"You... you..."
In an instant, Lynelle's face turned the shade of a thoroughly ripened cherry tomato. She sharply covered the cheek that had just been licked.
"Don't be so shy, alright?"
Elysia lifted her teacup and took a small sip, subtly masking the faint blush on her own face.
"It's just a simple... mana transfer, you see?"
"Huh?"
Lynelle was stunned. "How... how does Elysia know that term?"
"Let's just call it... a secret of Miss Pink Elf?"
Elysia tilted her head playfully.
But, watching Lynelle's attempt to put on a guarded expression that completely failed to hide her adorable nature, Elysia stifled the urge to pinch those soft cheeks and said with a laugh, "How about this? I'm sure you have plenty of questions too. Why don't we play a little Q&A game?"
"I'll ask a question, and you answer. If your answer satisfies me, Miss Pink Elf will give you a little reward... or answer one of your questions in return."
"A-any kind of question?"
Lynelle didn't outright refuse, instead replying cautiously.
"Eh...?"
Elysia feigned surprise, then covered her face as if embarrassed.
"Don't tell me... Lynelle wants to ask me something really blush-worthy? Like what style I'm wearing today? That's not very good, you know? Stirring a girl's heart right after we meet... Lynelle, you truly are an adorably sinful child."
"Who wants to ask you about your panties style!"
Lynelle looked utterly exasperated. "And besides, haven't you been the one teasing me this whole time!"
"Not at all~ This is just normal communication between cute girls, you know?"
"Where exactly is this normal... Can I refuse to play this game?"
"Nuh-uh~"
Elysia crossed her arms into a big X. "Lynelle probably 'stowed away' to get here, right? The Elysian Realm can be very dangerous, you know?"
"If you don't seek shelter with Miss Pink Elf, you might get snatched away and eaten by the sneaky snake outside!"
"But I feel like staying with you means getting eaten sooner or later anyway..."
Lynelle muttered under her breath, then said, "Fine... just ask then... It's not like I, a captive, can really refuse anyway..."
"Yay!"
Elysia let out a small cheer.
"Then, first question! Lynelle, Lynelle, the Elysia Stigma on you... did it come from an Elysia in the outside world, or... perhaps a future version of me?"
Lynelle: "?"
Instantly jolted awake by the question, Lynelle frantically started mentally pinging [Customer Service Kiana-chan].
'Kiana-chan, Kiana-chan, get out here! How does Elysia know about the Stigma situation?'
[Ugh— stop shouting, stop shouting, I'm fixing bugs here...]
Customer Service Kiana-chan yawned, then took a glance at the current situation.
[Oh, this? It's normal. Elysia probably read the information left within your Elysia Stigma and wants to confirm it.]
'There's an operation like that?'
Lynelle's head was full of question marks. 'Since when is Elysia so all-powerful?'
[Elysia isn't all-powerful, but the Authority of Origin is pretty darn versatile... You probably haven't encountered the power of Origin yet. Let me put it this way—its manifestation is close to 'wish fulfillment.']
[As long as you express a wish, the power of Origin can generate a corresponding ability based on that wish. So, preserving information is just a basic application. Those crystal-flower-like spells Elysia uses are also just applications of that power, you know?]
[So, just answer her question however you like. I'm guessing she at least read about your future relationship with her, which is why she's so interested in you. And besides, it's Elysia. Nothing bad will happen.]
'Uh... Me getting completely devoured by Elysia doesn't count as 'something bad'?'
[Inevitable, I'd say. Or do I look like I can keep her in check?]
Remembering the prevailing "Kiana-bottom" theory from her past life, Lynelle had to admit that even if she and Kiana teamed up, they'd probably just go from being a single dessert to a delicious combo meal for two.
'Alright then...'
Realizing that even her sturdiest "life-line" was powerless against Elysia, Lynelle could only put on an expression of 'heroic martyrdom' and nod at Elysia.
"That's right. The Stigma on me... was indeed given to me by another Elysia. Though, I suppose that would be a future Elysia?"
"So it really is like that... Even though I was mentally prepared, hearing Lynelle admit it herself really gives me a different feeling, doesn't it?"
Elysia placed a hand over her chest, a touch of excitement coloring her expression.
"Mmm... Aren't you afraid I might be lying to you?"
Seeing Elysia believe her answer without a hint of doubt, Lynelle cautiously probed.
"Well then, would Lynelle lie to me?"
Elysia tilted her head, her clear pink eyes fixed unblinkingly on Lynelle's.
One second passed. Two seconds. Three...
Lynelle sharply turned her head away.
How is this infuriating Miss Pink Elf so good at this!
Just a moment ago, I could last five seconds! Now, I can't even hold her gaze for three!
Doesn't this mean I'm completely at her mercy? [(ó﹏ò｡)]
"So adorable~"
Watching Lynelle, who bravely stirred things up each time only to get flustered and retreat into herself before Elysia even really tried, Elysia sighed with genuine feeling.
Even with the same face, and being quite confident in her own charm...
So, with a different personality, could her own face actually be this level of cute?
"Alright, alright, let's end the first question here. Miss Pink Elf is very satisfied with your answer."
"So..."
"So?"
Lynelle gulped, a feeling of 'this is bad' rising in her heart.
"So, Miss Pink Elf is going to give you your reward now~"
Under Lynelle's nervous gaze, Elysia gently took hold of the hand that had been scratched by the can earlier, and then...
Began to carefully 'disinfect' it with her petite, pink tongue.
"Eeep?~"
Caught completely off guard by Elysia's sudden sneak attack, Lynelle was utterly defenseless against Elysia's actions.
By the time she processed what was happening, the warm, tingling sensation spreading from the back of her hand, combined with Elysia's deft movements, had already short-circuited her brain.
This strange feeling and the intimate atmosphere even caused the young girl's jade-like legs, sheathed in white silk, to subconsciously tighten slightly.
However, just as the mood between the two was steadily growing more charged and intimate... the tea party door slammed open with a BANG, pushed in by someone entirely unexpected.
The green 'Snake' burst into the tea party. And when she saw Elysia's current actions, along with Lynelle's visibly overwhelmed (actually, so overwhelmed she'd lost control of her expression) face, she let out a sharp, piercing shriek.
"Elysia! Just what do you think you're doing!"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.