Chapter 48: Love is Hard
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 48: Love is Hard
Bang, bang, bang!
—Is Miss Yuria there? It’s Leah. Please open the door.
Bang, bang, bang!
Lady Leah was pounding on the door as if she intended to break it down.
What was I supposed to do?
Was it really okay for me to meet Lady Leah at Yuria’s house while I was practically naked (with my clothes torn to shreds)?
“Sion, hide for now. I need to get a proper read on the character of the House of Lionel’s daughter. I have to see for myself if she’s actually a human being who deserves you.”
“Hide? For real?”
“Yes. Hide.”
Yuria told me to hide because she was worried that if I were present, Lady Leah might not speak her mind.
‘Where should I hide?’
The only suitable places were under the bed or inside the wardrobe.
‘There’s probably a lot of dust under the bed.’
Yuria wasn't exactly the type to keep her house clean. I didn't even want to imagine the state of things under there.
I’ll just hide in the wardrobe.
‘There.’
I could see outside through the crack in the wardrobe door. It seemed like the perfect spot to monitor the situation.
“Stop pounding on the door and wait a second. I’m opening it now.”
Only after confirming I was hidden in the wardrobe did Yuria open the front door.
‘It’s Lady Leah and Rika.’
The young lady and the female knight. Those two had come to visit. It seemed Rien and Erika hadn't come along. Rika was likely there just as an escort.
‘Whoa, how chilling...’
The aura Yuria was giving off was no joke. She had said she wanted to observe the lady’s temperament, but it looked like she was trying to crush her with sheer pressure right from the start. She was probably testing to see how the girl would react. It felt like Yuria was conducting her own version of an entrance exam.
“Welcome. You’re the lady from the House of Lionel, right?”
“Yes. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Yuria. I am Leah, an aspiring adventurer.”
“Right. I can speak informally, can’t I?”
“Yes. Please, speak comfortably.”
“Good. Now then, what business brings you all the way here to talk to me? And with an escort in tow, no less.”
“Oh, please don’t be so prickly. I didn't come here to fight. I only came to talk about Sion.”
Despite Yuria’s intimidation, the young lady didn't shrink back at all. Instead, she laughed it off as if it were trivial.
‘Is she crazy? She’s just laughing that off?’
Even though Yuria was radiating bloodlust that practically screamed "get lost," Lady Leah’s expression didn't change one bit. She looked composed. A perfect poker face. It seemed the extreme emotional control that was a basic requirement for nobility worked even in front of a monster like Yuria.
On the other hand, Rika, standing behind Lady Leah, was trembling slightly. She looked completely overwhelmed by Yuria’s presence. To be fair, she was called an escort knight, but compared to a powerhouse like a Gold Badge, the current Rika was no different from an ordinary person.
“Hmm. A talk about Sion? Why should I have to talk about my boyfriend with a woman I barely know? Especially at this hour of the night.”
“I apologize for the late hour. I came by earlier, but you weren't home, so I had no choice. However, I felt we absolutely had to discuss Sion. It seems you and I have fallen for the same man.”
“Fallen for the same man? Don’t make me laugh. You must have known Sion and I were already... involved. Why are you trying to force your way between us? What’s your goal?”
“My goal? Love, of course. I am passionately in love with Sion.”
Her voice was unwavering. It carried a resonance that seemed to hold not a single shred of a lie. If Leah’s words were true, it meant she adored me enough to challenge a massive wall like Yuria.
However, Yuria didn't believe Lady Leah’s words so easily. Instead, she pressured her with a voice that seemed to ask how she dared to even speak of love.
“You feel that much love for a man you’ve only known for a few days? So much that you’d wedge yourself into a relationship? Cut the crap. You have another motive. Tell me the real reason you’re approaching Sion.”
Anger seeped into Yuria’s voice. She growled at Leah like a guard dog protecting its master. Yuria demanded that Lady Leah speak the truth, as if she wouldn't tolerate a single lie—as if she would cast her out the moment she sensed anything suspicious. Yuria was demanding proof of her love.
“Demanding proof of love... how amusing. Is there any reason I should have to prove my feelings for Sion to you? My emotions belong solely to Sion. Why are you trying to verify them? Do you realize how presumptuous that is?”
Leah showed a hint of annoyance. She didn't care about Yuria’s anger at all. Even with the spirit of a Gold Badge adventurer right in front of her face, Lady Leah didn't back down. She was noble. She would never bow her head, even in the face of violence or overwhelming power. She didn't care who her opponent was. She wouldn't compromise.
“Presumptuous, you say? You’re the one being presumptuous right now. I can’t let you have Sion until I confirm whether your reason for wanting my man is truly love, or if you’re just using a honey trap to get your hands on his Subspace Pocket.”
“This is truly ridiculous. You’re not his mother-in-law, yet you’re incredibly stubborn. You ask a question that has no answer—since there’s no way to truly prove one’s heart in this situation—and then tell me to get lost if I can’t answer. How pathetic. Do I really look like the type of person who would do something so undignified just for a Subspace Pocket?”
“A Subspace Pocket is valuable enough for that.”
