As A Result of Trying To Live An Erotic Slow-Life, I Have Become The Underground Ruler of This Upside-Down Otherworld - Chapter 61: The First Spit Can’t Be Swallowed!

Chapter 61: The First Spit Can’t Be Swallowed!

“Ha! Command me as you will, Aruji!”

“Uh… yeah, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but can you sit down for now?”

“Yes. No, Aruji-sama, I cannot bear to be at your level, so please forgive me.”

What’s this?

I mean, Serika’s passed out on the bed, and Sonya-san’s kneeling on the floor, all formal and stuff.

What kind of scene is this?

All I said was I had something to ask Sonya-san, the first to wake up.

“Sonya-san, I’m getting antsy here. Please.”

“M-Mu… but…”

“No more meals, then.”

“S-So sorry! T-Then, uh… pardon my rudeness.”

Man, who am I supposed to be?

Kazune-san and the Rats have this vibe too, but the Snakes don’t even try to hide it.

It’s supposed to be a give-and-take deal.

For me, they’re partners to blow off steam with; for them, I’m a source to fill their stomachs—or magic.

Their boss is obviously Nelba-san, so I don’t think they need to act all reverent toward me.

“Just relax. It’s not supposed to be a heavy talk.”

“I-I’m already in a grave situation… no, I’m deeply grateful for your kindness.”

I can’t help but give a wry smile at Sonya-san, stiff as a board.

It’s not just her—the Snakes are all kinda like this.

When I brought up wanting to discuss their “meals” or sex drive relief, they snapped to attention with perfect salutes. Soldiers much?

I should probably think about this weird vibe.

It’s quieter now, or I’ve gotten used to it, but Towa and the others had this too, at first.

…Wait?

Like Towa and the others?

“…”

“Aruji-sama?”

“Nah, nothing. Just remembered Towa was like this at the start too.”

“!”

A flicker of unease.

On purpose, probably. She switched back to a poker face.

But Sonya-san’s never put on a poker face with me before.

That means there’s something she doesn’t want me to catch.

Man, what a mess.

How many things is Towa keeping under wraps, like she said?

“Whatever. So, Sonya-san.”

“Ha!”

“What I wanna ask about is outside the capital.”

Yeah, now’s not the time to dig.

Yuri’s the priority, and the world’s bigger picture.

I don’t think Towa’s hiding stuff to screw me over.

So, that can wait.

“Outside the capital?”

“Yeah. You know about Yuri, right? I don’t know where his hometown is, but I figured I should know what it’s like out there.”

“I see. As expected of Aruji-sama, so kind. I’m in awe.”

I’ll throw a little bait, though!

Man, Sonya-san just said it straight.

How’s she know?

She might’ve seen Yuri at the shop, so knowing we’re protecting him isn’t weird.

But she shouldn’t know we’re digging into his hometown and background.

“Cut it out. It’s just what I think’s normal, so it’s embarrassing to hear that. Anyway, Mia said you’ve got tons of experience out there, so I wanted to ask a Snake about it.”

“Aruji-sama…!”

Her eyes tear up—dunno what hit her heartstrings, but yeah.

Sonya-san definitely knows what we’re up to.

If I force an explanation, maybe it’s tied to Nelba-san’s work.

“Alright, straight to it. Towa said Yuri’s a half-demon, half-beastman, so he might be from the southeast. Why can you guess a hometown from race?”

“Ha. That’s based on the kingdom’s racial distribution.”

Racial distribution?

“In the kingdom, centered on the capital, humans rule the north, demons the east, beastmen the south, and odd races the west. Each race’s values, especially beauty standards, differ, so they live in regions ruled by like-minded races.”

“Oh, got it.”

Makes sense—my hometown’s in the northeast.

Yeah, that kind of segregation would cut down on value-based conflicts.

“Of course, it’s just a general assumption based on distribution. Some beastmen live in the human-dominated north, for example.”

“Right. I’ve seen dwarves in my hometown too, so it’s not set in stone.”

Dwarves and elves get lumped as “odd races.”

The term’s harsh, so they’re usually called by their race names.

So, that means…

Yuri’s less likely a victim of this world’s unique beauty standards.

Then what’s the deal?

“Just to check, there’s no civil war or anything in the kingdom, right?”

“It depends on the scale of ‘civil war.’ Villages fighting over a single man is common enough, and I’ve fought for one side or another with the Snakes.”

Wow, this world, man…

Survival instinct? Or survival competition?

“I mean… I know I’m clueless, but you’ve had it rough, Sonya-san. Good job.”

“!…N-No! Your words are too generous… ugh, God…”

She’s under that super-charismatic Nelba-san, so I figured she’s skilled and experienced, but mercenary work? That’s something else.

Anyway, Yuri’s a kid, but could he fit that scenario?

No, if he got caught in a village fight, one side would’ve claimed him, right?

That leaves…

“Kidnapping.”

“Aruji-sama?”

“Hey, Sonya-san. Not just the southeast, but… are there cases of men, or boys, being taken from villages?”

It’s almost pointless to ask.

I’ve been through it myself—attempted, at least, multiple times.

“Yes, of course. It’s not pleasant, but parents selling kids for money happens often enough. Men, especially boys, fetch a high price.”

Yeah, Arius’s memories confirm that.

Sorry, Sonya-san, I’ve been fishing this whole time.

But…

“…”

“…”

Poker faces are for the start, Sonya-san.

She’s not good at hiding things. Maybe, if I’m being cocky, she doesn’t want to hide things from me.

“…Kidnapping happens too.”

“Yeah, I know. Been through it.”

Got a ton of those experiences, sadly.

“Most of our work, before serving Nelba-sama… for Eld, was protecting villages from kidnappers. As you know, we Snakes need male seed to survive, so we’d contract to guard in exchange for it.”

“…”

“I swear! We’ve never stooped to kidnapping or such vile acts! We’d never do anything to tarnish your name, Aruji-sama!!”

No, really.

I’m not doubting that. You don’t have to scramble to prove your innocence.

It makes me sad, actually.

Because that means contracts with “ugly” women like you were rarely honored, right?

You were used, fought to protect men, but got stiffed on payment most of the time.

That’s why you panicked.

You didn’t want me thinking you’d turn to kidnapping if contracts weren’t honored.

I went quiet because I was stunned at how lightly I took your struggles.

For someone who’s fought life-and-death battles, literally clawing to survive, “good job” is way too flippant.

I just thought it, didn’t I? I blew it with the cum.

I messed up the line to tread right off the bat.

“Sorry.”

“No! Aruji-sama, you’ve nothing to apologize for—ah!”

Sorry for fishing like that.

There’s stuff you should and shouldn’t doubt.

“Thank you for surviving until now. From here on, you won’t have to worry about your stomach.”

“A… u… Aruji, Aruji-sama…! U, a, uwa…”

I hug Sonya-san, still standing, stroking her back.

“Uwaaaaaaa!!”

I catch the hot burst against my chest.

Yeah, it’s gratitude.

Strong women like Mia are rare—most are like Sonya-san, overwhelmingly so.

They kept living, never giving up like I did, fighting desperately.

Thank you.

Thank you for teaching me.

“No need to give up, right?”

Spit at it, who cares—this world’s garbage.

I might not be able to do much, but so what?

I’ll do all I can, show this world my grass is greener.

That’s right, this place has the best women in my eyes.

I’ll make it happier than anywhere, anything. Let the shitty world drool in envy.