Chapter 92: One Big Step Forward (1)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 92: One Big Step Forward (1)[R-18]
ㄴㅇㅇ(89.74): Onahole, lock down the library entrance right now.
ㄴㅇㅇ(89.74): Make sure no one comes near.
ㄴMagical Girl of Justice■: Yes.
Laplace didn't ask why.
The Dominator’s command was absolute.
No matter what happened, it had to be her top priority.
And she understood the reason for the command the moment she arrived in front of the library.
“Hguuk?!...♥ Kehk.. ugh!.. Oh♥ ugh... ah.. huek!.. Kkhub ♥ Ho... kkguk.!♥”
Just which lucky female was receiving the Dominator’s grace?
The ‘Unknown Emotions’ she had felt this morning drove Laplace’s footsteps toward the interior of the library.
To eavesdrop on the Dominator’s private affairs without permission...
It was an excessively arrogant act for an Onahole, but she couldn't help herself.
‘...Helen Redrose?’
Surprisingly, the one receiving his grace was the Red Rose Heiress.
Of course, an ordinary female would never be enough to satisfy the Dominator’s eyes.
Still, she hadn't expected him to bring the ‘Red Rose’ to heel so quickly.
‘I didn't receive his grace today...’
Watching the affair, Laplace bit her lip and walked back out of the library to guard the entrance as ordered.
...About thirty minutes remained until ‘Lady Ellis’s Day’ came to an end.
Step— Step—
The Dominator walked out of the library, buttoning up his shirt.
“Ah, Lord Ian. I will do th—”
“It’s fine. I’ll take care of it.”
“...Yes, I understand.”
“More importantly, thanks for the hard work. I called you out of nowhere.”
“...N-no, it was nothing. And since it’s Lady Ellis’s Day, there’s no one around anyway...”
Laplace trailed off and fell silent.
Even if someone like her didn't explain, the omniscient Dominator would already know everything.
‘...Wait, then why did the Dominator call for me?’
It was strange.
If he already knew that no one would come, why did he call her?
‘Could it be because he wanted to see me?’
For a brief moment, her face almost flushed at the thought, but it was too foolish an idea.
The Dominator was a man whose every word and action held deep meaning.
Naturally, no matter how hard someone like her tried, she could never truly grasp the Dominator’s thoughts, but she hoped to understand even a fraction of them.
‘...For what reason... why me? There must be a vital reason why the Dominator summoned me!!... What could it be.... Ah!!!’
At that moment, a chill ran down Laplace’s spine.
This was the Dominator’s revelation and a test.
By showing her the sight of him bringing Helen... no, the Red Rose Family to heel, he was signaling that the time had finally come for the Dominator, who had been lying low, to rise.
Shiver—
Laplace trembled with ecstasy at the thought that she had passed the test.
He had given her plenty of hints, but the euphoria came from the fact that she had moved even a tiny bit closer to understanding the Dominator’s mind.
‘...Ahhh! ...My eternal Dominator!’
She didn't dare hope to become an ‘equal’ like a wife or a lover.
To begin with, in the Dominator’s eyes, all humans were likely no different from monkeys.
...But even among them, there was bound to be a monkey he felt more attached to.
‘The most favored monkey.’
That was exactly the level Laplace aspired to right now.
“Well, you can head back now. Good work.”
“Not at all... Lord Ian. Thank you truly.”
Laplace bowed deeply, her voice filled with sincerity.
Just being ‘tested’ by the Dominator was proof that she was slightly more ‘special’ than the other monkeys.
May 7th.
Two days since Lady Ellis’s Day.
Helen, who Ian thought would come to reclaim the ‘Rose Brooch’ immediately, remained unexpectedly quiet...
“...Estelle didn't come today either.”
“Yeah...”
Estelle still hadn't shown up for school.
The homeroom professor said Estelle was absent for a few days because she wasn't feeling well, but it was obviously a lie.
“....”
Looking at Estelle’s empty seat made Ian’s heart feel restless.
‘...Estelle.’
Slide—
He touched his forehead, but after receiving ‘Recovery,’ the wound had vanished without a trace.
He desperately wanted to go see Estelle right now, but the fact that she wasn't even coming to school meant she still needed time alone.
If he went to see her for no reason, it might only make her suffer more by reminding her of that day.
“Hey... Ian.”
“Yeah, Evelyn.”
“You said you had something important to tell me this weekend. About that, could we maybe postp—”
Evelyn swallowed her words, bit her lip, and let out a deep sigh.
“......Haa, never mind. This weekend... we’re still going on our date, right?”
“...Yeah, we should.”
Revealing the harem plan to Evelyn was not a decision he had made lightly.
If he pushed it back now, he didn't know when he’d find the resolve again.
“Haa... okay.”
Watching Evelyn sigh again while looking at Estelle’s empty seat made Ian’s chest feel heavy.
‘...For now, let’s focus on Evelyn.’
Even if he had realized the feelings he had for Estelle, they were still nothing more than ‘classmates.’
What mattered to him right now was Evelyn.
Sunday.
“Oh, you’re here?”
Evelyn, dressed up a bit differently than usual, gave him a bright smile.
“Evel—”
Tap—
The moment Ian opened his mouth, Evelyn’s finger touched his lips.
“Ah-ah!! Don't try to say it right away. First, let’s enjoy our last day as ordinary childhood friends.”
“....”
That wasn't what he was going to say, but...
‘Ordinary childhood friends...’
