Chapter 35: The More You Hate Now, The More You'll Love Later
"Are you okay, Maya? Does it… hurt 'down there'?"
"Shut up, you beast!"
"I'm really sorry. If apologizing makes you feel even a little better, then—"
"Don't talk to me! Just hearing your voice makes me sick! You're way worse than that train molester—kuso! Damn it!!"
Tears kept streaming down her face. Kitamoto Maya didn't want to look so weak in front of this monster, but she couldn't stop herself no matter what. Takumi stayed silent. He had already achieved his goal—stealing her magical energy and copying her skill. He could leave right now. After doing something so beastly, acting all remorseful would just be disgusting… hypocritical, right?
…No, that wasn't it.
Takumi actually thought that being a gentle beast was far better than the kind of trash who just hits and runs. So he waited patiently until Maya's emotions calmed a little before speaking again.
"Put your clothes back on first."
Maya didn't reply, but she didn't ignore him either. The girl's sense of shame, after the initial rage, made her realize how improper it was to stay like this. She hurriedly fixed her clothes. Thankfully Takumi hadn't torn anything violently—though the one thing that hurt her pride was that her green panties were… no longer wearable. A chilly breeze blew under her skirt.
Takumi cleared his throat. "My name is Kouichi. Remember it. I'll take responsibility."
Maya almost exploded with curses. A rapist saying he'll take responsibility? How absurd could you get?! But her heart was in complete chaos. Because deep down she knew—the pleasure she had just experienced was something she had never even imagined before, far beyond anything she'd read about in books. If this had been with someone she loved… it might have been the most beautiful first night imaginable. Even though she hated him with every fiber of her being, this man was still her first. He had carved a wound straight into her heart—one that would leave a scar forever even after it healed.
So she simply glared at him with pure venom, deciding to treat him like air—like filthy, polluted exhaust fumes.
Suddenly Takumi activated his magic power. Combined with the brand-new combat skill he had just acquired, he moved at lightning speed and pulled her into his arms again before she could react.
Maya was shocked. She immediately threw an elbow strike to break free—but after copying her fighting technique, Takumi knew every single one of her moves like the back of his hand. And worse—he had already surpassed her. He neutralized the attack effortlessly, leaving her completely limp against his chest.
"I know you hate me right now. That's fine. Love and hate are twins anyway. The more you hate me now… the more you'll love me later. We will meet again."
The restraining force suddenly vanished. Maya whipped her head around—Takumi was already gone.
The grief hit her like a tidal wave. Her legs gave out and she collapsed to her knees, covering her face as violent sobs wracked her body.
On the computer screen, the little icon showed Kitamoto Maya crying her heart out.
Takumi sighed softly and closed the window. Once again that annoying thing called "conscience" started rolling around in his chest like a spiked triangle, stabbing painfully. But then he thought—
If I had never entered this 2D world, Maya would have just been another virtual 3D character for countless horny otaku to conquer through stats and numbers. Only because I came here did this place become a real dimensional world. Only then did she gain true life in a different dimension. So… I didn't do anything wrong. Getting on the train first and buying the ticket later is still valid in terms of cause and effect.
"How much magic power do I have right now? What level is the combat skill I got from Maya, and how can I strengthen it?"
[You currently possess 51 points of magic power. The skill acquired from Kitamoto Maya is Tier 1 Basic Close-Quarters Combat. It can be strengthened up to Tier 7.
Cost per stage: Tier 1 → 6 points, Tier 2 → 12 points, Tier 3 → 24 points, and so on—doubling each time.]
"What?! So just reaching Tier 4 would almost drain me dry? And the max, Tier 7, costs… 384 points?!"
[Correct.]
"This is such a scam! This is just basic close-quarters combat! If it were some high-rank martial art, the base cost per stage would be even bigger. Even if I conquer a 3000-strong harem in the future, the total magic points I get wouldn't be enough!"
[There's no need to worry. In worlds that contain gods and demons, conquering even one being can grant you far more magic power than an ordinary human woman from an ero-anime. For example, the goddesses from Oh! My Goddess—if you manage to conquer them, the magic power gained would be astronomical.]
"Oh! My Goddess is way too old… And I bet the permanent magic cost just to enter that world is an astronomical number too, right?"
[6000 points.]
"…"
Takumi fell silent. After a long pause he muttered, "Fine. Strengthen it to Tier 3 for now. By the way… is Tier 3 roughly equivalent to a 3rd dan black belt?"
Through his little sister, Takumi knew that in karate and taekwondo, belt colors represent the practitioner's level. A black belt signifies that after years of grueling training, both technique and mental discipline have reached maturity. It also symbolizes being unaffected by darkness or fear.
[Black belt? Because every person's physical condition is different, ordinary humans cannot be precisely quantified with data. A "black belt" does not represent true combat strength. However, after magic reinforcement, you gain a standardized template. Kitamoto Maya was equivalent to a 3rd dan black belt. By copying her ability, you have already been reinforced to the level of a 7th dan black belt. For athletic/martial skills, the copied version is automatically raised to the maximum potential based on the source heroine's level.]
"So if Maya had only been a beginner white belt, I would also only get white-belt level?"
[Technically yes, but in practice, skills can only be acquired once the person has reached a certain proficiency. Extremely weak or beginner-level skills usually cannot be copied.]
Takumi knew that in karate, 8th and 9th dan black belts were mostly honorary titles. 7th dan was already the peak of real fighting ability. So now he understood—if he strengthened to Tier 3, even though something ridiculous like 21st dan wouldn't happen, his combat power would still be roughly three times that of an ordinary 7th dan black belt.
Just like how someone with twice the normal strength doesn't just beat two people—he dominates them completely. With three times the combat ability of a 7th dan black belt, Takumi had zero doubt: even Bruce Lee reincarnated wouldn't be his match.
"If I strengthen to Tier 4, I could probably beat even Miyamoto Musashi! But my magic power is way too low. If I use 48 points all at once and drop down to only 4… that's not even enough for daily consumption."
Takumi selected the reinforcement.
Instantly, a surge of magic power rushed into his forehead. Unlike the usual gaseous feeling, this time it was thick and gel-like, instantly spreading throughout his entire body.
His body inflated like a balloon being pumped full of air. Or maybe like a piece of beef tendon that had been kneaded and stretched to its limit. The sensation was completely incomparable to normal magic enhancement.
Takumi felt like Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star—pure overwhelming fighting power surging so fiercely it was about to burst his clothes. His originally loose shirt instantly became skin-tight.
When the permanent reinforcement finally finished, unimaginable power coursed through him. Under the light, his skin seemed to gleam with a metallic sheen. He clenched his fist hard. The joints let out a deep, buzzing metallic roar. The vibration of his skin sounded like steel wires snapping.
How terrifyingly strong had his muscles, tendons, and bones become? Every single pore stood up, his golden skin looking almost like dragon scales.
He threw a single punch.
The air screamed shrilly. The fist wind condensed into tangible force and struck the wall with a muffled thump—leaving a slight dent.
"This… this is true power!"
Takumi felt ecstasy flooding every inch of his body. He was just about to let out a triumphant roar when—
The surging strength suddenly receded.
His body returned to its previous shape. Maybe just a tiny bit more muscular-looking than before.
Takumi blinked stupidly.
"…What the hell just happened?"
Wanna read ahead? Join my Patreon and support the story: patreon.com/ArealMaster