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

Chapter 34: The Excuse of a Reason

“Hehe! Onii-chan! I want to eat from that stall next!”

“Yes, of course.”

Shuri-chan clung to my arm with a smile.

She looked completely different from the impression I had when I saw her from a distance. I wasn’t sure if it was really Shuri-chan.

But her behavior made me think that she was fine with me being myself.

She looked around with an interested expression, and her large, droopy dog ears perked up in the direction of any sound.

To be honest, it felt a bit like taking my beloved dog for a walk, which was kind of enjoyable.

“Oh, look! The bracelet over there is so cute!”

“Which one? Oh, yes, it would suit Shuri-chan well.”

“Feh? No, I-I wouldn’t suit it at all…”

This girl is so cute and cunning.

She kept glancing at me with a longing look, but then showed a gesture of giving up, as if she didn’t want to be a bother.

Damn it, I’m weak against girls like this, and my wallet is so loose…!

“Umm, next! Let’s go over there next, okay, Onii-chan!”

“Whoa? Oh, sure, I understand.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I followed Shuri-chan’s wagging tail, seeing how much she was enjoying herself.

Well, you know.

I had never done something like this, a date-like outing, in this world. It was just plain fun. With Towa, it was more like a serious shopping trip.

I had heard from Towa that today’s customer was Shuri-chan, so I had arranged a welcome reception with Serika in advance, just like with Kazune-san, so that she wouldn’t be troubled by any unfulfilled desires.

But then I was told to play with her outside.

I was a bit taken aback, as I hadn’t considered such a service.

When I looked at Towa, she closed her eyes for a good ten seconds, and then said, “If Master is okay with it..”

“Onii-chan?”

“Sorry. I was just a bit moved.”

I didn’t know why Towa was happy, but…

Lately, I had been feeling more busy than anything else, and I realized that when I went outside. The sky that I was used to seeing seemed much higher and clearer, which probably meant that my mood had been low.

“Moved?”

“Yeah. It’s just so ordinary.”

I wouldn’t say it was a zero or one situation, but this world really didn’t have any middle ground for me.

Going out with the opposite sex like this, I might have thought it was possible, but I had never encountered it in my surroundings.

It was always a relationship that led to sex.

Or should I say, the exchanging of affection, building up each other’s feelings of liking… There was no such process here.

“Thank you, Shuri-chan.”

“Eh…”

Even if this wasn’t the norm, she reminded me of what I know should be the norm.

Running a store, facing difficult challenges, struggling with interpersonal relationships…

I had thought it was fun, but I had started to tell myself that I had to enjoy it, and it had almost become something I had to enjoy.

Yeah, that’s right, it’s normal.

I should have known that from the moment I decided to be selfish.

“I feel refreshed. I guess today won’t end with just a date, right? I’ll make you feel really good tonight, so look forward to it.”

“Umm, um… I, I have to go to the bathroom!”

Oops, I got too refreshed, and my sensitivity seems to have gone out the window too. I’ll reflect on that.

Well, as an apology, I’ll give her the bracelet we were looking at earlier.

It’s not that expensive, but it’s the thought that counts.

“I’ll take that bracelet, please.”

“Sure! How about I give it to you for free if you let me insert yours into me once—“

“Haha, let’s save that for next time. I’ll pay for it today.”

“Oh, you said next time right? I’ll look forward to it!”

This open-air stall is a good find, the owner is quite easygoing.

“Here you go. I put it in a nice bag for you as a bonus! That’ll be 80 copper coins!”

“Wow. You don’t intend to let me go, do you? This looks scary.”

I laughed with the shopkeeper as I said that.

Ah, I really feel good, today is going to be a great day.

“— Oh.”

Just as I thought that…

Suddenly, everything went dark in front of my eyes.

I mean, really. There really are flags like that, aren’t there?

I wanted to have a good day, but…

“M-M-M-Most humble apologies!”

“Huh?”

How did this happen?

I didn’t know what to do with the human woman who was giving a perfect Japanese prostration.

“Umm, well! I mean, this way of doing things is just… ah, I can’t explain it in detail, it’s not my intention!”

“Hmm… Well, let’s calm down, shall we? Yeah, let’s calm down.”

I should be the one panicking in this situation, right? This person is way more flustered than me, which is making me calm down…

“U-U-U-Um… I’m sorry.”

“Well, I can’t say anything about that. But what exactly is happening? Can you explain it to—- that seems to be impossible. At least you don’t intend to kill me, right?”

“Of course not! I won’t even touch a single finger of yours!”

Then I should be okay.

Or maybe I should just go home..

“My name is Luuri. I used to work at Ryu Ryu, where I served you once, Arius-san.”

“Is it okay to reveal your identity?”

“Huh?”

What a klutz.

She looked ordinary, like she had no distinguishing features at all.

