Chapter 48: Love is Difficult

Bang bang bang!

-Is Yuria here? It’s Lea. Please open the door.

Bang bang bang!

Lady Lea knocking on the door as if she’s about to break it down.

What should I do about this?

Is it okay to meet Lady Lea in a state where my clothes are almost completely stripped off (torn) in Yuria’s house?

“Sion, just hide for now. Let me properly assess what kind of personality the Lionel daughter has. I need to see for myself if she’s really suitable for you.”

“Should I really hide?”

“Yeah. Hide.”

Yuria told me to hide for now because Lady Lea might not open up if I’m in front of her.

‘Where should I hide?’

There’s nowhere suitable to hide except under the bed or inside the wardrobe.

‘There’s probably a lot of dust under the bed.’

Since Yuria doesn’t clean the house well.

I didn’t even want to imagine what state the area under the bed would be in.

Let’s just hide in the wardrobe.

‘This will do.’

I could check outside through the gaps in the wardrobe doors.

It seems perfect for observing the situation outside.

“Stop knocking and wait a bit. I’ll open it now.”

Yuria only opened the front door after confirming that I had hidden in the wardrobe.

‘Lady Lea and Rica?’

The lady and the female knight.

So the two of them came.

It seems Lien and Erica didn’t come.

Rica probably just came along as a bodyguard.

‘Wow, it’s intense…’

Yuria’s aura was unusual.

She said she’d examine Lady Lea’s tone, but it seemed like she was trying to overwhelm her with pressure from the start.

She must mean she’ll watch how she reacts.

It felt like Yuria was conducting her own entrance test.

“Welcome. You’re the young lady of the Lionel family, right?”

“Yes. Nice to meet you, Yuria. I’m Lea, an aspiring adventurer.”

“Right. Can I speak informally?”

“Yes. Please speak comfortably.”

“Good. So, what did you come all the way here to talk about with me? Even bringing a bodyguard.”

“My, don’t be so sharp. I didn’t come to fight. I just came to talk about Sion.”

Lady Lea didn’t shrink at all under Yuria’s pressure.

Rather, she laughed it off as if it was ridiculous.

‘She’s crazy. She just laughs this off?’

Even though Yuria was openly emitting killing intent as if telling her to get lost, there was no change in Lady Lea’s complexion.

She looks composed.

A perfect poker face indeed.

The extreme facial control that can be called a basic skill of nobles is being demonstrated even in front of a monster like Yuria.

Rather, Rica standing behind Lady Lea was slightly trembling.

She looked completely overwhelmed by Yuria’s aura.

She’s called the lady’s bodyguard knight, but that’s just a nice way of putting it.

The current Rica was no different from an ordinary person in front of a gold badge level powerhouse.

“Hmm. Talk about Sion? Why should I talk about my boyfriend with a woman who doesn’t know him well? Especially at this late hour.”

“I apologize for coming at such a late hour. I came earlier but you weren’t home, so I had no choice. But I think we need to talk about Sion. Because it seems you and I have come to like the same man.”

“You’ve come to like the same man? Don’t make me laugh. You must have known that Sion and I are already in that kind of relationship? Why are you trying to forcibly wedge yourself between us? What’s your purpose?”

“Purpose? Of course, it’s love. I’m passionately in love with Sion.”

An unwavering voice.

It sounded like there wasn’t a single lie in it.

If Lea’s words are true.

It would mean she’s passionate enough about me to challenge the huge wall that is Yuria.

However, Yuria didn’t easily believe Lady Lea’s words.

Rather, she pressured Lady Lea with a voice that seemed to say ‘How dare you talk about love?’

“You say you feel that level of love for a man you haven’t even met for a few days? You’ve come to love him enough to wedge yourself between lovers? Cut the crap. You have another purpose. Tell me the real reason you’re trying to approach Sion.”

Yuria’s voice was filled with anger.

She growls at Lea like a guard dog protecting its owner.

Yuria told Lady Lea to speak the truth.

As if she wouldn’t tolerate even a single lie.

As if she would immediately strike her down if she noticed anything strange.

Yuria demanded proof of love.

“Prove love? That’s funny. Is there any reason I should prove my feelings for Sion to you? My emotions are solely for Sion. Why are you trying to confirm that? Do you know that’s overstepping your bounds?”

Lea showed a slight sign of displeasure.

She didn’t care at all about Yuria’s anger.

Lady Lea didn’t back down even with the aura of a gold badge adventurer right in front of her.

She’s lofty.

Lady Lea never bowed her head even in the face of violence or overwhelming power.

She didn’t discriminate against her opponent.

She didn’t compromise either.

“Overstepping bounds? You’re the one overstepping bounds right now. Whether your reason for coveting my man is really love. Or if you’re trying to use your beauty to target his spatial pocket. I can’t allow you to have Sion without confirming that.”

“That’s quite funny. You’re not his mother-in-law. You’re quite stubborn. Throwing an unanswerable question in a situation where there’s no proper way to prove my feelings, and telling me to get lost if I can’t answer. How petty. Do I look like I’m doing such a petty thing just for a spatial pocket?”

