Shopping Mall Excursion (5)

'Liliath may be a succubus.'

Back home, inside my room, I leaned against the splat of my chair.

Seriously though. Liliath is so confusing.

Prune warned me about Liliath—I think I understood her sentiment somewhat now. That said— what if I was merely overthinking? What if Liliath was just opening up without any sort of ulterior motive? She is a demon lord, an uncomfortably cute one.

Ding.

Prune replied. That's fast. I raised my face to face my laptop.

'Are you alright?! Nothing weird happened right?'

'No. So what do you think about my conclusion? From the sixth sense you felt back then, could she possibly be a succubus?'

'I'm not too clear about that. What I felt was a lot of dark— bloodiness. A mess. It's hard to describe.. what do you plan to do?'

'I have no idea. My idea is that I should talk it out with her. I'm not sure if her current attitude is merely an act, but it's worth a shot.'

I hadn't mentioned to Prune about Liliath being a Demon Queen. It should be kept a secret, and I intend to respect that.

'Are you crazy?! What if you were right?!'

...

What if Liliath seduced me..

I think I'd accept..

Fucking shut up me.

'I don't think that's the case. I doubt she'd do that, especially when she could really just barge into my room and push me down..'

I almost sent that..

'She might not be a succubus though? If she was, I'd probably be dead already.'

Was what I replied instead.

'Good point.'

Ding.

A notification appeared on screen. I switched to the principal's chat log.

'I've contacted the authorities regarding this matter. A letter of approval should be sent through your email in a few days, take note.'

Ah.. so she knew about it all along. No wonder she wanted to see Liliath in person, for me to summon a human— it's as unbelievable as it gets. Though I do question if I was actually the person who summoned Liliath. I had the aid of the gacha app, and I'm not sure if the gacha application was an accidental thing that ended up on my phone or that it was my TALENT.

'Got it. Thank you principal.'

With this I suppose the issue regarding Liliath's identity would be solved— no. This would become the start of more problems.

Remember how I talked about not wanting Liliath to be exposed? She's a crazy powerful existence. And because of this, she would clearly become a sought-after individual by the government.

'There's no need to come over to the school office, head straight over to the government department. I'll be there at the summoners registration department too since your case could be said to be rather unique.'

Unique huh?

Knock, knock.

Liliath again?

I opened the door— and there was Liliath— in her beautifully seductive black-laced nightgown.

Ah— that would make sense. She's the demon queen, and if anything, black suited her well.

Seeing her face brought me back to the time when we were still at the shopping mall. After lunch we went straight to the grocery store. And I found out that Liliath had been acting all along. She wasn't scared of the escalator at all, but with such an excuse in hand, she took the opportunity to cling to me.

Other than the packet of super glue my mom agreed to buy for Liliath to quell her curiosity, Liliath also got herself a small box of instant tea. Of course there were matcha powder and tea leaves that required a more complicated brewing process, but Liliath only had eyes for instant tea.

Buying groceries together with Liliath was fun— not. The horde of stares were sickening. I get how Liliath's velvet hair stands out but can people not stare at her so obviously? And I'm surprised that I'm even mad about this. Liliath was unperturbed, I wonder why it wasn't the same for me?

Ah— also. Liliath asked something that took me by surprise.

Here's what happened:

"Noel, what is a mobile number?"

"Mobile number? Where did you get that from?"

"Someone asked me for my mobile number but I didn't know what it was."

From her narration, this random dude with a lean body build came up to her and asked for her contact.

And sure enough, she didn't have one or rather— she didn't even understand what he meant.

Wouldn't want to be that guy now huh?

And so was how Liliath managed to 'perfect a 3-star clear' on the 'let Liliath talk to another guy' quest by rejecting the said 'guy'.

Splendid.

Ah. That also reminded me that Liliath would need her own phone someday— but that's another topic to discuss in the future. I can't imagine what would happen if she got her hands on one.. she surely won't exchange contacts with every other male she meets right?

Also, was it just me or was that Liliath didn't understand love all that well? She didn't even know why I laughed after she rejected the dude in the most innocent, subtle way possible. Liliath might be the kind of person who just wasn't all too sensitive when it came to love.

Which could explain why she was clinging to me the entire time.. perhaps she just didn't understand how significant the act of different genders touching each other was.. that's my second theory.

"Could we have a talk?"

Liliath's request surprised me. I thought she would say 'good night' and then leave. I wonder what she wanted to talk about?

"Yeah. I also have something I need to say."

Liliath entered my room.

Seeing that, I thought the chances of the second theory being the correct answer increased by one point.

That said, I don't intend to lower my guard.

She sat on my bed, her hands traced the edge of the mattress.

"This was the bed I slept on the first night I was summoned here," she spoke in a whisper.

I sat down beside her.

"You go first."

"I want to apologize for all the trouble I brought to you and your family," she lowered her head,"And there is nothing I can do to repay the debt with."

"Hm? I told you before, right? I summoned you on a whim so it's kinda my fault— my responsibility."

My responsibility.. but I'm using my parents money ugh.. that just sounds unpleasant. I need to fix this.

"Noel. Are you really sure that there isn't anything I'm destined to do? Perhaps there's a duty I need to carry out that you still haven't told me about?"

Again with this..

