Chapter 134: Switching sides ii

’I’ve already been ensnared by her.’

The Empire was not the homeland Brigid needed to protect. It was merely a nation caught up in the midst of a grand performance. Thus, in this situation, rather than confronting Cleo, an unaffiliated A-class ruffian.

It was far more preferable for Brigid to conclude the exchange by siphoning the rebellion’s strength alongside Yuna, who acted as a safeguard.

This was a reality she had no choice but to accept, even if it was repugnant to her. In the end, Yuna, a proud player in her brother’s eyes, ensured Brigid remained unharmed and indirectly aided him by releasing Cleo.

I had prepared for these three challenges from the very first round and accomplished them all.

Brigid couldn’t help but be continually amazed by Yuna’s innocent visage.

"It took me quite a while to understand with my mind."

"There are some good aspects to it being a role play, right?"

"Yes."

It was none other than Brigid, who was fortunate that it was a role-play scenario.

If she had been a warrior risking her life to protect her country, she would have fought Cleo to the bitter end and fallen.

The one forced to choose between life and death was none other than Brigid herself.

When she came to understand all of this, Brigid couldn’t help but tremble with fear internally.

’...Let’s not make Yuna an enemy.’

Cleo storms onto the battlefield.

With a cataclysmic thunderbolt...

**Whoooooooooong!!**

"Kuh!?"

Kibele is taken aback. It’s because she was overpowered by an unaffiliated sorceress who didn’t even know the rear of the imperial army.

’I can’t escape like this!’

"Wow~ Reinforcements have arrived!"

Hilaria laughs crudely and charges toward Kibele.

"Kibele! Face me!"

"K, Kuh! Step back!"

"If you win, I’ll lay you down and caress your breasts!"

"Stop that nonsense!"

It didn’t matter how many undead legions were summoned; they were powerless against the devil’s lightning.

"Brigid, where is Brigid?!"

Brigid troops remained motionless.

A sinking feeling washed over Kibele, and her vision blurred.

At that moment,

Ren Asahi returned.

"Barrage of bullets!"

*Pew-pew-pew!*

[Imperial Army Rebel Ratio Collapse]

[Rebels’ Victory]

[Crown Holder, Ren Asahi]

[Moving to the Neutral Zone]

"Hilaria! See you in Round 3! I won’t let you off!"

"Ha! Our Class D senior is better than your general, isn’t he?"

"You picked the wrong team!"

The dungeon crumbled away.

[Round 2 Contribution: 1st Place Ren Asahi]

[1st place: Ren Asahi, 245 points]

[2nd place, Quintia, 188 points]

[3rd place: Yuna, 133 points]

[4th place, Brigid, 124 points]

...

[34th place, Cleo, 0 points]

"Why do I have 0 points? I just captured twenty Imperial soldiers. These game rules are truly bizarre!"

Cleo stamped her feet in protest, even as the dungeon was being dismantled.

"Cleo?"

In a blizzard, amidst the snow-covered landscape, I shouted a barrage of rubber bullets and met my blonde younger sister.

"Ah, big brother!"

"Uh, don’t come any closer. Are you with the Imperial Army?"

"I’m on your side, big brother!"

"Really? Are you going to use the realm of beauty?"

At the mention of the realm of beauty, Cleo raises both hands in a gesture of surrender, laughing happily.

"I’m unaffiliated! Didn’t you see me capturing the Imperial soldiers?"

"True Queen. What should we do?"

Sol hums thoughtfully, resting her chin in her hand.

*Zap.*

"If you don’t accept me, I’ll cause a ruckus. Isolde."

Uh-oh. This one, trying to become the electric mouse Pokémon Pikachu?

It’s not as refined as Yuna participating in the game, but how can you not find my younger sister, who insists on always being by her brother’s side, adorable?

I think they’re both so endearing.

Even though they belong to different factions, Yuna’s bond with her siblings is stronger.

Cleo, who just shouts that she’ll unconditionally be on my side.

The two have different ways of expressing their love and personalities, but I cherish them both.

"Cleo, at least put on an act! Can’t we simply ask to be accepted?"

Isolde said.

"An A-list wizard is doing it for us, so I’m sure we’ll be accepted."

...I think I understand why Cleo has no friends.

Sol seemed to empathize.

Thank you, Sol.

"With the power of the True Queen, I accept you as a member of the Rebellion."

*Boom!*

Immediately, Cleo embraced me.

As the snowy landscape was being dismantled, the remaining imperial forces showed no signs of hostility.

It was the same with Kibele.

"Aren’t you going to wrap this up?"

