[TS] Surviving in a Yuri Visual Novel

The silence permeated the underground waterway.

In the space where I had expected to hear only the sound of flowing water until arriving at Leticia’s room, Leticia unexpectedly engaged in conversation more than she had at the beginning, sharing trivial and pointless banter as we walked for a moment.

Upon reaching the end, Leticia strode confidently toward the wall densely embedded with stones, placing her hand on it as if familiar with the surface.

As I quietly observed from behind, an extraordinary event occurred.

Crack, crack.

The wall began to fissure, slowly splitting apart while light emanated from the crevice. Then, with a crashing sound, a pile of stones collapsed, revealing a passage large enough for an adult to pass through.

“This is…”

“A simple trick that even a novice could pull off.”

“…But that’s not a kind of magic a novice could perform. Did you perhaps mix in an illusion spell with spatial magic?”

“Something along those lines. But what’s with that reaction, as if you’ve never seen it before?”

While recognition-deprivation magic was something any decent mage could cast, I shook my head at Leticia’s surprise, hinting at my Mazoku heritage.

“I’ve seen something similar before.”

No matter how lacking I was in magical knowledge, I wasn’t forgetful enough to forget the spells frequently used by allies and enemies on the battlefield.

I had struggled with this type of magic when trapped in the dungeon created by the Archdemon.

However, it wouldn’t be feasible to claim that, being Damien Redius, I had seen it countless times on the battlefield. Revealing it in front of a woman obsessively fixated on Damien Redius was akin to crying out, “Please recognize me!”

Unfortunately, I had no particular inclination to gain love while being imprisoned. And she likely wouldn’t even believe it. After all, Damien was a man, and I was a woman. There was no reason for her to trust someone of a different gender.

If there was an opportunity later, I might try to share that, but the chances of her believing it were quite low. It was better to say it after building some degree of trust.

So, I mixed in my memories of Charlotte, carefully choosing my words to avoid arousing suspicion.

“Since I’m half Mazoku and all, though I have no connection to magic, I’ve seen an older figure use a similar spell from a distance.”

Unlike other Mazoku, I didn’t possess any particular talent for magic, so I had never used it myself. With a reminiscent expression, I slightly lowered my gaze, feigning pity as I told my lie with brazen arrogance.

“As you know, half Mazoku are hardly welcomed in the Demon World.”

Fortunately, Leticia seemed to buy it.

“They say half Mazoku are treated worse than humans are treated by Mazoku.”

Leticia intentionally emphasized the point about half Mazoku. Separating that from whether she was probing my depths, she was likely trying to scratch at me as well. She had a somewhat mischievous side.

Seeing her mention “half Mazoku” must have struck a nerve with me, so she decided to poke at it.

Of course, I had no intention of falling into her trap. It was best to respond calmly without reacting to provocations in such a situation.

“You know well. Yes, even garbage thrown on the street is treated better than me.”

“…So you want me to show you some pity?”

“Not at all. If I wanted your pity, I would have already explained my circumstances while showing this.”

I spoke with a calm expression, rattling the chains still binding my wrists.

Unfortunately, due to the influence of the summoning magic, they had snapped but not completely come off. The current chains resembled something that had been cut by a sharp blade.

So I simply ended up wearing them as they hadn’t broken entirely.

I would love to break free myself, but what could I do? They wouldn’t shatter. Whatever the coincidence, I had tried to break them with sheer strength, but they didn’t budge as if connected to something.

In that sense, I held out the dangling chain cuff on my wrist for Leticia to see better.

Though I sensed her gaze questioning what I was doing, I didn’t care. Watching her flustered expression made my lips curl upward. When Leticia had such a look on her face, I felt a desire to tease her rather than hide my identity.

Let’s admit it.

Leticia was a wicked character, and so was I.

With a smirk, I slipped my wrist and stretched my neck so Leticia could see better, proudly displaying the collar fastened around it.

I tacked on a nonsensical reason.

“Being summoned like this, is this perhaps your kind of thing? Dog collars or cuff play?”

“….”

“If you contract with me, I could indulge in it, but you have someone you secretly love already… Don’t make that sour face. It’s just a light joke.”

I hastily cut myself off. It was unavoidable since Leticia had summoned me while I was sealed.

I hadn’t expected this either. Who would have thought I would be summoned with the cuffs still on?

In stories or anime, the chains binding a character usually fall away when they awaken from a long seal, asking, “Are you my master?” But why was it only me?

It seemed clear that the gods disliked me.

If they didn’t, then there wouldn’t be any reason to possess me twice. When Leticia’s intense gaze demanded I explain what was going on, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Just kidding, just kidding. I have my own reasons.”

Leticia frowned with a displeased expression. It was her habitual reaction when she didn’t approve of something. Seeing that made my eyes narrow.

What was going on in that head of hers?

I wanted to take a look inside. But besides that, I had overlooked one thing: Leticia’s personality was different from the last time we parted.

“Then does it mean someone else put it around your neck? That person must have bad taste.”

I should have remembered that her personality had changed since then.

Realizing my mistake as I saw her expression shift from blank to intrigued, I understood I didn’t need to provoke her just because she was trying to provoke me.

Once again, my mouth had run too far. As if exactly the same situation was about to occur again, I hurriedly cleared my throat, trying to change the subject, but it was futile.

