Lucy POV
"Lucy, I love you! Please marry me!"
I shout with more confidence than I thought I had in my body. Even though I know I don't have much of a chance, I still want to take my shot. So while Lucy still looks a bit taken aback by my sudden proposal, I quickly explain myself to her.
"I'm sorry if this kind of came out of nowhere, but I've always looked up to you! The way you always carry yourself with confidence, without ever becoming arrogant and the way you treat everyone so kindly. Even when the world is trying to make your life difficult, you never give up and just keep making the world a better place instead. Deep down I think I always wanted to be someone like you, even though that might be too high of a hurdle for me. But still, I really admire you and I love you! So c-could you give me at least a little bit of consideration? I swear I'll do my best to become worthy of you!"
"You…"
I glance at her reaction, and I see a little blush creeping up on her face, making her already enchanting appearance even more adorable with this hint of shyness. Then she takes a breath and meets my eyes.
"So stealing my body wasn't enough for you? You say you admire me soo much, but you just want to take everything I have left, don't you?"
"H-huh? Stealing your…?"
Her slightly flustered look vanishes, replaced by a look of disgust directed straight at me, the abrupt contrast taking me by surprise.
I look down at my hands, which appear to be a little smaller and more delicate than I remember, and then I notice the golden yellow locks going down to my shoulders at the edge of my vision.
"I… what?"
It feels like there's a series of memories that are trying to surface in my mind, but something is holding them back, leaving me with just a deep sense of confusion.
"L-Lucy! That's just an illusion… I think…"
Just when my headache is about to overwhelm me, a familiar voice reaches my ears, dispelling the fog in my mind as I finally notice three other people standing nearby with a rather particular look on their faces.
"Hina? And Arthur and Bernard too…?"
Once their names come to my mind, I suddenly recall everything that led up to this moment, with me wanting to complete this event and dragging Hina and Arthur into it too, but then everything went off track.
"Lucy… um, what was that about?"
"Does the artifact show an illusion or our hidden desires…?"
"...! Th-that time in the dressing room…"
Bernard, Arthur and then Hina say one after the other, seemingly quite shocked by the scene that played out.
"N-no! Th-this was just um… I don't… I mean-"
Realizing what all of this must have looked like to the others, I become extremely flustered and try to explain myself, but well… It's kind of hard to explain that I'm not the real Lucy.
"L-Lucy! The sword, quickly drop it!"
Just when my embarrassment reaches its peak and I want to hide away in a hole somewhere, Hina suddenly appears before me and takes my hand that is holding a familiar artifact.
Clang.
Following her words, I drop the weapon, all of a sudden feeling a strange influence that I haven't noticed before completely disappear and now I once again feel complete control over my body.
"Nobody touch it! These weird illusions always appeared once someone took it!"
Hina says and then pulls me away from it.
"Um, Hina…?"
"Hm?"
I call out to her as I look at her hand still holding mine. It's an interaction we've gotten used to, but after everything that happened, now it feels a little strange. At first she doesn't understand my meaning, but then she quickly pulls back her hand, as if scalded by the touch.
"I didn't mean to- Or I mean I'm not… I… sorry."
It's probably the first time I've ever seen Hina so flustered before that she can't even form sentences.
But she's right, it seems like the artifact's trial was triggered each time someone touched it. In the game, only Bernard held the sword both in reality and within the illusion created by the artifact so I didn't even think this could be an issue.
Honestly, this whole event went off track right at the start with Bernard's trial. It was supposed to create a battlefield full of monsters he had to fight and then be unable to save his friends. But this time it created a fake Lucy and recreated his proposal while making the fake say stuff I never did.
And everything just got weirder from then on, with Arthur, Hina and then even I ended up proposing to a fake Lucy.
I could maybe understand Bernard's illusion, I did trigger his proposal event too early and then not long after I did the same with this event, so he might have not fully moved on from the proposal and that rejection ended up as his biggest fear right now.
Then Arthur received the same trial, which is still strange, and I didn't think he felt that way about me since our interactions have been rather normal so far. But because he's still a capture target, I can also understand it.
