My words, buried between those wonderful mounds, turned into babble.
Syrah, who had buried my face between her mounds, gently rubbed the back of my head before opening her mouth.
“A grown man and woman staying in the same room… wouldn’t it be a little odd if nothing happened?”
“… Fuha—”
Struggling to process her words, I barely escaped her embrace when I noticed her cautiously leaning toward me. I turned my head to avoid her lips.
Syrah puffed up her cheeks in protest.
“Woh! Why?”
“Why? We’re not dating.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then why don’t we date?”
It was a valid theory—one without any flaws. If a handsome man and a beautiful woman shared the same room and were attracted to each other, they could either become a couple or enjoy the night together, right?
But… I was reluctant to have a relationship with her. In fact, I didn’t want to form deep connections with anyone in this world.
“No.”
“…Why?”
“No reason…”
There was no specific reason. It was simply who I was. I was hesitant to build bonds with those I would inevitably part ways with in three years.
For now, I could pretend to be friends with them while in this world—or actually become friends, even. However, I didn’t want a relationship beyond that. We’d part ways eventually; it would end anyway.
I feared they would leave a lasting mark on me, not as Ian Clarke, but as someone tied to their memory, tormenting me long after.
Thut!
With that, Syrah flopped onto the bed. Fortunately, her desire to c0vet my b0dy seemed to have dissipated.
Looking down at her sprawled form, I asked about her earlier behavior toward the lord.
“Syrah.”
“What?”
“Why did you act that way toward the lord?”
“What? Acting like I was part of a task force?”
“Yes, that.”
“What, Ian? Did you think I was lying?”
“… What?”
Syrah quickly sat up, her expression serious. Raising her arms high, she declared, “For His Majesty, the Great Emperor—! How does that sound? Does it seem convincing?”
“You…”
Her next words revealed that it was all a joke. It was often hard to discern whether she was serious or joking, leaving my heart momentarily blank.
“Why?”
She fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. It appeared she had an idea of her own and was deliberating whether to share it with me.
After a while, she thoughtfully spoke.
“Ian, what do you think of the lord?”
“What do I think? I only met him today.”
“At a glance, what’s your impression?”
Her question brought me to silence as I recalled the lord.
The lord’s castle was adorned with items that screamed bribery. For a lord, he was excessively servile. His mistaking us for a task force implied that such groups often visited to interrogate him.
“Trash.”
“Why?”
“It’s obvious just by looking.”
The lord was likely extorting his territory’s people and accepting dirty money from back-alley criminals to fill his coffers. Without it, he couldn’t have built or maintained such a luxurious castle.
“Exactly. The lord of this territory is probably pocketing a fortune in dirty money,” Syrah agreed, nodding. She even explained why she had acted as she did.
“Ian, I hate them.”
“And you want to get rid of them?”
“Yes. Those who lack nobility… it’s my dream to wipe them out and create a clean empire.”
She had chosen this lord to make him suffer—to force him to repent for his mistakes.
“It’ll be difficult.”
Her dream was a lofty one.
Corruption could never be eradicated, no matter the world.
Her eyes, hands, and influence couldn’t possibly reach everywhere.
And then, I understood why she wanted me.
Her grand dream required people—many people. I was the talent she needed for her vision. With my status as a 3-star summoner, it was no wonder she sought to seduce me.
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there’s no way for him to confirm he won’t go back and even if he wants after the story 3nds he could get paranoid and fear he could go back any day. this is an out so that the romantic progress can get used as an hostage to keep more people reading indefinitely.