We Need to Talk (4)

Dear user,

As the developer, I apologize for the inconvenience caused as the status system has yet to be completely implemented. We are currently undergoing the final phase of beta testing, the option will soon be released in the near future so please be patient.

Thank you.

Regards,

[UNKNOWN]

*

The hell? Wait.. is this an actual system people use??

I don't get it.. there's a developer behind this?? This...

If there is actually a developer then, who the hell is [UNKNOWN]? Is there anyone else besides me that knows about this app? No.. there's no way a normal human could develop something like this..

Let's think about it in a non-logical sequence. The developer could be some kind of God, like in certain light novels. Systems created by the Gods to help the people.

Then why me? And if me then.. am I TALENTLESS after all?

This brings up so many questions..

"I suppose it's not the same here," Liliath remarked, bringing me back to reality, "This message could be from the God of Comfort. I might be wrong, it's merely a guess. What do we do from here?"

"Yeah. Um, right, tap the X."

"Ex? This one?"

"Yeah. That."

After which she continued to scroll the main page until it reached the end. I wonder what she was trying to do? She had seen the list once before.

"Noel. What do you suppose your idea is if what I recommend is outside the boundaries of what we can afford?"

"Hm? Then we save up the points until we have enough."

She stopped and stared at a peculiar item.

"The money the people in this world use— could it be this paper?" Liliath pointed at one of the options—

100 dollar bills.

Huh?

I rubbed my eyes.

My eyes weren't playing tricks with me. There were even 50 dollar bills and 1 dollar bills. Not to mention the 'crate of bills package'.

DA FUAQ?

Ain't this counterfeit money?!

There's a description below the item:

This is legitimate money that can be used. Not a counterfeit. The amount can be converted into cash or transferred into the bank depending on your preference. Measures have been implemented so that nobody will suspect anything besides the buyer. So where does this money come from? Don't ask.

T-this is from Liliath's shop right? Why would there be bills? Wasn't it only limited to things that came from her world?

I don't get it..

"Is there anything wrong?"

"Uh.. just checking.. you know.. our money is made so that you can't counterfeit it so easily. There are serial numbers on the bills so.. this looks suspicious.."

Really suspicious..

"Serial numbers? Is it a type of magic to prevent counterfeit?"

"Um. No."

Nevermind.. I'll explain it some day.

100 dollar bill 10 points.

Hm.. We acquire points by completing quests. And difficult quests that involve intimate moments provide a good amount. Technically speaking, I can live off cuddling Liliath all day..

THAT'S JUST WRONG!

But that doesn't sound too bad right..? Points to be converted into money just by flirting?

"Anything besides that? At the moment we don't need to worry about money."

Well. That's something I'll have to think about in the future though.

"I need time to properly access what I need," Liliath said in a contemplative voice.

"If you'd say so— We'll save up the points until then."

Hm.. how about the skill book: Common Sense I? I don't mean it in a harsh way but.. Liliath clearly lacked common sense. The image of Liliath wearing her clothing inside-out suddenly appeared in my mind— and let's not talk about how her hair almost caught on fire due to the hair dryer.

Common sense could help clear the first hurdle for her...

"If there's nothing else, I suppose I'll return," Liliath got up from her sitting position.

"Alright. Good night then."

"Good night Noel," She walked towards the stairs.

When she left, I felt a sense of numbness in my heart— just what kind of past did Liliath experience? Compared to me.. I'm incredibly fortunate to be living my current life. Not everyone was as lucky as I was-- to have caring and loving parents that were perverts— in a good way.

I shook my head to rid of the queasiness in my heart. Grabbing my drawing pad and putting on my earphones, I resumed sketching.

Round face, pointed chin, curly velvet hair, crimson coloured eyes, rosy cheeks. This would be the last portrait study for today.

I planned to put this up on Arthub, hopefully it would garner a good number of views and likes. Hopefully I'd be able to gain a good enough following to start doing commissions.

Then I felt a light poke on my shoulder, I slowly turned around, I caught a whiff of her velvet hair that literally brushed against my nose. I reflexively staggered backwards.

LILIATH?! I thought she went upstairs?! Was she about to place her head on my shoulders? That kind of development? No. That can't be. Clam down stupid delusion.

I pulled down my headphones.

"Haven't you gone to sleep yet?" I asked, her gaze fixated on the screen of my drawing pad.

"I could ask the same. What work do you have that requires you to stay up late?"

"It isn't really work— but it could be called work— I'm drawing."

"I see— this work you are currently doing piqued my interest so I thought to ask you about such before I went? Could you perhaps be an artisan? The picture is rather cute."

My heart skipped a beat. Her face remained fixated at that simple portrait study of the velvet haired girl— how did I not notice? It happened so naturally.. I never realized that this portrait had been referenced off Liliath. The difference was her eyes, which had duller red shade.

As an artist— this habit of drawing things that I deemed appealing.. my brain would process what I see subconsciously and then filter that visual information into chunks, storing only the good parts and then recreate it on paper.