Like, I can even accept that my own trial would be proposing to Lucy. Those sentiments I expressed did come from my heart. I always liked her while I played the game, though I didn't think I liked her enough that I'd propose to her. Well, if I wasn't inside her body and met her properly, maybe I could see myself doing that…
So I can accept all of that, but what doesn't make sense is that it was the same for Hina as well. For one, she is supposed to be the villainess, but more importantly, she's my precious friend and while she might not think so highly of me, I'm sure she considers me her friend and nothing more. She also has that marriage arrangement with Arthur so it just doesn't make sense. That's why I was so surprised when I saw her trial play out, and what was up with that princess Lucy setting anyway?
"U-um, if I can say something, I think I figured out what is happening."
I get my mind back on track and carefully break the extremely awkward silence that settled over the four of us, so with all their eyes on me, I continue:
"S-since Bernard was the one who touched the sword in reality, he should be the only one who is receiving this trial set up by the artifact, so when we touched the sword within the illusion I think something went wrong with the trial and then each of us got put into Bernard's position within the trial."
If none of us are the problem, then the trial itself must have bugged out.
"A-at least that's what I think. I doubt that this trial would be the same for all of us…"
"Ah yeah…"
"That makes sense."
"Ugh, why did I even touch that sword…"
The others seem to accept my conclusion, though Hina and Arthur both avert their eyes for some reason. Bernard just regrets his hasty actions that led to this situation.
"Ahem, then as for what to do next-"
Ting.
Hina clears her throat, probably intending to turn the discussion towards trying to find a solution to this situation, when suddenly the distinct sound of picking up something metallic can be heard behind us.
I quickly turn around and there she is, her golden locks flowing down to her shoulders as she stands up, examining the all too familiar sword in her hand.
"L-Lucy?"
"That's not me!"
I quickly deny Bernard's words as all of us watch the illusion Lucy suddenly come to life, even though she always just stood frozen in place when the trials got interrupted before.
"Look out! She seems dangerous!"
"...! Ugh."
Thanks to Hina's warning, I manage to notice a yellow blur rushing towards us and I put up my shield to cover everyone just in time.
It's a pretty strong hit, but I manage to block the attack and the other Lucy distances herself again. She lazily flips the blade over again as she looks at the sword.
"Hm… This feels a little weird, but it's not bad. Though it's a bit too heavy to hold like this."
"..."
With the situation suddenly turning tense I quickly exchange looks with the other three, a wordless understanding forming between us. The others subtly shift their positions, and get ready.
"What? Why are you all so stiff now? It can't be that you got intimidated by a weak little light magic user like me~"
'Lucy' says in a teasing voice but her posture subtly shifts, probably waiting for an opportunity for another attack.
"Hyah!"
Bernard activates his magic, gathering his usual earth barrier in front of him even within this illusory world and charges straight at 'Lucy.'
Ugh, that kind of brings up certain memories of him doing the same to me. But I quickly shake my head as I take my place in front of Hina, my role being creating a safe area with my shield whenever necessary.
But disregarding my thoughts, Bernard slams straight into 'Lucy', or rather her shield which absorbs the entire impact. However, at that moment, Arthur suddenly appears behind her. Using Bernard as a distraction, he's ready to follow up with a series of his own attacks.
But as if she predicted his plan, 'Lucy' strengthens her shield at the exact point he prepared to attack, while using the sword in her hand to do a large sweeping attack, forcing both Arthur and Bernard to create some distance.
Both of them have a lot of combat experience so they quickly react to her sudden movements and combine their strengths with seamless teamwork. They are best friends after all, so they work together really well, but even like that, 'Lucy' seems to keep up with them, like she can predict all of their moves.
"...! She can actually keep up with both of them? I didn't know you could do that."
"I can't move like that! Since the trials used our memories, I think she has all the swordplay and tactical maneuvering from all of you. She probably just used my strength enhancing spell to actually have the stamina to pull it off."
I quickly dismiss Hina's shocked words, there's no way I could replicate what 'Lucy' is doing, maybe I could block their attacks for a little while, but that's it.
