Chapter 49 : The Soft Girl's Fate
Under Old Hu's guidance, the two arrived at the ruin Suna had once visited.
However, unlike traditional ruins, there were no tall buildings here: after Old Hu moved away the stones piled up at this place, an entrance leading underground was revealed.
"This is it. Ever since Suna died, I've sealed this place off. Ensuring no one comes here."
"Hmph, there's indeed a disgusting aura, just like that guy General Kuru."
Elucia snorted coldly, using her high heels to kick the rubble aside: "Old Hu, return to the village and instruct the villagers not to go out at this time."
"Uh?"
"My maid and I going in is enough. If the villagers show any abnormalities, don't worry about them—protect your own safety."
"Please let me go in too, I want to..."
"You want to know the truth, right? But your current strength is really too weak, insufficient to go in."
"!"
"Didn't Suna also say? Ordinary people like you absolutely cannot enter such places."
"I..."
Seeing Old Hu still hesitating, Lonis also said: "Old Hu, please trust us. My master and I will definitely solve the matters here."
"I understand, I trust you."
The weathered-faced man sighed deeply and gently closed his eyes.
Opening the cave entrance revealed stairs leading underground.
This place was very dilapidated, with a rotten smell mixed with mold floating in the air. There was no lighting, relying entirely on the phone in Elucia's arms to illuminate the nearby scenery.
However, Elucia's steps showed no hesitation at all, as if this were her own backyard.
Halfway down, Elucia suddenly smiled:
"You're getting into character quite well."
"Eh?"
"You've integrated into the maid identity so quickly."
"This... this was to convince Old Hu..."
Lonis's pretty face turned red. She also knew her earlier performance was too much like a kind-hearted girl... almost identical to the gentle soft girl image she had originally set.
She clearly didn't want to be like this, but unconsciously...
......
"Heh heh, have you experienced the joy of being a soft girl?"
"What joy is there in this!"
"Ha, still being stubborn. Then later, when you see something terrifying down there, don't cry and ask me what it is~"
"Wuu!"
Left speechless by Elucia's retort, Lonis just felt embarrassed.
It seemed... this feeling of being a soft girl was a bit novel and indeed quite nice?
She could persuasively convince others in a friendly way and earn others' affection~~
However, even if she had such feelings, Lonis would absolutely never admit it... but changed the subject with self-respect:
"Any... anyway! As long as Elucia properly explains the enemy's attributes, I won't be afraid."
"Oh?"
"There should be monsters in the ruin, right? Please tell me about combat methods too."
Lonis quietly clenched her fists. She felt she now understood this world and should participate in battle.
But...
"Oh, but my combat strategy is to make you feel scared and fearful?"
"Eh?!"
"The monsters in this world love attacking timid soft girls. And because I'm too strong, the monsters will definitely capture you as a hostage to threaten me into giving up resistance."
"How could this be?"
"So my plan is exactly that: since you won't be killed no matter what, you're simply the most suitable hostage! If you're captured by monsters, then I can focus wholeheartedly on cutting you and the monster in half together."
"This is too much!!!"
Although she knew what Elucia said was the optimal combat strategy, using herself as bait and hostage just because she wouldn't die... wasn't that too terrible?
Even if she wouldn't die, it would still hurt!
Extremely unwilling in her heart, but Lonis had no way out... couldn't fight, couldn't escape. This silver-haired girl could only widen her eyes and glare at Elucia with a very resentful gaze.
(Hmph, Elucia, sooner or later you'll get me killed! And when that time comes, I'll become a ghost and haunt you for revenge even as a spirit! (╯>д<)╯)
The silver-haired girl showed an expression about to cry, but Elucia smiled slightly and said:
"Heh heh, do you know you were wrong? If you sincerely say to me now 'Master Elucia, I'm so scared, please protect me,' then I won't make you a hostage."
"Really... really?"
"Don't worry, as long as you're obedient~ Then I'll protect you."
"Wuu..."
When she heard Elucia say "protect you," Lonis felt warm in her heart, as if she had found some support.
A very embarrassing thought arose in Lonis's mind:
If she just followed Elucia's commands from now on, wouldn't that be fine too?
After all, she definitely couldn't turn back into a boy anytime soon. Rather than stubbornly resisting, it would be better to be obedient—she wouldn't be the one losing out.
So Lonis could only speak up, saying softly:
"Master Elucia..."
"What is it?"
"I... I'm so scared, please... please protect me."
"Hmph, your voice is too quiet, I can't hear you?"
"Eh?"
"Louder! With such a quiet voice, do you still want to be a maid!"
Being looked at by Elucia with mocking eyes, Lonis just wanted to burrow into the ground.
But there was no choice at all.
Even saying such things was better than being captured and tormented by monsters... So Lonis could only open her mouth and say loudly:
"Ma... Master Elucia, I..."
"Not loud enough, louder!"
"Wuu... I... I'm so scared! Please protect me!!!!"
Not wanting to be tormented, Lonis shouted desperately...
And just then, Elucia also held her head high and shouted toward the dark depths: "Did you hear that? Monsters down there, prepare to die!"
Boom!
Accompanied by the sound of something massive collapsing, the metal door was kicked open.
Elucia showed no fear whatsoever, striding confidently inside.
But Lonis wasn't so bold. She first waited for Elucia to go in, then after hearing no sounds of fighting inside, dared to carefully walk through the door.
"Eh?"
However, the scene that met her eyes left Lonis stunned.
Because behind the iron door was a dim corridor: broken floors, rusted ceilings, completely destroyed emergency lights, heavy metal doors... All these scenes looked so similar to the underground where Lonis had first been born.
Perhaps the only difference was that the underground facility where Lonis had been was still operating, at least having some light; but this place seemed abandoned for many years and could no longer function.
"This..."
"Hmph, you slave maid are already dumbfounded, right?"
Elucia showed no surprise at all, just saying calmly: "Have a sense of déjà vu?"
"Yes, Elucia, this place is..."
"Same nature as where we were born, but this place is 2 levels lower and they're all..."
Gazing at the darkness in the distance, Elucia slowly said:
......
......
"Products of the previous era."