As A Result of Trying To Live An Erotic Slow-Life, I Have Become The Underground Ruler of This Upside-Down Otherworld - Chapter 27: A swing and a miss, I swear.

Chapter 26: Empty Oath

“It’s been a while, my dear.”

Who’s that? Oh, me? What’s with the “my dear” stuff?

“It’s been a while. Uh, my staff was rude earlier—my apologies.”

“Oh, my! It’s clearly a pretext, so please, spare me the formalities.”

She laughs so refinedly.

What am I supposed to do?

And is this really Ririeru? In my head, Ririeru’s a bearded, macho dude.

“You seem perplexed.”

“Well, yeah. No offense, but are you really Master’s daughter?”

She nods with another elegant smile, confirming it.

Does she have shapeshifting powers? That’s a wild swing in looks.

I’ve never heard of a shapeshifting race. Come to think of it, I don’t even know Ririeru’s race.

Man, how little did I care?

I mean, who wants to believe a woman could look so masculine? I totally blocked her out. If Master hadn’t said “daughter,” I’d have sworn she was a guy.

Anyway.

She said it’s a pretext, so she came to see me.

Really?

Honestly, I can’t think of a reason. Why would she visit? A beauty like this coming to see me is hype, but I’m half puzzled, half thrilled.

“Did Master send you to check on me?”

“No, it’s my own will.”

“…You wanted to see me?”

“Of course. I longed to meet you.”

I don’t get it… she’s like a fortress. I can’t read her.

We barely interacted at Master’s diner—just greetings when we saw each other.

Why would someone like that travel from a distant town to see me?

If she had business in the capital and stopped by, I’d get it, but that doesn’t seem to be it.

Ugh, I’m stumped.

Might as well ask straight.

Giggle. “Indeed, a sudden visit like this would confuse anyone, especially in this form. It’s the first time we’ve met with my true appearance.”

“Well, yeah, no offense. And if I can be ruder… what’s your business today?”

If she’s doing this on purpose, Ririeru’s got a dark streak.

But good—this way, we can actually talk.

“I came to make you mine.”

“What the hell does that mean!?”

“…Huh?”

The door bursts open right as she says it—perfect timing?

“Oh, Mia-sama, eavesdropping is rude.”

“That’s not—”

“Mia’s getting punished later.”

“A, u… sorry.”

Okay, whatever.

I see cat ears behind her. Towa, you too?

It’s business hours—where are the customers, you two?

“Mia, get back out there. Neglecting customers is unacceptable.”

“B-but!”

“Mia.”

“Ugh… got it, sorry.”

I mutter an apology in my head as she slinks back, shoulders drooped.

“My staff messed up again, sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. If anything, it raises your value—quite delightful.”

She smiles, genuinely pleased.

“Can we hear the details?”

“Oh? Not surprised by this?”

“Nah, I’m used to people like you.”

How many times have I nearly been kidnapped? How many “you’re mine” declarations have I faced head-on?

You get used to it.

Hearing that calmed me down. So that’s how she sees me.

“Was I offensive?”

“No, I’m used to the feelings it stirs. Completely neutral, no thoughts.”

I reflect that my words have a bit of an edge.

It’s been a while since someone said something like that.

More than that, she’s eerie—my wariness slipped out, honestly.

“If you’re Ririeru, you could’ve used your status as Master’s daughter to come at me. Why now?”

“Indeed. I thought that many times. To forget you know women so well… I’m more excited than I realized. Please, a moment.”

She closes her eyes, calming her so-called excitement, her aura suddenly holy with her refined looks.

Her long, wavy green hair reveals pointed ears, halfway between human and elf.

Ririeru’s a half-elf, I guess. No clue about her other half.

“You are my treasure.”

“Treasure?”

I parrot back, not quite getting it.

“Yes. No matter what beauty I took, you showed no interest, didn’t even register me—a first for me.”

“Sorry.”

Busted. I’ll apologize, grovel if I must.

“No, I was thrilled. It showed you’re a noble man, unmoved by looks.”

If she’d come at me in this form, I might’ve caved.

“A man unmoved by power or beauty. Yes, I’ll say it clearly—I’m in love with you.”

“L-love?”

Man, it’s been ages since I heard love.

In a world where love means pinning and raping, right?

“I want to fulfill this love, and I’m prepared. Thus… I came today to declare war on you.”

Phew, I’m relieved—this is the other world.

So, how’s Ririeru planning to make me hers?

Money? Violence? She’s Master’s daughter—maybe authority?

Each guess chills my heart.

If she’d said she came as a flag shop customer, it’d be way better.

I could’ve treated her normally, drowned her in satisfying pleasure.

“I swear here, my dear. I, Ririeru, will wage war on Ronnyan to claim the man named Arius.”

“…What?”

“If I take your Ronnyan, I’ll naturally have you. …Oh, it’s thrilling! Finally, finally! I’ll have you! Yes, yes! Of course! I’ll display you in my room, cherish you daily! Your heart, body, Cock-sama—all of it—”

—I’ll make mine.

Her piercing gaze sends shivers down my spine.

