Chapter 1232: Catching Up With Lyrica
While Lyrica's party left the room, s.h.i.+ro sat alone with Lyrica and listened to her stories while she was in this world.
Hearing that most of it matched what she had learned, s.h.i.+ro still couldn't figure out s.h.i.+ro. C's objective. What was she waiting for? What was set in motion?
Scratching her head, s.h.i.+ro couldn't help but lean back.
"Frustrated?" Lyrica asked with a small chuckle.
"Just a little bit. s.h.i.+ro. C has much more information than I had expected. Things are moving in the background that I don't know about. Plus, when I was looking for you she warned me not to search in the deadly zones." s.h.i.+ro said as she rested her chin on the table.
Blowing her hair out of boredom, s.h.i.+ro glanced at Lyrica.
"Do you know what's in the deadly zones? I know you made the map and marked them."
"Sadly I don't. Roughly 20 years into my stay on this world, I was scanning the planet and those areas gave me the s.h.i.+vers, I didn't look further. Even after reaching level 1000 and upgrading as much as I could, it was simply beyond me." Lyrica sighed.
"It's not like I'm not unfamiliar with danger but those areas are a serious no go." She frowned slightly. Just from her expression, s.h.i.+ro could tell that she shouldn't look down on the deadly areas.
If both Lyrica and s.h.i.+ro. C were warning her, she'd need to prepare heavily. Of course, there was the option of just nuking it using orbital strikes. But that would mean she misses out on important information.
She doesn't know if it'll help in the grand scheme of things, so she didn't want to be a brute about it.
"Have you talked to s.h.i.+ro. C during your stay here? I know that she's helping from the background but it doesn't change the fact that she still turned several cities and villages into puppets." s.h.i.+ro asked as Lyrica thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"I didn't talk to her much. It seems that when I arrived here, the 'Lyrica' of this world soon died after. Whether that was because of my presence or not I don't know. But my interactions with s.h.i.+ro. C have been minimal even with my connection to Aarim and the others when they were alive here."
Seeing her nostalgic expression, s.h.i.+ro could gather that Lyrica formed a deep bond with their friend's counterparts in this world. But to see them all die
Standing up, s.h.i.+ro walked over to Lyrica and hugged her.
"Ahaha, don't worry s.h.i.+ro. I've had decades to mull over it." Lyrica rea.s.sured with a smile while patting s.h.i.+ro's arm.
"If you need a hug, you get a hug. No discussion about it." s.h.i.+ro shook her head. After sharing a hug for a short period, s.h.i.+ro sat back down.
"Ahem. As I was saying, my interactions with s.h.i.+ro. C have been minimal but I did speak to her a few times. In the few times that I spoke to her, she warned me to keep my interference minimal but never said more. Every time she tried to tell me, it seemed like she was in pain and that the system was censoring it." Lyrica said while calming the blush that was slowly creeping up on her cheeks.
"Oh? Hmm she mentioned something similar to me but it was a bit more in depth. She was talking about how my presence here has set something in motion. And that not even I can escape the cycle that someone has set out for us." s.h.i.+ro mused.
"Ah she also told me to find you because she's been delaying something all these years and that you overstayed your welcome years ago."
"Well that does make sense. Even with my unique traits as a realm traveller and power over samsara, I'm still from the side of destruction." Lyrica nodded her head.
"She's a cryptic one isn't she." s.h.i.+ro complained. In all of their encounters with one another, s.h.i.+ro. C has never given her any straight answers. Even with the censors.h.i.+p of the system, surely she could've said something more.
{You're just as cryptic if not more.} Nimue rolled her eyes as she had woken up from her nap. Stretching her body, she yawned and glanced at Lyrica.
Pausing for a moment, Nimue froze up before rubbing her eyes.
{That's Lyrica???}
'Yep.' s.h.i.+ro laughed. Summoning Nimue out, she watched the two catch up with one another before asking about their next steps.