"Wait, not only that, but she seems to be able to predict all the attacks too, don't tell me that's also from our memories. What can we do against an opponent that can read our minds? Maybe it's time to leave this illusion, the ways you mentioned still work right?"
Observing the exchanges between the two guys and 'Lucy', Hina quickly states her observation and proposes retreat.
"Uh, but… we already got so far. Though it's true that everything went wrong… Just a little more time? And yeah we still can't feel pain here so a defeat should return us to the real world anyway."
"Fine… we can stay for a little more, but I don't like how intelligent that other Lucy seems to be. We also need some sort of plan to deal with her. Maybe I could help out those two and try to overwhelm her? Would it be possible for you to turn around and try not to pay attention to us, or maybe it would be better if you left the illusion first and we finish everything up?"
"I… don't want to leave all of you behind, but maybe that would be the best solution…"
Hina carefully proposes her idea, since if I'm not here, she could go all out with her fire magic as well, and while I don't really like it, I don't have any other solutions for this situation.
"Hm, this is starting to get a little boring now. Let's start with you, big guy."
'Lucy' lazily says while still perfectly countering all of Bernard and Arthur's moves. Then she blocks another of Bernard's attacks and, while locked in with him, adopts a disgusted expression and perfectly imitates the Lucy from his own trial, saying:
"Do you really think anyone would like you?"
"...! Ugh!"
Though he only gets momentarily distracted by it this time, 'Lucy' still takes advantage of this chance and using her fortified body, she kicks him hard, sending Bernard flying away.
Then she wastes no time, instantly catching another one of Arthur's surprise attacks.
"You'll never make a good king. All your halfhearted efforts are wasted."
"..."
"...! Everyone, close your eyes!"
'Lucy' seemingly tries the same tactic with Arthur, but he manages to keep his cool, only for her to suddenly open her palm, light magic suddenly gathering around it in an all too familiar move.
"Ugh!"
The moment I recognise signs of my flashbang spell, I warn everyone and cover my eyes as well. But even without being able to see anything, I still hear Arthur grunt reflexively, probably becoming another victim of 'Lucy'.
"Hm~ Why are you using a toy like that instead of the magic you're so proud of?"
As the flash begins to fade, I squint and force myself to look at the battlefield again. Only Hina remains standing on our side, already locked in a bind with the dagger Arthur slipped her at the start of the fight and 'Lucy' mocking her for it. Then her slightly amused look changes, and her eyes glisten with unshed tears as she pitifully says:
"Hina… Why are you trying to hurt me, don't you love me?"
"...! Ugh!"
"Ah!"
'Lucy' exploits Hina's reaction, throwing her to the ground at just the right opportunity and then before I could even react, she appears right in front of me with a friendly smile and greets me happily.
"Hello, me. Or actually, should I say little Li-"
"...!"
Her meaningful words catch me completely off guard and she instantly seizes this chance to slip right behind me, with her hands reaching over my shoulders to lock me in place. Her body is pressed right against me kind of like a back hug, or maybe coiled around me like a snake is more appropriate to describe it. By the time I come to my senses it's too late as she gently rests her sword right by my neck and I can't use my shield in this close proximity.
"Lucy!"
"Tsk, tsk. Don't be so hasty, my little Hina."
Hina worriedly calls out to me, but before she could stand up, 'Lucy' threateningly taps my neck with her sword, making Hina tense up and glare at her, but she stays still and says:
"What do you want? We already failed the trial didn't we?"
"Hm~ Not quite yet, I actually took Lucy hostage to prevent you from leaving this illusory world so quickly. I thought you already figured it out, I have all your memories."
"...! Then why are you threatening Lucy?"
Hina keeps talking with 'Lucy', that glare never leaving her face. By now Arthur and Bernard also got up and moved closer, but seeing the current situation, they stop next to Hina, afraid of provoking 'Lucy'.
"No, no. You misunderstand me, I took Lucy hostage to prevent her from leaving. You remember her words right? Ahem. 'Even if somebody gets stuck in the dream, I can bring them out with my light magic.'"
"...!"
"Wouldn't that mean that only little Lucy can bring out others from the dream? Then even if I kill all of you here, she's the only one I have to keep. That way she'll accompany me here forever and none of you will be able to get her to return to the real world."
