Volume 5 – Chapter 133(Mary Skelter: Nightmares(Part 6))
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Author Note:
[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.
{ } = When talking through Telepathy.
' ' = When thinking in your mind.
<< >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.
--- --- = When describing a certain period OR Another place.
** ** = Point Of View, i.e., POV
/// /// = In Call
" " = System and when talking to it.
「 」 = Thoughts being heard
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---- Jail, Liberated District ----
Walking down the district's streets, it wouldn't be wrong to say that seeing so many people here was surprising. They were chatting, strolling, selling goods from the stall, bargaining with their customers, and so on.
Raising her head, Lumine saw many old-story buildings, which looked like a stack of one house over another.
Lumine: Quite a place. Right...…Alice.
Alice: ....
Lumine: No need to pretend I know you are already awake.
Hearing that, the black-haired girl on the blonde's back slowly opened her eyes, and an embarrassed expression appeared on her face.
Alice: I am sorry. It's not that I was hiding it. You all were busy talking, so I didn't want to interrupt.
Lumine: It's okay. I don't mind.
Alice: T-Thanks.
Lumine: You're welcome. So…how are you feeling?
Alice: My head feels refreshed, and I no longer am facing any violent urges. Though my body still lacks the energy to move.
Lumine: I see. Don't worry. You will be on your feet soon.
Alice: That will be great...…Uh…Lumine…
Lumine: What is it?
Alice: What h-happened to me?
After remaining quiet momentarily, the blonde decided not to hide anything.
Lumine: You entered Blood Skelter State, Alice.
Alice: Blood Skelter State?
Lumine: As you know by now, whenever Marchen Blood falls on Blood Maidens for long, you can enter Massare Mode.
Alice: Um. I have used it while fighting Marchens not long ago.
Lumine: Yeah. It's just that Blood Maidens cannot simply bathe in Marchen blood without consequence. Corruption will slowly build up in a Blood Maiden, making her agitated and gradually polluting her mentality.
Alice: ….
Lumine: A Blood Maiden pushed past the tipping point will enter Blood Skelter. In this dangerous state, she attains great power far surpassing their Massacre Mode but is unable to recognize friend or foe, becoming nothing more than a rabid berserker.
The girl started shivering in fear hearing that.
Alice: D-Did I attack either J-Jack or Red Riding Hood or you?
She asked in a trembling voice. Anyone could tell how scared she was as the very thought of hurting Jack haunted her.
Lumine: No. I stopped you before you could do so.
Alice: Y-You do…
Lumine: Yes.
Hearing this, she let out a sigh of relief and unconsciously hugged her tightly.
Alice: You have no idea how devasted I would be if I learned that I attacked Jack. So, thank you.
Lumine: Um… Alice...
Alice: Yes?
Lumine: I know what I am about to say sounds rude, but it would be better if you told Jack that he should stay behind and not get in the way in the future.
Alice: Why do you s-say so?
Alice would have been angry if someone else had said such things about Jack. But Lumine was different. Not only did she save her, but Alice knew she wouldn't say something like this without any reasoning behind it.
Lumine: Jack wanted to rush to you when you entered Blood Skelter State. I understand that he was worried. However, going without a plan or solution was suicide. If I hadn't stopped him at the last moment, he would have reached you, and I am sure you would have swung at him without any hesitation.
This made the girl flinched as she knew the weight behind those words.
Alice: W-Why are you telling me that? Now that I know about Blood Skelter, there is no way I will let him join us in the fighting.
Lumine: That's your thoughts, not his.
Alice: What are you trying to say?
Lumine: I have seen his eyes. He wants to help you, so he will definitely try to join you.
Alice: No! I refuse! No matter what, I won't let Jack do so!
At her outburst, the blonde shook her head and spoke.
Lumine: I said what I wanted to. The rest is up to you guys to decide.
Alice: ...
The Black Haired didn't respond and started thinking about something. The Blonde didn't disturb her and kept looking at the things around her.
Noticing how the food, like vegetables, was being sold, she couldn't help but frown.
'Lumine: Since this entire place is covered in some dome made by Jail, there is no way for sunlight to penetrate through. Hence, it should be basically impossible to grow crops here. So how…'
But then, as if realization struck her, she glanced back and could see the tower pretty well from her spot.
'Lumine: I see. It should be because Jail mimicked a crop field. In other words, what people eat here is a part of Jail itself.'
At this, her expression turned ugly.
