Cursed Villainess' Obsession-Chapter 74

Confusion enveloped Lafne in this incomprehensible situation.

“Fine, starting tomorrow, I’ll act like I don’t know him.”

Burying her face in her pillow while crying, she made that resolution.

Though she promised herself that in her mind.

“…But who the heck is this person he likes?”

The only thing that came to her mind was Ken’s words from a moment ago.

“Ugh! So annoying!!”

Thus, Lafne stomped her feet and buried her face in her pillow, waiting for the next day.

And morning came.

Waking up with swollen eyes from crying all night, Lafne sat up in bed and spoke to herself.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing. Why should I care about him?”

Even while combing her hair in front of the mirror.

“Just because he lost some weight and looks a bit better? Hmph, he’s still Ken.”

Then, as she changed into her school uniform and looked in the mirror again.

“Ken is Lafne. Chubby, timid. He cries at the drop of a hat. He’s not manly at all. He doesn’t know how to do anything. Just a foolish fatty.”

As she continued to repeat this, her heart gradually began to calm down.

Noticing the effect, she smiled and told herself even more about him.

“Yeah! Ken! What’s wrong with your head? You were just a bit cute! You’re kind and gentle, and your smile is cool. I just want to bury my face in your soft belly every day and smell you!”

She confidently shouted those words.

But for a moment, Lafne tilted her head.

“…Huh?”

Then she recalled what she had just said.

“W-Why am I like this?!”

Ruffling her neatly arranged hair, Lafne fell into confusion once again.

Eventually, running late for school, she hurriedly left the dorm.

“Why am I like this because of him….”

With her face scrunched up in frustration, Lafne hurried toward the academy.

While she was clearly irritated because of Ken, the thought that she might see him soon made her feel better.

Even that feeling displeased her.

“I’m not going to see him…! I won’t see him!”

Resolutely, Lafne ran.

But deep down, she knew the reason she was running wasn’t just because she was late.

And as she arrived at the academy in no time, she climbed the stairs with a racing heart that she found bothersome.

Unwillingly, she kept looking around.

What if that guy passes by?

As she ascended the stairs, her eyes shining like a puppy looking for a snack, Lafne passed by Ken’s classroom.

Normally, there would be no reason for her to pass in front of this classroom.

Since if she went up the central stairs and headed west, her classroom was right there.

But today, she used the eastern stairs instead.

“…He’s not here.”

She quickly glanced into the classroom while passing, but the figure of the guy she was looking for was nowhere to be seen.

Unintentionally feeling disappointed, Lafne made her way to her classroom.

Just then.

“…Ah.”

In the hallway she was walking, she saw the person she had been looking for at the corner by the stairs.

“…Ken.”

Even though she had vowed just moments ago not to meet him, the moment she saw him, that vow vanished completely, and her feet moved toward him without her realizing it.

“…Ken!”

Her steps quickened.

As she rapidly closed the distance between them, she spotted Emily, shyly lowering her head and trying to say something.

Seeing that, Lafne froze.

And Ken's voice from yesterday automatically replayed in her mind.

“I have someone I like.”

The sight of those two, coupled with the words she had heard yesterday, made Lafne perceive them as a couple confessing their love.

Ping.

She felt as if something had snapped in her mind.

Clenching her trembling hands, she opened her mouth.

“...Is it her?”

At that, Ken turned his head and looked at her.

‘...Crap.’

A warning sound echoed in Ken’s mind immediately.

The beast facing him exuded a more threatening aura than the ancient dragon Tarloss.

He almost wanted to summon Tirpione.

‘No, no. Summoning Tirpione would be pouring oil on the fire.’

He couldn’t imagine Lafne remaining calm if she saw the cursed sword in his arms.

“You’re asking, ‘Is she the one you want to take responsibility for?’”

“Eek!”

Emily let out a small scream as Lafne's gaze bore down on her.

It was like a rabbit confronted by a tiger.

‘C-Calm down. Right now, Lafne has no memories.’

Even if emotions from before the history change remained, they wouldn’t be as strong as before.

So, he believed he could sufficiently smooth over the situation.

