Chapter 76

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Translator: Ebonarch

Chapter: 76

Chapter Title: The Butterfly Flaps Its Wings Twice (6)

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"...Sounds nice, doesn't it, Vivian?"

"L-L-Lucia...!"

The moment Lucia appeared, Vivian dropped into a formal seated position right there on the spot.

"S-Sorry, Lucia."

"Oh my, whatever could you have to apologize for?"

"W-Well, because I accepted a ring that you didn't get... by myself..."

Was that a cracking sound I heard just now?

A vein popped out on Lucia's forehead as she smiled.

"Ha... hahaha. ...Vivian, you really say the funniest things."

"Eek!"

As Lucia approached with what had to be the kindest smile in the world, Vivian screamed and backed away.

I left the two of them to their fun for a moment and checked my status window for the first time in a while.

Finally, all my stats had broken into the 20s.

When I first fell into this world and saw that all my stats were 10, how despairing had that been?

But now, even excluding traits, my stats alone put me in the middle ranks of first-year students at Carnea Academy.

'What tremendous progress...'

Of course, while I'd improved a lot, I was still far behind those two.

Fair enough for Lucia, but Vivian had already broken through the wall of 50.

Her stats were still limited, so her actual magic power was probably lower than Lucia's, but reaching 50 at this point was impressive in itself.

'...I should use this chance to raise my own stats too.'

Once I returned to the Calliope family, I'd replenish my depleted gold and consume a spirit elixir or two to boost my stats.

Of course, they wouldn't just hand them over, but I already had a bargaining chip in hand.

"Come on? I'm just looking, that's all."

"...N-No... This... Eugene gave it to me..."

"...Your finger would grow back even if it got cut off, right?"

"Eek!"

Watching the two of them play only made me chuckle, but it was about time to get ready.

"Enough playing around."

"E-Eugene...!"

Vivian hid the ring on her finger beneath her massive breasts and clung to my back.

"...Vivian. What rude behavior toward your Master is this?"

"No, it's fine. More importantly, we're heading back to the family tomorrow, a bit earlier than planned."

Lucia blinked in surprise at the sudden announcement but soon smiled softly and replied.

"Yes, Master. I'll prepare to depart."

"Eh... Huh? Tomorrow? Th-Then what about me..."

Vivian trembled anxiously as she spoke.

I knew how she'd been treated in her family, so her reaction was understandable.

"...Don't worry. You have talent. Show them how much you've grown, and they won't be able to treat you carelessly."

"S-Someone like me couldn't possibly have talent... Without you and Lucia, I'm nothing..."

"Are you doubting my words right now?"

"N-No! Absolutely not!"

Vivian jumped in denial, but I knew she was still unstable.

Originally, I'd planned to tame Bianca for another week while also helping mend Vivian's mentality.

'...But the promise with the princess threw that off.'

With a week in the imperial palace ahead, we had to depart for the family at latest tomorrow.

'...So today, we'll compress the schedule.'

Vivian's mental recovery, future plans with Lucia, and shopping for chapter 3 supplies—all done today.

"Today, we're going to Sankisan Village. Lucia, disguise yourself with Vivian."

"Yes, Master."

Lucia bowed gracefully at my command.

"Hehe... Vivian, I'll dress you up pretty."

"W-W-Wait a sec... L-Lucia... I c-can... disguise myself..."

"...I'm so looking forward to this. Come on, Vivian. Over here."

"E-Eugene! Eugene...!"

Lucia hooked her arm through Vivian's and dragged her off.

Vivian shot me a look like a cow headed to the slaughterhouse, but...

It'd be fine.

Probably.

"The boss lady looks even more beautiful today."

A noblewoman exuding ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠refined elegance placed a wooden box on the counter as she spoke.

"Oh? Do I?"

"Yes, you've always been lovely, but especially so today."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Hehe. Hearing that puts me in a good mood, so this one's on the house."

Tristia smiled brightly as she slipped a bottle of glistening gel into the box.

"Oh my, thank you."

"Thank you. I'm the grateful one. Thanks to you spreading the word in your social circle, business has boomed."

"...Once you try it, you can't forget it. Well, I'll come again when the next new product drops."

"Yes, I'll set one aside just for you."

It sounded like casual chit-chat, but anyone in the know would blush at the conversation.

