BLBJ 18.2

His head started throbbing. The quest clearly said to choose one person, right?

Why does S-rank encourage sex with multiple people?

💬Go ahead and upgrade it.
💬That 30 million is totally worth it.
💬Let’s goooo!
💬This is destiny itself.
💬Ahh I can’t stop laughing hahaha
💬That plot twist was insane LOLOLOL
💬“No problem handling multiple partners” it’s so clean yet so powerful hahaha

30 million won.

Considering it was 10 million won to raise to A-rank, this is seriously big money.

‘Plus, there are eight skills total, so…’

To max them all out would cost 240 million won. Of course, he had the money to do it.

Eizen let out a short sigh.

He knew full well that no matter what other skills existed, right now, people only wanted XX.

Besides, regardless of the quest, Eizen had planned to do it with multiple people anyway.

Eizen maxed the skill to S-rank. Fortunately, since he maxed it all the way, there was no mention of the skill effect increasing.

‘No, even if the skill effect got higher, what difference would it make?’

It already says multiple people are fine.

💬But if you raise everything to S-rank, won’t SS-rank unlock next?
💬That’s totally possible.
💬Try it, let’s see.
💬You’ve still got donation money, right?
💬Yeah, you’ve gotten plenty. Time to cash in!
💬Let’s go!

‘Man, I never thought I’d end up getting pushed into leveling up like this.’

“But there’s no guarantee SS rank will actually appear.”

💬We didn’t even know S-rank existed before this.
💬These guys have been money-hungry from day one. They solve everything with cash.
💬Can’t argue with that.
💬It’ll probably cost around 100 million to reach SS-rank, huh?

Eizen sighed. The money would obviously go somewhere obvious anyway. Stats. Or skills.

‘It’s more than enough to buy potions and still have leftovers. Maybe I should try raising it, just in case there really is an SS rank.’

His head throbbed. It’s all because he doesn’t have a carriage.

What good are hundreds of millions in donations? In reality, Baron Eizen Sarnah is still a penniless beggar who has to scrimp on carriage fares.

Since there’s no content at all on the way to the Imperial Palace, he has to at least entertain the viewers by leveling up skills like this.

“So, I’m really going to level up the skills?”

💬Let’s gooooooo!
💬Can’t wait to see what the description says when the XX skill hits SS-rank.
💬Beyond human limits…
💬Hahaha but he’s already done that with Bartholomew.
💬Or what if he suddenly becomes the top?
💬Who’s talking about reversal? Kick them out
💬Why? I’m fine with bottom!Eizen or top!Eizen.
💬Well I’m not fine with it.
💬Eizen could never be the top anyway.
💬Then what if it’s both ways?
💬Both ways how?
💬You know exactly what I mean.
💬A sandwich?
💬Is it tasty?

What is everyone talking about?

Eizen leveled up each skill one by one. Money just flew out.

He clearly had over 300 million last time he checked, but after maxing everything to S-rank, less than 100 million remained.

‘100 million is still a lot of money, but…’

Since it was only for point upgrades, it didn’t really feel like much.

One ability point costs 500,000 won, right? Even the affinity potions cost 500,000 won each, not counting the health and stamina potions. And the items in the secret shop are ridiculously expensive too.

💬Did he really raise them all to S-rank?
💬Looks like there’s no SS-rank after all.
💬You never know, it might show up after the next patch.
💬Hahaha yeah, for now it doesn’t seem to exist.
💬Wow, still, dropping 240 million like it’s nothing,  that’s impressive.
💬Doesn’t it kind of feel like fake money though? It’s so unreal hahaha
💬Yeah, it’s not even like he’s paying by card lol
💬“Can I get the skill upgrade on a 3-month installment plan?” that’d be hilarious.

Anyway, all he gained were skills that had cleanly become S-rank.

‘I doubt SS-rank will appear.’

What should he say? Should he say it felt like completing a hidden quest when the S-rank appeared?

Eizen finally walked into the Imperial Palace he’d arrived at.

Now, skills weren’t what he needed to think about. The most important thing was how to persuade the other capture targets to join him.

‘Ugh, this is tough.’

