The Main Heroines are Trying to Kill Me

༺ Broken Gaslight ༻

“Excuse me? How long do you plan on sleeping?”

“…Hm.”

My drowsy consciousness was jolted by a sweet voice.

“Ughh…”

I pulled myself from the bed, shielding my eyes from the blinding light, my heart racing. My current condition felt different from the norm.

Well, the only way to further improve my condition was through the ‘Protection of the Stars,’ which was influenced by the total amount of life force. In that sense, something like that was naturally bound to happen.

Still, the pain had fortunately lessened since before. Was it just a temporary situation earlier?

“Excuse me.”

It hadn’t been long since I woke up and I struggled to focus my groggy brain.

But once again, that voice echoed.

“…Huh?”

As I turned towards the source of the voice, a rather familiar face came into view.

‘Damn.’

It was the face of the woman I despised as much as the Demon King, a woman whose name I preferred not to utter.

“Are you finally awake?”

“……..”

Her appearance here meant that the official manipulation regarding me had begun.

Though I had enjoyed several blissful weeks recently, it appeared those days were now behind me.

I wish I could have enjoyed them a little longer. I didn’t expect her to move this quickly.

“Do you remember our promise back then?”

As I sat on the bed with these thoughts, I furrowed my brow, and she whispered with a seductive smile.

“To join hands with me, remember?”

“What?”

“An alliance proposal.”

Upon hearing those words, memories resurfaced in my mind.

It was a recollection of my birthday during the first-semester break when she had watched with satisfaction as Clana trembled in fear, admitting defeat under the influence of the Second Ordeal.

She extended her hand towards me while wearing the same seductive smile as before.

“What did I say back then~?”

“You had told me to become yours, to empower you so you could become an empress, and you even mentioned offering the position of the Imperial Consort. I remember you explaining that it would be quite advantageous for me to accept your proposition.”

“You have a remarkable memory, don’t you?”

She still threw that question despite knowing it all. Her rhetoric was frustrating, so I answered in detail, and she responded as she sharply raised her glance.

“However, Frey.”

And from that moment, her reaction changed.

“… If you do it like this, things become a different story, doesn’t it?”

She exhibited the same kind smiles and expressions she typically displayed in public, her alluring and beautiful demeanor.

“Don’t you agree?”

“Ekeuk…”

Mockery, annoyance, disgust, dominance, superiority.

She wore a twisted smile and conveyed these emotions while gripping my chin.

“If you continue like this… what does that leave me…?”

“………”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

With her hand holding my chin, I gazed silently into her golden eyes.

“I’m… sorry…”

I spoke softly.

“Pftt.”

Upon that, she suddenly burst into laughter.

“You do possess some common sense, huh? Or maybe you’ve already figured out the situation?”

She slowly pushed me down while I was sitting on the bed.

“It’s the end for you, Frey. Politically and socially.”

She whispered in my ear.

“You’re no longer the distinguished gentleman you once were. You’re just a weak, sickly, fallen noble.”

With those words, she yanked open the tightly closed curtains of the room.

“Now, take a look.”

“……..”

As she unveiled the view, the mansion’s exterior was swarmed with protesters. The sight was oddly reminiscent of a bustling colony of ants, and it set my heart racing once more.

“Hmph… I see. Even the mere sight of it makes your heart tremble?”

I stared out of the window with a vacant expression, while she, with her hand resting on my chest, soon revealed a cold smile.

“Well, I suppose, given that you’ve drawn the curtains tightly and even cast soundproofing magic, you must already be worn out from such disturbances.”

Honestly, her appearance was exceptionally beautiful. She bore a striking resemblance to her mother and was considered one of the most beautiful women in the empire.

“…Grind.”

But why did I feel overwhelming disgust when such an exquisite face displayed such a beautiful smile?

“…Huh.”

Because of that, I unintentionally failed to control my expression, so she strengthened her grip on my chin.

“Frey, stop denying it. You’re no longer the great scoundrel you once were at your peak. You’ve become a feeble recluse rotting away in this back room.”

