I Achieved a Happy Ending in a World Where Erotic and Grotesque Things are Commonplace, but I Hadn't Thought About What Would Happen After That. - Chapter 13 I'm not the protagonist, so I'm not gonna fall for any flags here!

Chapter 13 I’m not the protagonist, so I’m not gonna fall for any flags here!

“…Ah, so it has finally come to this.”

I’m about to take a step into adulthood!

Or rather, I’m about to take that step, but I got a little ahead of myself there.

“Kocho no Yume… What a fancy name.”

The adult entertainment establishment I’ve come to is called Kocho no Yume.

Kocho no Yume – the literal meaning is something along the lines of ‘a butterfly’s dream’, but it also implies an experience that’s dreamlike yet realistic… So, they’re saying they’ll deliver pleasure that’s both fantastic and realistic!

“…Damn, I’m hyped!”

Through my research, I learned that this place has an excellent reputation.

The girls are apparently skilled, and they’re dedicated to fulfilling any request, no matter how demanding… All the reviews are full of praise.

It’s not really appropriate for a high schooler to be visiting such a place… But my mental age is that of an adult, so it’s all good!

“This is actually my first time in this area too.”

Having such an adult entertainment place around implies that there are probably similar establishments nearby as well. 

It’s a whole new world for me.

“Haa…”

I’m not proud of it, but even in my past life, I never went to these kinds of places.

Well, I guess there was some curiosity, but also a bit of fear… But the me in this world is different.

Even though I spend my days surrounded by outrageously erotic girls, chipping away at my sanity, I have the strength to endure it all!

So, I am strong… And as a bonus, I can even defeat Ayakashis! 

With that thought, I gave myself a little pep talk and entered the store!

“Huh?”

As soon as the automatic door opened, I turned around—it felt like I was being watched by countless eyes, and if I took another step forward, something told me I’d meet my end in more ways than one.

But don’t stop now, Masayoshi. Why did you come here today?

Isn’t it to relax your body, to relieve the tension that’s built up inside you? Yes, this is necessary for your well-being.

“Welcome!”

The cute yet strangely discordant greeting from the staff echoed, and in that moment, I unsheathed my sword, ready to strike down any Ayakashi.

▼▽

Seeing the man she cherished enter a building of ill repute, Kaguya’s heart was filled with turmoil, and a dark emotion took flight within her.

The very idea of him relying on such harlots was unacceptable.

(How dare he? I must punish him, but what should I do?)

To be honest, Kaguya considered throwing caution to the wind.

Ayakashi transforms women into breeding livestocks, but this process isn’t painful; instead, they amplify the woman’s pleasure.

Through this, the woman under the Ayakashi’s influence would willingly spreads her legs, begging for more even if it will break her sanity. That’s the power of an Ayakashi.

However, this isn’t limited to just women.

Kaguya, being a female Ayakashi herself, could implant an insatiable desire for herself in a man, to the point where he would need to have her inside him for half a day to be satisfied, essentially turning him into her slave.

(I don’t really want to do that, though.)

Even so, the thought of some unknown woman getting intimate with Masayoshi was unbearable, and Kaguya considered taking matters into her own hands. But it seemed there were other girls who had caught wind of Masayoshi’s plan.

“You two are…?”

“Kaguya-san…?”

“Eh? Kaguya?”

Masayoshi’s sister, Inori, and Aika had also arrived.

They seemed equally surprised to see Kaguya there, but their attention soon turned to Masayoshi, who had disappeared inside the building. Their eyes were bloodshot, their pupils dilated, as they stared at the building, as if they were about to unleash a beam of energy and destroy it.

“Masayoshi-kun… This is… No way…”

“Onii-chan… This is… too much…”

This was the true face of intense jealousy.

Kaguya considered involving them in her scheme to teach Masayoshi a lesson, but then she sensed the presence of another Ayakashi.

“Hmm?”

“Kaguya-san? Aika-san, what’s wrong?”

“Eh? What is it?”

Inori, an ordinary human, and the drunk adults walking by were oblivious to the Ayakashi’s presence.

Even Kaguya, with her keen senses, had not expected this—up until Masayoshi entered the building, there had been no trace of any Ayakashi energy coming from anywhere.

Clearly, a powerful Ayakashi, one that even Kaguya would struggle to detect, had been lurking within. That was the answer, and soon enough, a scream pierced the air from inside the building.

“Inori-chan, stay close to me.”

Aika immediately took a protective stance, shielding Inori… And then, a wall on the building’s second floor exploded, and an Ayakashi came flying out.

“Damn it! Why… How did my concealment get exposed?! Not even the most powerful humans or my own kind can detect me!”

The Ayakashi that appeared was a man, with handsome features.

He clutched a hostess from the building, who seemed unconscious.

“Damn…! Who’s that Ayakashi hunter…?! I was so close… Just a little further, and I would’ve gained even more power… I went through so much trouble with these women, and now…?!”

Kaguya calmly analyzed the Ayakashi’s abilities based on his demeanor.

Apparently, the hostesses in the building were under his control, or to put it bluntly, they had been lightly trained.

He had turned them into obedient puppets, and by absorbing the energy from men, the women could convert it into a form that the Ayakashi could feed on. That was his scheme.

