Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Netori or Die, Your Choice
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Netori or die, pick one and get going lol
'What the hell is that guy doing?!'
Fred, who had been hiding behind a pillar with his presence completely suppressed while peering toward the balcony, was stunned.
In his line of sight was the collapsed Remi, and Dre coldly looking down at her.
Unlike his usual dumb, slack-jawed expression, it was a chilling gaze that even made Fred—seasoned with countless real battles—shudder, as if he were staring at something utterly worthless.
'Those damn eyes...!'
Fred both hated and feared those eyes.
And the target of that gaze was Remi.
Remi, who was popular with men.
Remiaz Peach.
She was the daughter of the Peach count family and served as attendant to Fred's young master.
That fact alone wasn't particularly unusual.
The Peach family was subordinate to the Graize family, and their hierarchy was strict, so it was possible the head of Peach had sent his daughter to curry favor.
What was unusual was her herself.
She was the lady of a count's family, yet she threw her body around recklessly.
In truth, most nobles indulged in hedonism.
The more precocious ones secretly bought slaves to vent their lust or found like-minded partners.
But that was the story of lesser houses.
A count's family. And among the subordinates of the Graize house, Peach was the highest-ranked.
Even if she wasn't the heir, she was a girl who would one day enter a political marriage, yet she was far too promiscuous for someone of such noble status.
She didn't allow just anyone, but the number was still absurd for a noble lady.
She didn't use her status.
She conquered men's hearts purely with her looks, abilities, and her own arsenal.
Fred didn't know her exact criteria for choosing men, but she clung especially hard to capable ones.
Fred himself had received a few flirtatious advances.
The malicious part was that she threw out flirts to those with potential—mere prospects without achievements—but never actually gave her body to them.
Fred figured plenty of men had cried, gotten hurt, or been ruined because of her.
However, not giving herself to those with only potential meant the opposite: she was aggressive toward those who already had proven records.
That Dre had more than enough credentials.
There was ample chance Remi would flirt with him, and she indeed had.
Even for the loose Remi, seducing Dre so quickly and thoroughly was surprisingly fast, but it was good for Fred.
He planned to record their affair with a magic tool and show it to El under the pretense of coincidence.
To shatter his young master's illusion that she seemed smitten with Dre for some reason.
Without the young master's favor, he wouldn't need to tread so carefully.
Of course, with the protection of the Hart clan heir, he couldn't act rashly, but he could escape these frustrating situations.
'But what the hell?'
Fred was popular himself.
Even to him, Remi's seduction was hard to refuse outright.
Let alone refusing by punching her in the gut?
It overlapped with the moment she had subdued and coldly looked down at him.
Maybe because it resembled what had happened to him. Before he knew it, Fred's fists were clenched tight.
On the other hand, he felt uneasy.
No matter Remi's poor reputation, she was directly under the Graize family and recognized for her abilities by the head.
If this escalated, it could turn into a huge uproar.
Cold sweat trickled down Fred's cheek.
What was Dre thinking?
Too focused on that, Fred failed to notice another presence.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Kuhk, kuh... ugh...! *Cough cough.*"
The fallen maid no longer showed any of her earlier cuteness.
Her big eyes were squeezed small in pain, and the hands that had friskily groped my chest and crotch were now clutching her stomach, trembling.
She curled up prone, then rolled sideways, repeating.
From the retching sounds, she seemed about to vomit.
Not my problem.
I wanted to check that system window from earlier again. How?
I averted my eyes from Remi and looked at the system window.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Netori Simulator Activated
*Pling.*
Oh. It works.
Chanting it in my mind brought up the system window.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Top Targets for Conquest Efficiency] [Blacklist] [Favorability Explanation] [History]
I should've read the skill description earlier.
I thought I wasn't bothered by the fact her body would collapse, but it must've chipped away at me subconsciously.
Or maybe I was just too busy to bother...
Anyway, probably the Blacklist?
Clicking it listed everyone the Netori Simulator had blacklisted so far.
I glanced at the top one, Repelt Vynus, and scrolled to the bottom.
Oh, there it is.
[Remiaz Peach]
Clicking brought up the window from before.
⚠️ BLACKLIST TARGET ⚠️
Remiaz Peach V: X Favorability: 35+ (Looking down on you) (Currently linked to Elisia Queens Graize.) 'Ha, my face is uglier than Lady El's? Is it the eye shape, or lack of dating experience? A musclehead brute with no eye for beauty.' She is a bitch. She is a bitch. Stressed twice because it's important. Your favorability with her is extremely low. But sex is entirely possible. 'Lady El may surpass me in many ways, but when it comes to wrapping men around my finger, I'm far superior.' She harbors intense inferiority toward Elisia. As Elisia's childhood friend, whenever El showed even a sliver of interest in a man, she had to capture his heart completely to feel satisfied. Sometimes with playfulness, sometimes with seduction, sometimes not sparing her body. The reason for their year-long elopement was to steal away the lover Elisia might truly love. Lately, she derives the greatest pleasure from having relations with Elisia's lovers right in front of her under the pretext of demonstration, explaining and showing what sex is really like. Then you appeared! 'Why leave a handsome guy for this one? Because of his abilities?' She may find it odd, but it doesn't matter. Her goal is singular: steal Elisia's and claim victory. Thus, if you wish, until Elisia's heart drifts from you, any play is possible! Having sex right in front of Elisia is recommended! It'll ignite Remi's passion further, and Elisia's feelings for you won't fade! Beyond that, your sexual potential is infinite, so half-kill this arrogant bitch. It'll be surprisingly easy! Bonus EXP Condition: Mix NTR and Netori, turn the bitch into your exclusive bitch.
