Chapter 37
“A-a trial set by the temple…? What kind of thing could it be?”
So Seia’s voice can be heard by people other than me, too.
“And a Star Collector….”
Maron absentmindedly touched her lower abdomen, where her star mark was.
Then she looked at me.
“Huh?”
Apparently, something had clicked in Maron’s mind.
“Huhhh???”
It seemed a scene of me touching the star marks on her and Elettra was flashing through Maron’s mind.
‘I don’t have time to explain right now….’
Target’s traits: A ■■ woman who accidentally took on a ■■ that was ■■
Even at LV.3, I guess I still don’t have enough access to see the obscured parts.
What could it be?
The first two parts aside.
That last ■■ woman.
‘Is it the kind of “year” you use when you say one year, two years?’
Why would that be one of the target’s traits?
Bzzzt.
Bzzzzzt….
Target’s traits: A masochist bitch who accidentally took on a ■■ that was ■■
“….”
Was <Astra Radius> secretly an adult game?
I mean, subculture games these days can get pretty risqué.
But even so, there’s no way the word “masochist bitch” would show up directly in the text, right?
‘Ah, did I just see a setting that wasn’t supposed to be revealed to the player?’
If so…
Recommended line: 「Don’t act all tough, you worthless bitch」
Tone: Scary and coercive, like a delinquent
Maybe that’s why, too.
Because it called the target a masochist bitch.
‘Is this really okay?’
I don’t know much about that sort of thing, but I’ve heard that tone and context are important.
And yet it’s telling me to suddenly start hurling insults at her in a coercive way.
Even if the system recommended it, it’s not exactly something I can say so easily… though I guess I can.
I’d just failed several times in a row after trying to do things my own way.
‘Let’s just do what it says.’
Still, I’m uneasy.
‘Can I really pull off acting like a delinquent?’
I’m not confident.
“Maron.”
I whisper the question to her.
“W-what is it?”
“Do you think I could act scary and delinquent-like?”
“…Eek.”
Maron suddenly looked terrified.
“I’m sorry…! I’ll be a good girl who doesn’t get jealous!”
What’s with her now?
What did she misunderstand this time?
Sigh.
I don’t know.
I’ll try it, and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.
“…Hey.”
Clicking my tongue, I summon up the attitude of the delinquents I’d seen back in school.
I narrow my eyes and glare.
I look at her with contempt, as if she’s beneath me.
“Don’t act all tough, you worthless bitch. You wanna fucking die?”
『G-gasp…!』
“Gasp…!”
Why are you reacting?
『Y-you shouldn’t treat a goddess so carelessly…♡』
Maybe it’s just my imagination.
It feels like there’s a heart at the end of her sentence.
‘Should I keep harassing her like this?’
Recommended line: 「You hopeless masochist bitch」
It just keeps getting worse.
That was when Professor Kadisha called down from above the pit.
“Everchess! I’m coming down now, so wait just a little longer!”
“You’re coming sooner than I expected!?”
Damn it!
If I’d really fallen, it’d be reassuring to hear that—but right now, I could use a little more time!
‘This is driving me crazy.’
I have no choice.
“Listen up, Seia.”
Keeping my eyes fixed on the goddess statue, I stroke Maron’s head beside me at the same time.
I was worried this might raise Maron’s chances of becoming a villainess again.
“Hnngh….”
Maron let out a soft little sound.
『Y-you shouldn’t call a goddess by her name so casually…』
“What goddess? Your voice practically reeks of being a hopeless masochist bitch.”
Rub, rub, through Maron’s hair.
Pat, pat, on the crown of her head.
『Haaah…♡』
“Haaah….”
【The target is shivering】
<Praise Points: +100(15200→15300)>
This really counts as a compliment?
I’m going crazy.
“As you heard, I’m short on time. I’ll come down and properly train you later, so hurry up and hand over the reward for your trial.”
『Haaah… You shouldn’t say that…』
“Fuck, you’re playing hard to get despite being a hopeless masochist bitch?”
『Heeung♡』
I pat Maron on the crown of her head, too.
“Hnngh♡”
That’s strange.
I think I heard a heart at the end of Maron’s voice, too.
『O-okay… I can’t give you everything, but I can bring out one thing, so I’ll offer you that!』
Whoooosh.
A bluish light gathered before the goddess statue and formed a single item.
‘Oh.’
This must have been the reward the goddess granted after you cleared this instance dungeon.
Let’s see.
What on earth will it be?
A powerful sword?
Equipment that boosts your stats?
A magical tool?
A grimoire that lets you learn powerful magic?
Or maybe—
Clink.
An object that looked suspiciously like a dog collar appeared.
“….”
“….”
No.
It’s too early to be sure.
If I inspect it, it might turn out to be something completely different—
〈Goddess’s Collar〉
Description: A collar that only its owner can remove. The creator goddess poured all her tastes into making it.