"Maybe?" I squeaked. If anything.. I didn't know I was drawing Liliath. But the semblance of what I drew to Liliath was undeniable.

"Could I try? I've always wanted to paint— this machine is connected to another machine? How does it work?" Liliath shifted her gaze between me, my drawing pad, and the laptop.

So she was curious about what I was doing. That was the bottom line. And she wanted to try.

"Well, here, have a go," I passed her the digital drawing pen.

She looked at it confused, "Does it not contain ink?"

"No. it's for drawing on this screen specifically. You can't draw on paper using that,"

I skipped the whole 'how does it work' explanation because I bet Liliath wouldn't understand half of what I would have to say— and it wasn't like I knew a lot about the technology behind how the pen and drawing pen could correlate to provide 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity.

"Could I?" She sat down close to me.

Seriously.. what is she trying to do.. I have a bad feeling for some reason. I can't quite put the tip of my finger on it..

I passed the drawing pad to Liliath, creating a separate layer to have her try.

"It's bright.." she squinted her eyes.

Pushing the pen down on the screen, a blue dot was created. She tried a stroke, a tapered line was created. She tilted her head in surprise.

Well.. no shit. Drawing digitally has a different tactile feel compared to paper.

After contemplating, she drew a circle, two dots and a curved arc. The basics, old school— smiley face.

Liliath hung her head.

"My skills aren't even worth mentioning," she lamented.

"You just started, so.."

I couldn't really say that her drawing was bad— because it was the typical smiley face the majority of the populace would draw. And it wasn't like she had prior experience. She was, after all, still a beginner. If she's serious about it, I could guide her but— most of it would depend on her determination and ability.

Even though my father is an artist, he told me once that it's impossible to really teach art— the best he could do was guide me. You could imagine how that went.. since he had a TALENT that cheated the system.

Liliath passed the drawing tablet back to me, "Thank you for allowing me to try, I suppose art just wasn't right for me."

"Maybe.. art is more practice than talent though."

"I understand. I had only wanted to try."

Liliath showed a disappointed look.

Click.

Hm?

I looked towards the stairs— more precisely, the small gap at the upper corner.

I saw someone's feet, and a phone, the camera pointed towards us.

Huh?

Click.

Wait.

"Opps, looks like I was found," my mom chuckled, "You haven't told your father anything about Liliath have you now?"

I wanted to retort, but I couldn't form any words.

My mom was right. My father didn't know about Liliath's existence.

"I had to do my duty as the wife," her voice was barely audible due to the distance between us. "I have a number of good photos, would you like to pick out the better ones?"

Liliath looked at my mom then at me, aloof to everything.

Fuck. Seriously?! Since when did my mom start stalking me and Liliath?! A number of photos? Wait, does that mean that Liliath had been set up??

Appalled, I asked.

"Liliath, did my mom tell you to come down by chance?"

"She didn't, I came by my own volition."

Is that so..

Still.. that doesn't solve the issue.

Ding.

I picked up my phone, to see that my mom had sent a number of pictures into the group chat.

Shit.

Not just one.. there were plenty of them. Me sitting together with Liliath, me hugging Liliath, me having tea with Liliath..

THE FUCK HOW?! HOW?!

My mom came down the stairs, her chuckle beside me as I shivered— the image of her triumph expression she had on her face.

So to summarize, my mom had been stalking me?

'Here's the picture of them together dear.'

That was the comment my mom sent, preceded by the numerous embarrassing photos.

NNNNNNOOOOOOOOO!

HOWHGEFOBOEIFVHUONIEBFLKNOUNEB

My soul died.

Liliath came up behind me, with the little sanity that remained, I shifted the phone away from her.

"Hm? What could it be?" She asked.

"Here Liliath, you can take a look from my phone," mom quipped, turning her phone to Liliath.

"NOOOOO! DONT LILIATH DONT!" I jumped, grabbed my mom's arm and tried to push the screen away.

"Can I not be a part of the banter?" Liliath pouted saying that.

Oh. Fuck. Sorry Liliath, but once you look at this, it will become the bane of your life forever, you can never turn back. I understand you're sad to feel left out but trust me, it's better than feasting your eyes on the worst possible image of..

"WWWAAHHHHH BIG SISTER LILIATH LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL!" The little devil's yell shook the house as she ran down the stairs-- waving her phone in the air.

FUCK.

But it was too late. My hands were occupied dealing with my mom's side.

And so.. Liliath saw it.

CCRRAAAPPPPP.

Ding.

'He summoned such a beautiful lady. So this is Noel's future spouse? Congratulations my son!'

My eyes rolled back into its socket.

Out of all times... my father just had to reply now.. why..

I'm sorry you had to witness such a thing.. it's too late now..

Liliath stared at the screen, her hands that were raised in anticipation dropped limply to the side.

The little devil beheld a shrewd smug. Likewise, my mom showed the purest, most innocent smile ever— not.

They planned this on purpose.. what the hell..

With both Liliath and I officially brain dead for the remainder of the night, we greeted a new dawn.