Chapter 30 - I Want to Get Stronger
Something is wrong. Something is strange.
I had been thinking about it ever since I went to bed with Angelica.
I couldn't sleep. Looking at my smartphone screen, it was almost midnight.
The question that had been dominating my mind for a while now was a single one.
The bizarre incident where baseball players and shogi players suddenly multiplied. Of course, that was important too, but honestly, I didn't care.
I really didn't care at all.
Right now, Angelica was more important. Anyone would think so.
—What is with that... that inclusiveness of Angelica's?
When I was shedding tears while projecting my own circumstances onto the movie, she gently hugged me.
It had a strange relaxation effect, as if I were being pampered by a younger mama.
What even is a younger mama? I don't remember growing up to be a thirty-two-year-old who gets distracted by such wicked words.
At this rate, things are bad.
Because, if anything, I have a weakness for older women.
Danchi wives. Widows. Life insurance ladies. Office ladies in their late twenties.
I am a healthy man in his thirties who gets excited by such words.
Oh, and I also like "youthful-looking Yakult ladies."
...I got a bit sidetracked.
Anyway, since I'm like that, if Angelica attacks me with her mama-power, there's a risk I might fall.
I might end up laying a hand on her.
That would be bad.
Unforgivable as a human being.
I sat up in bed and looked at Angelica, who was breathing softly beside me.
No matter how you looked at her, she was a child and didn't seem to possess any motherhood.
Moreover, according to the status appraisal, she was the owner of a skill called [Skill: Father Complex (Growing)], and her usual personality was that of a spoiled brat.
She was attention-seeking and moody, a typical teenage girl.
Why did such an Angelica show a warm aura like an older woman...?
Why...?
With trembling lips, I muttered, "Status Open."
I was trying to analyze the battle situation much more seriously than when I was fighting the Wraith.
【Name】 Angelica
【Level】 40
【Class】 Holy Maiden
【HP】 900
【MP】 1100
【Attack】 300
【Defense】 400
【Agility】 450
【Magic Attack】 800
【Magic Defense】 820
【Skill】 Language Comprehension, Perception, Sorcery, Father Complex (Growing)
【Remarks】 Strong curiosity and sexual desire, but no male experience. Aiming for Keisuke Nakamoto's heart and body.
...She's gotten stronger than before.
It's probably because she was counted as my party member when we defeated the Wraith.
It seems 30,000 EXP went to Angelica as well.
Does inclusiveness increase just because basic stats go up?
No. Absolutely not.
If that were the case, the Demon Lord would have been a person of tremendous character.
Then—is it a skill?
I hadn't tried to investigate Angelica's skills in detail for the blunt reason that "it's kind of scary," but I couldn't say that now.
I quietly tapped the status window and expanded the skill section.
When I pressed and held it again, the detailed effects of the skill were displayed.
【Father Complex (Growing)】
'If there is an older male in the party, all stats increase.
Also, becomes more likely to hold affection for men who evoke a sense of fatherhood.
Holds a strong interest in being spoiled by and raised by a father-like figure.
Conversely, also holds a strong interest in spoiling and raising a father-like figure.
A mutual-growth type father complex. The true characteristic is babu-mi (T/N: a slang term for the feeling of wanting to be mothered by a younger girl).'
I exhaled a deep, long breath.
This is bad, isn't it?
Isn't this a crime? There's not a single normal fetish in here.
What the hell is a mutual-growth type? Angelica-mama? Stop it! That works on me!
Money.
No matter what, I need money.
I have no choice but to become a strong, rich, reliable, and flawless papa.
To treat the wounds of the heart, money is still necessary.
I can't afford to show any more weakness to Angelica.
I will become a man of iron.
If I do that, Angelica will degenerate into a mere spoiled brat and stray from my preferences.
I'll be able to avoid straying from the path.
I can't afford to be picky about jobs anymore. I'll try anything.
That's right.
A director from a certain variety show had approached me about doing some "stripping work."
Not in a weird way. He asked if I'd like to participate in a project where I'd do a physical fitness test mixed in with young comedians.
Apparently, I'd be forced to do something like an obstacle course while half-naked.
He said something like, "Nakamoto-san is popular with the housewife demographic, so there's demand."
Why me with housewives? Isn't the UFO-ojisan specialized for kids?
I had found it strange, but I finally realized it after Angelica told me I had a "good body."
I... see.
Since I've become muscular enough to be noticed even through my clothes, the ladies probably want to peel them off.
Young girls don't like muscles much, but apparently, women like them as they get older.
I don't mind.
If I can get a high salary for it, I have to do it.
Also, I'll look into the genius multiplication incident on the side if I have the leeway. Only if it seems like it'll lead to money, though.
With those thoughts—not knowing if I was motivated or pathetic—I fell asleep.
"Good morning, Father!"
Morning came.
After getting ready, I had breakfast with Angelica.
Angelica's mood didn't seem bad.
Since she's from a medieval-style different world, she's a morning person. She's energetic.
Maybe I can pull this off.
I casually bring up that topic.
"You know, I'm thinking of doing some stripping work."
