Chapter 41: Kazeumi Kumi
"Are you sure it's fine for me to meet him?" Holding her phone tightly, a cute girl stared at a video of a maid eating her food while visible text conversation appeared. The slightly chubby girl sat on her bed, her anxiety growing as she continued to snack on rice crackers, with two empty packets already discarded nearby.
"Yes, it's fine. You are not stealing him from me, and I have another vixen doing that for me, so it's not necessary... Besides, don't you want to play Yggdrasil with him again? And, most of all, don't you want to talk to him? Again?" Mei Mei asked in a serious tone, emphasizing her point.
Mizuki flinched a little, her glasses slipping down her nose with a few beads of sweat on her cheeks.
"I mean, I want to meet him. I mean, very badly, but... so suddenly, and in real life nonetheless? Shouldn't it be better if we meet in Yggdrasil before meeting in real life?" Mizuki asked, munching on another rice cracker, the crunching and chewing noise making Mei Mei a bit irritated.
"First of all, stop overeating. Dealing with anxiety doesn't always have to involve food! Put that cracker in the dustbin," Mei Mei scolded in a stern tone, pointing her chopstick at Mizuki. Although this behavior was considered rude in their culture, Mei Mei didn't care.
"Fine, fine," Mizuki responded, tossing the half-eaten rice crackers into the dustbin. Her eating habits were quite poor, and it didn't help that her brother was a glutton who brought home a lot of snacks every day, particularly hot and spicy ones filled with pepper, which she often indulged in to cope with her anxiety.
"It's all his fault I'm overeating. I'll have to delete another collection of his beloved games," Mizuki muttered to herself, determined to mess up her brother's computer to curb his gluttonous habits.
"Whatever, listen now. Make sure to wear a cute dress, and don't use makeup. Master doesn't like cosmetics. Don't wear cologne, the smell might make him nauseous. Don't bring any food with you, even if it's premium and 100% synthetic and sanitized. Make sure to detoxify yourself after entering the house; there's a detoxifier next to the shoe locker. Don't bring anything that has a strong smell, and avoid items that might produce smoke, like a lighter or anything similar," Mei Mei started giving Mizuki a list of precautions and warnings, speaking in a matter-of-fact, strict tone, almost as if she were instructing a child.
"Wahh, I have to do all that stuff? Why does it feel like I'm meeting some high-ranking member of society," Mizuki complained after hearing all the 69 precautions provided by Mei Mei.
"You do know that he is diagnosed with a genetic disease. I don't want him to get hurt or feel uncomfortable. To be honest, I'd rather not bring anyone from the outside into the home, but you are my friend, and, most importantly, Master used to talk about you and seems to have a good relationship with you. So I want you two to reconcile," Mei Mei explained, emphasizing that her actions were always for Lucian, even if it seemed otherwise.
"I see," Mizuki murmured, watching her friend eat through the phone screen.
"Is Lucian handsome?" Mizuki asked. She hadn't seen him yet.
"Yeah, probably even more than you think," Mei Mei replied matter-of-factly.
"And you called him an 'Incel who jerks off to hentai.' Hahaha," Mizuki couldn't help but laugh, remembering their earlier conversation a few weeks ago.
"Don't mention it, or I'll permanently ban you from ever seeing him!" Mei Mei threatened, pointing her chopsticks at Mizuki once again.
"Hai hai, queen!" Mizuki responded, playfully acting as if she were prostrating herself.
****
The winds in all the Arcologies were cold, despite living inside isolated domes, the heat still didn't greet them.
Today was just another day in the Tokyo Arcology 4th, and everyone was going about their day. Despite it being Sunday and a weekend, many still worked, doing overtime for an extra bit of cash, while others sought ways to have fun, although options were limited in these environments.
"What? You really want me to do that to an unknown girl I don't even know?" Lucian worriedly asked Mei Mei as he stared her down.
"Do you have a fever?" He extended his hand and touched her forehead, finding it to be normal.
"I don't have a fever, Master. I just want to teach her a lesson about how scary the world can be," Mei Mei replied in a genuine tone, appearing to be a caring friend. However, her real plan was to scare Mizuki away from Lucian to end her fantasy.
"Fine, fine. I'll do it, as long as it's just a prank. I'll do anything." Lucian said with a grin.
"Don't take it too far, though," Mei Mei cautioned.
"Fine, fine," Lucian repeated, and just as he said it, the doorbell rang. He didn't hear it, but Mei Mei received a notification about her guest's arrival.
"Looks like she's here," Mei Mei mumbled to herself as she informed Lucian that she was going out for a while. The house was divided into two parts: one for Lucian's use and the other where Mei Mei and anyone else who needed to enter would first detoxify themselves.
