[TS] Surviving in a Yuri Visual Novel

Summoning Magic.

In my previous life, I was a swordsman, so I couldn’t use magic, making it seem like an acceptable form of magic. However, I felt that it would become one of those magics I would never want to experience again.

I realized how terrible it was to be summoned rather than to summon.

The sensation of being turned inside out while still alive was the worst. Shaking off the dust clinging to my clothes, I complained about the chains that hadn’t disappeared.

“If it’s going to break, then make sure it breaks completely.”

I made a strange face as I watched the chains move with my arms and legs, which rattled as I tried to move. I tried to gather strength to completely break the chains clasped around my wrists, but they still didn’t budge.

“…This isn’t a leash.”

What the hell is this?

I knew without needing to look in the mirror that I looked ridiculous.

Sighing at the cold metal I felt against my neck, I suddenly grimaced from a feeling rising from my stomach and covered my mouth with my hand.

“By the way, the motion sickness is no joke.”

I couldn’t help but wonder how summoners managed to endure and get over something like this every time.

I somewhat understood the feelings of a summoned creature, but I wondered if they were affected as badly as I was.

Perhaps it was because I was a hybrid of two races, but I might be more susceptible to the unnecessary effects of summoning magic.

“Mazoku hybrids aren’t exactly common.”

Humans and Mazoku hated each other so much that the probability of a child being born between the two races was almost zero.

Since their relationship had been warped since ancient times, there was no hope for mutual understanding or sharing love. Both races were so incompatible that it was hard to understand why they were driven to devour each other.

They were like oil and water.

Charlotte Cyclamen’s parents were a special case. Humans and Mazoku were like eternal enemies who could not coexist since ancient times.

And look, Charlotte’s parents eventually fell apart for whatever reason.

Her Mazoku mother completely betrayed her entire family, leading to their massacre while Charlotte was sealed away. The despair on Charlotte’s face from being betrayed by someone she once trusted was still fresh in my mind.

Charlotte’s backstory was indeed riddled with inconsistencies, which bothered me immensely.

If I had to say, it would have been easier to just kill Charlotte rather than leave her alive, and the cryptic words and tears she spoke before her sealing made it seem like there was some significance behind them.

What were those last words of hers?

They couldn’t have been just words of sympathy. If that woman, who seemed like she wouldn’t shed a single tear even if you stabbed her, was genuinely shedding tears and speaking in a trembling voice, then she deserved an award for best actress.

Anyway, her last words and tears would undoubtedly become crucial information in unfolding the story ahead.

I shook my head with a sullen expression.

“Since I’ve been summoned anyway, I might as well take things slow and investigate.”

With that thought, I suddenly felt another wave of dizziness wash over me, causing me to gag slightly.

I felt nauseous.

It wasn’t to the point of vomiting, but my condition was terrible. It seemed that moving between spaces was not suited to me at all. Grimacing, I looked around the room where I had presumably been summoned, piercing through the thick smoke.

The room was drab and dark, exuding an atmosphere that felt like a ghost could pop out at any moment.

It looked like a basement.

Slightly damp and chilly, it radiated the kind of cold one would expect to feel in a haunted house or an abandoned building.

It was an ideal place for summoning ominous and grand beings like demons.

Of course, I was more akin to the Mazoku they created than a demon. Since Lucifer described this summoning magic as one that called demons, it would have been more appropriate for Lucifer to be summoned instead of me, a ridiculously out-of-place Mazoku.

But contrary to that, here I was, summoned as an unrelated half-baked Mazoku.

Could it be a hint of something?

After all, Charlotte was an unofficial character with many hidden stories, so it made sense to some extent.

It was possible that I might have a lineage of demons rather than Mazoku. This ridiculous setup made me laugh even at my own thoughts.

In a flashback, I recalled the woman talking about whether Charlotte was a success or a failure before her, so it might have something to do with that. Anyway, it certainly seemed to be an important plot point.

Anyway, demons.

Suddenly, I thought of Lucifer.

One of the two ancient demons who birthed the Mazoku.

If she was the goddess of the Demon World who had been worshipped by the Mazoku for thousands of years, she might be aware of important secrets unknown to me. If I ever got the chance to return to the abyss, I would have a lot of questions for Lucifer.

As I was piecing together the story I had organized thus far along with Charlotte’s personal memories, I had such thoughts.

“Speaking of which, there should be a summoner for this summoning magic. Who summoned me…?”

“Oh, this time you can speak the Empire’s language correctly? That means communication is possible. Is a successful attempt finally in sight after dozens of failures?”

“Huh?”

“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from this ancient, ridiculous cult magic like demon summoning.”

Unfortunately, it was not ‘her’ who was summoned, but I figured this level of success was still commendable. Interrupting me, a gentle woman’s voice reached my ears.

Turning my head instinctively, I found myself staring into the familiar voice.

With a touch more maturity than before we parted ways, my heart raced at the sight of the woman slowly approaching me while waving her hand to clear the smoke as if it was all an annoyance.

“This is my first time experiencing this sticky mana. Moreover, this strange energy, neither human nor Mazoku, is interesting. It certainly seems like I hit the jackpot.”