What on earth should he say?

“Want to have sex with me and the other guys?” Wouldn’t that sound weird coming out of nowhere?

“The other guys need to be understanding too,” should he try saying it like that?

Eizen messed up his hair wildly.

“Ugh…”

The chat window was already on the verge of exploding with anticipation for the threesome.

‘No, I was just planning to persuade him first.’

But this way, it feels like he’s setting the mood for sex.

Eizen followed the attendant to the place he was led.

Opening the door and stepping inside, he saw Jeremiah sitting alone.

“You’re alone.”

It was a bit unexpected. Usually, when someone was escorted to this reception room, either Tennes was here with them, or Tennes would come out – it was always one of those two.

Jeremiah sitting alone somehow felt unfamiliar.

“Who should I be with?”

Eizen shook his head at Jeremiah’s question. There was no need to bring up another man here and provoke him.

Slowly sitting down across from Jeremiah, he noticed the jawline that seemed a bit sharper overnight.

“Judging by the time, you seem to have come to me first.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Does that mean I can take it as you choosing me?”

Wondering where to begin explaining, a sudden thought struck him.

‘Should I have gathered them all in one place and told them at once?’

That would have been better than repeating the same story five times over. He regretted it belatedly, but it was already too late.

“About that…”
“Or are you thinking of choosing another man?”

Just hearing Jeremiah’s voice gave one the strong sense that whoever he was choosing wouldn’t be safe.

“I… ”

The moment he tried to voice what he was thinking, his limbs felt like they were going to curl up. Of course, it would be less embarrassing than shouting for them not to fight over him.

“I can’t choose anyone.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means I love everyone equally.”
“That’s impossible.”
“It just turned out that way.”

💬It’s weird, but whenever Jeremiah’s involved, the mood suddenly turns romantic…
💬Saying he loves everyone equally makes him sound like such a bad guy.
💬I mean, isn’t he though? If someone dated five people at once in real life, they’d be trash hahaha
💬It’s fine, it’s just a game.
💬So are we really going for the all live together ending?

‘When you’re shouting ‘Love them all equally! Love them all equally!’ it’s one thing. But why are you suddenly calling me trash when I’m actually trying to see five people?’

Eizen frowned slightly. It was fortunate this wasn’t reality, but for Eizen, this place was his reality.

‘Well, that doesn’t mean I plan to choose just one person.’

Eizen stared blankly at Jeremiah’s face.

“No matter what you say, Jeremiah, there’s nothing I can do.”
“…”

A chill ran down his spine at the sight of Jeremiah’s dark, sunken green eyes.

Eizen let out a low sigh. “If you say you’ll kill them, I’ll end up resenting you, Jeremiah.”

“Even if you resent me, it’ll only be me, won’t it?”
“No. It won’t be like that.”
“Even if I’m the only one left?”

“Yes.” Eizen nodded firmly. “Accept it, Jeremiah. If you can’t… then just let me go.”

Accept the existence of another man.

Or abandon Eizen entirely.

It was a cruel choice. Yet, it was a statement Eizen could make because he possessed a certain confidence.

That the other would never truly abandon him. That eventually, he would come to accept another. 

Eizen knew this.

He waited quietly for Jeremiah’s response.

“Haha.” A laugh that didn’t sound particularly joyful reached his ears. 

“So if I want even a part of you, I have to fully accept another man’s existence?”
“Yes.”
“You know that’s a cruel thing to say, right?”
“I’m sorry.”

If this were truly a game. If it were possible to save and replay. He would have chosen every capture target at least once.

But this was reality. It took the form of a game, but it was real life.

Eizen lowered his gaze. His sharp eyes made his skin tingle.

“Can I have time to think?”
“There are only two choices for you, Jeremiah.”

💬Wow, Eizen’s being really cold right now.
💬Well, yeah, you either accept it or you don’t. There’s no in-between.

“Thinking about it won’t make you feel better. I don’t think you’ll understand any more either.”
“Eizen.”

“To put it more bluntly…” His face burned as he forced himself to say it. “It’s a question of whether you can tolerate seeing me have sex with another man.”

