Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: S4. Succubus's Dream / 440 Years' Annihilation Squad -7
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Crafty rabbits always dig at least two burrows.
Whether he likes Yuri or not was fine either way. But I was hoping he'd like her—it'd be more fun that way. Lucky me.
Emotional overflow. Proof that the evil god's sublimation is working, isn't it?
In the heavy silence hanging low, I gazed at her backlit silhouette, faintly visible in the veiled moonlight. I could sense her trembling emotions from that outline.
"...Mima."
Yuri murmured it like that but kept her back turned, not looking at me. For her sake, I made some noise. I stepped on the bushes dyed in the dim blue of night, rustling them.
Sabak.
And approached.
As my footsteps drew nearer and the distance closed, her body flickered like a hazy candle flame. It somehow felt like she was flailing about.
What should I say? After a greeting, words to open the conversation. What would be best to choose?
The thought crossed my mind that she might get angry at me. No, she definitely would. So, should I give her an opening to vent and cool off?
Or maybe ask her to dance. To hint that the festival hasn't ended, that every moment with you is a festival.
...Isn't this weird? My heart's pounding too hard.
No, not weird at all. Look closely with wide eyes. Even in her wounded, trembling form, she's beautiful. No way I'd leave her shivering in loneliness.
A grating sound scraped at my eardrums. Some broken modules weren't executing, sending error messages.
I could feel it.
I could feel Yuri's heart. Living and clashing with her, I'd clearly sensed the affection in her gazes and gestures. Hard to put into words, but her feelings tasted and smelled like peaches.
If I touched her directly, I could feel it even more surely.
With a touch of excitement, I reached out and gently took her hand, handling it like fine glasswork. She flinched briefly but didn't pull away.
I could feel it. The info read from her skin, cross-verified repeatedly, was Yuri's emotions. I could clearly recognize her scent.
"...You're late."
"Sorry. Something really important came up... But I was fighting for you. That much, I can say for sure."
"For me? By abandoning me?"
"Just realized how nonsensical that is. Sorry I'm late."
Really.
Yuri grumbled softly, but to me, it sounded like forgiveness. Relief spread through my whole body, the echo turning sweet as it shook me.
This feeling was new. Or more precisely, never heightened like this before. Time with her was always joyful, of course, but tonight felt even more special.
Because I'd realized it. I'd looked at my heart, seen where it pointed with my own eyes. And there was Yuri.
She spun around. Fresh tear stains lingered at the corners of her downcast eyes. Seeing those traces brought sadness, but spotting the affection in her gaze lifted my heart again.
Heaven and hell in a flash.
Even in that brief meeting of eyes, I could tell. We were thinking the same. I'd been late. Feeling like self-inflicted punishment, I mustered courage first and spoke.
"You know, I never knew love before... but now I think I do."
Yuri's eyes widened with joy.
The trick was taking romantic feelings from Yuri's self.
I've lived a long life and seen much love, but never felt it myself. But with this chance... I transplanted her affection into me.
So, already enchanted, you can't discern it. Much may be acting, but the heart is real.
And... here in the past of year 440, no one close to Yuri exists. Even if my actions deviate a bit from the real her, no one points it out.
Romantic feelings...?
Strange feeling. Just a small touch fills me with ticklish joy, and even that cheesy line sounds charming.
You're feeling the same down there, right? It's your original emotions, after all.
Are you listening, Yuri?
My heart is confused. It's a little devil that grips my reason, shaking it, sometimes charging opposite to gain.
But how can I refuse this little devil's whispers? The heart is me, after all. Denying and suppressing it is denying myself.
Now I get it.
Escaping that dull, colorless world suppressed by all sorts of magic. I suddenly recalled an old vow.
I'd told Yuna I was looking for a happy story.
Ridiculous, tying my heart tight while saying that. I had to accept this rampaging heart.
Yuri's eyes darted shakily, then she glanced down hesitantly and spoke. Confirmed.
"...A confession?"
"Not an official one."
"What does that mean?"
"This isn't reality. Confessions repeated in a dream that fades on waking can't compare to one real one."
Yuri looked confused, thinking it some metaphor. I smiled softly and took her hand, assuming a stance. An awkward dance invitation.
From that motion alone, she understood, blushing as she carefully stepped. One hand grasping the partner's, the other supporting their waist.
One, two. Simple side-to-side steps.
That alone made it a festival. My heart filled with joy, I burst out laughing. Yuri laughed too.
Yes. Still things to do.
After dancing with her awhile, I cautiously broached it.
"That key... I want to ask for it."
"......"
"I know. Lots of people tried to take it. Even if I promise to make you happy with that key, you'd feel uneasy. But... I want to say, trust me."