Using my memories, 'Lucy' twists my words, making the others draw a wrong conclusion. Any light magic user should be able to break this illusion on our bodies in the real world, so if they just get Miss Julia, she could do the same thing.
"That's-!"
"Shh, good kids should know when to stay quiet. Isn't that right, my little flower~"
But when I try to speak up, 'Lucy' suddenly moves her finger in front of my lips, stopping me from talking and then I can feel her soft breath hit my ear as she quietly whispers to me.
Ugh, even though she's lying through her teeth she really knows how to make all of us do what she wants. I can't believe she also got my memories of my previous life, or maybe she's just bluffing, but I can't tell at all with that smug smile on her face!
"So, what will it be? You already know you can't defeat me through combat, I know all your moves after all. Will you try to attack me anyway and get sent back to reality, or will you finally play along with me? Either way is fine with me, I could have little Lucy all to myself for eternity or the five of us can have fun in this world together."
"..."
"..."
The atmosphere becomes even more tense as the others glance at each other, but in the end they lower their heads, giving up on further resistance.
No! No! Don't believe this vixen so easily!
I really want to shout that, but I'm still under the clutches of this witch, whose smile only gets wider enjoying all their reactions. Seriously, where did this guy even come from? I mean the trial can summon people from your memories in a distorted form, but I don't remember acting anything like this at all.
The real Lucy…? No, the Lucy trapped in my soul would never act like this! I refuse to even consider that.
Maybe this event really just got bugged from getting four different people's memories at the same time and she's just some sort of error? Though she's acting eerily human, well maybe not human, but kind of alive.
"I knew all of you were good kids too. You wouldn't want to leave this poor little flower all alone with me, would you?"
'Lucy' continues her gloating, her arms around me slightly shifting, probably due to excitement.
"..."
"..."
"Ugh, all of this because I touched that sword…"
'Lucy' is only met with glares after her words and Bernard quietly mumbles something to himself.
"...! Argh, I hate all of this! I'll just take you down myself this time!"
"Wait, Bernard!"
"You idiot, stop!"
Bernard suddenly shouts, seemingly having had enough of 'Lucy' and charges at us, with Arthur and Hina quickly reprimanding him for it. But he ignores all their words and just keeps moving.
Yes! Provoke her and if you get out, you can just get Miss Julia to help us out too!
"Hm~"
I quietly celebrate this development and 'Lucy' just gives a slightly amused smile. Then, with nimble movements, she suddenly shoves me behind her, and then gets ready to receive Bernard's attack with her shield and also gripping her sword.
Bang.
Bernard's signature move gets blocked once more and 'Lucy' instantly follows up with a swing of her sword. At first he moves his shield to defend himself, but at the last moment it suddenly crumbles away, the sword directly cutting through his body.
"...!"
"Bernard!"
Hina and Arthur watch with shocked eyes, but still remain at a distance, cautious about what 'Lucy' would do.
Since this is all an illusion, there's no blood coming from him, only a transparent hole along the cut of the sword and his form slowly begins to dissolve, getting ejected from this world.
But he only has a determined expression on his face, looking ready to follow up on some sort of plan.
Oh! Did he figure out that 'Lucy' was just bluffing? Haha, it is his trial event after all! Baiting her into killing him, only to resolve everything in the real world. Good job Bernard!
"Heh."
'Lucy' laughs a little as Bernard completely disappears, then turns to me with a mocking smile. Then she gets closer to me again, this time pressing her body against mine from the front.
Why do you keep getting so close to me with that face! Haven't you heard of personal space before? And taking advantage of the appearance of an otome game protagonist with such an awful personality is really messed up.
I think internally, but I'm still rooted in place, afraid that she still has some cards up in her sleeve due to her confident appearance.
"Well, I guess the countdown has begun. Isn't that good for you? Running back to the academy and here again should take about an hour, so more than enough time to air out some interesting details, wouldn't you say?"
"...! You… I didn't say anything and you still lost, aren't you afraid of breaking your word?"
