Chapter 325: Reflections of Life

I massaged my forehead and fought back the urge to sigh. Dramas are troublesome….

When I returned to the hot spring inn, the local women were worried about my sudden disappearance.

Umaru told them I would come back since I'm not a crying child who walks away when he feels rejected, I'm used to being rejected so they shouldn't worry.

Umaru's words didn't help but increased the women's concern. Now they think I'm a depressed brat who feels rejected by the world.

My silly sister is impulsive, childish, spoiled, irresponsible, lazy, cowardly, and ridiculous, but she's not an idiot. She knew precisely what effect her words would have, so she did that to make women feel more intimate with me.

That idiot Navi put stupid ideas into my sister's dumb head. Now, she wants all of her new friends to be part of my harem.

According to her own words, she can't trust women outside our family, so she can only feel safe if her friends are also her sisters-in-law.

I can't say that's stupid since that's technically my fault. I have educated her so that she always feels mistrust of the world, people, and life.

Her mistrust complex and her loneliness traumas are completely my faults, so I have to put up with her stupidity.

Anyway. Umaru and Navi's actions have caused the women of the inn to approach me without me having to move, but I'm still on vacation, so I won't include them in my harem immediately, although I'll make sure they fall in love with me and cannot go with other men….

My absurd addiction to seducing women aside, something else happened while I was mentally unstable.

Miyu Sakatsuki, a member of the Sakatsuki family and a character from 'Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya'.

She is from a slightly different alternate timeline than my current timeline.

From what I saw with [Reader's Perspective], Miyu is something like a fountain of wishes, so her life is extremely important to the powerful people in her timeline.

In the original plot, Miyu was something of a necessary sacrifice to fulfill a wish capable of rewriting reality, but there is a big problem.

The original plot of the Fate franchise has been modified by foreign entities. I already discussed this with Shiki, but she can't repair the plot as that would cause the death of all the characters related to the Fate franchise.

What little information I have managed to find showed me that Free Agents are guilty of this. Apparently, the system users corrupted the fabric of this World, in this way, they seek to create a new Dimensional Gate in a place that is not seen by Shiki and Mumei.

In this sense, Miyu is one of the main pieces for the invasion of system users.

I am unable to see the full context of the plan due to multiple skills restricting information. Even the help of BB, System Goddess, [Paranoia], and Leylin wouldn't be enough as the records are programmed to self-destruct at the slightest sign of intervention.

Damn system users are hedonistic assholes, but they're not completely stupid, which is more problematic…

Anyway, for now, I can only make sure to protect Miyu, but I can't take her to my private world since her soul is too connected to the fabric of this world. If she breaks out of the Plot, the barrier will most likely weaken further.

Another option is to take Miyu to a safe place isolated from people. She wouldn't complain since she is extremely submissive, but there is a problem, or well, several problems.

Umaru and Navi did too many stupid things while I stayed in the hot springs…

Umaru became attached to Miyu, though not as friends or sisters, but as a pet. My silly sister has the mentality of a system user and she sees people as collectible figures.

Umaru has been working hard so that Miyu can be more like a normal girl instead of an emotionless doll.

As I struggled to regain my self-control, Miyu became the adoptive daughter of Seiji Ichijo.

Apparently, Umaru talked to Monika so that Miyu would be my daughter and not my sister.

Umaru doesn't love me romantically, which I thank the God I don't believe in. Still, she feels jealous at the thought of losing her younger sister's place.

To put it mildly, Umaru feels that her place in the world is to be my little sister, so the appearance of another little sister will make her place in life unnecessary.

It is somewhat similar to a girl who feels threatened when her younger sister is born. It is the fear of losing the love of her family.

Again, her existential problems and her low self-esteem are my faults. I'll need to fix her stupid thoughts so she can be happy on her own.

Well, whatever.

Miyu is now Seiji's daughter, so publicly it's not strange that she lives with me, since I'm Seiji's right-hand man.

It's like millionaires who ignore their kids and leave their kids with a babysitter, even though that can lead to future self-esteem issues and an inferiority complex. That's why many rich kids are obsessed with getting attention, they feel that their lives have no meaning if there are no people applauding their stupidity.

