As A Result of Trying To Live An Erotic Slow-Life, I Have Become The Underground Ruler of This Upside-Down Otherworld - Chapter 64: Arius’s Value

Chapter 64: Arius’s Value

I reach the destination, and suddenly I’m blindfolded from behind and hoisted up with a heave.

Not “come quietly,” but “get carried quietly”—what’s with that?

“Nice of you to show. Relax, will ya?”

“I’d relax if you’d take off whatever’s on my hands.”

In a dark room, no clue where I am.

I’m sitting in a chair, but my hands are tied tight behind me with something like rope.

“Got some guts, huh?”

“Unfortunately, I’m used to this kinda thing.”

The voice sounds female, and I’m facing her.

“Hah, seems the beauties worked you over plenty.”

“Glad you’re quick on the uptake. Brings a tear to my eye.”

Can’t see her face in the dark, but her tone—sarcastic about beauties—probably marks her as an “ugly” woman.

I’d love to confirm, but my eyes aren’t adjusting, so some magic’s likely at play.

“So? What’s the point of bringing me here?”

“Bringing you? Nah, you came on your own.”

Well, fair enough.

Threat or not, I decided to come here.

“Yeah, my bad. Got a bit victim-y there.”

“As long as you get it. This ain’t a cozy tea party, that’s for sure.”

Yeah, she’s beating around the bush.

This must be one of those overwhelmingly bad spots. Obviously, but still.

“…”

“What’s up? That’s a serious face.”

Serious face… so she can see me, huh? Even worse.

She’s not giving up info. Trying to keep the conversation vague.

Waiting for me to trip up, to blurt out what I think’ll get Shuri and Kazune back.

“No wonder I’m serious. No clue why I’m here.”

The letter clearly said, “If you want them back safely, come alone to the designated place,” but confirming that with her’s tricky.

“I see.”

Her voice hardens a bit.

Hope I made her think this ain’t easy, even a little.

“Look, I’m kinda dumb, so help me out here?”

Can’t push too hard, though.

Feels like walking a tightrope, nerve-wracking.

“—Join my crew.”

“…Don’t come at me with a fastball like that.”

Never heard that pickup line before, but basically, “be mine,” right?

“…”

And now she’s clamming up.

Guess she’s done talking.

…What a pain. Probably impulsive at heart—her pickup line was pretty polished.

But she’s got the smarts, or rationality, to keep it in check. This one’s a real player, leagues above the lust-drunk beauties I’m used to.

Kinda like Nelba, with that same charisma vibe.

Different direction, but the reliable big-sister type.

“What do you want with me?”

“Turn that around—what’d you do if you knew?”

Damn, that’s harsh.

Flip it, and she’s saying I don’t need to know—just that she’ll use me somehow.

Guess my use is pretty obvious.

“Sex? I’m down anytime, no need for all this.”

“…Sad, being lumped in with the beauties.”

Sounds like that’s not it. Feels like some anger, even.

“Sorry.”

“No big deal. If anything, I wanna break that mindset.”

That mindset, huh.

Tricky to parse.

Does she want to shatter the idea that men jump at beauties, or that beauties can get away with anything?

“Just so we’re clear, I’m open to cooperating without all this if it’s something I can get behind.”

“How kind. But I don’t want cooperation—I want submission.”

Tough nut to crack…

No openings. This is what a real deal looks like.

No choice, time to dive into the deep end.

“Let me see Shuri and Kazune first. I wanna confirm they’re safe.”

“If you agree, I’ll consider it.”

“Then this tea party’s over. I’m heading out.”

“You think you can leave?”

“To the afterlife, sure.”

I put some steel in my eyes, not bluffing.

I’m no actor, so no clue how convincing I am.

“That’d leave you screwed. You’ve got people who’d storm in, right? Even without knowing this place, there’s one crazy bastard who’d burn the whole area to ash just ‘cause it’s around here.”

“…”

For real, though. Right, Serika?

“Need more? If Shuri and Kazune ain’t safe, in this world or here, I got no reason to stick around or submit to you. I didn’t come here for a mind game.”

“…Tch.”

“No one messes with Shuri and Kazune and gets away with it—I’ll apologize for them. If you want me as atonement, I’ll think it over as much as I can. But I got no obligation to some random.”

I stomp hard on that thin thread.

Feels like it’ll snap buchiri any second, but there was no way forward where I was standing.

