After Lucy-chan slept forever, we went to bury her in the backyard garden of Erselica's mansion.
We didn't bury her in the front garden because we didn't want to accidentally step on her grave. Instead, being in the backyard, it would be among flowers to remember her.
Both I and everyone else grew attached to her. Erselica seemed to want to hold my hand, as she also remembered when we buried our last pet.
But it would be weird if she did that, so she stayed with that feeling.
I stayed in the backyard for a while as the others went inside.
The feeling of losing something you love is truly atrocious.
The last time I felt it was in my past life. In my new life, I haven't experienced anything like that until this moment.
Fortunately, I didn't lose anyone I cared about during the war against the Commonwealth, but others lost their families and loved ones.
If... I had lost my father, or Lyle, or Bram. And even if something had happened to Alisa or Airi, I don't think I know how I would have reacted.
"Hey."
It was Lucy who approached to speak to me.
"Feeling better now?"
I wasn't crying, but the feeling of sadness was reflected on my face.
"A little. Thanks for taking care of her while I was gone."
She shook her hair. Since she wasn't wearing her pigtails, her hair was loose and I could see how long it was.
"No. I'm the one who should thank you for rescuing her. The truth... I was scared when that guy kicked her."
"And I didn't do it earlier because of everything that happened, but thank you for rescuing me. Rudel-kun... no, Rudel, thank you for showing me there are people who can change fate in their favor."
"What are you talking about?"
I didn't understand what she was telling me.
Lucy came closer to me and sat by my side.
Our thighs were almost touching.
"Today you showed me many sides of you. You can be both heroic and terrifying. Kind and annoying. But above all..."
She turned her face towards me. Our faces looked at each other intently.
"You've shown me that despite the madness you did today, you are a very human person. Crying over a pet is something I've rarely seen."
"Is that so rare? Sorry, but I'm one of a kind."
"I've realized how unique and very special you are."
"That 'special' felt more like an insult."
Lucy laughed a little.
"That's because you are not normal. No, seriously, who the hell fights an armed unit in the flesh? I'll never forget what I just saw."
I was embarrassed because I was called weird. I'm not weird; what's weird is this bizarre fantasy world.
"I-I'm sorry you saw my greatness in all its splendor."
"Indeed. Today I observed what the Kingdom's Hero is capable of. Undoubtedly Aster will not stay quiet."
That's another problem.
"It's likely I'll be deported to my country and won't be able to continue studying."
Lucy's expression changed to one of sadness upon hearing that.
"I-It's true... you'll probably return to your country after that."
"It's a pity... I was getting used to talking to you in Aster's language."
Lucy gave a light laugh.
"You suck at speaking my language. Let's switch to yours since it's much more comfortable for you, right?"
I looked at her in amazement.
"Are you sure? Do you want to hear how I yell at those guys in my native tongue?"
"I've heard worse things coming from you in my native language."
We both laughed a little.
It was getting dark.
Hurried footsteps came straight towards us.
"Bradford!"
Shouting in an alarmed tone was Chlust.
"I know you're sad, but sadness is a very bad aftertaste that must be cleaned as soon as possible!"
I didn't understand what this guy was talking about.
Liam and the other boys were behind Chlust.
"For that reason, we're going to cheer you up. Also, let's celebrate your victory."
My expression of joy warped into one of disgust when Liam suggested I hang out with them.
"Who the hell wants to go with you guys? I'm fine alone— hey, let me go, idiots. Help, Erselica!"
The idiots grabbed my shoulders and feet. Among them were Clovis and Warren, united.
"Leave your bitter side behind; let's celebrate."
They were carrying me to the door. At that moment, Erselica called to them.
"Hey, where are you going? Food will be ready in a few hours."
They stopped and Frey was the one who spoke.
"We're going to celebrate the Count's victory and get rid of that sad face."
"Lolica, tell your boyfriends to put me down!"
"Ah, yes..."
She thought for a moment and then stabbed me in the back.
"Don't drink too much and be back here in less than two hours. I don't want the food to go to waste."
"Yes!"
Hey, why are you betraying me, little loli?
"No, let me goooo!"
Lucy and Erselica's servant-friends also arrived.
