Arthur Nightingale II

Rachel narrowed her eyes, refusing to accept my words. "Don't joke with me, Arthur," she said, her voice trembling with frustration and determination. There was a clarity in her eyes—a determination that I lacked.

"Do not lie to me or hide, Nightingale," she demanded, stepping closer. Her hands cupped my face, forcing me to look at her, to truly see her. "What do you truly think of me?"

My eyes widened, and I felt my gaze falter as I struggled to find the words. Confusion, hesitation—emotions I didn't want to acknowledge—clouded my thoughts. I felt my heart pounding, my mind in turmoil.

But Rachel had enough.

She pulled me in, closing the distance between us, her lips pressing firmly against mine.

CRASH!

It was as if I heard the shattering of glass—something inside me breaking. The shield I had built around myself, seeing this world as nothing more than a novel, the people in it mere characters. All of it crumbled, leaving me vulnerable and exposed. For the first time, I realized I had been hiding behind that shield, keeping everyone at a safe distance.

The world seemed to vanish, everything fading until there was nothing but the warmth of her lips against mine. My heart raced, pounding in my chest as my breath hitched, the hesitation within me shattering under the force of the moment.

My hands hovered near her shoulders, unsure, trembling. But Rachel deepened the kiss, her hands tangling in my hair, refusing to let me retreat.

For a few precious seconds, I let myself respond. My lips moved against hers, a quiet desperation between us. It was like a dam breaking—emotions I had held back for so long finally finding release.

She pulled back, resting her forehead against mine, our breaths mingling as we gasped for air. "I'm real, Arthur," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I am right here. Not a memory, not a ghost. So be mine. Choose me."

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

I liked these characters—I really did. And if I wanted to save this world, they had to grow stronger. Resolving their traumas, something that Lucifer did in the original story, was a necessary part of that process. I thought I could help them heal, guide them to where they needed to be.

But I never expected them to fall for me.

I touched my lips, still feeling the lingering warmth of Rachel's kiss just moments ago. It was different from Cecilia's kisses—different in a way that shook me.

Rachel's kiss carried raw intensity, an unspoken plea that resonated deeply within me. It wasn't just affection; it was a need to be understood, to be wanted for who she truly was, beyond titles or expectations. And somehow, I was the one she chose to show that vulnerability to.

I took a deep breath, my gaze drifting to where everyone else had gone. I could still sense the tension in the air, feel the eyes of those who had been watching us. I was stepping into something far more complicated than I had ever anticipated.

'How did I end up here?' I wondered, shaking my head. All I wanted was to help them, to support them through their struggles so they could grow stronger. But things had changed—evolved into something far more personal. Something beyond my control.

Rachel's words echoed in my mind—the ones about me holding onto a phantom, distancing myself from the people around me because I saw them as mere characters.

She was right. When I first arrived here, that's exactly how I viewed everyone—as pieces on a chessboard, pawns I could move to achieve my goal. It wasn't malicious; it was simply the only way I could make sense of this world. After all, I knew their stories, their traumas, their futures. I thought of them as characters, people whose lives I could shape.

But now… things were different.

Rachel wasn't just a character anymore. She was a person—a living, breathing person with her own hopes and fears. She wasn't someone I could simply guide or protect from a distance. She was real. Her emotions were real. And so were the emotions of everyone else here.

I had been holding onto my past—clinging to a phantom of someone I lost. A part of me had always been afraid to let go because it felt like losing a piece of myself. It kept me detached, kept me from truly connecting with anyone here. It was easier that way. Less complicated. Less painful.

But as I stood here, looking at Rachel, I realized I couldn't keep doing that. Not if I wanted to protect them. Not if I wanted to save this world. I had to let go of that phantom. I had to see the people around me for who they truly were—not who they were supposed to be.

They were my friends, my allies—and maybe, just maybe, they could be something even more.

They were all incredibly beautiful in their own unique ways.

Rachel, with her brilliant blonde hair and bright blue eyes, seemed like an angel straight out of a fairy tale—radiant and graceful.

Cecilia, with her shorter blonde hair and striking crimson eyes, had an allure that made her seem like a mischievous seductress. Her confidence and the way she carried herself had always been captivating.

Then there was Seraphina, with her silver hair and crystalline blue eyes, embodying the serene and unapproachable beauty of an ice goddess.

In the novel, all three of them had fallen for Lucifer and eventually became part of his harem.

Honestly, I was scared.

No matter how much time passed, I still saw myself as an outsider in this world—a foreigner who didn't belong in this story. Seeing Lucifer unlock his Gift, God's Eyes, specifically to defeat me and take the Rank 1 position at Mythos Academy only reinforced that fear. That I wasn't supposed to be here. That I wasn't the one they were supposed to love.

I was terrified of giving them my heart, only for it to be shattered when they eventually developed feelings for Lucifer, just like they did in the novel.

With Cecilia, I'd also always feared that she might be toying with me—that her affection wasn't genuine. But now that I knew her true feelings, I could at least let go of that particular fear.

And when she fell for Lucifer in the novel... she went full yandere. That was a road I had no intention of going down.

But nonetheless, it showed that her feelings for Lucifer were real.

'Stop holding onto the ghost of my past pain,' I thought.

I thought back to my feelings for the three girls. There was warmth—so much warmth—that I couldn't ignore anymore.

I liked the way Cecilia would brazenly kiss me, the way she comforted me after I lost to Ren, and after I lost to Lucifer, knowing I'd be down in the dumps.

I liked the way Seraphina opened up to me, the way she trusted me when she trusted no one else. She was the first person I trusted in this world.

And I liked the way Rachel loved my kindness, the way she always smiled at me and cared for me.

All this time, my heart had been beating for them. I just hadn't realized it until now.

I needed to stop hiding. To stop seeing them as just characters. To let go of the fear of losing them to some story that didn't matter anymore. They were real, and they mattered. And I… I wanted to be with them.