It's not just explaining; it's tacking on annoying side comments.
Feeling annoyed, I debated just deleting this skill when, through the translucent window, I saw Remi finally calming down and trying to rise.
I squatted in front of her.
Our eyes met.
Hers held anger, fear, bewilderment—a mix of emotions.
"Lady Remi."
"..."
"Shove that shitty face in front of me again, and I'll punch your gut once more. Got it?"
She cleared her throat awkwardly. But her eyes still looked at me like I was incomprehensible.
"I-I... huhk... heuk..."
"No need to answer. Warning's just once."
Remi shut her mouth.
"Whether you harbor inferiority toward Lady El or not is none of my business. But from what I hear, the Graize head might see it differently."
"...!"
Remi's face paled.
"One question: Flat..."
Even knowing your sleazy intentions, is he still doing it with you? I almost asked but stopped.
I can ask him directly.
Remi lifted her head, eyes welling with tears. I know—it's fake.
She's pretending to look pitiful.
Both her earlier actions and this...
The pretense reminded me of that fucking bitch from high school.
Who knows where she is now, or maybe...
Even possibly here in 'this world'.
The one restricting so many of my actions.
So...
"Hii...!"
"Ah."
I'd unconsciously raised my fist.
She's the type that begs for a punch.
But what? Her eyes mix not just fear, but something else.
Anger?
I exhaled to cool my heated insides.
Then, unclenching my fist, I patted Remi's head with my hand.
"You're filthy and stinking, so clean up your own vomit. Can you manage before the party starts?"
Remi nodded twice.
"Good. Then I'm off. Pretend nothing happened?"
I turned away from the frantically nodding Remi and stood.
Feeling heat surge through my body, I walked.
I had questions for Flat.
After one step up the stairs, something occurred to me.
"You saw nothing either."
No reply. So I named him.
"Got it, Fred?"
"...Understood."
Only then satisfied, I headed to my room.
There was one more, but since it's someone I know, it's fine.
By the way, which floor was Flat on?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Only after Dre left and Remi laboriously clutched her stomach to start cleaning up did Fred emerge from behind the pillar.
'Definitely exceptional.'
Outsiders were all cheats, relying on unique privileges called cheats.
Fred had seen many strong outsiders.
But Dre was clearly different.
To think he'd noticed my stealth...
'Damn, I need to tell Marien the plan failed...'
"Sir Fred."
"!"
Did she notice my presence? Fred understood upon seeing her.
Her name was Repelt.
Slightly below him, but still upper-mid tier among knights.
If she focused solely on suppressing her presence, it'd be hard to detect.
"Lady Repelt."
"Hand over the recording orb."
"..."
She saw everything, huh.
"What if I refuse?"
"Then I'll report to my lord. It'll reach Lady Elisia's ears too."
Tch. Fred clicked his tongue inwardly.
Sharp woman as expected.
She'd roughly figured he was trying to catch Dre's weakness.
'In that case...'
Fred decided to use his specialty.
"Lady Repelt. Shall we talk privately?"
Gentle face, gentle gestures, heavenly voice.
He'd earned second scale in the Graize knights through skill, but he was even more confident in social maneuvering.
He could topple most women easily.
Especially Repelt, who seemed quite naive.
Thinking he could hook someone so seemingly immune to men in an instant, Fred unleashed his full charm.
"Disgusting. Back off."
But Repelt recoiled in genuine revulsion, unlike a typical brush-off.
Fred was stunned.
"If you're not handing it over, fine. I'll act for my lord's benefit."
As Repelt turned away, stunned Fred hastily grabbed her.
"W-Wait! Lady Repelt! Here's the recording orb! Take it!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Finding Flat's room was easy.
The Graize maids were excellent, remembering where everyone stayed.
In truth, no Graize member could forget Flat.
Asking a passerby, they said second floor.
Down there, maids were peeking curiously at one room—that was Flat's.
Damn pretty boy.
...Not in the mood for jokes.
Approaching slowly, his door was open.
At the doorway, Flat was shirtless doing push-ups.
No wonder the maids were peeking.
His well-toned, not overly bulky muscles looked cool even to me, a guy.
"Um. Lord Dre. What brings you?"
A petite maid spoke as if interrupted.
Yeah. Ordinary guy like me ruined the view. Gonna get trashed behind my back.
But I couldn't back down.
"Sorry, but please step aside."
Just that, yet the maids paled for some reason.
They bowed repeatedly, smacked the petite maid's head, and scattered.
