Time... is frozen?
Then doesn't that mean—if I ever run out of stamina while doing it—I could just hop to another world, recover, and then come back to continue...?
Damn it!
Why the hell did my thoughts go there first?!
Why was that the first thing that came to mind?
Ryuji was genuinely baffled. He had confirmed that time continued flowing after sending others back—Kiri dropping directly into the world of Arad was proof enough.
So… why was 7 Days to Die different?
Ryuji quickly brought up his skill panel, narrowing his eyes on the "Master of the 7 Days to Die Dimension" ability—which was now down to just 25%.
"Is it because of this?"
He wasn't sure, so he glanced at the other character avatars on his interface.
And just then, he noticed another change.
The six- or seven-figure energy point counts from before were gone—replaced by numbers in the hundreds. Tsunade, for instance, still had a high count at 1,000, but that was nowhere near the previous millions.
"Why? Is it the dimensional barrier? Or distance? …Whatever. It's not like I can fix it right now anyway."
He shook his head, dismissing the thought.
At that moment, that familiar, almost euphoric sensation returned—his body once again surged with tenfold strength. The gravity effects that had been weighing him down faded until they were barely noticeable.
"…Huh?"
Ryuji was tempted to test whether he could abuse this bug to become stronger quickly, but there were more important matters to deal with—namely, talking to Lux.
After all, now that his stamina had recovered to ten times from its normal level… if he kept staring at a half-dressed Lux much longer, he will do something very unnecessary.
"Yes, Kiri is safe now. As for the armor—well, I figured I might run into a Blood Moon in this world, so I equipped it just in case. But… how did you know it was me? You shouldn't have been able to see my face."
He gave a brief explanation, then rotated his helmet and took it off.
"Just a feeling, I guess?" Lux replied, still confused. "Also… it feels like a lot of time passed for you…"
She studied his sweat-slicked face. There was something different about him. Some strange new aura.
"Maybe just your imagination," Ryuji deflected instinctively.
He didn't know why he was hiding the truth about the frozen time—but his gut told him to keep it to himself. So he simply extended a hand toward her.
"Anyway, I can send you back now. Would you like to go?"
"Huh?"
Lux stared at him in surprise.
"I gathered some energy from another world," Ryuji said. "More than enough to cover your transfer fee. So if you're ready, I can send you home now. Aren't you in a hurry?"
His outstretched hand looked like a temptation in Lux's eyes—but she still shook her head.
"No… I think I should handle this on my own. Besides, Mr. Ryuji, I want to study the powers of this world a little more…"
"I've already done that," Ryuji replied calmly. "Most of the system-based items don't work. The inventory and some limited functions do, but anything requiring a crafting bench or advanced tools won't function. As for materials, basic stuff like wood and stone can be gathered, but I haven't found any iron ore, so I'm not sure if it's compatible. Also, building modules are completely unusable."
He had thoroughly tested it himself. Attempts to construct things using the system's digital interface failed in the other world. He could still use the inventory and hold items—but only what was physically in hand.
For example, his pickaxe could still break down a cubic meter of dirt in a few swings—but the result wasn't clay or anything special, just a dirt block. Worse still, he couldn't place or drop that block; taking it out meant it immediately manifested as a full one-cubic-meter lump of dirt.
He hadn't encountered iron ore yet, so he couldn't confirm anything on that front—but most of his usual powers were useless in the dungeon world.
Trees and stone, at least, followed similar logic to 7 Days to Die. They could be used from the inventory, but once taken out, they became native to this world's format. Why? He had no idea.
"I see…" Lux's expression dimmed a little.
She'd hoped to bring some of this world's powers back with her, but now it seemed that wasn't going to happen. Without workbenches or crafting stations, this system was nearly useless.
"Well then, let's continue gathering energy, Mr. Ryuji."
Her tone was serious. Even though he said his energy was full, Lux still wanted to be cautious.
After all, if Ryuji didn't actually need energy points for his abilities, she didn't satisfy him…
No matter what, Lux is of noble birth. Although she is naïve and has some problems in her brain, she still has some thoughts on this point.
She had already paid a price for rushing in thoughtlessly once.
"I'm serious, Lux. I can send you back right now…"
Ryuji could guess what she was thinking.
He did like her, after all…
Well, in a more… let's say erotic way. Plus, she was the first non-meta hero he ever used—so there was some emotional attachment.
But Lux remained firm.