Yeah, sex is what matters. That’s what the viewers want too.

“What if I say I can’t?”
“Then our connection ends here, Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty.”

The expression on his face when he switched from calling him Jeremiah to Your Majesty was painfully earnest.

Eizen shuffled his feet, scraping them across the floor.

“Cruel.”
“… I’m sorry.”
“You’re the only one who can wound me this deeply.”
“Even so. I wish you could be hurt just a little less.”

This was sincere. It was true that Eizen cared for all five of them.

“So now I must just wait for you to come?”
“Um, that’s…”
“It’s not just one. Eizen, besides me, there are four others.”
“I know.”
“So when will my turn come? Every five days? Or just whenever you feel like it?”

Eizen’s lips twitched.

Listening to Jeremiah speak, it seemed he acknowledged the existence of another man.

“So, with someone else…?”

He was about to say let’s have a threesome. His face was burning up.

💬Surprisingly, Jeremiah’s giving in pretty easily.
💬But really, what choice does he have? If he refuses, it just ends there.
💬Yeah, that’s true.
💬So is he about to suggest the 6-beep now?
💬Ooooh, finally!
💬Time to show off the results of all that skill leveling.
💬But doesn’t he still have to convince the other capture targets too?
💬True, but like, shouldn’t he take advantage of the moment and do the XX now? Setting another date for it later would be weird, right?

“Together…”

Eizen’s voice grew fainter and fainter.

But whether his meaning alone got through properly, Jeremiah’s expression darkened.

“Together? Are you really okay with that?”

Originally, it didn’t seem like he would be okay with it. But after raising his sex skill to S-rank, should he say he gained some unnecessary confidence?

“For starters, three… how about starting lightly with three?“
”Does ‘start’ imply there’s more to come?”
“There are five of you, after all.”

Meeting fairly like before, having sex, that sort of thing would be fine.

But what the viewers wanted wasn’t maintaining the current situation.

Hadn’t it been clear from the moment they knew there were five capture targets?

6P! Sex where everyone rolls around together all at once!

Eizen pursed his lips.

“If it’s three, who would it be with?”
“You’re not exactly refusing.”
“If I refuse here, doesn’t that just mean I have to give up on you?”
“Right.”
“I just thought enduring another man would be easier than losing you.”

His face flushed hot. It was impressive how nonchalant Jeremiah was saying things like that.

“There was a similar incident last time.” Jeremiah’s mouth twisted into a crooked smile, as if remembering that time. “Back then, I didn’t know I’d dislike it.”

“…”

“Because I didn’t know I’d end up feeling this way about you.”

True. Back then, their affinity hadn’t built up much yet.

It felt like ages since they’d first taken the affinity potion.

Jeremiah rose from his seat and strode closer.

Jeremiah caressed Eizen’s cheek and bowed his head slightly. Their lips met softly. As Eizen closed his eyes slightly, he felt fingers brush against his eyelashes. Warm breath grazed his cheek, then pulled back a little.

“Jeremiah.”
‘It doesn’t matter who it is.’
“…”
“Anyone is fine.”

💬He’s totally given up
💬Yeah, that’s pure resignation right there.
💬But he doesn’t really have a choice. There’s no other option.
💬I’m not the only one feeling bad for Jeremiah right now, right?
💬Honestly, if you think of it as true love, it’s kind of sad. He only gets one-fifth of Eizen 😭
💬Split Eizen into five equal parts!
💬Hahaha what is this, Solomon’s trial?
💬So whoever begs not to split him is the one with true love, is that it?
💬Hahaha I’m actually curious what his answer will be.
💬Bartholomew would definitely say to split him though…
💬Yeah, same here.

Eizen stared blankly at Jeremiah’s green eyes.

He looked resigned, just like the viewers said. So he thought he looked a little pitiful. Of course, he wasn’t the kind of man the word ‘pitiful’ suited.

“Then, would right now be okay?” Eizen asked cautiously. He knew Tennes was nearby.

And as Jeremiah had mentioned earlier, they had once been involved in a threesome and ‘similar things’.

‘Though I was the only one who took my clothes off.’

As if reading Eizen’s thoughts, Jeremiah chuckled softly.

