Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Prove Your Innocence!
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Prove your innocence!
What the hell was she talking about?
Honestly, I was a bit flustered.
But once I realized what she was holding out to me, I couldn't help but act a little more deferential.
The moment Irene decided to, I'd get a taste of that crackling electricity.
Thinking back to the specs I'd seen in the game, I wouldn't die, but the idea of electricity coursing through my body wasn't exactly appealing.
I'm not the type who thinks sticking chopsticks in an outlet is manly.
That's not manly; that's just stupid.
In the game, you don't die, but if you're reckless, you could hit that 0.1% chance and end up a wandering soul in the afterlife.
...Not like there's any guarantee you'd respawn if you died.
So, it was only natural for me to show her my palms and gauge her mood.
It seemed like there was some kind of misunderstanding.
I was the victim here, after all—I hadn't done anything wrong.
As I broke into a cold sweat and looked at Irene, she seemed somehow amused.
Maybe she was thinking of one of those mystery novels she loved to read.
The difference from the novels, though, was that she was mistaking a living person for the culprit.
Seeing that spark of excitement on Irene's face made me think... maybe it wasn't such a serious matter after all.
I cautiously spoke up.
"Uh... I have no idea what you're talking about. Could you explain in more detail?"
She fiddled with the magic device, her expression a mix of suspicion and curiosity.
The way it looked like the electricity knew the answer made me swallow hard.
Irene's body trembled slightly as she spoke.
"That 'thing' growing on the cadets. Wasn't that your doing, Teacher?"
"...Pardon?"
What kind of nonsense was this?
While I was dumbfounded by the absurd accusation, Irene raised her voice, her excitement plain as day.
"And the massive-scale mental interference for it... Come on, tell me. Why would you orchestrate something so heinous... well, anyway, why did you plan this?"
It felt like an alien was talking right in front of me.
...Not that she had tentacles or a bulging belly like you'd expect from one.
Was that discriminatory thinking toward aliens? The fact that thought crossed my mind showed just how much her words had left me stupefied.
Would I be crazy enough to make dicks grow on the cadets? That thing was already driving me insane as it was.
And what was this about mental interference...?
Just the nuance of the words made it sound utterly sinister.
Listening to her, it felt like I was some hypnotist with an app for mind control.
I still had no clue, so I spoke carefully, my face full of confusion.
"Uh... I don't know what misunderstanding this is, but why on earth would you think that? If—if it really was some conspiracy, I'd be the victim here."
"Hmm..."
Would I be insane enough to make dicks sprout and have everyone come to me to deal with them?
For starters, I'm not even from this world—I got dragged into this mess for reasons unknown.
If anything, I'm the victim, not the perpetrator.
Irene seemed to accept that, her face turning hesitant.
Then, as if she'd just realized something, she snapped her fingers and approached me.
A bad feeling washed over me, so I asked her.
"Uh, th-that... doesn't that mean the misunderstanding's cleared up?"
"I've heard there's a race called succubi."
With that, she made me stand up to check if I had a tail.
She looked a bit embarrassed and apologetic about it herself.
...Though she was still aiming the magic device at me, so the suspicion lingered.
I was still bewildered and wronged, but I figured it was worth playing along.
It felt like indulging Irene's... detective game, but the questions she raised had piqued my interest too.
I'd assumed it was the case because Michelle said so, but maybe it wasn't?
If I could get to the truth of this, maybe I'd find a clue to getting back home.
For that, I desperately needed Irene's help—she seemed unaffected by whatever this mental interference was.
...It was supposed to be a yuri dating sim, so why had it turned into a thriller all of a sudden?
Because... this wasn't a game anymore?
"Eek?!"
Then I felt Irene's hand groping my butt.
Her slender, slightly cool fingers slipped between my gym clothes, gently tracing the cleft of my ass.
Damn stats made it feel... a little lewd.
Soon, she muttered, "...So soft," cleared her throat, and straightened up.
"No tail, at least."
"Of course not...?"
"N-next..."
