"Whew, still no customers today."
The 'Theater of Illusions' remained empty. Before opening, I had spent weeks scouring the city, telling anyone who would listen that I was opening a shop that could manifest their deepest desires. Even my master, Meiko, had helped me promote it. I thought I'd done enough legwork.
"Why is it so dead?"
Perhaps it's too unfamiliar. 'Experiencing your desires through illusion magic'—I expected some people wouldn't quite grasp the concept. Plus, the general low opinion of the Illusion school didn't help. I thought I was prepared for a slow start, but...
"I didn't think I'd only have one customer in four days."
I expected at least a few bored noble ladies to show up. Is everyone in this city really that pious? Does no one harbor a secret desire to tryst with a handsome knight or a scandalous noble son? Are the nobles here really that pure-hearted?
"I bet Master didn't promote it properly."
She was supposed to handle the noble demographic. We developed this magic together, so I thought she'd feel some responsibility.
"Eschew that. No point blaming someone who's out in the provinces for research."
Though, I fully intended to give her a piece of my mind when she returned. If she slacked off, I'd make her handle all the mana stone recharging and alchemical odd jobs to pay her keep.
In truth, the only person who had walked through that door in four days was Uris, the Iron-Blooded Knight, on opening day. That was the biggest surprise—that a woman who lived only for victory would seek out defeat.
"She's late. She should be coming around now."
I'd even improved the quality of the 'video' for her. I'd addressed the shortcomings of the first session and was confident she'd be satisfied. But the customer in question was nowhere to be found.
'Maybe a woman like her really can use her sheer willpower to stay away.'
Just as I was about to start maintenance on the magic circle, feeling a bit dejected about losing my first regular—
Knock, knock, knock.
"Is the owner in?"
A stiff, professional voice. A familiar one. 'She came.'
I opened the door. "Ah, so you were here."
"Sir Uris? You're back."
"I... I merely came to see if business was faring well."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
I looked her in the eye, a small smirk playing on my lips. "And here I thought you came to experience it again. You did say you'd had quite enough of defeat."
She avoided my gaze, looking around the shop with forced interest. "Ahem. No customers, I see."
"Quiet, isn't it? It seems the promotion hasn't quite reached the right ears yet."
"...I see."
"Please, come in. I'll brew some tea."
"Is... is that alright? I wouldn't want to be a bother."
"Not at all. I haven't had a soul in here for days."
"..."
She looked at me as if she had expected as much. "Naturally. Who would willingly seek out illusion magic? Even mages consider it a fringe school."
"Are you really saying that to an Illusionist's face?"
"Ahem. My apologies."
I sat her down on the sofa and brought out the tea. As she sat there, I noticed her nose twitching, sniffing the air discreetly.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah! Nothing. The... the tea smells lovely."
"Does it?"
She looked oddly disappointed.
"Have a cup."
As she sipped her tea in silence, she eventually asked, "The smell... it's different from when I first came."
"Ah, you mentioned it last time, so I did some deep cleaning. It wouldn't do to have the shop smelling unpleasant for guests who stay for hours."
"Oh... I see..."
Wait, she actually is disappointed? Does she actually like the smell of pheromones? That's unexpected. The Iron-Blooded Knight is actually a scent-chaser.
Uris took another sip and scanned the room again. "You've added new things."
"I've made several adjustments and added some magical tools to fix the flaws from the last video."
"There were... flaws?" She flinched, her body tensing.
"Yes. Since it was the first session, it was a bit unrefined. I spent the last four days tweaking the magic circle and adding necessary implements."
"I... I see." She stole a glance at me, her body trembling slightly. "But... why are there still no customers?"
"You know the reputation of Illusion magic. People don't trust it."
"They lack faith in the experience."
"Exactly."
"..."
Uris went silent, staring at her teacup before glancing at me through her lashes. "I... I suppose I could be your customer again, then..."
Her face was beet red. If anyone else saw the 'Iron-Blooded Knight' making a face like that, they would have fainted from shock.
"You'll be my customer?"
"I'm only saying it because I feel sorry for you, sitting here all alone with no business. It's... it's certainly not because I haven't been able to forget that experience."
"Oho, is that so?"
Playing hard to please, are we? Honestly, the excuse didn't matter. A good businessman accommodates the customer's pride. But seeing that expression—a face she surely never showed anyone else—I felt a mischievous urge to tease her.
