125-CHAPTER 124




'Yo. Are you done talking? I'm tired of waiting.

As I walked out the gate of the mayor's mansion, a red-haired young man and his female partner were still waiting for me.
After seeing them for so long, I'm sure I'll remember their names by now - Glenn and Cecilia, I think.

However, from the way Cecilia has been behaving, I think it would be more accurate to call her Glenn's valet rather than his partner.
Considering the fact that she herself is a B-ranked competitor, and considering the personality of the young man named Guren, there are many puzzling aspects to this combination.

But in any case, if I had to pick a leader out of the two, it would definitely be Glenn.
I turn to him and say.

'I didn't ask you to wait for me,' I said.

'I have business to attend to here.

'I don't understand why you B-rankers are so interested in us E-rankers.

'Pull it out, what's E rank? I can smell it on you. You smell like me... a strong man.'

'............. ...... So, what's your errand?

It didn't feel good to be treated like this young man, but on the other hand, it was true that I too could smell what he called 'scent'.

In other words... this guy has a lot of class.
As a warrior, he's as good as Irene, who is known as a genius swordswoman, or even better...

But that rank does not promise integrity of character.
And then he utters what can be described as the ultimate word.

'Yes, yes, an errand. What I mean by errand is this. Give me those fine women you've got around you.

I was speechless when Glenn said that.
This is what I mean when I say I'm speechless.

What was most appalling was that there was no respect for others in his statement, not just in this one.
In particular, he treats women as objects, as if they were the property of men.

There are many other things that are beyond the scope of this article: .......
But still, I think I should make my stance clear.

I thought about it and was about to reply, but before I could, Glenn turned his hand to me and made a gesture of stillness.

'Wait a minute, just hear me out.

'I don't think it's worth listening to ....... And your ramblings are unpleasant to listen to.'

'I see. I'll make it short. Let's make a bet.'

That's what he said.
I'm not a betting man... I was going to say that, but it would be a hassle to hear it all again.
I silently nudged Glenn to go on.
He chuckles and continues on.

'The game is to see how many of those Rockworms and other insects we can kill. The bet is on each other's women. I'm betting on Cecilia here.

With that, Glenn grabbed the silver-haired, black-robed beauty standing beside him and held her tightly in one arm.
The woman named Cecilia, who had been made to do so, was nestled in his arms, a thin smile on her lips, and she was looking at him as if to provoke him.

Glenn's way of thinking was out of the ordinary, but the woman, Cecilia, was also quite puzzling.
She probably adores Glenn as a member of the opposite s*x, but even if that's the case - or perhaps that's why I can't help but feel a sense of discomfort at the way she's being treated as if she's an exchange for gambling and doesn't seem to have a single complaint.
Is he being brainwashed by some kind of magical means or something?

And it seems that I wasn't the only one who had that strange feeling.

'Hey, you... Cecilia, was it? Why are you happily following that scumbag?

It was Satsuki who asked that.
Looking at them, Mi and Cyril seemed to agree with Satsuki, though they didn't say so.

On the other hand, when Cecilia heard this, she giggled in Guren's arms.

'Hey, Guren-sama, he's a scumbag. He's such a child that he can't even understand Guren-sama's charm, and you still want him?

'Hey, hey, have you put the past behind you yet, Cecilia? You didn't like me at first either.''

'Mmm......, well, that's true. But now I'm crazy about you, you know?

'I know, you idiot.

'Yank!

Glenn stroked Cecilia's hair with his free hand.
Cecilia was happy to be left to her own devices.

'...... It doesn't look like you've been brainwashed or anything like that.

'It looks like. I don't know how you can fall in love with something like that at all.

'I agree with you.

That's what Cyril and Mee were saying when they saw the man and woman engaged in skinship.
But then Cecilia, who had been released from the head stroking, struck back.

What's so interesting about being with a man whose morals are just like walking around in clothes. It doesn't thrill you, does it? Doesn't it excite you? You won't even teach me the pleasures of womanhood, will you?''

'''Haaaaahhh!

My girls all shouted at the same time.

...... Oh, oh, I'm so surprised .......

''Baaaaaaack! What are you talking about, it's so tantalizing and exciting!

It's a good idea. Oh, I get it, I get it. That's not Satsuki or Cyril, that's a real b*tc*. She can't understand the most important feeling of all, that of being happy just to be with the person she loves.'

'That's true. And I feel sorry for her because she thinks that immorality is a man's charm and that she is an adult.

'...... What? You kids are barking up the wrong tree.

.............

...... For some reason, I found myself in a battle with other girls.
They were arguing with each other, one against three.

By the way, when I say children, Cecilia is at most twenty years old, or even older, in her early twenties.
It's true that she is older than us, but I don't think there is much difference.

