NOVEL NEXT Chapter 009: Smile and Snarl
Veliona only snorted in response, ignoring Elysia’s goodwill.
So annoying.
Really, really annoying!
The pink crystals refracted layers of light, constantly changing like pink diamonds in the sunlight.
This corridor was originally part of the Valkyrie dormitory area, and at worst, it should have been the battleground for Veliona’s cat-catching escapades. However, under Elysia’s control skills, it had turned into a vulgar, continuously illuminated dance hall.
“I don’t know what you have that compares to Seele, but it doesn’t matter. You and Luo Ming will pay for this!”
“Especially the Captain!”
Veliona’s figure disappeared in high-speed movement.
“Wow~(⊙o⊙)”
Elysia couldn’t help but squint her eyes.
In her pupils, the blue portion decreased while the pink portion increased, resembling hearts.
She effortlessly avoided a claw strike, her movements fluid.
Elysia spoke, “Avoiding one’s own inner self is quite wicked, Seele Vollerei. I’ve read your files, and I knew it when I first saw you. Although you appear to have two personalities, fundamentally, you are the same person.”
“Shut up!”
Veliona seemed to be hit in a sore spot, and her attacks became even more intense, like a lightning strike tearing through the dark night. However, Elysia’s evasion was still graceful and devoid of any sense of struggle.
“You like everything Seele likes, and you dislike everything Seele dislikes, right?”
She lightly tapped the ground with her foot, and the flying petals of the past appeared on her shoulder, with large petals falling like a shower. She danced alone, her slender fingers stroking the bowstring. Along with the scattered pink crystals, she played a melodious tune, similar to the light and graceful sound of a violin.
She was playing the violin!
Even in the face of such an onslaught, Elysia, accompanied by her own music, wanted to waltz!
Veliona’s lungs were about to burst.
“So, you like the Captain too, right?”
Elysia spoke gently, leaping lightly and gracefully spinning in the air, passing by Veliona’s descending claw. She used one hand to grab the back of the claw, effortlessly deflecting the attack. With a loud rumble, the entire attack landed on the pink shield, which remained intact, while Veliona was sent flying.
“Hoo… I’m really glad to know this.”
Elysia said with enthusiasm.
“You see, you like the Captain, and I like the Captain too. We both like the same thing. Why do we have to fight each other?”
“You!”
“Using strong words, twisting the truth, full of lies…”
Veliona regained her composure, and her claws descended once again. This time, Elysia neither relaxed her grip nor dodged. Instead, she raised her hand, catching the descending attack with ease.
Slash~
The attack that deformed the air came to an abrupt halt.
From preparation to catch, Elysia’s arm remained straight, deliberately revealing her smooth armpit.
“Isn’t that right?”
Elysia blinked.
“Can this be possible? Can the Captain really be shared with others?!”
“Oh…”
Elysia tightly grasped the girl’s claw, a colossal force like a primordial beast pulling Veliona, making her seem uncontrollable as she was pulled forward, forcefully facing Elysia.
“You see, you just admitted it, didn’t you?”
Elysia gently flicked Veliona’s nose. “How does it feel to speak your mind openly? But…”
She blinked her eyes gently, and her pupils shone as bright as peach blossoms.
“Just as you asked, can the Captain share with others? Let me give you the answer.”
“The answer is~ no, he cannot.”
A mixture of disappointment, embarrassment, and ignited anger.
Elysia saw the complex emotions in Veliona’s eyes, confirming the feelings hidden within her. She stopped her actions at just the right moment.
She snapped her fingers.
The crystal-like shield peeled away layer by layer and disappeared. This shield seemed to have the ability to seal everything, even Veliona, who theoretically could pass through any obstacle with her quantum abilities, had been kept inside by Elysia. She was left feeling frustrated.
Inside was a heated battle, while outside remained exceptionally quiet.
Who would have thought that a dangerous battle of jealousy and rivalry would occur so silently?
“I welcome your challenge, but please promise me one thing.”
Elysia smiled, her smile filled with an air of “graceful victor.”
“Next time, be better prepared when you come, alright? The look of despair on a beautiful girl’s face after defeat, once you’ve seen it, it will break my heart.”
“Sigh.”
After dealing with this nocturnal attack, Elysia stood in the corridor, shaking her head and sighing. She wore an expression of sorrow that could overshadow even the most beautiful flowers. Her deep blue eyes reflected a faint hint of melancholy as she reached out to toy with her own hair, clearly distressed.
“The Captain is really popular.”
She mumbled to herself.
“However, Elysia will definitely protect everything. After all, I am a delicate and beautiful girl like a fresh flower.”
“A beautiful girl will always emerge victorious, won’t she?”
This was a statement as bold and assertive as a protagonist in a manga. Even though she was facing an empty corridor, it felt as if she were on a stage with a full audience. Calmness was met with thunderous applause.
Elysia had always been like this, better at creating unity than discord.
Just like now.
Didn’t she immediately become everyone’s common enemy?
“Heh heh.”
Elysia mischievously exited.
The night returned to calm.
Hyperion, Captain’s quarters.
Luo Ming didn’t sleep but instead stared at the detector. Over the past three years of traveling between worlds, he worked like this every day, observing and crossing over, shuttling through different worlds.
The only thing troubling him was the protective amnesia caused by each crossing. Reactivating his memories each time was quite a hassle.
“Ai-chan, what do you think?”
“Boss, this is a matter that concerns the Equipment Department, not something for an AI like me to consider.”
A bright green floating screen appeared, a holographic projection spinning around energetically. It was a cute green cabbage head. Despite Ai-chan’s silly dance, she was the auxiliary manager of the Hyperion.
Ai-chan.
Speaking of this name, Luo Ming often thought of a dark joke, where “ai” in japanese means “love.”
To be honest, Luo Ming had once pondered the possibility of growing old alone with Ai-chan, but after careful consideration, she was, after all, just a computer.
Humans couldn’t, or at least shouldn’t.
After careful consideration, he eventually abandoned the idea. He never even spoke it out loud. Instead, it turned in his mind a couple of times before disappearing completely into the recycling bin.
He mumbled to himself, “Ai-chan, it seems like I can’t focus on my work as well after getting a girlfriend.”
“I don’t know, after all, I’m just an AI.”
Ai-chan apologized in a very sluggish manner.
What’s going on?
Luo Ming was full of questions. After Elysia came on board, Ai-chan seemed to have become dull. She shouldn’t be so mechanical and rigid.