3 - Plea

Needless to say, he wasn't one to waste his abilities, so he scored with all of them whenever we had the slightest free time.

I was frustrated but accepted it.

I pretty much resigned myself to never get laid as long as I'm with this guy. Easier said than done, but it was what it was. 

After spending so much time in a party where beauties fawned over my best friend, it became hard not to stare.

They acted as if I were invisible, pampering him, cuddling, feeding, cleaning, and even bathing with him. I was jealous, of course, but mostly, I was happy for him—it was a dream come true for him.

That's when I started wearing my helmet all the time. It made me feel more comfortable, not having to worry about where my gaze might wander.

One time, one of the girls, feeling sorry for me, invited me to join them. However, she quickly regretted her decision—as did the rest of the group—when they realized what that meant.

Including me could disrupt their dynamic, especially since it might lead to less attention for their darling Magus, or worse, for me, at least; accidental physical contact between me and my best friend.

Despite her initial reluctance, her pity for my solitary state led her to insist on it. And if you think about it, us touching each other while being surrounded by girls ain't so bad.

But I still refused, much to Magus's surprise.

Why?

Forget not wanting to touch my best friend while we're having an orgy, I detested the idea of being pitied. More than that, I didn't want my first experience to be born out of sympathy. Call me old-fashioned, but I was holding out for something more genuine.

Deep down, I longed for someone to choose me because they truly wanted me, the way the others wanted Magus—not out of obligation, but genuine desire.

The awkwardness that followed was tangible and mutual. I opted to retreat to a quiet place while they continued without me, without voicing any complaints.

It was 4 years into the journey that I saved Amoria, a healing-based magician; a priestess, from a death trap, and she gratefully joined our party. That marked 7 years since me and Magus got transmigrated.

Distinct from the rest, she openly criticized the harem dynamics and preferred monogamous relationships. Things took a significant turn when she confessed her feelings for me.

At that point we were already 4 years and 3 months into the journey.

The other girls were surprisingly supportive, as was my best friend. I suppose it was due to how now, they didn't have to worry about sharing him anymore, at least more than they already need to—a relief for them... Somehow, he also seemed relieved. I suppose he was just that happy for me.

Yet, being part of a party with him and witnessing the effect of his passive skills, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was only a matter of time before Amoria would fall under his charm as well.

I won't lie—I really liked her.

Concerned, I discussed the situation with my friend, suggesting maybe it was best if we traveled separately. With his charm, he'd never be lonely, and it seemed like a win-win. I wouldn't have to worry about who he was with or what might happen with Amoria, and he could continue as he pleased.

I told him that it wasn't as if we'd never see each other again. We'd just travel independently and meet up from time to time, ensuring his passive skills wouldn't sway Amoria.

"Listen, man, Amoria has... feelings for me, as you know," I started, my voice heavy with concern.

"I think we need to split up the party, at least until we get to the Demon Lord. I'll take her and—"

"What!!? Dude, no—I can't fight bosses without you," he interrupted, eyes wide with worry.

"Don't worry, I won't steal YOUR girlfriend. I would NEVER do that to you," he assured, his expression a blend of sincerity and urgency as I mentioned leaving.

"Dude... Look at your passives. It's bound to happen sooner or later the longer we stay in a party," I said bluntly.

But then, maybe it was his innate charisma or just his passives, but he convinced me to stay. He really pressed on it.

"Look, I've been with a lot of girls, so I know," he said, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Amoria truly loves you, for real. That's something I'll never have, and something I can never take away. It's not about passives or skills; you won her over without any of that. You're better than I'll ever be there," he admitted.

I took his word for it. Despite the uncertainty of the future, I could tell he meant every word. Those were perhaps some of the truest words he had ever spoken, coming straight from the heart.

So, after trusting my buddy, I began to enjoy my time with Amoria carelessly within our party. We never became intimate; there was hardly the time or place. Amoria also mentioned how she wanted intimacy at hygienic locations... Frankly, it was at that point I felt that she was swaying, since it was the lamest excuse I'd heard.

But, not wanting to leave Magus alone due to his plea, I stayed with Amoria in the party.