32. Ash's Reborn Story

Chapter 184 Belrose Problem Part 2

Ash and Clair head upstairs and find another portal, but just as they enter the portal, they find Charlotte.

Charlotte: Seriously, back off.

Ash: Charlotte.

Charlotte: (Turns around and faces them) You're not Saphira. All right, sorry about that. Obviously, I didn't mean you, since, like, why are you even here?

Ash: We're here to find you, of course.

Charlotte: Actually- hey, since you are here... I got this far, but now there's all this junk in the way of progressing. Can you do my homework for me? I'd do it myself but I'm too busy standing around making angsty side comments or whatever, and also I don't wanna.

Ash notices the puzzle and he groans.

Ash: Not this kind of puzzle again...

Clair: You seem to hate this kind of puzzle?

Ash: Didn't you notice the six puzzles before we come here? I had to solve every single one of them and they are really annoying.

Clair: I see...sorry that I asked.

Charlotte: I'm assuming Laura already told you what all happened. Like this hasn't happened eighty times before. Only this time, as a special added bonus, it's even more pointless! Or, well, I guess for my part everything was always pointless and I just didn't know it, but dramatic irony's a bitch like that, isn't it? See? Making great progress on the angsty dialogue already, right?

Ash decides to look at the puzzle, and after checking it, he just sits on the floor.

Ash: Back then, I just need to move one block... but it seems like I'm going to move two blocks together...

Clair: Do you need my help? I mean, you didn't have that much help last time, right?

Ash: Actually, I had Taka help me. You know, the same boy from Subseven Sanctum? But maybe I would need you to get that side of the puzzle while I do this.

Clair nods as they try to complete the puzzle, after their coordination, the portal appears after both blocks land at the white spot at the same time.

Charlotte: Nice. I love it when people solve my problems for me. Relationship points +1 or whatever. Going ahead.

Then they notice that there are going to be more of them, so they decide to continue solve it.

Charlotte: You're really good at these! My stupid little girl brain can't understand them at all! Can you show me how to do this one too?

Ash: Are you serious?

Charlotte: Heh, well, maybe if it wasn't you, I'd say something like that. Flattery's a good motivator. But you do stuff like this all on your own anyway, right? And I'm not going to insult you by actually trying to be manipulative. I just have to joke about it because, like, come on, what else am I gonna do? Solve the puzzle myself? Pffft.

Ash and Clair decide to move this puzzle, and it takes them some tries to make it right.

Charlotte: That one kinda looked like a pain in the ass; I'm impressed. No bullshit this time. I don't know how you have the energy for all this. Ever since the... thing with Sirius, I feel like just getting out of bed is about all the effort I have in me for a day. I certainly don't know what the hell I'm doing with my life. Dropped the chip on my shoulder and for what? Oh nooo, I'm tripping on my edgy dialogue, aaaaaaaah...~ Next.