The Incubus System Chapter 896. False Hope

The Incubus System Chapter 896. False Hope

I shook my head, focusing on comforting Buni. "No, it's okay," I reassured him, pressing a kiss to his furry head. "I don't want to bother them with it."

Red persisted, his worry evident in his tone. "But you haven't had dinner yet, right?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

I sighed. "I'll figure something out," I replied, though the thought of food didn't appeal to me. "Maybe I'll cook some instant noodles or order delivery later. I'm just not in the mood to eat right now."

Out of the blue, the soft patter of footsteps echoed through the house, signaling the arrival of Celia and Foxy. The sound, though gentle, seemed to reverberate through the otherwise silent atmosphere, drawing my attention instantly. I sat up a little straighter on the sofa.

A few moments later, the footsteps reached the staircase, growing louder as they approached the living room. Then, like clockwork, Celia and Foxy peeked around the corner, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the hallway lights. Celia's expression was one of concern, her brow furrowed with worry.

Their expressions instantly morphed into one of surprise as they laid eyes on me. Their eyes widened in astonishment, their features reflecting a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

"Master!" Foxy exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine surprise and excitement. She took a few hurried steps forward, her tails wagging eagerly behind her.

Simultaneously, Celia's voice rang out, her tone laced with equal parts surprise and concern. "Brother? You came back earlier than I thought," she said, her brow furrowing slightly as she studied me intently. I could see the frown that creased both of their faces as they tried to make sense of my sudden appearance. It was clear that they were puzzled by my unexpected return, especially considering that I had previously stated that I wouldn't be back for dinner.

I nodded in acknowledgment of their confusion, understanding their surprise at my early return. Despite my earlier declaration, circumstances had led me back home sooner than anticipated, and I could see the curiosity in their eyes as they awaited an explanation for my unexpected presence.

"Hi Celia, Foxy," I greeted them. They wasted no time in settling down on either side of me, their presence comforting amidst the swirling thoughts in my mind.

Shadow promptly shifted into Celia's lap, curling up contentedly as she began stroking his fur.

Celia wasted no time in expressing her concern. "I didn't prepare dinner for you, you should have said you would come home," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of reproach.

I offered a dry smile in response, my eyes still fixed on the TV screen. "I know, but that's not necessary," I reassured her. "I'll order delivery."

Celia's disbelief was palpable as she responded, "In this hour?" It was clear that she was surprised, likely considering the time and the potential difficulties in finding a restaurant still open after the incident from the previous day.

With a huff, I conceded, "Fine, then I'll make instant noodles." My lack of appetite was evident, but I knew I needed to eat something, even if it was just a simple meal.

The room fell into a temporary silence, the only sound being the faint hum of the television in the background. Celia, sensing my unease, leaned in closer to me, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern.

"Okay, tell me what happened," she urged gently, her voice soft yet insistent. "Why do you look upset? There's no way you're sad for no reason."

I sighed. "The vaccine failed," I admitted, my tone tinged with both annoyance and sadness.

Celia's expression shifted to one of sympathy as she cringed slightly in response. "Okay... that's not exactly new news," she remarked, her tone gentle yet matter-of-fact. "I mean, you expected it, right?"

I nodded in agreement, acknowledging the truth in her words. "Yeah," I conceded. "But my system showed it was successful, and then it failed."

Foxy leaned her body against mine, her head tilted slightly in confusion. "What do you mean?" she inquired, her voice soft and curious.

Once again, I released a long exhale, the frustration of the situation weighing heavily on me. "Let's just say the system gave me false hope," I explained wearily. "My hope rose, but then it shattered into pieces in an instant." I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment and frustration wash over me once more. The realization that the vaccine, which had initially seemed promising, had ultimately failed left me feeling disheartened.

Celia shifted away from me, a look of disgust crossed her face, and she cringed visibly at my words. "Ew, sorry to hear that," she murmured sympathetically, her tone reflecting her genuine concern.

Feeling a pang of disappointment at her reaction, I turned to her with a slight pout, hoping for a bit more empathy. "And to make it worse, they didn't give me any of the good information!" I lamented, frustration evident in my voice. "So frustrating."

Before Celia could respond, Foxy chimed in with a question, her voice curious yet tinged with worry. "Does that mean they will target Celia next?" she ventured, her eyes darting between me and Celia.

I shook my head in response to Foxy's question, a small sigh escaping my lips. "I don't think so," I replied, my voice tinged with certainty. "They've already wasted enough of their precious vaccine on me, while the chances of the vaccine working on Celia are very small." As I spoke, I returned my gaze to the television screen, the distraction providing a temporary respite from the weight of the conversation. "Well, it's good. But we still have to be careful though," I added, my tone somber yet resolute.

After that, the conversation tapered off into silence, the only sound that filled the room was the steady hum of the television. With a flick of the remote, I switched the channel from the dreary news broadcast to a lighthearted comedy sitcom. It was a welcome change from the incessant chatter about the recent demon attack and the ensuing political rhetoric.