Chapter 10 - The Voluptuous Landlord (1) (1/2)

”Your name is Rick, right?”

Gazing at the hulking titan, Nik asked out curiously. While Rick hadn't introduced himself, the students shouting around them did mention his name quite a few times.

”Yes, my full name is Rick Noran. May I know your name, sir.”

”Oh, that's right. My name is Nik Faran, nice to meet you, Rick.”

Extending his hands towards Rick, Nik found to his surprise that the giant actually had a hesitant look on his face.

”What happened? You really aren't taking the master-disciple thing seriously, are you?”

Shaking his head, Rick finally explained.

”It's not that... but most of the men in school, including the teachers, are afraid of my grip as I tend to overdo handshakes. I don't want to hurt you accidentally.”

”Oh? I understand. Sure thing.”

Retracting his hands, Nik shrugged while Rick suddenly thought of an idea.

”Master, do you have any plans at the moment?”

Thinking back at how it would take a little longer for the so-called okusan to return, Nik shook his head. Since Rick suddenly asked him such a question, surely, he already must have a destination in his mind.

”Nope, lead the way, my man.”

Nodding naturally, Rick only felt that it was natural for Nik to cut short the useless discussion and quickly led Nik to a place that was surprisingly near Okusan's apartment.

In front of Nik's eyes stood a silver fortress that outshone the other constructed houses and shops of the district. With a pure silver front and bold letters that could be read as:— Silver Muscles, Rick actually gave a reverent look before looking at Nik with a serious expression.

”Master. Even though I failed to catch the attention of the Goddess. Fortunately, you did. But your path is filled with dangers as the road of uniting with the goddess is never easy.

That is why, I wished you to introduce master to this place. This is where I became a man.”

”A gym?”

Nik frowned as the word brought back some bad memories. To be physically abused and then nourished back to increase the flexibility, endurance and the lean factor of the body, Nik, admittedly, went through hell during his training in the gym.

”Yes, master. Back then, when I transferred to Japan, due to my body being malnourished, I was treated extremely badly. I was way too thin. But it was then, I found Silver Muscles...

And as you can see, my life has turned upside down. Now, I live a life following my passion.”

”Your passion?” Nik muttered while Rick nodded politely.

”Yes, Goddess Kurumi and my muscles.”

Finally, Nik sighed.

”Could you please not call Kurumi a Goddess. It doesn't sound right, at least, not in front of me.”

Realising his mistake, Rick nodded.

”Yeah, sorry about that. It's just that I am used to calling her that. But master, when I say that your path is filled with hardships, I really meant it, because, there are some rumours about Godde—... Kurumi-san that might make you take a step back.”

Not wanting to waste his time on things he already knew about, Nik just shrugged and went past Rick.

”Why waste time since we are already here? Let me see what is so special about this place.”

As Nik passed through Rick casually, his eyes widened and he immediately gazed at Nik's back with a shiver passing down his spine. It might be Rick hallucinating, but he definitely felt a chill spreading in his heart.

Honestly, even though Nik already knew that Kurumi had a past that others might give it a title— Demeaning. Nik fully accepted Kurumi as she was and so did she when Kurumi accepted the partnership invite. But, that didn't mean that Nik liked hearing anything strange or slightly embarrassing about the women, who, now officially became related to him. And the moment Rick spoke about Kurumi's rumours that are most likely the truth, he suddenly felt annoyance.

Of course, alongside the strange annoyance came self-realization that he actually had feelings for both, Kurumi and Mitsuko.

Shaking off these distracting thoughts, Nik pushed past the unexpectedly heavy door quite easily while Rick's mouth slacked open while his eyes showed extreme surprise.

'He... he opened it on the first try! What the hell?! Is he like Machio-san? Lean build that holds explosive muscles?'

As Rick followed quickly to avoid having to open the door that could make his back muscles sore every day, he soon found out that the only thing Nik provided to the gym revered by many, including Rick himself, was a pair of unimpressed gaze.

”Is there something wrong?”

Finally, unable to hold the questions bubbling within himself, Rick questioned to which, Nik gazed at all the bulky men working with their bodies covered in sweat and veiny glory once again and then looked back.

”They are all... guys... what do you expect is wrong here?”

Rick frowned at Nik's words before pondering deeply and finally came to a conclusion.

”Ah! I see. The gym really went off the track when they divided the gym into a male and female section. We shouldn't have differentiated muscle building based on gender... I must immediately bring this to Machio-san's notice.

Please come alongside me, master. We must immediately set the gym in the right path.”

As Rick, in all his excitement, grabbed Nik's hand to bring him to what Nik supposed to be— the ladies segment, Rick forgot that he was exerting all of his strength and even then, Nik's expression failed to change.

With a dull, even revolting gaze, Nik bid the atrocious male sector his farewell and calmed his heart to see beautiful females only to have the urge to vomit blood when his eyes fell on the biceps that were even bulkier than Rick on a woman who was actually a head taller than himself.

”Oh? Rick-kun? What's wrong? You seem a little tense!” As the said she-hulk's eyes fell on Nik, her gaze brightened a bit before she pointed at him and looked at Rick once again.

”Want me to get him enrolled? He could use a bit of our special protein shake.”

Shaking his head quickly, he immediately stopped the black-haired female minotaur and asked out.

”Marika-san, where is Machio-san? I must speak to him. I need to introduce master to Machio-san! Now!”

'Whatever... it's not like they are any different than the girls from Muscle Muscle Love...'

Sighing, Nik really wished that he should've simply slept alongside Mitsuko and experienced her warm embrace instead of coming here and ruining all the sweet mood he had riled up since morning.

”Machio-san? He is training Okusan at the moment. Look, he is standing right there.”

Marika pointed out as Nik's gaze suddenly turned a little bright as he immediately realised that the famous Okusan that could instill fear within Souko and Sayako might just be here. After all, even Kurumi said that Okusan visits the gym in the morning...

Nik looked at the pointed direction only to see a lean guy in blue tracksuit slowly encouraging a pink-haired woman. Even from far, Nik could identify a voluminous set of breasts that jiggled at every crunch while her clothes stuck to her meaty body without any restriction.

In fact, Nik had to marvel the lean guy's determination as even now, his eyes never changed and he calmly helped the woman rise up by slight push on her back to complete the sets.

”Rick... is he Machio?”

While pointing at the lean guy who had a calm smile, Nik looked at Rick, who immediately nodded.

”Yes, master. He is Machio-san. The best trainer in the gym. Let's go, there is no time to waste.”

Immediately pulling him once again, Rick completely ignored Marika, whose temple throbbed due to Rick completely forgetting about her in the first place.

”Whatever! I just hope that this Rick's new master doesn't turn into a muscle fool.”