All this is already a headache, but there is another problem.

Miyu is a genius and her academic intellect surpasses many adults, but she has very little life experience and emotional wisdom.

In objective terms, she is not unlike an autistic girl. Her social skills and way of carrying herself might make someone wonder if there is something wrong with her head.

Miyu was born to be a sacrifice and could only have a normal life for a few years, then she was sent to a totally unknown place, so her situation is understandable.

To compensate for the lack of social skills, it is best to attend school.

Schools are not only important for academic education, but the development of social abilities is also essential. That's why Umaru became a little idiot, she didn't go to school but had classes at home.

Because of all this and without telling me, Umaru had Miyu enrolled in the elementary school of this city. In fact, she has been going to class for three days.

Monika made this possible. She helped my sister's plans since this is good for Miyu, in fact, I also think it's a good idea for Miyu's emotional development, although it will be troublesome in various ways.

I'm not upset with the actions of Umaru or Monika, it doesn't bother me that they make their own decisions since they are not puppets that live to follow my orders.

Miyu is not a normal girl, but deep down in her heart, she wants a normal life, so I will give her that life.

The inn's owner, Chitose Nakai, is a millennial spirit with the appearance of a brat. Due to her appearance, she doesn't have many places she can go to kill time, so she started attending elementary school.

Every so often, she erases the teachers' memories so she can continue attending classes without them noticing how strange it is to have the same student for over 30 years.

Ina knows the anime 'Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san' so she knows about this, so she had the idea for Chitose to help Miyu learn how to be a normal girl.

Miyu has been learning how to act like a girl her age and make friends, though it's been hard so far since she's too perfect.

Intellect, appearance, physical abilities, handwriting, manners, and wealth. Miyu is literally a perfect child, but this caused her difficulties.

Children are cruel because of their innocence. They know that hurting other people is wrong, but they don't measure the extent of their actions.

Making fun of someone for being different is bad, but it's funny. Excluding a child is bad, but it's fun. Humiliating others is bad, but it's entertaining. Hating someone privileged who has never caused them trouble doesn't make sense, but it's fair. That is the mentality of a child who lacks the attention of her parents.

Several girls are jealous and have excluded Miyu, on the other hand, the boys are entering adolescence, so some of them start to be interested in girls.

Miyu is perfect, so many boys have fallen in love with her, although embarrassment makes them act like jerks since they think that bullying the girl they like will help them get her attention.

Brats being brats, this is normal, but I'll have to kill those brats…. Or so I'd like, but Tsubaki insists that I can't kill children just because they act like children. Tch.

Well, Miyu doesn't feel hurt by the situation, but she has started to enjoy her new life.

Children who have seen hell will feel at home in a slightly hostile place.

Without death, without war, without hunger, without blood, without pain. Miyu finally has a peaceful life.

I let Miyu do what she wants. She is now my daughter, so I will spoil her and kill whoever causes her trouble.

The problem is that I have to go back to my city and Miyu is happy in this city, so I'm going to let her live with Chitose in the hot spring inn.

I already talked to Chitose and she agreed to let Miyu live in Yuuna's room. According to Ina, this caused the original protagonist to be left homeless, so it's a windfall.

I plan to come every third day to check how things are going, however, I have Shiki's permission to use spatial movement skills without restrictions.

Currently, there is a bit of distance between me and the women at the inn, but my frequent visits will make a closer relationship between me and them.

Again, this was planned by Navi and Umaru.

It would be great if my silly sister used that great intellect of hers for something more productive…

Anyway. My vacation isn't over yet, so I'll let things flow at their own pace. I'm in enough trouble with my engagement to Auriel…. What a headache.

Now I'm about to go back to my city with Medaka, Umaru, and Ina.

My luggage is always light and I've already said goodbye to the women at the inn, so there's only one thing left for me to do.

