Having discovered the way to fight the Inner Demon, Ethan fell into a logical loop. The difference between sapient life and other species was the ability to use reason to control desire. If he let desire rule him, he'd just be a tool. His knowledge told him that such a path led to a bad end; enemies would exploit such a massive weakness.
As he pondered, Ethan found himself in a bustling commercial district. The autumn wind had cleared the scent of sex from him. Because it was a holiday, the streets were crowded. Ethan watched the women passing by—lively high-schoolers, sharp office ladies, "Gyaru" girls with heavy makeup, and gentle, mature housewives.
Ethan's tall, handsome, and slightly brooding appearance attracted many stares. Some bold women even approached him. The "average" beauty in this world was high, and those with the confidence to hit on Ethan were top-tier. In his past life, they would have been "goddesses."
But Ethan felt nothing. It wasn't "Sage Time," nor was it because his standards were too high. (Well, "Sage Time" didn't exist for him thanks to dual-cultivation.) He realized that his cultivation wasn't about fucking any beautiful woman—it was about fulfilling a specific "obsession."
Obsession...
Ethan's eyes brightened. He finally understood. As an otaku in his past life, his greatest dream was to make his "waifus" real. In this world, many of the female leads he knew had partners. If he didn't intervene, other—often much more cruel—Netorare characters would take them. He felt no guilt in "saving" them.
With Rias and the others, the original protagonist hadn't met them yet, so Ethan could hide his possessiveness under the guise of "first come, first served." But with the married MILFs or friends' mothers, he couldn't lie to himself anymore. That unfulfilled obsession had become the Inner Demon.
If it was just about fulfilling his obsession with specific characters from his memory, he didn't have to worry about becoming a slave to random lust. Unless someone else from his world showed up to set a trap, he was safe.
"Sorry, I'm not looking for a relationship right now," Ethan said, habitually rejecting a beautiful woman in black stockings. He felt a sense of deja vu. He had done the same when he first arrived in this world, but back then, it was out of frustration. Now, he felt purely joyful because he had found the shortcut to becoming a god-tier powerhouse.
He decided to test his theory. He remembered several MILFs from his memory. Their "weight" might not be as high as others, but they would serve as "experience points" before he tackled the ultimate "bosses" of his heart.
Ethan's brooding expression vanished. The women on the street were disappointed to see the "melancholy prince" go, but a "cheerful, handsome boy" was also good. However, he soon vanished from their sight. A few tried to follow, but he lost them within minutes.
In the crowd, a woman with red-rimmed glasses and a sexy figure watched Ethan's retreating back with a smile. Hasegawa had been observing him from the shadows to protect him while he was sealed. While he could unseal himself instantly, there was always a micro-second of lag that could be dangerous.
She had been ready to step in and guide him if needed, but Ethan hadn't disappointed her. He'd found the answer on his own. She didn't have mind-reading powers, but she'd watched him long enough to know his secrets. She turned and vanished into the crowd, unnoticed. Even Ethan, once he reached God-tier, might not be able to find her.