Chapter 279: It's Time (6)

|Author's note: I thought that I wrote this chapter amongst the bulk I wrote earlier this week, but it somehow got lost lol, so this is written in a rush to fill my daily quota as I got a few things coming up, one of which is a health check-up, don't worry, I'm okay.|

Perseus POV

"Dad, a moment please." Asher called.

"Come in."

The heroes have apparently announced themselves to participate in the war against the anti-magic cult, which should be real interesting. I've thought about like watching from the sidelines with some popcorn, but whatever.

"Well, how's your time with a younger version of your mother?"

"She warmed up to me." he answered, "By the way, Mom has a weird preference for dark humor, like more than I'm used to."

"Is that it?"

"No, I'm just here to ask you when are you trying to go for her? I particularly don't want to one day disappear because of your inability to flirt. It's clear that you 2 like each other in some twisted way, you even have the rings."

"Look, I admit, I find your mother incredibly attractive."

"Is it because she got the biggest physical assets amongst your future wives?"

"Don't say that, she's your mother."

"I'm only repeating what mom Lilith said 4 minutes ago."

"Look, even though we don't get a lot of screen time together, we are good friends, but it's also hard to call us friends since we both find each other physically attractive."

"So there's a strain, why don't you confess and see how it goes? Some people do it, they've never interacted, but their friendship developed along their relationship after a confession...they do it in anime too."

"You all got anime?"

"That's not the point?"

"Your mother and I have been playing this unspoken game for years. We've always teased each other, challenged each other, and enjoyed the thrill of competition. But confessing my feelings would mean surrendering, admitting defeat."

"Oh no, I think I see where this is going." he facepalmed.

"It's a game of love, a war of emotions. We both have feelings for each other, but we've been pretending not to, trying to make the other person confess first. Well, it hasn't got to the stage of love yet as I do with Leilah, but just ignore my choice of vocabulary."

"Wait, so you're saying you and Mom are playing a game to see who confesses their feelings first?" he asked, "Like isn't that plot oddly familiar to another show?! Aren't we stepping out of bounds?"

"Exactly. It sounds silly, I know, but it's become a sort of unspoken challenge between us. The problem is, if I were to confess my feelings for your mother, I'd lose the game."

"Why would you lose? Shouldn't it be a good thing to express your feelings? And that's coming from me, the guy who has a cold indifferent expression most of the time."

"In this game, whoever confesses first becomes vulnerable. They become the ones who are more invested in the relationship. It gives the other person a sense of power and control. Like Lilith, Ruka's the type who would prefer being the dominant one. And yes, I noticed that your mother got ears good enough to hear all the way here through the gap of the door."

"Ok, just wanted to ask, I'll go back now."

After that, I shut the doors and plot my next moves, should I delay the children and let them go back later while having them help me for a bit, or should I let them go now and do it with just the current group?

The 3 will follow my instructions and request regardless since I am technically their dad, but I have to be considerate of their feelings. Well, I do have a letter that is titled, 'Open if help is needed'.

I opened it and all it says is that there was time. Well, for now, since everyone is occupied with that war against the anti-magic cult...I'll rush to do everything else.

I'll let them do the stopping while I'll bait the winter god, for now, I just need to request the 3 to stay longer and also request Orion to come along since he's the only one who actually fights for a living.

*****

I apologized to the 3 for my request, but it seems that they were expecting it, probably cuz they knew that this would happen. When we go, Maple will try to think of a plan to help solve our problem with Vince, Lilith will come along just to protect me.

"Dad." Orion whispered as Lilith left for a bit.

"Getting along?"

"Yeah, but she's definitely much more different than the mom I'm familiar with."

"What if we come from different timelines or dimensions?"

"I'm not answering that, but she's not as warm. Her talking to me felt forced, like more forced than you at first."

"You'll get used to it since we got time, you'll see her warmer side soon enough, trust me on that."

"But...you're all really nice, thanks, dad. It's really fun being with you guys."

"Thank you, for now, let's pack and go meet one of your other white-haired uncles, and hopefully, I don't die."

*****

As I was changing my clothes into my nightmare, I felt a hug from behind and turned to see that it was Lilith, which was weird, usually it was Leilah.

"You've been neglecting me lately." she said, "You think that once I'm yours, you can just forget bout me and moved on to the other 2?"

"We literally just like made out in the bath 3 minutes ago."

"Hmm, not enough." she responded, "I've sacrificed an identity I've built up for decades just to live here, all I got are hugs and kisses."

"You've forgotten words of affection and a date we had the day before yesterday."

"Still not enough. I'm needy."

We then moved to the bed where Leilah already started yawning in preparation to meet the winter god who will no doubt appear in front of us when we arrive.

"Fine, I'll make you a deal, after completing everything in the 4 continents, I'll let you have me for 12 whole hours."

"Deal!" she responded immediately, "I'll prepare some stamina potions for that day, go on rest, you need energy if we are to do everything quickly."