As the massive door automatically closed behind her, Mizuki looked at the luxurious hallway in front of her. She noticed a designated area to store her shoes and promptly removed them before sweeping her hair to the side. Mizuki had made an extra effort today to look presentable. Her hair was done nicely, held in place by a cute hair clip. She wore a stylish and modern outfit with frills and open shoulders, even though she wasn't entirely comfortable with it, wanting to look cute. She had replaced her glasses with new ones, thinking that her old pair wasn't cute enough.
"I hope I don't mess up," Mizuki muttered to herself as she took a deep breath and proceeded toward a large detoxifier on the side. The device was white and spacious enough to accommodate two people at once. Mizuki stepped inside and emerged on the other side in a similar, yet unfamiliar room.
She slowly walked down the new hallway and stood before a massive door equipped with a screen to the side.
"Mei-chan, I'm here," Mizuki typed on the screen, and a stoic maid's voice immediately responded.
"You should come in," Mei Mei replied as the previously closed doors opened, revealing a beautiful and expansive hallway. The hall was furnished with multiple sofas, TVs, screens, and various other items, both necessary and extravagant. Bookshelves lined one side of the hallway, filled with hundreds of physical books, a rarity in a world where digital books were more common.
"Aghhhhh...." Mizuki couldn't help but groan as she looked around the opulent room. While she was aware that her friend was the maid of a rich young master, she hadn't anticipated that they would be this wealthy. High-tech holographic projectors, the latest and very expensive, were scattered around as if they were just everyday items.
"Where the hell should I go now?" Mizuki muttered to herself, glancing at the various rooms that seemed to lead in different directions.
Mizuki had no idea where Mei Mei was. She had planned to visit Mei Mei as a friend while also taking the opportunity to start a conversation with Lucian. That was the excuse they had planned, at least. But right now, she was feeling incredibly anxious.
"Oh, do we have a guest?" Suddenly, a very sweet and familiar voice reached Mizuki's ears from her left side. As she looked in that direction, she was greeted by an extremely handsome young man. His slightly long, unruly black hair cascaded down his back as if he had just taken a shower. He was dressed in a comfortable pajama and a well-fitting T-shirt. His facial features were incredibly attractive and breathtaking, and his blue eyes, like the ocean, were fixed on Mizuki.
For a moment, she was in a trance, simply staring at Lucian without shame.
"Hey, are you okay?" Lucian asked as he walked closer. But Mizuki remained unresponsive, her gaze locked onto him. She seemed lost for a few more seconds until Lucian was right beside her.
"Are you even hearing me, Miss Mizuki?" Lucian leaned forward and clapped his hands near her ears, as if to check if she could hear.
This snapped Mizuki back to reality, and her face turned as red as a tomato. She reacted by shoving Lucian away as if he had done something inappropriate.
"What the fuck!" Lucian loudly cursed as he was thrown to the floor, his body hitting it with a thud.
Meanwhile, in Mei Mei's room, she was watching the scene unfold on her monitor. She squeezed the cold drink can she was holding so hard that it popped, and she dropped all the juice inside. The steel can crumbled further in her grip.
"That bitch!" Mei Mei muttered, grinding her teeth together. Her eyes seemed to darken, ready to interfere at any moment. But she held back, knowing that Lucian needed a push to overcome his hesitation and have no regrets, so that she could finally become one with him, not just in body but in his heart as well.
Returning to the scene, Lucian asked with a dramatic touch, "Why did you push me like that?" As he rose to his feet, he exaggeratedly used both hands for support, even though the floor's soft wood had only caused minimal discomfort. He was putting on this act to elicit some sympathy.
"Ahhhh... I'm so sorry!" Mizuki quickly apologized, rushing to assist Lucian in getting up. He continued to feign injury, and Mizuki blushed deeply as she helped him to the sofa in the spacious living room.
"Uhmm... I'm so sorry. I didn't know what to do, so I accidentally pushed you," she admitted, still feeling embarrassed by the situation.
"That's alright. Since Mei Mei isn't here right now, and you wanted to meet me, let's have a chat," Lucian suggested, patting the seat beside him, trying to maintain his injured act.
"Alright," Mizuki replied as she hurriedly took a seat opposite Lucian, declining his unspoken invitation to sit closer.
Lucian relaxed on the sofa and said, "Mizuki-san, I'm only aware of your first name, so I hope you don't mind me addressing you that way despite our first meeting."
Mizuki offered a gentle, slightly troubled smile, and her cheeks remained tinted with a blush as she responded, "It's perfectly fine. In fact, I prefer it. I'm not particularly fond of my last name, so using my first name works just fine." She recognized Lucian's voice as the same as the LuciLuci from Nine's Own Goal, the same voice that had brightened her days and given her something to look forward to everyday.