Ken knew that no matter how much he explained now, it wouldn't reach Lafne's ears.

However, if he left it like this, her emotions would only intensify.

‘…No, wait a minute.’

Her emotions are escalating.

‘That means the traces of Lafne before the history change are becoming stronger, right?’

Ken thought that maybe he could use this situation as an opportunity.

‘In that case, there's no need to deny it. Instead….’

“Emily. Calm down, and when I give the signal, quickly run to the classroom.”

“W-What?”

Emily, trembling, couldn’t understand what Ken was saying.

“I’m asking… is she that girl?”

As a beast slowly approached them.

Lafne.

When she had approached to a certain degree.

“Now! Run, Emily!”

The moment Ken rushed toward her, Emily realized what the signal was.

“I-I’m sorry! Thank you!”

Thanks to his sacrifice, Emily escaped the fear of death and rushed to the classroom.

“Eek! Where do you…!!”

Lafne tried to chase after the fleeing Emily immediately.

But she stopped moving.

Thud.

‘Gotcha…!!’

She was unable to move due to Ken suddenly lunging at her and pulling her into an embrace.

But that didn’t matter.

She thought she could break free from this restraint with her strength and quickly chase after that girl.

With that thought, Lafne tried to squirm out of Ken’s embrace.

Of course, Ken blocked her again.

“Good, good.”

Seizing the opportunity, Ken stroked Lafne’s hair before she could start thrashing in his arms.

“U-Um?”

Then, without realizing it, Lafne rested her head against him.

‘Lafne is acting according to the emotions that remain now. …So I’ll draw out different emotions.’

The plan was to leave behind the memories ignited by jealousy while drawing out new feelings.

If someone were to ask whether such behavior would work on an enraged Lafne, the answer would be.

It worked surprisingly well.

“Ho, ho….”

Falling into a familiar sensation, Lafne quickly nestled into Ken’s arms and enjoyed his touch.

The scent she had missed so much over the past few days.

The familiar, warm embrace.

Although it wasn’t as soft as the sensation her body remembered, it was certainly what Lafne longed for.

“Phew, that was close.”

After the first period started, I sighed in relief.

Now, I was peacefully sitting in my seat in the classroom, attending the lesson.

As I expected, Lafne, overwhelmed by her emotions, had been led to feel familiar and positive emotions and had returned to her classroom, feeling light-headed.

This was the effect I was hoping for.

After resolving the urgent situation with Emily, I wanted Lafne to misunderstand the relationship between herself, Emily, and me, further amplifying her feelings.

The more the feelings from the past intensified, the easier it would be for her to recall her memories.

‘…Of course, if her emotions grow too intense and go out of control, it would be troublesome.’

Still, my physical abilities were quite strong.

Now, I was capable enough to handle a rampaging Lafne.

Although I wasn't sure what would happen if she unleashed her unique skill.

‘I won’t die.’

At worst, I’d just take a beating.

That would be a good trade-off.

After finishing my morning classes.

I skipped lunch and immediately left the classroom.

It was to avoid the flock of female students, but also because I had business with someone else.

“Ah, Ken…! What about lunch…!”

“I’m sorry! Mary! I’ll eat with you next time!”

In a hurry to leave, I spotted Mary coming to this classroom but waved my hand in disappointment.

I wanted to hear Ken’s opinion as soon as possible.

So, I headed downstairs.

There, the first-years had gathered.

“Wow, who is that?”

“Isn’t that a senior?”

“Oh my gosh, so cool… Do you know that person’s name?”

As soon as I went down to the first floor, the gazes of students gathering for lunch were drawn to me.

It wasn’t common for a second-year to come down to the first-year floor.

It was likely due to my changed appearance.

When I passed by here before my diet, there hadn’t been such reactions.

‘This is so awkward….’

Enduring the stares, I scanned the classrooms looking for someone.

As I reached the third classroom.

“...Aah! Alicia!”

I found Alicia happily chatting away, surrounded by female students, and called out to her.

It had been a while, and I was glad to see her. More importantly, I wanted to consult with her, as there was no one as useful as her.

When my voice caught her attention, the students in the classroom looked at me.