Only then did Flat notice me and stand.
"Dre. What's up? With that scary face."
"..."
I silently closed the door. Flat's face flashed bewilderment and fear, then 'Nah, couldn't be'.
What was he imagining?
"Dre. What the..."
"Flat."
"Y-Yes. Dre."
Tensing at my voice.
I hesitated too.
I'm just a third party—should I meddle in personal matters?
But it was too hard to accept.
If the Flat I thought was good knew and still did it...
.....
What to do.
I don't know.
So ask first.
"About Lady Remi."
"..."
Flat's face darkened. He bowed his head and spoke.
"Me, El, Remi. Weird relationship, huh."
"..."
Silence fell.
Moments later, Flat spoke calmly but with a trembling voice.
"I know I have to choose between Remi and El. And that Remi... tries to exclude El from me."
Eh. Exclude.
Technically right, but the nuance felt off?
Like Remi, who likes me, is trying to push El away.
"From what I see, Lady Remi wants... El's... um, what do you call it."
"What El likes. So she likes it too."
Hearing that, heat rushed to my head.
"You knew?"
"And yet...?"
"Why?"
Flat lifted his head. No guilt—just desperation.
"If I'd stopped her knowing that, where would I be now, Lord Dre?"
"..."
"Safe under Graize protection heading to the capital now, sure. But back then, early in our travels, Remi would've freely told Graize our location without hesitation, and I'd have been caught and killed."
I couldn't refute.
Remi struck me as that ruthless.
"Peach is a family even a mere knight struggles to rise to. If the Graize head favors me, Peach is no issue—but I know best I have no chance of that..."
Flat sighed.
"We're practically lovers now, but if I defy her, how would she act? Not bragging, but I know women's jealousy to some extent."
Bragging though.
Flat squeezed his eyes shut.
"I have no choice but to yield to her threats. I know it's an excuse. But Dre, do you know? In a nameless village no one cares about, you worry about the next meal daily."
"That's..."
I knew hunger a bit, but not tone-deaf enough to reply.
"It's better now with the money I send, but if I die, my family?"
"Flat."
"No, excuse. I love my family, but that's not the main reason. I don't want to go back. I want success. To live. I know I'm a coward... but now, just keep my head down, go with the flow... Later, when things go well, fix my mistakes, apologize to El."
His voice was desperately sincere. Not to impress me—just truth.
"Got it, Flat. Just curious, that's all."
I opened the door and left.
Behind me, Flat said,
"Sorry for disappointing you again. I'll try not to."
Yeah. Please.
I shut the door firmly.
Not wrong, really.
From Flat's view, Remi was a volatile bomb.
Even now, intimate as lovers in his mind, he fears what she'd do if crossed.
Personally, I think it's exaggerated...
But not knowing exactly how Remi views Flat, caution like his is wise.
Problem is, Flat thinks Remi genuinely likes him...
Netori Sim doesn't look hopeful for his future.
Hope he navigates it well. He's good at heart, humanly weak.
I'll help occasionally.
But a sour feeling toward Flat was inevitable.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Nothing special after that.
If anything, El hovered around me with a far prettier face than before.
Made up? But her skin was just freshly powdered.
...How in a day?
Next morning, we departed early, arriving at Onenight Village by noon.
Tired of nitpicking village names.
"Capital tomorrow. Could leave now, but no rush—taking it easy."
"I see."
Gold stared at me briefly before saying,
"This village has great natural scenery. You look stuffy—go refresh yourself!"
Out per Gold's consideration, but nothing to do.
Take Asita? But she was playing well with Clarit, awkward to call.
Lena learning from maids till evening...
Bored.
Watching clouds drift, thoughts wandered.
Does El like me?
Did she doll up for me?
Really?
Why?
Saved her?
Thinking of her brought Remi to mind.
That damn bitch.
El trusts Remi completely as a friend, but what about Remi?
Exploiting that goodwill. Trampling it.
I was so pissed I couldn't stand it.
I know it's excessive emotion, but past experiences made it uncontrollable.
More infuriating: I got turned on when Remi clung yesterday.
Self-loathing.
Qualified to judge Flat?
He chose that with life at stake, unlike me—what did I do?
......Can't. Head's messy, just irritated.
Back, jerk off, sage mode.
Setting Remi aside, El liking me suddenly got me hard.
Life's complicated since isekai.
...Want to return home, finish that.
The game.
"Um, Dre?"
"...Yes."
Knew someone approached, but her?
Lifting head, as expected: Repelt.
Different: casual clothes. And perfume.
Repelt's always beautiful.
But dolled up, the gap from full plate... Honestly, after my earlier grumpiness, it felt silly, but heart pounded hard.
Snapped out of staring.
Why approach me like this after avoiding?
Repelt fidgeted, clenched fists, shouted,
"H-How about a date?!"
"...Yes."
Answered reflexively, then jerked up.
"Pardon?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Asita thrashed her feet in the room.
Expected fun events traveling together, but too crowded, and Dre seemed gravely serious—no chance to talk.
"Siii..."
Asita let out a cute whine, venting on the pillow.
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