Chapter 3: Frail Attention-Seeking Face Genius (3)

The person before you cannot take their eyes off you.

The mercenary who had removed the sack began to stare intently at me again, his mouth agape.

He is charmed.

As if he was waiting for my next command.

A thought occurs that you might be able to use his attention.

Now it was time to get out of here.

“Do you like it?”

“…H-huh?”

“My face.”

The mercenary, still with a dazed expression, silently nodded his head.

Seeing him literally lose his mind over my beauty, a smirk inadvertently formed on my lips.

“Then, shall we leave together?”

“……Huh?”

“Take me to a secluded place where no one will come.”

At my words, I felt the mercenary hesitate for a moment.

And I saw the completely captivated look in his eyes briefly return to normal.

It seemed he had belatedly realized that, given my current position, I was making an absurd request.

“Wh-why…?”

“…Haa.”

At that, I let out a pointed sigh and asked in a sharp tone.

“Do you have to ask to know?”

He seemed quite flustered by my attitude, a complete reversal from his submissive demeanor until just a moment ago, but.

“Well, it’s because I want to do something that would be troublesome if others saw, right?”

“…!”

It was only for a moment.

“So I’d prefer a place where we can be all alone, without being disturbed by anyone.”

As soon as I said this, my head still bowed from the sigh, my eyes subtly looking up.

“…….”

Gulp, I heard the sound of saliva being swallowed once more.

This time, there was no need for a dice roll for [Persuasion].

He had nodded again as if possessed, his reason completely blown away by that single phrase.

His face showed no room to even think about why I was suddenly coming on to him.

“F-follow me.”

In the end, he helped me back to my feet.

However, he still seemed to have no intention of untying my hands and feet.

On top of that.

“I’ll just put the sack on until we get out of here. …Th-that’s okay, right?”

He tried to put the sack back on me, saying he couldn’t get caught sneaking me out.

Well, it made sense.

If I went out like this with the sack off, my beauty would be impossible not to notice.

Everyone in this camp would surely flock to me.

Of course, there was the downside of not being able to see where I was being taken, but it was a much better option than just sitting still in a cage.

It wasn't like this guy, whose head was filled with nothing but desire, would have any other thoughts anyway.

Once ‘charmed,’ he couldn’t regain his senses just because my face was temporarily covered.

If anything, he would probably rush to get out of this place, wanting to see my face again as soon as possible.

So as soon as I agreed, just as I expected, the man hurriedly yet carefully put the sack back on me.

Then, just like when he first dragged me to this cage, he started pulling the rope that bound my hands.

Hoping not to get caught by anyone and cause trouble, I quietly followed him.

Perhaps because I knew I was already ‘Charmed’ and in a ‘Noticed’ state, thankfully the ‘Depressed’ debuff didn't activate this time, even though my face was covered.

Thanks to that, my senses were intact, so even though I couldn't see anything, I could roughly infer the situation.

Just by the pull on my rope and the sound of his footsteps, I could tell he was moving cautiously, and after a while, I could no longer feel the presence of people, including voices, from the surroundings.

Instead, from a little while ago, I could feel the sensation of blades of grass tickling my ankles, so it seemed we had successfully left the camp and were walking through a nearby forest.

Still, just in case, I decided to quietly follow him until he took the sack off again.

No matter how charmed and out of his mind he was, I hadn't felt any hint of wariness from him so far.

“Wait here for just a moment.”

If that wasn’t the case, he wouldn't have suddenly disappeared somewhere, leaving me all alone like this.

Well, of course.

My hands and feet are tied and my eyes are covered by a sack, what could a level 1 Bard who only knows how to sing, without weapons or magic, possibly do now?

He probably thinks I can't even run away, let alone harm him.

And that judgment was correct.

‘If I were an ordinary Bard, that is.’

Unfortunately for him, I was not an ordinary level 1 Bard.

I am a level 1 Bard with 30 Charisma, who will be called the second coming of the God of Beauty.

In fact, typical supporter Bard builds rarely invested in Charisma so extremely from the beginning.

Since Bards are fundamentally a class that shines in non-combat situations, it was better to invest points evenly in various stats to pass various stat checks.

And anyway, does maxing out Charisma to 20 from the start dramatically improve the ally buffs you can give in the early game?

The answer to that was also no.

──However, that was only the story for a standard supporter, Bard.

The skill I considered the most crucial when creating this build was, in fact, (Vicious Mockery).

It’s a unique class skill exclusive to Bards, available from level 1, just like the standard Bard’s core skills (Encourage) and (Bard's Song).

While the latter two skills inspire allies with brilliant performances and eloquent speech, this one literally hurls (Vicious Mockery) at the enemy to break their fighting spirit.