'Lucy' leans forward until her face is right in front of me with only a little distance between us and with an amused smile she taps my lips with her finger again and says:
"Tsk, tsk. If I'm going to disappear anyway, I'd rather watch something interesting before I go~"
Ugh, even though she already lost, why does she still look like she's having so much fun?
"But fine~ I won't reveal secrets just like that, ah, but if any of you try anything funny, I'm going for all your deepest secrets, got it?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three of us just reluctantly go along with her, any hope of resistance snuffed out by her new condition.
Ugh, Bernard, please hurry up!
"Hm, how should I do this… Ah, I got it."
'Lucy' seems to think for a little bit and then her face lights up with an idea. She finally pulls back from me and I can instantly breathe easier, but then without hesitation she pulls my right arm into her embrace, firmly locking it between her arms and…
"Is that really necessary? We already agreed to play along with you."
"Haah, you don't get it little Hina. Or maybe you get it a little bit too much?"
Hina suddenly speaks up with a small hint of redness on her face, but 'Lucy' just dismisses her words.
"Even though you did agree, if I let little Lucy too loose then what would stop her from leaving this place on her own too soon? I'd lose all my playthings… Ahem, I mean friends instantly. So I have to keep little Lucy close to me until the end. I know you'd rather be in my place, but that's how it is."
"Hm…? Huh?! That's not-!"
"Anyway, so here's how we'll do it. I'll say two things that are true and one lie. That way even if I reveal your secrets, you still won't know which ones are real."
Hina's face suddenly flushes even redder, but 'Lucy' just ignores her and explains the rules.
Compared to what she could do, this doesn't sound too bad. Maybe this vixen isn't so shameless after all? I'd much prefer if she let go of me, though…
"What should I pick? What should I pick?"
She wonders out loud as she drags me along while stepping closer to Hina, looking her over and then moving over to Arthur.
"Hm, your options are quite boring. And you likely wouldn't even show any big reactions so you're out for this round."
'Lucy' finally says as she stands before Arthur and then pulls me away again.
"Well, let's just start with little old me then."
"Huh?"
"This little Lucy…"
After declaring that she steps in front of me, one of her arms still wrapped around mine. With her gaze directed at me again I slightly flinch, but then her other hand just pokes my cheek and she continues:
"Really likes cute and girly things!"
"That's…true…?"
'Lucy' reveals that so confidently that at first I think that I heard wrong. It's true that I try not to show that side of me in front of others, but it's not exactly a big secret either. Just what is she playing at?
"Hm, not much of a reaction for this either, huh. Then let's move over to little Hina."
She says and then drags me along again.
"Little Hina… she likes…"
'Lucy' looks Hina over and then deliberately drags out her words, with Hina slightly stiffening for some reason.
"She likes reading romance books. Ah, but not the regular kind. Her taste is more for the forbidden kind of romance books that can't be bought regularly."
"...!"
"Huh?"
"...?"
Me and Arthur react with the same confused expression. Although Hina jumps a little bit hearing that reveal, but that must be from the shock of hearing an outlandish claim like that.
Although I don't know much about what would be considered forbidden romance books here, in my old world I have accidentally come across some truly disturbing works of fiction. Stuff with non-human and like um… Anyway, Hina reading such lewd and outrageous stuff is really hard to imagine.
So there was a truth and a lie by now, meaning the next one will be…
Huh? Wait, wouldn't that mean that the next thing she says, no matter how strange it might sound, would be another truth? Like someone's true identity…?
"Well, it's more than before but it's still a pretty boring reaction. Hm, maybe I should go even bigger for the next one, what do you think, little Lucy?"
"...!"
Ugh, I really hate this vixen. I mean, my secret will come out sooner or later, but I still have a lot of things left to set up for the real Lucy. It would really mess up my plans if she just revealed it right now.
"So the next secret is about… little Hina!"
"...!"
"Phew."
'Lucy' drags out her words again and then suddenly looks at Hina, who tenses up again and I can't help but let out a relieved sigh. Sorry, Hina.
"Hm, let's do this one. Little Hina here has a whole bunch of little dolls and plushies that she keeps in her family home. She has names for each and every one of them and they were all her best and only friends until now."
"...?"
"...?"