Lucian, with a pensive expression, said, "Hmm, alright, Mizuki... Mizuki Kae... San..." as if he was quietly contemplating something for a moment.
Mizuki nervously brought out a sleek black phone from her bag and asked, "Uhmm.. so, can I, like, get a picture with you or something?"
Lucian replied with a friendly smile, "Oh, sure." His warm smile only added to Mizuki's flustered state. Normally, she was known for her cheerful demeanor and ability to strike up conversations with anyone. However, her mind was currently in turmoil, overwhelmed by various thoughts and emotions.
For months, she had been consumed by thoughts of Lucian, and her imagination had painted numerous scenarios of what he might be like. She'd pondered whether he was a rude young master or the most unattractive person imaginable. Even these diverse images hadn't lessened her strong feelings for him. She'd recently had the opportunity to voice a popular character in a very popular game and had been approached by a prominent figure in the voice acting industry.
This individual was successful, wealthy, and had asked her out on a date. Mizuki was fully aware that building a good relationship with him could have significantly advanced her career and increased her income. As an independent woman, it seemed like the logical choice. However, her heart refused to entertain the idea, remaining steadfast in its attachment to Lucian.
Mizuki clung to this elusive and fading connection, one that existed only in her memories since Lucian had removed his account. This uncertainty and longing kept her up at night, and at times, she feared she might never get to know the real Lucian.
And now that she finally laid eyes on him and confirmed his identity, a whirlwind of complex emotions swirled within her. Yet, amid the tangle of feelings, one emotion shone brightest – relief. It was the profound relief that her affection for him wasn't just a fleeting crush; it ran deeper. Each time she gazed at him, her heart fluttered like never before, and she knew that it wasn't driven by his appearance or wealth. Despite his overwhelming handsomeness, those factors didn't define her emotions. What mattered most was the authenticity of her feelings.
"Wait... Why are you crying?"Suddenly, Lucian leaped from the sofa, his concern piqued by the adorable girl with tears streaming down her chubby cheeks. Her eyes were almost red, and he couldn't help but ask.
"Sorry, sorry, I was joking. I'm not hurt. I've built up enough resilience to not be hurt by a simple push. Why are you crying? Do you need water? Let me get you some water," Lucian hurriedly said, feeling guilty for making her think he was genuinely hurt.
Just as he was about to leave to fetch some water, Mizuki tugged on the long sleeves of his t-shirt and said, "Don't go. I'm not crying," even though more tears streamed down her cheeks.
"You're saying that while making a face like a chihuahua, Mizuki-san!" Lucian retorted with a teasing remark, pointing at her still teary-eyed expression.
"Sigh... I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have joked about it. If I made you feel that hurt, I guess you can ask for something from me? I don't usually like using my money for such things, but if you want money or some expensive gift, even that's fine," Lucian said playfully as he took a tissue from the table, sitting down beside her on the sofa, which made her flinch. With a gentle touch, he began to wipe away Mizuki's tears with the tissues.
"Kumi-chan, you didn't used to cry like that before," Lucian said gently as he used the tissue to wipe away her tears and gently dab her eyes and cheeks.
"Wait, what? How did yo-" Mizuki started to ask, but Lucian interrupted her, saying, "It's too obvious..." With the final trails of tears wiped away, her face looked almost as natural as it was before, except for her slightly puffy eyes.
"You thought I wouldn't notice your voice? Although you are trying your best to sound like an easygoing girl, you forgot that I was able to guess your different voices even among a crowd... And Kazeumi Kumi, if you change the positions of the letters in Mizuki Kae, you'll get your stage name. And you said you don't like your last name. Not to mention, when you opened your bag to bring your smartphone, I was easily able to take a peek, and your new game's cover was visible. I'll assume you got it early because you're working on it? Can I play? I already finished playing the second part of 'Big Brother's Lollipop is Nasty.'" Lucian said simultaneously, leaving her with wide eyes and an open mouth.
She knew that Lucian had a keen eye for detail, as he could find loopholes even in games. But she was real shocked right now, and even more than that, she couldn't help but feel the sense of familiarity getting stronger when he called her "Kumi-chan." She didn't like her real name being used, and she always loved it when Lucian called her "Kumi-chan." Hearing that same voice from him in real life made her feel good.
"You really are a Detective Pikachu," Mizuki said, giggling and momentarily forgetting the earlier encounter as she finally got what she wanted for so long. (This will be referenced later.)
*****
"Hehehe! Whitebrim-san did that? I expected him to create maids, but I didn't know he would go so wild in creating maids as soon as he got the option for custom NPCs. He even managed to involve other guild members in his work. As expected of a mangaka," Lucian laughed heartily as he learned about Whitebrim's creation of 41 maids, a collaborative effort with two other guild members. Each maid had her own unique backstory.
