..
.
"That would be 45 silver coins."
"That’s very cheap for sothing this good. Hmm, take this and keep the rest as a tip."
"Is that okay? Isn’t that too much?"
I finally finished serving Bianca and presented her with the bill. So far, all our custors have left tips that exceed the actual price, and, as always, I just pretended to be a little reluctant... though of course I’ll accept them.
"No, the service was great, and so was your advice. I told you, didn’t I? I’m the daughter of a wealthy rchant. I have so much money that the day I get a husband, he won’t have to work for the rest of his life and will live a life of luxury."
"Oh, that’s amazing. Your future husband must be a very lucky man. He’s going to have a beautiful, wealthy girl as his wife—it even makes a little jealous."
"Yes, thank you for the complint. Ahem! Anyway, I-I feel like a new person. Hmm, can I make an appointnt for... tomorrow? Every day is so hectic, and stress builds up daily, so... that’s okay, right? Besides, a m-more thorough massage wouldn’t be bad... ~I-I an, if that’s okay."
"Tomorrow? Let’s see, I think—"
[New mission received]
Just as I was about to reply that it was no problem, I heard the system. That made glance quickly toward the door, but no one ca in.
"—Wait a mont"
I didn’t understand what it was about, so I asked for a mont, picked up a small notebook from the counter, and pretended to read it—as if I already had appointnts scheduled and was looking for an opening—but what I was really doing was checking the mission that had co in
___________________________
"The Threshold That Must Not Be Crossed"
Objective:
Prevent Biancalys Auremont from returning to the premises for the next 75 hours.
Reward:
2000 Myrr
1 Revelation Card
Penalty for Failure:
3 Corruption
10,000 Myrr
3 Revelation Card
___________________________
"Natural Course"
Objective:
Allow Biancalys Auremont to return within the next 75 hours.
Reward:
1000 Myrr
Penalty for failure:
-1000 Myrr
___________________________
There were two new missions, and they were related to Bianca.
This wasn’t a simple matter; their objectives are diatrically opposed.
I can’t do both; it’s a choice, and not only that, but it also ans I won’t be able to avoid the penalties either.
I need to analyze and understand this correctly.
If I choose "Natural Course," it says I’ll be rewarded with 1,000 Myrr, but that will cause to fail "The Threshold That Must Not Be Crossed."
That ans we get 10,000 extra Myrr, three of those new cards, and 3 Corruption.
This is suspicious
It’s very rare for sothing that’s a penalty to also be a reward; it’s clear that this was a trap with a very tempting bait, designed to lure anyone willing to take the risk and who didn’t think much of that 3 corruption.
But that’s definitely not my case. Combined with what I learned from my doppelganger, I already have an idea of what Corruption is in this world.
I will never risk Iris’s safety, so the choice is obvious: "The Threshold That Must Not Be Crossed" gives only 2,000 Myrr and one card; completing it would also cause the other one to fail, but in this case, we’d only lose Myrr
Still, it’s not risk-free. Given how I’m dealing with Bianca, it would be better for her to co as soon as possible, so choosing that option disrupts my plans.
Plus, I really have a bad feeling about this—as if I shouldn’t choose this option, that sothing beyond my current understanding will happen, and that it won’t align with what I want, but...
"W-what’s going on? Don’t you have any openings?"
"Haah~ Miss Bianca, I really did think of a way to make room for you, but actually, so previous clients also made reservations, and even though I’m doing my best, there aren’t any openings for another two and a half days."
In the end, I’m not the type to be swayed by unfounded feelings. Even if it’s less rewarding and might cause my plans with Bianca to go awry, Iris always cos first.
So I made my decision and chose ’The Threshold That Must Not Be Crossed’...
[mission complete]
"I understand; it’s not surprising given how good you are... It’s a sha, and I can’t go out at night... So it’s okay to make an appointnt for three days from now, right?"
"That’s correct; my schedule is completely open."
"Alright, I’ll be here in three days. Do you need a deposit or sothing like that?"
"Oh, usually yes, but since you’ve beco a trusted client—well, soone I personally feel I trust a lot—it’s not necessary."
"Hehehe~ ahem! Yeah, anyway, see you later. I hope things go well for you. A-and since we’ve gotten c-closer, it’s okay to be a little less formal, right? Next ti, just call Lys. Ahem, well, see you next ti, Astan!"
She spoke as she nervously backed toward the door; it seed like it took her a bit to say that. Finally, she left with a deep blush after saying my na.
She didn’t even give a chance to say goodbye. I think I have to agree with Iris a little—in a way, she’s a cute young woman full of energy.
Thinking back on that, it was interesting to see how she tried to subtly guide and manipulate into telling her all sorts of things, while at the sa ti gathering information to find a crack in Iris’s and my relationship.
Although her nervousness gave her away, if she hadn’t been so nervous, she would have done a great job. In the end, maybe because we think so similarly, I felt it was nice to talk to her.
"Honey!!"
"Don’t run down the stairs—you might fall."