“It is a collar, you hopeless dog-masochist bitch!!!”
『Haaah♡』
“Don’t just go ‘haaah’! Don’t you have anything else!? Something useful, like a weapon, equipment, or a grimoire!!”
『Ah…! I thought this was what you wanted most…!』
Is this my fault!? Is it my fault that Seia mistook me for the kind of person who’d want something like this most of all!?
….
It is my fault!!
『You should’ve told me beforehand! There was a wonderful sword inside!』
“Then switch it for that!”
『I’m sorry. You can challenge my trial again in 5 hours and 58 minutes….』
So it’s a dungeon with an entry cooldown!?
“Everchess! I’m coming down now!”
‘Damn it…!’
I can’t just leave it lying here, so I pick up the collar and put it in my inventory.
“Are you near the torch over there!?”
I looked up and saw Professor Kadisha climbing down a rope.
Wearing a skirt.
Black.
Lace.
“Liam! Don’t look up!”
“W-wait, what!? Is it showing!?”
“I’m not looking!”
“You saw what color they were!?”
“….”
“Everchess! You shameless pervert!!”
“Is this my fault, too!?”
“You shouldn’t have looked—Aah!?”
When I looked up, the professor was falling from above.
‘Oh no!’
Professor Kadisha was a capable fighter. There was a good chance she wouldn’t die even if she fell like that.
But my body moved on instinct.
I ran beneath her before she hit the ground and caught her.
“Ghk…!”
“Ugh…!”
The impact of our bodies colliding.
A stinging sensation.
But I managed to keep it at that.
“Phew… Are you all right!?”
“…You smell nicer than I expected.”
“…Professor Kadisha?”
“!?!?”
Professor Kadisha hurriedly sprang to her feet.
“S-sorry, Miss Clearias!”
“Why are you apologizing to Maron instead of me…?”
“It’s all right. I forgive you.”
“Why are you accepting her apology…?”
『Yaaawn… Well, I’ll turn this terminal off again now…』
“Who just spoke… Wait, is this the Temple of the Seven Gods!?”
『Please make sure to clear my trial properly next time you come… And me, too, u-uhuh♡』
“Everchess! Have you even extended your wicked influence to a goddess now!?”
Ah.
I want to go home.
.
.
.
“Ughhh….”
As soon as I got home, I collapsed onto the sofa.
‘I’m tired.’
I wasn’t physically tired, but the mental exhaustion was awful.
‘…Still, I did make some progress.’
The scenario quests of this world.
I was starting to see the whole picture.
The front door opened, followed by the sound of a woman’s footsteps.
“Hey, boy, what do you want for dinner?”
“…When did I give Lucy a key to my house?”
“You never did. I made a copy.”
“I see.”
Lucy hesitated and glanced at me nervously.
“S-sorry. Do you really hate it? If you really do, I won’t do it again.”
“I don’t mind, but ask me first next time.”
“Okay! Sorry! What do you want for dinner?”
“Anything.”
“Want me to make that spicy stir-fried pork you mentioned before?”
“That sounds good.”
Spicy pork stir-fry is always a good choice. Especially after enjoying a leisurely course meal yesterday.
Right, it was just yesterday. We’d stopped by Yuru Lapin’s shop, full of bunny girls.
‘Why are there so many events packed into every day?’
Why do you think?
Because I’m a transmigrator who sticks his nose into all kinds of events.
“By the way, Maron contacted me. She wants the three of us to go to Lapin’s shop again this Saturday.”
“….”
I’m suddenly starting to feel tired.
“Boy?”
“No, let’s go.”
Even if I’m tired, I have to see the bunny girls.
Yeah.
Especially if it’s Maron and Lucy in bunny-girl outfits, I have to see it.
Absolutely.
‘Speaking of those two…’
【Bond Quest - Icebound Star】
〈To Keep You from a Lonely End〉
Objective: Bind her to prevent her frozen fate
Reward: Connection with the Icebound Star (LV.2)
This still hasn’t shown any sign of clearing, no matter how long I wait.
‘Was I misunderstanding what “bind” meant?’
I thought it meant staying by Lucy’s side so she wouldn’t be lonely, but there’s been no response at all.
Suddenly, I remembered.
The item I’d acquired today.
Seia’s collar flashed through my mind.
‘…Huh?’
What if…
What if “bind” meant it literally?
“Lucy.”
“What?”
“…Never mind. Let’s eat first.”
But then…
“Let’s try something together after dinner.”
Clatter.
“W-what… are we going to try together?”
“Hmm….”
How should I explain it?
“Probably something you’ll like.”
Clatter.
“…Okay.”
Lucy whispered in an excited voice.
“I think… I might like it, too.”
“Do you even know what I mean?”
“…You’re so mischievous, honestly. Are you trying to make me say it out loud?”