179. Mama...?
179. Mama...?
"So what you're saying is, okay."
My rough thoughts and
"First of all that... you have to do it with Mars's mother...?"
Unsettled eyes and
"....Ah."
Minerva, who had been watching that, finally seemed to catch on to something as she waved both hands in denial.
"I'm not forcing you! And you don't actually have to do it either!"
"What do you mean I don't actually have to do it...?"
Then what is it.
Yusha Yas? Like some Korean porn vibe?
The kind where they put bands on the important parts and mosaic it so it looks like they're 'pretending' on the surface?
Just as my head was spinning and I couldn't figure out what she wanted, Minerva cleared her throat a few more times and shifted the conversation.
"Regarding the Ares Guild... how much do you know about it, Chrono?"
"How much?"
"Then... do you also know what kind of incident occurred between the current guild master and the former guild master?"
"Well, that's...."
It didn't appear in the original work's behind-the-scenes stories or anything like that.
The problem that blew up in the original was the Minerva Guild, not the Ares Guild, after all.
'Still, if there's something I could infer from the circumstances...'
There would be hints nonetheless.
For example, those words Mars's mother shouted out as a provocation.
Those words about how if she lost, she would be embraced by me according to the 'promise.'
On top of that, if I made conjectures based on the memories of the soul being absorbed in real time...
"The current guild master challenged the former guild master to a duel?"
"....You know?"
"Did you think I wouldn't?"
"Most of the people who would know were killed, so...."
"........."
Something was flowing a bit strangely here.
Minerva, regardless, continued speaking to me, saying that the more I knew, the faster the story would go.
"As you know, Chrono, the Ares Guild is a guild that lives by the principle of the 'law of the jungle.' Even the appointment of the guild master is decided through 'duels' rather than simple 'succession.'"
"I know up to that point."
"Yes. But the more important part is what comes after."
If the challenger wins the duel.
Naturally, the guild master steps down from their position and hands over the title of guild master to the victor.
And according to the law of nature, according to the law of the jungle.
"You have the right to take everything belonging to the loser.... that's how it goes."
"....No way."
No way. That kind of story.
To this, Minerva said 'as expected.'
"In the animal kingdom, taking the females of the defeated king is considered a natural right of the victor."
"....Right."
So that's the situation that's happening to me right now, is that what you're saying?
"But that doesn't mean there's a particular reason to forcibly embrace them."
"Why is that?"
"Because it's the right of the victor, not a duty."
"Then, Ultimately, Mars's mother will be abandoned, won't she?"
"Rather than being abandoned─"
"─And, I heard that Mars's father has completely fallen into decline."
".......Hold on."
The conversation was flowing strangely.
It wasn't just strange, I could see it flowing in a way that was filthy beyond the ordinary.
"Usually the aftermath isn't that severe. Even if they're losers, they were still strong individuals who reached the top at least once. Even a tiger without teeth is still a tiger. So they can usually afford some leeway to prepare."
But.
The case of this generation's guild master was a different story.
"If they collapse to the point where they can't even mount a challenge...."
They get attacked.
They would clearly get attacked by the hyenas surrounding them.
If they had built up a network of personal goodwill and virtuous influence, there would be some who might cut them some slack.
"But that also has its limits and boundaries. Besides, having stood in the guild master's position, wouldn't they have made a few enemies here and there?"
As time passed, those enemies would gradually reveal their true colors
And Mars's family would fall into greater danger
And Ultimately, to prevent that──the next guild master who seized victory must accept Mars's family.
"If you accept them, they're your kin, but if you refuse, it's no different from providing a 'justification' to eliminate them."
Therefore, the former guild masters of the Ares Guild took the wives of the opposing family each time.
An unspoken declaration that this family now belonged in their embrace, so do not attack them.
But conversely, if one refused to embrace them and pushed them away, this was, in terms of the law of nature, culling.
Just as Minerva said, it was no different from providing a 'justification.'
"For Mars's sake... even if you don't actually do it, you must at least express that you 'did not abandon her.'"
".....No, that's not right."
I refuted it.
I refuted it to Minerva.
"If I embrace Mars, that's essentially the same thing anyway."
If it came to that, Mars's parents would also fall under me, so there would be no particular reason to take the mother's side.
At my words, Minerva shook her head.
"In the animal world, a 'female' loses her value when 'she can no longer bear children.' So that means...."
"...I think you can stop talking now."
Ultimately, that option too was a kind of 'refusal,' which meant it would lead to 'culling.'
So, all things considered, the softest way to navigate this was for me to embrace Mars's mother──was what she was saying.
"...That essentially means I become the guild master of the Ares Guild, doesn't it?"
"I suppose that is the case, yes?"
"Then what about me, and the Academy?"
"Ah. For any other guild it might be a problem, but since it's the Ares Guild, that part should be fine."
That place was, above all, a domain governed by the 'logic of power.'
Put another way, exaggerating a bit, if you had power, anything could be permitted there.