After all, the box the noblewoman ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bought contained a massive dildo covered in grotesque protrusions.

"H-Huh... Beautiful?"

Once the noblewoman left, Tristia hummed cheerfully to herself as she dusted the merchandise.

Glancing at the full-length mirror, her skintight red dress perfectly accentuated her voluptuous figure.

Truth be told, she'd dressed up a bit more than usual today.

Her unique ability had glimpsed a future where an important customer would visit.

'They should be here any minute...'

Ding-a-ling—

No sooner had she thought it than the door opened, and her awaited guest appeared.

"Oh my, young master? Long time no see. What brings you here? Come to see me?"

Tristia tossed the duster aside and sauntered over, linking arms with Eugene.

"...Master would be uncomfortable, so please step back."

Lucia inserted herself between them.

"...You're here too?"

Tristia clicked her tongue briefly.

Her future sight had told her Eugene was coming, but not who he'd bring.

"'You too' to a customer? Your customer service is as abysmal as ever."

"...If you want respect, maybe act worthy of it first?"

"Oh, sorry. Didn't realize you old folks got sensitive about that."

"Well, better than passing out while watching your Master get laid, right?"

"....Not holding back a word even for a customer."

"Same to you."

—Grind

Lucia and Tristia ground their teeth and glared daggers at each other.

Eugene, stuck in between, pinched his temple and spoke.

"Go inside, Vivi."

"...Y-Yes, Eugene... Uh... H-Hello?"

As Vivian passed, jiggling her enormous breasts, Tristia's head snapped toward her, eyes locked in a stare-down forgotten.

"...Wh-What the hell is that monster?"

"My newest acquisition."

Tristia raised an eyebrow at Eugene's words, then sighed deeply and returned to the counter.

"...Haa... Figures... My mood's killed."

She waved him off, propped her chin on her hand, and lit a long pipe.

"So, young master? What's with the flowers in both hands?"

Tristia sat with such a sullen expression, it was hard to believe she was entertaining customers.

"I want to commission this."

"Hmm..."

She frowned at the note I handed her.

"...Young master. Where do you keep getting these shady things? Never made one like this, but judging by the materials, the effect's way too potent."

It was from a future version of Tristia, so of course she hadn't made it yet.

"So, can't do it?"

"Well, it's a close call on the ethics line... but for you, I'll make it special."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

I'd worried her affection might be too low for acceptance, but it scraped by.

What I'd commissioned from Tristia was a 3.3x sensitivity aphrodisiac.

The chapter 3 target had naturally low sensitivity and strong endurance, so this was necessary.

One might think just max sensitivity, but over 10x damages the brain directly.

Hence the 3.3x aphrodisiac.

Multiply by 3x from 'Prince on the Bed' for a total of 9.9x to conquer her.

It wouldn't damage the brain, but it'd plunge her into the depths of pleasure...

But if I didn't conquer her, I'd be killed, so no choice.

I cleared my throat lightly and asked cautiously.

"So, the price..."

"Hmm... As you know, raw materials alone cost a fortune, and finishing in one day means extra fees. Even cutting to the bone for your sake, it's this much?"

I nearly fainted at the amount on the note she handed back.

'...Is this insane?'

I'd expected expensive, but even scraping every last coin, I couldn't cover it.

"...Any other payment options?"

"Oh? Paying with your body?"

Tristia's eyes curved foxily as she licked her lips.

"Well, that wouldn't be bad... Then, over there..."

Bang—!

"I'll pay."

Lucia slammed a heavy pouch onto the desk, cutting in.

"Hey? Can't you read the room? I'm talking with your Master here. Buzz off."

"That's why I'm reading the room and offering to pay instead. What's the problem?"

As Lucia and Tristia started bickering again, I shouted.

"...Enough!"

Silence fell over the shop in an instant.

With all eyes on me, I pulled a gold coin from my pocket and flicked it toward Tristia.

"...What's this?"

Instead of answering, I turned, grabbed a bottle of liquid from the display—one with a serpent etched on the glass—and downed it in one gulp.

Throb—!

The effect hit immediately.

My heart burned hot, veins swelling throughout my body.

Especially my manhood, already firm, now felt like it could pierce steel.

"Hoo..."

I swallowed hard amid the tense atmosphere and growled lowly at the women staring.

"I'll handle all three of you. Follow me to bed."