The Next Goal

"My goal of beating Yamagata-kun, I managed to accomplish without trouble.

"And on top of that, I got to be united with Kanan, like this.

"… All of it was thanks to everyone. Truly, thank you."

I bowed my head in front of everyone and gave my thanks.

"So, then… if I had to say what we're most curious about right now, it'd be when you'll embrace us next, but…

"Of course, for me, anytime is all-OK?"

Yuria was the first to ask.

"Yeah, that's an important conversation too. Of course, I'd like to do it right now, myself. There's nothing standing in our way anymore.

"… But, how do I put it… more than that, I love everyone, you're all so dear to me, so precious… I want to treasure each one of you, one at a time.

"Lining everyone up at once for a virginity-loss festival, that kind of thing… I don't want to do that. It sounds like fun too, but the feeling that I want to treasure each of you is stronger.

"And then, I want to savor the lingering afterglow, slowly.

"Like, right now, it feels really good.

"Finally being united with my long-cherished Kanan… and feeling this gentle warmth deep in my chest… I'm truly happy.

"It's like… this kind of thing is nice too. That's what I think.

"I want to savor this feeling for a while.

"To be specific, I think I'd like to leave things as they are for at least a week or so.

"And as for when, specifically… I was thinking I'd use LV50 as the standard.

"That way the intervals should end up just right, and everyone can mentally prepare for when their turn is coming.

"Then, I'd like to give each of you a wonderful first experience, the kind you most hope for.

"Of course, if any of you still don't want to, or are scared, or anything like that, please tell me honestly. I absolutely don't want to force anyone."

"Okaaay.

"LV50, huh… well, that should be fine, shouldn't it. If that's what Naoto wishes, I'll wait obediently.

"… Everyone is almost there, after all.

"Patty and Luna are still a ways off, but… it's just about right for getting mentally prepared, isn't it?"

Yuria summed things up on everyone's behalf.

Everyone was respecting my way of thinking. Once I reached LV50, I'd get to be with everyone…

Whoa, this is really motivating!

I might just have had a thing for this kind of "if I do X, I get Y" carrot-on-a-stick setup.

"… Adelia."

"Nya?"

"So, that being the case… I want you to set aside time next week. That whole day, I want to spend with you.

"We can take it easy doing whatever Adelia likes from morning until afternoon… and then, well… I want to embrace Adelia all the way until night."

"Nyau～ Goshujin-sama～ I'm so happy nya～"

Adelia got cutely flustered, looking delighted. I definitely wanted to make that day the best day ever…

"Then, about Aozawa-san who newly joined, I'd like to take time to talk things through carefully somewhere, with me and Kanan together.

"I want to plan that out too, but before that… about Ursula. Colette."

"Yes, Naoto-sama."

I checked with Colette.

"Ursula, was she angry?

"After the match, she was about to come running over to me, wasn't she?

"But I couldn't stand to wait even one minute, one second longer, and I came back like I was running away…"

"Um… 'I understand the feeling so I'll forgive him, but it left a bad impression, so come apologize properly,' was what she said…"

Colette said apologetically.

"Got it. Then since it ties into the next goal too… let's go right now. Could you get in touch?"

"Yes, certainly."

Colette had also been steadily getting it together, compared to her flustered state at the start.

In just one month, she'd been growing.

By learning from Libera over at Ursula's place, and by being taught by Lyuka and Yuria over here…

Colette, my secretary.

This girl who at first glance looked plain, with her black bob-cut hair, was actually an incredibly cute girl with big eyes when her bangs were swept up…

She looked about thirteen on the outside, and her actual age was apparently thirteen too. Garumon normally debut at fifteen, and from there are treated as adults.

I was the one who had forcibly pulled her out from that, dragged her into the front lines, and made her debut.

Hearing about that after the fact, I really had done something terrible.

And to such an inexperienced Colette, I'd gone and headed off to monster territory leaving her alone, then got attacked by another B-Class Master and executed him there, then made an S-Class Master angry, then dueled with a different B-Class Master… how much aftermath cleanup must she have had to handle.

It would have been stranger if she wasn't confused.

In the middle of all that, Colette had been doing a tremendous job for me. I wanted to do something to reward Colette too…

"Colette, isn't there something you want to do?"

"Eh? U-um, um…?"

She seemed to be having trouble reading my intent.

"No, I mean, you came here, and in the middle of being inexperienced, you've really worked hard for me… so I want to give you some kind of reward.

"Even if you want money, that's fine. They say a secretary's salary is paid by the system, but I could give you a special bonus or something."

