Case 126: Upon trying to deal with a sinister and yandere heroine.

After that kiss, the atmosphere between us turned awkward.

More correctly, it was I who felt awkward. I mean, who wouldn't? Being forced-kissed by someone I considered my step-sibling, even being groped by her... it was only natural that I deemed it this way.

Lyra, on the other hand, hardly abandoned her composure. She sat neatly beside me, casually leaning on my shoulder as if it belonged to her. I caught a faint iris scent from her silky hair. A warm, soothing smoothness fell onto my skin as she nuzzled at me.

For some reason, my tail couldn't stay still.

Seeing as though we would remain in this position for a while, I tried to find something to talk about. I used to ramble on many silly topics in front of her before, thinking she was but an innocent child, but this... this woman was sinister!

Catching the dull red marks her naughty hand left on my chest earlier, I snapped, ''You... do you like my chest that much?''

A part of it was pure curiosity, but I mostly wanted to reprimand her. Even I knew how petty I was, but who made me this way? Yet, all of the retorts I had prepared in my head vanished as Lyra simply nodded, cleanly admitting her preference.

''P-Pervert.'' I cursed.

As I unknowingly uttered that word, the heroine flinched, then turned to me with a teasing smile, ''That sounded cute. Are you perhaps seducing me?''

''That's ridiculous! You're putting words in my mouth!'' I vehemently denied.

''Oh, really?'' Lyra crept closer, her fingers tracing my tail to its tip. ''Maybe you're just... naturally charming like that, you know? Like a fox.'' When the heroine said that, her tone carried a hint of frustration. Her half-lidded eyes stared straight at me, questioning, ''Cecilia, Cecilia... why did I fall for you, I wonder.''

I couldn't help but want to ease her irk, as a responsible big sister should, but I was fighting a battle behind all of this. My tail was desperately trying to escape from Lyra's demonic grasp, although things didn't seem optimistic.

Enduring the itchiness, I replied, ''A-Are you serious about marrying me? Even pursuing me. Think about it carefully. This isn't something to mess with.''

''I know. I've been thinking about it for more than three years already, so I'm certain.'' The heroine immediately shot back.

Three years...? She was in love with me for that long...?

Regardless, I had to really make sure she didn't regret anything.

''Us being stepsisters—''

''Ex-stepsisters.''

''...That aside, you'll have to think about my identity, too. What would happen if everyone realized who I am?'' I pressed on. ''As your big sister, I beg you to reconsider your decision.''

Facing my genuine concerns, Lyra appeared thoughtful for a moment. Yet, the moment she looked at me with an even stronger willfulness, I was stumped.

''Those things don't matter.'' The heroine said. ''I have the power to silence every fool who dared to oppose us being together. What matters is your feelings.''

Pulling me into her arms, Lyra stroked my head, ''I'll say this again and again—I love you as a woman, Cecilia. I want to make you my wife and have you bear our children.''

Hearing that coming out of her mouth still felt surreal. But I couldn't make out my feelings. They were crashing with one another fiercely, with neither side submerging. Whether to conform to everything I knew until now... or to forsake all of it.

This wasn't something that I could resolve in such a short time.

Helpless, I could only sigh, ''Your love is so heavy, Lyra.''

''It is.'' The answer came above me. ''Ideally, I also want you to break up with those pes—people and stay with me all the time. Preferably... with a pretty collar on your neck to show ownership.''

''...Did you just call my lovers 'pesks'?'' I perked up with a frown. ''Who taught you that kind of language? Rather, treating your wife like that is cruel.''

As if catching an opportunity, Lyra pulled me closer and lightly kissed my forehead, ''You're right. I should be more gentle, hm?''

''You...''

In the end, my 'preaching' didn't have an effect against the sinister and yandere heroine. I spent the entire day being her cuddle doll, contemplating my life choices.

It was a period when I couldn't do anything meaningful to increase my chances, even though everything was at stake. I knew that I would only mess things up if I moved, but it felt frustrating.

Some time later, all three of my lovers came for a visit. It seemed they wanted to discuss something important.

In my bedroom, the five of us gathered. I couldn't sit beside anyone since it would invoke the jealousy of the others, so the meeting only appeared more serious.

''Ahem.'' Rachael fixed her voice. ''After much consideration... we all agreed to go with Lyra's plan.''

''Plan? What plan?'' I tilted my head.

After all, only I seemed to be in the dark. I genuinely didn't know what deals they had made behind my back. Still, the fact that they were talking here meant they wanted me to know.

Eventually, the center of this so-called 'plan,' Lyra herself, spoke up, ''We told you before—that we would help to break the curse of Astaroth. The 'plan' naturally refers to that.''

''Oh...'' I shyly hummed, feeling warm from their devotion. ''T-Then, what do you guys want to do?''

''Kill Astaroth.''

The moment Lyra cynically said that, I felt my blood run cold. The myriads of images back then—of the great demon's boundless power, rushed back like a tide. Almost immediately, I shot back, ''No way.''

My resolute attitude momentarily stunned Rachael, Penelope, and Kiara. Looking at their awkward expressions, I belatedly realized they were doing it all for me. A guilty feeling swelled.

''...What I mean is, Astaroth is beyond what you guys can handle at the moment,'' I explained further. ''Even Lucifer and I barely scratched his body.''

''What about the former hero party?'' Kiara inquired. ''How would they fare against him?''

''Not a chance.'' I snorted. ''The only person who could rival him is... Lyra. Not right now, of course. She needs a few more years.''

I inexplicably glanced at the heroine, who still had a neutral countenance. For a while, no one said anything.

''That's where we're stuck,'' Penelope interjected with a sigh. ''With your condition, waiting for so long might be risky. And... no one knew what sort of schemes Astaroth might come up with you in that time either.''

At the end of the day... I was the problem. Even in the past, even now. At least, this time, I wanted to be of some use to the world.

Smiling self-deprecatingly, I uttered, ''A year and a half.''

'''' ... ''''

''A year and a half. That's the most I can probably hold out for. I'm not saying this because I want you guys to overexert yourselves for me. If anything, I'd rather you guys go about it steadily and secure the win. Don't worry about me.''

At the blatant acceptance of my inevitable demise, the four women showed sour expressions. Perhaps they, too, had expected it. I... could only convince them that this was the best way. Because it was.

It wasn't worth risking a chance to purge the last demon and release the world of its shackles for millennia to come just for me.

In the piercing silence, Rachael inhaled sharply, ''...So, Cecilia, we're here to ask you a favor.''

''A favor...?''

''Help Lyra improve her strength. If she learned both from the hero party and from you, the strongest demon, with her genius, we might just make it.''