As A Result of Trying To Live An Erotic Slow-Life, I Have Become The Underground Ruler of This Upside-Down Otherworld

Chapter 30: It’s about time—I

I went to have a meal, thinking it might be a good reference, but the atmosphere turned awkward.

I guess I should just stay a shut-in.

But, you know, since Ronyan opened, our income has been falling; we’re losing customers.

Given our business strategy, there’s only so much we can do, but it’s really not good.

Our regulars still come, but only eight of them, which is like pouring water on a fire.

If the spending of those eight customers were to increase significantly, it might be different, but that’s probably wishful thinking. We should be grateful that they keep coming, and that’s what it means when they say the customer is always right.

The ingredients that Serica initially brought in couldn’t all be used up, and the leftovers had to be processed into preserved food. I try to make them tasty, but I can’t charge the same price as for dishes prepared from fresh ingredients.

I have to do something.

“But it’s a great place, you know.”

I said this at the time, but Ronyan is the ideal eatery; everyone who comes is satisfied.

The quality of the food might be biased because it’s a family business, but I think ours is better. However, Serica’s ability to serve dishes not on the menu gives them an edge, and their customer service is probably better than ours.

The only thing we have an advantage in is our flag-making business.

I really need to start operating the flag-making business in earnest.

I never thought we could make a living just from the eatery, and this is a good opportunity to make that decision.

So, I should talk to Kazune-san, one of our regulars. Shuri, who often comes with him, might be a good choice too, but I don’t see them talking much, so it’s hard to judge.

“Maybe I should consult Mia… or Towa.”

I should probably consult Mia, who interacts with customers the most, but subjective judgment is often unreliable.

Considering that, Towa observes the store well while cooking, and she has a good sense of objectivity.

From what I’ve seen, Kazune-san is, well, a bit like a gal. Her hair might be natural, but it’s blonde and curly, with streaks of red here and there, giving her a flashy impression.

Because of that image, she seems like she might talk a lot, but from her demeanor, it looks like she has had some experience with men, so it shouldn’t be too hard to talk to her.

Shuri-san, who comes with Kazune-san, looks serious.

In Dragon Ronyan, I said they could take off their black robes, but they only took off the hood. I could see that she had short brown hair, big brown ears, and beautiful eyes.

If she wore glasses, I might call her the student council president. And she’s probably a virgin.

They’re both what you’d call ugly women, but I really like them.

At first glance, Shuri-san might be more likely to keep our secret, but I’m worried she won’t accept it.

“Well, impressions aren’t always reliable. I’ll consult Towa first…”

I took out the magic stone that everyone in Ronyan can understand and activated it.

Magic stones are really convenient; you just have to think of the person you want to talk to, and it connects.

“Master? What’s the matter?”

There was an immediate response, and Towa’s voice came through the magic stone.

“Yeah, are you free now? I have something to consult you about.”

“Of course, I’ll be right there. Serica? Sorry, can you take over the laundry for me?”

She was doing laundry, I see. Oh, today was Towa’s turn to do the laundry; sorry for the bad timing.

Magic stones are convenient, but they don’t do the whole laundry process automatically like in my previous life. Some human intervention is still needed for certain things.

“You don’t have to rush. I’ll come to you.”

“No, that’s not necessary. All that’s left is drying, so please wait.”

The call ended.

I’ll just make some tea and wait.

“I see.”

“Financially speaking, we have no choice. On the other hand, if we start operating the flag-making business, we can make ends meet, and it’s time to get serious about it.”

When I explained my thoughts, Towa nodded once and closed her eyes.

She must have come in a hurry, still wearing the store’s uniform—the open-chest Chinese dress—which made me feel a little apologetic, but it would be rude to ask her to change and come back.

In any case, that’s right; according to our calculations, we can make ends meet if we also start operating the flag-making business.

If we take one silver coin per night, and we have 30 clients a month, we can live comfortably.

In other words, we need an additional three silver coins per month, apart from the income from the eatery. I know it’s too much to ask, but that’s what I hope for in the future.

If we charge by the night, I’d have to sleep with a different woman every day.

That’s not possible in reality; first of all, we wouldn’t have that many clients, and I wouldn’t be able to work in the eatery part of Ronyan if that happened.

“For Kazune-san or Shuri-san, if you tell them not to tell anyone, or only to spread the word to people they trust, they’ll keep it a secret.”

“Hmm, I’m sure they will. I mean, if I were in their shoes and had a delicious experience, I wouldn’t want to spread it around. It’s not every day you get to spend the night with an exceptional man for just one silver coin.”

Yeah, that’s true.

Maybe one silver coin is too cheap? Maybe we should follow the example of the male brothel and charge extra for kissing and cunnilingus.

But that also seems a bit off, somehow. It goes against our principle of benefiting ugly women.

“Hmm, I don’t want to change the price from one silver coin. How about no prohibited activities and three silver coins for the whole night?”

“If I were to speak my mind, I’d say stack gold coins up to your elbow. Of course, that’s from the ground to your elbow, which is on the second floor where you are.”

I don’t understand the “of course.”

I don’t deny that I’m an exceptional man, but come on. Rather than that, three silver coins would mean I only have to sleep with ten women a month, which would be a big help.

In any case, if it’s okay to talk to either of them, I think Kazune-san would be better.

“So, the price is three silver coins. When Kazune-san comes to try the prototype dishes, can you ask her to come up to the second floor?”

