Checking on the Log tab of this Lupina person, she seemed to be with someone else called Verina before both of them were exhausted from running away from a certain beast. This happened around forty minutes ago.
It was unknown whether the other person was, and how this Lupina chick appeared to be sneaking and rather wary of its surroundings, as if she was trying to raid the witch's house, or finding an illegal shelter to avoid something.
And for some reason, she was sweating like crazy, and had an Overall Mood of 40% with the tag 'Desperation -20' being the highest modifier in the Needs section.
But all of the stats aside, I couldn't feel a single ounce of hostility from her.
It would be better if this encounter ended without any conflict, so I decided to just normally open my door and asked this curious visitor what it was about.
If she happened to be hostile later, my Manipulation should be strong enough to do something in close range to pin her down, without giving her a chance to react and activate her ability.
"You look rather pale, traveler, is there anything that I can help you with?"
I acted my part as someone who might happen to live around this place and greeted the orange-haired wolf woman first.
At first she was rather startled by my presence, combined with the face of disappointment, but then her face reddened for some reason, and she became much more flustered as her twitchy lips failed to create a coherent sentence.
"I-I'am…"
"If you happen to be free of ill intent, I suppose you can try to cleanse your fatigue in my humble abode," I said with a collective smile. "And then I can hear your inquiry afterward."
How was that? Natural as ever, right? I was once a part of a Theater Club back in my highschool days. Playing a mask while acting as someone should always be second nature to me.
This pattern of speech should fit a wise hermit, a non-threatening interaction to lower her guard down while also prodding her to be more open for a friendly interrogation session.
I wanted to know what happened to her acquaintance with the name Verina.
Something must've happened that led to their separation must've happened somewhere near this area, and I need that information to increase my chance of survival.
"Is it fine for me to trouble you, miss fairy?" she asked as if she was trying to hold in something.
Fairy, huh, so that's what I'm supposed to look like in this world.
In Carcosa, there was a major race of humanoid people referred to as fairies. They ranged from tiny people with wings to a human-size elven-like individual with sharp ears, unfathomable youth, and lifespan.
So, it wasn't like this Lupina person was complimenting my look, it was just that I probably looked like the representation of a fairy in this world.
"Come on in, then~"
Just as I invited her with my hand, she suddenly lunged at me and pinned both of my arms to the ground.
It happened faster than I expected, especially after comparing our numbers and percentages.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she screamed as she intensely looked into my eyes. "That beautiful face, that soft illustrious skin, it doesn't help my rut in the slightest!"
"You're a female Wolf Beastman, how did you even get into a rut?" I asked with the confusion of a mammalian biology as a reference. "I expected that you would hold some lust with you, but not this intense…"
The developer of this game seriously put this kind of mechanism into the world…
"A-At first I was able to hold it in," she gulped, albeit still drooling profusely. Her eyes were shaking like an addict that was on the verge of breaking down. "But you look more attractive the closer I get, and I can't help it!"
True! This face was probably the most attractive one I've ever seen in my life. Then again, I'm incredibly biased since it ticked all of my boxes.
"So what is your plan then?" I asked casually, raising one of my eyebrows as I struck a lazy gaze. "Even with your current carnal thirst, our bodies aren't compatible. You won't get the release that you're searching for."
"Hahaha, that doesn't matter!" Finding little to no resistance from me, she comfortably placed one of her hands on my white chiton. "We won't know until we try."
Wait, I just realized.
This was technically an unconsented assault, wasn't it?
Then again, an assault was already unconsented to begin with.
This was my first time being pinned by a woman, so it came out like a brand new experience that I was trying to process.
Regardless, I'm not quite fond of this.
Just as when Lupina tried to loosen my clothing, I quickly grabbed her arm and twisted my body to pin her body to counter the weight.
Without any hesitation, I neutralized her left arm by fracturing the bones by colluding it with the ground and a powerful haymaker.
"AAARGH-"
She possessed a Rapid Regeneration enhancement, so this wound won't be that permanent for her.
Quickly after, I pulled her right arm and put a great pressure on her wrist, enough to cause great pain and discomfort, but not enough to break it. At the same time, my legs snaked and proceeded to choke her neck, preventing an ease of breathing while keeping the pressure.
