Chapter 273: A Bystander’s Opinion
Rias arrived at Endless Rain Academy the following afternoon.
Martin waited near one of the travel stations leading toward the outer roads. He had expected her usual battle equipment and sword, but she wore a fitted black coat over dark armor, with her red hair tied high enough to keep it clear of her shoulders.
Her eyes found him immediately. She slowed several feet away and studied him from boots to face.
Martin recognized the stare. Elisebeth had told her everything.
"Hey."
"Elisebeth explained the crystals, Mountain Risen’s alchemy facility, the failed Level 60 dungeon search, and every way the guild controlling that facility might try to screw Night Espresso."
"That sounds thorough."
"She also spent nearly an hour explaining why she does not care about your harem."
Martin rubbed the back of his neck. "An hour?"
"Most of it concerned how little she cared."
"That sounds about right."
Rias folded her arms and gave him another slow look.
"Can’t choose between big tits, a big ass, and thick thighs, so you’re going for all of them, yes?"
Martin stared at her. "That’s your outside opinion?"
"That was my summary."
"Elisebeth didn’t need to tell you who was involved."
"She didn’t. Elisebeth has the tits, Alexandra has the thighs, and Cassandra has the ass."
Martin’s head snapped toward her.
Rias raised one eyebrow. "Was I wrong?"
He failed to answer quickly enough, and a small smile touched her mouth.
"Cassandra isn’t part of anything."
"Good. Keep her out of it until she tells you otherwise."
"And this isn’t about their bodies."
"I believe you like their personalities too."
Martin exhaled through his nose. "Elisebeth said you would be honest."
"She knows me well."
Rias started down the travel road. Martin fell into step beside her, and the noise of Endless Rain’s lower grounds gradually faded behind them.
He waited until they had passed the nearest group of players before speaking again.
"What do you actually think?"
Rias walked several paces before answering.
"You and Alex agreed to try. That answer belongs to Alex. Elisebeth rejected the arrangement while making it painfully clear that she still wants you. Cassandra has said nothing, so she stays out of this."
"I know they’re different."
"You say that now, but you’re still asking one question about several women. There may never be one answer."
Martin let that settle.
"What do I do about Elisebeth staying close?"
"Let her."
He looked at Rias, expecting more.
"She did not reject you," Rias continued. "She rejected the arrangement. That does not mean you should wait for her no to become a yes, and it does not mean you should pretend she stopped caring about you."
"That sounds difficult to balance."
"It will be. She may flirt with you, hold onto you, and compete with Alex while still refusing the harem. You have to respect the answer she gave instead of choosing whichever behavior is easier for you."
Martin nodded slowly.
"I wasn’t planning to pressure her."
"Good. Keep remembering that when the situation becomes less clear than it feels today."
They continued down the road. Rias adjusted the cuff of one glove before moving to the part she clearly considered more important.
"You also do not get one giant relationship that covers everyone. Think of it like a team contract. One player signing does not bind the roster, and every woman will remember exactly what you promised her."
"I understand the jealousy part."
"You know jealousy exists. That is the tutorial."
Rias glanced at him.
"Wait until one woman gets your time three nights in a row and the others start counting."
"That sounds like Alex."
"Alex will count to the minute and present the total as proof that she is being reasonable. Elisebeth will insist she does not care, become twice as loud, and swear the song she writes afterward is unrelated."
Martin laughed, but Rias did not.
"They can be predictable and still get hurt."
His laughter faded. He remembered Alexandra admitting how much she wanted every date and kiss for herself, then Elisebeth refusing the harem without releasing his sleeve.
"I’m starting to understand."
"That answer I believe."
They walked in silence for a short stretch before Martin asked, "Do you think it can work?"
Rias took her time.
"Maybe. Right now, everyone is confessing, kissing, fighting, and creating dramatic spells. The hard part comes when nothing exciting is happening and you still have to remember what you promised, who you canceled on last time, and why one quiet evening mattered to someone."
Martin had been thinking about honesty and permission. Rias was talking about ordinary disappointments, the sort no skill or victory could erase.
"That sounds more optimistic than Elisebeth expected."
"Elisebeth expected me to set you on fire."
"She came close enough for both of you."
A brief smile appeared on Rias’s face.
"She was worried that telling you would drag you into this," Martin said. "Alex told her that once you learned I had agreed to a harem, you would never fall for me."
Rias stopped walking.
Martin took another step before noticing and turned back toward her.
"She said that?"
"She whispered it. Elisebeth repeated enough for me to work it out."
Rias looked back toward the academy. "That woman is dangerous."
Martin chuckled. "You sound surprised."
"I’m deciding how much trouble to cause the next time I see her."
"She’ll enjoy it."
Rias considered that with an increasingly displeased expression. "Then I’ll have to be creative."
They resumed walking. Martin had begun to think the most uncomfortable part was over when Rias glanced at him again.
"For the record, I am too smart to fall for your harem trap."
"I never asked you to join."
"You wondered whether I might."
"I did not."
"You did for half a second after I mentioned the body types."
Martin fixed his attention on the road and refused to answer. Rias allowed the silence to do the teasing for her before shifting back toward the mission.
"I’m here for the crystals. Elisebeth’s romantic disaster is her own problem."
"And keeping Mountain Risen from exploiting us?"
"That part is my problem."
"How likely are they to try?"
"Very. We are bringing them a resource they do not possess while admitting we lack the facility and knowledge needed to use it. Once they understand how urgently Night Espresso needs those methods, every condition becomes more expensive."
"So we hide the urgency."
"We hide most of it. Pretending we do not need them would be obvious."
Rias looked toward the road climbing out of Endless Rain’s territory.
"First, we find out who controls the facility, what they need, and which rival they would enjoy hurting. People make irrational concessions when a deal lets them beat someone they hate."
Martin nodded. "Elisebeth was right to send you."
"She usually is when she stops shouting long enough to think."
"And you’ll help us obtain the methods?"
"Yes."
"Legally?"
"If possible."
Martin looked at her. "And otherwise?"
Rias smiled without warmth. "Elisebeth said to steal them."
He sighed. "I was afraid you would remember that."
"I remember everything useful."
The road carried them beyond the last rain channels and dark buildings of Endless Rain. Ahead, exposed stone and steep slopes marked the edge of Mountain Risen’s territory.
Martin opened the authorization Cassandra had sent that morning. She had approved an exploratory visit and nothing more. They could investigate the facility, identify whoever controlled it, and report what kind of access might be possible. No promises, no contracts, and no mention of how badly Forest Hidden needed an alternative after the failed Level 60 Hidden Dungeon search.
Rias read the message once and nodded. "Good. Cassandra understands leverage."
"She also told me not to antagonize anyone unnecessarily."
"Then let’s find out what counts as necessary."
Her calm answer did not reassure him.
They continued toward Mountain Risen while Endless Rain disappeared beneath the clouds. The academy ahead had valuable knowledge, a facility Night Espresso needed, and no reason to offer either without demanding something in return.
Whatever waited across the negotiating table, Rias would not mistake politeness for generosity.