The next morning, when Ryuji walked into the room, his legs felt unsteady, as if he were stepping on cotton. His vision dizzy, and it took all his effort just to make it to the table—where he collapsed bonelessly onto the surface.
Seria, on the other hand, looked radiant. Her spirit was bright, her energy full, and she hummed cheerfully as if she hadn't spent the entire night having sex.
So when Rosh wandered in, yawning, she couldn't help but stare in shock at Ryuji's pale face—so pale it was completely drained of color.
For a girl her age, she knew enough about these sorts of things to put two and two together. Her sleepy expression hardened into disdain as she planted her hands on her hips.
"Don't you know how to hold back? You look like you're about to die!"
She poked his cheek with her small, fair hand. Ryuji just waved her off weakly, unwilling to move.
He felt completely drained.
It wasn't that Seria was particularly strong—in fact, her strength was negligible. She was simply… too good. Irresistible.
The problem was that, for some reason, being with her consumed his stamina at an absurd rate—ten, twenty times the normal drain. Just standing near her seemed to sap his strength.
With Robin, a single round cost him about 2% of his stamina. With Shinobu, maybe 0.5%. With Erina or Ikumi, around 1%.
But with Seria? It's 20%.
Once or twice wasn't so bad. But last night, he'd gone twenty rounds in a row. Now, his body felt like a hollow shell.
And to make things worse—not a single round had rewarded him with any energy points. It made him wonder if Seria was no longer a viable source for him at all.
That was strange, because the last time they'd been together, this hadn't been an issue.
Still, as he looked at Seria's increasingly radiant beauty, he decided not to overthink it. Instinct told him he should fuck Seria harder, more frequently.
If he wasn't completely burned out right now, her breakfast this morning would've been his milk.
Rosh didn't like being brushed off like an annoying fly. Folding her arms over her flat chest, she shot back:
"You're so depraved. Do you even care about getting stronger?"
From her perspective, Ryuji had been gone for a while, then returned only to spend his nights in indulgence with Seria, showing no serious dedication to training.
At that moment, Sizki emerged from her room. She regarded Ryuji coolly.
"She's right. Your behavior is… concerning."
Her voice was calm, even cold. If this was the kind of man Ryuji was, then no amount of money would convince her to team up with him.
"Relax. I was away training—that's why I lost control a little. Trust me, I know my limits."
Ryuji forced himself to sit up, meeting Sizki's serious gaze.
"Is that so?"
She raised a skeptical brow.
"If you don't believe me, we can spar after breakfast."
Ryuji stretched, and his demeanor shifted in an instant—the lazy man gone, replaced by a sharp, predatory presence. He might have spent his share of time with women, but he'd also walked the edge of life and death more than once lately.
"Fine. I'll look forward to it," Sizki replied, though in truth she didn't take him seriously. A man who could be drained dry by a girl like Seria couldn't possibly be that strong.
Still… she glanced at his physique. If she remembered correctly, his build hadn't been this balanced or this tall before.
Rosh didn't notice the change. She hopped into her seat, eyeing Ryuji suspiciously.
"You just like getting beat up, huh? Sizki's been training hard while you were gone. We've even cleared out minotaurs and goblins together—she's stronger than before!"
Although she was very unhappy with his behavior, but thanks to Ryuji, she had met Seria who always fed her and Sizki reliable and cool, even if quiet. She didn't want to see him get beaten to a pulp by Skizki.
Since Ryuji had left her with a pretty good impression.
"Mm, I don't think I'll lose, right?"
Glancing at Sizki sitting there, Ryuji compared her to Mai in his mind, then nodded decisively.
Not as big as Mai.
So he wouldn't lose!
"…Where exactly are you looking?"
Rosh couldn't help but complain, but just then, Seria came out carrying a pot of soup.
"Dinner's ready! Miss Sizki, little sister Rosh—time to eat!"
She beamed warmly, ladling soup for Rosh, whose eyes were sparkling with excitement.
"Ohhh! It's pork rib soup!"
Rosh exclaimed in delight. But just as she reached for the steaming bowl Seria had served her, Ryuji's hand shot out and snatched it first.
Rosh's pupils trembled in shock.
She didn't say anything at first, but Ryuji found her stare annoying. So, after downing the soup in a single gulp—letting his nearly exhausted body revel in the taste—he handed the empty bowl back to Seria, glaring right back at her.
"What are you staring at?! Can't you see I'm starving to death?!"
Rosh's fists clenched, but since Ryuji was technically her employer, she bit her tongue and silently took the fresh bowl Seria handed her.
I'll let it slide.
But just as Rosh thought the matter was over, she saw Ryuji tip the second serving—soup and meat both—straight into his mouth in one go, then look at her without a shred of politeness.
"So fast!"
Rosh instantly felt her dignity being challenged.
She immediately downed her own soup in one gulp and thrust the bowl back toward Seria.
"Another bowl!"
Ryuji's face darkened at her determined look.
"I'm faster."
"No, I'm faster!"
"No way—anyone can see I'm—"
"Alright, alright, there's more in the kitchen."
Unable to hold back a laugh at Ryuji's childish behavior, Seria also served a bowl of soup for Sizki.
But by now, Ryuji and Rosh had stopped thinking about anything else—the two of them were devouring the remaining dishes on the table like a pair of starving wolves, swallowing food as if in a race. In no time, they had cleared every plate.
And in the end, both of their eyes locked on the very last piece of rib.
Ryuji stared at Rosh. Rosh stared back at Ryuji. Between them, it felt as if the soundtrack to a duel had started playing.
"Guess there's no way to cut in…"
Having already eaten her fill just by watching, Sizki was a little confused.
"Does this man… really eat that much?"
Her brows furrowed as she looked at the growing pile of bowls and plates stacked beside Ryuji.
The more she saw, the more she felt…
There was no way Ryuji could ever become a true powerhouse.
~~~~~~~~~~
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