As the smoke cleared, the familiar figure of the woman appeared before me.

She had ash-gray hair and purple eyes reminiscent of amethyst. As I looked at my former lover, who I had long for during my time back in the real world, I inadvertently held my breath.

“Nice to see you.”

At her simple and straightforward greeting, I swallowed hard.

“My full name is Leticia Riciancia. Just call me Leticia. Remember it, for it’s the name of the one who summoned you.”

Leticia approached me closely, her lazy expression studying my face intently before she suddenly showed a slightly shocked expression and then smiled faintly.

“I hope I summoned the right person. Are you an ancient demon from legends? Or just a Mazoku?”

How should I put this? Of all people, the summoner had to be Leticia. It seemed too bothersome to clarify, so perhaps I should just spill everything.

I could say I was Damien Redius, and that I really wanted to see her, so I responded to her wish in a new body from another world. What kind of reaction would she have then?

…Well, as long as I didn’t die, I guess I’d be okay.

Catching a glimpse of the madness and obsession hidden in her eyes made my body tremble.

I didn’t even want to know who her feelings were directed towards. However, I didn’t wish to lie to her after so long, so it seemed reasonable to reveal my identity and speak the truth here….

[Sudden Quest Occurred.]

…Right? Huh?

A system window appeared before my eyes.

[Sudden Quest: You intending to speak the truth, hold on a moment!]

[If you reveal everything, including the truth and your identity here, unfortunately, Player will confirm a “Locked Up” route. Isn’t a woman’s obsession terrifying? Currently, Leticia Riciancia is in an excited state. Touching a woman like that? I wouldn’t do it. You might end up trapped in a room where only she can enter, with shackles on your ankles and a collar on your neck, unable to return to Earth and finish your life. Would you still reveal your identity?]

[Reward: You may avoid suspicion.]

[Failure: Locked Up route and free meals thrice daily. You’ll live under her love until you die without ever being able to return to Earth (This is personally recommended if it’s your taste.)]

Recommended? What do you mean by recommended, you mad system? Aren’t you supposed to be on my side? Where do you find a system that recommends being locked up?

‘So ungrateful for gratitude.’

I didn’t owe you anything, but still.

I would refuse any idea of confinement. No matter how many times you ask, I wouldn’t agree to it. While I do enjoy a pure love story, I draw the line at this kind of pure love.

Besides, the reward was just about avoiding suspicion? That was pretty stingy. Would getting stat points have any consequence?

I couldn’t believe it.

With a cold expression, I glared at the quest before gathering my composure to speak confidently.

“It’s a bit contradictory that you’re the one who summoned me, yet you’re the one asking me questions.”

“That precisely is the contradiction. I summoned you, so naturally, you must answer the summoner’s questions, don’t you think?”

“That doesn’t mean I have any obligation to answer. I was summoned, but I’m not bound.”

“You’ll come to regret those words.”

Her words sounded like something out of a second-rate villain’s script, but to me, they felt entirely different.

With her cold voice echoing and the massive amount of mana filling the room, my body instinctively froze.

I reached for the sword at my hip, but my body wouldn’t cooperate.

Regardless, Leticia began tracing the tattoo etched under my eyes as if she were familiar with it, then slowly descended, blatantly caressing my cheek.

It was ticklish.

Her touch felt infinitely gentle, yet the coldness emanating from her hands made my eyelids quiver. Taking a step back, Leticia sighed with a hint of disappointment.

“I was enjoying touching you. What a pity.”

There was too drastic a difference from Leticia’s personality the last time I saw her.

Was it because the world had changed? No, perhaps something changed within her while I was gone.

It hadn’t even been five years since Damien Redius had disappeared. What was I to do about this mature aura that brimmed with adult charm?

Her personality seemed to have shifted a little over that time. I swallowed hard.

“Ugh.”

She let out a chuckle and squinted her eyes. Did my reaction amuse her? I chuckled awkwardly and asked.

“Is it amusing?”

“Very much.”

“…This room and your personality have really peculiar tastes.”

“Thank you for the compliment. So, will you answer my question? Are you the demon who grants the wishes of the contract holders from legend?”

If it was true…

“Is it possible to bring someone I want from an entirely different dimension?”

“…For what reason would you do such a thing?”

“Oh, it’s nothing much. I simply want to see the face of the man who ran away without any word after taking my virginity.”

Leticia took a calm breath and continued speaking.

“Can you do it?”

Her eyes shone dangerously, a stark contrast to just moments ago. Seeing that, I held my lips tightly.

Madness.

I must not let my identity be revealed.

If I were to be caught here, the quest’s words about being locked would become a reality.

“Can’t you? If you can’t, that means there would be no reason for my summoning.”

“If I can’t….”

“Wrong. The words that should come from your mouth are not ‘can’t’ but ‘can’. Isn’t that possible?”

…Damn developers.

You call this a happy academy romance fantasy? This sure doesn’t feel like a happy academy life. Not only is the genre entirely different, but the setting’s a mess too.

If it’s a 19+ romance tragedy, the least you could do is give me a heads-up.

“Okay?”

She tilted her head with a low chuckle. Her blatant hand fiddled with my hair, causing the corners of my mouth to twitch.

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