Gotta move ahead—backing down scared won’t cut it.

“…Well, I wasn’t expecting just some rich kid heir. Oi, bring ‘em in.”

No clue what “rich kid heir” means, but…

Looks like I cleared the first hurdle.

※

“Goshujin, why…!”

“Arius-san…!”

I hear their voices but can’t see them—just more presences in the room.

“This good enough?”

“Why’s it still dark? It’s not ‘cause they’re in some state you can’t show, right?”

“Don’t be stupid. No way I’d mess up valuable trade goods more than needed.”

She says it like I’m an idiot.

Trust… maybe? That “more than needed” part bugs me, though.

“And fix that mouth already. You know who’s in charge here.”

“That’s the stupid talk. We’re not playing top-or-bottom games, are we?”

What a nag, seriously.

That was a warning not to get cocky now that I know they’re safe.

“Hmph… fine. I gave you one demand, now it’s your turn.”

“Yeah, my turn. Let me confirm—join you, and you’ll let them go safe?”

“That’s right, that’s how it’ll be.”

“That’s how it’ll be”? Weird phrasing.

But one thing’s clear.

She wants me. Not for sex, apparently, but her conceding their safety confirms it.

For me, it’s about how much I can leverage that to get more concessions.

“One more time, tell me why you want me.”

“I said you don’t need to know.”

“What if I did? Getting me to cooperate willingly’s gotta be better than forcing me.”

Damn, can’t see her face, so I don’t know how it’s landing.

But it’s gotta be true—me agreeing willingly would yield better results than being coerced.

“Makes sense. But I can’t imagine you cooperating of your own accord…”

“What do you know about me? Oh, I don’t know you either… so, how ‘bout it? A real tea party, get to know each other?”

“Pfft! Hahaha! You sure know women, huh? That how you won these two over?”

Won them over…

I can’t and won’t deny it.

“Promised to screw ‘em every six months? Or three? Disgusting, using ugly women like toys…! It makes my skin crawl!!”

“Goshujin!!”

“You bastard…!!”

Ouch… she hit me, right? Solid punch, she could go pro. Why’d she snap like that?

Shuri and Kazune reacted, so they can see from there, huh?

“Hah… so what about you? Once a month? Once a week to let this slide?”

“You…!!”

“Gah!?”

Man, that’s a killer body shot, feels amazing…

But here’s the opening.

She’s clearly pissed about the state of “ugly” women.

She thinks I’m using Shuri and Kazune as bait with my body. Or maybe that’s just normal around here.

“Goshujin! Goshujin!”

“You… I’ll fucking kill you… kill…”

Calm down, you two.

I finally found a crack.

“Haa, haa…”

“Cough… feel better? So, have you decided? Big discount, I’ll bang you every three days.”

“~~!?”

Oh… saw some stars there, pretty… damn, that hurt.

“Haa… let’s talk straight. You’re not okay with how ugly women are treated, right? Me too. I’m pissed.”

“Still talking!”

“Gu, ah… heh, heh. I’ll keep talking, as many times as it takes. This world, where beauties get away with everything, is bullshit.”

Seriously, for real.

If she’s this mad for “ugly” women, I wanna work with her.

“But… I’m not out to save the world or every ugly woman. Probably different from you. So, let’s lay it all out, find a good path.”

Ronnyan’s my hands full, sorry.

But that’s just me. If our goals align, maybe we can find some common ground?

“…Hmph, heh, that’s your game, huh.”

“Haha, caught me? But I’m serious.”

“Got it, crystal clear. Alright then… oi.”

In an instant, the darkness lifts.

“…Good, they’re really here.”

Squinting in the brightness, I confirm Shuri and Kazune.

“Make these two happy right here, right now.”

A blue-haired woman with an eyepatch glares coldly.

“You, again—”

“Stop—”

She snaps her fingers, and Shuri and Kazune shudder bikun, then stand dazed.

“What’d you do?”

“I didn’t mess with their lives. But leave ‘em like this, and it’ll get there.”

“What do I do?”

No point in nitpicking.

“Fill their hearts with happiness, no sex. Then they’ll snap out of it. One hour… Fail, and I can make you my servant guilt-free.”

“Hah… bring it.”

Happiness, huh.

Didn’t expect my worth to be tested like this.

Let’s do it, show it.

My value as a person.