By Zephyria 
“…Ah, poor Frederick. You must be very surprised.”
I didn’t think I could be the ‘Noah’ Frederick was looking for right now, but I didn’t bother to correct him. I gently stroked his back and sat him down on a small bed set up in one corner of the camp. This camp, which had unexpectedly been used as a command center, was originally set up as a temporary bedroom for Andrew to use tonight. A bottle of whiskey that Andrew usually enjoyed was placed squarely on the bedside table next to the bed.
“What do you mean I can’t come back? Nothing went wrong. Don’t worry.”
“No. It’s all my fault. All… all of it…”
“Here, have a drink. Everything will be resolved when you wake up after a good sleep.”
Whether he fell asleep drunk or, with his already unstable mind further fueled by alcohol, spilled all the stories he had been keeping to himself. No matter which one Frederick chose, I had nothing to lose. However, even when I poured a shot glass full of whiskey and handed it to him, Frederick didn’t budge. He had to stay awake until he met ‘Noah’ again.
“Brother, Frederick. Look. It’s me. I’m your ‘Noah,’ so who are you talking about?”
“Noah… my beloved, beloved younger brother…”
His clear eyes, once full of vibrant greenery, were now cloudy and blurred with fever. He seemed to be looking at me, but not seeing me.
Tsk, should I just tie him up with rope and leave…
Just as I was starting to get annoyed and seriously considering it,
The Love interest’s psychological defenses are significantly lower than usual.
‘Persuasion’ is available.
Would you like to attempt ‘Persuasion’ on the target (‘Frederick Hamilton’)?
▶Attempt.
▶Do not attempt.
“…Persuasion?”
A feature I had never seen before suddenly activated. It was the first time I had seen it, but of course I knew what it was.
This wasn’t just persuasion, but a kind of legitimate cheat code created by the developers that allowed the player to push their will unconditionally when the actions given to the Love interest didn’t match the player’s intentions. However, the conditions for activating Persuasion were very strict, and the game’s difficulty itself was so easy that there was no need to activate Persuasion, so no one ever used it.
The activation conditions for Persuasion were either to fulfill 100 percent of the target’s favorability or, like Frederick in front of me now, to have their psychological defenses lowered. What could it be? Could the unknown brainwashing that Allen was using on the Love interests be similar to this?
Okay. Let’s try using it. I stared intently at the ‘Attempt’ option. Then, along with the hallucination of a button clicking, Frederick snatched the whiskey I was holding and gulped it down. As if one glass wasn’t enough, he poured another without being told and gulped it down again and again. He poured himself a drink and gulped it down three times in a row.
“F, Frederick? Why suddenly…”
I was about to ask, when a fanfare erupted in front of my eyes.
Congratulations!
You have become the first ‘Persuasion’ user in this world!
A reasonably great achievement!
As an achievement reward, you will receive a ‘Stronger Persuasion Ticket’ (limited to 1 use).
“Stronger Persuasion…? What’s that…?”
As I muttered in bewilderment, the cluttered notification windows suddenly disappeared all at once, and a new window popped up.
‘Stronger Persuasion Ticket’: For 10 minutes, the target will accept any of your claims uncritically and unconditionally.
You can ‘Persuade’ the target more successfully than ever.
Even if it means telling a target who has committed an unforgivable sin against you to choose death immediately, the target will obey your words if it is claimed within the limited time.
Wow. This is completely broken. The time is short, but just from the description, it sounds like they would die immediately if I told them to? Let’s see… then, rather than using it right away, I should keep it for the Crown Prince or Carlisle…
However!
…Why do I have a bad feeling about this?
In this case, since the reward was received by persuading ‘Frederick Hamilton,’ the target of the 1-time use ticket is also limited to ‘Frederick Hamilton.’
“Sigh. I knew it. I thought the conditions were too good. Fine, I won’t use it, I won’t use it.”
…….
S, special discount! The favorability cost consumed for the ‘Stronger Persuasion Ticket’ (limited to 1 use) has been drastically reduced…!