“Perhaps to you. I’ll admit, I was envious of Sion’s ability at first. But even without the Subspace Pocket, I would have tried to claim him. The two days I spent with him in the Labyrinth were the most shocking and memorable events of my life.”
“It was only two days.”
“Yes. Only two days. But I changed in those two days. I learned the terror of the Labyrinth. I realized the fear of death. And I vaguely understood what love is. A Subspace Pocket? Ha. I don’t need something like that. I can just throw money at any problem. I’m not obsessed with some ability.”
Lady Leah, who had been pouring out words at Yuria, paused to catch her breath. She stopped her heated speech for a moment to steady her breathing. And then, at the moment everyone’s attention was focused on her, she spoke again.
“I want him. I won’t take him away unilaterally, so don’t try to monopolize him either. If you won’t share... I’ll have no choice but to make my next move.”
A firm resolve. It was a declaration that she would win him over no matter what Yuria said. To this, Yuria replied with a much weaker aura than before.
“There are plenty of men in the world.”
“But in the end, you chose Sion, didn't you?”
“...That’s a fair point.”
Yuria was finally at a loss for words. In response to Leah’s answer, Yuria invited her guests to sit. The confrontation at the entrance finally ended, and a proper dialogue began.
“It’s a bit messy, but just sit anywhere. When you live the life of an adventurer, there’s no time to clean properly.”
“Well, I understand.”
Leah returned to using polite speech. She sat down across from Yuria.
“And I only have alcohol to drink. No tea or juice. Would you like some wine?”
“That sounds fine. I’ll drink whatever you serve.”
Yuria soon handed wine to the lady and Rika.
“I am fine, thank you.”
“Really? Suit yourself.”
Rika declined the wine. As if to fulfill her duty as an escort knight, she stood motionless behind the lady, staring into space.
‘I can’t see very well.’
Because of the angle, I couldn't see Yuria or Lady Leah. I could only see Rika standing there awkwardly.
‘When should I go out? Do I have to stay trapped in this wardrobe?’
As time passed, my posture became uncomfortable and the air felt stuffy. This was bad. I had missed my timing to come out. For now, should I wait a bit longer until their conversation ends?
“Sigh. Look. No matter how much you like Sion, it’s a no. I liked him first. I flirted with him first. I called dibs first.”
“I like him too. For the first time in my life, I tried flirting, too. I haven't called dibs yet... so I suppose I lose in that regard. Well, fine. I’ll be doing it soon enough, so it doesn't really matter.”
“Don’t you dare call dibs on what’s mine.”
“Why is Sion yours? You’re not even engaged. Please stop acting like you’re already his wife.”
“Hah. We’re getting engaged soon.”
“It seems we think alike. I’m planning to get engaged to Sion as well.”
“Hey. Don’t you know how to wait your turn?”
“There is no 'turn' when it comes to getting married.”
“No matter how much you blabber, the fact that I was first won’t change.”
“Be the first, then. What does the order matter? The one who is loved more wins the battle.”
“This brat...!”
“More importantly, I’ve already given my 'first' to Sion.”
“What? Your first?? You gave him your first? What does that mean?”
“My first experience, shall we say.”
“First experience?”
“Yes. I still remember that time vividly. What he took out in front of me... that dignified object... that large, long thing between his thighs... Ah, that violent silhouette still haunts my mind.”
“What on earth...”
“It was in the Labyrinth. In a space where it was just the two of us, he took off his pants and...”
“Wait a minute...! Hey!!! Sion! Sion! What is she talking about?!”
Yuria called my name. No, what the hell was that? First experience?! I hadn't even touched Lady Leah yet! This was so unfair!
Lady Leah was the one who told me to take off my pants! I didn't assault her! In the first place, nothing happened other than her grabbing my dick!
Driven by a sense of injustice, I finally burst out of the wardrobe.
“Wait, first experience?! My Lady! What are you talking about?!”
“Oh my. Sion. You were hiding in quite an indecent state, weren't you?”
“Ah, this is...”
“See? I made him like that. I stripped him myself. And he took my first experience, too!”
“Hah? So what? Are you bragging about tearing his clothes off? Trying to claim a man so violently... Sion, a woman who tries to overpower you isn't very attractive, is she? I’m much gentler.”
“You bitch...!”
“You see, Sion took off his pants and pulled out his dick in front of me without me even having to strip him. He took them off himself without me having to tear his clothes to try and eat him up. There’s a clear difference in our charm, wouldn't you say?”
“Wait, is that true...? Sion. It’s not, right? Sion... You were such a steel wall to me. You kept your distance for months. But you showed your dick to a noble lady after only two days? No. No way. My Sion... he wouldn't do that. It was so damn hard for me to get a taste, but she got a free pass? No!!!”
“Exactly! It’s not true! Lady Leah! Why are you doing this?! No, you were the one who told me to take them off back then!”
“You heard him, Miss Yuria, didn't you? He admitted he took them off in front of me. If he takes them off immediately just because he’s told to in a life-or-death situation, it means Sion had feelings for me too. You might not know this, Miss Yuria, but we made a lot of progress in just two days.”
“Wh-what... My Sion... I feel like I’m going to turn into a villain. You acted so pure with me. You never approached me first. What do I have that she doesn't?”