"Yep, he's quite the pervert. And my brother, well, he's no different. He's equally perverted and went on to create a loli vampire," Kumi remarked as she inched closer to Lucian, her hand gripping his firmly. What was once a conversation across from each other had now turned into one where they were almost glued to each other.
"Ughhh... I can already imagine what kind of story he's come up with for her... Let's not dive into it. He mentioned he wanted to create a loli vampire with sadistic traits, so he probably went all out with that idea. Let's hope LID doesn't catch wind of it," Lucian added, his expression showing a hint of disgust.
"Lucian, you don't know the horrors he has unleashed. The story settings are... terrifying. At times, they genuinely give me the creeps. The vampire girl even invades my dreams... aahhh," Mizuki spoke while looking into Lucian's eyes, shivering as she recollected those eerie scenarios.
"You can always visit me if you're scared," Lucian offered with a warm smile as he gently patted her head. It was a friendly smile, devoid of any flirtatious or suggestive undertones, yet it was enough to make her blush, just a little.
"I will do that. Whenever I'm scared, or hungry, or need my dose of Lucian treatment, or just because I'm happy, sad, or even breathing," she said with an excited tone, wrapping her arms around Lucian and pressing her moderate yet noticeable breasts against his hands. When she did this in the game, it was merely a virtual interaction with no real sensation. However, here in the physical world, it was a different story.
"Well, I think you shouldn't hug me like that," Lucian mentioned as he gently moved his hands away, and Mizuki, realizing her position, quickly blushed as she noticed that she had been pressing her breasts against Lucian's hands. She became acutely aware that he was only wearing a T-shirt, so there was a genuine sense of touch.
"Anyway, how are Momonga-san and Ulbert doing?" Lucian asked, shifting the conversation to their fellow guild members. He inquired about the most rational and sane member, Momonga, and the notorious troublemaker, Ulbert.
"Momonga-san is still stuck in his chunibyo phase. He even created a Doppelganger NPC with some very, very weird story settings," Mizuki replied with a sigh, giving the impression that she had somewhat given up on the antics of the boys of Ainz Ooal Gown.
"Hahah... I expected him to do that eventually," Lucian chuckled in response.
"As for Ulbert-san, well... Lucian," Mizuki began, leaning closer to Lucian and adopting a serious tone.
"Ulbert-san was probably the most affected after you left. He was like a boyfriend mourning his girlfriend's death. He was devastated and heartbroken," she explained, her voice filled with a mixture of disgust and concern, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead.
"And there's also the fact that he always tries to oppose Touch Me-san, constantly arguing with him over the most trivial things. He likely holds grudges over your quitting," she added before leaning back.
"Oh... Well, I expected Ulbert to do that. He has kind of a childish personality," Lucian said with a nostalgic smile as he chuckled while deep in thought. He had considered reaching out to Ulbert, but being distanced from any DMMO-RPGs, he had refrained from contacting anyone related to the game, isolating himself further. Now, he lacked the courage to speak to him.
"But that's not the worst part," Mizuki said as she leaned forward once again, intentionally pressing her breasts against Lucian, her gaze locked onto his eyes.
"Ulbert-san has created an NPC in your memory, and he behaves very creepily around her. He's always muttering about how she should find the treasure and be forever grateful. I've never dared to investigate the NPC he created, I'm too afraid to discover whatever monstrosity he might have created," Mizuki concluded with a sigh.
"Is that so?" Lucian couldn't help but be curious, and seeing the glint of curiosity in his eyes, Mizuki had an exciting idea.
"Why don't you visit Nazarick?" She exclaimed, suddenly jumping up from her seat.
"What? No! It would be embarrassing to reappear suddenly, especially after they've established such a successful guild," Lucian replied, shaking his head.
"Come on! Hear me out. This weekend, there won't be anyone in the guild. Everyone's occupied, and we decided to skip any meetings. So, it's a perfect time to go. The only occupants in the guild will be the NPCs and Yama-chan," Mizuki shared excitedly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Lucian reminisced for a moment, thinking about Yamaiko. "I would like to see Yamaiko-san again, but I'll try not to intrude."
"No, don't be like that! You must come. I've even created a few NPCs, two twin NPCs, and I want you to meet them. Please?" Mizuki appealed earnestly, emphasizing her point with her hands and, well, her chest.
Lucian relented. "Alright, alright. I'll visit. But are you sure it's okay to bring someone without informing the guild leader and other members? What if I were just scouting the place for a potential attack later? Wouldn't you be blamed for that?"
Mizuki was undeterred. "I'm confident you wouldn't do that, but even if you did, I'd take the blame. So, are we good?"
Lucian agreed with a smile. "Sure, so when do we log in?"
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