"...?"
Even though this is supposed to be the last truth in this game, Arthur, Hina and I all react with similarly blank expressions. But 'Lucy' just keeps going:
"There's Sir Hopsalot the rabbit, Captain Cuddles the teddy bear, Sir Naptime Reginald the little cat and her absolute bestest friend Princess Vivienne the doll, who she often dressed up in different outfits, brushed her hair every day and always fell asleep while holding her all the way until she entered the academy."
"...S-Sera?"
"H-Hina…?"
"W-what?! That's not true!"
"Oh? It's not? But wasn't my second reveal the lie though?"
"...!"
Suddenly all the color drains from Hina's face and then she finally stammers out:
"Y-y-yes. I have d-dolls like that."
"Introduce them properly, beloved plushies like that should be given proper introductions, don't you think, little Hina?"
"S-Sir Hopsalot… and Captain C-Cuddles, Sir Naptime Reginald, P-Princess V-V-Vivienne…"
With increasingly reddening cheeks, Hina recounts all the names of her plushies.
Was the setting for the villainess always like this? I can't even blame it on my influence since all of that should have happened before I even arrived in this world.
Imagining the game's Seraphina doing stuff like that is really hard to believe, but even with Hina, it is quite surprising too. W-well, it's not like there's anything wrong with that…
"Pfft!"
"Arthur!"
"Ahem. I didn't say anything."
I quickly call him out the moment I hear him almost break, but it's already too late as I see Hina's face turn even redder.
"Come on, don't be shy. Also tell them about how you used to always read them a bedtime story before going to bed and that one time when you couldn't find your precious Vivienne you cried your eyes out while searching through the entire mansion, thinking that she left you, only to find her on your bed in the end."
"I… I read them b-bedtime stories and um…"
"N-no, it's okay Hina. You don't need to push yourself too hard."
"Hm, pfft. Ahem, definitely. What, haha, Lucy said."
Seeing Hina being completely flustered and her eyes starting to glisten, I try to intervene and give her an out, but then 'Lucy' speaks up again:
"No, no, little Lucy. Hina always wanted to talk about her plushie friends if she ever made real friends, but until now she's been too shy to mention it. See how red she is? It's because she's so happy that she can finally open up. Now keep going, little Hina, open your heart."
"...B-bedtime stories and I… I cried when I couldn't find Vi-... P-Princess Vivienne."
"See? Hahaha! Isn't it so nice to be honest and open? Hehe, this round was pretty good after all!"
'Lucy' seems to enjoy herself even more as she excitedly moves around, dragging me with her as the light in Hina's eyes seems to dim a little bit.
"Next round! Next round! This time let's start with-"
Crack!
Suddenly a sound similar to glass breaking fills the area with the edges of this illusory world showing cracks and lines.
"...!"
"What's happening this time?"
All of us suddenly look around and brace ourselves as the ground begins to shake. But isn't this too quick? It's only been like ten minutes since Bernard left. There's no way he could have gotten anyone in this short time.
"Ah, I see. Heh, with determination like that he could have easily passed the trial if he just tried a little harder."
Only 'Lucy' seems completely calm as she looks up at the distance, like she's watching what's happening in reality even though none of us can see outside.
"What do you-"
"Never mind, I guess you got through it this time, little Lucy. Here's a piece of advice: lies can only get you so far in life."
"Huh?"
"And the same goes for you too, little Hina. If you don't act fast enough, maybe your desires will have nowhere to go by the end."
"Wh-what?"
Crash!
With the world crumbling away, 'Lucy' gives a few more meaningful sentences then my entire vision goes white for a moment.
"Hah!"
I suddenly open my eyes and sit up, feeling the cold stone underneath me, then quickly look around.
"Ugh."
"Ow."
"Ah! You guys are awake! I can't believe my plan actually worked!"
I see Hina and Arthur waking up as well in this small underground chamber, then Bernard suddenly speaks up excitedly near the pedestal where the sword was before.
Yes, was. Now the artifact can't be seen anywhere. Only small pieces of metal are lying on the ground around a handle.
"Huh? You broke it?!"
I can't help but shout in disbelief.