After entering my office, Armonia began her explanation.
"This mission will involve traveling to two locations."
"Two locations?"
"Yes. However, while we have gathered a lot of preliminary information on one of the regions, the Zodiac has almost no information on the other."
The first region was a world where humans and monsters were in conflict.
Dungeons appeared everywhere, and people made money by clearing these dungeons and selling the weapons that dropped from them.
Monsters also appeared, and people hunted them to sell their corpses.
In other words...
"It's a hunter-type world?"
"I'm glad you're familiar with the concept. The good news is that it's a parallel world to the one you used to live in."
"...Parallel?"
"To put it simply, aside from the existence of monster organizations, monsters, and dungeons, most concepts align with the world you used to live in."
"Oh... that sounds good."
The place I would warp to was also South Korea.
"However, you need to be careful."
Armonia cautiously warned me.
"Even though we'll have the Zodiac's support this time, you'll be infiltrating as a member of the monster faction."
There are various types within the monster faction, she explained.
There are true monsters with mixed monster blood, and then there are human followers of the monsters.
"You'll be disguised as a human affiliated with the monsters, but if your cover is blown, things could get complicated."
"Got it, I'll be careful."
"I'll provide more details later. The real issue is the next world."
The second world.
It's a world where random individuals from across the universe are summoned to the cosmic tree Yggdrasil and must break through its layers.
In other words...
"It's a tower-climbing world."
"I'm glad this also feels familiar, but the Zodiac has very little information on this world, so they couldn't provide much."
She explained that providing incorrect information could put me in danger.
"However, I'll sift through the basic information and share it with you when the time comes."
"Okay, got it."
"Now, let me go over some precautions."
"Precautions?"
Armonia warned me to be careful about speaking out loud carelessly during communication.
"Please be careful not to make the same mistake as last time with Luna Stadtfeld in Stura."
"Hmm... It's a bit awkward to communicate through thoughts... but okay, I'll be careful."
It's just that... speaking out loud feels more satisfying, you know?
But if it's a problem, I'll have to fix it.
"At the very least, please only do so in private spaces like your bedroom or when no one is around."
"Okay, I'll be careful."
After hearing my response, Armonia continued.
"There's also something I need to tell you about the warp."
"Huh? Did the cost increase?"
Did the number of people increase, causing the billing cost to go up...?
But that wasn't the case.
"The warp cost is fixed at 800 Enels. However, this is about the number of uses."
Aside from paying Enels to use the warp, there's also a limit to how many times it can be used.
This wasn't an issue before since I was the only one using it, but she explained this in case I needed to call for backup during the mission.
"The warp on our ship can accommodate up to 5 people per use and takes 12 hours to recharge."
"And it can store up to 2 charges, right?"
"Correct. Also, the world we're going to next is one where digital video recording is easily accessible. Please be careful not to be seen when using the warp."
The issue wasn't the warp function being exposed.
If the warp is recorded and seen by the protagonist of the Sanctuary, they might notice our presence.
Armonia explained that it's better for our existence to be discovered as late as possible.
If they find out too soon, they might try to counter us, which would be troublesome...
"Lastly, there's one more thing I need to tell you."
"Go ahead, say it all."
"It's about Lena de Feron."
"...What now?"
I thought she was going to bring up the issue from last time again.
The main reason Lena was brought here was to help with Armonia's sleep issues.
The plan was for Lena to assist so that Armonia could sleep well while I was resting.
Armonia responded expressionlessly.
"I've decided to step back on that matter, so I won't say anything more."
"Then what...?"
"It's about your nighttime activities with her."
"...What? Why? Do you want to join? A threesome? Wow..."
"..."
"...Sorry, that's not it."
Armonia was expressionless, but I must have imagined her looking annoyed.
Armonia continued the conversation.
"Right now, Lena de Feron doesn't have a private living quarters. If you do it in the hallway, I won't stop you, but please refrain until she gets her own room."
"Huh? What about the office...?"
"That's not allowed here."
Armonia cut me off and spoke firmly.
Her demeanor was clearly warning me not to do it.
"Do not engage in such activities in the office."
It wasn't a request. It was an order.
Well, if the boss says so...
"Okay, got it. I'll hold off with Lena for now..."
"Thank you for understanding. The mission starts tomorrow, so please rest well until then. That's all..."
Armonia bowed to me and left the office.
"Too bad. The facilities here are nice."
Although the bed was single-sized, the office had the best facilities on the ship.
When it was just Viola, we could use her living quarters, but with Lena here, things have changed.
"...If it really comes to it, should I just do it in the hallway?"
It's a trashy thought, but being told not to do something makes me want to do it even more...
But I quickly changed my mind.
"No... Let's just focus on making money..."
Feeling the heavy burden of being the head of the household, I left the office.
***
"Hmm... Huh?"
Viola tossed and turned, sensing that the warm presence she should have felt in her arms was missing, and opened her eyes.
She was alone on the bed.
"Huu... Where did he go?"
With a lonely heart, Viola woke up and got out of bed.
She stood in front of the mirror in her living quarters, completely naked.
Her gravity-defying, elastic chest, her plump buttocks, and her beautiful pelvic line—there was nothing lacking in her body.
But that was by others' standards.
Viola had never felt pride or frustration about her body before.
To her, her body was just a body.
