ITITPS 2

Chapter : 2

[Name: Serena]

[Serena is the greatest mage of the era and the master of the Magic Tower. Though somewhat opinionated, she is kind and compassionate and will become a good ally to you.]

Serena was the crucial character who marked the start of the game.

Her role wasn’t listed in the bio to avoid spoilers, but as the game progressed, you would learn why she bought the protagonist.

Serena survived by leaving the clan right before the massacre that wiped out the isolationist Neon bloodline.

As someone of the same clan, the攻略 point was to soothe her scars.

A female character, but not a rival in love—rather a guardian—so players always reacted favorably to her. She even beat out the male leads and placed second in popularity polls.

“Then we’ll be on our way.”

“You don’t need me to see you off—”

“No need.”

Leaving the flustered owner behind, Serena grabbed my hand and walked briskly. After a long corridor, cold night air brushed my nose.

We were finally outside. I stared blankly at the hand holding mine.

“Uh… so, um…”

Her earlier confident demeanor was nowhere to be found. Serena hesitated, face a bit flustered.

Her hand twitched nervously in mine.

Ah. Cute.

Serena, who was at least a head taller than me, fumbling like that was always a rare sight.

“Would you come with me, girl?”

And then—her serious expression.

Her mask thrown aside, her strong and beautiful face glittered in the moonlight.

Blue eyes, just like mine, gazed softly at me.

That moment, time stopped.

[Do as you wish…]
[What is your name?]
*[What if I refuse? As if I even have a right to!] *

Three choices appeared before me.

In Les Ongles d’Erte, options appeared differently each time, depending on the situation, so there was no fixed攻略 route.

Still, knowing Serena’s personality, the obvious choice was #1.

But…

Maybe I should go with a different vibe this time?

I’d always played as the typical sweet but oblivious otome heroine.

When攻略ing, you cater to the characters’ moods, after all.

After a moment’s thought, I made up my mind.

“What if I refuse? As if I even have a right to!”

Serena was the type who returned kindness with kindness—and paid injustice back tenfold. She was also rather hot-tempered.

Knowing that well, I had always picked the choices that wouldn’t upset her.

Picking a prickly option like this… it had been ages. I couldn’t recall her reaction.

I watched her with a pounding heart. Not anxious.

Even if favor dropped a bit, I could build it up again.

But—

[Serena’s Affection +5]

“…Huh?”

Why did it go up!?

I choked on my own spit staring at the incomprehensible status message. Serena hesitated, then gently patted my back.

“…Are you all right?”

“…You’re a mage, right? Do you want my eyes too?”

Despite my panic, the dialogue continued automatically. I watched my body speak on its own.

Les Ongles d’Erte was infamous for stingy affection points.

The playtime was massive, but affection barely climbed past 100.

Serena started at 30 because she was of the same clan—but raising it afterward was another story.

With the other two options, I would’ve gotten maybe +1 or +2.

…So does Serena secretly like being talked to roughly!?

I’d spent countless hours with her over 99 playthroughs, but I didn’t know everything.

And I only knew the story-important beats anyway.

“I understand your fear… but I didn’t bring you here for your eyes.”

The dialogue hadn’t finished, so I couldn’t speak. I stared wide-eyed at Serena.

“I am of your clan.”

Fwoom. A cross-shaped sigil bloomed in Serena’s blue iris—unlike ordinary blue eyes.

Only a true-born Neon could reveal that white cross pupil. It was a power transplanted blood could never awaken.

At that unmistakable symbol, I sucked in a breath.

What?

She’s never shown it this early…

Serena only revealed her sigil late in the story, as a hidden event triggered by high affection and conditions met.

It had never happened in the prologue.

“Ever since I heard of the massacre ten years ago, I’ve regretted it. I knew the clan was being targeted, and yet I left them be.”

Her face twisted into a bitter smile—uncharacteristically self-deprecating for the arrogant master of the Tower.

“To me, you’re the only one left in the world. So I would never harm you.”

The great mage praised by the world bowed her head before a slave girl. My avatar sighed.

“…I’ll follow you.”

“Thank you for trusting me, girl.”

Her gentle hand touched mine again. At the same time, I regained control of my body.

“Come to think of it, I never told you my name.”

The nickname-screen scene returned. No matter how things changed, this part—

“I am Serenada. I look forward to working with you, Anastasia.”

[Nickname set to: Anastasia (Asha)]

…Excuse me!?

I didn’t say anything!

Originally, Serena introduced herself after the system let the player input a name.

Sure, I used Asha every playthrough, but no way the game should autofill it.

Should I report this to HQ…?

Not a critical bug, but still—that’s too arbitrary.

Before I could dwell on it, the scene shifted.

“Let me show you. This is where I live.”

“Ah… okay…”

Serena introduced it proudly, but my reply was lukewarm.

Of course the Tower was breathtaking—Les Ongles d’Erte’s visuals were top-tier.

But I’d been staring at this place for years.

No matter how glorious, seeing it daily makes it mundane.

Serena drooped slightly at my reaction, glancing anxiously at me.

“D-Do you dislike it?”

“No. It’s definitely better than where I used to live.”

This time, I meant it. As someone from a Child Factory, I could only live in my assigned housing.

Even if I earned money, I couldn’t move.

My current place wasn’t bad, but it couldn’t beat the Tower.

“…I see.”

Huh?

Not sure what nerve I touched.

This Serena felt unusually somber. Maybe the “all endings cleared” patch changed something?

Les Ongles was always capable of veering wildly depending on minor choices, but this kind of divergence in Chapter One was unprecedented.

Besides the stolen nickname, nothing looked like a bug.

I kind of like this new Serena.

She acted beyond what I knew—almost enticing, even if it was a bug.

Honestly, I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted.

“Lady Serena, who is that girl?”

As I toured the Tower behind Serena, a man spoke to her.

He was a long-haired beauty—sharp features, fluffy cat ears and tail.

[You encountered a sub character!]
[Name: Adel]
[Adel is Serena’s loyal subordinate. If you free Serena from her loneliness, he will develop strong affection for you.]

A blue window popped up and disappeared. Adel wasn’t one of the three main male leads, but he was攻略able.

I’d seen his ending but it always left me uneasy.

Unlike the main leads, Adel always prioritized Serena even if you romanced him.

Serena rescued him when he was abandoned and raised him with care; hard to resent it—but it wasn’t a route that appealed to me.

“She’s someone I took in, Adel. Prepare a room and dinner for Anastasia.”

“…Yes, my lady.”

Adel seemed to understand the situation immediately when he saw my cross-shaped blue eyes.

He’d watched Serena’s life since the massacre.

“Follow me.”

A choice popped up.

[(Follow quietly)]
[(Hesitate)]

Time froze until I chose. I glanced at Serena.

If I wanted to learn what this patch did, I needed to pick around.

And I wanted to see her reaction.

After a brief thought, I picked the second.

“Hm? What’s—”

My avatar grabbed Serena’s robe hem. Serena could’ve easily brushed me off, being much bigger—but she didn’t.

Her eyes widened at first, then hardened after seeing my face.

Which made me wonder what face I was making.

[Serena’s Affection +2]

“Sorry. I didn’t think it through.”

She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder and apologized.

Still confusing behavior, but later, when you enter character memory stories via cash items, you can unlock their pasts.

Maybe then I’d understand.

“Adel, just prepare dinner for now.”

Adel bowed again and left the room.

Now, it was only the two of us.

Serena softly held the hand clutching her robe.

“Let’s go to my chamber, Anastasia.”