“You mean Tennes.”
“I thought he would be the least objectionable partner, Jeremiah.”

At those words, Jeremiah wore a slightly satisfied expression before pressing his lips firmly against Eizen’s forehead.

“Are you being considerate of me?”

Consideration… Well, calling it consideration was accurate. Jeremiah, more than anyone else, seemed like the one who would have the strongest aversion to being with multiple people.

Regardless of the reason, Jeremiah seemed genuinely pleased to have been considered. For the first time since entering the room, a smile appeared on his face.

“You came to me first.”
“That’s…”
“You said you couldn’t choose anyone.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But you came to me first.”

He seemed to find some meaning in that fact.

Eizen didn’t stop him from searching for that meaning.

It wasn’t that he thought only Jeremiah was special, but Eizen had his own reasons for choosing him first.

“That’s enough.”
“Jeremiah.”
“I can’t be the only one. But being the first is enough.”

💬Not exactly… it doesn’t really seem like that either.
💬Jeremiah’s honestly so pitiful today.
💬Let’s just leave him to misunderstand for now.
💬I wonder how he would’ve reacted if Eizen had gone to a different capture target first.
💬If he came last, he’d definitely assign some deep meaning to it hahaha
💬What if it was in the middle then?
💬He’d probably find some way to justify it in his head anyway.

That’s exactly it: victory in one’s mind.

Eizen smiled at Jeremiah, a hint of regret in his expression.

“What do you plan to tell Tennes?”
“The same thing I told you, Jeremiah.”
“Do you think he’ll accept it?”
“Yes.”
“What if no one accepts it?”

The question held a sliver of hope.

“If I’m the only one who accepts this situation, if I’m all you have left, can I have you all to myself?”
“That would be the case.”

But he knew it wouldn’t happen. Jeremiah seemed to realize that too. Judging by his bitter smile.

When Eizen smiled faintly, Jeremiah’s long fingers gently brushed his hair aside.

“I’ll have them take you to Tennes.”

As if truly reluctant to let him go, Jeremiah’s soft lips pressed firmly against his cheek and lips once more.

Eizen embraced the neck of His Majesty the Emperor, who seemed especially pitiable today.

As he entered the room the attendant had shown him to, Tennes looked up at him.

“So you’ve met with His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What answer did he give?”

Tennes murmured as if to himself, then gave a slight smile and tilted his head.

“You cannot choose. Did you say that?”

How did he know? Eizen’s eyes widened.

Tennes always seemed to know everything, but how could he possibly guess the conversation that had just taken place?

“Don’t make that face, Eizen.”

Tennes chuckled softly and gestured for him to sit.

Eizen plopped down on the sofa and stared blankly at Tennes’s face.

‘Does he really know everything?’

Did he already anticipate what they discussed, what outcome there might be?

Eizen pursed his lips.

“If I’d intended to choose someone, I would have chosen yesterday.”
“In that situation? You could have died.”
“Don’t you think if I’d begged him not to, crying, he wouldn’t have done it?”

Would nothing have happened if he really had?

As Eizen blinked, feeling a little dazed, Tennes laughed out loud.

“And if you’d chosen His Majesty the Emperor, you wouldn’t be here.”
“Why?”
“Because His Majesty wouldn’t have willingly sent you to another man.”

That was true too. Eizen gave a slight nod, and Tennes smiled faintly.

“If you had intended to choose someone, you wouldn’t have gone to the Emperor first. So the conclusion is that Eizen didn’t choose anyone.”
“… That’s accurate.”
“Does that mean I wasn’t chosen either?”
“It just means I couldn’t pick just one person.”
“You’re greedy, Eizen.”

Eizen shrugged. It wasn’t wrong. “Right. I am greedy.”

The ending was decided because of the donations.

But he didn’t want to lose any of the five. He treated them all fairly, so he gave his heart equally to all of them.

“You know there are five of us, right?”
“Yeah, that’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

Tennes chuckled at that. “What are you planning to do? Will you keep treating everyone equally like this?“

How did he even know that?

When Eizen looked at him with a slightly surprised expression, Tennes chuckled.

