klisemfg Chapter 242 – Maybe not so Successful
Chapter 242 – Maybe not so Successful
Hmmm… Maybe our talks weren’t successful at all. Silent since she agreed, Lythea walked me out of the classroom and led me somewhere. This is not the Lythea I know… She’s acting like she’s on a job, and it’s seriously scaring me…
Maybe I was too upfront when telling her about the VISS Driver. Which would mean I’m on the road to the dissection ending through a completely unexpected route. I thought it’d be the PSF to do it, yet here we are.
I said something wrong…
So what am I going to do about it? I could always run away, but… she and Velvet are going to try to chase me down, and I still need their help. It’s also possible that I’m just reading things wrong. Maybe she’s not actually out to get me. Lythea has always been… friendly? Wait… I can’t really say that about her. Not openly hostile is the best I can give her.
I don’t know… As insurance, I guess I’ll try to convince her that I’m on her side regardless of what may have happened between us in the past.
“Uhmm… Lythea, my friend, where are we going?” This was the way to the stairs… Outside?
“There’s a good room in the tech building next to this one. Velvet will see you there.” With a steady pace, Lythea walked slightly ahead of me.
“I see… I had no idea you worked for someone so amazing, though! Hearing people around the school talk so well about Velvet really surprised me. You’re a really lucky girl, huh?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Uhhh… Ahahaha… I’m starting to get nervous now… It’s crazy to think that I’ll get to talk with someone so amazing. It’s not every day when you come across someone with such impressive energy. Plus she’s so pretty too. I can’t wait to finally meet her properly, you know?”
“Yes. It’s such an honor.”
Sigh…
This is not working… All she’s giving me are automated short responses! Is this a real succubus? Maybe she’s secretly a cyborg and that’s why she’s always moping about being a failure as a succubus.
Seriously, I’m trying to convince you that I’m not an enemy! Give me something to work with!
“Did you get here through a fast-travel station?” She asked.
“Huh? No no… I don’t have any places in the Demon Territory unlocked.”
“Hmm?” The raise of an eyebrow was the first reaction she’d given me. “Then how did you get here when you stole the VISS Driver?”
“Uhmm… Just so you know, I didn’t go to that research facility with that goal in mind. Are you aware of the portals? The ones that lead to a different world? Maybe Velvet has mentioned them to you before.” As a researcher and the daughter of someone important, she for sure knows about them. “I got there through one of them. On accident. Same way I got here today, actually.”
“So you’ve been to the world…?”
“I haven’t been there, I come from there.”
“Eh? Really?” Her cool cracked for a moment. “That would explain how you can go from the Human Territory to the Demon Territory. You know how to traverse the other world. Also explains why I couldn’t find anything about you or your friends when I tried looking into your pas…” She caught herself before saying too much.
No no, it’s okay, Lythea. I’ll make an exception for the invasion of privacy if you get me out of the dissection route and get my VISS Driver fixed!
“It’s actually been a cool adventure being in this school. I got the mysterious, overpowered transfer student experience straight out of one of those school battle harem anime. Oh… I guess you wouldn’t know what that means…”
“…” She turned around and stared at me with a blank look on her face.
“Uhmm… Lythea?”
Her shoulders slumped forward and she let out the biggest sigh of relief. “Wheeeeeeeeeeew….”
“Huh? Ly- Lythea? Did I say something weird?” What’s with that reaction?
“I- it’s nothing… I’m so sorry for worrying you… It’s just that yo-you’re someone I’m a bit cu- curious about, sorry about that. S- so I was getting butterflies b- by worrying about your safety. But… Whew… You’ll be fine.”
“Wait wait wait!” I grabbed her shoulders. “I was in danger? What does that mean? Explain?”
“Hehehehe… You’ll be fine.” A goofy smile spread on her face. “Just say that verbatim to Velvet, and nothing bad‘s gonna happen.”
I actually just dodged a bullet. I can’t believe it. At least the solution is simple… Wait… “That? What do you mean by that? What am I supposed to say? I don’t get it, Lythea!”
…
“Velvet-sama! I’ve brought her.” Velvet waited for us at one end of a round table in a white yet dim room. Lythea pulled a chair for me and stood next it. If I didn’t know any better, I’d call this an interrogation room. But I’m in a place of science right now. And my noggin is telling me that science places don’t have interrogation rooms. So, my master’s thesis is, this is not an interrogation room, merely a meeting room for scientists! That’s acting as an interrogation room.
“Good work escorting her here, Lythea. And you, Iroha, it’s nice to see you again. I never expected we’d be meeting each other again so soon.” She interlocked her fingers under her chin and flashed me the most beautiful smile.
But it’s a trap!
And because I’m expecting it, I can see through it!
“Ah! I- I d- don’t mean to presume, b- but… I think we may have gotten it wrong.” Lythea said to Velvet. “It- it probably won’t be necessary to drill into her skull after all!”
Ahh… I’m so happy to know that I was never on the dissection route… Whew…
I was on the drilled-skull route! What the hell?! I can’t even tell if that’s better or worse!
“Lythea! You just gave away the element of surprise! We’ll have to restrain a VISS Driver user by force now!” Velvet stood up as she punched the table.
“Wa- wait! I- it might be okay… Please… Just listen to what she has to say first!” Lythea tapped my shoulder with a smile. “Go on.”
“…” Does she realize she never told me what I was supposed to say?! Just what the hell is she expecting from me?! This is the kind of thing that gets me killed if I get it wrong, isn’t it? What am I supposed to guess? “Are you aware of the portals…?” I repeated the line from before verbatim.
“That’s it?” Velvet was frowning.
“N- no!” Lythea said. “What you said after that, Iroha! P- please!”
“Ah! Sorry… I’ll get it right this time. Ahem. I haven’t been there, I come from there.” So? Was that it?
“There? What are you talking about?” Velvet asked. “Lythea?”
“Th- that wasn’t it either!” Lythea pleaded for another chance. “I- Iroha! After that! Just a little further.”
“Ehh? Lythea? Are you okay? What’s with that huge sigh of relief?” I said.
“Relief? Lythea, what did she do to you?” Velvet said.
“Th- that’s wrong again! You went too far now. Go back!”
What a confusing girl… What is she expecting when she tells me to just repeat what I told her without specifying what? Was there even anything else I said that was important? “It’s actually been a cool adventure…” Yada yada yada… “Mysterious overpowered transfer student experience…” Yada yada yada… “School battle harem anime.” Yada yada yada…
Yeah yeah, I know, wrong again. Eventually she’s going to realize it’s just easier to ask me directly than make me guess.
…
Nothing?
Velvet was stared at me with her jaw dropped.
“See, Velvet-sama? We can talk it out, ri- right? Even if she’s the one who stole the VISS Driver.”
“Hmm… Yo- you’re right… I should have trusted your judgement, Lythea.” Velvet took a deep breath and went back to normal. Why did she freak out in the first place? “Good work, Lythea. As for you…” She looked me straight in the eyes. “It’s nice to have the opportunity to meet. I’ll be glad to lend you my help. Welcome to my school, human from the other world.” With a genuine smile, she extended her hand forward.
She’s being serious… She’s 100% serious right now… Did I do it? Are we friends now? Why? Someone tell me what’s going on! “Uhmm… Ahahaha… Yayy! The pleasure’s all mine…”
I’m starting to understand why Miyuki doesn’t go into detail. How do you even explain what just happened?