"Have a good time~."
"Drink carefully, especially Chlust."
"Count, I ask you please not to allow Chlust and the Prince to have a drinking contest. You wouldn't want to see a monstrosity."
The door opened and we all went out.
"Noooooooo!"
◇
We took a taxi, and it brought us to this fancy bar.
I was sitting in a bad mood since these idiots brought me against my will. Wait, isn't this the same as kidnapping? I can report them!
"Umm, eh... first of all, I, Liam, don't refer to me as the Crown Prince since I'm currently not. I want to celebrate for two reasons."
Liam stood up with a mug of cold beer in his hand. The others also had one. I didn't because my body doesn't tolerate alcohol for some reason. I ordered a glass of carbonated drink instead.
Everyone looked at me strangely, even the bartender.
"Let's give our condolences with a toast for Lucy the rabbit, who, despite being a pet, filled us with joy for a short time and was part of our group."
We all took a sip for that toast.
Although it may seem strange, in the kingdom, toasting for the deceased is the highest form of showing respect for them. After the war, there was a party with only alcohol to toast fallen comrades.
After the funerals, many brought barrels of beer and spilled them on the graves of their acquaintances. It seems in my previous life there was a custom like that, and it was adapted into the game.
After a big toast, Liam continued.
"Now, let's toast to Bradford. Who not only defeated that despicable Derrick but also defeated the supreme kingdom in a defensive battle, which they are very proud of."
Hey, don't say that; the bartender was surprised by what you said.
We were drinking at the bar. I was in the middle, with Clovis and Warren on my right.
As for my left, there were the red, green, and silver ones.
I was quietly drinking my 0-alcohol glass when out of nowhere Clovis hugged me.
"You really are surprising, Bradford. Today has been a crazy day for you, hahaha."
Clovis reeked of alcohol. Warren added to what this drunk was saying.
"I can say the same. It's incredible not only what happened in the duel. But that earlier you had to fight the Cashmiro Family is amazing."
"Certainly it is."
Frey was now the one speaking.
"They are even more wanted than that man ever was. In case you don't remember, I'm talking about the Bloody Knight."
"Don't remind me of that guy. It's a miracle I beat him without losing a limb."
"Eh, so it's true!"
Who unexpectedly said that was Warren.
We all looked at him.
"Count... you really defeated one of the greatest legends of the battlefield, and alone?"
"You can bet on it!"
Chlust, instead of me, was the one who answered.
After taking a big sip of his beer, he spoke.
"My father was even jealous of him. He said, 'as a warrior I am ashamed that a brat the same age as my son was the one who killed him and I wasn't.' The funniest thing is he started drinking because of how embarrassed he was."
(Good thing I know your father from a distance.)
"Even if that's the case, it's not that big a deal, Warr—."
As I turned to answer Warren, his eyes were red.
"... Not that big a deal, you say?"
"Warren? Hey..."
"Idiooooot!"
"Eh!"
This guy's eyes seemed to pop out from behind his glasses, then he pushed Clovis aside and grabbed my shoulders.
"We're talking about that man, and you just say 'it's not that big a deal'?! You idiot! That guy was a worldwide threat and you defeated him; you should be boasting about it... if I were... if I were you!"
I was scared; this guy, who seemed normal, was behaving strangely.
Then what he said left me even more confused.
"If I were you, I would definitely have scored points with Erselica!"
"Eh?"
My expression, as well as my body's, was that of a blank drawing.
"Excuse me... but did you say Erselica?"
"That's right!"
"You're serious!"
What the hell happened to result in this?
"Erselica is undoubtedly a wonderful girl to whom I would want to boast about that achievement. Only then, I'm sure my family would accept her!"
"... Wouldn't they?"
"Absolutely not!"
"After all, as the son of a Count, I must become engaged to a girl who brings benefits to my house. I never really cared about that until I met Erselica and could see how wonderful she was."
Once again, I didn't know what to say or how to react to this.
"She is undoubtedly a wonderful girl who cares about others, her sense of humility is sublime. Even being in a chaotic situation like having a curse on her neck, she didn't show weakness."
(She didn't because she was scared inside, which prevented her body from reacting.)