I sighed and crouched down to look at Miyu at the same height. – "Remember to call me every day to tell me about your day, if at any time you need something, you can call me and I will come immediately, don't worry about causing me problems, I want you to call me if you need something or if you just want to talk"

Miyu nodded, though she still looked worried. She doesn't want to cause me any trouble and she's worried about calling me when I'm busy.

I smiled softly and put my hand on her head. – "Miyu, we are a family so your problems and worries are also my problems and worries"

Miyu still doesn't seem to know how to smile, though I can see a slight happiness in her expression.

Miyu misses the boy who protected her on her homeworld a lot, but she hasn't said any comment about him. She's smart and she knows that my life is already in chaos, so she doesn't want to push her problems onto me.

I usually complain that my daughters are too troublesome and loud, but having such a calm and obedient brat is also a problem.

Girls should worry about what clothes they like the most, not about the destruction of a war....

"Good girl" – I smiled and took out a packet of cookies for Miyu. – "Remember to play a lot, it is good that you like to study all day, but you need to have fun"

Miyu nodded again. This brat only knows how to nod.

I stood up and was about to leave the inn, but Miyu grabbed my arm.

The brat looked at her own hand in confusion, she doesn't understand why she is holding my sleeve.

I smiled and picked up Miyu to hug her. – "If you want a hug you just have to say it"

"…" – Miyu hugged me silently.

She already felt the pain of losing her loved ones, so she's scared that I'll disappear.

I sighed. – "Miyu, I won't know what you want if you don't speak"

"…" – Miyu hugged me tighter. - "Do not go…"

Oh, how lovely. I'm starting to love her almost as much as my daughters.

"I have work, but I will come every three days to greet you, I will also stay one day every two weeks" – I spoke softly.

The time I spent in the hot springs was therapeutic in relieving my migraine, so I plan to come every other week to have a break.

I'm a workaholic, but too much stress can cause me to make a mistake, which is dangerous, especially with everything going on in the multiverse.

"…Okay…" – Miyu spoke with a slight sadness.

The emotions she expresses are still subtle and her voice is monotone, but she is slowly learning to show her feelings in her voice and face.

"Good girl" – I stopped carrying Miyu and smiled one last time, then left the inn.

I feel uncomfortable leaving Miyu alone since she's almost like one of my daughters, but I need to deal with the emotions of the women waiting for me in my town.

By the way, this city is next to a troublesome city called Fuyuki in which several troublesome incidents have been reported, but I'm currently on vacation.

Thus, I returned to my city together with Medaka, Umaru, and Ina.

"Hey Listen! Let's finish the fucking school arc or readers will keep complaining about the lack of consistency in the plot!" – Navi appeared in front of my face.

"I still don't understand what that thing says" – Medaka frowned.

"School arc?" - Ina tilted her head, then smiled. – "Oh, I also want to go to class! I want to see a romantic comedy!"

"I thought you were scared of social interaction" - I smiled wryly.

"....." – Ina stopped smiling and turned a little pale. - "ah..."

"Don't worry" – I looked out the window. – "Umaru will accompany you, so he tries to amuse you"

"Hey?!" – Umaru screamed in horror. - "I have to go to school?! It's not fair Onii-chan, I'm too busy with my talent agency and my VTuber job!.... Ah...."

UImaru covered her mouth in panic.

I sighed. – "Monika already told me everything you have been doing"

"…." – Umaru paled.

"I'm not angry" - I smiled sincerely and stroked the head of my silly sister. – "You managed to create a small independent entertainment company, I am very proud of you"

"….." – Umaru trembled slightly. – "C-Could you repeat that?"

Low self-esteem issues are not resolved quickly. Giving empty flattery may give slight satisfaction, but the real problem will stay deep in the heart, so this will take a long time.

My smile showed sincerity. - "You make me proud"

"..." – Umaru showed a big smile. – "Hehehe, are you happy to have the most adorable and cool little sister?"

I sighed and kept smiling. – "Yes, you are the best"

"Yay!" – Umaru yelled excitedly and kept smiling.

I have always criticized and despised Umaru, that's why her self-esteem is on the floor.

On the one hand, I verbally attacked her since I hated life and all people, on the other hand, I wanted her to learn to always improve.

