Something's Wrong with My Love Simulation Game (Patreon)

Chapter 37: Redemption

"Be careful!" Blanche sensed a strong murderous intent from Élise and immediately extended a few strands of her long hair to try to stop her. As her long hair approached Élise, it was absorbed by the black energy emanating from Élise's body. Blanche had to sever those strands of hair to prevent the black energy from spreading to her.

‘The gap between our strengths is too wide.’ Thought Blanche in annoyance. 

If she were at full power, it would be a different story, unfortunately, she’s not.

Hence, that’s why Blanche could only watch helplessly as Élise approached Li Pai step by step.

'That guy should have a way out of danger right? If I recall correctly, he can just leave this place directly! There is no reason for me to be worried' Blanche thought about Li Pai's ability to teleport instantly and felt somewhat reassured.

Li Pai felt immense pressure as he saw Élise approaching him step by step. Something that are quite a feat, considering that he’s not even this panicked =when Élise's sister, Charlotte, appeared earlier. 

It seemed that his earlier words had struck a nerve, causing her to go berserk.

'Calm down! I need to stay calm!' Li Pai quickly tried to regain his composure. 

Winning against her was definitely not an option. Whether he could deal with this Specter next would depend on his way with words. In this situation, he absolutely couldn't afford to make a mistake.

"Do you want revenge?" Li Pai stared at Élise and asked straightforwardly. Élise, upon hearing this, suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her small body trembled slightly. 

Li Pai knew he had successfully piqued her interest.

"Do you want the person who caused you and your sister this much pain to experience the same suffering as you?" Li Pai continued to inquire. Élise slowly raised her head, and her two deep black eyes stared directly at Li Pai.

"Do you know what we've been through?" Élise's voice was no longer childish; it was as cold as if it came from an ice cellar.

"I don’t, but what you have gone through more than me."

"Mother, the one that my sisters and I all love wholeheartedly, betrayed us, killed us, hunted us, ate us…”

"You have endured a lot..." Li Pai asked with genuine concern. He wasn't pretending to care; when he heard that nursery rhyme, Li Pai had been feeling saddened upon knowing that the story was true.

These children, one by one, were killed by the woman whom they thought of as their own mother... 

"We've endured more than just that."

"Do you know?"

"To her, she gave birth to us just for her own benefit."

"Eating our hearts gave her an additional hundred years of life."

"She turned our eyes into a mirror that could see everything."

"She melted our spine and transformed it into an indestructible chain."

“We loved her… We all loved her…:

"Yet, in her eyes, we were nothing more than ingredients, she never thought of us as her children at all..."

"Even, just to improve her Curse skill a little, she practiced endlessly on our souls and ended up casting a curse to all six of us, she won’t even let us go to the afterlife.”

As Élise spoke, she became more and more agitated, and her tiny body trembled violently. Li Pai, just by listening, could feel the despair emanating from her.

Watching the pitiful Specter in front of him, Li Pai reached out and gently placed his hand on her head.

Hiss—"

A blue smoke rose. Li Pai's hand was continuously burned by the black energy emanating from Élise's body. It was a direct burning of the soul, and it made Li Pai grit his teeth in pain. But Li Pai didn't remove his hand. This poor little girl needed some comfort.

The burning sound continued. Élise raised her head and glanced at Li Pai.

"Are you just like me? too lazy to take your hand away?"

Élise's mouth seemed to curve slightly, and the black energy around her dissipated somewhat. It appeared that she felt the care from Li Pai, but it wasn't enough to completely suppress her murderous intent.

"You're just an ordinary Specter."

"If you don't take your hand away soon, you'll be burned to ashes," Élise continued to say.

Although the girl appeared somewhat indifferent as she said so, Li Pai could clearly feel the intensity of the burning had begun to diminish. 

His persuasion was working!

Now was not the time to hesitate; Li Pai had to play the emotional card to the fullest. "If turning to ashes can bring you even a slight comfort, then it's worth it," Li Pai said, enduring the excruciating pain in his hand and offering a warm smile to Élise.

"Hmph, You're just an ordinary Specter, burning you wouldn't give me anything," Élise muttered, absorbing the dissipating black energy back into her body.

Seeing the dissipating flame, Li Pai sighed in relief. If Élise hadn't fallen for it or if his acting hadn't been convincing enough, he might have been burned alive.

"You should hurry and leave, unlike me, my sister isn't as easy to talk down to. When she returns, you are doomed.”

Élise became much friendlier and started giving Li Pai warnings. Blanche, upon hearing this, used her eyes to signal Li Pai to leave. They couldn't handle these Specters here; it was too dangerous.

Li Pai responded with a determined look. He had come to help; he couldn't just leave because of a little danger. He wasn't that kind of person. He— he couldn't leave!

Seeing Li Pai's resolute gaze, Blanche was touched. She knew how terrifying it was; her hair had been corroded earlier.

[Blanche Affection Level E→D]

"Little one, I know you're suffering from the curse right now, and it must be painful," Li Pai said earnestly. "Don't worry; I will help lift the curse from you and seek revenge on your behalf."

"Hah! You're not fooling anyone! How could someone like you, who is much weaker than me, defeat Mother?”

Élise's mouth curled slightly, showing a hint of disdain.

"Besides, how can you understand how much pain I'm in?" she added.

A Specter who had just recently died like Li Pai couldn't possibly comprehend the feelings of a Specter like her who had died for years, and was killed by the one whom she called ‘Mama’ with a voice full of love.

The differences between Li Pai and Élise are like heaven and hell, their experiences are too far apart to truly have an understanding.

But, unlike Li Pai, Blanche does understand.

"I do understand," Blanche suddenly walked over to Élise.

"Because I, too, was made like this by the same person," Blanche said through gritted teeth. Her emotions were genuine, without any hint of acting. Through Li Pai and Élise's conversation, Blanche had linked herself with the wicked stepmother and these children's malevolent mother.

Yes, it had to be the same woman! Whether it was the cruelty of her methods or the malice in her heart, everything matched perfectly! Even the curse's aura was somewhat similar.

Yes, the woman in the palace who had turned her into this was undoubtedly the same evil mother of this little girl!

"Eh!? Wait wait! You are also one of Mother victims!?" Hearing the female Specter word, Élise was surprised.

“It might sound like a lie, but it’s true. She poisoned me, locked my physical body in a crystal coffin, and cast the most malicious curse on my soul."

"She's the one who turned me into what I am now."

Blanche nodded, starting to emit the dark aura from her body. Élise felt it and shivered slightly. Indeed, it was the curse of that malicious woman!

This older sister had also been victimized by her mother!