"Hauu! That's far too much…!"

"Well, I figured Colette would say that.

"Then I guess I have no choice but to forcibly do something to make you happy. What would I have to do to make you happy…?"

What could it be? I had no idea what Colette's hobbies were.

"I might as well just give you a vacation and some pocket money to use freely…"

"Fueh!? A-am I being fired!? I-I'll work harder, I'll work even harder, please don't abandon me…!"

With that, Colette suddenly performed dogeza.

"Ueh!? A vacation gets that kind of treatment!? No no! I have no intention of letting you go! Really, I just wanted to do something to make you happy, that's all…"

"Hau, fueh… I-I'll definitely, definitely be useful to you, Naoto-sama… please keep me by your side…"

With that, Colette let big tears spill over.

"Ah, no, that's… I'm sorry, Colette. Colette, you're doing a really great job, I just wanted to praise you, that's all.

"Good girl, good girl…"

I hugged Colette and gently patted her head, good girl, good girl.

"Hawaa…"

Colette looked happy.

… Huh, I hadn't really noticed, but… at some point, Colette's affection for me seemed to have gotten pretty high?

I had no idea why.

If anything…

"… Colette, um… please tell me honestly.

"You're not unhappy that you ended up with such a ridiculous Master…?"

I'd been on edge worrying that she might think that, but…

"Th-that's not it at all! Even though I'm only half-fledged, everyone is being kind to me, especially Naoto-sama, you've been so attentive and kind to me…

"I've never been treated so kindly before! Even though you're such a talented Master, you're so kind even to a Garumon like me, I, I'm… I'd do anything for Naoto-sama! I'll study even harder, and become a fine secretary that won't bring shame to Naoto-sama!"

Colette burned with passion… Yeah, it didn't seem like a lie.

"Thank you, Colette. From here on too, please keep working hard and helping me."

"… Yes!"

With Colette too, eventually… no, it was still too early, wasn't it. But… if possible… maybe.

Hmm, would it be a crime, I wondered… in this world too she wasn't yet of age, after all…

"No, Garumon awaken to power between eleven and fourteen. As long as a girl has awakened to her power, once she debuts she is treated as an adult from then on. There are very rare cases where someone fails to awaken even at sixteen.

"Garumon who haven't yet awakened to power are protected, so laying a hand on them is illegal, but Colette is no problem anymore."

That was what I was told.

And so we arrived at where Ursula was.

"… You enjoyed yourself last night, did you?"

Ursula sounded a bit displeased.

"Um… thanks to Ursula-sama, I was able to win safely. Thank you very much."

I bowed my head, like that. She was a bit scary, so today, polite speech.

The fact that I was indebted to her was undeniable. Without Ursula's cooperation, who knew whether I'd have been able to win at all. At the very least, the battle would have been much harder.

"… Hmph, I am not sulking. I had thought to bestow my blessing upon you first of all, only for you to brush me off and head home before me…"

"… I-I'm sorry…"

"… It is fine. I had heard the circumstances of you both, after all.

"… Good for you, Kanan. Naoto. That you two are happy makes me happy as well."

Ursula put away her anger, and bestowed her blessing along with a gentle smile.

"Yes, thank you very much."

Kanan and I gave our thanks together.

"Now then, let me once again offer my blessing upon your victory in this duel, Naoto. Truly a magnificent victory.

"There was the win-by-strategy aspect, but including that, it was clearly a victory of superior strength. I was impressed.

"With this victory, all the prior discourtesies shall be regarded as nothing, and the death sentence I had imposed upon you shall be revoked."

At Ursula's pronouncement, both Colette and Libera sighed in relief.

"Now then, Naoto. You magnificently overcame my test… Is there anything you wish to say from your end?

"If you have cleared my displeasure, is that the end of it? … I shall permit it. If you have a wish, speak it."

… It seemed Ursula had me figured out too.

"Then, Ursula-sama. I have one wish."

I… stood up.

"… Ursula Belzebute. I want you to become my Sub-Master. Become mine."

I said it clearly, looking into her eyes.

"…!"

"…!"

Colette and Libera, while surprised… didn't raise a fuss about disrespect. I supposed it meant I had shown that much strength, at least.

"… Hoh. To this S-Class Master, you, a B-Class Master, would utter such bold words, hm?"

"…"

I gazed steadily into her eyes.

"… Very well, then I shall counter with my own proposal. Naoto Akai. I have once more come to want you as my Sub-Master.

"This time, it is no jest. If you agree, even right this moment… I shall take you on as my Sub-Master.