“Because the spatial pocket is worth that much.”

“Of course it is to you. I thought Sion’s ability was enviable at first too. But even without the spatial pocket, I would have tried to have Sion. The two days I spent with him in the labyrinth were the most shocking and impressive event in my life.”

“It’s just two days.”

“Right. Just two days. But I changed in those two days. I learned the fear of the labyrinth. I realized the terror of death. And I vaguely understood what love is. Spatial pocket? Ha. I don’t need that. Money can solve that. I’m not obsessed with such abilities.”

Lady Lea, who had been pouring out words towards Yuria, soon took a breath.

She briefly stopped the words she had been pouring out with heightened emotions and regulated her breathing.

And at the moment when everyone’s attention was focused.

She opened her mouth again.

“I want him. I won’t unilaterally take him. Don’t try to monopolize him either. If you won’t share. I’ll have no choice but to make my next move.”

A firm will.

It was an expression of intent to fight to the end no matter what you say.

To this, Yuria retorted with a much weaker aura than before.

“There are many men in the world.”

“But you chose Sion in the end, didn’t you?”

“….That’s a valid point.”

Finally, Yuria was at a loss for words.

At Lea’s answer, Yuria offered seats to the guests.

Finally, the confrontation at the entrance ended and a proper conversation began.

“It’s a bit dirty, but sit down anyway. When you live as an adventurer, there’s no time to clean properly.”

“Well, I understand.”

Lea returned to polite speech.

She sat opposite Yuria.

“And I only have alcohol to drink. There’s no tea or juice. Would you like some wine?”

“Sure. I’ll drink whatever you serve.”

Soon Yuria hands wine to the lady and Rica.

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“Is that so? Suit yourself.”

Rica refused the wine.

As if fulfilling her duty as a bodyguard knight, she just stood behind the lady staring into space without moving.

‘I can’t see well.’

I couldn’t see Yuria and Lady Lea because of the angle.

I could only see Rica standing uncomfortably.

‘When should I come out? Do I have to stay trapped in the wardrobe?’

After some time passed, I started feeling slightly uncomfortable and stuffy.

This is a problem. I missed the timing to come out.

Should I wait a bit longer until their conversation ends?

“Sigh. Look. No matter how much you like Sion, it can’t be. I liked him first. I flirted first. I drooled first.”

“I like him too. I flirted for the first time in my life too. I haven’t drooled yet… I lose in that aspect. Well, it’s fine. I’ll drool soon so it doesn’t matter much.”

“Don’t drool on what’s mine.”

“Why is Sion yours? You’re not even engaged in the first place. Please stop acting like you own him.”

“Huh. We’re going to get engaged soon.”

“Seems we think alike? I’m planning to get engaged to Sion too.”

“You. Don’t you know your place?”

“What order is there in getting married?”

“No matter how much you jabber, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m the first.”

“Be the first. What does order matter? It’s a fight where the one who’s loved more wins.”

“You little brat.”

“Above all, I’ve already given Sion my first.”

“What? First?? What do you mean you gave your first? What are you saying?”

“My first experience, you could say.”

“First experience?”

“Yes. I still vividly remember that time. That magnificent thing he pulled out in front of me… That large and long thing between his thighs… Ah. That violent shape is still messing up my mind.”

“What are you…”

“It was in the labyrinth. In a space with just the two of us, he took off his pants and…”

“Wait..! Hey!!! Sion. Sion! What is this about!”

Yuria called for me.

No, what the hell is she talking about?

First experience..!

I haven’t touched Lady Lea yet.

This is unfair!

Lady Lea was the one who told me to take off my pants.

I didn’t assault her.

There wasn’t any other incident besides her grabbing my dick!

Feeling wronged, I finally came out of the wardrobe.

“No, first experience! Lady! What are you saying!”

“Oh my. Sion. You were hiding in quite an indecent state?”

“Ah, this is…”

“See? I made him like that. I stripped him completely. And he took my first experience too!”

“Huh? So what? Are you bragging about tearing off all his clothes? To think you’d try to forcefully take a man. Sion, a woman who tries to overpower you. Isn’t that unattractive? I’m gentle.”

“You bitch…!”

“You know, Sion. He took off his pants in front of me and pulled out his dick without me even asking. He took it off on his own without me forcefully tearing his clothes like that to try to eat him. The difference in charm is clear, right?”

“Wait, is that true…? Sion. It’s not, right? Sion.. I put up an iron wall and. Kept my distance for months. But you showed your dick to a noble lady after just two days? No. No. My Sion.. There’s no way. It was so damn hard to eat you. But you gave a free pass to another woman. No!!!”

“That’s right! It’s not true! Lady Lea! Why are you doing this! No, you were the one who told me to take it off back then!”

“You heard that, Yuria? He admits he took it off in front of me. If he immediately takes it off when told to in a life-or-death situation. That means Sion had feelings too. This might be something you don’t know about, Yuria. But we made incredible progress in just two days.”

“W-what is this.. My Sion.. I feel like I’m going to turn evil. Acting pure with me. Never approaching me first. What do I lack compared to that bitch.”

