Chapter 391: Obsession
After discovering a way to conquer his inner demons, Haruto fell into a logical paradox.
The difference between intelligent beings and other species lies in their ability to use reason to control desires. If one lets desires take over, wouldn't they become a mere tool under desire's sway?
His extensive theoretical knowledge told Haruto that if he truly became like that, the outcome awaiting him would be dire.
Never mind what he would turn into—such a major flaw, if exploited by enemies, would render even a Soul Contract nothing more than a temporary reprieve.
Lost in thought, Haruto unknowingly arrived at the bustling shopping street.
Chilled by the autumn wind, the lingering scent on him had almost vanished. Unless someone pressed close, they couldn't detect the mixed fragrance of faint sweetness and lewd musk.
Since it was a day off, the shopping street was more crowded than usual. The afternoon's temperature and sunlight were perfect for an early autumn stroll, drawing even larger crowds.
Gazing at the passersby, Haruto's eyes swept over the stylish urban beauties.
Among them were lively young JK girls, sharp and sexy office ladies, Shibuya-style gyaru with smoky makeup, and gentle, charming mature young wives...
His tall figure, handsome face, gentle demeanor, youthful aura tinged with melancholy—all attracted many glances.
Noticing Haruto standing dazedly by the roadside, some bold beauties approached to strike up a conversation after meeting his gaze.
In this world, beauty standards were generally high. Even without makeup, the women confident enough to hit on Haruto were first-rate beauties—what his previous life would have called "otaku gods and goddesses."
Yet, faced with these charming advances, Haruto found them utterly dull and felt not a shred of interest.
As he examined his inner self, he was acutely aware of the changes in his mindset—it was definitely not due to any post-nut clarity, nor was it because his aesthetic standards had been raised too high by long-term exposure to beautiful girls.
Hmm... the first one certainly didn't apply. Ever since gaining the ability for Dual cultivation, post-nut clarity had become irrelevant to Haruto.
The second might have had some influence, after all, women like Rias and the heroines from adult anime were exceptional beauties even in this world.
Just last night, the three Uzaki mother and daughters were rare gems, further enhanced by the appeal of their mother-daughter and sister dynamics.
While casually responding to the beautiful women who approached him, Haruto, caught in his internal conflict, gradually felt a sense of clarity emerging in his heart.
It seemed he didn't need to pursue every beautiful woman he saw or become a "homewrecker" to refine his mental state.
Rather than playing the homewrecker, the elevation of his mental state felt more like the fulfillment of an obsession.
Obsession... obsession... obsession...
As he silently repeated the word, Haruto's eyes gradually brightened. It seemed he had realized the truth behind his inner demon, how to overcome it, and how to achieve the sublimation of his mental state.
In truth, judging by looks and figure, the beauties who approached him were not lacking at all. Haruto even keenly detected a few among them who possessed special powers.
Though their strength might not be great, anyone who could step into the hidden world must have talents worth replicating. Yet, Haruto didn't feel an overwhelming urge to possess them.
His obsession seemed to lie with the female characters he had once been familiar with, or perhaps it stemmed from the depths of his soul.
As an anime enthusiast, if asked what his greatest dream in his previous life was, turning all his favorite 2D waifus into his own would undoubtedly rank in the top three.
This world was filled with many familiar female characters, including married women and others' girlfriends. In a sense, all the heroines had partners, even the adult anime heroines were no exception.
If Haruto didn't intervene, other homewreckers would take them instead—many of whom were deeply twisted individuals, leading these women to tragic fates.
So when Haruto pursued them, he felt no psychological burden, believing he was saving them. Being with him was far better than ending up as public property.
As for women like Rias, since the original protagonist hadn't yet encountered them, he felt both fortunate and relieved. Using the "first come, first served" excuse, he masked his inner possessiveness.
But when facing those stunning married women who had already started families or the mothers of his friends, he could no longer find self-deceptive excuses. This lingering obsession eventually transformed into a peculiar inner demon.
If it was merely about fulfilling his obsession and pursuing the beauties from his memories, he needn't fear becoming a slave to desire or leaving behind significant hidden dangers.
Unless there was another soul in this world from the same origin as his, who also happened to be an anime enthusiast and had watched "High School DxD" and "The Testament of Sister New Devil," it would be impossible to set a trap for him using this knowledge.
As for using adult anime heroines to trap him...
To be honest, while Haruto appreciated their bodies and considered them his women after taking their first times,
he did care about them, but if the risks were too high, he would choose to let go.
However, he would never spare the enemies who harmed them, ensuring they met utter destruction—body and soul obliterated, never to be reborn.
Fortunately, such a situation hadn't occurred yet, primarily because his strength was rapidly improving and he had the backing of demonic forces.
Secondly, it was due to the attitude Haruto had consistently displayed.
Knowing that Haruto wouldn't be manipulated by such shameless tactics, those with ill intentions wouldn't target the heroines of adult-oriented series.
Haruto understood this well—this approach benefited everyone and indirectly protected the numerous heroines who weren't particularly strong and had just entered the hidden world.
"Sorry, I'm not planning to date anyone right now."
Haruto habitually rejected an unfamiliar beautiful woman wearing black stockings with long legs, suddenly feeling this scene somewhat familiar.
Back when he had first transmigrated here, he had similarly rejected unfamiliar cute female classmates.
But compared to back then, Haruto now felt no distress or regret whatsoever.
Instead, he felt completely relaxed and cheerful because he had likely found a shortcut to break through his current situation, complete his second life metamorphosis, and become a true god-level powerhouse.
Before taking real action, Haruto decided to verify things further.
He hadn't forgotten about several married women from adult-oriented series in his memories either.
While the obsession might not be as strong, it still existed. Just like how conquering the Uzaki mother and her two daughters worked—it couldn't completely achieve mental sublimation, but it still had some effect.
Moreover, compared to directly challenging the most difficult boss, he could first use them to gain some experience.
After consuming these experience packages and leveling up, his success rate when challenging the BOSS would naturally increase.
The melancholy expression disappeared from Haruto's face, making some passing urban beauties regret that the brooding pretty boy was no more.
But... a sunny, handsome, and bright pretty boy didn't seem bad either.
However, soon enough, the warm and handsome young man also disappeared from their sight.
Several unwilling beauties tried to follow him, but within two minutes, they regretfully completely lost track of Haruto's whereabouts.
Amid the vast crowd, a stunning beauty wearing red-framed glasses, with an extraordinary aura and a seductive figure, watched Haruto's hurriedly departing figure, a smile gracing her charming and delicate face.
Chisato Hasegawa, worried that Haruto might remain trapped in his self-conflict for too long, had been secretly observing him, while also serving as a form of protection for the sealed Haruto.
Although Haruto could break the seal at any time, there was still a momentary delay, carrying a slight chance of something going wrong.
The Soul Contract's shared-life revival was both a trump card and a secret—it was best left unused if possible.
She had intended to wait a little longer, planning to offer guidance if absolutely necessary. However, when it came to inner demons, the most effective resolution came from recognizing the problem oneself.
Haruto's performance did not disappoint her. In just one attempt, he had identified the root cause and found a solution.
Chisato Hasegawa did not possess mind-reading abilities, but after observing Haruto for so long and knowing all his secrets, she was confident in her judgment.
After watching Haruto leave, she chose not to continue following him, instead turning and disappearing into the bustling crowd as if she had never been there.
Whether she appeared or vanished, the people around showed no reaction whatsoever.
This was her greatest advantage, allowing her to conceal her existence long-term and remain active near Haruto in secret.
Yet even she could not guarantee whether Haruto would discover her after breaking through to the divine level.