"Then what awaits you are days of embracing me to your heart's content, in order to impregnate me.

"As my Sub-Master, you would naturally have unlimited sex with my five companions as well.

"As for your current companions, I would welcome them in as my companions, but I promise that without your permission they would not be touched.

"How is that? Not bad terms, no?"

Ursula made her proposal.

Far from not bad, it was an offer beyond compare.

"… A tempting proposal. I think that from the bottom of my heart."

While saying so, I…

"But, allow me to refuse. My wish is, beyond all else, that I be the master and you the servant."

I refused, firmly.

"My wish is that I be master and you be servant… Since both sides' opinions are opposed, the only way to settle this is…"

"A Garumon Battle, no other way."

… We laughed at each other.

"Very well, then let us make a wager!

"Are you familiar with what is called the elite course for new Garumon Masters?"

I shook my head.

"Mm, then I shall explain. Put simply, it means reaching S-Class within one year of debut.

"This world's Masters graduate from school in March and make their debut. From there, by winning the B-Class match in October and becoming B-Class, one can get on this course.

"From B-Class, one can rise to A-Class anytime. As long as you reach A-Class by the time the A-Class Tournament is held at the end of March, you can participate in the A-Class Tournament.

"There, by winning… or even without winning, by placing in the top 8, you can challenge for the S-Class swap match in April.

"If you win there, you achieve a glorious S-Class promotion within roughly a year.

"… Among the current S-Class Masters, how many achieved this, I wonder?"

"Ursula-sama, Shaina Fervey-sama, the 17th-ranked one, Aleph-sama, Sairas-sama, and Aqueria-sama. Six people."

Lyuka answered immediately.

"I see. I remembered that Satoru-dono and Leonhardt-dono were late bloomers, but were Duras Heidrich-dono and Fauzel-dono not also early?"

"Duras Heidrich-sama promoted to S-Class at age 18, and Fauzel-sama at 17."

"I see… And what is this 'the 17th-ranked one' way of putting it?"

"Since they are an opponent with whom Naoto-san has a connection, he wished to hide it until the time comes."

"Hoho… a connection, hm. Then you cannot afford to lose, can you.

"In that case, as a challenge it is just right.

"Naoto. Achieve this S-Class elite course. And challenge me in the S-Class match, and win magnificently. If you do, I shall become yours.

"Conversely, if you cannot achieve this, then at that time you shall become mine."

That was what Ursula proposed.

Within the next five months, promote to A-Class, place in the top 8 of the A-Class Tournament. And then defeat Ursula in the S-Class swap match…

The conditions were strict, but six Masters had achieved them.

Ursula herself had achieved them. She wouldn't want to serve a Master inferior to herself, one who couldn't pull this off.

If I was going to take Ursula as mine, these were absolutely conditions I had to clear.

"Understood. I'll accept."

I answered immediately. I would obtain this beautiful, alluring, and on top of that strongest-tier Garumon, the Demon Lord Ursula Belzebute.

Satisfying conditions of that level was only natural.

"Mm… I shall not spare any necessary advice or assistance toward that end. I will cooperate by repeating mock battles like this time, and with anything else I can help with.

"… However, in the actual S-Class match, of course, I shall crush you with no holding back whatsoever. Only by winning under those conditions do you have the right to obtain me.

"… Are we agreed, Naoto."

"… Yes!"

Alright, this was exactly what I'd hoped for. The ambition I'd come to fervently desire over this past month while training under Ursula… obtaining Ursula. I'd managed to set that as my next goal.

"Oooh… this is hooot～! May I take this promise up as a feature in our Communications, too? Some months ahead, but!"

Patty piped up.

"Very well. I have no objection. Take it up grandly."

"Um… if Ursula's saying that, then I don't particularly mind either, I guess…?"

Either way, when the time came, everyone would know.

"Ooh～! Hoot～! Then, you two, please, let me get a shot of the handshake～"

In front of Patty's readied camera, I shook hands with Ursula.

Pasha, pasha…

… As several photos were being taken, a bit of a mischievous impulse rose in me, and I once again pulled Ursula's hand, drew her in close, and kissed her.

"… Mmh, mm…? N-Naoto. What is the meaning of this…?"

"… My past discourtesies were completely forgiven, weren't they? In other words, kissing from now on isn't a problem, is it?"

I said it with a laugh.

"… I see. That can certainly be interpreted that way. Fufufu. Very well. I shall acknowledge your argument."

With that, Ursula wrapped her arms around my neck and this time kissed me from her end.

Sweet lips…

"… A pre-celebration of you becoming mine."