“Of course. I’m sure… she’ll be happy.”

No, she won’t yet, I’m going to make her happy by then.

But Towa seems really happy about it. Her ears are twitching.

If I think about it calmly, it’s a bit of a delicate topic. It’s like I’m declaring that I’ll be sleeping with other women in front of her.

“Towa.”

“Yes?”

“Are you okay with this?”

Now that I think about it.

I’ve had Mia in front of Towa, and she knows I’ve had Serica.

Yet she hasn’t said anything. In fact, she had a similar expression on her face, like now.

“What do you mean, ‘okay’?”

“Well, it’s not like I’m saying this now for the first time, and I might be deluding myself, but I think you admire me, right? And when the person you admire tells you they’re going to sleep with other women, don’t you feel a bit… jealous? Or do you want to… possess them exclusively?”

I’m aware that I’m saying something pretty bold.

But I’m curious; I wonder if the feeling Towa is having now is something I can’t understand.

From my memories of my previous life, I also want the people I like to have feelings for me, and I want them to direct those feelings only towards me. It’s a normal desire, of course.

Even if reason tells me not to go that far with my collaborators and partners, these emotions are still there.

“Master.”

While I was thinking about all this, Towa… well, she had this clear smile on her face.

“Of course, I do think of it.”

“I know.”

“I want to monopolize Master. I want to be monopolized by Master. It’s not just me, is it? Mia, Serika, and even Liliel-sama… I’m certain they feel the same way.”

“Well, yeah, I’m happy, and grateful.”

“However, precisely because I feel the same way, I would never let such a desire come true. That privilege is reserved only for the beautiful ones.”

That’s right.

Only those who are allowed to do whatever they want can get away with it.

Towa, Mia, and Serica are not in that position.

“Master, please don’t make such a troubled face. It’s not because we’re forbidden that we’re suppressing our feelings. It’s because we don’t want to become like that. Using beauty or power to obtain what we desire—while it may be considered an acceptable act, we can no longer cherish the things obtained that way.”

“I see… I kind of get it.”

Those feelings are exactly the rules I set for myself.

“Of course, if you wish for it, Master, it would be the greatest happiness for me. If you told me to become your woman, I might die in that instant.”

“Well, I can’t just say that lightly now, can I?”

“My mistake. Mia and Cerica would get angry at me.”

Towa smiled slightly, saying she had failed.

Seeing that expression, I understood.

Towa, Mia, and Serica have all changed because of me; I truly understand that now.

They can’t live in the outside world anymore.

They can only live in the world of Ronyan that I’ve created and want to create.

“Towa.”

“Yes?”

It’s a matter of responsibility, a very heavy responsibility.

I was aware that I had dragged them into my world, and I intended to take responsibility for that.

“Thank you.”

So, I should be grateful.

For the comfort I feel right now.

Ah, this is what I’ve been looking for, and Towa, Mia, and Serica have shown me that.

I won’t apologize; they’ve surely accepted me and my world.

“You’re too kind.”

—

“What…?”

“Is it okay?”

Arius gently pushed Towa onto the bed.

“W-well, I’m very happy, but… I haven’t even taken a bath yet.”

Arius himself didn’t understand why he did it, but he could say that he was following his emotions.

However, Towa had been prepared for Arius’ advances at any time, but she was in the middle of closing the store, and she felt a bit embarrassed about her current state, which was marked by the labor of the day. She wanted to present herself to Arius in a more beautiful state.

“I want to make love to you now.”

But as Arius’ face came closer and their lips touched,

—W-What’s this?

Towa felt something that made her want to cry.

“Ma…ster… Please, go ahead and partake of Towa.”

“Thank you.”

Towa’s heart melted as she saw Arius’ expression again.

“Fu… ahn♡”

It wasn’t the usual caress.

It felt good, but it wasn’t the usual stimulating caress that took away her reason; it was a gentle touch.

“Th-this… ah, fuhh…♡ Master, what…?”

He was just massaging her breasts.

He touched her through her clothes, and the sensation was so pleasant that it tickled and stopped just short of pleasure.

“Uuu, aaaa…♡ It feels good…♡”

But his hand touched her heart.

Towa’s heart was being caressed directly.

Usually, she would let out a big moan naturally, but this time, she bit her lip to suppress it.

“Ah, fuh… nnn, uuu…♡”

Something was overflowing from her body, not from physical pleasure, but from a feeling of fulfillment that was about to spill out of her mouth.

It was somehow embarrassing.

“Towa…”

“Ah, ya…iyaa♡”

To-wa’s genitals, which had been seen by Arius many times.

In a situation where Arius’ hand was inserted through the slit in her Chinese dress, making it easier to touch, Towa blocked his hand with her thighs.

“Ah! I’m sorry… nmu♡”

Towa didn’t understand her own actions.

Arius kissed her again, as if to ease her tension, her body, and her heart.

Towa melted into the kiss, her reason intact, as she prepared to accept Arius.

“Ah, haa…♡ Master… “

“Yeah, Towa… I’m sorry, but I want to insert it.”

Usually.

Usually, the play would continue for a while longer.

“Yes… Master. Come… please.”

Towa wasn’t worried about her wetness at all, even though she was skipping a lot of steps.

The lower part of her abdomen was already pleading for release, and she couldn’t wait any longer.

“N…”