She had never compared herself to others, feeling either pride or deprivation.
But now, for the first time, she felt a sense of deprivation.
"...She was really beautiful."
Viola thought of Lena, who had been embraced by Suho.
She had never seen Lena fully naked, but just her appearance alone was enough to overwhelm her.
Viola's body was also surrounded by symbols of beauty, but in her eyes, she only saw the flaws.
As Viola turned her naked body in front of the mirror, someone knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Ah! J-Just a moment! Don't open the door!!"
Viola, worried that Armonia might force her way in, quickly changed her clothes.
After changing, she opened the door.
"Ah..."
With the sound of air pressure, the door opened to reveal Lena, with her long pink hair, standing on the other side.
Lena smiled gently and spoke.
"If it's okay with you, could we talk for a moment?"
Lena entered the room and bowed 90 degrees to Viola, apologizing.
"I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday."
"Ah, no! It's okay."
Viola, flustered by Lena's actions, helped her up.
Lena, with a serious expression, spoke.
"I deeply regret causing any harm to Master and hurting your feelings, Viola... It was my carelessness that caused you both trouble, and I'm truly sorry."
"Ugh... I-I'm the one who should apologize."
Viola felt a sense of envy as she looked at Lena.
The biggest charm Viola felt from Lena was her maturity.
A charm that Viola herself lacked.
Even with her own childishness, Viola could feel the overwhelming grace that Lena exuded.
Lena placed a hand on her chest and spoke respectfully to Viola.
"If you feel uncomfortable, I will do my best to avoid catching Master's attention."
"Huh!? N-No! It's not like that..."
Viola knew that Lena had come because she liked him.
But she couldn't understand why Lena would ask for her permission to act that way.
Lena smiled calmly at Viola and said.
"For me... just being by Master's side is enough."
Lena explained everything about herself to Viola.
How she had lived her life, how she had fallen to the depths of hell.
And the person who had thrown her a lifeline from the depths of hell.
She explained that just being able to occasionally gaze at the person who saved her was enough for her.
Viola was inwardly impressed.
'She's really... an amazing person.'
Lena also felt jealousy, but it was only at the level of ripples on the surface of water when a cup is moved.
Viola smiled bitterly and took Lena's hand.
"I've mostly lived alone..."
This time, Viola shared the story of her life.
Lena had heard about it in passing, but this was the first time she heard it directly from Viola's heart.
After hearing Viola's story, Lena reassessed her opinion of the hero she knew.
'...So he really was that kind of person. To think that we lived peaceful lives because of Viola's life...'
Lena genuinely felt sorry for Viola.
After finishing her story, Viola spoke.
"...It might sound like an excuse, but I really don't know much. Please take good care of Suho for me."
"But your feelings..."
"This is..."
"...?"
Viola smiled brightly and clasped Lena's hands with both of hers.
"I'm asking as a friend. Hehe..."
"...Okay, I understand. I'll... do my best."
Lena smiled calmly and shook hands with the smiling Viola.
***
"It's really inconvenient not having a living quarters..."
With Viola and Armonia, I could just go to their rooms if I needed them, but the two of them had to wander aimlessly through the hallway.
If they were unlucky enough to be in another room, they'd have to turn back, which could be troublesome.
As I headed towards the front of the ship, I saw Beatrice.
"..."
She was standing by the ship's side door, watching the excitedly flying jellyfish-like creatures outside.
'...Is she already bored?'
She seems to dislike being bored, but a day is too soon...
I approached Beatrice and spoke.
"What are you doing here?"
"Eek!"
Beatrice was startled and fell to the side.
Seeing it was me, she patted her chest and sighed in relief.
"Phew... You scared me, nya!"
"...Sorry, I just called out to you."
"Phew... I almost fell out, nya..."
"But why were you looking outside?"
This ship doesn't eject you into space just by opening the door due to pressure differences.
But if you go outside, that's a real problem...
The moment you step out, you're guaranteed to be lost in dimensions.
Well, you'd be torn apart at the quark level before that...
"I was just curious, nya. Are those things really stronger than the Demon King, nya?"
"Ah... I thought you were going to say something else."
I thought she was spacing out because she was bored, but she was spacing out because she was curious.
"Yeah. So, be careful. If you go out there, you'll just die."
"Wow... Got it, nya... But!"
"Yeah?"
Beatrice, as if she just remembered something, approached me.
"When are you going to give me clothes, nya?"
"...Ah."
I had forgotten, but I thought that matter was already settled.
Since we're going together anyway, clothes aren't necessary, right? The main goal is probably the pheromones on my body.
"I didn't forget. Since we're living together now, I didn't think it was important."
"Ugh! That's true, nya... But!"
"...?"
Beatrice hugged me and buried her face in my chest, sniffing me.
She smiled brightly as she sniffed.
"If I can do this every time we meet, that's enough, nya!"
"You're a strange one..."
Seeing this makes me wonder if I could even have a relationship with Beatrice.
I feel a creeping sense of guilt because she seems so childlike?
'But with her weird tendencies, it's hard to tell...'
As I hugged Beatrice and patted her head, I heard a voice from behind.
"...Ms. Lena, is it weird to feel jealous of something like that?"
"...I don't think so. By my standards, Ms. Viola is normal."
The two women were looking at me with complex emotions.
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