"My sister is a stickler for efficiency, you see. She must have imitated all of Mother's oddities."
While it was a harsh way to put it, talking to Mei's sister was interesting. It allowed Ren to learn things about Mei she hadn't known before.
"Hmph. ...Master, don't be fooled. Her behavior is a kind of life skill. Her favorite saying is, 'Men can be easily controlled if you thoroughly spoil them.'" Mei insisted.
"Oh."
"Well, Sister. Isn't merely fulfilling someone else's wishes tantamount to intellectual stagnation, creating nothing original yourself? A comfortable living environment is something you intentionally procure by manipulating men."
In the course of the conversation, it was revealed that the sister also had quite a personality. Essentially, both sisters were awkward when it came to human emotions. Since they were Golems from birth, that was understandable, and given their nature, it was natural that they sought a master.
However, their approach to seeking a master and serving them was quite extreme. The older sister's policy was absolute obedience to the master (because it was easier), while the younger sister's philosophy was that one should dote on and meticulously care for the master (because it allows for better manipulation). Perhaps the books they used as references were different.
Generally, the younger sister would probably be easier to deal with. However, having grown accustomed to Mei's behavior, Ren found both of them unique and charming.
"Don't you agree, Ren-sama? If you accept men's desires raw, without controlling them, even a hundred bodies wouldn't be enough, would they?" the sister asked.
"Huh? Well, I like being passive, so that's a difficult question for me," Ren replied.
Ren had no intention of getting involved with men, but she let that slide for now.
"Since I cannot understand physical pleasure, being passive is no different from 'waiting time' for me... However, yes. There might be a deep satisfaction in calmly observing a man trying desperately hard while offering 'support' or 'encouragement.'"
"Ah, I see. You two have different personalities, or rather, different proclivities," Ren realized.
Mei leaned toward the M side, and her sister was a pure S. They were quite Succubus-like, even as Golems. Since they had near-infinite stamina, unlike the organic Ren, they could truly play with their partners, which was a terrifying thought.
"Hmm. ...It's fun talking with you, Ren-sama. Would it be possible for you to care for me along with my sister? You have plenty of life force, don't you?" the sister asked.
"I do. That hasn't been a problem so far, but if I accept, the two at Iris's place might try to imitate you," Ren said.
"Oh my. That would mean we could aim for ten people. How wonderful, Master. ...No, I wish this one would find a different master," Mei insisted.
"That's harsh, Sister, to exclude me! Well, Ren-sama, please consider it, even if just for a thought, alright?"
If Mei's sister participated in the dungeon conquest, she could earn her own keep, so there was no immediate need to find a master. If she moved into Iris's family's house, Iris's father would be greatly relieved to have another worker. She could simply use the portal in Ren's residential area to go to the dungeon.
"I just hope that girl doesn't have a bad influence on the others," Ren said.
"She should be fine. She seems like a polite child when she's acting normally," Fūri commented.
An incredibly strong party was formed: an Elf, two Half-Elves, and one Golem. The only drawback was their back-line focus, but they might actually catch up to Ren's party eventually.
It would be reassuring for Ren and the others if that happened. They genuinely hoped more parties like this would emerge.
-----------------
"You guys are advancing too fast. It's on the level of asking what magic you're using. We can't catch up with you!"
One day, Ren and her party were met with such a complaint from the friendly party they often associated with. It was a joke and a complaint that could only be said among close friends.
"Haha. Well, that's why we're taking a break now. How about you?" Ren asked.
"We cleared up to the 33rd Floor, but it was pretty tough. We're currently retraining while guiding the newcomers."
"Our main magic was fire, right? Because of that, we have to rethink a lot of things. In a game, we wouldn't have a problem firing a fireball in the forest."
This was the trap: because the forest trees burned, the mages couldn't fire Fireball, leading to a significant drop in fighting power. Although the forest ended at the 35th Floor, it served as a lesson that relying only on specific element magic could lead to a deadlock. It was good to have alternative means of attack to avoid similar situations.
"How are Sho and the others doing?" Ren asked, referring to the newcomers.
"They're struggling quite a bit now that the enemies have changed from Goblins to Orcs. Sho, especially, is taking a heavy load as the vanguard. Since they can't level up, they're starting from scratch with physical training like muscle training and sword practice."
"I see. They're still growing up. It's good to get exercise now," Ren noted.
Ren occasionally greeted the younger boys in the city. Every time she saw them, they were taller, giving her the old person's thought, "Kids are amazing." She actually wanted to take the two boys out for drinks, but she held back because she felt bad for the girls who were their girlfriends and party members.
She wished Sho and the others would forget their first crush, but their expressions still brightened considerably whenever they saw Ren. Although they were gradually becoming stronger, Ren, who knew them when they were cute, was happy about their affection, but being assaulted by them when they were drunk was a no-go.
(Note: Ren's constitution makes her resistant to the effects of alcohol on her behavior, so she would have to deal with two drunk boys with her mind completely sober. That would be tough in its own way.)
"Should we help you with the conquest? We are leveling up, so you could say we have some free time." Ren offered.
"Ah. We might take you up on that offer when we're making a serious push. But not for the routine dives."
"If you only brought the girls, maybe... but no, I guess not. They might be taken away by you," the friend said.
"What do you take me for? I wouldn't do that," Ren protested.
"Count how many women you've propositioned before you say that."
Ren was speechless.
"...Well, you know. It seems everyone's conquest pace slows down after the 30th Floor. It's the time when everyone starts thinking about things."
