Lamia: Lost Lullaby

Hm. I'm Lamia... Hm? Say something else? Eh... H-hold on... Let me think...

Level up...! S-should I act more excited...?

A promotion... So who can I order around now? N-no one? Oh...

You want to know where my l-limit lies? Ahem... Can't you see I-I've always given it my all?

Instead of fighting, I'm much better at running away. How about you give it a go? O-only smart people can do it. You're missing out.

A-actually, I have no idea how to use this weapon. I just fling it around normally. Ugh... S-stop looking at me like that. Fine, I'll learn...

Level up...! S-should I act more excited...?

A promotion... So who can I order around now? N-no one? Oh...

You want to know where my l-limit lies? Ahem... Can't you see I-I've always given it my all?

Instead of fighting, I'm much better at running away. How about you give it a go? O-only smart people can do it. You're missing out.

A-actually, I have no idea how to use this weapon. I just fling it around normally. Ugh... S-stop looking at me like that. Fine, I'll learn...

D-did you pick the wrong person...?

I'm the leader? W-wait... You're serious? Alright, but... okay...

It's f-finally done... I'm so tired...

Babylonia... Now that I think about it, a-all those exploitative, union-busting conglomerates... always name themselves something pretty.

Gabriel has always been unhinged. I didn't want to deal with him even back when I was with Luna... But now that he's... F-forget it... I don't want to mention it…

Roland... I don't like his style. I thought he'd be the first to stab us in the back, but then he went to the moon just to save Luna... Can't judge a book by its cover, I guess?

Alpha is scary... L-like you'd get a blade to your neck the second you get close to her. How does she even get that vibe...? Should I start with some bandages?

Hmm... The Construct from ARU isn't here...? N-nothing. I always feel like something will go very wrong if we meet... I should probably avoid her...

J-just let me hide here for a bit! I think I locked eyes with that Vera...! Aaargh—just my luck... W-wait, you're not scared of her? I bet you're lying!

Me...? I... T-there's nothing to say. They're all trivial things... not interesting at all. Y-you still want to know? Ugh—fine. I'll share a little bit...

The secret of the Ascension-Network... You've met Ascendants way more powerful than me. You should already know that it is something you should stay away from. Don't look for trouble if you don't want to die, I always say. Still... sometimes it feels like t-troubles will come looking...

My goal as an Ascendant? It isn't anything grand. Staying somewhere like this is half of it. You can even say that... I'd r-rather not be an Ascendant. But would I have survived to this day if I weren't one?

Just be who I am around other people...? I'll get rejected, trust me. Even if someone accepts me, my tail alone would make me an outcast. The way people look at it—it feels like their eyes could bore into me…

You're curious about my tail? You wanna touch it...? Fine, whatever... W-wait! No... no no no! Never!

Even after Luna lent me her power, I still don't think I've gotten any stronger... What an Ascendant, am I right... Speaking of which, were you scared of me before? W-wait—please forget I asked that!... Stop it! Please, stop it!

The place I was born? I didn't fit in with a-anything or anyone there... so of course I don't like it... That said, even with everything t-that was buried there, it is... still my home... and I-I can never go home now.

Promise me one thing—stay alive. "Living" is hard. You can only do it well if you give it your all! And... I want you to live... Y-yeah. I love that.

What should I do from now on... It doesn't sound too bad... to be well-fed and well-provided for without needing to work. D-do you have something you want to do? It doesn't really matter as long as I'm with you... No, that's not true. I can tolerate this only if th-there is a steady supply of food. You have to promise me three meals a day... Y-yeah. There's nothing more important than this.

I've got nothing to say to a Babylonian! B-but to avoid unnecessary conflicts, let's talk.

For me? It's not something like an "earthworm biscuit"... right?

How dare you approach an Ascendant... Ugh... Why does it sound s-so meek when it's coming from me...

Have you thought this through? You can't take it back after you give it to me, alright?

Fine, fine—I know what you're planning. You want to get close to me, then use me to destroy the Ascendants from the inside, don't you? You wouldn't count on it? Hey!

You've given me so much... I'm starting to get a little embarrassed... Nah. Of course I was lying.

Best if you don't get too close to an Ascendant... Forget it. Other Ascendants have told you something similar, haven't they? I'm not going to bother if you aren't going to listen.

I'll get sick of them if you keep giving me the same thing. W-wait, why are you taking it back? I didn't say I don't want it...

Ah... Sigh. I know. Staying with you? It's not a difficult thing to do, after all. But, consequently, you know the kind of troubles you're getting into, right?