Having checked my butt, Irene now said she'd inspect my belly—my lower abdomen, specifically. Looking for a vulva or something?
Not an entirely unfamiliar term.
I nodded and slowly unzipped my gym clothes, lifting my pristine white shirt.
...Nothing to be embarrassed about, but the heat in Irene's ivory eyes made it feel weird.
Irene stared intently at my pale lower belly, then, unsatisfied with just looking, reached out with her delicate hands again.
Her soft touch probed carefully for any hidden slit on my lower abdomen.
I could feel a space that hadn't been there originally twitching faintly.
Once I acknowledged it, its presence hit me overwhelmingly.
"Hmm..."
After thoroughly groping my lower belly and pelvis, Irene murmured, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Nothing...? You're not hiding it, are you?"
The only thing I'm hiding is the 'thing' in my heart.
I shook my head vigorously, and she tapped her fingers, deep in thought.
"Then why... aren't you affected, Teacher? Everyone else insists they didn't have it before whenever the topic comes up."
"W-well...?"
Doesn't that mean you're saying I'm the culprit, Teacher?
Her expression seemed to ask, and even I started feeling like something was off.
Irene was still aiming the magic device at me, but now she looked utterly confused.
I worried she'd fire it by accident.
As I lowered my shirt, unable to do anything, Irene flinched.
"I've confirmed you're not some demon like a succubus, Teacher, but... not all the questions are answered yet."
I don't know the answers either—what do you want from me?
That was when it happened.
A voice echoed in my head—one I'd never heard before, yet somehow familiar.
-I think I can help with this.
Who are you?
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing."
Irene's puzzled gaze.
But the voice's owner giggled merrily.
No, seriously, who is this? Did I unknowingly make a pact with some demon?
-You look confused. If I said I'm the one who's been helping you all this time, would you know?
Helping me...? Since I fell into this world, the only non-human who's helped me is...
The spirit—Undine.
W-what? Undine could talk?
"Teacher? Did something come to mind?"
"N-no, not really..."
I jolted in surprise on my own, and Irene eyed me suspiciously.
The moment grievance hit me, the voice—presumably Undine's—spoke warmly.
-Not the opportunity I wanted, but... this isn't bad. Yeah, I think I can help in this situation... What do you say? Will you accept?
...Is this really Undine?
No matter how I thought about it, it felt off.
The Undine I'd seen so far was playful and devoted, like a mischievous girl—not this intellectual.
Not that I was screaming "This isn't my Undine!" or anything.
But... something kept nagging at me.
What helped me decide was...
Ridiculously, my boosted stats let me sense a clear, profound aura vividly.
-Nod if you accept.
Even as she said it, I felt that clear, bottomless depth.
I nodded, entranced.
The voice laughed in satisfaction, and suddenly water surged around me.
"Kyaa!?"
Crackle! Crackle!
Startled, Irene activated her magic device, the ominous sparking of electricity filling the air.
But it crumbled harmlessly before reaching me.
The whirlpool swallowed me and Irene, then settled into a soft, bubbling bed on the floor.
Soaked through, Irene stared at me blankly.
I shook my head and hands—no, I didn't do this.
The carpet-like foam bubbled up.
And a beautiful woman cloaked in blue light rose from the bubbles.
"Wow..."
"...Gasp."
She had long, water-blue hair cascading down. Draped in pure white like a mythical figure, she gazed at me.
More than the familiar clothes, the sudden appearance of this stunning stranger made my heart pound.
The mysteriously arrived woman looked at the flooded infirmary and snapped her fingers.
The scattered bubbles rushed back to her.
At the same time, she whispered in my ear.
"Now that we've formally contracted... I can claim my due."
"...Pardon?"
Leaving those loaded words, she turned to the dazed Irene and spoke.
"I can clear up your suspicions."
Finally snapping to, Irene stammered.
"Y-you're...?"
Her face suggested she had an inkling.
The woman smiled deeply.
"I am El."
Her cool hand traced my waist.
"Mother of all waters."
Pardon?
Who are you, really?