Chapter 52
My dreams were always nightmares.
And today was no different.
The statue of Goddess Lilia suddenly transformed into a female giant, ran towards me, and snatched me up.
"No!! I normalized the temple!! I discovered the elixir source!! I healed the sick!! I saved the empire!! I did everything!!"
Despite my screams, Goddess Lilia answered with an incredibly wicked smile, "What's this about faking being a saint? You bastard."
"Ahhh!!"
I was carried by the goddess and fell into hell.
It was such a common nightmare that it wasn’t even surprising anymore.
But today, the dream content was a little different.
As I was falling into hell like that.
Suddenly, a giant of enormous size appeared and saved me.
The giant's appearance was quite...
Rugged.
That appearance.
Gigachad?!
It's Gigachad!!
"Saint-y. What are you so afraid of?"
At Gigachad's words, I burst into tears from sadness.
"I'm so scared of going to hell! Gigachad! I don't want to live like this! This isn't the isekai life I imagined!!"
At those words, Gigachad laughed.
"Then what kind of isekai life would you like? Tell me honestly, Saint-y."
The isekai life I wanted.
"I wanted to become a harem king. If you come to another world, it should be a harem, right?!"
"I agree. If you come to another world, it should be a harem. That's the manliest behavior."
"And I wanted to be really cool at fighting and... What? I wanted to be that kind of person!! Not a life where I'm afraid of falling into hell!!"
Gigachad gestured, and three women rose from the ground.
Iomene and Almene.
And Erpha.
Ah.
Erpha.
Those four arms really get me going every time I see them.
I wonder how many different things would be possible with those four arms.
And look at Iomene and Almene too!
Such beautiful girls in, two-for-one package!!
Come on, it’s two-for-one people!!
I want to do it.
The thing I hate most in this world is a dense protagonist.
A development where the heroine confesses but the guy goes "Eh? Me?" like a dense idiot is what I hate most in this world!!
I'm telling you I hate it the most!!
I'm not dense.
I want to do it.
I want to do it with those three!!
"Then just do it! Saint-y!"
"You don't understand, Gigachad."
I shook my head, whimpering, "The goddess said she'd throw me into hell. She said I'd die at the hands of those I love. My ending is set as a bad ending, so how... how can I accept their feelings? Should we all become unhappy together?"
As I muttered depressingly, suddenly Gigachad's expression turned grim.
"You’re fucking stupid!! Hey, Saint-y!!"
Gigachad pulled me close to his face.
His voice changed.
It was the very voice I heard when the future god Rupiel gave me a prophecy.
Gigachad spoke to me in the voice of a god.
[Go make those women yours!! I'm telling you to seize them with your own hands!! They're obviously showing that they like you!! If you just go for it, they'll be yours right away!!]
"That's not the problem!! I'm saying they'll become unhappy!!"
Gigachad shouted even more roughly at those words.
[You idiot Saint-y!! She's the Goddess of Grace!! She's the goddess who wrote in the scripture to heal people for free and take care of the weak!! You think the goddess would throw you, who lived most in accordance with her will, into hell? Does that make any sense!!]
"B-but…!"
[Haven't you thought that you might have misinterpreted the prophecy?! You might have interpreted it negatively because you're a coward and a pussy!]
That would be great.
But...
"But what if it's true! What if my interpretation is correct!!"
[Have you ever seen such a frustrating bastard!! Just ask the goddess!! Ask her if your interpretation is correct or wrong!! Ask before you think about running away!! Saint-y!!]
Asking the goddess directly.
It wasn’t that I hadn't thought about it.
But there was a reason I hadn't done it until now.
My fist clenched tightly.
"What if I ask the goddess and she officially confirms my interpretation is correct? What then, Gigachad? I... I don't think I could live. That's too scary."
To my question, Gigachad gave a truly characteristic answer.
[Even if your interpretation is correct! Are you just going to sit there whining like a pussy instead of thinking about overcoming it with your effort and perseverance?! If you want to be a harem king, you need to put in the appropriate effort! Saint-y!!]
At those words, I smirked.
Yeah.
Gigachad is right.
But effort, huh?
Can I overcome it with my effort when it's a divine being trying to get me?
No matter how I thought about it...
It seemed impossible.
Effort and perseverance were for opponents one could match, not for divine beings.
Gigachad.
