Chapter 5: I Became a Trash Character in a Gacha Game (5)
Chapter 5: I Became a Trash Character in a Gacha Game (5)
"If my skin were tanned, I’d be a dead ringer for a blonde delinquent."
I had tried to go for a regent cut to avoid looking like a poodle, but perhaps because it was a hairstyle she’d never seen before, Amy had turned me into a blonde thug.
It wasn't the neat, slicked-back look of a refined rebel, but rather a regent cut standing straight up—closer to a buzz cut, really.
Still, familiarity is better.
I’d never had long hair in my life, and keeping it long just felt awkward.
Changing my hairstyle didn't mean I was no longer Ruji, but it might at least signal something to the people around me.
—Is that really Ruji Fermaton? What’s with the sudden change of heart?
—Look at him. He looks like he’s looking for a fight. That’s the expression of a wolf hunting for prey.
Some might see me that way, but what did it matter?
It’s better than the poodle.
This look was far superior to having hair that looked like it could fire missiles, even if it did make me look like a total punk.
It wasn't as if this world followed the Confucian "body, hair, and skin are gifts from parents" rule, and I had successfully managed to pour a dash of Korean spice into Ruji’s appearance.
And tomorrow...
Knock, knock.
A sound came from the door.
I wondered who would be knocking on my door this late at night.
"Who is it...?"
"Ruji."
"...Mother."
Zenith, wearing a pink nightgown, had come to see me.
She flinched slightly when she saw me, and I gave a light shrug.
"It’s an image change. I told you, didn't I? That I’d show you a completely different side of myself."
"It... it suits you."
"Thank you. More importantly... what brings you here at this hour?"
"...I was too flustered this morning to speak properly, but I am also a member of the Fermaton family. I felt... I needed to have a serious talk with you, so I came."
Clink.
Zenith appeared holding a bottle.
Wine?
I didn't really know how to pour wine.
I knew how to open beer and soju bottles brilliantly using nothing but another bottle, but I was hopeless with a corkscrew.
Is she here to test me?
Had she already realized I wasn't the real Ruji?
Just because I shaved my head and said I’d be a different person from now on?
A person might not be able to turn over a new leaf overnight, but surely this level of transformation was possible, wasn't it?
"Sit."
Fortunately, she didn't seem to expect me to open the cork. Zenith personally took wine glasses from the cupboard in my room and set them on the tea table.
Glug, glug, glug.
As soon as the cork was pulled, a sharp aroma tickled my nose, and crimson red wine filled the glasses.
Come to think of it, I’d heard there was a specific etiquette for holding a wine glass.
What if the way men and women held them was different?
Should I just hold the base like I’d seen in movies?
Ah, whatever.
I extended my index and middle fingers, folded the rest, and slid the neck of the glass between them, gripping it lightly.
"You... what is that...?"
"Is something wrong?"
I lightly rubbed my index and middle fingers against the glass.
My two fingers squeaked as they slid against the swaying wine glass.
That’s right.
This was blatant sexual harassment.
I didn't know if Zenith would understand the gesture, but if I didn't know the etiquette, I might as well drink like a total scoundrel who ignored it entirely.
Gulp.
I downed the wine in one go.
Bottoms up!
Savor the aroma?
Taste the notes?
I’d practice that later when I was alone. For now, I had to dispel any suspicions with raw, masculine energy.
"...You certainly are different from usual. You were always the one insisting that wine must be savored."
"Wine is just alcohol in the end. I’ll drink in moderation for my health, but isn't the point of drinking to get drunk? And..."
"And?"
"The first glass is always a one-shot."
"......Are you planning to get me drunk?"
"We’re the only two Fermatons left in the world, yet we’ve never shared a drink like this, have we? I’d like to see you a little tipsy today, Mother."
"Hmph..."
She looked at me with eyes that said, 'You're trying to get me drunk to probe my intentions.'
I felt the same way.
My guess was that Zenith had come here to figure out my true motives.
Since I’d changed so suddenly.
"...Do you really intend to get those women pregnant?"
"Women? Hmm, that sounds good too."
Setting the harem aside, my primary goal was survival, but if I could have a harem, why not?
If a man could do it before he died, and if there were no social or legal issues, what was the problem with building a harem?
"However, any woman I get pregnant will become a 'Fermaton.' I can't just go around impregnating anyone."
"Then what kind of woman do you intend to take as a wife?"
"Well..."
Several women came to mind.