"I need to handle my own problems. Let's just say this is my goal now. I've always relied on others too much."
She had already given of herself—and she had no intention of stopping halfway.
"…Alright then. But I need to wash up first. If you ever want to stop, I can send you back at any time."
Ryuji, whose will was never that firm to begin with, decided to take a bath—to wash away the scent and… bodily fluids from Seria.
It was the most respectful thing he could do.
"Mhm, got it."
Lux nodded.
As Ryuji walked off toward the designated open area to clean himself and think, he didn't notice Lux watching the door close behind him. Once it shut, she took out a bucket.
She was going to bathe, too—and clean her backside.
Her mouth had proven too slow, and she'd nearly choked several times. So now she planned to use the knowledge she'd recently acquired… knowledge she had intended to put into practice anyway.
Watching the water start to boil, Lux felt the weight of her decision.
She knew exactly what it meant: soon, she'd be using that hot water to cleanse her insides.
"Even if I technically stay 'pure' this way, what's the point of that purity? It's just self-deception…"
She curled her knees up, huddling slightly as her face turned resigned. Though Ryuji didn't seem like a liar, she couldn't take anything for granted.
Whether she thought positively or negatively, she had to be the kind of person who could lead her people forward.
"This kind of thing really is difficult…"
She sighed.
To Lux, whether it was with her mouth or… from behind, it all felt like betrayal to the husband she had yet to meet. Sleeping with Ryuji directly wouldn't be much different.
But this was all she could do now. And honestly, the only reason she was "preserving" her front side was because it might one day be useful to maintain her "purity."
Something she no longer truly believed in.
But she had to do it—because she was Luxana Crownguard. The people of Demacia had raised her, supported her, and now she had to give everything to protect them.
This was her duty.
Since this was the only way she could return to help the people of Demacia, then there was no room for self-pity or hesitation.
Lux's gaze grew resolute.
Break it up over a few days to ease the strain on her mouth?
No—since the powers of this world had limited effect, then the sooner she left, the better. She couldn't afford to waste even a day or two!
Meanwhile, soaking in the barrel he had filled earlier and feeling the water gradually warm, Ryuji suddenly heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
He thought it was Lux. But when he turned around, he saw Rias instead. And before he could say a word, she spoke.
"What have you done, Ryuji? Ever since you came back, my mind has been flooded with messages… It's as if this world is rejecting you. Ryuji, this world wants me to take back the power from you."
"Huh?"
Ryuji was confused. This world wanted Rias to take back his powers?
Although Rias hadn't taken immediate action, Ryuji quickly opened the portal interface, ready to leave the moment things turned dangerous.
But what Rias said next shocked him even more.
"It says, that because you transferred this world's powers to gods of other worlds, accelerating this dimension's collapse. So it wants to reclaim your powers—probably stuff like your inventory and other features. The world's voice was broken and hard to hear, but it offered me a reward: ownership of this entire dimension, to become its ruler and preserve its existence."
"So basically, it just wants to take everything back."
Ryuji was a little reluctant, but if it had to be done, he wouldn't fight it. After all, accelerating a dimension's collapse sounded serious, and he wasn't looking to take the blame.
"But will I die? Or end up disabled or something?"
As soon as he asked, a strange rhythm appeared. There was no sound, no tone—just a feeling. Yet somehow, Ryuji understood it.
'No, as long as you agree, nothing like that will happen.'
That's probably what the message meant.
Ryuji smiled, still ready to jump to Seria's world at any moment, but he wanted to show he wasn't going to resist unnecessarily.
"If I'm not going to die, then I'll—"
But just as he was about to agree, a soft, pale hand suddenly covered his mouth.
"Don't you dare agree, Ryuji. If you do… then I'll become the ruler of this dimension."
It was Rias.
"Huh?"
Ryuji was full of questions. Wasn't being the ruler of a dimension a good thing?
Seeing the doubt in his eyes, Rias explained.
"It's not a good job at all. This is a dying dimension. The reason it keeps pulling newcomers here every so often is because it's desperately searching for a new ruler. Before you, countless people were dragged here… but you're different. You appeared on your own—and you have the power to send others back. The consciousness of this dimension only knows that you're a very unlucky ordinary person who nearly died multiple times, and that you come from a world with no magic or supernatural powers, but an extremely terrifying world."
Rias chuckled as if she found it all amusing, but her hand stayed firmly over Ryuji's mouth, continuing to speak.