“No, Yuria. It’s not like that. My Lady! I only pulled it out, I didn't take everything off! It was only to protect your mental state...”
“You pull out your dick for a virgin to protect her mental state? Sion, what are you saying? Don’t you realize how weird that sounds even as you say it?”
Even I thought the logic was incredibly strange. But at the time, it felt like the right thing to do. My intention to relieve the lady’s stress by doing something erotic... my kindness... had been twisted.
Ah, I’m screwed. I fell right into the lady’s trap. A devious plan to drive a wedge between Yuria and me, get rid of Yuria, and then have me all to herself.
Yuria was truly dejected. The thought that I had been a steel wall to her but had thrust my dick at a lady I’d only known for two days seemed to make her furious.
That wasn't it. I didn't pull it out because I wanted to; I pulled it out and let her touch it because I had no choice but to save the lady’s mental state, which was on the verge of collapsing in a crisis.
How on earth was I supposed to explain this?
While I was racking my brain for a way to comfort Yuria, Rika, the knight who had been listening to the lady’s story, asked in a shocked voice.
“Um, porter. Did you really... pull out your dick in front of the lady?”
“Rika, stay out of this! You’re too weak anyway!”
“Gasp...”
Rika slumped down. Her pride had already been wounded by the gap between her and Yuria, and my words seemed to have dealt a massive psychological blow. Since my mind was a mess, the words just came flying out. I felt bad, but I couldn't help it. I was already busy enough dealing with Yuria and Lady Leah; if Rika joined in, my brain would explode.
“L-let’s all just calm down for a moment. Let’s not keep making the situation worse. My Lady, please stop with the fabrication and instigation. Yuria, you believe me, right?”
“Yeah... I believe you. There must have been a reason. You didn't... finish, did you?”
“I didn't cum!”
“Fufu. Miss Yuria, I was just teasing a bit, so don’t be too discouraged. You put me to the test as well, so let’s call it even.”
I suppose she really was a noble. She certainly gave back as good as she got. As I was marveling at Lady Leah’s behavior—repaying both favors and grudges thoroughly—she looked at me with half-closed eyes.
“And Sion, you were supposed to come see me today but you didn't, so you’ll forgive me for a little joke like this, right?”
“Pardon...? Ah.”
That’s right. I was supposed to go see her today. I had completely forgotten because of Olivia.
“I waited and waited because you said you were coming. But you never showed up.”
“I-I’m sorry. I was busy with a lot of things today.”
“Busy?”
“Well...”
Just as I was about to make an excuse to the lady...
Creeeeak...
The door to the guest room opened.
“Wh... who... is it...?”
Olivia came out, looking terrified. It seemed the noise had woken her up.
“Who is that girl...?”
“She’s... a slave I brought home today.”
“A slave. I see. So that’s how it is. You were so busy playing around with a slave that you forgot your promise to me.”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“Hey, Sion.”
“Huh? Yuria.”
“Why are you making excuses to that woman instead of comforting me?”
“Well, that’s... you see... Aaaah! Aaaaaargh!”
It was a total mess. I tried my best to settle the situation. How could I cleanly resolve this bizarre scenario? I didn't know. I had no idea. I had to find a way. A way.
What could I get from this place right now?
‘Alcohol.’
Yuria’s place was full of alcohol. And my inventory was full of snacks. There was the answer.
“First. Let’s all just have a drink and talk.”
If everyone was a little tipsy, wouldn't their sharp words toward each other soften a bit?
“Well, I did come here to talk. Fine.”
“Alcohol. Yeah, alcohol is good. Sion, what about snacks? Should I go buy some?”
“No, I have some here. Yuria, you just sit down and relax.”
When I pulled out the snacks from my inventory, Yuria and Lady Leah sat across from each other at the table again.
“Um, Rika.”
“Am I... really that weak...?”
“Rika, I’m sorry for saying those harsh things earlier. Would you like to go exercise with me tomorrow? I’m planning to register at a Martial Arts Hall. Let’s go and sign up together. Since you probably don’t have any money right now, I’ll pay for your first month’s fee. Let’s get stronger together. Okay?”
“Martial Arts Hall...? Exercise? Get stronger? Oh...!”
“Yes. I want to get stronger. Isn't it the same for you, Rika?”
“I... I want to get stronger too.”
“Yes, yes. Let’s get stronger together.”
“Fine. Exercise is always better with a partner. Do you lift?”
Rika, who had been slumped over and sulking, perked up again at the mention of exercise.
“Th-these... are the glasses, right...?”
“Yeah, Olivia. You just sit still too.”
“Ah... yes...”
The girl who couldn't even see was trying to set the glasses, so I stopped her immediately. She’d probably break all the dishes if she kept going.
‘My head is spinning. Four women. I feel like my soul is being drained.’
Yuria, Leah, Rika, and Olivia. I set the glasses, brought out the alcohol, ice, and snacks, and prepared the table. Somehow, I ended up doing all of this myself.
“Now, now. First. Let’s drink.”
Since I had prepared high-proof alcohol... I’d just feed them and put them all to sleep. That seemed like the best plan.