Chapter 116: The Cash-Strapped Young Lady
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 116: The Cash-Strapped Young Lady
“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Rosier.”
“Hmph. I’m Yuria.”
Two women sat facing each other across the dining table.
Rosier was like a calm but deep lake, while Yuria was like a sea with crashing waves.
“Hehe…”
“Who is that…?”
Olivia asked me about Rosier’s identity, while Marin, sensing the strange atmosphere, shifted into maid mode and stood by with a tray, carefully reading the room.
“So. You’re saying you want my man?”
“Yes. I would like to share him. Will you give me your permission?”
“This woman is quite bold, isn’t she?”
“I do not believe it is such an unreasonable request. I am not trying to steal him. I am suggesting we both make concessions to one another.”
Rosier sipped her tea, naturally suggesting the compromise.
Yuria frowned at Rosier’s strangely confident reaction and tapped her fingers on the table.
“Fine. Then I’ll ask a few questions. First, your affiliation is directly under the Church.”
“That is correct.”
“I heard you’re around the Platinum Badge level. Is that right?”
“Yes. I believe I am at that level.”
“Then you enter the Labyrinth according to the Church’s orders?”
“You could say that. When there are no special assignments, I spend my time patrolling the city or on personal training.”
“Can you follow Sion when he enters the Labyrinth? Don’t you need an order from the Church to go in?”
“I can enter at any time if I submit an application in advance.”
“Hmm. Then… can you follow Sion in his ambition to take over the Underground City?”
“Yes. I can share in his dream.”
Rosier answered Yuria’s questions without a hint of hesitation.
She spoke as if she were stating obvious facts, inviting any further inquiry without the slightest agitation.
“Then, here’s the next question. This might be a sensitive one.”
“It does not matter. Please, ask.”
“If you had to choose between the Church and Sion… which would it be? Could you abandon the Church? Could you let go of your faith in the Goddess?”
“....”
Only then did Rosier fall silent.
The Church or me.
Faith or love.
If she had to choose one, which would it be?
“That is a truly difficult question to answer. Hmm. As I see it, Sion enjoys the love of the Goddess. Given his Ability and overwhelming luck, it is clear evidence that the Goddess is watching over him.”
Rosier took a Bible from her robe and placed it on the table.
“My faith is steadfast. And my faith points to Sion as my partner. Should I call him a man of destiny? I feel that by following him, I can fulfill the Goddess’s will. Love and faith go hand in hand for me.”
“In the end, which one are you choosing?”
“It means that if I choose Sion, my faith will naturally follow. There is no need to think of them as separate.”
Yuria stared at her as if her answer was absurd.
“You know that’s an evasive answer, right?”
“It is not evasion. Your question was simply flawed.”
“What?”
“Is it not strange to ask me to separate things that do not need to be separated? In my eyes, Sion is the Messenger of God.”
“The Messenger of God?”
At Rosier’s words, Yuria looked at her as if she were a madwoman. It was the look one usually gave to a cult fanatic.
“Yes. If the Saintess is the Goddess’s martial might, then perhaps Sion is the Goddess’s direction. A prophet… or a savior sent to quell things that could become a threat to humanity. Something like that. I wish to stay by the side of such a man. Now, does that answer your question? My faith and my love are inseparable.”
At the arrogant answer that she would simply interpret my will as the Goddess’s will, Yuria fell silent and stroked her chin.
“Well, that’s an interesting answer. Then, can you serve Sion as your Master?”
“What do you mean by serving him as my Master?”
“I mean, can you call him ‘Master’ every night and follow his every command?”
“Pardon…?”
This time, she seemed genuinely flustered.
“Serving Sion as a Master… what exactly does that mean? Do you mean I should think of him as a husband? Or… do you mean a literal master-servant relationship?”
“In bed, you have to serve him as your true Master. I’m asking if you can accept being led around on a leash. If you can’t do that, you can’t share this man.”
“A-A leash…? Sion. What is the meaning of this?”
“Don’t ask Sion. This is the rule of this house. If you want to be with Sion and have his children, you must absolutely obey him in bed.”
“...O-Obey…”
Rosier’s face turned bright red.
“Sion… do you prefer that kind of play…?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Look, Rosier. I obtained Sion under those conditions.”
“Those conditions…?”
“Sion originally said he wouldn’t date anyone who wasn’t a slave.”
“Is that true, Sion?”
“Uh, well. Yeah.”
It was true.
Originally, I had no intention of dating anyone who wasn’t a slave who would obey me.
In this insane world where NTR was rampant, I believed that to protect my women, I had to make them my slaves.
Also, I had been keeping my distance because I knew my mental state would shatter if I fell in love with a female adventurer only for her to die in the Labyrinth.
That mindset still remained within me. Even if it had changed slightly after accepting Yuria and Lady Leah, it hadn’t vanished completely.
“I’m the one who opened the door to Sion’s heart. As long as I, the first wife, call Sion ‘Master,’ you must serve him as Master if you want to sleep with him. There should be no discrimination among the women. If we have different statuses, it’ll cause fights, right? One person calls him Master while another is in an equal relationship? That won’t do.”
“....Certainly. That makes sense. Avoiding conflict is the best course of action. Hmm. Master.”
Rosier nodded, acknowledging Yuria’s words.
“Master. Is this how I should call you?”
“U-Uh, yeah…”
Rosier suddenly grabbed my hand and called me Master with a serious look in her eyes.
“Hey! Why are you grabbing his hand?”
“Ah, I did it without thinking.”
When Yuria snapped at her, Rosier sheepishly let go of my hand.
Anyway, ‘Master.’ It feels great when Yuria calls me that, but hearing it from Rosier—someone I thought would never say it—had an incredible impact.
