Side Note

"Mammy! My good friend! Whatcha cooking?" I walked up to Mammy, who was in the golden kitchen wearing a golden apron, flipping some golden-looking food on a golden frying pan atop her golden oven. There are a lot of golden things… and also Otherworld appliances.

"Do you know Earthen culinary arts?" Mammy asked, sprinkling something into the pan. 

"At the Maid School, they educate you on food from various countries, both functional and defunct, native and otherworldly. I know the very basics of maid-related foods from Earth, such as tea, omurice, and surprise sadism." The last part requires a specific whip and also the ability to not permanently harm despite using a whip. I'm not gonna lie, I never understood masochists, but after meeting Mel, I sort of understand… at least the ones who like people who speak in harsh tones.

"I am making pancakes since I am quite hungry, and someone took my fucking wife." She angrily threw the frying pan and pancake into the air, only to catch it gracefully and return to cooking. "You really need to fucking speed through this, Madeleine. Aren't you worried about Mel?"

"I'm not."

"How?"

"Well, there's no use worrying, and if there's something both me and Mel agree on, it's that everything turns out well in the end for us."

"..." Mammy looked contemplative before taking out a gold coin and flipping it towards me. I caught the coin and noticed my legs disappearing. So this is the key. "Just hurry up."

I seem to be in a love hotel. How do I know what a love hotel is even though that's a thing from an Otherworld? Did you forget about that time Mel and I went to a love hotel and ended up fighting monkeys, swinging on swings, and not having sex? I remember it like it was yesterday… I have no idea when it was. I've kind of always been bad at keeping track of time.

Anyways, love hotel. Not only is it a love hotel, but it's also a succubus dungeon. How can I tell? There are a lot of succubi all over the place. Everywhere I look, there seems to be a naked succubus lying seductively or making out with a succubus. That and the cages. Cages are a dungeon thing, right? Or is it a love hotel thing? I have no idea.

Interestingly enough, there's only one succubus-looking demon on the bed. I guess succubi prefer lying on the floor, on swings, on the ceiling, on desks, and inside bathtubs. I also prefer lying inside bathtubs, but preferably with water in it. I say succubus-looking because the demon on the bed has significantly larger horns and clothes on, and isn't looking at me seductively but with the slightest hint of vitriol… Mel once talked about the concept of hate sex… is this it?

"I was tasked with attacking you, and although it wasn't specified what kind of attack, it was clearly meant to be in a fight." The demon set herself upright, scooching over to the edge of the bed to hang her legs. "I don't want to fight, considering I am outmatched here."

"Outmatched? You never know." I know that from experience. I was outmatched by Wulfric, and I still won… then again, I also did a villainous move there. Eh, it's not like I call myself a hero.

"Although you have an inclination towards women, I don't benefit from taking your abilities." I've figured out who this is! This one was much easier than the telekinetic, who I still have no idea who it is. This is Lilith, whose statue I remember staring at every now and then. If I remember correctly, she has Lust, which does something. "Side Note brings no benefit, I do not possess your natural ability with darkness, and your magical ability is something I can easily replicate using Daemon Magic."

"That doesn't explain how you're outclassed." I also don't understand how she steals my ability, but whatever… also, magical ability. It kind of makes me realise I have no idea about the theory behind magic, even though I read books about it. Oh well.

"I have no experience with weapons nor combat. Typically I win via seduction, or I choose to not engage. I cannot do either in this situation."

"I will not allow myself to be seduced, for I have Mel!"

"Exactly." She sighed before taking out a broken-off horn and throwing it at my feet. "Take your key and begone."

"How kind." I picked it up then went to the next floor. That was easy.

I'm in a circle. A really weird circle since it's actually a room. A room with… let me count… 18 doors, each with cute symbols on them. Aww… I wanna open the door with the Assassin's Guild logo on it… of course, it's locked. It does have a nameplate on it, though. Melark Noc, the Assassin. Well, no shit it's an assassin. Onto the next door.

It has the symbol of a dragon on it, sitting on a hoard of gold. Scorzar, is that you? Well, it isn't since I doubt he's like Mammy and allowed to be on multiple floors. There's another nameplate here. It says Melacha the Merchant. Hmm… okay, this door is also locked. Onto the next door!

This one has a symbol I'm familiar with. It's the one I see all over Toxicity Itself. That was an academy before, right? Luminescence Academy, if I remember correctly… who told me that again? Whatever, I'll read the nameplate. Melody Nobilis the Noble. Oh, she's the one who told me… wait a minute.

I looked at every single door until a familiar symbol appeared. The logo of the Adventurer's Guild. I rushed over to it and quickly read the nameplate. Melanie Arcus the Adventurer. This is related to Side Character, isn't it? I pulled down on the doorknob, but the door wouldn't budge. I slammed against it, but nothing again. I kept trying when a sudden noise caught my attention. I turned and saw a singular door open, its symbol being a glowing orb akin to the core of a slime. Melina?

Chapter namesake: Lilith by Machine Girl