(The good thing is that after the duel against Derrick, the mark disappeared according to her. I noticed when I was changing clothes.)
"Hey, Warren, I don't understand."
Clovis, who was lying on the floor, stood up.
I thought he was going to hit me when he said something even more atrocious.
"You forgot to say that Erselica is a good cook!"
"That's what worries you!"
"Of course!"
Clovis made a fist while grabbing my shoulder to tell me unimaginable things.
"Listen well, Bradford... no, I think since we'll be seeing each other many more times now, we should forget the past. I apologize for what happened with Alicelotte."
"... Actually, I don't care since I got even with you that day, and Alisa herself forgot about it, so I don't think it matters anymore."
Clovis was shocked to learn that his existence was so small that even Alisa didn't remember him. In fact, she asked, "Clovis? Did I know someone like that?" You're very cruel, my future and beautiful wife.
"A-Anyway, I hope we forget the past and live well from now on. Okay?"
Clovis extended his hand. Honestly, I didn't care anymore. I mean, I and these three idiot colors have a bad relationship, and you see me sitting with them. Wait, why haven't I left?
I hate these guys, but I haven't gone home even though the exit is available.
Could it be that I don't hate them anymore?
"Rudecchi."
"Yes? Rudecchi?"
Clovis called me by my name, but in a very strange way.
"Now that we've forgotten the past, I want to tell you the good things about Erselica."
"Don't hug me."
"She's a great cook! Every day she prepared food for Warren and me!"
(No. Actually, it was Cana who cooked; Erselica was busy jotting down things she remembered in fragments.)
Clovis kept saying more strange things about Erselica. The problem was those listening to it.
"... Hey, guys, seems like you're forgetting something."
I directed my face toward the real problem. These three guys.
Liam and the other two looked at them with very angry faces.
(If a guy talked wonders about my girlfriend, I'd get angry too. But she has three, so I don't think...)
"If you talk about good things about Erselica, you must talk about how cute she is!"
(That's what bothered you!!)
"She's very cute wearing clothes that suit her body, like... a cat pajama!"
A strange image of Erselica wearing cat pajamas appeared in my mind. It was disturbing, so instead of her, I replaced it with a cute Airi.
"Your Highness, she certainly is very cute dressed like that, but don't forget. That time we saw her wearing a short skirt, her beautiful legs left a feeling of freshness in the air!"
Frey said even stranger things while his eyes shone.
"Hmph." It was Chlust who made that sound while looking at both of them superiorly.
"How cute what you two say, but you are very childish."
"How dare you!"
Chlust's smile made an expression of having won against them.
"You have never received a lap pillow from her. I received one once after my training."
"Damn you, Chlust! Not even I, who am her primary boyfriend..."
Liam bit his lips; envy could be seen in his eyes.
"Damn ape... getting a taste of heaven before me."
Frey's eyes were bleeding from those winner's words.
I looked at them disappointedly.
Meanwhile, Warren, who had been listening until now, laughed in a strange way.
"I regret to inform you three—no, four, including you, Clovis—but I have already won entry to paradise."
Everyone looked at him like hungry hyenas. These guys are starting to scare me.
"While I was asleep, I woke up slightly and observed Erselica changing in front of me. It was just her blouse for another, but undoubtedly her small body and her pink bra were a gift from heaven."
Harems are a terrifying thing; good thing I don't have one nor want one... wait, didn't the girls say they were my personal harem? Or is there a minimum number to be considered one?
"Damn you, Warren, I'll kill you myself!" Clovis shouted.
"As Erselica's official boyfriend, I challenge you to a duel to erase that sacred image from your brain! I haven't gone beyond giving her a foot massage, and you've already seen her stomach! I'm jealous, damn it!"
Liam said things that would disappoint his mother if she heard him.
"Very well, let's see who can drink more!"
"I accept!"
These guys are hopeless idiots. Really, no normal person could stand being with them.
But... for some reason, it didn't feel bad at all to be surrounded by idiots.
I showed a slight smile and then made fun of them.
"If these two seem obsessed with Erselica, does that mean she'll make them her new boyfriends? Hahaha."
