart. Then, Frey's fist struck her stomach once more, intensifying the pain. Overwhelmed by the agony, Ruby collapsed into Frey's embrace.

"I love you! The most in the world!! Ms. Ruby!!"

Frey shouted and patted her on the head before turning around and heading towards the carriage.

"Gasp, gasp..."

After a while, Ruby, who had collapsed on the ground, slowly stood up.

Her lower abdomen was tingling.

For some reason, her chest was also tingling.

N-no way. It can't be that my heart is racing. That guy surely used some trick. I need to figure it out.

Ignoring that absurd thought, Ruby followed behind Frey with a cold sweat running down her forehead.

"...!?"

Suddenly feeling a chilling sensation from behind, she turned around without thinking.

"Th-this is impossible."

There was a tremor in her voice as she spoke.

"How did that bitch...?"

At the distance, Ruby saw Lulu glaring at her before she turned back and headed towards the Imperial Palace. What shook her to the core was the sight of horns and a tail growing on her.

"S-She definitely lost her candidacy... right?"

Ruby's expression was filled with shock for the first time.

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.

.

.

Meanwhile, somewhere on the outskirts of the Empire.

- Step, step...

A knight in armor was leading someone deep into the woods with a bag over their face.

- Kugugugu...

After walking along a dirt path for a while, they arrived at a cave, and the large stone blocking the entrance suddenly began to shake.

- Srrrk...

After a short while, a huge passage was revealed in front of them.

"Have you arrived?"

The knight who was walking into it quietly turned her head towards the person waiting for them at the entrance.

"Wait a moment, Vice Commander."

"...?"

"Excuse me, but there will be an inspection."

As the knight was about to pass quietly, the guard urgently stopped her.

"I'm sorry, but since the declaration of war yesterday, the security level has been raised one step further. It's unavoidable. Please understand, even if it's troublesome..."

- Step, step...

"Vice Commander?"

However, the knight ignored the guard and tried to move forward...

"...What's so urgent?"

The gatekeeper, suspicious of her behavior and the helmet she was wearing, squinted his eyes and asked.

"Sorry, but could you take off your helmet?"

Upon hearing those words, the knight slowly tilted her head to the side.

"...P-please. If I don't check, it will be difficult for me."

The gatekeeper began to break into a cold sweat at that strange yet cold demeanor.

- Rattle...

"I-if you keep this up, I will ring the bell."

Unfazed, the knight attempted to push past the guard, but he shouted loudly and pressed his hand on the button on the wall.

"Sigh."

Watching him intently, the knight approached the gatekeeper after sighing.

- Srrk...

Eventually, the knight began to slowly lift the helmet she had been wearing.

"You should have done it earlier. Sometimes it's hard to understand your personality, Vice Commander... Huh?"

Observing the knight, the grumbling gatekeeper suddenly widened his eyes.

"Huh? Uh-uh-huh?"

A few seconds later, the gatekeeper with a pale expression began to reach for the button behind him.

"E-emergency...!"

- Crash!!

However, before his hand could touch the button, the knight's helmet struck the gatekeeper's head.

- Ssk...

The knight, observing the gatekeeper collapsed with foam in his mouth, slowly grabbed his leg and proceeded to drag him out of the cave.

- Crack...!

"Keeeuuu...!"

Soon, a faint groaning sound could be heard from somewhere.

"...Wow!"

As the groaning sound ceased, the knight who had brought the woman with the bag over her head into the cave raised both arms above her head and shouted with joy.

"Infiltration successful!"

"Guu~!"

And along with that sound, there came the foolish cooing of a pigeon from within her armor.

"This is so much fun! It's so thrilling!"

"Gugu!"

"This isn't infiltration? What are you talking about? There is no infiltration as perfect as this!"

"Gu..."

"You think so too, right?!"

Continuing the conversation with the cooing sound, the knight looked back at the woman following her and whispered in a quiet voice.