“No, Yuria. That’s not it. Lady! I only pulled out my dick, I didn’t take anything off! I had no choice but to protect your mental state…”

“You showed your dick to a virgin to protect her mental state? Sion, what are you saying? Don’t you feel how strange that sounds even as you say it?”

Even I thought it was an extremely strange logic.

But at that time, it felt like the right thing to do.

My intention to relieve the lady’s stress by doing something naughty.. my kindness.. was distorted.

Ah. This is ruined.

I fell for the lady’s scheme.

A malicious plan to drive a wedge between Yuria and me, get rid of Yuria, and then have me all to herself.

Yuria really looked dejected.

She seems angry thinking that I put up every wall possible with her but pulled out my dick in front of a lady I met just two days ago.

That’s not it.

I didn’t pull it out because I liked it, but because I had no choice but to let her touch it to protect the lady’s mental state that was about to burst in a crisis situation.

How should I explain this from where?

As I was thinking about how to comfort Yuria, not knowing where to start.

The female knight Rica, who heard the lady’s story, asked in a voice that seemed shocked.

“Hey, porter. Did you really pull out your dick in front of the lady?”

“Rica, you stay out of this! You weakling!”

“Urk…..”

Rica sat down.

My words seemed to give her a severe mental shock on top of her already bruised ego from the gap with Yuria.

Words just came out because my head was complicated.

I’m sorry but it couldn’t be helped.

I’m already busy enough dealing with Yuria and Lady Lea, if Rica joins in too my brain won’t be able to handle it.

“L-let’s all calm down for now. Let’s not keep making the situation worse like this. Lady, please refrain from fabrication and incitement. Yuria, you trust me, right?”

“Yeah.. I trust you. There must have been circumstances. You didn’t ejaculate, right?”

“I didn’t cum!”

“Hohoho. Yuria, I was just teasing a bit, so don’t feel too down. You tested me too, so let’s call it even.”

Is this what you’d call noble-like?

She definitely returns exactly what she receives.

As I was admiring Lady Lea’s actions of thoroughly repaying both grace and grudges, she looked at me with half-closed eyes.

“And Sion, you were supposed to come see me today but didn’t, so you’ll forgive this much teasing, right?”

“Huh..? Ah.”

That’s right.

I was supposed to go see her today.

I forgot because of Olivia.

“You said you’d come so I kept waiting. But you never showed up until the end?”

“I-I’m sorry. I was busy with various things today.”

“You were busy?”

“Well…”

Just as I was about to make excuses to the lady.

Creak…

The door to the guest room opened.

“Wh-who… are you…?”

Olivia came out looking scared.

She seemed to have woken up from the commotion.

“Who is that girl…?”

“Sh-she’s a slave I brought today.”

“A slave, I see. Right. So that’s how it was. You forgot all about your promise with me because you were fooling around with a slave.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Hey, Sion.”

“Y-yes? Yuria.”

“Why are you making excuses to that woman instead of comforting me?”

“Well. This is. Ugh. Ughhh!”

It’s a mess.

I tried my best to sort out this situation.

How can I neatly resolve this bizarre situation?

I don’t know.

I really don’t know.

A method. I need to find a method.

Something I can obtain here, right now.

‘Alcohol.’

Yuria’s apartment was full of alcohol.

And my inventory is full of snacks.

I’ve got the answer.

“For now. Let’s all have a drink while we talk.”

If we’re slightly drunk, won’t the sharp words towards each other soften a bit?

“Well, I came to talk too, so that’s fine.”

“Alcohol. Yeah, alcohol is good. Sion, do you have snacks? Should I go buy some?”

“No, I have some here. Yuria, just sit comfortably.”

As I took out the snacks from my inventory, Yuria and Lady Lea sat facing each other at the table again.

“Hey, Rica.”

“Am I… really that weak…”

“Rica, I’m sorry for saying harsh things earlier. Would you like to go exercise with me tomorrow? I’m planning to register at the martial arts hall. Let’s go register together. Since Rica probably doesn’t have money now. I’ll pay your first month’s fee for you. Let’s get stronger together. Okay?”

“Martial arts hall..? Exercise? Get stronger? Ooh…”

“Yes. I want to get stronger. Isn’t it the same for you, Rica?”

“I want. I want to get stronger too.”

“Yes yes. Let’s get stronger together.”

“Good. Exercising is best when you have someone to do it with. Do you lift weights?”

Rica, who had been sitting down dejected, perked up again when we talked about exercise.

“I-is this… a wine glass…”

“Yeah. Olivia. You just sit still too.”

“Ah.. Okay..”

I immediately stopped her as she tried to set up glasses even though she can’t see.

She might break all the dishes at this rate.

‘This is dizzying. Four women. I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion.’

Yuria and Lea, then Rica and Olivia.

I set up the glasses and took out alcohol, ice, and snacks to set the table.

Somehow I ended up doing all of this.

“Alright. Let’s drink for now.”

I prepared high-proof alcohol.

Let’s just feed them and put them all to sleep.

That seemed like the best thing to do.