'Lumine: I must be careful while consuming it right away. Still, it's good that I have Adeptal energy as that power also has a purification effect.'
Alice: E-Even if Jack does come with us… I don't think there will be much of a problem. After all, with you around, blood maidens don't need to fear entering Blood Skelter. Hence, we can keep Jack behind.
Lumine: H-Huh? Me?
Alice: Not only you but also with other Blood Maidens of Dawn.
Lumine: Wait, wait, wait. Why are you counting me too?
Alice: As a Blood Maiden of Dawn, isn't it evident that you and I will be on the same team since we are already somewhat familiar with each other by now. Or is it that you don't want me on your team?
Lumine: Who Blood Maiden of Dawn!? Why are you adding me to the mix as if I have joined Dawn?
Alice: You won't?
Lumine: Why would I!?
Alice: E-Eh?
Lumine: Huh?
Hearing that, both realized that they had misunderstood each other.
Alice: W-Wait a minute. Don't tell me you are not going to Dawn like me.
Lumine: Y-You're right. I have no such intention.
At this point, the blonde turned her head and looked at Alice's face. Both looked surprised.
Alice: Wha--- But why? With our combined power, we can save everyone and get out of Jail one day.
Lumine: Well, it's not a bad goal, and I also agree with it.
Alice: Then what's the issue in joining us?
Lumine: It's simple…I don't trust Dawn.
Alice: Huh?
Deciding to be honest with her, she continued.
Lumine: While you were asleep, Jack told me how you both lived in a village as a kid before the Marchens attacked it and made you all prisoners. From then on, you were imprisoned until Red Riding Hood came to rescue you yesterday. Right?
Alice: Yes.
Lumine: So, here's the question. Since you both have been in prison for years, how did Dawn know there is Blood Maiden? And how did they even know the name of that Blood Maiden?
Alice: ...….
Lumine: Didn't this mean that they knew about you all along? And yet, they haven't come to rescue you in the past few years.
Alice: ....Maybe because they lacked manpower.
Lumine: You don't even believe what you just said, do you?
Alice: ...…
Lumine: Remember what Red Riding Hood said: there were more blood maidens before. Don't you think it would have been easier to rescue you that time instead of now when she came all alone? After all, only Blood Maidens can fight Marchens, so they should focus on rescuing them before focusing on something else.
Alice: ...…
The black-haired didn't speak. Though now that she looked back at everything that transpired, she also started having doubts about Dawn.
Alice: What if you are wrong? What if all those are baseless accusations?
The Traveler remained quiet for a moment before answering.
Lumine: Maybe you're right. Maybe it is me being paranoid. Maybe Dawn really does have the noble goal of saving everyone...…However, from what I have seen, I am sure Dawn is hiding something. And I feel they won't clear it even if I join them. Hence, it would be better if we go our separate ways since I can't trust them yet.
'Lumine: And with the knowledge of Jail I am recalling time by time, I think it won't be long before I know the way out too.'
Alice: ...I see.
None of them brought up any such topic for the rest of the way and started talking casually. As a result, they got closer mainly because they didn't let their emotions control them and took a logical approach.
Before long, they came across a huge building and stopped. After asking people on the way, she learned that the one in front of them was Dawn Headquarters.
After looking at it for a few seconds, she asked.
Lumine: Can you walk now, Alice?
Alice: Y-Yeah. You can put me down now.
Nodding, the blonde lowered herself slightly and let Alice's feet touch the cold ground before standing up again.
Lumine: How is it?
Alice: Even though I still can't fight Marchens, I can walk freely… Thanks, Lumine.
Lumine: You're Welcome.
After giving one more glance at the building, she spoke.
Lumine: I better go.
Alice: I guess no matter what I will say, you won't change your mind, do you?
Lumine: Yeah. Alright then, later, Alice. Bye.
Alice: Bye.
They both waved at each other as the black-haired saw the blonde back becoming smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared.
Once she was gone, the smile disappeared from Alice's face as he turned and looked at the building. The seed of doubt had already been planted in her heart. Hence, she won't believe Dawn's words as blindly as she does in the plot.
Jack: A-Alice!
Suddenly, a voice snapped the girl out of her thoughts as she turned and saw the boy running in her direction. Seeing him, her stoic expressions softened.
Alice: Jack…
The boy sighed in relief, noticing that the girl looked fine.
Jack: I am sorry I failed to stay by your side. I was caught up in a talk with Mr. Kadowaki.