"Nope, a pre-celebration of you becoming mine."

Either way, we passionately entwined our tongues, and slurped and drank each other's saliva.

"Making Ursula your own… huh."

Kanan murmured.

"… Kanan, you don't like it?"

Right after having had such passionate sex with Kanan as her lover, here I was putting the moves on another woman…

By the standards of the world we came from, what I was doing was the worst. I knew that, but…

"Eh? Don't like it, of course not?

"Seeing you kiss Ursula, I was just so proud.

"To think the person trying to obtain such a strongest-tier, beautiful S-Class Master is my… beloved person… thinking that, I just got really, really happy.

"… That wish, no matter what I'll make it come true for you! That's how fired up I got."

But Kanan's reason for saying so was the complete opposite of what I'd been worried about.

"No, by the standards of our original world… right after a lover loved me that intensely, kissing another girl…

"Wouldn't you get jealous, or be shocked, or something…"

"The values of our original world don't matter to us anymore, do they.

"If Naoto were kissing a girl I disliked, I might not like it… but I like Ursula.

"She's cool and beautiful, kind, smart, and her conversation is interesting. Plus she's truly strong. As a Garumon, I respect her from the bottom of my heart.

"… Of course, as a Master, I think Naoto is absolutely the more amazing one!"

Kanan said.

When you become a Garumon, are these jealous feelings something that just kind of… fade away?

Or maybe girls without jealous feelings make for good Garumon.

But from my side, my feelings of love for Kanan and my feelings of love for Adelia didn't contradict at all.

The people I loved, I could love any number of them.

I wanted to keep making more Garumon I found wonderful and alluring into companions, do all sorts of erotic things with them…

And in that way, enjoy this world a great deal. That was what I thought.

And everyone, thinking that way of me, was supporting me from the bottom of their hearts, trying to help me.

… I really had come to a wonderful world. Then… I had to give it my all, dash through it at full speed.

First, obtain Ursula.

For that, I'd give it my all.

"… Then, let's think about specific methods. How to defeat Ursula."

"… May I participate in this strategy meeting?"

I consulted with Ursula, Lyuka, and Yuria.

"Of course. After all, you're my future Sub-Master. Once Ursula joins our group, we'll be consulting on all kinds of things like this anyway."

"… You jump the gun, you do. Well, very well. I did promise the utmost cooperation toward that end, after all.

"… So then. The immediate goal is to become an A-Class Master, but is there a Master you have your eye on?"

"About that, the A-Class Masters affiliated with Ursula would be…"

"118th-ranked Stein, 94th-ranked Organo, 70th-ranked Rubito, 46th-ranked Guenza, 22nd-ranked Gayus.

"It would be one of these."

"… Right."

"What is it? Was there a Master you had your eye on?"

"Ah, well… yeah. The 34th-ranked guy…"

"34… that would be Gidsen's subordinate."

"…?!"

In that instant, intense gore imagery flashbacked through my mind.

"No way! Absolutely not! Ursula's affiliation is fine! I don't want to leave Ursula!"

I dug in, throwing a tantrum.

"There, there, then defeat one of Stein through Gayus and become A-Class. For now, Stein seems like the target…

"Strength is in line with rank. Stein is the weakest, after all."

"… I see."

Then for now, I should challenge Stein…

"After becoming 118th-ranked, would it be possible to challenge the 34th-ranked one?"

"Mm… if you happen to be matched up at the A-Class Tournament, you'd inevitably be able to fight, no?"

"No, I'd absolutely win, but I don't know if the other guy would win. It'd be a problem if he lost partway through…"

"Kuku… well, indeed. In that case, how about making a promise through the system. That whoever loses first is the loser."

"… I see. Well, that negotiation can wait until I become A-Class…"

Then for now, without worrying about the 34th, prioritize defeating A-Class Stein.

"What does it mean that 8th place or higher in the A-Class Tournament is fine?"

"The top 8 of the A-Class Tournament can challenge S-Class 17th to 24th-ranked Masters in order from 1st place.

"You cannot challenge the same opponent twice. So if you want to fight a specific opponent, it is desirable to be 1st.

"That said, Ursula Belzebute is, among the 17th to 24th, at the very least not the weakest Master.

"Don't be deceived by the rank of 24th.

"So even if you are not 1st, the probability that Ursula is selected early on is considered low."

Lyuka explained.

"… I see. But if possible, I want to win it. Or rather, I don't think I can beat Ursula if I can't win at A-Class."

"The reason Ursula is 24th is that she has never once challenged the year-end S-Class ranking match."

