As A Result of Trying To Live An Erotic Slow-Life, I Have Become The Underground Ruler of This Upside-Down Otherworld - Chapter 83: The Master’s Return and Stiffness

Chapter 83: The Master’s Return and Stiffness

The ten gold coins were gathered surprisingly quickly.

Honestly, it was almost effortless, so I’m like, “Seriously, is this okay?”

When I met up with Serika at the inn designated as our rendezvous, she fainted the moment she saw my face. Regrettable.

In fact, gathering the money was less trouble than figuring out how to get back safely after Serika’s collapse.

I had to meet one of the beautiful ladies Master introduced me to again, bow my head, and sort it out, but the aftermath is gonna be scary, right?

Anyway.

After reviving from her faint, Serika saw my face and passed out again, so I carried her back only to find Rozaria.

I only caught Towa’s badass line, so I don’t know what they were talking about, but shall we send her on her way?

“Ten days from now, at Rongrong? You’ll take care of me there?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Deciding our relationship could be called ‘taking care’ in a way. Whether we end up enemies or allies, you can decide after seeing it.”

That’s all I can say to Rozaria now.

I could ask her to lend a hand for something like this, but she wouldn’t believe me.

Worse, it might just deepen her distrust of me.

“Hah! Too bad I’m not that patient! Perfect timing—let’s have you settle things right here and now! This one’s not worth talking to—”

“Rozaria.”

“!?”

Alright, alright, if you’re gonna grumble, do it behind my back.

“Watch your words. I’ll say it again—she’s my woman.”

“Ah… ugh.”

That’s not something you say to the face of someone who values such things.

It’s fine to think something precious is trivial.

But saying it to their face is just foolish.

It’s like opening a trash can lid just to complain about the smell. Utterly ridiculous.

“You said you’d turn things upside down, didn’t you?”

“…Yeah, I said that.”

I won’t fault her for thinking trash stays trash unless it’s overturned.

“But trash stays trash even if you flip it.”

“! You—!!”

Whoa, that was some high-tier provocation, even for me.

Her face turned red instantly. The height difference means she can’t grab my collar, which is kinda cute, though.

Oh, Shuri-chan, Kazune-chan? It’s fine, stay put, staaay.

More importantly, can someone finally put Serika to bed? Yeah, thanks.

“I’m not defending anyone, but not every beautiful lady is inherently evil, you know.”

I realized that after meeting Master.

It’s something I’ve come to understand recently… no, something I’ve learned, so I’m not exactly in a position to talk big.

“Only beautiful ladies holding absolute power is what’s wrong! An ugly woman who knows suffering wouldn’t act like this!”

“Being so certain might be your virtue, but fine. Let me ask—would an ugly woman called that become happy just by gaining great power?”

“Of course!”

“How?”

If a Family is formed with dreams in mind, then Rozaria is indeed clinging to a fantasy called a dream.

“Rozaria, let me tell you a story. About one of those beautiful ladies you hate so much.”

“Tch, that kind of—”

“Listen.”

“Ugh…”

No arguments, just listen.

“As you’d expect, this beautiful lady was doing whatever she wanted until she was embraced by a certain man.”

“Wha!? W-What kind of story is this!?”

Huh? Your face is all red, Rozaria.

Wait, hold on, are you… n-no, this isn’t that kind of moment, right? Calm down, me.

“Well, from what I heard, it was like child’s play in terms of sex. But when it was over, what do you think she felt?”

“I don’t know! I don’t want to know!”

“She said it was the first time she was embraced as a woman.”

It was abstract, but basically, she was embraced not as a beauty but as herself, a woman.

It’s simple—beautiful ladies, too, are trying to fulfill something unfulfilled. As long as they’re alive, that’s natural behavior.

“It’s the same at its core, Rozaria. Ugly women, beautiful women… me, and probably you too. Everyone’s searching for a piece of themselves, like their other half.”

“B-But! That doesn’t mean I can forgive what they’ve done! Are you saying it’s fine to do anything just to find that piece!?”