"I don't have much I need to do in this city. Most of it is automated like Asharia but the technology is still lacking. Rather than the leader, I'm more of a guardian. I've already had them appoint leaders that take care of stuff. If you want, we can set out to look for s.h.i.+ro. C." Lyrica rea.s.sured.
"That's good to know. But let's rest for a night here. I want to explore your handy work." s.h.i.+ro smiled.
"Shall we explore the city?" s.h.i.+ro asked as Lyrica widened her eyes before nodding repeatedly.
"Give me two moments to clear up my schedule." Lyrica smiled before leaving the room.
Once she was out of earshot, her expression became focus.
Snapping her finger, holographic screens appeared next to her.
"Secretary. Clear my schedule. Tell the oldies that I'm going to be out of reach for a day, they can sort out their problems. Have them prepare for my departure." Lyrica said with a serious tone.
Hearing this, the secretary felt panicked. Were they getting attacked? Was a monster on the loose? Why was Lyrica this serious to even clear her schedule?
{What should I write down the reason as?} She asked as Lyrica thought for a moment before opening her mouth.
"I've got a date. If those oldies dare to show their faces even for a second or be within the vicinity" Lyrica narrowed her eyes as the secretary paused in disbelief.
'All this for a date???'
{U-understood. I will let them know of your plans.}
Ending the call, Lyrica sent a message to Nitha and the others.
[Lyrica: Got a date. Don't bother me for the next few hours.]
[Nitha: Want me to get people to bring some rose petals to your room later?]
[Asher: NITHA!]
[Lyrica: Too much. Just get some candles.]
[Nitha: Yes ma'am! o7]
[Cadmi: Oh! Show me the dress you plan to wear!]
[Lyrica: Alright. Also if any of you dare to peek at the date I'll make sure you'll remember the next training session.]
Closing the chat, Lyrica tried her best to calm her mood.
However, despite her mature and elegant exterior that had been cultivated after decades of being in this world, Lyrica couldn't help but pump her fist.
###
Looking at the chat, Nitha glanced at Asher next to her since they were sitting on a sofa right now.
"..."
"We're not going to peek." Asher cut her off before she could say anything.
"I HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING YET!"
"I know. But I also know what's on your mind and I don't think I want to be paralysed from the neck down next training session urg" Asher complained while sighing deeply.
"But do you know how rare this is?!" Nitha pouted as she really wanted to see what's going on. Even if the cost was a harsh training session.
"She's literally had 0 romantic interaction for over 70 years! It's about time the granny got some action." Nitha crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
"PFT!" Hearing Nitha call Lyrica granny, Asher choked on his saliva in shock.
"What? It's true. Do you think her rickety old hips still got some action left in them?"
"Anyways I'm going to ask the stupid dragon if he wants to peek on them. I think he's got some interest in this." Nitha grinned as she jumped over the sofa and ran out the room.
Sighing deeply, Asher stood up and followed behind Nitha. He could already imagine the chaos she was going to cause.
###
Sitting by the table, s.h.i.+ro couldn't help but chuckle. After her upgrade, she could naturally hear Lyrica's excitement along with Nitha and Asher's conversation.
'A date huh? I suppose it could be cla.s.sed as that. But do I tell Lyrica about what Nitha said or not' s.h.i.+ro thought in amus.e.m.e.nt.
{That's basically you helping them buy a coffin.} Nimue laughed.
'That's true. I suppose I should spare them for now. Though I didn't expect Lyrica to still be this excited for a date after more than 70 years.'
Musing over this, s.h.i.+ro rested her chin on her arm and looked out the window and across the city.
{Well You know how she is. Why not treat it as a date as well. See how it goes and enjoy yourself.} Nimue encouraged.
'I suppose you are right. Oh I should've asked her what she was staying in this world for. Spending more than 70 years in this place must have a big reason. I'll ask her this at the end of the date.' s.h.i.+ro remembered before standing up.
"Since I'm treating it like a date, I suppose I should get dressed in something better than this. What do you recommend?" s.h.i.+ro asked while going through a few outfit ideas with Nimue.
The plan was to spend a night here before setting off tomorrow to find s.h.i.+ro. C.