"...Vice Commander?"

"Eub... eub..."

"How could you make such a loud noise? Infiltration requires secrecy to succeed!"

When the woman made a sobbing sound, the knight shouted and began to grab and drag her forward.

"If we get caught like this... Ah."

Then, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and let out a dazed sound.

"..."

The soldiers gathered inside the entrance were staring at her blankly.

It seemed like they had been observing everything she had done so far.

"Gu! Gu Gu!!"

"Ouch, ouch. It hurts!"

The knight, who was staring blankly at the scene, grabbed her abdomen, which was pecked by the pigeon, and mumbled with a feigned hurt voice.

"But it's been a long time since the last time I destroyed the Church. We did that almost at the beginning... "

"Gu!"

"Oh well, it doesn't matter anyway, right?"

Then, she looked around at the knights who had begun to approach her with a grim expression, and whispered in a cold voice.

"Anyway, it's still an infiltration as long as there are no witnesses, right?"

A few minutes later.

- Booommm!!!

"Keeeeuoook!!!"

With a sound like a bomb exploding, one soldier was thrown backward and got stuck on the cave wall.

- Kugugugugu...

Immediately after that, the cave began to rumble loudly as if there was an earthquake.

"Infil? tration!"

"Gu."

"...Ah."

The knight who was about to head into the cave with an excited expression stopped as she heard the pigeon's voice.

"That's right! The highlight of infiltration is interrogation!"

After saying that, the knight looked around.

"...Huh?"

But when the sight of all the soldiers lying limp with their armor shattered came into view, she quietly scratched her head.

"I guess I should have left at least one person..."

"Gu gu!"

"That's right! There is a way!"

She clapped her hands and then approached the soldier who she had just slammed into the wall.

- Shaaaa...

Then, she began to envelop the battered body of the soldier in a warm divine power.

"Uh, huah?"

As a result, the soldier, who was on the verge of losing consciousness, suddenly opened his eyes wide, let out a loud gasp, and spoke with a trembling voice.

"S-Saintess... Keuaack!"

At the same time, a terrifying shockwave directly hit him.

"Grrrk..."

- Shaaaa....

Thanks to this, his entire body was crushed, and he fainted, but after receiving the enormous divine power again, he opened his eyes again.

- Kugwagwagwang!!

"Kkuek!!"

Once again, he was immediately struck by a huge shockwave, causing him to lose consciousness again without even having a chance to say anything.

- Kugwang... Kugwagwang! Kugwagwagwang!!!

- Shaaaa...

Thus, after several rounds of fainting and waking, he mustered all of his strength to ask her a question.

"D-damn it! What the hell do you want!?"

"Ah."

Hearing this, the female knight clapped her hands and said.

"It turns out that I was torturing instead of interrogating! Without questions, it's not an interrogation, right? I'm sorry!"

"W-what...?"

- Kugwagwagwang!!

"Grrrk..."

A moment later, the soldier, who woke up again under the immense light, looked at her with a terrified expression. She cheerfully threw a question at him.

"Where is the executive's quarter?"

"O-over there... it's over there."

"Thank you!"

"J-just spare my life... Ugh!"

- Crack!!

The knight saluted flatly in response to the soldier's answer. Suddenly, she grabbed the soldier's leg and forcefully slammed him against the opposite wall before walking towards the direction that the soldier pointed.

"W-who the hell are you!!"

"I-intruders!! Capture them!!"

"Escort the Bishop to safety!! Emergency situat-"

However, she was faced with escort soldiers, paladins, and combat priests pouring in from all sides.

- Wiiing! Wiiing!!

"Don't resist!!"

"Eubeb!? Eube...!!!"

The emergency bell signaled the start of unprecedented chaos. Unfazed by this, the knight swung the woman she was dragging around like a sword and rushed forward with a cheerful expression.

"Be quiet and just let me infiltrate you!!!"

- Boommm!!

Right after that, the cave began to shake once again.