As A Result of Trying To Live An Erotic Slow-Life, I Have Become The Underground Ruler of This Upside-Down Otherworld - Chapter 63: What It Means to Trust

Chapter 63: What It Means to Trust

Shuri and Kazune haven’t come back.

I figured they might be struggling or delayed for some not-too-serious reason, missing the scheduled report day.

But it’s not that simple, apparently—the other Rats are in a frenzy trying to figure out what’s going on.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting! We’ll… we’ll check on it right away…!”

“Nah, it’s fine. I mean, I’m okay waiting, at least.”

“Y-Yes…!”

Sure, if they knew they’d be late, a heads-up would’ve been nice.

Kazune’s usually on top of that stuff, apparently, and it’s unheard of for her to miss a deadline without contact like this.

In other words, they’ve hit something unexpected.

The Rats and Towa seem to see it that way too—their faces are grim.

“Onii-san…”

“Hm? Oh, it’s alright, Yuri.”

I pat Yuri’s worried head.

Saying “it’s alright” is easy, but what part am I even talking about?

Worrying they got attacked by monsters? Or something unimaginable?

My weak imagination can’t come up with much. That pisses me off.

I know those two wouldn’t get taken out by some random monster, so it’s gotta be something else, something I can’t figure out.

Goddamn, I’m pathetic. If I knew more about this world, maybe I could’ve helped.

Regret won’t change anything, but if something irreversible happens to them, I can’t just brush it off as someone else’s problem or a work thing.

I’ve gotten too involved with them to do that, and there’s a part of me that wants to get even closer—a contradiction.

“Towa.”

“Yes, Goshujin-sama.”

What can I do?

I don’t know, I’m too damn ignorant. Maybe it’s the price for always thinking about escaping to a convenient world.

I stopped learning, used only what was easy. Maybe I’m being punished for that sin.

Still.

“What can I do?”

“Goshujin-sama…”

I don’t want to stay stuck here.

Half-assed, vague, I don’t want to end up ignorant.

Then I’ve gotta swallow my pride and ask.

I don’t want to hide the urge to do something.

“…Right now, most think sending a search party is tough.”

“Tough? Isn’t that the first thing we should do?”

“They wouldn’t be delayed by mere monsters. Even if they met a tough one, they’d avoid fighting. That means they likely hit an unavoidable accident.”

No, that’s why we should search… wait, I get it.

“Someone’s behind it, thinking and acting.”

“Yes, there’s a high chance an unseen someone’s involved. We want to rush out and search, of course, but without knowing their aim, reckless moves are dangerous.”

I see.

Yuri’s not confirmed, but he’s likely a kidnapping victim.

So, the Rats and Towa suspect there’s a person or group behind it.

Their goal, their motive…

“Capture Shuri and Kazune to sell them somewhere?”

“It’s not impossible, but they’re ugly women. The reward might not match the risk of kidnapping.”

Yeah, makes sense. Hate to admit it, but if you’re gonna kidnap, you’d go for a man or a beauty.

“Nine times out of ten, it’s aimed at the Rats’ leader… no, to be blunt, we think it’s a trap for you, Goshujin-sama.”

“…Me?”

What the hell’s that supposed to mean?

…No, don’t stop thinking, figure it out.

Towa’s saying it, the Rats think so too—that’s why they can’t move right away.

Someone wants to mess with me. If I’m the target, what’re they thinking?

My value’s basically sex, to put it bluntly. A kidnapping target, then. Capturing Shuri and the others as prep to get me, maybe.

Not impossible.

No clue how they know about me, but in this world’s sex dynamics, I’m a powerhouse.

For sexual use, there’s hardly anyone better than me… Man, this world’s brain’s all in its pants, huh?

“That’s why we can’t move. You’re the Rats’ client and their future owner. We can’t put someone like that in danger… So, to your first question, I have to say there’s nothing.”

“Got it.”

So, we just wait for a resolution?

Really?

Is that really all there is?

I get it.

If I act on my urge to do something and go rogue, I’ll trample the Rats’ feelings.

