Chapter 252
Chapter 252
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: Isekai Perk: The More Sex, the Stronger I Get (4)
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"Good work out there!"
"We'll escort you to your lodgings."
"There's a brief meeting after a light meal."
"Mmgh..."
This is... really something, isn't it?
I was picturing a party of four on an adventure together, bonds of friendship and love deepening along the way, with NTR naturally blooming in between... but this feels like working for a dungeon-clearing company.
"Leave any gear that needs repairs over here."
"Take one stamina recovery potion each."
They even have systematic support like this?
Transportation provided, lodgings provided, meals provided... the kingdom's endless support has left me completely deflated. How am I supposed to pull off any NTR like this? I was planning to sneakily seduce them one by one in the dorms, but now the whole plan's ruined.
What do I do now?
Looks like I'll have to pivot to doing it inside the dungeon... Hmm, doesn't seem easy. Both of them already like the protagonist, after all. If I'm going to make a move, it'd be easiest without Shosuke around... Ugh, things got messy.
"Whew, thanks, bro. If it weren't for you, today would've been rough. Practice and real combat are definitely worlds apart. I nearly got knocked out from the start."
"Ah, no big deal. You did all the work."
"Come on, don't be like that—own it. Being too humble isn't cool, bro."
"Uh, uh-huh..."
Damn this guy... Why not just go nuts, pretend you're crazy, and force yourself on them? They'd probably let it slide anyway. No need to make it complicated. It's already hard enough to even talk to them as an otaku has-been...
...Ah, right. That's how it was.
Damn it, just a +1 to Intelligence isn't enough to overcome this crisis. No wonder it's a special assignment—looks like I need a different approach than usual...
"Still, what I did today was nothing special. Even people from this world, whose stats tank inside dungeons, could manage pulling aggro, right?"
"You think?"
"Yeah. You're the impressive one—calmly slicing through monsters on your first time. I just ran around scared, calling it 'aggro' to sound cool."
At this rate, I need to switch targets.
Hold on, not saying I'm drifting into BL territory.
Am I crazy? Target Shosuke?
What I'm aiming for is gaslighting to pave the way for conquest.
Think about it. Even if I shine in dungeon clears, will their favorability toward me go up? As an otaku has-been? Fat chance. It might tick up a tiny bit at best.
Meanwhile, Shosuke's favorability will skyrocket. They're already smitten. Whatever Shosuke does, they'll be like, 'Whoa, awesome, so cool!'
So, time for a change in thinking here.
"Hey, forget the rest—I'm an expert at this stuff. No joke, for real. You carried us, little bro. Seriously grateful."
"...Uh-huh."
"Dealer's the MVP in these runs anyway. I'll handle the rest, so you just focus on damage. Got it?"
"Haha, gotcha, bro. Feels good having backup. Leave the DPS to me from now on."
Even a protagonist gets flak if he's just a DPS bot, right?
If everyone's busting their asses on mechanics while one guy's ignoring them for pure damage, that party's doomed. And that one's favorability tanks.
So for now, I'll focus on turning Shosuke into a DPS-only slacker.
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"Haa... So tiring... I had no idea dungeon clears were this brutal."
"Duh, that's why they summoned us, right?"
"Stupid Yosuke! What we need now are not facts—it's sympathy! Penalty! You're paying for all this!"
"R-Rin-chan... That's harsh."
"I told you not to call me Rin-chan! Seriously... F-Fine, you're off the hook this once for your heroics today. Never again!"
Does this guy have zero learning curve? I tell him it's creepy, don't call me that, and he still does it every time. Rin-chan makes it sound like we're close. Well, we are childhood friends, but... Argh, whatever. Please, just cut it out.
"S-Sorry... I messed up again..."
"Hmph!"
Still, today... I guess I can forgive him.
If it weren't for Yosuke, I'd be hurt bad. Sure, there's a healer, but it'd still hurt. Just thinking about getting slashed by that rusty sword... Eek, goosebumps all over. Would've been a nightmare. Today, Yosuke's my MVP.
...Wait, didn't I think this yesterday too?
Yeah.
Yosuke saved me yesterday as well.
Hmm... Back-to-back MVPs from him? Not his style. Does he like me or something? He keeps pushing the tank to the back with his shield up front... Can't help but suspect.
"Thank you, Sir Yosuke. I survived today thanks to you. You have a keen eye for the battlefield. No wonder the knights always praise you."
"Uh, that... Could you drop the 'Sir'? It's embarrassing."
"Oh? Want me to call you 'big bro' instead?"
"No, not that... Just Yosuke is fine, really."
...What, he saved Hina too? Hmph, typical lowlife. Ogling girls mid-battle? The more I see, the less I like him. And that lewd skill he got? Total perv. Doesn't even compare to Shosuke, and they're brothers.
"Thanks to you too, bro. Could focus on DPS today. Should I start calling you 'bro' now?"
"Y-You too? Please... just let it go."
But... Shosuke didn't do much. He lands the finishing blows, sure, but that's it. A hero should be flashier... Well, whatever. It's a low-level dungeon still. He'll outshine Yosuke soon enough.
-Rumble...
-Thud...
But... what's that noise since earlier?
Boss is down, we just need to head back, but weird sounds keep coming from afar. Like the ground collapsing...
"E-Everyone, careful! We hit a trap!"
-Ruuuuumble!
...No, the ground really is collapsing!
"Kyaa, kyaAaah!"
"No!"
No way, are we dying like this?
The floor gave way suddenly, and we all plummeted. I flailed to grab something, but it was useless. Ugh, what kind of archmage can't even levitate at a time like this?! Teacher always said I lacked improvisation. But teach, you should've trained me! Then I wouldn't be dying so pathetically!
-Thud
-Crash
-Poof...
...I screamed internally, but the fall was surprisingly short.
And it didn't hurt at all.
What the—? Looking down,
"Urgh... M-My back..."
Yosuke was pinned under me.
"Hina, you okay?"
"Shosuke... Thank you. I made it thanks to you."
"Yosuke, y-you alright?!"
"Yeah... Th-Thanks to my padding, I guess..."
Phew, everyone's safe.
I was jealous of Hina in Shosuke's princess carry, but now's not the time. Coming to my senses, I cast Light to survey around.
"Whoa, mage as expected. Nice one, Rin."
"Hmph, put Hina down first."
"Oh? Jealous?"
"I-Idiot! We're not safe yet!"
"R-Rin's right. Battle positions, everyone! This is a hidden boss stage!"
What, hidden boss?
Yosuke calling me Rin-chan annoyed me, but I couldn't ignore him. Another boss?! As I panicked, Yosuke yelled again.
"Everyone, look up!"
Ugh, I hate spiders. Guess it's Yosuke time again.