The excessive demand and the lack of recognition of her made Umaru break and she decided to move away from people to focus on the digital world.

I've done a lot of damage to this brat, but she's mentally strong, even if she doesn't believe it herself.

Realistically, the upbringing I gave her was for her to be a sociopath like me, but she still retains kindness, humanity, empathy, and a sincere desire for friendship.

In an emotional aspect, she is stronger than me.

I don't care that she built a small talent agency, and I don't care that she's a popular internet figure either, what really makes me proud is that she didn't hate the world as I did.

My silly sister makes me proud.

"Hey Listen! That could be the title of an incest-filled Japanese light novel!"

…. imbecile.

Whatever. During my vacation I will make sure to strengthen and treasure my emotional ties.

From what I saw in Eriko's memories, the Harem Emperor is very similar to me in terms of cynicism, contempt for living beings, and perfectionism, but there are two big differences between us.

First, he's a huge narcissist and he thinks he's the most important person in the multiverse, so he's very trusting and that creates the possibility of his plans going awry. In that, we are different because I am a pessimist, I hate myself and I believe that anyone with more luck can do the same as me or even better.

Second, he doesn't see his harem as women, but as sex toys, so he doesn't give them freedom of thought. On the contrary, I give my wives too much freedom as long as they are not fidelity issues.

The Harem Emperor is stronger than me individually and has an organization capable of overshadowing my army, but he knows that his so-called allies will betray him as soon as his strength declines, on the other hand, I have people I can trust even if I lose all my abilities.

Before, I saw emotional ties as a weakness, but now I can see that emotional ties are essential in order not to become a jerk.

I love my wives and they love me.

That may sound simplistic and stupid, but it is the key to dealing with system users using mind control.

If I can find the Harem Emperor's pawns, I can free them from mind control and then get them on my side.

Well, I'll think about that later. For now, I'm going to try to experience a normal life.

The skill [Sadomasochistic Meditation] is very interesting as it can help me turn pain into the peace of mind, but there are various side effects that affect lust, on the other hand, there is a problem in my understanding of pain, which prevents me from taking advantage of this skill.

I am a rational person and I know physical, psychological, and emotional suffering in depth, however, I know pain so much that I do not know the feeling of peace.

Life needs some balance. A person who has never experienced pain will feel the greatest suffering in the face of tragedy, while a person who has always experienced pain will only feel discomfort in the face of tragedy.

I already know love, I know pleasure, and I know joy, but I don't know the feeling of a quiet life.

Peace and quiet are essential for emotional health, so I need to experience a normal life. Only in this way will I be able to understand what I have been missing and in this way, I will be able to explore my own suffering in greater depth.

It sounds very philosophical, but it can be summed up as follows: Living is laughing when you're happy and screaming when you're miserable.

By knowing peace, I will be able to feel more pain, which will improve my understanding of suffering.

I have a theory that [Sadomasochistic Meditation] needs a perfect balance between masochism and sadism. Because of this, not all perverts can obtain this skill.

It's easy to fall into complete depravity, but it's hard to balance depravity.

Those who cause pain fear pain. Those who enjoy pain get bored by causing pain. That is the nature of the depraved.

To achieve balance, a strong empathy mixed with a twisted perception of pain is necessary.

Only by understanding happiness is it possible to understand suffering.

Ah, this all sounds like the crap of a pervert trying to justify his twisted fetishes, but such is the mind of a madman. Fucking chaos.

In short, I will enjoy a peaceful life and thus I will be able to understand pain.

I'm resigned to stupid things happening around me since I have too much plot armor, but shit is a part of life. It always surrounds us.

I kept looking out the window until we reached the city under the control of the Ichijo family.

With [Reader's Madness] I can see the hundreds of threads of fate moving everywhere.

Hundreds of threads connect to me since I am the protagonist of this World, but that does not make me feel important, it just reminds me that I have a lot to lose if this World is conquered….

I need to keep improving to protect what I love...

I am afraid of losing so many people around me…..

This fear, this worry…. She feels good.

I just have to do the usual. Go forward..................…