The Inevitable Harem (2)

"Is.. you.."

I don't know what to say.

I think I'm getting the picture now.

To recap. Rinalanashina is, before the regression, demon lord Javiel's wife. Which means they would encounter each other again in this world by some small possibility. This is what Liliath wanted to avoid.

It's her selfish wish.

I can't really tell her off about it.

Though she can deny it all she wants. It's obvious she has a deep rooted trauma when it comes to Javiel.

I've never met this guy and he holds so much influence over my girl. That's insane.

I took a deep breath.

"Liliath," I said, "If we come across other demon lords, will you continue to do the same thing over and over again?"

"N-Noel.. I understand your intentions, I-I'll do my best to not get involved with you if that's what you want.." Rin said.

"That's not it," I said.

"No," Liliath said.

"No?"

"Noel. You should understand the limits to this TALENT you possess. It's nothing but a story. We're fictional, we don't exist. As Prune had said, there is a balance that will automatically.."

"Liliath, do you really think of it that way?"

You're bringing up this topic now?

"You know how ridiculous it sounds.. that I love someone that doesn't exist?"

"That is the fact Noel," Liliath said.

Is there even any point in talking about this, Liliath?

"Right. Maybe I don't exist either. That makes things fair.. that I'm just like you, somewhere out there, maybe I'm just some non-existent story character that will disappear at the stop of the script," I said.

"N-No.. that isn't.." Liliath stuttered.

"I'm sorry Liliath. I really don't see you as just a fictional character. You're as alive as anyone, Liliath."

What are we even saying anymore? I thought our discussion was about Rin..

Liliath hung her head.

"Rin. What do you think of me?"

"Y-Y-You.. erm.. uh.."

"Damn it.."

Very typical novel-like reaction. It isn't even realistic..

Fictional.

What is fictional?

Love at first sight.

Everlasting love.

Living ten centuries..

If this was what I'm to become.. doesn't that mean I'm no longer living in reality but rather.. in fantasy?

'Manifestation into Reality.'

Just what is this TALENT about?

It could potentially destroy the world couldn't it?

If so then.. what's the point to all this?

What's the point of my existence?

Was there a reason to continue to keep realistic life values?

Was there a reason to.. worry?

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Noel.. sama and Liliath-sama, both entered a state of anguish.

I didn't know what they were saying. Things of fickle fiction and existence.

Did that matter? To a small filial existence like myself? Someone who had such blessings to be alive till this point?

"N-Noel.. L-Liliath.." I spoke.

"Sorry," Liliath-sama whispered, pulling away.

This conflict.. was it caused by me? I brought them this misery?

"W-Would it be better if I wasn't here after all..?"

"Stay. Liliath wouldn't want you to leave. I don't know what Javiel would do to you either," Noel-sama said.

It was confusing. A mixture of varying opinions and arguments.

What could I do in this situation? It isn't the first time I've stumbled upon this back at the Margrave's place.

"Liliath. You said you want Rin to be part of this family right?"

Liliath-sama remained silent.

Noel-sama stood up and walked over to her.

I felt my heart race at the sight.

He embraced her.

They stood there for a few seconds.

"Javiel isn't going to do anything bad this time around. We'll make sure of that alright?"

Liliath-sama nodded.

"As for Rin.." Noel-sama whisphered, a sinking feeling in my chest, "We'll see as we go. I can't just make that decision."

"Un.." Liliath-sama whimpered.

These two..

Without a doubt.

They were demon lords. TRUE demon lords.

It's envious. Really so..

"Rin."

"H-Huh.."

"Come here."

"Y-Yes.."

I got up and walked over, timidly.

"Noel?" Liliath-sama looked up at Noel-sama.

"I'm definitely not going to get used to this.. We'll see how things go. I can't keep following the traditional methods of doing things. After all, I'm not a human anymore aren't I?"

Liliath-sama nudged closer to Noel-sama's side.

I felt a pat.

"I'll be in your care. Rin," he smiled wryly.

Blood rushed up my cheeks.

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What exactly is it that affects someone?

No matter how strong you think you are, you can't underestimate the influence of the environment on us. That means the people we surround ourselves with.

Mix with fantasy, and you will become part of fantasy.

Mix with reality, and you will become part reality.

Fantasy becomes reality; Reality becomes fantasy. It's all but a point of view.

Liliath lives in fantasy.

I live in reality.

Liliath's 'fantasy' diluted by 'reality', slowly, as she assimilates reality from my world.

My 'reality' diluted by 'fantasy', slowly, as I assimilate things from this world.

I've taken this choice to be with Liliath.

So I guess this is one of the things I just have to accept huh?

I wonder what other ridiculousness I'll continue to experience in my life.

For the first time ever: I'm considering accepting a harem.

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"Haah.."

What was I worried about anyways? It's not like I can tell the future right?

Is it alright to just let loose and let things be? Was it really alright to just let Liliath build her harem like that? This is absolute bullshit.

I swear to gosh this is the most ridiculous plot twist I've ever heard in any romcom stories out there.

Hey. I said I'm considering a harem-- but that doesn't mean I'm 'building' the harem. It's Liliath's harem, not mine. I'm 'part' of the harem, not the 'builder' of the harem. Does this mean I have to share Liliath with Rin now?

Fuck.

Somehow.. just somehow, I'm getting this feeling that my time with Liliath will get cut.

The sound of running water in the sink-- I turned my head over to that direction. Liliath explaining to Rin about how a faucet works.

I plopped my head back onto the sofa, unable to wrap my head around why in the world was there a need to teach someone about the dynamics of a faucet.

How many hours more again?

I checked the time in my UI.

I guess there's another 2 hours more before we arrive at Erudite Kingdom. By the time we get there it'd be the afternoon.

The trip has been smooth sailing so far with Prune and Nine replacing our positions in the coach. Last time, they were the ones hanging out inside the apartment.

Let's not forget to mention the early morning meal we had this morning together with the newly wed couples-- Hugo Harriot and Eryl Harriot. It was a quick breakfast where Miss Margrett was ultimately the one doing most of the talking.

They did ask about the bloody incident yesterday. We did do our best to explain what we could but.. trying to hide our Unique Skills was an absolute pain.

Anyways.. about Corine Ifrit, Eryl Harriot's sister– the one who invited Nine, Liliath and Gabriel to the wedding? That's another one of Nine's flags. She kept wanting to hire Nine as her personal bodyguard.

Nine.. you should've stayed a girl.. what made you decide to use your male persona this morning..

"Noel, what mechanisms does this involve again?"

"Which one?"

"This," Liliath pointed at the buttons on the oven.

"I don't know how to really explain that.. it's like how I told you smartphones are complex."

"Is that so?"

"What is a smartphone?" Rin asked.

"It's the device that summoned me to Noel's plane of existence."

"An artifact with such a capability?!" Rin gawked.

I placed my hand on my face.

Then I took out a half-eaten ice cream sandwich and started gnawing on it.

Yum.

"No-el?"

"What is that?"

"Ice cream."

"Where did you.. get that from?"

"You want one?"

I gave up trying to understand these two. So I'm just going to wash away this confusion with ice cream.

Ice cream? Yes. Ice cream sandwich.