"Thanks for the comfort, Gigachad. But still… I think it's right not to accept their feelings. I just can't…"
[You frustrating bastard. I knew you'd say that. You overly kind, foolish, and stupid little sheep. I've prepared something for you in advance!!]
"No… what are you doing!? Gigachad!"
Gigachad lifted me up.
He smiled at me.
[Don't worry, Saint-y. It's all for your sake.]
"What are you trying to do!? Why are you doing this!!"
[You have a lot to do in the future. So now is the time to rest. You need to relax and be happy. That's how you'll be able to endure the even heavier trials to come.]
Gigachad put me down in front of the three women.
Gigachad's voice changed.
[So do as I tell you, Saint Amael.]
I felt it instinctively.
The being who put me down in front of the women wasn’t Gigachad.
From the voice to the atmosphere.
It was someone else.
It's really creepy?
Who are you to appear in my dream?
"W-who are you......"
[Do it. Just do it and think later. For a coward like you, that's the only answer to get women.]
Gigachad disappeared after saying those words.
And suddenly, three naked women were clinging to my body.
No way, this is crazy!
What's with this sudden development!!
The two princess sisters were on both my arms.
And Erpha was preparing to dock on top of my body.
Wow.
This is too vivid for a dream...
Wait a minute.
Is this really a dream?
Is this really a dream?
The sensation feels too real?
No.
This isn't a dream!!
It's reality!!
[Activating skill Body Modification!]
The effects of alcohol fly away.
My mind, which had been wandering between dream and reality, returned to my body in an instant.
And then...
"W-wait a minute! What are you all doing!?"
I bounced up from my seat like a bullet.
***
Three women are watching me with their bodies barely covered by a blanket.
I was covering my face and laughing ridiculously.
Wow.
They made me drink and then tried to sleep with me?
The situation I only saw on certain websites had become reality.
I didn’t know if I should be happy about this.
Or angry.
After carefully choosing my words in my head.
I asked the three women a question, “I’ll ask you first. Why are you doing this? What the hell?”
Erpha carefully looked at my words and opened her mouth.
“Are you... angry?”
I honestly didn’t know.
I’d have to listen to an explanation first.
“I want to hear an explanation first. Why is that?”
Iomene and Almene carefully began to explain to my question.
The dream they had.
What they discussed with Erpha.
And the plan to make them drink and do it while they sleep.
After all the explanations were over, I was overcome with intense worry.
Three women.
The women I loved had already agreed to create a harem centered around me.
What kind of ridiculous situation is this?
It’s a situation where I can literally just fuck them like Gigachad.
On top of that, since they committed the crime of trying to rape me while I was sleeping, I had the upper hand in the relationship.
It’s just perfect.
It’s perfect, but...
[You will die by the hands of those who love you.]
Will they be unhappy?
That was the first thing I worry about.
“It’ll end up being a terrible excuse, but... I thought the saint would never accept us. Because of his personality, he would stubbornly refuse, saying there’s a chance that we could get hurt.”
Yes. That’s right.
That’s why I’m still hesitating.
“So we agonized over how we can open your heart? We thought about it and thought this would be the only way.”
“We thought that if we didn’t do this, the saint would end up carrying the heavy mission alone and collapse.”
That was also accurate.
Honestly, I wondered how much longer I could endure this state.
Maybe someday, the real princesses would have a mental breakdown like in a dream and collapse.
Yes.
That’s right.
It’s all true, but no matter what, you guys, you can’t just get me drunk and rape me.
“You know that’s all just excuses for your own conscience? No matter what, getting someone drunk and then raping them while their sleeping is too much. It’s a crime for a reason.”
The three of them bow their heads at my words.
The girls were flustered without saying a word.
I could see the crossroads of choice right before my eyes.
If this was a real game, there would have been two choices.
Number 1.
— You disgusting, dirty rapist bitches! I saved you with a smile and you dare spit on my face?! Get out of my sight right now! I don't want to see you again!!"
If one said this line once, it would immediately change direction to regret, exhaustion, and obsession.
Then what about number 2?
Accept their hearts and become the harem king.
For a short moment.
Many worries went through my head.
More than my happiness, would they be okay?
I worried a lot about that.
I stared at the goddess statue in silence.
The goddess statue hanging on one side of the room was always like that.
She was smiling affectionately.
Lilia, the goddess of grace.
The person I had been afraid of all this time, and who I never even had a proper conversation with.
Is Gigachad right?
Or am I right?
