"Well… how should I put it? My power is rather complex. But the reason I'm stronger than you is probably due to my physique, I'm a bit special in that regard."
Ryuji patted his body. He himself found his physique absurd. Every time he trained, he felt his potential was nearly limitless.
Although his progress looked slow on the surface, but it really wasn't. In fact, he had basically taught himself.
Because he was walking his own path and all things considered, he hadn't trained for more than a year.
Even Akuma, relying on the bug-like power of the Satsui no Hado, had still lost to him in the end. And Akuma was undeniably a genius who had trained for decades.
Yet one year was enough for him.
"So, it's because of your physique?"
Marie Rose reached out and touched his muscles. The texture felt very good and unlike others, she vaguely felt that Ryuji's body had a kind of charm that other men didn't have, as if his body was a huge treasure trove, hiding countless things that made people unable to resist being drawn in.
How strange…
Marie Rose couldn't help but mutter to herself. Although a well-built physique like Ryuji's wasn't rare in this world, he was the only one she found herself paying this much attention to.
Her fingers unconsciously traced along the outline of his pectoral muscles, watching the faint marks her fingers left on his skin. Her heartbeat quickened as she suddenly realized how bold she her actions had been.
Marie Rose felt a little shy, but seeing seeing Ryuji's completely indifferent expression, she also felt a little annoyed.
Then she remembered how Ryuji kept saying her breasts wouldn't grow any bigger and…
Lowering her head, looking at the slight bulge in Ryuji's pants, Marie Rose's expression turned into a deadpan stare.
"You really are a pervert! Didn't you say you weren't interested in lolis?"
Ryuji grabbed Marie Rose's hand, which was still pressed against his muscle and replied bluntly.
"I simply have no desire for girls below a certain age. And someone like you, who is legally an adult, is not within my forbidden zone."
If someone were to target real lolis, Ryuji would slap those kinds of scum to death without hesitation.
First, that kind of behavior was undeniably disgusting.
Second, a young girl's body was fragile. If a cute loli grew up properly, she could give birth to even more cute girls.
But if she's violated at such a young age, she'll lose her radiance!
That would mean fewer beautiful women in the world.
And anyone who reduced the number of beautiful women in the world was an enemy of Ryuji.
"You're really honest about your desires."
Marie Rose couldn't help but complain, but as she looked at her hand still held by Ryuji, she swallowed.
Because her sense of foreboding was growing stronger.
And yet, looking at Ryuji's strong and perfect body, she couldn't bring herself to pull away.
That was also part of her inferiority complex.
Just like how she still cared about not growing taller, she had also thought about something else...
Would my children end up like me?
Someone this strong, the children would probably take after him more, right?
Looking at Ryuji's body, Marie Rose lowered her head as that thought surfaced.
She didn't want her own physical traits to be passed on to her offspring, but that wasn't something she could control.
But if it's a man as incredibly powerful as Ryuji, perhaps his offspring would inherit more of his traits?
Marie Rose couldn't help thinking like that. It was her inferiority complex driving her yearning for something perfect, and also her puppet-like inability to decide her own fate leading her to yearn for a power that could easily control destiny.
The more someone was like Marie Rose, the more they would crave strength.
Her face flushed slightly, feeling that her thoughts were somewhat shameless.
But just as she lowered her head, Ryuji's hand lifted her chin and he spoke in a serious tone.
"I'm not a lolicon. I'll say it again. I just simply and equally like all beautiful girls. Whether it's a voluptuous mature woman or a cute type like you, I like them all. I just won't lay a hand on children. But you're not a child. So, I'll treat you as a woman. If you keep provoking me, you might end up getting pregnant with my child."
Marie Rose's small mouth opened in surprise when she heard Ryuji's words. She understood what he meant. Ryuji didn't like her because she looked like a loli, but because she was cute and that made him attracted to her.
The meaning behind that was completely different.
Feeling his fingers holding her chin, her face quickly turned red. She wanted to slap his hand away but was afraid of offending him or "provoking" him further.
Yet at the same time, she vaguely felt that provoking him might not be a bad thing for her.
Her mind felt like it was on fire. Before today, she had never thought about marriage or anything like that. She had even considered never marrying at all.
But Ryuji first talked about freedom and then told her he liked her not because she looked like a loli but because she was cute.
Under that kind of impact, she couldn't bring herself to push his hand away. So, she could only stammer.
"You... you..."
She opened her mouth but couldn't say anything. The more she looked at Ryuji, the more irritating he seemed yet she also felt he suited her taste.
Dressed in her leather maid outfit, she didn't know how to face him anymore.
And when Helena walked out, this was the scene she saw, Marie Rose in such a conflicted state.
Marie Rose's struggle and the complicated emotions in her eyes, all of it was seen by Helena.
And that strange reaction made Helena realize something.
Her father, Douglas… was right.
Marie Rose, just like her, had already developed feelings for Ryuji.
Normally, feelings didn't necessarily turn into love. But now...
"What are you talking about?"
~~~~~~~~~~
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