The Golden Chocolate Perfected
Outside the hall, voices echoed from every direction, desperately crying out their desires.
I want ●●●! Give me ●●●!!
●●! ●●! ●●! ●●!
If I just had ●●... I'd ●● the ●●●...!
The desires people were shouting had become far more basic and primal.
It's complete pandemonium...
We need to find that woman before it's too late...!
Th-There she is!
Hm?
How persistent. To think you'd take down every last guard just to chase after me...
Just who... are you people?
S-Stop messing with everyone's min—
*Snap*
Ugh! Huh?!
...Ahh.
I feel... strange... again...
Take this!
*Whack!*
Ow! M-My head...
Snap out of it, Charlotte!
Y-Yes! I've come to my senses, thanks to you, my lady!
...I see. So you're capable enough to resist my tricks.
Why people like you would be here, getting in my way, I can't say, but...
*Rustle*
The magician drew a box of chocolates from inside her coat.
This place, Deep Field, overflowing with the desires of hypocrites.
That must be why the tale of the golden chocolate has been passed down here, of all places.
Here, the desire needed to complete the golden chocolate can be gathered in no time at all.
So by now... I'd say it should be just about complete.
The magician lifted the box high into the air.
Ahaha! Let us all witness this glorious moment as the golden chocolate is completed!!
...And just as we'd expected, what appeared from the open box was...
Gleaming a beautiful brown...
Frey's Valentine's Premium Chocolate.
Wh-What? Don't tell me not a single square has changed?
Huh? This is just... regular chocolate...?
If it's complete, then surely...!
Frey drew out the chocolate box she'd been holding close.
...W-Wow...
There was no need to open it. A golden radiance was already seeping softly through the box.
Is this... the completed golden chocolate...
When Frey opened the box, the golden chocolate inside was shining as radiantly as the sun.
It was the most captivating light that human desire could create, one that drew every eye in the room.
M-My golden chocolate... Why do you have it...!
Frey! Give me the box!
Sensing danger, I all but snatched the chocolate box out of Frey's hands.
...Argh!
*Snap!*
As the magician snapped her fingers loudly, the clamoring crowd froze in place.
Then their empty, wandering gazes turned toward us.
Go and take that box from them!
Raaagh!
I knew it...! That magician can control anyone who's fallen prey to their desires!
St-Stay back! If I hit you wrong...
Before I could shout a warning, Charlotte's heavy kick slammed into a charging guest.
You could get seriously hurt!
Maybe she'd gotten used to the outfit, or maybe something had changed in her heart.
Either way, Charlotte moved with none of her earlier hesitation as she held back the oncoming crowd.
I'll say it again!
As long as I'm here, no one lays a finger on the Captain or Lady Frey!
Hm. A girl with a deep craving for approval... and a rather sensitive body.
Your eagerness to step forward and win others' recognition is admirable, but...
In the end, all that lies within is a pitiful desire to feel needed.
*Snap*
I won't fall for the same trick tw—
Ngh?!
M-My body... all of a sudden...!
Charlotte!
Heh. How foolish... Did you think you'd completely escaped my power?
Even the tiniest, tiniest hint of desire in your heart is enough to keep you in my grasp.
Ugh, ughhh...
Stop this! I won't tolerate anyone harming a member of the Monastir Knights—
And now, the arrogant young lady who dreams of restoring her principality.
H-How do you know that...?
Believing no one will notice simply because you've hidden it away is arrogance as well.
A noble lady who wishes for the happiness of all her people...
But is there truly not a single selfish desire in that heart of yours?
Greed? Ambition? A thirst for control?
Hmm... I wonder what's inside...? Heh heh heh.
*Snap*
Argh!
Frey!
You must have thought you'd taken precautions, but...
Humans are frail creatures, helplessly swayed by their desires.
Drawing those desires out and swelling them to enormous size.
And then giving them a liiittle nudge in the right direction.
That is my humble little trick.
As for you, Captain, whom my trick doesn't seem to work on, I have a gift.
I'll show you the abyss of desire inside these two. Would that gift... be to your liking?
*Snap*
...!!
The two of them, who'd been dazed this whole time, turned their eyes toward me.
D-Don't tell me...!
Ugh...
Ugh... C-Captain... it's... dan...gerous...
Y-You need... to get... away...
Contrary to their words, the two closed in before I could pull away...
And wrapped themselves around me, clinging with their entire bodies.