While also dealing damage by breaking their mind.

Not a metaphor, it actually deals damage.

And this damage is determined based on the Charisma stat.

This was also why I said the (Kingdom-Toppling Beauty) trait was the final puzzle piece for this build.

Not only does it increase the Charisma stat, but in a ‘Charmed’ state, Charisma-based skills like (Vicious Mockery) always land a critical hit.

So I didn't need weapons or magic.

My tongue was my weapon and my magic.

“Hey, this way.”

And the mercenary, who had no idea of this fact, returned shortly and started pulling my rope again.

Then he abruptly stopped and, without a word, whipped the sack off.

“……!”

The moment my face was revealed again, the man gasped just like when he first saw me.

But unlike then, his face was now flushed red, and his breathing was ragged.

As if he had been dying to see my face during the few tens of minutes it took to get here.

It certainly seemed he had reached the limit of his patience.

I first lightly pushed him away as he strode towards me.

Then, I silently held up my hands towards him as he looked on in confusion.

Finally understanding, he immediately fumbled for the dagger at his waist and cut the rope binding my hands.

After that, I was about to ask him to cut the one on my feet, but as soon as my hands were free, he pushed me roughly to the ground as if he couldn’t take it anymore.

It seems he wanted to get on with the ‘business that would be troublesome if others saw’ as soon as possible.

Well then, I should oblige.

“──Hey.”

With the corners of my mouth raised in a smirk, I grabbed the face of the mercenary who had knelt and approached me with both hands.

“…!”

So that he couldn't take his eyes off my ‘Charmed’ face.

Then I slowly opened my mouth.

You really think I’d do it with a XXXX like you, you XX XXX XXXX? Dream on, XX XX XXX.

“──!?”

The moment I whispered the (Vicious Mockery), which would have been completely covered by beeps if this were a broadcast, into his ear.

--

Critical Hit!

The Slaver’s Mercenary’s spirit has collapsed!

--

“──Keok!”

The man, who suddenly clutched his head, his eyes rolling back completely, then collapsed powerlessly, foaming at the mouth.

I had done the ‘business that would be troublesome if others saw’ just as he wanted.

The business of killing a person by spewing (Vicious Mockery).

“Uh, wai── Agh?!”

The man who collapsed like that fell right on top of me, and I was naturally pinned.

“Ah, seriously…!”

Because my Strength was only 2, I had to struggle a bit, but after wriggling my body, I safely got out, immediately picked up the dagger that was rolling on the floor, cut the remaining rope on my feet, and quickly got up.

Even while I was doing that, the man remained face down on the floor, not moving an inch.

Well, he was a corpse.

I had finally regained my complete freedom, but… it might be too early to breathe a sigh of relief.

“…Where am I?”

I thought I might have come deep into a forest, but when I looked around, it wasn't a forest but an indoor space surrounded by walls… to be precise, it was some kind of room.

Thanks to the torches hanging here and there, I could tell that the walls were made of old bricks.

It was a strangely familiar-feeling scene.

“……No, don’t tell me.”

For a moment, a possibility flashed through my mind, but it was such an absurd story that a hollow laugh escaped me.

In any case, I would find out if I went outside, so I carefully opened the door and left the room.

Outside, just like in the room, torches were hung sporadically on the walls.

As I used them as landmarks, fumbling along the wall through the darkness… down a very familiar-feeling corridor, the possibility I had tried to deny earlier couldn't help but coil itself inside my head.

…Nah, it can't be.

No matter what, it can't be that.

Certainly, the place that just came to mind does fit the description of a ‘secluded place where no one will come’ that I had asked of him.

Yes, it certainly fits, but──

“──Kereuk.”

‘Ah, shit.’

It fits too well…!

‘That crazy bastard…!’

I, who almost shouted out loud, hurriedly covered my mouth and hid behind the corner wall.

Did it sense my presence?

Then, the moment I cautiously peeked one eye past the wall.

‘……!’

I flinched.

I had made eye contact with the Goblins that were looking this way.

“Kereuk.”

Yes, Goblin‘s’.

It wasn’t one, but two.

But whether it was because it was too dark to see well, or because they were just looking this way by chance, the Goblins soon averted their gaze.

It seemed I hadn't been discovered, at least.

However, it was still impossible to say it was a relief.

Now that I had seen it with my own two eyes, I could no longer deny it.

I certainly did ask him to take me to a place where no one would come.

‘This is… this is a place where too no one will come, you psycho bastard…!’

No matter how blinded by desire he was, of all the many secluded places to choose, how could it be.

‘How could it be a dungeon of all places……?!’

Yes, this was a dungeon.

Without a doubt.