"Because this dimension is so weak, it can't even reclaim your power by itself. So if I became its ruler, I'd be trapped here for eternity, never able to return to my own world. Sure, I'd gain immortality, but that life is tied to this dimension. If it gets destroyed, I'll die too—completely, utterly, forever. My family would forget I ever existed. What's worse, my peerage would lose all memory of me. Their powers would remain, but they'd be branded traitors to the Gremory clan—and they would die. I could never allow that. I would rather die myself than become this dimension's ruler!"
"So, if you let me become the ruler, then I, Rias Gremory, swear upon my name and that of my great ancestors—at the moment I become ruler, I will freeze your time, tear your body apart, and leave you with nothing but a brain. You'll never leave here. Believe me—the world told me I could do it!"
"..."
Ryuji was speechless. He hadn't watched much of High School DxD, so he had no idea Rias would go to such lengths for her servants—she was even willing to give up immortality.
If he remembered correctly, demons and angels in her world had finite lifespans, so having children was essential.
Even so, through her hand, Ryuji could feel how fast her heart was racing.
"If you understand, blink."
The moment she said that, her heart beat even faster.
Ryuji blinked, and Rias finally let go of his mouth.
But her hand didn't move away.
"Don't worry, I'm not crazy. I have someone important I need to see. I only came here to help Lux leave. As for you—I didn't care one bit."
Ryuji was telling the truth. Rias was beautiful, sure—but he wasn't about to make a move on her.
"Hah… That's changed now."
Rias took a deep breath and made a decision.
If others could leave this place after being with Ryuji, then maybe she could too.
"I can use my mouth to… do that kind of thing for you. Or you can enter my body directly. But the second option comes with a condition."
Rias held out a demon chess piece again.
"Not interested," Ryuji replied immediately.
But Rias didn't stop talking.
"Become a demon. Become my husband. With my help, grow stronger—strong enough to defeat the heir of the Phoenix family. Because after doing such things with someone, I could never pretend it didn't happen and marry someone else!"
"Still not interested."
Ryuji's answer remained firm.
He now realized Rias's attitude toward her peerage was far more intense than he'd expected—but still, he declined.
Rias sighed and then spoke again, this time with proud defiance.
"Well then, after Lux leaves... let me relieve your loneliness with my mouth instead. But remember—I keep my promises. No matter where you speak of this, I can freeze time in an instant... and reduce you to nothing but a brain!"
Her tone was sharp, but Ryuji could still detect the faintest tremor of unease beneath it.
Clearly, she was just as afraid of him pushing things to mutual destruction.
Ryuji scratched his chin in exasperation. In this standoff where neither side dared strike first, he figured he might as well offer a constructive suggestion.
"Why don't you give me a blowjob right now, and I'll send you home right after? You already know Lux... gave me a blowjob, you must also know I've got plenty of energy to spare—"
But Rias cut him off.
"Are you looking down on me?!"
Her voice carried an odd, defiant pride.
"A Gremory never relies on others! If a mere human can do it, then so can I! I'll match Lux move for move—don't you dare underestimate me!"
Her agitation was palpable. And just like with Lux, Ryuji realized she'd completely overthought things.
"I swear, you people complicate everything..."
His sigh seemed to strike a nerve. Rias hesitated, then slowly extended her hand—only to freeze mid-reach.
Ryuji frowned in confusion—until it hit him.
"I could just have Lux leave first, but... as a token sincerity in our... agreement..." She took a sharp breath. "...I'll... use my mouth on you first."
She was really worried that Ryuji might run away, go back on his words, or something else...
So she'd decided to... give Ryuji a try and then use her again.
Just to be safe.
Ryuji : "..."
He'd guessed her logic, and in a twisted way, it made sense from her perspective. But that didn't stop the whole situation from being utterly absurd.
Still, now that she'd laid her cards on the table, he had a few things to say too.
"Right, right. But Miss Gremory, if this is a transaction, what exactly am I getting out of it?" His voice turned icy. "I have zero interest in you. The others either had a good relationship with me or chose to trade their bodies for a ticket home. You? You're neither. From the moment you got here, you've done nothing but cause me trouble."
Rias actually took a step back.
Had she simply asked to leave, he might've complied. But that entitled attitude—the sheer presumption that he owed her cooperation?
That, he refused to tolerate.
"Guh—"
For once, Rias had no retort.
~~~~~~~
Bonus chapter every 200 PS.