"Me?"

I responded to the question from a bespectacled junior I hadn’t met before while stroking Cleo’s head.

"It would be nice to continue together. It’s so exhausting to fight while the dungeon is being demolished."

The situation isn’t as dire as before.

Hilaria forcefully patted my back.

"The front is good, but the back is a little. ’I’m tired’ seems manly. Thud, thud, senior."

"Manly, you say..."

This junior really has no filter.

I had thought we were close same-sex friends when they barged in.

"Regardless... thank you."

Kibele lowered her head in gratitude toward me.

"For what? I didn’t attack you either."

"I’ve known from the beginning that you’re not that kind of person. It’s not surprising."

"Heh, compliments do feel nice."

Judging by the nuance, it seems Hilaria has simplified the situation.

In any case, the surviving academy students move to the neutral zone before proceeding to the next stage.

[Welcome to Neutral Zone B-30322]

[Authorization Granted: Mira]

Huh?

Was the neutral zone always like this? When I returned after finishing the first round, it was an entirely achromatic space.

Now the sky is blue, and the temperature is just perfect.

Truly, we were welcomed by the most optimal weather, which would seem impossible without a simulation.

Having been in such cold spaces up until now, the warm sunlight feels as if it’s seeping into my body.

Everyone looks around, shaking the snow off their uniforms.

’A village...?’

It was a quaint village with large trees growing in the center.

The setting for "Exchange War" was a fantasy world that didn’t stray far from the Middle Ages.

It was different here. To ask if it was entirely modern would be somewhat ambiguous. It resembled a film set created to capture the essence of a bygone era.

Numerous houses lined the streets, yet they didn’t appear to be inhabited.

"What is this place?"

Was I the only one who had never seen anything like it before? Everyone else seemed equally perplexed, their gazes darting around the unfamiliar surroundings. As I waited for an explanation, time seemed to freeze, and a blonde goddess peeked out from behind a corner.

It was Mira, making her second appearance of the day.

"Mira?"

"This is a resting area. I’ve unlocked a nice spot for us."

"And that’s all there is to it?"

"Oh, I simply wish for Rento enjoy the world of Lustbound more comfortably. You know what I mean?"

Hmmm... At first glance, the area seemed harmless, making it unlikely that any monsters would emerge.

In truth, Mira just wanted me to play without restraint. There was a condition that would trigger seizures if one consumed something akin to a sweet potato.

"Since when did you start lecturing about treating jelly more harshly?"

"Oh, that..."

Mira wiggled her fingers.

"Looking back, I think I was a bit presumptuous this time... So I wanted to apologize."

"...Huh?"

Did she just arrange a resting area to apologize?

"You’ve been a bit arrogant lately. It’s not just a day or two."

"Uh..."

I understand what she means.

"I enjoy Ren’s play. I hope you don’t misunderstand that part. Having sex with your sister’s friend in the tent was also quite thrilling to watch."

"Ah, I see."

The atmosphere turns awkward.

It’s a little embarrassing to bring up past sexual experiences. Where is she going with this?

"...I am a bit dissatisfied that you didn’t discipline Sarika, who was trying to preserve her virginity, with a cross-breeding press."

"Pfft."

I knew it.

She wouldn’t be herself if she held back her perverted feedback.

"Why are you laughing? Ren!"

"I understand how you feel. That’s why I find it endearing."

"Ugh..."

Mira is just a pervert. She’s not a goddess who forces me into things I dislike.

It’s not exactly forcing... Should I say she strongly persuades?

There have been numerous occasions when Mira has inspired my perverse side.

"I want to see more... Ren’s depraved sex inspires me."

"..."

Why does it feel so extraordinary all of a sudden?

Upon witnessing Mira’s shyness, I couldn’t help but smile.

Yes.

"We inspire each other, it seems."

"...Indeed!"

"But with a goddess as deviant as you, I would imagine you’ve seen plenty of such things."

"Have you ever seen anything like this, Ren?"

"I...?"

Well, through adult films...

No, I knew exactly what Mira was referring to.

"I’ve never seen such beautiful heroines gasping for breath."

"...Exactly. I’ve never seen it either. And I’m not even a man."

Looking back... Using cheats to bewitch women and having sex with them, as if knocking them down with my cock,

The emergence of the new Ren was a product of pure chance.

The monstrous alpha male was born from the desperate need to find a solution when Mira accidentally summoned me.

That is who I am.

In the shell that contained Ren Asahi, a man obsessed with pure love and far from the image of an alpha male, there was an undeniable sense of incongruity.