Chapter 39: The Eldritch Godness Negotiates

After spending the night at Felix's residence, I went to the academy with him the next day.

Naturally, since we were going together, we shared the same carriage.

"Look! Iris-sama is with Felix-sama...!"

"W-wait, really? What happened?"

And of course, arriving at the academy together in the same carriage sparked rumors. I could hear the hushed whispers of numerous students.

Well, what do you expect when a breathtaking beauty like me and the handsome Felix arrive together? People would naturally suspect we had some "fun time" last night, complete with kitty-cat activities.

"Ugh... this is going to cause rumors, isn't it?"

"I don't care. You shouldn't either. There's nothing improper about this."

Oh how casually he says that~! Is this the privilege of handsome guys~?

"Let's get straight to contacting Lady Elizabeth. With Klaus present."

"Understood. But Klaus-sama too?"

"Yeah. We need someone to mediate. This is essentially a ceasefire negotiation."

Indeed, the Rosenkreuz Society has been pursuing me as the mastermind behind recent incidents, while I consider them responsible for the suicide and insanity cases they're investigating.

Calling our discussion a "ceasefire negotiation" wouldn't be inaccurate.

We headed straight for the student council room to meet Elizabeth and her group, but first needed to brief Klaus.

"Klaus. Got a minute?"

"What's up, Felix? You're being unusually formal."

As Klaus sat in the student president's chair as usual, Felix finally explained the truth about me.

"Stay calm and listen. Lady Iris isn't human."

"...No, you stay calm, Felix. What's gotten into you?"

Klaus looked at Felix and me with eyes that questioned our sanity.

"She's involved in the recent incidents to some degree. Remember the Y'sth-Lith manuscript we found? The Eldritch Godness Y'sth-Lith recorded in that book is Lady Iris here. Right, Lady Iris?"

"That would be correct."

This feels like turning myself in. Well, it practically is confessing.

"Wait. Are you serious? Lady Iris is an Eldritch Godness?"

Klaus looked utterly bewildered, his gaze darting between Felix and me.

"Damn. What the hell. Lady Iris, you knew everything all along while watching us investigate the academy? That's pretty shitty of you."

"N-no no! It's not like that at all! I thought there might be other causes besides me, and so I..."

"Well, even if you'd told us you were an Eldritch Godness back then, we wouldn't have believed you..."

Klaus still seemed unconvinced, but at least he wasn't angry.

"Klaus. Lady Iris isn't entirely to blame. The cult worshiping her operates independently of her will. Now that she's cooperating, we need to deal with that cult."

"I see. So the cult acts separately. What's the plan? We could report to the national gendarmes... No, wait—is contacting the Rosenkreuz Society what you originally asked me about? The real plan?"

"Exactly. We'll enlist the Rosenkreuz Society."

Felix had already asked Klaus to arrange contact with the Rosenkreuz Society. He just hadn't explained why until now.

"Got it. I'll summon Lady Elizabeth and Professor Matthias. But given the circumstances, stay cautious. They're pretty shady characters. Especially Professor Matthias—I looked into him and found he was previously employed by Adler Detective Agency."

"A mercenary then. We'd better be careful indeed."

Klaus warns them, and Felix nods.

"Just to confirm—you're okay with this plan too, Lady Iris?"

Klaus looks at me as he says this.

"Yes. I am. I fully agree."

"If you say so..."

It’s not like we have any other options anyway.

"Then I’ll summon Lady Elizabeth and the others."

Soon after, Elizabeth and Professor Matthias arrive.

"What’s the matter, Klaus?"

Elizabeth immediately asks as she steps into the student council room.

"Felix and Lady Iris have something to tell you. But first, I need your word that there won’t be any violent outbursts here."

"Of course. We’re not barbarians. Violence has its time and place."

"Good. Felix, Lady Iris—go ahead."

Klaus makes sure Elizabeth and Matthias won’t attack on sight before letting us reveal the truth.

"Don’t take this as a joke. We’ve confirmed that Lady Iris is the supernatural entity responsible for the incidents since April."

"...So, you’re saying she’s a divine being? That she is Y’sth-Lith?"

"Correct."

The moment Felix says this, Matthias’s gaze sharpens, his fingers subtly tracing a pentagram in the air. Felix tenses, ready to counter with his own magic.

"Stop, Matthias. We just agreed not to resort to violence immediately."

"Tch. The only way to deal with something like this is to kill it. What else do you suggest? Sit down for tea and hope it turns harmless? It’s either kill it now or kill it later—and the longer we wait, the worse the damage gets."

Matthias shrugs, restrained by Elizabeth, but his expression holds less bloodlust and more exasperation, like he’s been dragged into a mess.

"Iris. The fact that you’ve told us this means you want to negotiate, correct?"

"Y-yes. There are… circumstances. In exchange for my cooperation, I’d like your help protecting me from the cult."

"Protection… from the cult?"

Elizabeth tilts her head, as if baffled by the idea of an Eldritch Godness asking for protection from its own worshippers.

So I explain the cult’s goals—how they want to breed children with my blood, then strengthen the lineage through incest. And how I absolutely refuse to let that happen.

"I see. That makes sense. The Y’sth-Lith faith does emphasize the pursuit of knowledge and the inheritance of the bloodline. It’s not surprising they’d demand offspring… and further, unspeakable acts to purify it."

"Y’sth-Lith is a kind of earth mother goddess, after all. And mother goddesses are all about fertility. And here she is, saying she doesn’t want kids. Heh. Hilarious."

Elizabeth nods, while Matthias smirks wryly.

But come on—who would want to be forced into a breeding frenzy by a bunch of insane fanatics?!

"Still, something’s off. For a deranged Eldritch Godness spreading madness, you’re way too… reasonable. Are you really the Y’sth-Lith from the legends? Show me proof."

Matthias demands, and Elizabeth adds:

"I’d also like to see some evidence, if possible."

"Ugh… Well, I can show you something, I guess..."

I remove my glove, and a slimy tentacle slithers out from my fingertip.

"Hoh?"

"No way..."

Matthias watches with fascination, while Klaus goes pale.

"Hmph. No mere familiar or summoned creature could mimic a human this perfectly. She might really be a divine entity—Y’sth-Lith herself, Bess."

"That seems to be the case. She truly is Y’sth-Lith."

Phew~ They bought it~.

But the real problem starts now.

……………………