Leticia quickly grabbed the chain around her neck instead.

Before I knew it, I was pulled closer to her, close enough that our lips nearly touched, and we fell silent, gazing into each other’s eyes.

My throat tightened.

Any words spoken here would only backfire. So it was best to wait silently.

I fixed my gaze on Leticia’s eyes until she opened her mouth. As she stared into my deep purple eyes, she blinked a few times and then released the hand holding the chain as if abandoning a toy she had lost interest in.

“I’ll put cuffs on you if I want. If that’s your thing, I can make sure you enjoy it later.”

She added one last statement.

“And I’ve removed the magic binding you to the chains. The rest is up to your strength.”

What?

I couldn’t believe my ears, staring at Leticia to confirm what I had just heard, but her expression was as calm as ever. Maybe with a wishful thought, I tightened my grip on the chain on my wrist, and it disintegrated into fine particles, disappearing effortlessly.

Had she interpreted the magic in that brief moment and even found the countermeasure? Although the efficacy of the magic calmed as the seal lifted, it should not have been disregarded.

As proof, the chains had pulled me and never let go even after I was summoned. Truly, her talent was exceptional enough for anyone to call her a genius.

“This is impressive.”

I couldn’t help but express my admiration.

Yet Leticia’s expression remained indifferent. Glancing at my face briefly, she turned her back to me, answering dismissively.

“The room is a little messy, but it shouldn’t be a problem for us to stay here.”

Leticia spoke. With a nonchalant demeanor, she turned on the lights and introduced me to her makeshift laboratory and room, and I looked around, my expression blank with disbelief.

True to her words, the messiness was secondary; the size of the room was more than adequate for a single person, bordering on excessive.

“I’ll wash up, so sit on the bed and wait patiently.”

Leticia barked her command, unable to hide her reluctant expression. It felt like I had truly become a dog. I nodded with a crooked smile and plopped down on the bed.

Then, I waved my hand at Leticia, who stood in front of the bathroom.

“Do as you please.”

There’s a lot I need to do as well. I need to check the cash shop I kept putting off since I was summoned, and I have to finish reviewing my status window and skills. With a tired expression, I rested my chin on my hand and waved my hand in the air, and Leticia grimaced at me but soon curved her lips into a smile.

“Don’t peek.”

“…I don’t even want to, so wash up at ease.”

“Is your answer a bit slow? You’re a girl too, right? What’s the big deal about being seen by another girl? Want to wash together?”

“No, thanks.”

As I replied while hiding my slightly reddened ears, Leticia chuckled softly and entered the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water began, prompting me to concentrate on my status window.

“Six ability points from the quest… Oh? It increased to ten. I don’t recall completing any quests that offered a reward.”

It’s good news, but…

What should I even spend it on? Should I invest it all in strength? My luck was abysmal, but F or E didn’t seem that different. Still, boosting my mana felt less appealing, so I thought it wiser to increase my strength another notch.

“Let’s make the strength D.”

Eventually, I reached a compromise.

[Character Status Window]

Name: Charlotte Cyclamen

Gender: Female

Occupation: Charlotte Cyclamen.

Race: Dampir

Title: Avenger of Blood, Proxy of the Ancestor

Ability Points: 0

Strength: D(1/10)

Agility: E(0/10)

Mana: D(0/10)

Luck: F(0/10)

Unique Ability: Blood Mana

Trait: Beginner’s Advantage (A), Blood Mark (S)

▶ Random Gacha. Free draw for traits available once.

Having poured ten points into strength, I smiled with satisfaction. I was genuinely happy that my strength had finally reached D. Everything was flowing smoothly for a beginning; I thought it would be a good idea to finish with the trait draw as well and pressed the random gacha.

In games, it’s all about the gacha.

Even if this world is reality, it’s ultimately a world built upon games.

Therefore, the gacha lies in the realm of gods. What nonsense am I spouting? Well, I don’t know either. As long as it’s not garbage, I’m fine.

“Please don’t let it be garbage.”

I prayed.

I clasped my hands tightly, wishing with all my might.

If I’ve been possessed by a game twice, it’s only right that it spares me from the worst.

Oh Lord, if you can hear my voice, embrace this desperate little lamb.

I sought an imaginary deity. Regardless, the present gift box before me trembled and then burst with a loud pop! As I stared at it in silence, a rainbow erupted, illuminating the air with golden fireworks.

I blinked in shock. It was clearly a signal of winning. The traits were calling out, declaring I was the winner.

Then, a system window appeared.

“I got it!”

With excitement bubbling, I leaped up from the bed and looked at it, freezing for an entirely different reason.

[Yuri (S)]: You can gain favor from women you meet for the first time. Additionally, women who take affection toward the player may develop feelings of love and obsession. However, if that obsession crosses a line into twisted love, it could result in imprisonment, so proceed with caution. Appearance enhancement is a bonus.

“What the hell?”

It was a trait that made one curse loudly.

“What even is this?”

Imprisonment really does sound like someone’s pet’s name. At every turn, it’s some imprisonment. This mad system seemed uninterested in returning me to my home.

Moreover, the fact that it applies to all women who feel affection toward me. This is absolutely insane.

The game suddenly turned hardcore mode. It seems they need to change the title to reflect this genre.

Surviving in a Yuri dating sim game.

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