Yuria added.

"Ranking match?"

"S-Class 24th to 9th Masters are given the right to challenge the Master one rank above them every year. There's no problem if they don't exercise that right.

"If they exercise it and win, their rank goes up by one. In this way, ranks can shift.

"Ursula doesn't take part in that, so she stays at 24th."

Yuria added.

"I see… Why don't you take part in the ranking match?"

"… Let's say it is because I do not want to win in halfway fashion and end up matched against Gidsen, hm?"

Ursula said it with a laugh.

"… I'm convinced."

"Well, Gidsen is… the stuff of trauma, after all…"

What was up with that guy. After Ursula, among S-Class Masters, he was the one with the strongest presence to me, but…

I didn't want to get involved…

If I was going to get involved with anyone, I'd rather it be Shaina Fervey or Aqueria.

"… Already setting your sights on the S-Class futanari Masters besides me too, are you… you jump the gun."

Ursula gave a wry smile.

"… And so, against Ursula, countermeasures against Ursula's Demon Art Belzebute are absolutely essential.

"This attack, which spreads disease ignoring even resistances, if it hits, you can't fight at all.

"As a countermeasure for that… there's something I'd really like to ask of Ursula."

"… What is it?"

Ursula kept up her wry smile.

"… Let me shave your pubic hair. I want Ursula's pubic hair."

"… Whaa?"

… She was thoroughly weirded out.

"I'm not joking. Ursula, do you know about hair-cloth?"

"That, well… ah, your Spirit Garbs were hair-cloth, weren't they. For low-class equipment, hair-cloth Spirit Garb would have outlandish performance.

"By the time you get to S-Class, you can obtain equipment exceeding hair-cloth, so hair-cloth Spirit Garb isn't used much, but…

"Hm? This performance… is this really hair-cloth Spirit Garb?"

Ursula sounded surprised, looking at the Spirit Garb we'd made.

"… Is the performance good? Thanks to Lyuka, Leone, and of course everyone who provides their hair, I think it's turned out to be good equipment."

"… Full elemental enchantment is top-grade as a piece of equipment. In terms of rarity, it would be SSR-Class. With Endure additionally enchanted on top, it's even higher-grade. You can't get this from a shop. Even an S-Class Master would want to buy this. Above this is UR-Class, and above that is EX-Class, in the world of equipment."

… So it was still only the third tier from the top…

"I really do need to refine my craft more… I have to polish my technique more…"

"… Where exactly are you headed. W-Well… I understand what you want to do. You want to make pubic-hair-cloth from me, and respond to the status ailments I cause. Such is your calculation."

"Yeah, exactly."

I said it with a great smile.

"… Well, can't be helped. I've already promised the utmost cooperation possible from me…"

Yessss! Ursula Belzebute's pube-shaving! To be able to get the pubic hair of this beautiful, alluring, great S-Class Master…!

The best!

"That said, at the same pace as Kanan and the others, that would be one set per 1.5 months, so in 4.5 months we can only prepare three sets… only enough for the 2nd party's worth, huh…

"By any means necessary I either win in the 1st party fight, or even if I lose, beat them up so badly they're forced to swap… and stake everything on the 2nd party fight. That's the only way."

"Nuu… I may be being targeted by a fearsome man…"

Ursula hugged her arms around herself, hunching her body.

After this… came persuading Aozawa-san.

Properly making use of her as a combat asset was important, strength-wise. Element-wise too, our party didn't have anyone Water-element, and that nullification ability was bound to land in certain situations.

After that, well, with that beautiful face and erotic body, there was no doubt I'd be unable to keep from doing erotic things with her, either.

Against Demon Art Belzebute, we'd prepare Ursula's Spirit Garb, but the other candidate was Aozawa-san's Tranquil Water Surface.

If I could time this perfectly, there was a chance of nullifying even Demon Art Belzebute.

For the coming match against Ursula too, getting Aozawa-san to share heart with us and fight together had become an urgent priority.

Organizing the above:

(1) Defeat A-Class 118th-ranked Stein, become A-Class.

(2) Challenge, or make a promise with, A-Class 34th-ranked.

(3) Win the A-Class Tournament. (Top 8 is acceptable.)

(4) Defeat S-Class Ursula, become S-Class.

These were the goals to achieve toward obtaining Ursula.

For that, the immediate goals — the things I wanted to do — were as follows.

• Secure Aozawa-san's full cooperation

• Collecting Ursula's pubic hair

• First experience with Adelia.

• Get everyone to LV50 and have sex.

… Now then, one by one, let's achieve them.