"As much as I appreciate the gentle offer, I'm not in the mood to explore that kind of experience yet."
"Urgh… y-your thi…"
I loosened the strangle on her neck, curious about what she was about to say. "Come again?"
"Your thighs are so thick and soft, I don't mind being choked to death by these beautiful things."
"... I couldn't relate to your feeling, but I appreciate the compliment."
"You're also the most beautiful person I've ever met."
"I know."
"Can I propose to you to be my wifey?"
"I don't think marriage works that way."
"Well, at least I tried."
"Have you come to your senses now? Want me to release you from this chokehold?"
"No, keep it this way. I might try to assault you again the moment I see an opportunity."
"... You enjoy being strangled by my thighs."
"I got caught."
While interrogating her, I casually opened her detail screen to find out more about her physicality. Amidst this, she appeared to be incapable of seeing the holographic screen.
Let alone knowing that it was possible in the first place that you could just open a detail screen of someone to know an excessive information about them.
"I have the feeling that you're not alone," I said. "Any opinion regarding that matter?"
"W-what are you saying?" she asked as her eyes scrambled everywhere.
Her heartbeats certainly rose drastically, a great sign of distress and panic attack.
I wondered if it had something to do with this invisible person within our vicinity.
"Well, there's no reason for you to stay hidden," I stated while staring at my opened door. "I managed to move faster than the wolf, if you happen to attack me, I might reflexively decapitate her as a reaction."
Just as I said that, a person uncloaked themselves from invisibility, revealing herself aiming a musket-like firearm at my head.
Her neck-length green hair fluttered after uncloaking. She possessed a pair of exotic exhaust pipes on both sides of her head, looking as if she had a pair of horns.
Despite the awkward situation we were in, her violet eyes remained calm and steady.
—
[Verina]
[Kilnalan, Female, Age 24 (50), Unaffiliated]
—Abilities—
[Lifeburn: This individual can channel her physical energy instead of a lifeline to cast powerful spells, but doing so comes at a cost. The intense energy flow heats up her body, necessitating the use of her exhaust pipes to release the excess heat. This ability also allows her to cast multiple spells in quick succession thanks to the resources distribution, but prolonged use can lead to a much more severe physical and mental exhaustion]
—Highlighted Traits—
[High Consciousness: This individual's brain operates at an extraordinarily high level, granting her increased cognitive abilities and enhanced situational awareness. This heightened state of consciousness allows her to process information rapidly and react to complex situations with precision.]
[Heat Resilience: Due to the constant expulsion of heat from her exhaust pipes, This individual's physical body has developed a resistance to high temperatures. She can withstand extreme heat that would incapacitate others, making her less vulnerable to heat-based threat]
[Ohrtender's Expertise: This individual has honed her skills as an Ohrtender, mastering the art of using Lifeline as a magical resource. Her deep understanding of this arcane energy allows her to manipulate it with finesse, casting spells that other sorcerers could only dream of]
[Dead-Calm Face: This individual appeared to be devoid of emotion with her eternal poker face, but that iron-willed facial expression is only a facade. She possesss the same capacity of empathy and emotion like an average person, just not as obvious]
—
[<{Biography}> {Inventory} {Health} {Needs} {Social} {Log} {Info}]
—
[Inventory]
[Mass carried: 7.5 kg, Overall armor: 38%]
—Equipment—
[Lifeline Infused Musket (fine 85%) - 2.5 kg]
—Apparel—
[Reinforced Ohrtender Robe (good 80%) - 1.2 kg]
[Chainmail Undergarment (good 75%) - 2.0 kg]
[Lifeline Conduit Bracers (fine 90%) - 0.6 kg]
[Reinforcement Harness (normal 75%) - 0.4 kg]
[Leather Boots (normal 90%) - 0.7 kg]
—Items—
[Potion of Lifeline Restoration (strong 100%) - 0.2 kg]
[Herbal Remedy Pouch (good 100%) - 0.2 kg]
[Crystal of Focus (fine 95%) - 0.4 kg]
—
[{Biography} <{Inventory}> {Health} {Needs} {Social} {Log} {Info}]
—
She might have just arrived here, trying to find Lupina's formerly unknown whereaboust. Otherwise, Lupina wouldn't be as panicked when I asked that question.