Case 231: Deceiving reality.

Case 231: Deceiving reality.

After a long-awaited reunion, Anna, Tina, and I, hand in hand, begins to find our way out of the damned lab.

''Oh, by the way.'' I utter, seizing the attention of the two.

''Hm?''

''What's wrong?''

''By any chance... You guys aren't fakes, right?''

I know. It might seem distrustful of me, but I'm so tired of looking at those mimics. I want none of them in my life. I'm tired of trying to decipher which one is the real one as well. That takes quite a lot of brain cells, which I don't have much.

However, the two immediately panic. They squirm around a bit, stuttering, as they try to find ways to prove their legitimacy to me.

''...In the first place, how are you two so sure that I'm real?'' I tilt my head.

''My instinct.''

''Her instinct.''

Oh, that.UppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

''But how are you so sure that Anna is real?'' I ask Tina.

''It was actually a bit of luck.'' The red-haired princess sighs. ''By pure chance, I noticed that the fake Sylvia's heartbeats were inconsistent with yours while Anna's were normal. So it was a double-layer confirmation.''

Holy shit, my lovers are broken. Someone nerf them, please!

''In any case, please do confirm whatever you would like to know about us.'' Tina pleads.

''That's right! We're a hundred percent real!'' Anna nods repeatedly.

I mean, I doubt that they're fakes... Okay, there is a chance. I guess I'll have to do it.

Now, I can pretty easily check their bodies using a tad bit of divine energy since it is quite literally omnipotent, yet my reserve is nowhere near that level. Instead, I'll rely on the most reliable skill in my closet—making things go hard.

In reality, collecting their juice will be more definitive, but we don't have time, and this is not the place for that.

''Excuse me.''

Under the two's expectant eyes, I firmly thrust my hands inside their skirt and grab the relatively soft but unexpectedly huge bulges.

'''' !!! ''''

Merely seconds later, I already feel them growing in my palms. By observing this natural reaction—which I'm more than familiar with, I can determine if they're real or imitations.

''S-Sylvia?!''

''Here is a bit...!''

Okay, they're not fakes. That's a huge relief.

BANG—!

''Eek...!''

Give back four months of my life, fucking asshole.

As I'm about to dump the whole mag on the cowering woman, Anna suddenly taps my shoulder.

''I don't sense danger.'' She whispers.

''Really?'' I furrow my brows.

''It's weird, but there's no doubt.''

''...''

Turning to the Mermaid Queen again, I see she has already got down to her knees, raising both hands while smiling stupidly. Even if I concentrate my senses, I can't detect any traps.

Let's be careful for once.

After stacking a ton of defensive magic spells on myself and my lovers, I point my Desert Eagle, chambered in super AP rounds, at the mermaid's forehead.

''Explain.'' I order.

''Yes, yes, of course...!'' She replies, sweating. ''In short, it was something I was told to do.''

''By?''

''By the Divine Maiden.''

''Who?''

''The one who has comprehended the ways of the universe, able to predict, read, and sometimes alter predetermined fates.''

Okay, that sounds remarkably like a scammer. Technically, if someone were able to predict the actions of every atom in the universe, which is, again, technically possible, they would know every event that's going to happen. Yet that doesn't mean that that claim is entirely valid. Possible doesn't equal feasible.

I'm going off the track, but this sounds suspicious.

As if sensing my mood, Mermaid Queen hurriedly adds to her explanation. ''Look, she must have given you something, right? Like... A key, for example?''

''...?''

Wait, is she talking about the crystal?

''It seems so.'' Mermaid Queen sighs. ''Phew... Listen closely, esteemed Saint.''

''What?''

Suddenly, her playful face turns extremely serious. The once leisurely aura has now completely disappeared, leaving a place for a grimmer one.

''Atlas has been infiltrated by the demon army. Please help us, esteemed Saint. You are our only hope.''