And then, a chorus of small screams erupted from the girls.

“Oh my gosh! Alicia! It looks like someone came to find you!”

“W-Who is that? Someone you know? Is he your boyfriend?”

“Wow, just as expected, Alicia…! The master of love advice! I respect you! Teacher!”

The friends of Alicia, who spotted me, squealed excitedly.

With all the attention on her friends, Alicia was.

“……”

Glaring at me with dubious eyes.

‘…Ugh, I guess this might be a bit of a nuisance.’

I had called out to her without realizing it in my urgency.

If I had known this would happen, I should have quietly asked someone to call her for me.

It was a small mistake born from not being accustomed to this face.

Alicia said something to her friends for a moment, then approached the door of the classroom where I was standing.

Then, she grabbed my arm and pulled me somewhere.

“W-What! Alicia?”

“Excuse me, could you please follow me quietly for a moment? Everyone’s looking at us.”

“……”

At Alicia’s words, I closed my mouth and glanced at the passing students.

Sure enough, everyone was staring at us.

Led by her hand, we headed to the academy’s main building's backyard.

It was a quieter place with fewer people.

Once we arrived in the backyard and reached a suitable spot, Alicia released my arm and looked up at me.

Crossing her arms, she glared at me with a serious expression.

“Haah, so, what’s going on?”

Feeling her unusual atmosphere, I hurriedly brought up my business.

“Well, um. I wanted to consult you about something.”

“……”

Alicia’s reaction to my words was subtle.

Her eyes seemed to say, ‘What? Is it that again?’

Seeing that look, I tilted my head.

“Uh, I mean, I want to find lost memories?”

“Wait, what? You want to find lost memories?”

“Right, is there any chance you can do that with your magic eyes? You know, like hypnotizing someone to retrieve memories?”

Before my reincarnation, I had seen a program where someone recalled their past life memories through hypnosis.

If that were possible, Alicia’s magic eyes might do something similar.

That’s why I sought her out for help.

“Sorry, but that’s difficult.”

Alicia shook her head with an apologetic expression.

“Why, why?! With your magic eyes, isn’t mental interference possible?!”

“I wish it were possible. I can erase memories with my magic eyes, but I can’t retrieve them…”

Alicia added an explanation while holding up her index finger.

“For example, if I use my magic eyes to hypnotize someone and say, ‘Heal the wound!’ the wound won’t heal.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Basically, it’s difficult to recover something lost, like a memory.”

Afterward, Alicia explained a similar request she had received before.

It was a request to restore the memories of a noble’s child who had lost their memories.

Alicia had tried her best, but in the end, it was useless.

“Ah, now that you mention it!”

While telling that story, Alicia suddenly smiled brightly as if she had recalled something.

“That noble boy eventually found his memories!”

“What? How?”

“Hmm… I heard he recovered after experiencing something shocking that resembled the memories he had lost…”

Rubbing her temples with both index fingers, Alicia seemed to be recalling the details.

“In other words! He solved it with shock therapy!”

She might have forgotten the details but winked playfully as she skipped over the specifics.

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‘But I see….’

Shock therapy.

I definitely had memories of hearing something similar before my reincarnation.

A shocking event that Lafne could reenact from her lost memories.

At that moment, fleeting thoughts crossed my mind.

Specifically, my confinement.

And my first kiss with Lafne.

‘No, no. That’s a shocking memory for me.’

Of course, it wasn’t something I disliked.

In fact, it was a pleasant memory.

“...Ah!”

As I continued to think about my experiences with Lafne, something suddenly clicked.

“Oh! Did you come up with a good idea?”

“Exactly! Thank you, Alicia! I’ll definitely repay you for this later!”

“Ahaha! It’s nothing! If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate it if you could help me with one request next time!”

“…A request?”

At my question, Alicia’s eyes glinted mischievously as she made a circle with her index finger and thumb to signify money.

“With a face like yours, there must be plenty of matchmaking offers! Then, any gold coins coming my way… hehehe.”

I chose to pretend I hadn’t heard that and immediately left the scene.

“Ah, ah! You have to help me!”

Let’s settle for treating her to a nice meal later.