[TS] Surviving in a Yuri Visual Novel

A suffocating silence followed.

I glanced once at Charlotte, who was staring at me as if she were piercing through my face, and looked at Leticia, who was smiling as if this situation was the funniest thing ever, and grimaced oddly.

Inside, I screamed at the sudden reversal of the situation.

‘What do you want me to do!’

Honestly admitting it here would be an act of suicide. The quest was already causing a ruckus about how the heroines might obsess over and imprison me for life; could it be that Charlotte isn’t one of them? No. Absolutely not. My instincts screamed otherwise.

Having experienced the system and this game until now, I understood.

It was an unpleasant reality that Charlotte was undoubtedly among the heroines.

Who in the world has a student infatuated with their master? Well, of course, it’s not impossible for a master and a student to have a romantic relationship, but in the context of a master-student relationship, isn’t it usually more like family than lovers?

Family.

Yes, Charlotte and I are family.

From the time she was dragged into the battlefield as a child and had no choice but to fight, Leticia and I have always cared for her, so it was somewhat natural for her to hold affection and love for me.

But liking her as a man, as a romantic interest, was out of the question. I already had a lover. Leticia alone was enough for me.

So, I didn’t need any heroines. Honestly, I was already overwhelmed just having Leticia.

Just then, a selection window appeared right in front of my eyes.

[Please choose a response suitable for this situation.]

[1. Master…? No, we just met today, so there must be some misunderstanding. The reason I came to see your sister is purely for work.]

[2. So you’re the Lady Charlotte, known as the North’s Greatest Sword? It’s an honor to meet you. May I ask for your autograph?]

[3. I’m sorry. Uh, I don’t know you. I don’t even know who your master is. I’m friends with Leticia, and it seems she played a prank on me. Ah! I’m Charlotte Cyclamen, and I’ve just started working at the Academy as Leticia’s assistant.]

Hmm. There aren’t any selection options that are particularly appealing. The best choices seem to be 1 and 2, but if I choose 1 and Charlotte starts questioning what business I had meeting her sister, I wouldn’t have much to say, so it’s probably better to pass.

So, it looks like 3 is the way to go… but maybe I should try option 2 with the thought of hitting on her as a fan. Perhaps that would lower her guard… but now I wonder if this method might backfire.

After a moment’s hesitation, I chose option 3.

“I’m sorry. Uh, I don’t know you. I don’t even know who your master is. I’m friends with Leticia, and it seems she played a prank on me. Ah! I’m Charlotte Cyclamen, and I’ve just started working at the Academy as Leticia’s assistant.”

“…Huh?”

“Oh. You’re my sister’s friend and new assistant? I see. …What?! Assistant?! My sister has an assistant?!”

“Yes. It seems you haven’t heard much from Leticia. Well, it hasn’t been easy for her, so it can’t be helped. I’ve just been appointed as the new professor of martial arts at the Academy. It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Charlotte, the North’s Greatest Sword.”

My words flowed smoothly like a river.

Telling a lie once is hard, but telling it twice is more difficult. With a smile plastered on my face, Leticia’s expression crumpled. Looking into her eyes, it seemed as though she was asking how I could do this; this time, I felt victorious.

At that moment, Charlotte grabbed my arm and asked worriedly.

“I don’t know what sudden whim made you take on an assistant, but are you really okay? My sister isn’t the kind of person who would even have someone as an assistant!”

Leticia, who had been grinning, suddenly stiffened her face and asked in bewilderment.

“Hey, Charlotte. You’ve been subtly dissing me since earlier; what does that mean?”

“And you say you’re my sister’s friend! I never thought my sister would have friends other than the Hero, the Saint, or the Sniper! What could a quirky wizard like you possibly offer as a friend?!”

“Are you even listening to me right now? And isn’t your evaluation of your sister a bit harsh?!”

She lightly brushed it off. Charlotte chuckled.

Ignoring Leticia’s words completely, Charlotte looked at me as if she genuinely felt sorry for me. It was the expression of someone looking at a poor pig being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

With that pitiful look, it made Leticia seem pitiful instead. I found myself smiling hollowly at Leticia, who was shaking my shoulder.

“When on earth?! My sister, who used to be so innocent, made a friend…! It’s a good thing, but of all people… it had to be someone like my sister. Ahh, what sin did I commit in my past life to end up being friends with someone like her…”

“Charlotte? What on earth are you talking about? What’s wrong with me?”