“I understand. In bed, I shall serve him as my Master.”
“Good. And don’t try to monopolize him too much. Got it?”
“I am well aware of that, so do not worry. In a polygamous arrangement, jealousy is bound to arise if things lean too far to one side.”
“Yeah. Exactly. I’m glad we can communicate.”
“I have studied the theory of family relationships and the maintenance of domestic peace to some extent. There will be no problem.”
I almost burst out laughing at Rosier’s words. Her home economics score might be a perfect hundred, but she clearly hadn't received any sex education.
I’m glad the conversation ended well. From the start, Yuria was just conducting an interview; she had no intention of pushing Rosier away.
Rosier also handled the situation well by giving answers that Yuria would like. Now they just need to get along, right?
Knock, knock, knock.
“Hmm?”
“Who is it?”
Just as the conversation was wrapping up, someone knocked on the front door.
“Marin, go check.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Marin, who had been waiting nearby, dashed to the door.
The door opened shortly after, and a blonde beauty entered the house.
“What’s this? Everyone’s gathered here. But who is that woman?”
Lady Leah had appeared.
She gave off the rugged aura typical of an adventurer.
‘What on earth happened over the last two weeks…?’
Two weeks ago, she still felt like a tomboyish young lady.
But the current Lady Leah was emitting a sharp energy.
‘Just how grueling was the training she went through while I was gone?’
In exchange for staying in the Labyrinth City, the young lady’s family support had been cut off.
It seemed she had been pushing herself desperately, as she had to live in a state of semi-estrangement until she produced results.
From now on, she had to stand on her own feet without any financial support, starting with her food expenses.
“Leah, you’re here.”
“Hi, Yuria. Sion! It’s been so long! I missed you so much I thought I’d die!”
“Lady Leah.”
Lady Leah rushed over and hopped into my arms.
The heavy, aristocratic perfume she used to wear was gone.
Instead, a natural body scent, even better than perfume, tickled my nose.
She had that pleasant, sweet musk unique to beautiful girls. Before I knew it, I was burying my nose in the crook of Lady Leah’s neck, taking in her scent.
It was a rich, feminine scent that I couldn't get from Yuria, who had the Ability to remove body odors.
“So, who is that strong-looking woman?”
“This is Rosier. She’s an Inquisitor I met in the Labyrinth.”
“Rosier?”
“It is a pleasure. I am Rosier, an Inquisitor.”
“Hmm. Nice to meet you. But Yuria.”
“Yeah. What?”
“Does that woman want to sleep with Sion too?”
“Pfft…! Cough, cough…”
Rosier spat out the tea she was drinking at Leah’s blunt question.
“Look here, Miss Inquisitor. Even I haven’t slept with him yet. Wait your turn.”
“I haven’t slept with him either.”
“I know you came here because you want to. I can tell just by looking at you. You have that specific aura of a woman in heat.”
“Uh, Lady Leah… your language has gotten a bit rougher…”
“It’s because of my teacher. She’s such a cranky old lady.”
Lady Leah gave a playful smile.
It felt like she had become even bolder and more uninhibited.
The aggressive tendencies typical of a noble lady cast out by her family were clearly visible.
“I can let the first spot go, but I won’t give up the second. I’m his second.”
“I see. Then I am the third.”
“You might actually be the fourth.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“See that blind girl sitting on the sofa over there, eavesdropping on our conversation?”
Lady Leah pointed her finger at Olivia.
“Yes. Actually, I have been curious about her for a while. Who is she? I assume the slime over here is the maid.”
“She’s actually the one in power here. She’s unbelievably smart, you know? Even though she can’t see, she knows everything that goes on inside the Labyrinth. She knows every growth method by heart. No matter what you ask, she has an answer. She’s a living encyclopedia.”
“Pardon? She sounds like an incredible person.”
“She is. Even though she’s a slave, Sion relies on her. You’ll have to compete with a girl like that.”
“....”
Rosier looked at me.
“Is that true, Sion? Am I… the fourth?”
“No, well…”
The young lady, who had caused chaos in the house just as things were settling down, sat at the table with a smile.
Judging by how natural she looked, she must have visited Yuria’s house several times over the past two weeks.
“Hehehe. Marin, give me some tea.”
“Hey, Leah. This isn’t your house, is it?”
“So what? Let’s share a bit. I don’t even have enough money for food this month.”
“My Lady… how did it come to this…?”
When I looked at her with pity, Lady Leah made an excuse, looking embarrassed.
“No! I spent all my money getting my equipment ready…”
“Ah…”
Good grief.
A broke noble lady. She’s developed quite a thick skin.
“My Lady…”
“Yes?”
“Let’s go to the Labyrinth to earn some money.”
“Really! Aren’t you busy, Sion? You’ll go with me?”
“Yes. Let’s hit the Upper Levels… and make a decent sum this weekend.”
“Great! I love it, I love it!”
The young lady lunged into my arms and rubbed her face against my chest.
“Sigh. I want to go too.”
“Um. Me too… if it’s the Upper Levels…”
Yuria and Olivia both said they wanted to go. Yuria was one thing, but it was a bit surprising that Olivia wanted to follow along. Did she want to obtain an Ability?
Since the Upper Levels have stabilized now, it should be fine to take them.
“Hmm. I shall also go and submit an application to the Church.”
“Uh… I’ll stay and watch the house!”
Rosier said she would apply for field duty at the Church, and Marin, reading the room, said she would stay behind.
It looks like this weekend will be a group trip to the Labyrinth.
I can’t just stand by and watch Lady Leah suffer.
I should at least help her earn enough to maintain her basic dignity.