“Calm down. I’m not defending them, like I said. Those who knowingly commit sins or something close to it are trash—they deserve to suffer. But isn’t the real issue that they feel they have to do it to get what they want?”

Sure, some find pleasure in committing evil acts.

Once they take that first step, it’s a slippery slope— their conscience, their brakes, get looser and looser.

But what’s the problem? It’s the culture that allows it that’s the real issue.

“Then what’ll you do!? You’re talking big—got a plan to fix it, huh!?”

“I told you. If you want to know, come to Rongrong in ten days. See it and decide for yourself.”

And I’m not saying my way is the absolute truth.

It’s just the answer I’ve found, the shape I’m seeking.

Self-righteous, selfish. I’m just trying to build a world that suits me, nothing more.

“Rozaria, I’ve got no intention of being a savior. Don’t think I could be one either. But I want those who are saved to be the ones who reached out themselves, and I want to be the man who can take those hands.”

“…That’s… that’s…!”

Rozaria’s hands and shoulders trembled as she looked down.

Maybe someone said something similar to her before, or maybe she aimed for it herself.

I know the path I’m walking is thorny, that it’ll hurt not just me but those who follow me.

I know the odds are higher that when I fall, I’ll have gained nothing, and the world will stay unchanged.

But I want to move forward.

I want to live in the world I dreamed of creating.

That’s right—I want to shut myself away in that world.

“I don’t need an answer now, Rozaria. I’ll be waiting in ten days.”

If possible, I’d like a scene where we join hands.

※

“Fuu…”

Seeing Rozaria off, I let out a breath.

Man, I kinda coasted over there, so it feels like I’m paying for it here.

Still, coming back to this waiting for me? Never a dull moment, huh.

“Goshujin-sama, I’m so sorr—”

“Stop right there. Nope, Mia, Shuri, Kazune too.”

Turning around, they’re already in full-on apology mode.

I seriously don’t get why they’re apologizing. If anything, I’m the one who should.

“I don’t know what to say in times like this, but you all worked hard for me, right? So hold your heads high. I don’t even know if I should be praising you.”

I’ll apologize, you know? Heck, I’ll throw in make-up sex as a bonus.

“S-So! Um, t-then…”

“Yeah?”

“I did well… c-could you pat my head?”

That’s adorable.

All fidgety and shy, it’s just too cute.

It’s that gap moe, you know? Towa’s usually so cool, so it hits extra hard.

Wait, looking around, the others have that “I want it too” face.

Every single one of them is trying to moe-kill me. I can’t handle this.

“Towa.”

“Y-Yes!”

Whoa, her tail’s standing straight up. Is it that nerve-wracking? Really?

Honestly, I’m the one getting nervous here.

Well, as requested.

“You did well. As expected of my woman.”

“—”

She froze.

Huh? Why??

“A-Arius-san! M-Mia too!”

“Oh, uh, yeah. Thanks, Mia, you did great. You’re a woman I’m proud of.”

“—”

Second one frozen.

Oh… right, it’s both of them, huh.

“Shuri, Kazune. You both did great too. Thanks.”

“Eh, ah…”

“I-It’s nice, but… um…”

They’re glancing at me.

…Oh, I get it now.

Come to think of it, Serika too. It’s because of that line, isn’t it? That’s why she ended up like that.

“Only natural for my women.”

““Kahyu—!””

Yup, ping.

My women, huh.

I was using it pretty casually, but yeah, I guess so.

Looks like my resolve’s settled too.

“So… what do I do with this?”

Four frozen women.

I can’t help but give a wry smile, but they’ll just have to get used to it.

That’s right, that’s how it is.

These are my women. Making excuses about monogamy being the norm… yeah, that’s just an excuse.

“Realizing I’m a harem bastard gives me a bit of a headache.”

It’s a bit late for that, though.

Gotta work hard so they don’t get fed up with me.

For now.

“Ten days from now, at Rongrong, right?”