The sealed space Mobius had formed was vast and deeply secluded.
Big Duck Duck hung suspended in midair in a humiliating posture, swaying back and forth.
Truly just like a hanging roast duck...
Mobius extended her sensuous, long, pink, tender tongue and slowly licked a circle around her upper cherry lips. A fine idea had come to her.
"If you can pass my three trials, I'll give you a little surprise."
"Trials? What tri—"
Before the words were out, Bronya's vision went dark.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in the outskirts of the countryside on a clear, refreshing day. In the distance stood a wooden cottage wrapped in green vegetation, sunlight shining bright, birdsong and the fragrance of flowers filling the air.
This warm, gentle atmosphere made Bronya briefly lose herself.
This place is...
Before she could fully regain her bearings, she saw a little girl storming out of the house in a huff.
Emerald-green hair flew in the breeze, the sunlight sparkling as it filtered through the strands.
"I won't agree to it! I hate Father most of all!"
The little girl stood at the doorway, shouting back towards the house.
Just looking at her from behind, Bronya could sense her bewitching allure. Though she wore nothing more than an ordinary dress, it radiated feminine charm in every moment. The little girl's pale, tender limbs were exposed, so delicate they seemed like they might snap at the slightest bend. The simple dress draped over her supple, smooth body, the tightly-bound slender waist cinched at the midsection, yet somehow it vividly traced the curve of her waist and hips. That slim waist had clearly never lacked for exercise, swaying with the seductive, amorous grace of a water snake. Even outside the dress, a cyan cord was wrapped around her waist and tied into a bow, the rope coiling around the girl's serpentine waist, making it appear all the more slender and tantalizing.
Bronya felt a sense of familiarity.
"Snake Snake..."
A figure then emerged from the house as well, his voice tinged with helplessness and guilt.
The moment Bronya saw this figure, she stood frozen in place, staring blankly at him.
The husband who had once haunted her dreams had actually appeared right here before her.
Bronya felt a sense of unreality.
As if within a dream.
No—this was within an illusion. Though she had no proof, Bronya could feel it—this was a "world" constructed by Mobius.
And yet, even knowing this full well, the instant her eyes met her husband's, her gaze softened.
"Mm... Bronya? You're here."
The previously troubled husband broke into a smile at once.
And the little girl who had been storming off in anger became even more furious. She twisted her head around and glared fiercely at Bronya, then shouted:
"Bronya~ Aun~tie!"
She bit down especially hard on those last two syllables.
Bronya was utterly baffled.
Auntie? Bronya?
At the very least, it should be "big sister," right?
And also—Bronya looked at the little girl before her.
...Mobius?
Yes, this was a young-child version of Mobius.
Wait. What did she just call Husband?
"Father"?
"Hmph! Are we on good terms or something? Don't just go calling my name all casually."
Little Mobius folded her arms and turned her head away in rejection.
"Snake Snake, you mustn't be so rude. Bronya is someone who's going to become your mother, you know."
The moment she heard those words, little Mobius practically exploded.
"No no no! I don't want a mother! As long as I have Father, that's enough! This person has no right whatsoever to become Father's wife! I will absolutely never agree to it."
Still shouting, little Mobius ran back into the house.
Watching Mobius charge inside, Husband gave an awkward laugh. "Sorry, Bronya. Snake Snake... it's not that she dislikes you. She just needs a little time."
"Mmm... Bronya understands."
Actually, she didn't understand at all.
She was completely and utterly clueless.
---o---
Time passed, and it was now the night of the second day.
Bronya had finally managed to figure out what was going on.
In this world, Husband and little Mobius were a father and daughter who depended solely on each other for survival. And she herself was the third person stepping into this "family."
"Bronya" loved him deeply, and he probably loved "Bronya" too. At the same time, he wanted to give little Mobius a complete family, so the two had come together and were set to marry in three days.
What no one expected was that little Mobius, who had always been so well-behaved, would erupt. No matter what, she absolutely refused to agree to the marriage.
"Mmm... it's quite strange."
Lying in bed, Bronya sorted out these relationships.
Clearly, Bronya and Husband are a match made in heaven.
But then again, Bronya is a bit confused. Is this what Mobius meant by her "experiment"?
So... what exactly is Bronya supposed to do here?
No... come to think of it, Bronya is essentially trapped here, isn't she?
What should be considered is how to escape this world.
But Bronya also felt that Mobius wouldn't harm her.
"...So, what exactly does Mobius want?"
And furthermore—why couldn't Bronya hear her husband's name?
This time, Bronya wanted to know what her husband was called. But whenever she tried to hear his name, it was drowned out by static noise. And whenever she tried to see his name, that portion of her vision simply went "missing."
It was as if the name itself had been erased.
What in the world is going on?
Bronya pondered as she gradually sank into slumber.
Today, she still could not enter the "Longed-For World."
---o---
Elysian Realm.The Deep End.
Aponia knelt before the colossal goddess statue, her ten fingers interlaced and pressed tightly before her chest, her head bowed in prayer.
Light shone in from the side, illuminating half of the nun's face in radiance while the other half sank into shadow.
As if sensing something, Aponia opened her eyes.
"Hi~ Aponia. It feels like we haven't seen each other in a very long time. Did you miss me? ♪"
Elysia came striding in with flower-like dance steps, as if rays of light were dancing behind her.
The pink fairy miss was always so dazzling.
"Elysia~"
The nun's voice carried the mournful helplessness of one who witnesses the suffering of humanity and can do nothing, yet also held the compassion of salvific mercy.
She turned around and fixed her gaze steadily upon Elysia.
"You've come."
Author's Note:
PS: After having my fun, that cosplayer asked if I wanted to stay the night. I said no, the Party and the People are still waiting for me. She grabbed my hand and said it wouldn't cost any money, she could keep me company for free. I still firmly refused, pulled on my pants with a da-da-da, and single-mindedly got up to write.
Doesn't this deserve a vote from you guys?
(The cosplay was Inori Yuzuriha. Midway through, she switched to an Elysia outfit. She suggested it herself, asked if I wanted to try it out.)
(Either way, they're both pink-haired.)
The girl was seriously pretty professional, really into it, and quite beautiful too. At the end, she grabbed me tight and shouted:
"This bouquet of flowers—I shall accept it with heartfelt gratitude! ♪"
Goddamn, I was completely dumbfounded in that moment.