Chapter 38: The Great Wooing Operation
"This is just too awesome!"
Lubbock couldn't help but roar when he saw Kobayashi living the life of a harem king. He himself worked diligently and conscientiously, getting exhausted every day and often taking huge risks, only to receive a meager reward that was barely enough to spend!
In contrast, not only did Kobayashi idle about every day, but he also flirted and bantered with beautiful women. Anyone who saw this would feel it was unfair and lose their mental balance.
After just two days, Lubbock couldn't take it anymore.
He said, to everyone's shock, "I've decided. I'm quitting Night Raid!"
His idea was actually very simple. He was a relatively important member of Night Raid, and also the Teigu user responsible for the base's security. If he threw a little tantrum, the others, in order to appease him, would have to give him some benefits, right?
He wasn't asking for the same treatment as Kobayashi. As long as the female members could give him a few more perks, that would be enough.
The best would be for everyone to have a mixed bath together, with him as the only man... something like that would be perfect!
"Hehehe..."
The sound of Lubbock's little abacus clattered loudly, and the lecherous look on his face completely exposed the sordid thoughts in his heart.
This only made Najenda angrier.
The honey trap hadn't worked on Kobayashi, and now a member of Night Raid was acting out due to jealousy. Although Lubbock was reliable at critical moments, he was always useless in the most inexplicable ways. When would he ever mature a little?
"Lubbock, you said you want to quit Night Raid?"
"That's right!"
"Are you serious?"
"...That's right?"
Lubbock's voice was a little weak because he saw that Najenda's expression was very wrong.
"Is that so? You want to quit?"
Najenda sighed and said with feigned helplessness, "I've already tried to persuade you, but you still insist... Lubbock, you haven't forgotten what I said about quitting when you first joined Night Raid, have you?"
!!!
Lubbock's eyes suddenly widened. He swallowed hard and stammered, "T-to quit... you can o-only..."
"The only way to quit is through death... That's what I said, wasn't it?"
Najenda's expression became extremely dangerous. She said to the lioness beastman beside her, who was already cracking her knuckles and eager for a fight, "Leone, you can see Lubbock off."
"Roger! I've been wanting to do this for a long time!"
Leone licked her lips and approached him. At the same time, the Teigu on her waist, [Animal King Form: Lionelle], activated, turning her into a wild beast-eared girl.
"W-wait! I surrender! I surrender!"
Seeing that Leone was serious, Lubbock immediately surrendered. Although his Teigu, [Infinite Uses: Cross Tail], was powerful and suitable for various situations, its frontal combat ability was slightly inferior to Leone's. Moreover, the psychological effect of being frequently beaten up by her made it impossible for him to muster the slightest will to resist.
"Tch, a man with no backbone."
Seeing how quickly he chickened out, Leone mocked him, deliberately glancing at Kobayashi, who was enjoying the show from the back, as she said it. Her eyes seemed to say, You're just like him.
If it were a hot-blooded young man like Tatsumi, who had a strong desire to improve and hated being looked down upon, he might have fallen into her trap.
Unfortunately, Kobayashi would not.
Seeing Lubbock surrender instantly, Najenda asked, both amused and annoyed, "How about it? I'll ask you one more time. Do you still want to quit Night Raid now?"
"No, I'm not quitting! Night Raid needs me! The Revolutionary Army needs me! Everyone needs me! How could I possibly quit?!"
Lubbock's clowning around drew light laughter from the group.
But he was still unwilling to accept it.
"Although I know the reason, don't you think this is too much of a double standard? Don't you agree, Bulat, Tatsumi?"
Seeing that his own protest had no effect, Lubbock cleverly tried to bring the other two male members of Night Raid to his side.
Unfortunately—
"No, I don't mind. As long as we succeed in winning him over, I think this small price is worth it."
Bulat was male, and his preference was also male. How could a man who truly enjoyed building human pyramids care about women? He was already qualified to ascend to the realm of "with no women in his heart, his sword drawing will naturally be divine."
Seeing that Bulat didn't care, Lubbock turned to the other man. "Tatsumi, what do you think? All the women of Night Raid are leaving you for him, you know!"
Tatsumi asked in return, "Is there a problem?"
"Eh?"
"At the end of the day, who everyone likes to hang out with is their own choice. Being disliked is your own problem, isn't it, Lubbock? Who told you to never act properly and always go around peeping?"
"What did you say..."
Tatsumi was very clear: it was because Lubbock himself had no charm. Even if Kobayashi weren't here, the women of Night Raid wouldn't become closer to him. This was all his own doing.
"H-how could this be..."
Lubbock was dealt a huge blow. He held his head in his hands and knelt on the ground, seemingly unable to accept this cruel fact.
"Alright, Lubbock, stop fooling around," Najenda said to him.
But at the same time, she also realized the problem and felt that a change was indeed needed.
"Since that's the case, do any of you have any better ideas?"
"Yes, yes! Over here, over here!"
"Leone, do you have a good suggestion?"
"I suggest we increase the intensity of the honey trap!"
Leone said loudly, "No man dislikes big boobs. As long as I give him a little more fan service, we'll definitely be able to win him over easily!"
"No, there are men who don't like boobs, right? The proof is Bulat. He doesn't like big boobs," the airheaded, glasses-wearing Sheele said slowly, providing evidence.
"Men's boobs don't count!"
Bulat had a hearty smile on his face, but his words were baffling.
Why does he look so proud?!
Akame: "Treat him to more meals!"
Mine: "Buy him more new clothes!"
Tatsumi: "Give him more pay!"
Bulat: "Train our bodies with him more!"
Sheele: "Have him help me cure my airheadedness."
Wait, why is it about helping you?
The members of Night Raid each expressed their own opinions, arguing endlessly in the main hall. They were just short of pulling out their Teigu and fighting to decide who to listen to.
Najenda's head was about to explode.
Finally, she looked at the outsider sitting in the corner who had caused all of this and asked, "Kobayashi, which one do you think is good?"
"Even if you ask me, I can't possibly answer... Besides, shouldn't you be discussing this in private? Why are you doing it in front of me?"
Kobayashi had a conflicted look on his face. He really couldn't understand what they were thinking. It was like parents discussing what New Year's gift to give you at the dinner table while you're listening right there. Wouldn't that completely ruin the surprise?
Najenda, however, had a different idea. "Because I want you to know how much effort we're putting in to win you over."
But all I see is a pack of hungry wolves lusting after my body!
Kobayashi couldn't help but slander them in his heart.
"How about it? Do you have any thoughts of joining us now?"
"Not at all!"
His reply was as crisp as ever.
Seeing this, Najenda waved her hand. "Stop arguing! We'll use all the methods! One by one, each of you will use the method you're most confident in. We'll see who can succeed in winning Kobayashi over. The one who succeeds will receive a handsome reward from me!"
"YEAH!!!"
The competitive spirit of the Night Raid members was thoroughly ignited. And Kobayashi was already thinking, Is my approach really okay? Shouldn't I just be making a run for it?