The Human Rights Characters.
The numerous allies I had recruited in Prince Archive Order.
Among them, the characters considered "human rights" were the first to pop up.
The Imperial Knight, the Elf Princess, the Dark Elf Assassin, the Guardian Angel, the Demon King’s daughter, the Half-Dragon, and so on.
And then there was the Human Rights Character I never managed to pull from the gacha.
I’d tried to avoid spoilers, but I’d overheard some rumors that one character had lines related to the 'Infinite Labyrinth.'
In other words.
A character tied to the Infinite Labyrinth, which was the core of the main story and the Fermaton family.
A Goddess(?).
An annoying character who called herself a goddess.
I couldn't pull her in reality, but I’ll make sure to keep her by my side here.
There were so many characters.
Some were incredibly hot, some had the perfect breeding body, and there was even one I’d fallen so hard for that I’d set her as my profile picture.
Though it wasn't Zenith.
Zenith Fermaton.
She was a 3-star, but aside from her breasts and the "widow" trope, she didn't have much else going for her.
But from 'Ruji’s' perspective, she was the woman who, after Ruji’s death, handed everything over to the protagonist and his illegitimate children and joined their side.
Should I strike before I’m betrayed?
I could use political moves like that, but...
"What do you think, Mother?"
"Me?"
"About a woman fit to be the mistress of Fermaton. She’d be someone you’d probably call 'sister' rather than 'daughter-in-law' based on looks, but she would still be your daughter-in-law officially, wouldn't she?"
"Sis...ter?"
"Yes. No matter who becomes my wife, there probably won't be much of a difference in appearance between her and you."
"What on earth... No, never mind. I shouldn't overthink it."
Zenith shook her head.
I was just speaking my mind, but she seemed to be deep in thought.
Why make it so complicated?
"I will find a woman worthy of Fermaton. I’d appreciate it if you could help me, Mother. Of course, I won't just take anyone. It has to be a woman I’ve at least heard of, or someone who can live her whole life here in Fermaton with me."
A woman I’d heard of.
A Gacha Pickup Character.
Or a character who wasn't playable but was mentioned in the story.
Ideally, I wanted a virgin with a breeding body who was great at sex.
What? How can she be a virgin if she’s great at sex?
A natural-born breeding body is gifted at sex even if she’s a virgin.
Her virginity is just a seal on her sexual prowess.
They’ll be virgins, right?
I believed.
The more a gacha game company was obsessed with money, the more they knew how important a character’s virginity was.
Unless they were selling a 3-star pickup character who was explicitly a married woman, they wouldn't do something as crazy as marketing a character by saying, "This character is a worn-out non-virgin!"
—You’ve got the makings of a real slut, don't you?
Unless the original source was some R-18 rape game where the setting couldn't be changed, they had to be virgins.
...Should I buy a unicorn and keep it at the castle gate?
"What are you thinking about?"
"If I have one personal wish, it’s that she be a virgin with no prior experience."
"......."
Zenith said nothing.
I’d only stated my honest preference, so why was she being so quiet?
"Is something the matter?"
"...Are you saying any woman is fine as long as she’s a virgin?"
"No. She must be a virgin, beautiful, and refined enough to raise our future children as the next Counts of Fermaton. And above all... she must have the strength to protect the Fermaton family in times of crisis."
"...Do you think such women are common in this world?"
"Heh."
They weren't just common.
At least three of them were released every month, and I knew more than a truckload of them.
"That’s why I’m asking for your help, Mother. Anyone is fine. Actually, should I just put out an official notice?"
"What? A notice?"
"Yes. Post flyers everywhere saying that the Young Lord of Fermaton, Ruji Fermaton, is looking for a wife."
"N-No, you can't...!!"
Zenith hurriedly waved her hands in protest.
"You have to think about these things carefully...! There might be gold-diggers who show up with poison in their hearts just to snatch Fermaton’s interests! Let’s take it slow and verify everything."
"Hmm.... Fine."
I was planning to look at resumes and pick out the 3-stars from the applicants, but...
"B-But tell me. Are you really saying... any beautiful and talented virgin will do...?"
"Yes."
How could I refuse?
"She’s someone I’ll be looking at for the rest of my life. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she were someone so lovely that just looking at her makes me happy?"
Even better if there are several.
"...Hmph."
Zenith lifted her glass and took a light sip, her cheeks flushed a deep red.
....
Wait.
Could it be?