I laughed at Liam's tragic romantic life.
"And what's wrong with that?"
But then he said words that left me astonished.
"... Eh? Well, I'm talking about your girlfriend possibly getting two more boyfriends. Doesn't that bother you?"
I was sweating coldly. Liam looked at me with a serious gaze, the kind that asks if it's okay to eat something after a stomach diagnosis.
"No, why? Should it?"
My sweat increased more.
Then I looked at the others who looked at me as if what I said was normal.
"... Well, I say your girlfriend might have two new boyfriends; that should make you feel bad. Or don't you care about seeing her kiss other guys?"
Their piercing gazes, as if I were asking a strange question, were painful.
"... Bradford, you say weird things. Is it weird that my girlfriend has other boyfriends? I don't think so. First of all, Erselica knows that if I ascend to the crown, I'll have to have a legal wife, but no woman is more worthy of me than her. In case that happens, that woman will only be queen in name; I would never touch her. Before that, I'd prefer to make my son with Erselica the new crown prince."
(What the hell are you saying, stupid prince! Do you want to die? Do you want your mother to murder you? What you're saying is not normal nor coherent! It's very weird; all of you are weird!)
"I agree with the Prince."
"Me too."
"I think everyone. Only Bradford is the weird one here."
Why does everyone look at me as if I were a weird bug?
The weird ones are you, not me. I'm not talking about having lovers, but about all of you sharing the same woman.
It's very weird!
"I think Rudecchi doesn't know how love works."
"It seems so, despite having two girlfriends."
"Sometimes I wonder why this weird man haunts our lives?"
... Did they just call me weird?
Ixion, this world is upside down!
I want to reincarnate somewhere else!
◇◇◇
Erselica was sitting counting the gold coins the boys brought from the dungeon.
She couldn't do it earlier because they were very busy with many things.
Erselica's face warped in a very grotesque way, like the one Rudel makes when he has a lot of money in his hands.
Coin by coin, she counted them. She was very happy to have a lot of money for any unexpected event.
She knew they might be sent back to the kingdom.
But both she and Liam still had the noose around their necks.
She thought that with that money she could live forever.
Unfortunately, after doing the math, she realized it would only last a few months.
Erselica's face showed her pain. Lucy brought her a cup of tea when she found her crying.
"Erselica-chan, what's wrong?"
Erselica tried to wipe away her sad face with an expression of joy.
"N-Nothing, I still hurt over the rabbit Lucy, but little by little I'm feeling better."
(If I told her I was crying over money, I'd feel terrible.)
After placing the tea cup on a low table, Lucy ran to the kitchen.
She had a music player that could only be obtained in Aster.
"When I feel sad, I like to listen to music. And after everything that's happened, I think without a doubt we'll be much better with this."
Lucy pressed a button, and music started playing from a compact disc inserted. Erselica was amazed by it.
(That song is the one I listened to in my previous life. Also, in the game, it came with some famous music tracks as extras. Really, this world, whether it wants to accept it or not, is that of a game.)
Lucy took Erselica's hands to pull her from the chair.
"Erselica-chan, let's dance. Dancing will make you forget everything bad, hahaha."
Lucy started moving in a funny way.
Erselica also laughed and started moving her body.
Cana and Allen approached to see what that sound was; they were amazed by something they had never seen before.
Erselica walked towards their position to take their hands and pull them to dance too.
"You two, come on, it's more fun with people."
Even though they had never danced, both went out to move along with Erselica, who joyfully raised her hands.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Thank you, Lucy."
"You're welcome, that's what friends do."
Upon hearing that word, Erselica's body froze. Lucy became worried since Erselica wasn't reacting.
"Did something happen!"
Erselica only reacted then.
"N-N-Nothing... it's just that I was amazed you called me a friend."
"Eh, is that weird? I thought we were friends for a long time?"
Lucy seemed sad to hear that Erselica didn't see her as a friend.
"If you don't want to be, then..."
"No, no, no, absolutely not, I'd be delighted to be friends officially!"
Erselica's eyes shone upon hearing those words.
(In my previous life, I could never have a friend, and when I reincarnated, I thought I'd have more opportunities.)