Then, she eased her hold slightly and settled herself on the edge of my bed.

“But, do you still not understand your situation?”

She suddenly reached out her hand toward me.

Of course, I don’t. I really hate it.

Despite her beautiful appearance, she wasn’t the heroine; she was the villain. So, why would I want to be her puppet, especially when she was the final boss in the third-year scenario, if I follow the normal path?

Granted, I was currently on the Path of False Evil, so I might not even make it to the third-year scenario. However, I still don’t like it.

The reason I hadn’t informed the heroines from the start was to manage this obligatory event quietly, without their knowledge.

I didn’t think she would go as far as coming to my house.

“…I will pledge my loyalty.”

“Good.”

As I contemplated these thoughts, I tightly shut my eyes and said that. She flashed a bewitching smile and pulled me along.

“…Grind.”

Seeing her like this, my heart darkened.

What Rifael was aiming for with me was the “gaslight effect.” She intended to slowly chip away at my self-esteem and make me reliant on her.

I knew this all too well, which was why it disgusted me, but there was nothing I could do.

“Aren’t you following me?”

For the time being, I had to bite my tongue and endure it.

.

.

.

.

.

“M-Master…”

“…….”

Stepping out of Frey’s room, Rifael noticed Lulu and Miho standing right outside the door, and she tilted her head.

– Scratch, scratch, scratch…

Tears streamed from Lulu’s eyes as she vigorously scratched her own arm, where the faint Stigma of Misfortune remained.

“It’s because of me… It’s my fault… My…”

“Lulu.”

Frey held Lulu’s arm and offered a gentle smile.

“I’ll be gone for a short while.”

“Uh, uh…”

“Take care of the house well.”

After saying that, led by Rifael’s hand, Frey soon left the corridor.

“No…”

“Pfft, pfft…”

Watching Lulu collapse as if she had lost everything, Rifael stifled a laugh.

‘Finally… Finally, I’ve got Frey in my hands…’

Contrary to the disdain she had shown earlier, she now wore an extremely excited expression and muttered to herself.

‘Ever since that day, I’ve been coveting to have you somehow… I never thought I’d get an opportunity like this.’

“Eugeuk…”

“Sigh. Come on, hurry up and walk. You trash.”

“…Yes.”

“You are such a useless piece of garbage.”

She looked at Frey, who had stopped in place, holding onto his heart, and condemned him while muttering to herself once again.

‘Don’t make that kind of expression, Frey… I’m saving you, after all.’

In Rifael’s heart, she was a hero.

‘The world hates you and wants to kill you anyway. So, from now on, just look at me.’

Of course, to anyone else, she appeared to be a rather twisted hero.

‘Naturally, to make that happen, I’ll need to tame you properly.’

And so, she left the mansion, feeling the greatest happiness in her life.

“…Huh?”

Soon, she furrowed her brow and tilted her head in confusion.

“Huh? What’s going on here?”

Her own Imperial Guards were engaged in a tense standoff with the Imperial Palace Guards.

“What are you doing right now…”

Filled with the thought of swiftly taking Frey to her room now that she had him, she was on the verge of losing her temper.

– Kugugugugugu…!

“Huh?”

Suddenly, the sky and the ground quaked violently, creating a massive shockwave that made her involuntarily take a step back.

“Uh, ugh…

And it was the same for the others.

– Gooooo…

It was like standing in front of a tiger or a dragon. The indescribable fear and uncertainty caused by the overwhelming aura swept Rifael and the others away for a moment.

“…Huh?”

Then, she widened her eyes as she saw a figure appearing amidst the Imperial Guards positioned on opposite sides.

“Oh?”

The same reaction occurred with Frey, who had been wearing a vacant expression until then.

“…Clana?”

Emerging from the gap between the Imperial Guards, for some reason, Clana, who had just finished her awakening, blocked their path with a terrifying expression.

– Swish…!

A moment later, Clana’s handkerchief flew towards Rifael’s face.

You can rate/review this series here.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!