Reborn as an Overpowered Character in the Early Stages of the Game~ Realizing I'm Transferred to a Game World Only After Getting Involved in Prequel Events~ - Episode 63

Episode 63

Ah… I’ll tell you exactly what just happened!

When I woke up, Alshade was peering down at my face with eyes devoid of any light.

I couldn’t quite grasp what she was saying, and I couldn’t understand what had just happened to me either…This isn’t a situation where I can escape from reality.

“Hey, are you listening? Hmm, I might have said a lot of things while you were still half asleep, so are you confused?”

As I refocused my thoughts, from escaping the overwhelming despair of the situation,  Alshade, with her beautiful golden silk-like hair, aquamarine translucent eyes, and perfectly chiseled features with porcelain-like white and glossy skin, had a gentle, motherly smile on her face as she gently stroked my head.

Such a sight of Alshade, with her immaculate facial features, accentuated the eerie and frightening sensation due to her eyes, devoid of light.

While Alshade spoke, those eyes stared at me without blinking, and honestly, it was nothing but terrifying.

“(Light-san, please do your job. I’m scared.)”

“Why are you so frightened? How about you talk to me? I’ll take away the cause of your fear right away.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say, “Please stop with those scary eyes,” so instead, I shook my head.

Despite the situation being somewhat pleasant, with me getting a lap pillow and my head gently stroked by Alshade, I couldn’t find any happiness in it. I wonder why?

“…Why are you lying and saying you’re not scared? You probably know this, but I can understand your emotions as clear as day. Or do you not trust me?”

“N-No, it’s not like that. I’m really okay. Please, calm down!”

Alshade seemed to emit an atmosphere as if she might release miasma, so I raised my voice and desperately denied it.

I wanted to sit up and grab Alshade’s shoulders if possible, but her hands were casually placed on my forehead and chest, preventing me from getting up.

“…Since it seems you’re not lying, I won’t pry too deeply. Um, what were we talking about? Oh, it was about whether you needed a collar and chain, right?”

“No, absolutely not.”

“I’m just talking about the possibility.”

Alshade smiled, but her eyes were clearly serious.

I couldn’t help but shiver as I imagined myself with a collar and chain, my dignity shattered into pieces

In this world, the concept of human rights hasn’t fully spread, so I couldn’t loudly proclaim that it’s a violation of my rights. Well, I still want to believe that inhumane acts are frowned upon.

“I believe in you, you know? But imagining you going to places like the red light districts  makes my chest ache. I thought it might reassure me… Right? And, I think a collar might surprisingly suit you, Rio.”

The latter half of her statement, I don’t know what she imagined, but Alshade had a blissful expression, but her eyes remained unsettling in various ways.

The main culprit behind this situation is undoubtedly that damn master, but why is she reacting so strongly to the idea of me going to the red light district? 

Normally, just a word of warning would suffice…

“Can I ask something? I have no intention of going, and I’m not even interested in the offer from my master. Are you still worried?”

“Well, I don’t think you’d do that, but didn’t your father, Marquis Belford, have a strong sexual desire and a tendency to be unfaithful? That’s why I can’t help but worry. So, can I put the collar on you?”

“Why does that lead to this? That’s not the point!”

Come to think of it, my father had a crappy personality and no morals.

Thanks to that, I understand that I was born in this world as my mother’s child. However, I can’t be grateful because that good-for-nothing didn’t deal with the trouble he caused inside our house during our time in the slums. In fact, I resent him even more now, as he indirectly contributed to Alshade’s rampage.

It’s a pity that he’s dead, but I really wanted to punch his face until it was a pulp.

“But, there’s nothing we can do, right? I would’ve loved to wipe out entire sections of the red light district which Rio was invited to if I could, but I can’t do that as a ruler.”

The reason for putting a collar and chain on me seems quite drastic, almost like crushing entire sections of the red light district.

However, I can’t agree to it in order to preserve my dignity.

Well, there’s no choice… I’ll play my hand.

“Alright… starting tomorrow, let’s take baths together. Let’s make a deal.”

“Eh, really? Even if I take a bath with you Rio?”

Bathing together, in reality, was something I had to approve.

Of course, Alshade could have forced herself to bathe with me, but her decision not to do so was considerate of me.

I think it was Orto or Vivian’s idea, but I was relieved when they told me that. 

… It’s a gut-wrenching decision, but if Vivian isn’t concerned, it’s as if I’ve willingly sold moments of comfort.

But the effect is immense, and lights return to Alshade’s eyes. 

Honestly, it’s only natural to bathe together when I’m the one getting a collar and chain, so I’m glad she didn’t insist on that topic. If she had, I might have had to play a few more cards or spend a long time persuading her.

“However, not starting today, right?”

“…I need some mental preparation too.”

“I see, got it.”

Today, I’m not exhausted to my physical and mental limits like usual, so bathing with Alshade will be a bit unsettling, but by tomorrow, training will resume, and I’ll get used to it during that time.

It’s not a lie, but I’m not telling the whole truth either. Well, I feel like she can see right through me.

“That aside… now that you’ve calmed down a bit, can I ask where the idea of a collar and chain came from?”

Alshade is a noble, and I don’t think the idea of putting collars and chains on people comes naturally in her environment.

 “A collar and chain? Oh, I just thought that if I don’t hold the reins tightly, I won’t be able to control you, but when I tried to imagine you with reins, something felt off. So, I imagined a collar and chain like the ones they put on dogs, and it just seemed to fit.”

「……」

I won’t dig into the reason for imagining me with reins while thinking, “I need to hold the reins tightly.”

“Well, don’t look at me like that. I don’t plan to put a collar on you unless you’re going to the red light district or cheat.”

“O-Okay, I see. Well, I have no intention of doing either.”

For a moment, the lights disappeared from Alshade’s eyes, but they returned immediately. She probably imagined me going to the night district or being unfaithful. 

Is it just my imagination that I feel a burning gaze on my neck?

“Oh, I remember now. I asked you a question while you were confused… Do you like me? Do you love me? If possible, I’d like to hear your answer.”

Um, why are you restraining my head like that?

It’s embarrassing, but I have no choice but to answer, right?

“…Um, you see… I don’t have any experience with love, so I… I don’t really know what it means to like someone or love them… honestly. But, as I mentioned before… I do think you’re important… more than anyone else.”

“I see. Yeah, take your time. It’s okay not to know right now… I’ll make you understand eventually!”

“(Ugh, so embarrassing…)”

…Huh? I was too overwhelmed by embarrassment to fully grasp it, but wasn’t the last part of what Alshade said a bit unusual?

Well, never mind. What’s more important is that this embarrassment is all Edward’s fault. How could he do this to me?

“Yeah, take your time to slowly be dyed in my color and in the end, I hope you’ll understand, Rio… Hehehe.”