Deception: A Tactician's Card

Restrained

"[Nightmare Requiem]."

I'm restraining its effects, of course. I don't have those Disposables I had to revive a person within two minutes before death.

All of them had fallen to their knees.

Some of them reacted verbally.

"Voices in my head...!"

"U-urk! What's this unnerving sensation!?"

"I don't know anything about this rune card at all!"

As for the others, their disoriented looks are clearly visible, despite trying hard to hide it.

Those who experienced it before gained a bit of resistance.

"Isn't this a bit weaker than before?"

"Yes...but it could still lose our balance."

I smirked after hearing their words. They seemed to become a little adaptive than our previous encounter. That's good to know.

"I am Yukti, a former Student Secretary of Crimson Academy. I have zero capabilities when it comes to attacks, but I have the advantage when it comes to attacking not the flesh, but a person's mind. Go and try raising your resistance against my rune card, and you win."

"Y-you're a Student Secretary?"

Ah. Sort of. Though, I only got it for a day to save the secretaries and Snow.

"Guh...I won't falter easily this time!"

Even if you're saying that ice girl... You're still on your knees.

The real purpose of this training is to boost their resistance against mental attacks. There's no point for me to give them a training regimen that I don't have the qualifications to do so. When it comes to physical combat, these guys knew better than I am.

I slowly amplified the effects of my rune card to see if they could still handle it. And the result is...dire to their part.

They fainted.

•••

"WHY THE HECK DID YOU DID IT AGAIN!?"

This feels deja vu. Michaela's enraged after seeing her students falling one by one.

"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? IS KILLING SOMEONE THAT GOOD?"

"What are you talking about? They're just fainted", said I while looking at the fallen students and removing Michaela's grip on my collar. Mister Andrew came with her, and was surprised to see the scene.

Hearing my words, Michaela wondered her gaze around her. The guys were still showing signs of life.

"You told me to hold back as the best as I could the other day, so I just did what you say."

"What kind of restraint?"

"I lowered the intensity of the rune card's effect."

"Huh? Is that even possible?"

"Cory and I could."

"You're pretty blunt."

"I'm just answering sincerely."

After that, we entered a staring contest. Our stares were different though.

Mine is the stare of nervousness.

Hers is a judgemental stare.

Come on, chairperson... Please don't be doubtful.

After a brief moment, she gave up and sighed.

"Sometimes, I couldn't comprehend you and your actions. Very well, they're safe and sound this time. I'll let you off the hook."

"Whew, thanks chairperson."

"But I'll have you suspended next time you do this okay?"

"Self-defense is an exception, right?"

"It is. Now, help me carry them to the infirmary."

Mister Andrew raised his hand and offered that he could help us carry them all at once with his rune card [Levitation]. As the name implies, it's a rune card that allows the user to levitate anything -- in this case, it's anyone.

"I wonder how to bring them to the infirmary without raising attention", Mister Andrew said as he rubbed his chin with his fingers.

"Well, in that case, just leave that matter to Yukti."

"Huh? Ah! Yes, I remember now. Yukti made me invisible as we walked at the hallways. No wonder that me being here was not posted in any social platform yet. Ah! It's not that I'm bragging or anything!"

Michaela shook her head and smiled. She then told Mister Andrew that his statement isn't offensive in any form.

•••

"Good work everyone!"

"Good work!"

I finally finished another custom rune card! Hurrah! This'll get me a whopping 10000 points! Broki will be surprised.

I'm Leen, Broki's only sister. Broki's been with me and for me throughout my life. He might look like a lazybum at times but he always do what's best for me. He took great care when our parents cut their ties with us -- with that we dropped our surnames. He persevered in that job he got and even stopped his academic journey so that he could focus on getting points for our living expenses and leisures.

A lot of people may say that I'm a genius in crafting rune cards but the thing is, my Broki taught me how to craft efficiently without using too much rune essence. With this knowledge I got, I managed to create up to Dot VII rune cards. I'm a hundred percent certified pure pacifist, so I never made any battle-oriented rune cards and instead created a lot of lifestyle rune cards. I got a lot of points as I prolonged my stay in this industry but I could never achieve any of these without Broki teaching me.

The rune card I created just now is yet another lifestyle-oriented rune card, [Clear Allergy]. I thought that with this, anyone could eat any food out there without taking any risks, specifically to those who got allergies with certain ingredients.

"Ugh, I'm so beat! Hey, Leen! Want to hang out?"

"I wish I could but it's already this late without me noticing, so I need to get home already. Sorry, Kris!"

Kris Planeswalker is a friend of mine who loves to hang out and sing in a karaoke bar. She's 18 years old, 5'8" in height, got a beautiful pair of purple eyes and wavy long hair, currently tied in a topknot. She's a top-tier fashion guru, and even wearing just a plain ol' shirt and jeans, she's sparkling. I envy her breast size though.

"Aw, that's a bummer. Well, maybe next time then! See ya!"

"See ya Kris!"

I packed up my things, and texted my Brother than I'm about to get home and asked him to come by. It's been customary for my brother to come if it's this late (it's already nine o'clock) to pick me up. Thankfully the train station is operating 24/7.

After a brief period of time, a message came. At first, I tought that it's my brother's reply. But it's not.

It's a message that I regret looking upon.

What it contained seems simple for even a monkey to understand. It is the sender that gives me the cringe. Why is he trying to communicate with me now? Is it because I got a stable income? No, it's not that, I think. Me being recognized by the public means that my private space is shrinking by each passing minute.

I mean, who wouldn't feel disgusted by this? And how did he got my number!?

From: ???

"I love you and I know you still love me. Come back to me already. There's no need to be shy. I'll be always at your side. I'll always follow you even to the depths of Gaia. You're my savior and I'll become your prince. (Heart here, another heart here but different color, and yet another heart but it's blue)

- Jacob

This gave me the shivers and I wandered my gaze around, panicking.

This stalker that my brother repel before...

What is he thinking?

I knew I shouldn't have helped him before. Now, I regret not listening to my Broki's advice.