Send me food. I've been stocking up for the winter—of course I know that Ascendants don't starve! But you're all flesh and bones, aren't you? Not even the faintest sense of crisis... Welp. I guess I should save your portion as well.

Right, let me teach you something, then you'll start respecting me. Do you want me to teach you how to swim? You already know how... What about diving? You know how to do that too... Got it! You have no idea how to disguise yourself, do you? Ugh... I don't think that's something I can teach you...

By the way, shouldn't Ascendants refrain from receiving gifts from humans? Gotta write that down... Can't keep forgetting which side I'm on... with a footnote—"except you"... It's not an excuse! Things are different in your case. I have to treat you in other ways.

It's kind of amazing being around you... I start to understand why all those Constructs stick around. Right—what if I disguise myself as another Construct next time and spend a whole day with you without you realizing it... H-hold on. I feel like that's just going to benefit someone else. Forget it.

The gift I want the most is actually quite simple... which is why I can't say it out loud. Stop guessing. I'll get you to give it to me without you noticing it.

I... had a dream last night. I dreamt that everyone had left me... a-and I couldn't keep up. I watched as they got further a-and further away until I couldn't see them anymore... No, I wasn't bothered because it was just a dream. Even the happiest person can have nightmares... I don't know when it started, but it's nice to be able to think like that now...

The mermaid princess gave the one she loved her scale as a token in the fairy tale... I don't have scales that I can shed... a-and I'm no princess either... Then what should I give you instead?

Pfft... Lazy ass.

Don't feel ashamed yawning at work. What's wrong with that?

Sleep, sleep. When you wake up, I'll get to tease you about how you've been slacking off.

Do you want to know how to act like you're working when you're actually slacking off? Hehe... I'll tell you if you entertain me.

I guess you're sick of this place? Then let's run away. It'll just be... y-you and me. If you've decided, let me first make some preparations... I'll need... around half a year?

Aren't you bored doing the same thing every day?

I feel tired just watching you work so late every night. Can you pay for my labor?

I'm tired... H-hey, let's go rest. I didn't do anything...? I-I've been repeating "let's go rest, let's go rest, let's go rest" in my head! Exhausting!

Do you want me to share some of your work? Why are you looking at me like that? I know you didn't say anything, but I'm offended!

Go rest... No, I'm serious this time. What if... w-what if I finish the remaining work for you?

Morning. Assistant Lamia reporting for duty... We good? Can I clock off now?

Mission today as well? What a chore... Didn't you just complete one yesterday?

Today's mission is... stay in the base. I've filled out the form. Just sign here.

By the way, are you going to switch to another assistant? I'm getting very tired standing here every day... Nah, I was kidding. You don't have to switch me out.

Morning! Right, I'm filled with energy today as well. I can watch you work all day.

Hey! I managed to get here early today. How about that? Impressive, right? How did I do that? Ha... Yawn—I didn't sleep last night, obviously. As for my work... given how hard I've worked already, I'll leave the rest to you!

The morning breeze is so nice... Ah, morning! I sound different? I always thought girls who sounded like this were more popular back when I was disguised as others. You prefer how I was? Oh... That's good. Pretending to sound like this is difficult... It's like torture...

I'm almost used to your schedule now... Your days are always so packed. Even Constructs have trouble keeping up, don't they? Do you want me to help you out? You don't have to worry about me running away anymore. I'm serious!

...The stars gaze upon the sea. In its embrace lie the sails...

...Ah! You're back... W-wait, am I hallucinating...? Y-you're real... I'm glad you're real...

This level of shaking is nothing to marine life... ah... eee... ah-eeeeeee—! S-stop shaking! Stop shaking—!

Dammit... I need to find a way to get my revenge... N-nothing. I didn't say anything.

Check this out...! So? Can't do much now that I've grabbed your hands, can you? Hmph! How did I come up with such a genius plan?

Do you not have anything better to do... H-hey! Don't poke me and then run away!

Mmm... Hmm! That's... my... weak point...!

You know how to massage? Learned it from a book? Let me see... "The Seafood Handbook", Chapter One... "How to Tenderize Fish"... Hey! Stay where you are—!

Congrats! Bravo! Well done! So... our top priority is to clock out!

A-are we fighting for real...? Don't expect too much!

The sea is restless... Is there a storm?

Hahahah...

Die...!

Get out... of my sight.

You're in my way!

Quiet...!

Get out of here!

Sink... to the bottom of this sea!

Scatter... like foam!

I-it hurts...!

W-wait-wait-wait-wait... L-let's talk about this!

T-this... is the f-fairy tale... ending...

I'll help you, I guess.

I-I-I-I-I'm up!

Phew... It's finally over...

I guess tranquil bottom of the sea must be gorgeous.