Doing anything might screw things up big time—I know that.

But, but still.

“I’m—”

“!? Arius-sama!!”

“U, ah—”

The words welling in my chest, ready to burst as I stand, get cut off as Serika tackles me.

“What the—?”

“S-Sorry, Arius-sama. M-More importantly!”

Looking up from the floor, I see an arrow-like object. A piece of paper’s wrapped around the tip.

An arrow letter, huh?

“Don’t touch it, Towa.”

“—!”

I stop Towa as she reaches for it.

“I’ll look.”

“Goshujin-sama…”

I pretend not to notice Towa’s hesitant gaze.

Gently pushing Serika’s body off me.

“…Huh.”

The letter reads:

“Thanks for the nomination, Arius. If you want them back safely, come to the designated place alone.”

The kind of thing I thought you’d only see in stories.

◇

—Absolutely don’t follow me.

With those words, Arius leaves Ronnyan.

“We’re so sorry!!”

The Rats drop to the floor before Towa, shouting apologies.

“…Tch.”

Towa grits her teeth, no time to blame the Rats—she doesn’t even have the right.

The Rats have no words left but apologies.

They had a perfect setup, yet this result—nothing but their lack of skill, outdone by the enemy.

If anything, maybe they got cocky, thinking they’d call Arius their master after this job.

But that feeling should’ve fueled their drive. No way they doubt Kazune or Shuri’s skills.

What to do, what to say—they don’t know.

In the midst of it, Serika’s gaze asks Towa what to do.

—Don’t follow me.

She didn’t see the letter, but it’s easy to guess.

Letting this moment slip means Arius will face the situation alone.

“Follow Goshujin-sama—”

“Better not.”

Mia cuts off Towa’s attempt to say it.

“Why!?”

“Calm down. Even if we all go, the Rats included, it won’t end well.”

Despite the situation, Mia shows no panic.

Even now, she brushes off Serika’s intensity like a breeze through willows, staying calm.

“No way! I-I’ll crush any danger—”

“And crush what Arius-san’s trying to do too?”

“!?”

Mia’s words silence everyone.

“Don’t get me wrong. I want to chase after him too, obviously. But… wouldn’t that betray Arius-san?”

“W-What’s that mean!?”

Serika’s fire dims, seeing a trickle of blood from Mia’s clenched palm.

The crown of red droplets on the floor shows the effort it takes for her to act so calm.

“I was thinking. Everything we’ve done so far, it’s been us doing it because we didn’t trust Arius-san to handle it.”

“…!”

To reach what we thought was best, we sidelined Arius.

To avoid facing that, we hid behind the noble excuse of protecting him.

The Ririeru incident, the Shuri incident.

They happened almost at the same time, but their outcomes were worlds apart.

Ririeru, with Arius deeply involved, found happiness. Shuri, without his involvement, ended up in a murky situation.

If we’d just been honest and consulted Arius from the start, maybe Shuri wouldn’t have been hurt so much.

“This time too. Following because we’re worried is just ignoring the fact we don’t trust him, hiding it behind worry.”

“That’s not true! I-I’m, it’s not like that!”

Serika steps back, denying it.

She believes she trusts Arius blindly, so she has to protest reflexively.

“I know. But this time, we’re past what we can handle alone. So, what’s left is praying Arius-san comes back safe and—”

“—Preparing to support him, no matter what situation he faces.”

Towa finishes Mia’s words.

In the end.

In this situation, the only option is war.

Assuming the enemy wants to harm Arius and wiping out the threat to protect him.

He might not realize it, but Arius went to take responsibility. To clean up his own mess, he stepped forward.

“It’s cold comfort, but I don’t think Arius-san’s life is in danger.”

“…Yes, his value for use outweighs killing him.”

“…!”

Serika’s body rebels, but her heart stops her feet, gluing them to the floor.

The Rats’ faces are dyed with despair, while Towa searches for something to do.

“…Arius-san.”

Mia, determined to be a good woman, clasps her hands and prays fiercely for his safety.