"Are you two thinking about getting married, too?" Ren asked.
"We are, a little. We've put it on hold because things like house plans get complicated, but I feel like the talk will be pushed aggressively if another year passes."
"Ah."
It was true that the marriage age was young here. It was natural to feel rushed when everyone else was doing it. If you had a partner, you'd want to secure them quickly. Men prioritize things like money and logic, saying, "The timing is bad right now," but women, once they make up their minds, push forward aggressively.
"I don't think there's any point in getting married without money and preparation, but do you, of all people, understand that feeling?" the friend asked.
"Ah, well, you know, it's because, in a way, they expect you to 'be prepared' by making them marry you," Ren said.
"Ugh."
"Do you have any idea how hard that is for us!?" the Gladiator yelled.
"Yeah, good luck," Ren said.
If a man's future prospects and earning potential are considered too low, a woman wouldn't suggest marriage in the first place. If the prospects are good enough, the woman can demand that the man "earn money" after securing the position of "wife." In reality, a woman can't move much when pregnant, and children tend to be attached to their mother, making earning money more of the man's job. In Japan, that dynamic was slowly changing, but that was because machines had made life easier, and social systems had improved to broaden choices.
"In a way, we have it easy in that regard. We can divide the roles among everyone," Ren noted.
"Divide the roles... are you going to have children, too?" the friend asked.
"Well, if necessary?"
Ren looked down at her own stomach and felt a strange emotion, thinking, This is going to get big. However, she no longer felt any aversion beyond "I don't want it to hurt," suggesting she had become accustomed to the idea.
The two men looked at her with a mix of warmth, respect, and wonder, nodding deeply.
"...Yeah, you really are amazing."
"I, for one, would never want to give birth, even if I became a woman," the Gladiator admitted.
"That's how it is," Ren agreed.
She wanted to point out, "That's your problem," but Ren knew she would have been the same if she were still a man. She could imagine functions she didn't have, but couldn't feel them. Since she was born a man and raised as a man, those who can fully understand women are a minority.
"Let's all keep doing our best, in various ways," Ren encouraged.
"Yeah."
"You got it."
In the end, the three parted after sincerely making a vow to each other.
-----------------
Speaking of marriage, Mariabelle and Aisha's wedding was set for February next year. They happily informed Ren about it on the day they had dinner together.
"That's quite a way off, isn't it?" Ren asked.
"Yes. We figured it would be better to plan ahead, as things have been quite chaotic," Mariabelle replied.
Aisha had decided to establish a privately-run educational facility—something like a terakoya (temple school) or cram school—to create a proper place to teach the children. The location was between Ren's residential area and the original town. Aisha would serve as the academic teacher, and Mariabelle would be the teacher for music and physical education. A carpenter was currently constructing the building. Although there were plenty of places for children to run around in this world, they decided to prepare a schoolyard or garden area just in case.
If they were to complete the building, furnish it, and recruit students, it would certainly take time, so having some leeway seemed wise.
"And you know, there's a saying about February weddings," Aisha added.
"Oh? What is it?" Ren asked.
"A February wedding is destiny."
Shion was the first to react, saying, "That's lovely."
"Congratulations, Teacher," Ren said.
"Thank you. I hope to see your wedding someday... though I wonder if you all will even have a ceremony?" Aisha asked.
When asked that, Ren's group couldn't easily answer. They exchanged vague smiles. Saying "Who knows?" felt awkward, and saying "It depends on what the others want" felt equally awkward.
Mariabelle chuckled at this.
"Perhaps that's perfectly fine for Ren-san and the others."
"I suppose so. Well, ceremony or not, we will definitely formalize the marriage," Meteora said, her reply strong and characteristic of her.
Ren wondered what they should do to formalize the marriage. There was no city hall. Should they swear an oath to God?
"I mean, we already have such a strong connection, isn't it practically the same as being married?" Ren mused.
"What!? Y-you! Don't just say things like that suddenly!" Meteora snapped.
Ren was scolded. In reality, they had telepathy thanks to the skill, and the skill's name was "Fated Mate," so Ren felt her point was valid.
Aisha started laughing upon seeing Ren's sullen face.
"Oh, and about the wedding, would you be able to officiate the ceremony, Shion-san?" Aisha asked.
"M-me? I would be honored, but will the ceremony be held at the Shrine?" Shion asked.
"Yes. We'd like to invite men too, so we'll need to discuss the location."
Many of Aisha's former teacher colleagues were men, and many men had been "taken care of" by Mariabelle. If the ceremony was held in a men-only area, they wouldn't be able to attend, which would cause dissatisfaction.
"This means we seriously need to pave the road to the Shrine, doesn't it?" Ren said.
"We'll need the carpenters to work hard. ...Or would it be faster to use the Fragments?" Fūri asked.
"Since the walls are already there, we could probably make the road outside with the Fragments!" Iris suggested.
Since they had Iris, who was used to this kind of work, they might be able to create it quickly. Although the number of visitors to the Shrine would likely increase even more, the area around the Shrine was a Sanctuary, so those with malicious intent couldn't enter. They wouldn't have to worry about anyone bothering Shion while she napped.
"We have a lot to do, don't we? I was thinking we could advance a little further before the end of the year, but maybe that's too ambitious," Ren sighed.
"Even if it takes another year, it will still be unprecedented, so there's no problem, Master," Mei reassured her.
At this rate, the end of the year would arrive quickly.
============
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