૮( ᵒ̌ัૢ▱ᵒ̌ัૢ )ა
“What? Are you kidding me? Favorability is also consumed? You didn’t say anything about that!”
…….
Speechless, I muttered, and the System timidly reopened the detailed explanation window for Stronger Persuasion that it had shown earlier. In the smallest font size, barely visible at the very bottom, was a warning that read, ‘When using the 1-time ticket, the target’s favorability will be consumed by 20 percentage points. Excessive changes in behavior that deviate from the cause and effect commensurate with 20 percentage points of favorability will be reflected in additional favorability deductions later.’
Seriously, it’s like a health insurance policy. What is this supposed to be? It’s a reasonably great achievement! If it’s an achievement reward, shouldn’t you give something better? Hey!
As I glared at the window and ground my teeth, the System sent heart-shaped special effects, as if trying to be ingratiating.
Correction: The ‘Stronger Persuasion Ticket’ (limited to 1 use) for ‘Frederick Hamilton’ can be used without consuming any favorability points.
The duration of Persuasion will also be increased from 10 minutes to 15 minutes.
“Tsk……. You should have acted like this from the start.”
Ah, you greedy thing……. I also deeply respect and cherish that greedy side of you…….
ദ്ദി(☆⸝⸝ʚ̴̶̷̆ ᴗ ʚ̴̶̷̆⸝⸝)
“Shut up. I’m going to use it right away, so don’t be distracting and just get lost for a bit.”
……Yes.
System always respects your opinion.
Finally, it became quiet. I used the one-time Persuasion ticket while looking at Frederick, whose already disheveled face was now as red as if it would burst from the alcohol.
“Frederick.”
“……Yes, Noah.”
His docile attitude was clearly artificial. His eyes, mechanically answering, were also calmly sunken. Just like Andrew and Kyle, who were being controlled by Allen’s brainwashing.
“There’s something I want to ask. You’ll answer anything, right?”
“…Yes. Of course.”
“Then I’ll ask this first. Allen disappearing is a big deal, of course, but why are you reacting so strongly when it hasn’t even been a day yet? Perhaps, are you in any way related to Allen’s disappearance when he was young?”
“…….”
Frederick frowned slightly without answering immediately, as if he didn’t want to answer. I paused for a beat and called him again, Frederick.
Actually, I hadn’t been able to understand it from the start. I could understand if he was head over heels for Allen with romantic feelings like the other Love interest, or if he was like Andrew, who had always seen me as a thorn in his side, but turning his back on me all at once like that……, no matter how much I racked my brain, there was no reason for it.
But now that things have happened, I understand. The emotion he showed while looking at the missing Allen was neither worry nor self-reproach.
‘If something happens to you because of me again…, because of my mistake…….’
It was fear.
A shameful fear of not being able to shake off the powerful guilt that suppressed his whole body.
“…….”
“…….”
The verdant eyes under my control flickered erratically. Frederick seemed unwilling to answer, but my Persuasion, guaranteed by the System, was powerful. Enough to easily crush a person’s ego.
“…Yes.”
“…….”
“I was going out to play with my friends…, but Noah, who kept following me, was too annoying. That kid was too small and weak…, he couldn’t possibly fit in with my knight play. I just wanted to have fun, so, just to leave you behind, I told you I’d take you secretly, so wait in the food cart that comes in through the back gate for a little bit…….”
“…….”
“Ah, Noah. Believe me. I really didn’t do it on purpose. Originally, that food cart wasn’t supposed to go out that day. I thought you’d get bored after a little while and come out on your own, I was going to take you as soon as I got back even if you stayed there the whole time. I really didn’t know you’d fall asleep there. I really, really didn’t know that cart would be unexpectedly taken out…….”
Frederick sobbed, and I was at a loss for words.
“What do I do, Noah……. I’m the chief of the escort, but this time too, this time too it’s because of me…. If I lose you because of me, then I…….”