“Umm, well! I mean, I wanted to talk to you…”

“So you kidnapped me? Quite aggressive… Where’s Shuri-chan? She was with me.”

“I… I have her in a separate place. I swear I haven’t put her in any danger.”

I can’t believe that, but…

It seems like I can’t push this any further, as the situation doesn’t allow it. She’s starting to calm down, and I get the feeling that she won’t talk any more.

“I see. Then can you tell me what this talk is about?”

“You’re quite calm, aren’t you? Impressive.”

I was praised, but why?

I have no choice but to stay calm, Shuri-chan is nowhere to be seen, and I can’t mess up the situation by acting rashly.

Besides, I’m used to being kidnapped and held captive. Depending on the flow of the conversation, I could just rape this Luuri person and then look for Shuri-chan.

“Would you consider joining Ryu Ryu?”

“So that means you want me to surrender to Liliel-sama and become her… thing, right?”

“Yes.”

Are they filming a drama? No, this is just a TV scene. Why do I have to be a bad actor?

“But if I don’t agree, what will happen?”

“I’ll be in trouble.”

“I’m quite troubled too… Hmm, this doesn’t sound like a talk. Please explain properly.”

This isn’t a transaction.

She must be aware of that, as she lowered her eyebrows and smiled, saying, “Yeah, you’re right.”

“The Ryu Ryu is doing very well at the moment.”

“I know, it was featured in the gourmet magazine of the capital city. It’s admirable.”

I thought it was a good store, and I was even happier that a store like this was thriving.

“It’s the most popular dining spot in the capital city right now. But because of that, it’s also attracting the attention of bad people.”

“That’s a possible scenario. It’s like they say, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.’ If people’s eyes are drawn to something, it’s not strange for something bad to be among them.”

Places where money and power gather are complicated.

That’s one of the reasons why the Ronyan aimed to be a hidden gourmet spot.

“There’s no way to solve this problem..”

“Well…”

“I know. We dug our own graves..”

The only way to solve the problem is to do some groundwork, or just force the issue.

Either way, it’s probably the fault of the manager who didn’t prepare for it. I’m aware that I’m putting the blame on others, but…

“Liliel-sama is currently thinking of a solution, but I need your cooperation, no matter how difficult it is.”

“Cooperation? But we’re rivals, aren’t we? Even if I agreed, I don’t think I can do anything.”

On the surface, we’re rival stores.

It’s a hot scene when rivals join hands, but it’s useless if this side is a sinking ship.

“There is something that only Arius-san can do.”

“Well, I’ll atleast hear you out.”

“Please marry Liliel-sama.”

“Huh?”

How did she reach that conclusion? I saw the universe for a moment there.

“If the conflict between the Ronyan and Ryu Ryu can be resolved, everything will be settled…! I don’t mean you have to become her thing! You can make her your thing! You don’t have to do anything after that! As long as there’s a connection, that’s all…”

“Wait wait, calm down.”

“I’ll even offer up the sales! I’m sure Liliel-sama will approve of it! Even if she doesn’t, I’ll personally take responsibility and convince her! So, so, pleaaase…!”

I’m completely left behind, please calm down.

Ah… but.

“Women’s tears are so unfair.”

“Huh? I-I’m sorry! It’s so unbecoming of me…! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

No, no, you don’t have to apologize like that.

Still, women’s tears were like this? I didn’t know that.

…This world’s normal is really troublesome.

I don’t want to cooperate with her just because I made her cry.

I’m not a hero, and I’d rather say, “Please don’t get involved with me,” loudly.

I can’t save a crying woman.

But I want to make a smiling woman smile even more.

“Is Liliel-san still crying?”

“Of course not! Liliel-sama is not crying!”

I wonder if that’s true.

Well, I don’t know Liliel-san well, but if this person says so, it must be true.

That means she can still be made to smile.

“I can’t marry her.”

“…”

It’s not normal.

At least for me, it’s definitely not normal.

“Marriage should be when two people love each other so much… they can’t bear to be apart. That’s why I want it to be a beautiful thing, where they promise to be together. I can’t do that now.”

“But…”

I know it’s a beautiful thought, and it’s naive, and I can’t deny that it’s a girly idea.

But in this world, I want it to be like that.

Maybe marriage in this world is more like a contractual arrangement, as Luuri said.

That’s why I don’t want to get married for that reason.

“I want to get married in a normal way. I want to fall in love, spend time together, desire each other, and build a connection with that person.”

“H-H-H-Hmm…”

I’m being cold, but I don’t want to break Liliel-san’s heart.

I can’t have any positive feelings towards her, after she declared war on me and said she would make me her thing.

Still, there is a reason for me to help.

“But… I want that store to thrive even more, so this time, I’ll give you one favor.”

It’s because Liliel-san created the store of my dreams, so I have no choice.