“So the problem is that you don’t realize it. Seriously. Did you take on an assistant just for another curious experiment? I still remember that guy running out of the lab crying.”

“It was legal. That guy agreed to it, and it was entirely his fault. As for me, I only have Damian, who, not knowing his place, claims he likes me. If he had just quietly played the role of a test subject and assistant, I wouldn’t have kicked him out.”

“What do you mean test subject?! I’ve told you countless times that you’re the Sage of the Hero party, not a crazy psycho wizard!”

“No, I simply wanted to conduct pure research! Charlotte, you know. Summoning Damian from another dimension was an experiment that was absolutely necessary.”

There were injuries, but no deaths. Leticia added.

“I have not caused any unjust victims through my research. My friends may disapprove of me, but they did not reprimand me. Charlotte, all I wanted was to bring Damian back into this world, and I was willing to violate any taboo to do that.”

Above all, the aggressive experiments were conducted on trash that no one would care about if they died in this world; is that truly a problem? Huh? Charlotte. The cool and cold voice of Leticia echoed in my ears.

“If you didn’t have the resolve to go that far, you wouldn’t have even attempted it in the first place.”

I watched the sisters engage in a subtle psychological battle with my mouth agape. What day is it today? I’m witnessing a lot of interesting scenes. The little girl, who always cowered in front of her sister and couldn’t even talk back, was now arguing with Leticia, answering her back clearly.

Should I consider this a good change? Their relationship is indeed happier than before, so shouldn’t that be a fortunate thing? Isn’t it much better than being cold and indifferent?

Of course, the topic of conversation was a bit strange, but the conversation between the sisters was beyond my interest.

“…And it was a while ago.”

“Sister.”

“I might have done that when I was a bit out of my mind, but I don’t do those things anymore, and you know that, Charlotte. …Honestly, I don’t have any reason to.”

“…You don’t have any reason?”

“Yeah. I’ve already achieved the desired result.”

With a glance, Leticia smiled at me, but then quickly wiped the smile off her face.

For now, she must have thought that explaining my true identity wouldn’t be believed by Charlotte, or maybe it was just her annoyance at her sister not trusting her; Leticia naturally changed the subject.

“Should I say I’m letting go of my regrets? Anyway, that’s not really important, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“…?”

“Opportunities will come again and again. In fact, as time passes, you’ll end up regretting not saying what you didn’t say now.”

The last words were directed not at Charlotte but at me.

If, as Leticia said, the day comes when my true identity is revealed to Charlotte as well, I don’t know what her reaction will be. She might look at me with a face full of betrayal, asking how could I do this, or I might end up seeing Charlotte’s face twisted in tears.

I might not be able to handle it.

If Charlotte is truly one of the heroines, then having another one means… I definitely can’t handle it. Just having Leticia is already overwhelming, and now there’s one more? It would be the end for me. I pictured in my mind a future where I would be pulled around as they wished.

– Charlotte. Where are you going? Without my permission.

– W-what? Am I some kind of pet?! Why would I need to ask your permission for everything?!

– You are! You’re my special little pet who’s cuter and more unique than an ordinary pet. You’re barking right now too, wearing the collar I gave you.

– …Hey!

– What?

– …Never mind. Sorry, Leticia.

– Use respectful language. And you’re supposed to call me master.

– …I’m sorry, Leticia… Master.

– Good.

…

…No. At least Charlotte would be different.

– Master? Where are you going?

– Charlotte?

– It’s my time to monopolize you, Master. We promised not to involve my sister… You aren’t really trying to run away, are you?

– Has your mind gone crazy…

– No, Master. Unlike my sister, I’m trying my best to be patient; you really don’t want to spend today with me? Huh?

– …The Charlotte I know was kind and pure; where did this crafty one come from?

– Hehe. It’s all just the heart of your devoted student, Master. In that sense, I want to try some special play today; is that possible, Master?

– …Crazy. Get away from me.

– Aheh, Master. It sounds like I’ve done something wrong.

– That’s right!

Crazy.

While Charlotte seemed a little less dangerous, it was true that both sisters posed a risk. I gazed at the two women fighting before me with teary-eyed imagination of my future self being squeezed and gasping for breath.

Why can’t my life flow smoothly?

* * *

“I’m Charlotte Cyclamen, and I will be teaching the martial arts class in place of Leticia today. Nice to meet you.”

Anyway, I stood before the tiny tots.

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