Alice: It's ok. Since our destination was Dawn HQ, we asked the people on the way to get there without getting lost.
Jack: That's good…
Red Riding Hood: Please don't do something like that next time. As we were looking for you all around.
Alice: I'm sorry…
The girl apologized and lowered her head. The brown-haired laughed and spoke.
Red Riding Hood: It's fine.
Then she looked around Alice before asking in a confused expression.
Red Riding Hood: So, where is Lumine? Don't tell me that she already went inside.
Alice: Well… She left.
Red Riding Hood: So, she really does go inside.
Shaking her head in denial, the black-haired corrected.
Alice: No. I mean, she went her own way.
Jack: H-Her own way?
As the boy showed a confused expression, the scissor girl understood what Alice was implying and widened her eyes.
Red Riding Hood: Don't tell me, you mean…
Alice: Yes. She said she had no intention of joining Dawn and left.
Jack: But why?
Alice: Well… I don't know.
There was no way she could say that Lumine was suspicious of Dawn and hence refused.
While the boy became sad at this news, Red Riding Hood started panicking.
Red Riding Hood: No, no, no. We can't let Lumine go! She can become the lifeline of us, Blood Maiden! She is now our ticket to leave Jail!
The black-haired was surprised by Red Riding Hood's reaction.
Alice: What do you mean by lifeline?!
Red Riding Hood: Well… Did she tell you about Blood Skelter?
Alice: Yes. Lumine told me. I also know she was the one who saved me that time.
Red Riding Hood: That's exactly it! It has never occurred before! Blood Maidens who entered Blood Skelter were considered already dead and were either put down or left in the area, where they would rampage before burning out! There are no records of Blood Maidens returning to normal ever!
Alice: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This shocked the black-haired girl. She opened her eyes wide in shock.
'Alice: What! Lumine didn't tell me that! She only said that Blood Maidens in Blood Skelter turned berserkers and attacked friend and foe alike! She never told me that they would burn away their life!'
She abruptly turned her head towards where Lumine disappeared too.
'Alice: This means that she saved not only Jack and Red Riding Hood but also my life!'
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---- Genshin Impact, Liyue Harbor, Jade Chamber ----
Entering, Primis noticed how silent the place was. Before, many maids could be seen here and there busy with their stuff, but now there was none.
The whole place was empty. The flowers in the pots had started to dry because no one had watered them for a long time. Of the many lanterns around, only one and two were lit up, making the place darker. The place also required cleaning as the dust had started accumulating on the floor and furniture.
Primis then made his way to the stairs leading to the lower floor and descended.
After reaching down, he noticed that this floor was also dark, with light coming from one room. That was Ningguang's main room inside this Jade Chamber.
Once he reached the front of the room, he stopped seeing how the whole floor was covered with the documents. There was barely a spot to step a foot. Because of that, many of those papers had the footprints on them.
He saw Ningguang sleeping while sitting on the chair and her head resting on the table in front. He also saw Keqing sleeping at the side, sitting on the floor while leaning on the wall.
They didn't fine at all. There were many tears in their clothes, and injuries could be seen on their exposed skin. There were also some spots of blood on their skin and clothes. Primis also noticed their weak, haggard breathing and the dark circles under their closed eyes.
Indicating that they had been fighting all this time and just now got some time to rest.
Sighing inwardly, he thought.
'Primis: Looks like 'We' have no choice but to take the helm here too, or they would burn themselves from the overwork before getting rid of the enemies.'
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***A/N: Hi readers, Author's here. I know most of you have realized it, but I still want to point it out.
While this is a harem novel, no, HUGE Harem, the girls won't fall in love with Primis right off the bat. It will be a slow romance where their feelings will slowly accumulate as they spend more time with him.
Hence, while Primis had many female subordinates by now, not all of them, no, let me rephrase. More than 90% of them don't hold such feelings for him.
In the case of "Witches of Sins", only Satella loved him. As for his contracted spirit, Beatrice. To her, Primis is a Big Brother-like figure. And finally, this "Genshin Impact" world. In this world, only Lumine and Ei have such affection for him. Makoto also started having some, but since the time she spent with Primis got shorter and shorter, those feelings also slowed down.
To all other women, their feelings towards Primis were that of admiration, respect, reverence, and awe. There are no romantic feelings as of yet.
I hope you all understand since I started writing this novel with its focus being the plot rather than the R18 content. Thanks.
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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.
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