(The worst thing is that after lying during the chaos in the kingdom, I made those two hate me. I can still feel their sharp gazes when they see me, even by a centimeter, during the medal ceremony. Their eyes kept looking at me while they talked affectionately with my brother. But this time is different; I won't destroy the possibility of having a friend.)
Lucy didn't understand why Erselica's eyes shone, but she didn't care and they started dancing.
After a while, Rudel and the boys arrived.
"We're back... What's that sound? Eh..."
Rudel was amazed to see that spectacle, which he had never seen in his past life nor thought possible in this world.
When Liam and the others entered, they were amazed.
"Erselica dancing is an unexpected miracle!"
"I won't miss this opportunity."
"Fufu, you boys watch as the great Clovis delights you with his forbidden steps."
Undoubtedly, it was a strange and unique situation.
Lucy approached Rudel and took his hands to bring him into their close circle to dance.
Even though his feet moved clumsily, Rudel enjoyed that moment like Erselica. A moment of joy with friends in their full youth, enjoying peace and tranquility.
◇
After we finished having fun, we all started eating. I was with Erselica, and a strange conversation topic arose.
"Clovis and Warren as my boyfriends? I don't see a problem."
That's what Erselica said after declaring she had somehow made two guys fall for her.
Now we were both having tea and cookies since the others were sleeping.
"So, when did that happen?"
"To be honest, I have no idea."
Not even she herself knew what happened.
"More importantly, onii-chan, this arrived for you."
Erselica showed me a letter.
The content was that soon a fleet from the Rosenberg Household would come to get me to go to the temple and talk with the Six Great Nobles about what happened.
"Seems like soon will be the time when we see if we stay or leave here."
A meeting with the Six Great Nobles will undoubtedly be a very stressful day, but what really worries me more is something else.
"Are you really not going to say anything about how you now have five boyfriends? Little hussy."
"I already told you— Who are you calling a hussy!"
"You, who else?"
"Why am I a hussy according to you? Explain."
"Nobody, or rather, no woman has more than one boyfriend. It's impossible to imagine that, but in your situation, you went from three to five, and to top it off, the prince is one."
Erselica looked really annoyed.
"It's every girl's dream to have a harem of handsome boys! It's the same for men!"
I laughed at what she said.
"Yeah, right."
"Hoo? So that's how it is."
She looked at me as if she knew something I didn't.
"Alright, Ixion, come here a moment."
Ixion appeared out of nowhere at her call. Hey, why do you obey her?
"Show him that."
"Erselica, I'm not your servant for you to call me. But since it's for the Master's good, I'll let it pass."
Ixion dropped a bunch of photos that fell from somewhere in the sky.
"I found a few in your wallet when I was looking for some money you had hidden."
(Why the hell were you doing that?)
"But I'm surprised how fake you are, my dear brother. You say you dislike the idea. But can you tell me why you have so many photos of your girlfriends' underwear?"
"You're wrong; it's Bell's thing!"
"Wrong."
I got scared to try to avoid the blame, but she said something strange.
"What I mean is, why is it wrong to have more than one lover? In the romantic sense, of course."
"Aren't those two technically your lovers?"
This girl said very unnecessary things.
"I-It's different since there are only two."
"No. Simply by being two, both are your lovers. If you had more women, it wouldn't change the fact that they are still your lovers."
"W-Well, I get what you're saying, but it still seems weird to me."
She hit her face with her palm.
"What I'm trying to say is that it really doesn't matter to have more than one partner, you big idiot. If you feel something for someone; that's enough. We are no longer bound by the norms of our world, so stop thinking you're doing something against the law."
"Remember that deep down you are a disgusting old pervert and surely a virgin who has two teenagers as girlfriends! That's very gross, but in this world, that's normal. You should be grateful that in the kingdom, the topic of love and lovers is more flexible."
All that makes me feel strange.
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Erselica stared at me intently.
"... Virgin men are truly the worst. Hurry up and satisfy your thing and make those two happy. I'm sure those two are even bigger hussies with you than you say I am."
I don't understand what this conversation was about. I looked at Ixion, who added to Erselica's words. "I told him not doing it would bring severe problems." But I still don't understand anything.