"It's difficult... in many ways....."
"Everyone has different circumstances, after all."
Anyway.
Minerva then followed up by proposing something to me.
"Your relationship with Mars... it might be resolved much more easily than you think, Chrono."
"How?"
"That's... um... that is....."
She seemed to know the method.
However, she was reluctant to say it, her eyes fluttering nervously.
As if embarrassed to voice what she herself was thinking, but when I continued to stare at Minerva, she hid her face with both hands and whispered.
"...You just need to be taken right in front of Mars's eyes, Chrono."
"..........."
Minerva.
Both that thing about 'baby-making' earlier
And now this, about me getting NTR'd right in front of Mars
"Are you saying that on purpose?"
"Euk...! B...but there's nothing better than this!"
Because it was the same for me!
"...Because it was the same for you?"
"Ah──!"
A look of sudden fluster.
"Come to think of it, definitely...."
Minerva did do that.
Back when she was at the Athena Guild.
Back when I was continuously grinding Mai's affection.
'Out of nowhere, the door opened...'
What did she say after that?
Just as I was about to slowly recall the memory of that day
"───Mmph...?"
Suddenly my mouth was covered.
Minerva blocked my mouth with both hands.
"Ah-uh... oo... oo-ooh...!"
".........."
Minerva shook her head vigorously as if telling me not to say any more.
Did she find it that embarrassing, even by her own standards?
Anyway, I think I understood well what she was trying to say.
"...But will she really come around with that method?"
Wouldn't it instead completely break her mentally, making her sink into depression or something?
When I asked out of reasonable doubt, anticipating what might happen, Minerva denied it, shaking her heated red face side to side.
"Mars is not as weak a person as you think, Chrono."
"...That's true."
If she truly were weak, she could never have become the Apostle of Ares.
Even putting that aside, she was the woman who trembled all over and was on the verge of fainting, yet stubbornly pressed her lips against mine.
She's no ordinary woman. As such, I could be confident that her mental fortitude was stronger than anyone's.
"Then...."
A picture was gradually starting to form in my head.
Draw out Mars, trembling in terror because of me, into a fear of having her lover stolen.
At the same time, the subject who would create that fear of having her lover stolen──looking at the plot development, Mars's mother seemed to be the most suitable candidate.
"....Do I really have to do it."
"You don't have to do it directly. What's important is the indication that you 'took a liking to her' or 'embraced her.'"
"..........."
Ultimately, I wouldn't do it.
I wouldn't embrace her.
What I needed was a 'justification.' That was all.
So, for that purpose, even if it was just for a moment, entering 'that kind of relationship' with Mars's mother was──
"──Opposed."
""......?""
"Mai is opposed."
""...........""
A sudden intrusion.
Mai said it. No. Don't do it.
"...Let's hear the reason, at least."
What she opposed.
Why she opposed.
Regarding the reason for that, Mai said,
"Big Brother doesn't want to do it."
"........."
"Even as a lie, you don't want to do that kind of thing."
"...But what can I do."
"You can do something."
"?"
You can do something.
What? How?
"There are two methods."
One was the method where Mai steps up.
The other was the method where 'Rhea' steps up.
"Whichever you choose, I'm certain Big Brother will be satisfied."
"....Let's hear it, for now."
After that, Mai began to lay out her plan, and
"How's that?"
".....That, what's it called."
I answered, directed at Mai and Rhea.
"An operation Hermes would love."
[Main God─Hermes : Cor☆rect]
The main god dripping with voyeurism also clapped in agreement.
As a side note,
The next day.
Mars, who awoke from her sleep.
Getting up as usual and about to eat a meal, somehow one seat was completely empty.
"Mama, Papa is....."
...In bed, right.
They were probably lying in bed around this time.
"Hoo.....haaaaah...."
She didn't particularly blame Chrono for this.
Because she knew well that it was a duel fought fairly, that it was practically a situation forced upon them, and that Chrono held no malice about it.
...No, even putting that aside, it was more accurate to say that her body itself couldn't even dare to harbor 'hostility' toward Chrono.
'Love... if it's love...'
Her feelings of love clearly still seemed to remain, but
Nevertheless, the fact that her hands and feet trembled together meant it could only be painful for Mars in many ways.
─Tiriririk♬
"!!...Hold on, I'll be right there."
"Mama?"
A sudden ringing phone.
Mama hurriedly went outside.
Mars quietly watched her back──or not, she immediately followed and eavesdropped on the call.
'Something feels off'
A phone call at this early hour. Mama's flustered reaction.
Not a single thing was normal.
On top of that, her own heart continued to beat strangely.
As if she was anxious.
Precariously, roughly, on the edge.
"Fuuuuu....."
After somehow holding her breath and stealthily approaching Mama
[I'll prepare... for baby-making. Yes. I'll... be in your care...!]
"Mama...."
She bowed her head with a voice full of deep emotion
Preparing for baby-making
[I'll trust only you, Chrono!]
"..........."
....Mama?