(A cowardly Ayakashi, hiding and using such underhanded tactics. By operating this way, he’s less likely to be detected by Ayakashi hunters… But the energy conversion relies on the women’s bodies, and they’re so weak that any harm to the Ayakashi affects them too.)

“So, that explains why he might suddenly die of unknown causes one day.”

“Ah, I see… So that’s why Masayoshi came to this place.” Kaguya regretted having insulted Masayoshi’s noble heart.

“We Ayakashi hunters are here to protect the people. So, no matter where they are, we will rush to their aid and exterminate the Ayakashi.”

“Huh!?”

Masayoshi appeared from inside the store, unsheathing his sword silently. The look on his face was not one of erotic interest, as it sometimes was when he was alone with Kaguya or at school; instead, it reflected his unwavering determination to slay the Ayakashi before him.

“Wh-where’s the manager?! Or rather, where is he?!”

“Hahaha, how convenient humans can be, so easily deceived. Right up until the end, he believed I was human and never doubted it for a second.”

“Wh… How could you…?”

“It was thanks to my power that the girls were able to work even harder than usual… They were convenient little puppets.”

The Ayakashi wore an extremely ugly smirk. However, he did not avert his gaze from Masayoshi standing before him because he understood that Masayoshi posed a tremendous threat.

“So, is that all you have to say?”

“Huh?! What are you talking about?”

“Is that all you have to say, you piece of crap?! You ruined it for me when I finally worked up the courage to take a step forward! “

A flickering flame of hatred burned behind Masayoshi, unseen by the Ayakashi. It filled him with a profound fear, even though he was at a distance and not considered an enemy… Masayoshi’s hatred, his disappointment in something, and his sense of resignation all contributed to this.

“Today, I’ll give up and seriously go Ayakashi hunting! So, die, you bastard Ayakashiiii!!! “

Masayoshi’s sword, shimmering with a beauty surpassing that of moonlight, pierced the Ayakashi. Moving faster than the blink of an eye, Masayoshi ensured the Ayakashi disappeared without uttering a single cry of pain.

At first, those around were dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events, but soon the fact that Masayoshi, the Ayakashi hunter, had slain the Ayakashi began to spread.

“Ah, what about me…?”

“Oh, hello there. Good morning to you.” Masayoshi greeted the hostess, who had regained her sanity after the Ayakashi’s disappearance.

“Who… Who are you?”

“I’m not important enough to introduce myself. I’m just a kid who came to slay the Ayakashi that was taking advantage of you. Someday, if the opportunity arises, please let me request your company.”

Masayoshi flashed his usual goofy grin. Apparently, the hostess and those around her recognized him from his recent television appearance. However, instead of finding it odd for a high schooler to make such a statement, they perceived it as a thoughtful and witty remark from someone who had just freed the hostess from the Ayakashi’s control.

Incidentally, the news of this Ayakashi, who had been hiding among humans, being exterminated became a breaking news story the following day.

▼▽

“You did well, Masayoshi.”

“Good job, Masayoshi-kun!”

“Onii-chan…!”

Why are you two here?! I couldn’t help but let out a huge sigh, feeling exasperated by their presence.

(Damn it… I finally worked up the courage to take care of things, and now this! That Ayakashi… While I was feeling so frustrated day after day, he was having a good time with those women, was he?! Unforgivable… I can’t forgive Ayakashi, ever!!”)

But of course, Kaguya was an exception among Ayakashi.

The Kaguya standing before me… Well, it’s not just Kaguya; why do Aika and Inori look so apologetic too?

“Why are you two here in the first place, and why is Inori with you?”

“Uh…”

Inori looked flustered, but Aika quickly spoke up.

“I invited her! I thought a night walk might be nice!”

“You invited Inori?! And you ended up here on a night walk?! Oh, so does that mean you noticed the Ayakashi’s presence because Kaguya was here?”

“Eh? Ah, well, um…”

“I happened to be here by coincidence… But Masayoshi, I need to apologize to you.”

“Huh?”

“I thought you came here to fulfill your desires. But it seems I was wrong… No matter what the situation, you always try to help others. You noticed that Ayakashi, even though I didn’t. I feel so ashamed of myself…”

“…I’m sorry, but how should I respond to that?”

I couldn’t think of a clever reply, but seeing Kaguya looking so downcast made me speak up impulsively.

“Don’t worry about it! It was more of a coincidence that I managed to take down that Ayakashi, and most importantly, Kaguya, you’re a special Ayakashi to me, and I meant what I said. The more I get to know you, the more I’m glad I met an Ayakashi like you.”

“Special…?”

“Yes. Listen, I’ll whisper this because I can’t say it too loudly. Kaguya, you are indeed a Ayakashi, and you are not human… But Kaguya, you’re already one of us. The more I learn about you, the happier I am to have met a Ayakashi like you.”

I spewed whatever came to mind to get through this situation. Kaguya stood there, looking bewildered, her face gradually turning red, and then she said, “See you later,” and left in a hurry… Hmph, she blushed, did she?

“Masayoshi-kun… I think I owe you an apology too.”

“Onii-chan… Maybe I do too.”

“Huh? You two also thought I was going to a sex parlor?! Come on, I’m a high school student! That’s ridiculous!”

Today… I’ll give up today!

But someday, I swear I will come here to feel refreshed! So, for today, I give up… Haa.