As Evelyn said, no matter what the outcome was today, their ‘ordinary childhood friend’ relationship was coming to an end.
“Then, let’s go! Ian!”
There was no need for explanation—the date with Evelyn was wonderful.
Walking through the plaza while chatting, drinking coffee at a cafe, going into random shops to admire crafts, and even getting their fortunes told at a suspicious-looking booth—every single moment was enjoyable.
...But the time for that joy to end was approaching.
Step— Step—
Hand in hand, they walked along a gravel path in the forest, slightly away from the shopping district.
“Hehe~.”
“....”
They stopped at a clearing where two stumps were set up like chairs.
It was a place they had designated as their secret spot since they were children.
Thinking back now, the fact that there was a gravel path nearby meant people walked there often, so calling it a secret spot was a bit of a stretch...
But it was a place filled with countless memories with Evelyn.
“Today was really fun. Right, Ian?”
That was why his heart ached even more.
The fact that Evelyn had chosen this place as the final stop of their date.
...And the fact that he had expected this.
“Yeah, it was.”
“...What’s with that reaction? Are you nervous? Hehe!”
Evelyn’s face, silhouetted by the sunset, turned a deep red.
“Hehehe!! Okay! Yes! I’m ready now. You can say it!”
“....”
He couldn't delay it any longer.
Taking a long breath, Ian slowly opened his mouth.
“...Evelyn.”
“Wait... hold on....”
Just hearing him call her name, Evelyn must have sensed something was wrong, as she cut him off.
“W-wait... It’s not that, right? I-I’m not mistaken, am I?”
“Evelyn...”
“...T-that’s... impossible!! ...There’s no way! D-do you know what your face looks like right now? It’s the same face you had when you said you were moving out of our house to be independent!!”
“...Evelyn.”
“Hey, w-what on earth... are you trying to say? N-no, I don't want to hear it!! Don't do it!! Don't say it!!”
Evelyn’s trembling voice sounded even more tragic because of how happy she had looked just moments ago.
“Ah, fuck! ...Hey, I-I’ll just say it. Ian... I like you.”
“Yeah... I like you too, Evelyn.”
“Don't pretend you don't know!! ...You know!! It’s not just ‘liking’ you!! I like you as a man! Being childhood friends... being sex partners isn't enough anymore! I want... I want to go further with you. I want to be your lover, get married, and have kids!! ....So whatever you’re about to say... don't. Let’s not say it. Okay?”
“...Evelyn.”
“I don't want to!! I said no!! Sob... P-please, I’m begging you.... Ian... don't say anything... just... let’s act like nothing happened....”
Slide—
Evelyn grabbed his collar and pleaded.
“Just kiss me... Ian... please? That’s... all we need... W-we... that’s enough for us... We’re happy... just having each other...”
It felt like carving out his own heart wouldn't hurt as much as this.
But...
“...I’m sorry.”
Ian finally forced the words out.
“......Why...... Why!!... Sob...!!... Why.... Why am I... n-not enough... You said I was pretty!!! You said there wasn't a single part of me from head to toe that wasn't beautiful!!! I-Ian... I can really do anything you want... If you’ll just l-love me, I’ll do anything...”
“I already love you. Enough that I’d die for you as many times as it takes.”
“THEN WHY WON'T YOU KISS ME!!!!!”
Evelyn, unable to hold back her tears any longer, screamed.
“Why....! Why... won't... you.... Sob...”
Seeing her happy, smiling face overlap with her current state, Ian found it hard to speak.
He wanted to tell her everything.
But if he told her, ‘Goddess Ellis told me that if I don't have sex with other women, the world will be destroyed,’ would she believe him?
She would never believe it.
And even if she did, it was still a problem.
‘I would definitely end up hating Lady Ellis.’
Just imagining it made him feel like he would loathe Lady Ellis.
He couldn't let Evelyn become like that.
And...
If he eventually entered a relationship with Lady Ellis, it meant she would also become his woman.
Even if it was a woman of the future, he would not shift his responsibility onto her.
In this situation, there was only one choice he could make.
‘I’ll become the piece of trash.’
No, he was already trash.
If Lady Ellis suddenly told him he didn't need to collect ‘Fate Energy’ anymore and to live happily with Evelyn, could he do it?
It was impossible.
Yuris and Laplace were already precious women to him.
He couldn't even imagine abandoning anyone at this point.
Having hardened his resolve, Ian slowly spoke.
“Evelyn... I can't love only you.”
“Sob...? ...What?... What?... Hic... Am I... not... enough... for you?... W-what... don't you like?.. Sob... I’ll fix it... No, I’ll fix everything... Every single part... you don't like... I’ll change it all.. So...”
“No, let me be clear, Evelyn. You’re too good for me. I’m so grateful and happy that you love me that it’s hard to believe.”
“.....Then!! Why!! Sob!!!... What’s the problem!! Why aren't you satisfied with me!!!”
Grip—
Planting his feet firmly.
Clenching his fists.
Opening his eyes wide.
Gritting his teeth.
Taking one big step forward.
“SE—X!!!!!!”
Ian screamed as if he were trying to expel every last bit of air from his lungs.
“I NEED MORE SEX!!!”
Then, Evelyn, who had been wearing an expression mixed with all sorts of negative emotions like despair, frustration, fear, regret, responsibility, anger, remorse, and sadness...
“.......Huh?”
She stared at him blankly for a moment, as if unable to process the meaning of his words...
SLAP—!!!
She delivered the second full-force slap of his life.