I want to let you eat more delicious food, and I want to move to a bigger apartment soon, right?
But with my current earnings, I'm a bit uneasy.
If it leads to more work, exposing my naked body on TV is no big deal.
Ange won't mind, right?
When I said that...
"No. Absolutely not."
Angelica squashed her toast with a crunch.
Her green eyes were flashing with anger.
"No, no... I'm a man, you know? I'm an old guy. It's zero damage if people see me naked, right?"
"...But TV is watched by millions or tens of millions of people, right? That's what you said, Father."
"R-Recently, ratings seem to be dropping for every station, so tens of millions won't be watching."
Angelica bit her lip, her face looking like she was about to cry at any moment.
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 200】
"No... I absolutely hate the idea of Father's naked body being seen by all sorts of people... especially if the reason is for my sake..."
I have the wisdom not to say that it's actually for my own peace of mind.
"Don't be selfish. A father is the breadwinner of the family. He has to support his family no matter what he has to do."
"...I hate it. I can't stand it."
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 300】
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 400】
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 500】
"What do you dislike so much? It might be hard for you to understand since you were raised in isolation in a temple, but a man's naked body doesn't have much value. That's just how it is. I don't think anything of it either."
"...I care... Please put yourself in the opposite position and think about it."
"Opposite?"
Prompted, I try to imagine it.
"Not really. If my father were doing naked comedy somewhere for the sake of the family, I'd only feel that he's admirable. People might laugh at him, but if he's earning living expenses, isn't he a fine parent?"
"...Haa. Father, you don't understand anything. Nothing at all."
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 600】
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 700】
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 800】
Finally, Angelica began to sniffle.
Her eyes grew moist, the skin around them turned red, and I began to feel like I was doing something very, very bad.
"Don't cry, please."
"Father. Try thinking about it in the completely opposite position. Completely."
"Completely?"
"Think about it by reversing everything from position to gender."
What does that mean?
"It's the feeling when an opposite-sex parent close to you in age brings up the idea that they're thinking of earning money by stripping. Please imagine it."
"The world would be ending."
"Right?"
Angelica explained while rubbing the corners of her eyes with her fingers.
"Listen. Suppose Father grew up in a religious facility where there were only men until you were sixteen. Your only chances to see women were in paintings and sculptures; it's a hellish environment. You have a young body you don't know what to do with. That's you, Father. Just imagine it for a bit."
"Are you struggling with that, you?"
I decide not to ask too deeply, thinking it's probably a part I shouldn't touch much.
"Suppose that boy, starved for women, is one day given permission by a great person to 'live with a female Hero.'"
"He'd be overjoyed."
In fact, he'd be so starved for women he'd probably fall in love unconditionally.
"Right, right? ...And then, when he actually meets the female Hero, she's a thirty-two-year-old, slightly haggard person. She looks like she could be an auntie or an older sister. She has a plain face, but from the neck down, she's erotic. And she's a widow. She even has a moe point where she moans in her sleep while calling out her deceased husband's name."
"T-That's a lot of attributes. She's plain-faced but incredible when she strips? And a widow? Her name would surely be something like Sanae or Kyoko. With a retro feel."
"And then, that person says to you: 'Think of me as your mother.' She's a stepmother, a stepmother. A stepmother only sixteen years apart in age."
That's scandalous... it's nothing but the prologue to a definitely not-good story.
"Suppose you end up in a relationship with that stepmother where you don't know if you're parent and child or lovers."
"Sanae-san... I love you..."
"One morning, the stepmother says to you: 'I'm sorry. Mother's salary is low, so this time I'm going to earn money with a job where I get naked.'"
"Don't do it! Stop her!"
"See—! See—! You understand now, don't you!? The feeling I'm having right now is exactly that!"
Good grief, that was a close one.
I almost defiled Sanae-san.
"Thanks, Ange. I was able to understand too."
"Then it's fine."
While watching Angelica, who had regained her mood and was biting into her toast, a thought welled up inside me.
No.
There's no woman named Sanae.
Who the hell is that?
I am me.
No matter what happens in the analogy, I'm an old guy.
"Sorry, Ange. I'm stripping after all."
"Aaaaaah!"
Listening to Angelica's scream, I poured soy sauce over my fried egg.
"...I'll come home early today. I'll buy a souvenir too. Can't you forgive me with that?"
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 900】
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 1000】
【Party member Holy Maiden Angelica's Possessiveness has increased by 1100】
I've heard that today's recording won't take that long.
We should be able to eat dinner together.
"Right? I'll try to be back by five. Let's have dinner together. Or should we eat out somewhere?"
"...Uuu..."
"Please. I want money. I need money to spend on you."
Angelica said with tears in her eyes and a bright red face.
It was likely the red of anger, not shame.
"Five o'clock, right? It's a promise. I'm not a child either; I'll forgive you if you take me to a delicious restaurant somewhere."
"Yeah, thanks."
As I thought, she suits throwing a childish tantrum better.
That way, I don't have to be conscious of her as the opposite sex, and my mind is at ease.