No one knew.
I clenched my fist.
Yes.
If I continue to live like this, anxiously, I will break, just like in the princesses' dream.
Let's do as Gigachad advised.
Let's talk to the goddess and if my prophecy interpretation is correct...
I don't know if it's possible with perseverance and effort.
Let's try to change the prophesied future as much as possible.
After making up my mind like that, I turned my gaze to the three women.
"You guys are so terribly selfish."
The three women's faces collapsed at my words.
"I'm sorry."
They apologized to me while sobbing.
They clenched their fists and started to cry.
"We won't ask you to forgive us. We just… we just hoped that the saint wouldn't break."
"We just hoped that the scene we saw in our dream wouldn't become reality..."
"We’re sorry, Saint."
This was a very typical start for a betrayal story.
But I, of course, rather than betrayal, I was leaning towards the power fantasy side.
If you've come to another world, of course!!
It's gotta be a harem!!"
“But you know what? I’m also very selfish.”
At my words, the three women raise their eyes with surprised faces.
I scratched the back of my head with a sigh.
"You'll regret it. You might regret loving me."
I might officially hear from the goddess, “Yes, your interpretation of the prophecy is correct. You're scheduled for hell after being burned at the stake by my followers.”
Then I'd have no choice but to run away as originally planned.
That would mean I'd be running away without responsibility after having a relationship.
"It doesn't matter."
"It could be very difficult."
In the worst case.
The entire world might reject and hate me, and try to kill me.
It would be fine if they betrayed me and looked out for themselves, but if they say they'd stay by my side until the end, they'd become very unhappy.
Because they'd have to throw away everything they had enjoyed until now.
"We only need you."
"People might try to kill me."
I smiled bitterly.
I wish this wasn't the ending either.
I sincerely hope it wasn't.
"The whole world might hate me. Because of that, you who are by my side might get hurt. Everything you've enjoyed until now. You might have to give it all up. In the worst case... you might die."
They acted selfishly.
They tried to sleep with me without even asking my opinion.
But I was selfish too.
Even though I clearly know there was a possibility they'd be unhappy.
I wanted to be happy with them.
"I like you all, too. But I'm scared you'll get hurt. Even so, I want you to love me."
I wish they could embrace me, comfort me, and build happy memories with me.
"It's selfish, right? This is the kind of man I am. The man you say you like."
Now I was the one watching their reactions.
“So, will you still love me?”
Instead, the three women rushed me, hugging me tightly.
"No matter what happens in the future. We will never regret loving you."
"We love you."
"If there are difficult and painful things, tell us about them, Saint. We'll do our best to help. We won't let you meet an unhappy ending. Never."
My hands tremble.
Until the very, very end.
I had to hesitate for a long time.
But soon, I made up my mind.
Gigachad.
Thank you.
I'll do as you advised.
Besides, with things set up like this, if I back out now, I’ll have to cut it off, damn.
I'd have to cut it off.
I hugged the three women back.
"I love you."
At my words, they press even more tightly against my body.
My “son” asked, [Dad!! Dad's favorite nude big titty nipple squeezing situation!! Is this the right time for me to do X? Yes?]
I gave my "son" the OK command.
Yes.
I won't hesitate anymore.
I'm going to negotiate with the goddess.
I'll be happy with the women I love.
How long do I have to live anxiously and fearfully?
The statue of the goddess of grace hanging on the wall smiled at me with the benevolent smile she always made.
I smiled at her too.
Faith?
I'll have it.
Good deeds?
I'll do it.
So please make me happy.
I'm confident that I can work harder in the future, so please…
What I wish for is very simple.
Let me be happy with the women I love.
***
That day, for the first time, I was able to spend time that suited my skills.
Sensory sharing and four arms.
It was awesome.
TL Note:
This was a very typical start for a betrayal story.
But I, of course, rather than betral, I was leaning towards the power fantasy side.
It uses 후피집 (Hupi-jip) which is the betrayed and revenge type stories, and instead of power fantasy its uses 대협 (Dae-hyeop) which is more like heroic epic.
The chapter for this title is actually 대협민규 which is Dae-hyeop Min-gyu (Min-gyu is Amael’s korean name if you forgot), so he’s basically saying, instead of just waiting to become the protagonist of a betrayal, regret story, I’ll be a great hero of an epic tale! And the trigger for this shift in genre of his own life(from his respective)? He just finally decided to get laid.