...... But then again, she's older than Glenn?
The two are even more mysterious than ever.

And meanwhile, in the middle of the argument between the girls...

'You know, a truly sincere person wouldn't have three women in his life. That's a fake. You'll get it eventually...'



'...... Hey, Cecilia.'

'What is it, Master Glenn, don't stop. Those stupid girls who are disgracing Master Glenn...'

'All right, you shut up for a second.

'But, but... Mmm!

Guren suddenly kissed Cecilia on the mouth.
In addition, he hugged her tightly and started kissing her deeply.

'''Oh, ......!

Satsuki, Mee, and Cyril also seemed to be struck by this.
The girls stared at the two hugging each other with dyed cheeks.

Then all three of them glanced at me.
...... Wait, why are you looking at me there?

In the meantime, the two men and women kissing each other deeply eventually end their kisses.

I'm not sure what to say. ......'

'That's enough. You shut your mouth. You understand?

'......Yes.'

Cecilia meekly surrendered to Glenn.
The world was out of the ordinary to the very last degree.
There are all kinds of people in this world, so it may not be surprising that there are men and women like that. ...... Umm...

So, what about you, sorcerer? Do you want to do it or not?

I'm not sure what to do.

To put it bluntly, it was a question that I had no room to consider...
But on the other hand, if it's only a part of it, I'm willing to give it a shot, I thought to myself.

I'm tired of being followed by this man.
I'm not on the side of justice to protect world peace, so I have no intention to say anything about his way of life, but if he tries to touch my territory, I have no reason to overlook it.

But on the other hand, no matter how problematic he may be, I don't think it's appropriate at this point to erase his existence through violence.
There is a problem of humanity that goes beyond the question of whether or not a person is capable of doing so.

Even if the opponent is a lawless person, if we are more lawless than the opponent, we are not human.
Was it the words of a wise man in the past who said, 'Those who fight monsters must be careful not to become monsters themselves in the process?
In any case, we will need to think of other ways to deal with him.

And as a means to that end, his suggestion was 'useful' in its own way.
With that in mind, I responded as a first step.

'No. I refuse. I'm not going to take that 'bet'.

'Huh. You can't beat me, so you're running away with your tail between your legs. You may be powerful, but you're a stupid man.'

'That's a cheap provocation. That's not the point. I'm saying that it's a matter of human nature, before winning or losing, to mistake those who adore you for your own property and use them as gambling chips.

'Ha, humanity! That's a cheap word. That's a cheap word.

I stilled Glenn with my hand as he tried to continue speaking.
Glenn saw this and frowned, looking uncomfortable.

I lifted my mouth and turned to him and continued.

'Wait a minute, hear me out. I'm not going to take the bet, but I'll take the chance.

'...... ah?

Glenn looked at me suspiciously, and I continued.

'Apparently, you have a real pride in yourself, and that's the only thing I can trust. You're the kind of person who snickers and tears off whatever shackles others try to put on you, but never breaks the shackles you've put on yourself. So if you're defeated, you won't try to touch my girl anymore. Don't you?

Inexplicably, I had some idea of the man in front of me, Glenn.

Perhaps this man has a line of thought that runs through his mind.
He wouldn't just bend that line.

And according to his sense of value, once he has been 'defeated' as a man, or rather as a male, he would not be so 'disgraceful' as to keep stalking and snatching the prey of the male who had defeated him.

Therefore, there is no need to make a bet to subdue him.
All you have to do is to play and win the game.

The "my girl" part is just a stunt to make it easier for him to understand.
You can explain it to Satsuki and the others later.

And when Glenn heard my answer...

'Hahahahahaha! Hahahahahaha! That's funny, that's funny, you! You knew me and you used me! I've never met anyone like that before!

After laughing for a while, he showed a fierce expression like a slobbering predator.

'I love you, you're the best! But be prepared. If I win, there will be no more brakes on ......!

'Right. But I'm not going to lose either.

'Koo-ha-ha! That's right, that's the way it's got to be!

After laughing for a while, Glenn left the scene with Cecilia.
And so the four of us were left.

I turned to my companions.

'So... It's a shame that the dog bit you, but we'll proceed with the quest quietly. If he does his best, we'll be able to cut our workload in half.

As I said this, the three girls stared at me blankly.
Eventually, one of them came to her senses and called out to me.

'...... Oh, you're amazing again, William. ...... But can you really beat that guy?



'Yeah, probably not a problem. And if something should happen, we'll take the brakes off and fight lawlessness with lawlessness. You can rest assured about that.'

'Wow ......, Mee is starting to feel like William is the most evil person ......'.

I was thinking about the plan to attack the swarm of rockworms again.