"Well, if you don't need to experience defeat anymore, we'll need to do a new survey to find your next desire."
"...What? I have to do that again?"
"Of course. We have to find a new desire for you, Sir Uris. Replaying the same thing would diminish the excitement."
"So... the next video will be different?"
"Naturally. Since the desire is new, we'll set up new backgrounds and characters. We could even go into more detail. If there's a specific type of... opponent you'd like, just let me know."
She went dead silent. Her hands trembled as she gripped the teacup. Biting her lip, she asked hesitantly:
"W-what if I... don't do the survey?"
"Then, 'by necessity,' we would have to continue from the previous video."
"By necessity..."
She repeated the words to herself, pretending to weigh the options. I knew exactly what she wanted. I was giving her an out—a way to get what she wanted without having to admit she wanted it.
But apparently, she needed just a little more pushing.
"Shall we skip the survey and go to the next 'version' of the previous scenario?"
"I... I haven't said anything."
"As the shop owner, I highly recommend it. Experiencing only one part of a genre is never enough. Besides, didn't it end on a bit of an unsatisfying note? You should have a chance at 'revenge.'"
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. It wasn't designed to be finished in one go. It would be a waste to leave it like this."
"A waste... a waste, indeed. Yes. That would be quite a waste."
She nodded, her voice a bit dazed. "Then... I shall request that scenario."
"Excellent. Please, take a seat."
I placed a cushion on the chair.
"What is this?"
"A moisture-wicking cushion. You perspired quite a bit last time, so this is to ensure you stay... comfortable and unembarrassed."
"Th-thank you."
Her face turned a deeper shade of crimson as she sat down.
"We'll begin slowly. You'll encounter the bandits in the forest again. From there, the story will unfold according to your desires. Please... enjoy yourself."
I lightly grasped her wrist. Her skin flared hot to the touch.
"Is... is it alright to hold me like this?"
"Of course. It's to ensure a deeper immersion than last time."
"..."
"Remember this touch. The feeling of being held."
"I... I understand."
I activated the magic. Light began to swirl around her.
Flash.
The world shifted.
"..."
It was the same forest. Uris realized she was back on Mount Mangor—the woods where the bandit who had subdued her resided.
She drew her sword. 'I won't lose this time.'
She told herself she was back here to wipe out the shameful memory and claim victory. She believed in herself. There was no way she would want to feel that agonizing defeat again. She was certain her desire today was to overcome that man.
"What's this? You're back? Couldn't forget my touch, so you came crawling back for more?"
The bandit appeared. The same man who had humiliated her. The ordinary-looking, savage thug.
The moment she saw him, Uris realized her body was shaking. 'I'm... afraid?' Of this lowly man? 'N-no... that can't be...'
The bandit sauntered closer. "It seems our little lady still wants to play knight. Or perhaps..."
He smirked, lifting his hand and beckoning her with his fingers. "Did you come to get some more love from your husband?"
It was an insult she had never endured in reality. "You... you bastard!"
She lunged forward.
Thud! "Gah!"
In an instant, she was pinned. It was as if victory was a concept forbidden to her here. The primary reason was her hands—they felt impossibly heavy. So heavy she couldn't even swing her sword properly, like a sheltered noble girl who had never held a blade.
"This... this isn't possible..." Did I... want to lose again?
The bandit grabbed her wrists and began dragging her. As he did, that pungent, heavy scent of a man made her head spin. 'No... if I breathe this in...'
"You know, I was going to let you go like a gentleman. But you just had to go and ignore my kindness, didn't you?"
He pinned her against a tree, his thick hands holding her wrists firmly above her head. Then, his right hand slid into her trousers.
"Heh, you're already wet? Did you miss me that much?"
"N-no! I... I..."
But when he pulled his hand away, his fingers were glistening with her slick fluid.
"Your body says otherwise, doesn't it?"
"..."
Liquid from my body? That shameful water... again?
As she reeled from the shock, the bandit looked down at her with a cold, commanding face. "Spread them."
It was a voice that brooked no resistance. In reality, she would have snapped his neck in a heartbeat, but in this illusion, she was fragile. Like an ordinary woman. Are women... naturally this weak? The Iron-Blooded Knight felt a surge of pure terror.
"I won't say it again. Spread them."
Biting her lip, Uris trembled as she slowly spread her legs. Her trousers were already dark with dampness.