”Whether it’s sex or dating, you never did it with just one person, Eizen.”
“How do you know that?”
“Well…”

💬So in the end, Tennes was the real final villain.
💬But isn’t Bartholomew actually creepier? He seems like he knows this is all a game.
💬Yeah, but he can’t affect anything outside the game world.
💬Still, within the game, Tennes is definitely the scariest hahaha
💬What about Jeremiah 😭 he’s a tyrant too.
💬K-tyrants aren’t that scary. Though if I were his vassal, I’d probably be terrified.
💬Either way, there are no secrets when it comes to Tennes.

What on earth should one say to a man who reacts as if he already knows everything? Eizen stared blankly at Tennes.

“What will you do, Tennes?”
“Did you ask His Majesty the Emperor the same question?”
“Yes.”
“And what was His Majesty’s choice?”
“Will that influence your decision?”

“No, it won’t.” Tennes shrugged lightly, as if it didn’t matter.

“You cannot choose anyone. Therefore, you will belong to no one. Either accept that, or give up on you, Eizen. It’s one or the other.”
“Did you perhaps hear my conversation with Jeremiah?”

“It wasn’t within earshot… And no one relayed the message.” Tennes added with a smile. 

In many ways, he was truly a creepy opponent.

‘Still, the good thing is he talks fast.’

Eizen waited for the answer, his gaze slightly lowered. There was really nothing to wait for. His choice was obvious.

“What choice do you think I’ll make, Eizen?”
“Huh?”

Eizen snapped his head up, meeting Tennes’s smiling face, chin propped up.

“Do you want me, Eizen?”
”…“
”Are you saying this to me simply because you truly ‘can’t choose’? Or are you saying this because ‘I also want you’?“
”Is that different?“
”It is.”

💬Yeah, it really is different.
💬Come to think of it, there are only two reasons you can’t choose, right?
💬Either you like them all too much, or you don’t like any of them enough?
💬Exactly.
💬Obviously it’s because he likes them all.
💬Can’t argue with that, they’re all hot.

It felt like a direct hit. Eizen had only been dwelling on the simple fact of ‘not being able to choose’. He’d thought that if everyone was together, that was enough.

But who knew being unable to choose would be so important.

Eizen blinked.

Tennes, who had been staring intently at Eizen’s face, gave a faint smile.

“Do I need to explain what it means, Eizen?”
“No.”
“Do you need time to think deeply?”

Eizen shook his head silently. There was only one reason he couldn’t choose.

“I like all of you. It means I like everyone so much that I can’t choose just one person.”
“I expected to hear something like that. But actually hearing it… it feels a bit ambiguous.”
“Why?”
“Hearing it confirmed that I’m not special to Eizen at all… it doesn’t feel great.”

Tennes let out a short sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

“Still, I like Tennes.”
“Just as much as you like everyone else. Exactly that much, I suppose.”
“…”
“Don’t make that face. I’m not trying to be sarcastic.”

Tennes lowered his head, drawing closer, and gently tugged at Eizen’s nape. Their lips touched lightly. Tennes’s lips curved slightly into a smile.

“So, what do you plan to do?”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Are you going to keep treating everyone equally like this?”

Eizen blinked slowly. He pursed his lips, looking at Tennes’s face, which was already smiling as if he knew the answer.

“You know.”
“Well… I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“…”
“Tell me, Eizen.”

Hot breath brushed against his nose. It felt even more awkward and embarrassing than when he’d spoken to Jeremiah.

“So, together… the three of us.”
“Yes, the three of us.”
“… I was thinking maybe we should start.”
“Start what?”
“Sex.”

His cheeks flushed bright red.

💬Are we going for a threesome now?!
💬When’s the 6-beep happening?
💬Wait, are they actually doing it right now? For real?
💬It’s still daytime though.
💬??? Since when does time of day matter?
💬You can do XX day or night!
💬First time watching this stream? They do XX in broad daylight all the time.
💬And at night too.
💬And at dawn.
💬Hahahahahaha

Tennes gently brushed his lips against Eizen’s once more. The soft touch made Eizen feel as if every nerve in his body was on edge.