"...Threatening with the mood?"
Yuri clutched the key at her neck. She hesitated deeply. Natural. But happily... her hesitation felt sweet.
Seemed more worried I'd leave after taking it than betrayal's wound.
Can't take by force. No way. That would crumble her heart—and mine too.
Yuri pondered long.
"...Fine."
"You trust me...?"
"You... I mean, Mima. Were my only ally. If seducing me, wouldn't have acted so pathetic. And..."
Her gaze. Peering inside me.
"...A person with eyes like that doesn't seem capable of betraying me."
"......"
Correct.
Yuri tugged my hand, slipping into my arms. A slightly smaller Yuri version, easy to hold like Yuna.
Yuri hesitated to the end. Gripped the key in both hands, fretted over negatives, then. Gathered courage. Spoke.
"...I have something to say too. How was I today?"
"Beautiful. Especially today."
"Is that... so. I'm glad. To hear that."
Yuri smiled innocently. That smile alone showed her joy. Lily-like purity mixed with a drop of bewitching.
And handed over the key with both hands. Thrust it in.
"Means I was pretty good at acting, right?"
...Huh?
Crisis sense shot up my spine.
Why? It's Yuri in front of me. Why feel crisis? Situation's not dangerous at all. Right?
The key's embedded deep in my chest...
Gears meshing and turning echoed through the world. How hadn't I noticed such a huge sound?
The object 『Key』, packed with massive info, held the next-floor key plus heaps of malware.
Lifeline severed.
Before my chaotic mess, Yuri... no.
The queen wearing Yuri's skin twirled boastfully. Skin melted away. Hair turned white, suit to pure white dress. Finally facing the Succubus Queen.
With an expression drawing all worldly allure, she said:
"Ufufu... How's this? Super 『Heroine』-like, right? ♥"
My mind shorted with thoughts surging. Regret, shock, anger, sorrow flashing then fading. Left with one sentence.
Was I too complacent...?
"Ahhat, ahahahat, ahahahahaha—!!"
Clank. Underground door opened, powerless me fell.
With the queen's bewitching laughter in my ears, I sank into consciousness's depths.
"Uhuhut, fhuhu... Ahahahahat—!!"
Basement level 2. Dropping the mad wizard deep into consciousness, the queen laughed long. Laughed and laughed, till tears flowed.
Heart tearing. The queen felt mental pain. So it was funny.
For acting, transplanting Yuri's emotions made betraying her beloved hurt!
"Ahuhu... New experience. Ahh, never imagined crying over a man."
Below was a fine 『disguise』.
Yuri who'd fallen earlier, and just-now 'Mima'-san too. Would slowly melt inside into info. 'Mima'-san, damaged by 『Key』 and lifeline cut, had no way to climb out.
I won.
The queen raised a victory toast amid joy and sorrow.
I opened my eyes. Pitch black.
A pitch-black space. Sticky black tar dripped from the sky above, the ground clingy enough to kill.
Skin stung. These blacks were info-acidic substances. Slowly dissolving and digesting my composing info. I'd been eaten.
Okay, status check.
"Queen bitch."
Good. Sanity verified. Love?
"I really like Yuri."
Still there. Even if queen egged it, it was my emotion. Budding affection throbbed in my heart's corner. But.
That affection huddled in a corner, beaten by other emotions... anger, survival instinct. Controllable. Okay.
Damn. Should've dated properly.
First love ever, lost my mind over it, over-immersed in past Yuri after mere days...
Am I the type to lose it and dive headfirst when smitten...?
Calm. Continue check.
That damn clanking? Gone. Good.
Melting speed? With tight defense, can hold 3 days.
Lifeline? Long severed. Twisted to prevent repair, sterilized.
Based on this info... I coldly assessed reality.
I'm fucked. Humbly admitted.
Succubus Queen's disguise chomped me, lifeline lost, can't escape, will melt? No. No giving up.
Played by queen since entering, but fight ain't over till it's over. Worst case, random uhwa gacha.
Then what the fuck is?
"......"
"......"
The Pink Balrez glaring at me from there seems real, not illusion or act.
Please, be fake.
Please, queen doing double-act. Harder escape if she's that thorough, but I'll take hard mode. Please, God.
But heavens indifferent. Melting in black tar, Pink Balrez calmly spoke.
"Did you like this young, perky me that much, you mad wizard?"
"......"
Fuck this.
"You know, I never knew love before... but now I think I do."
"Aaaaaaaah—!!"
I plugged my ears and rolled. If I die here, it's shame-death. Killer's Pink Balrez, not queen.
We reunited somewhat sordidly.