Her taut eyes hint at non-elf blood, amplifying the danger.

“…Got it. I don’t fully understand, but if you’re coming at me straight, I can only accept the challenge, Ririeru.”

Ufufu. “Please do. It only heightens your charm and value.”

I’m so lost. Honestly, I’m not just a little but really freaked out.

“Well, farewell, my dear.”

“Yeah, see ya.”

She leaves with a refreshed look, but my head’s full of question marks.

For now…

“Back to work…”

I’ll talk to the others later, so I switch gears and head to the prep area.

※

Nighttime.

It was supposed to be Mia’s invite night, but with her so down, I can’t just say, “Let’s fuck!”

I ask for their advice, and they bounce back like it’s a life-or-death mission. That’s what makes them adorable.

Towa and Serika nod reliably, so we’re now in a full-blown Ronnyan meeting.

“—That’s what happened this afternoon.”

I relay the events, and Mia and Towa furrow their brows, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Serika…

“T-that R-Ririeru person’s c-coming to k-kill, right, desu?”

“Whoa, hold up, stay, stay.”

She’s getting way too heated. Stop, I’ll die.

“B-b-but, saying she’ll m-make Arius-sama hers…! T-that’s d-disrespectful, desu! S-should we, uh, d-deal with her? D-deal with her, desu?”

“No, sit down. Ugh, Serika, can’t you listen to me?”

“U… s-sorry, desu.”

She sits back down, totally deflated. What do I do now?

“Treasure, huh. Towa?”

“Yes, likely as Mia suspects—dragonkin blood, desu.”

Hm? Dragonkin… like, dragon-human hybrids, right?

What? Ririeru’s got dragon blood? Is “Ronnyan” some parental doting name from Master? (T/N: Ronnyan translates to Dragon Daughter.)

“Dragons are extinct fantasy creatures, right? Back when they lived, dragon-human offspring were dragonkin. Does their blood matter?”

“Dragonkin… or rather, the dragon’s fantasy blood, desu ka. Dragons have many legends, including one about collecting gold and treasures, desu.”

“Eld’s dragonkin. His father was an elf, so Ririeru’s a half-elf with dragonkin blood. Eld showed no dragon traits, so we don’t know how strong her blood is.”

Wait, what’d she say?

“Her father was an elf?”

“Oh, he passed before Goshujin-sama worked at Eld-sama’s diner, desu. An elf with rare looks, desu.”

“An elf hunk’s a rare breed. No man tops Arius-san, so I don’t care now, but I was jealous back then.”

That’s not what I meant.

“Master was… a woman…”

“Yes? Goshujin-sama? Did you say something, desu?”

“N-no, nothing. So, Ririeru’s dragon treasure-hoarding trait’s at play, right?”

Sorry, Master. I thought you were a grizzled old dude. Really sorry.

Holy crap.

If I’d slipped up to Ririeru, who knows what’d happen… I’ll be careful.

“Her shapeshifting’s an elf trait, desu. Elves are born with grotesque looks, often persecuted, so they use appearance-changing magic to protect themselves, desu.”

“It’s just a trait to take an opposite look, not really magic, and sexual stimulation breaks it, so it’s not perfect. Elf blood only boosts magic control or environmental adaptation… so her dragon blood’s probably what’s saying ‘make Arius-san mine.’”

“Dragon… unforgivable… desu!”

Serika’s scary.

“We can’t confirm her motive, but this is likely, desu. The concerning part is waging war on Ronnyan to claim Goshujin-sama, desu.”

“If she wants Arius-san, she’d target him alone. Wanting all of Ronnyan’s odd. If we assume the hoarding trait, maybe she values everything Arius-san has, so Ronnyan included?”

“Ririeru… unforgivable… desu!”

I’m ignoring Serika now.

Having two brains like them is a lifesaver.

“Just to check, this war talk doesn’t mean anyone’s getting killed, right?”

“A bloodless war’s highly likely, desu. Hurting what you want to claim defies reason, desu.”

“Not a violent deal. Economic or political… we don’t know her move, but it won’t get bloody.”

Good, that’s a relief.

“Cool. Then we ignore it.”

“…What?”

Obvious, right?

From what I heard, it’s not war—it’s competition. I got worked up for nothing.

My guess: she’ll compete with Ronnyan as a diner, like opening a rival shop nearby to steal customers.

That’d make our shop struggle.

She’d swoop in, claiming victory. “Take my hand and be mine if you want saving.”

“But being kept like a pet’s no good. For now, we wait and see. If that’s the worst, no need to rush. Honestly, losing the sexy mood’s worse.”

“U-understood?”

“M-Mia! I’m hitting the bath! Be right there! Let’s do lots, Arius-san!”

“Muh… h-how should I, um, d-do it…”

Towa, Towa, no need to stress.

Alright, Mia, I’m waiting.

Serika, get back here already.

It’s just a rival shop popping up! The dramatic exchange got me on edge, but it’s normal.

Just one more thing to think about for stabilizing the business.

“Well, meeting adjourned.”

Sorry, Ririeru, but I’m kinda looking forward to it.