Thinking this way, Wen Xishu immediately felt fortunate that he had grasped the opportunity at the critical juncture.
But at the same time, he was aware that he had also planted a hidden danger.
"Next time, there should be even more intimate behavior."
This sentence floated in Wen Xishu’s mind. After the next time, there would be a time after that, and a time after that one...
Constantly deepening intimacy, caressing the head, hugging, intense kissing... what comes after?
In a certain sense, this was also a strategy of Mariko’s, making you notice this rule, forcing you to take actions that arouse your lust.
Then, the ultimate act of intimacy... is it mating?
Wen Xishu felt it shouldn’t be.
Suddenly, he recalled a chilling scene, the television had once reported on Mariko before...
It was the first time the television lit up, and the image on the screen was—
A girl being brutally assaulted.
Perhaps dismemberment is the most ultimate expression of love? This perverse idea seemed entirely possible in Rokkasho, Wen Xishu thought.
In Wen Xishu’s previous life, in Japan, there was a very perverse story about a female protagonist named Fujiang, all those who fell in love with Fujiang...
Would eventually choose to dismember her.
And the image on the television was of a girl being dismembered.
After being dismembered, each part of Fujiang’s body would either grow into a new Fujiang or... grow infinitely.
Just like the hair, severed foot, and the myriad breasts from not long ago.
"What the hell kind of things have I recruited here," Wen Xishu thought.
Wen Xishu really hoped he was wrong, but his guesses were often correct.
The horrific scenes he just witnessed almost completely matched his suspicions.
The obedient Mariko in front of him... harbored the powers akin to a demon god.
So... what about Takahashi Fumihiko? He didn’t look like a good person either.
Thinking this way, he felt a bit weary, but soon he changed his thought process:
"No matter what, I’ve found a way to extend Mariko’s latency period... and Mariko obeys my every word, this might be an advantage."
Wen Xishu actually had a major problem to solve.
That was sleeping.
The first sleep was okay, no one was in the room, and there was no worry about someone knocking during the day.
However, the second sleep would pose a huge problem.
There were two people in the room, and it was highly likely that both would end their latency period while he slept.
Which meant he would die in his sleep.
But if Mariko could prolong her latency period, and Mariko obeyed his every word, there might be room for maneuver.
With that thought, Wen Xishu decided to give it a try:
"Mariko... would you be willing to sleep with me for a while?"
"Of course, of course!" Mariko’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
"But I’m very tired. Once I’m in bed, I can’t do anything else. I’m worried there might be danger tonight. If I fall asleep, can you protect me? If you protect me, I will reward you with more intimate behavior." Wen Xishu said.
Mariko clearly thought for a moment before replying:
"Will you love me more?"
"Of course."
"Alright then, I will protect you. No one can harm you." Mariko almost addressed this sentence directly to Takahashi Fumihiko.
Takahashi Fumihiko’s expression was also visibly off, showing hostility towards Mariko.
Wen Xishu realized, this could really work... good thing he hadn’t killed Mariko.
"Mariko will prolong her latency period to gain my love... And if I die, Mariko’s latency period will end prematurely."
"So if I’m killed, it’s like a delicious piece of meat being snatched away from Mariko."
"Without a doubt, Mariko would attack that person."
"This way, Takahashi Fumihiko would fear Mariko, wouldn’t dare to harm me, and would also be forced to prolong his latency period, waiting for an opportunity."
"The three of us can reach a balancing act."
Wen Xishu felt increasingly glad that he hadn’t instinctively shot Mariko out of fear.
The next step was to see how long this balance could last. But Wen Xishu didn’t have much time to think, because there was another knock on the door.
Knock knock knock knock, knock knock.
The rhythm of the knocking was different from all the previous ones. Constant visits meant the situation was continuously changing.
Should he pull another person in at this point? Would pulling another person in disrupt some kind of balance?
These thoughts piled up in Wen Xishu’s mind, but he couldn’t come to a conclusion for the moment.
Now, he could only force himself to make the most favorable decision.
Wen Xishu went to the door and once again, began observing through the peephole.
And just as he peered through the peephole, the television suddenly made a sound.
There was no image, the screen remained pitch black, but a voice came through.
[Homeless people are a special existence, akin to scavenging birds. They don’t eat living people, but they love to feast on carrion. Keep a homeless person for a chat; they can take away an item of "filth" from the house.]
There was no image, no flickering. But Wen Xishu recognized the voice from the television.
Whenever something was unlocked, the television would provide a rule supplement.
Wen Xishu had already figured this out.
At this moment, standing outside the door was a homeless man. The homeless man held a plastic bag, looking gaunt and with a somewhat sleazy expression in his eyes.
He timidly asked:
"Can you let me stay for an hour, sir? I just need an hour. I smell... the scent of food, sir, there’s something unclean in your house."