"Liliath. There are no enemies. Just enjoy your life— that's it. Believe me. Of course eventually when we become adults we would have to earn our own money to survive, through practical means of course."

"Are you sure.. then how about now? What can I do now? Should I train my magic? Is there any place I need to go to raise my skills? What knowledge do I need to focus on?"

Hah... seriously?

Ok. I'll admit I have idea what Liliath is talking about. In normal tropes, the heroes undergo intensive training. I think that's what Liliath is referring to.

"Liliath. Just study and learn more about this world. That's the main thing you need to do for now. Learn about this world so you can earn money to support yourself in the future. There isn't anything like an Adventure Guild that pays out money to adventurers. Jobs that help you survive require you to learn specific skills."

"And by skills, what are the necessary ones?"

"Well.. it depends on the job you want to have in the future."

"Does my magic skill count? I am able to use all elemental magic without any issues."

"Hey Liliath, are you worried about your future?"

"..."

Right. Liliath doesn't know anything about this world. To realize that everything you knew from your original world could not be applied in the current world— that reality is harsher than you thought?

"Don't leave me."

"Leave you? Why would we do that?"

"I sense distrust from you, Noel."

Sense distrust from me..

Sharp. Liliath was able to tell in an instant huh? It's useless to hide my thoughts from her.

Right. What did I tell myself again? Be careful of Liliath because she may be putting up an act— she could be trying to manipulate me?

"I—"

I couldn't find the words. I had no idea what to say— Liliath was right. She was right— I didn't trust her.

"Noel.. what did I do? What exactly did I do wrong? How should I rectify that mistake?"

Her voice was shaking.

I don't know. Could I be wrong about Liliath? What if she was just worried. Acting all clingy and bashful in front of me to keep her position in the house? Think about it, if I were to suddenly be thrown into an unknown world with an unknown family.. to learn that I had no means of contributing.. and that I could be cast aside at any point in time.. was that Liliath's true feelings?

No.. what if it was another act. Remember, Liliath came from 'that' kind of world. It could very well be another act to gain pity. She's a Princess, a demon queen, she's not dumb, she may be trying to weave herself past my phycological defenses.

I don't know.

"I'm sorry Liliath. Like you said, I don't trust you."

"I-I understand," I felt the bed sheet stretched, she gripped her hands into a fist.

It's my fault.. the lack of information. I can't find an answer.

We sat there quietly for a few seconds.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

I jumped.

Liliath turned to the source of the sound, my laptop.

Prune— she requested a video call. Her image appeared hovering in the centre of the screen.

"So is that why.." Liliath's voice suddenly dropped an octave. She stood up and walked over.

"No, Liliath d—"

I grabbed Liliath's hand, preventing her from accepting the call using the touchpad— wait how did she know about the touchpad?!

"LET GO! LET ME TALK TO THAT SON OF A BITCH!"

How.. Liliath remembered Prune? How did their relationship turn like this even though they met only once?!

No.. how did Liliath know that this was a video call? Did my mother or sister teach her about this?

"Liliath, clam down!"

"It's got to be her, she's making you betray me!"

Betray her? Me? Shit.. how.. but I didn't mean to..

I couldn't retrain her even with both my arms. Moreover, I'm a male.. moreover, moreover, she's 14 while I'm 16.... moreover, moreover, moreover, she's a demon lord.

Liliath and Prune CANNOT meet. Not in this state.

I decided.

I pulled my other arm around Liliath's waist and strangled her down onto bed, me underneath her.

Her hair brushed my face and her entire body leaned against me.

"I'm sorry Liliath, it was my fault. It's my fault. Sorry."

"Why.." she cried without resisting my embrace, "What did I do wrong.. I didn't do anything wrong so why?"

"I'm sorry."

I have no idea what I should say.

It's too complicated to explain how I got to the conclusion that Liliath could be a succubus. All I could do now was wait for her to calm down.

"Let me go," Liliath wiggled.

"Alright," I removed my arm and let her escape, after which I sat back up. Liliath's scent still lingered in my mind.

Owh fuck me what did I just do to Liliath.. pulled her down onto bed.. together with me..

No, no, no. She's probably not a succubus.. it's my own delusional thinking..

"So your comments on this lowly beastkin?"

Huh? Who was Liliath speaking to..

"Hhiiikkkhh! I'm sorry!" I saw Prune's face displayed on screen for a flash of a moment before the call was cut.

Huh? Wait.. the call connected? Prune saw me hugging Liliath?

What?!

No.. crap how did it turn out like this?!

Liliath got up and made a beeline to the door.

"Liliath, I.." I struggled to form my words.

She gave me a glare with tears biting her eyes. She left my room without another word.

Damn it!

Why didn't I trust her? Why did I have to have such thoughts? Liliath was a 14 year old girl for fuck sake.. why can't I just sympathize with her? What did I have to treat her like some sort of evil demon?

Distrust? Betrayal? Manipulation?

Those things I've never suffered from before.. it must have hurt like hell. And for her to realize that I didn't trust her.. she even opened up to me about her identity as a demon.

UGHHH!

Fuck me, fuck this, FUCK!

Why did I have to treat Liliath in this way.. she could've hid the fact about being the Demon Queen. Then I wouldn't have speculated about her identity.. she trusted me.. that's why she told me about herself.. and I betrayed that trust..

Why.. just why..

Why did I betray her?