At that mont, I heard Iris’s loud shout as she ca rushing down the stairs. For so reason, she looked dissatisfied.
Now the question was why she was acting that way.
"Honey!, we need to talk! What was that?"
"...What do you an?"
"Honey, don’t play dumb—you know exactly what I’m talking about. What was that disappointing custor service you just showed!?"
"What are you talking about now?"
I didn’t understand what she was talking about. I think the service I gave Bianca was pretty good for soone with as little experience as ; in fact, I was the one who planned to give her a talking-to about it as soon as Bianca left.
"I trusted you, I left it in your hands and went to sleep, and this is how you repay my trust?"
"...I don’t understand your point,"
"Honey, how can you not understand!? We’re a massage parlor with a happy ending. I woke up and imdiately realized you didn’t live up to what our profession and vision as a business require. I’m very disappointed."
"￣へ￣, love, we don’t—"
Wait, are we really?
I wanted to argue with Iris, but thinking about it and seeing how there had indeed been what she calls a ’happy ending’ in the only two instances before Bianca, it made doubt myself.
In my previous life, there were those massage parlors with a "happy ending," and considering that to attach the "stigmas," you have to increase the carnal percentage, sothing that would be difficult to achieve without resorting to that "happy ending" Iris ntions, so she’s not short on argunts
Which ans that if I start an argunt, I won’t be able to win it, and I’d end up agreeing with her, which would let her get carried away and use it against for a while.
"What’s up, honey? Don’t you have anything to say in your defense?"
"...No, but you’re being too hasty with this. I already set up a future appointnt, and she’ll be back... she seems to have persistent intentions toward ."
"Yeah, that’s obvious, honey, and that’s exactly why I don’t understand how you couldn’t go all the way. Did you two just talk most of the ti?"
"...Well, yes, she had a lot of valuable information."
I did tell her about Iris and my relationship and how, for the sake of the story, things were going a little badly, and I also talked about myself, but I didn’t miss the opportunity and didn’t hesitate to get more information out of her.
It was like an exchange of information, which is why I felt it was nice to talk to her.
"Honey, I understand we need that, but rember what our main goal is here."
She had a point now. Gathering information was important, but I should have prioritized our lives; I should have been more assertive and decisive.
And because of that unexpected mission, my plan might now be in jeopardy and co to nothing. I really made a mistake.
Doing sothing so half-heartedly wasn’t the best move. I should have prioritized the stigma. Just because I’ve already placed one and Azalea is far along doesn’t an I should let my guard down. Iris was right to remind of that.
"...I get it. Next ti, I’ll put the information on the back burner and—"
"You finally get it. Our main goal is to build and expand our harem, along with Amy and Azalea, who’s practically in the bag."
"(ㆆ_ㆆ)"
Whatever. I’d better shut up and let her make her point.
"What? Didn’t you get it? Honey, sotis you get really dense. The priority here is obviously to expand the harem, and the most effective way is to do our job right and give our clients a happy ending massage. Isn’t that obvious, honey?"
"...."
No, it isn’t.
That’s what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t. I curse Mirror and everyone behind this for giving Iris such a solid logical basis for sothing that obviously shouldn’t make sense under normal circumstances.
"Well... I can’t keep scolding you. Hmps, I’m a very understanding wife. Just as you forgive many of my little mistakes, I’ll forgive yours too."
"love, the things you recognize as mistakes have already crossed the line."
"It’s just a minor detail, honey. What matters is that I’m the one here forgiving you for not doing your job properly and for not sleeping with that cute girl."
"..."
Yes, that was her point in this conversation, and that’s exactly why it’s giving a headache, but it’s not worth thinking about anymore, so I’ll just stick with this illogical and weird scolding from Iris.
"So honey, at least you boosted her stats a lot, right?"
"Yes, her emotional level has risen again to 54, her carnal is at 49, and her rational is at 51. Exceeding those values today would be very difficult, because she is a noble, and that poses a major obstacle."
"Huh? Why? Isn’t it the sa as with Azalea or Amy?"
"No, they’re already married won who’ve fulfilled their obligations. Bianca, on the other hand, is just an heiress. She has to think about her future and her duty as a woman of the nobility, and for that very reason she must understand that there is little or no chance of anything happening between us."
"Hmm, so does that an she can’t join our harem?"
"Not entirely, since she didn’t give up; she kept going and her percentage improved, which ans she’s actively looking for a way to make our relationship work despite the difference in our social standing and her responsibilities as a noble. And for that, she needs so ti to think. It all depends on her."
But that’s exactly why the mission I chose could ruin everything—
If it were just one day, the lingering emotions would still be in control, and there wouldn’t be enough ti for her to reach anything concrete—that’s where I could step in and put the finishing touches on it.
But three days is too long, and I might overthink the whole thing and end up letting her co to a rational conclusion; next ti she might co and tell to treat her like a client and nothing more.
Yes, three days are enough for emotions that were mostly created out of thin air to fade away and for reason to take over.
Now the outco will depend on what kind of person Biancalys is.
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