Four hours had passed, and both Aurelian and Lysander continued their long walk toward Gasok.
For Lysander, the journey was nothing short of torture. His legs pained, his sandals rubbed his soles raw, and his thoughts had begun to unravel under the weight of the exhaustion. He was not built for this kind of relentless trekking.
Aurelian, on the other hand, moved with steady ease. His breathing was calm, his posture relaxed, and his steps were consistent. The physical body granted by his reincarnation package handled the journey like a routine task. To him, the walk was little more than extended training.
And Lysander noticed this. He couldn't stop noticing it. He stared at Aurelian's back, at the way the man walked as if fatigue simply did not exist.
'Truly a remarkable physique, one must say. He's just completely built different, his muscles defined and lean, not bulky or burly. Of course, I shouldn't give him any credit. He definitely used an elixir to temporarily transform his physique. Yes, that is definitely the case. Why would someone with such talent for strength be doing in the backwater of Athens?' Lysander thought.
Then his mind slipped further, crossing into absurd territory.
'Actually, this walk isn't all that bad, it's good for my psychology, like it makes me wonder: What if humans were born with four legs instead of two? Walking would be easier.
What if sandals were outlawed? Society would collapse, surely.
And what would life be like without cocks?'
Lysander blinked.
He then frowned.
Why was he thinking about that?
He shook his head weakly, his breath coming out in rough, uneven gasps. His legs felt like they might give out at any moment.
That was when Aurelian finally noticed.
He slowed his pace, then stopped entirely. Turning around, he took one look at Lysander's condition and sighed.
Lysander was bent forward, hands braced on his knees, chest raising up and down.
Aurelian then scanned their surroundings, and noticed that the edge of the land around them rose gently to the side, forming a small elevated ridge overlooking the road they had just traveled. Sparse trees dotted the area, and the height offered a clear view of the surroundings in every direction.
It was a defensible spot with relatively good visibility, and served as nearby shelter. It was perfect, or simply put, the best option among the few available.
"We stop here," Aurelian said.
Lysander looked up weakly. "I thought… you said… no stopping."
"I said we wouldn't slow down unnecessarily," Aurelian replied calmly. "This is necessary."
He gestured toward the elevated ground. "That ridge will do. We can rest, eat something, and let you recover. It's high enough to scout the road and spot anything dangerous long before it reaches us."
Lysander simply nodded, gratitude and exhaustion mixing together as he dragged himself toward the higher ground.
As they settled down, Lysander collapsed onto a rock with a groan that sounded like his soul leaving his body.
Aurelian stood watch, his eyes scanning the distance, his posture relaxed but alert.
"Hey, Aurelian. Quick thought," Lysander called out.
"Go ahead," Aurelian replied, not looking up.
"Have you ever wondered what life would even mean if men didn't have... you know... a cock?"
Aurelian paused, finally looking at him. "That is a truly idiotic thought to have."
"Is it? Think about it," Lysander pressed. "It would be total chaos. For instance, no one would be willing to fight for anything. No causes, no wars."
"That makes zero sense," Aurelian countered. "The main reason people join the army is for glory and money."
"Spoken like a true idiot," Lysander chuckled. "Of course you'd say that. But hear me out: what would men even do with that money and fame?"
Aurelian shrugged. "Provide for their families. Take care of their loved ones."
"Aha! Family!" Lysander grinned, pointing a finger. "The single most important reason to have a cock in the first place."
Aurelian stared at him for a long beat, the logic making sense, even if he didn't want to admit it. "Shit. Is life really just about cocks?"
"I can see it on your face—you're finally starting to grasp my way of thinking. I'm certain that's why you chose me as your magic tutor. Deep down, you recognized my intellectual prowess, even if you were too stubborn to admit it because of how 'absurd' I sound.
But, since I finally have your undivided attention, allow me to enlighten that small brain of yours. As this text makes clear, the true, underlying purpose of every man is the eternal pursuit of his sexual desires. Everything else is just a distraction.
Take wealth, for instance. If I pay a man a hundred silver coins, what does he do? He buys food, clothes, and a house. But look closer—it all circles back! Why does he eat? To maintain the strength required for sex. Why the fine clothes? To look good while having sex. And the house? Please, tell me: where else is a man supposed to have sex? In the middle of the street? In the sky?"
"Shit! even life is like a cock, sometimes it's up, sometimes it's down, but it's never hard forever," Lysander continued.
'Damn, I have to admit, that was good,' Aurelian thought.
"But still, it's completely absurd to place everything you do on the single intent of sex. Don't get me wrong, I completely enjoy sex—I had my fair share of it—but there should be more to life than that.'
"True," Lysander added, sensing Aurelian's lingering hesitation. "But let's talk about the application of this truth. If you had to choose a route in this life of yours, what would it be? Would you settle for the mundane path of marrying a single woman, or would you pursue a harem?"
Aurelian opened his mouth to offer his answer, but Lysander waved a hand dismissively, cutting him off.
"Before you give me some drivel about 'true love,' listen," Lysander leaned in. "It is only a man trying to uphold a false, artificial moral code who seeks a single partner. If someone offered you a gift—say, a pair of boots—and then offered you ten more pairs of equal quality, would any reasonable person settle for just the one? Of course not! You'd be a fool to decline the variety."
He gestured vaguely toward the horizon. "I like diversity, Aurelian. They say diversity is our strength, so why shouldn't I bring that strength into my bedroom? I want women from Athens, from Gasok, from Thebes, and Heradin. I want to see the beauty of every corner of this world. I want the Nymphs, the Sirens, the Harpies... heck, I just want variety! Why limit your cock to one flavor when the world is a buffet?"
Aurelian turned his gaze back to the road, falling silent.
'He's a degenerate, but he isn't entirely wrong,' Aurelian thought. 'I've actually thought about this before. I never really ruled out the idea of forming a harem in this world. In fact, is a harem not an essential part of the 'fantasy' experience? I've been given a second chance, a powerful body and a system that practically guarantees I'll reach the top. What's the point of having all this power and the chance to live a legendary life if I don't actually use it to its fullest? Why settle for the restrictions of my old world when the rules here are written by the strong?'
Aurelian looked back at Lysander, a small smirk finally forming at the corner of his mouth.
"You make a compelling case for 'diversity,' Lysander," Aurelian said, his voice steady. "I suppose you're right. If I'm going to conquer this world, settling for one woman would be... inconsistent with my goals. I'll take the harem."
Lysander let out a bark of laughter, slapping his sore thigh and immediately wincing in pain. "Aha! I knew there was a man of culture hiding in you! Now, let's talk about the Sirens. I've heard their voices aren't the only thing that's enchanting..."