“Sigh, this is exactly where you’re a bit slow, Sylvia-chan~ Do you really think that if we stick to our previous plan now, and let Keti return to the team, it’ll still work?”
The purple-haired, jellyfish-headed big sister let out a sigh, then shook her head and waved her hand as she continued,
“From our last few attempts, can’t you see the pattern here? Keti-chan just… doesn’t want to leave this place at all! Maybe it’s because the Magic Academy treats her well, or maybe it’s because of that man, ahem…”
“Anyway, all the methods we could use to bring Keti-chan back to the team, we’ve tried them, but the result was the exact opposite…”
At this point, Layla seemed to recall those times she’d tried to help Lynn, and her teeth itched with resentment as she went on,
“Grr, that’s why I’ve decided to give up on getting her back for now! Since Keti wants to stay at the Academy so much, then… if the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain myself! We’ll just have to come to the Magic Academy and get closer to Keti!”
“Ahem… Even if it’s a bit weird taking classes with those kids, at least it gives us more chances to interact with Keti, right? It’s better than just sitting around waiting for nothing!”
“Mm… I suppose you’re right, phew… But, what’s with that mom stuff… It’s just too weird…”
Sylvia gave the other girl a strange look, making Layla cough awkwardly on the spot, then she frowned, and opened her mouth again, “Ahem… Well, I do have my own reasons for this! How do I put it… Actually, it was Alice who gave me the inspiration…”
“Mmm, you think so too, right? Out of the three of us, Keti actually cares more about Alice, doesn’t she?”
“Umm… I don’t want to admit it, but… more or less. Just now, she specifically asked about Alice’s situation too…”
The green-haired elf lowered her head in slight dejection, tacitly agreeing with Layla’s words.
The purple-haired, jellyfish-headed big sister continued with a meaningful look, “That’s it exactly! But, have you ever wondered why Alice is more important in Keti’s heart?”
“Uh… Is it because they’ve spent more time together?”
“Wrong!”
Upon hearing Sylvia’s answer, Miss Priestess pretended to adjust her glasses in midair, then wagged her finger in denial.
“But it’s not completely wrong. To be precise, you’re half wrong. Because… If it was just about spending time, then… Lynn’s spent less time with Keti than any of us, right? So why does Keti depend on him more now?!”
“Uh… T-this, how should I know?!”
The green-haired elf blinked in frustration. If she understood this stuff, why would she be sitting here now, instead of having already carried Keti home?
“Hehe, then listen to my analysis. Specifically, I think… the reason for this is that both Lynn and Alice have each left a specific Role Archetype in Keti’s heart. Lynn’s is the reliable protector, and as for Alice, she’s the childhood friend from next door!”
The purple-haired, jellyfish-headed big sister confidently flicked her hair, then launched into her Priestess Mama lecture,
“It’s exactly these Role Archetypes that make Keti subconsciously care about them. As for us… Maybe because we haven’t worked hard enough before, in Keti’s mind, we only have… the thin image of ‘friend.’ So no matter how much we hint, even if we make it clear, Keti-chan still won’t budge at all.”
“Ugh… That actually sounds kind of reasonable…”
Sylvia scratched her head, so, in this situation, Layla’s choice is…
“That’s why I’ve resolved to become Keti-chan’s matriarchal girlfriend! Hmph… As long as I claim the supremely important Role Archetype of ‘Mom’ in Keti-chan’s heart, then whatever protector or childhood friend, they’ll all have to step aside for me!”
“Ah… Keti-chan will only be my little darling, lying in my arms and drinking her milk like a good girl~”
“Ahem ahem ahem… Wh-why does it have to be the mom archetype!”
Sylvia slapped the table in agitation, then retorted with a speechless look, “I-is this approach even right?! Isn’t the mom role completely unsuited to romance? If you really get into the act, wouldn’t Keti-chan feel super weird dating you?! Um…”
“Hmph hmph~ No no no, Sylvia-chan, you’ve got a bias against the mom Role Archetype~! I said, I’m just a matriarchal girlfriend, not really going to be Keti-chan’s mom~ How could I possibly compete with my mother-in-law for that spot?”
“Otherwise, after marrying into Keti-chan’s family, the mother- and daughter-in-law relationship would get tense!”
Layla modestly waved her hand, then immediately showed a sly smile and continued,
“But think about it: Keti’s been adventuring with Alice all this time, away from home for years, and she’s never seen her mother even once… In her heart, how could she not long for a woman full of maternal warmth and mature charm to care for her, look after her~?”
“And I’m going to take advantage of that and temporarily fill the motherly role in her heart!”
Miss Priestess immediately stood up, puffed out her chest with pride, and said, “Let me soothe Keti-chan’s needy heart with my gentlest, softest, sweetest embrace~! That’s my battle plan… Sylvia-chan, I ask for your guidance and criticism.”
“Mm…Really, not bad…”
The green-haired elf nodded thoughtfully, but… after a while, she shook her head, then muttered quietly, “So what kind of Role Archetype should I become in Keti’s heart? Uh… lover?”
“That won’t do! The lover Role Archetype can only form after you actually become lovers! Before that, if Keti already sees you as her lover, then… doesn’t that mean you’ve already succeeded?”
“Ahem… Hmph, Sylvia-chan wants a role too, but… the big-sister girlfriend lane is absolutely off limits!”
Miss Priestess immediately flashed a vigilant look, and solemnly negotiated with Sylvia,
“Because the big-sister girlfriend and the matriarchal girlfriend roles overlap too much! If Sylvia goes down that path, um… then our Role Archetypes will conflict!”
“I chose the matriarchal girlfriend path because… um, I’m naturally maternal, and when I’m with Keti-chan, that side of me comes out even more uncontrollably…”
“But! Sylvia-chan, you absolutely can’t copy me! Um… what exact Role Archetype you should have, you’ll have to figure it out yourself. I’m not helping with that~”
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