Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: I've Made Up My Mind
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Thankfully, Emily came to around dawn.
"...Thanks."
"No need. It kept me warm too..."
Of course, with her passing out in the cold night, there was nothing to do but hold her close to share body heat.
When she opened her eyes and saw herself in my arms, Emily startled and expressed her gratitude like that.
Afterward, once daylight allowed us to see our surroundings, we were able to leave the forest with Emily supporting me.
"Th-that... Enzo..."
We then informed the female students who had returned from searching for Enzo the previous day of his passing.
Some looked shocked, while others burst into tears.
Probably the ones who had been close to him.
"...Hoo."
Of course, I was the one who made his grave.
Everyone else on the island besides me was female.
Tasks requiring this kind of strength had to fall to me.
Besides, showing his classmates the gruesome sight of his body bisected like that wouldn't be right.
It wasn't much trouble for me anyway, so I handled it quickly.
"Good work, Ken."
After finishing digging, erecting a simple gravestone, Emily's voice came from behind me.
"Were you close with Enzo?"
"No way. Before the past changed, I'd only seen him briefly in our first year, and after it changed, all I remember is him hitting on me."
Emily's memories had fully returned.
She just seemed a bit confused by the differences between her pre- and post-change recollections.
"By the way, I never imagined changing the past in the tower would wipe my memories too."
After finishing Enzo's grave, the two of us moved to a nearby beach.
We settled in the shade and gazed at the crashing waves.
Naturally holding each other's hands tight.
"Hey, Ken... But that thing. ...Is it real?"
Emily leaned lightly against my shoulder, looking up at me.
"Hm? What?"
"I mean... what you said in the forest."
"...Oh, yeah."
Realizing what her shy words meant, I nodded awkwardly in response.
The emotions surging from my returned memories had led to a sudden confession to Emily.
But if asked now whether I'd take it back, my answer would absolutely be no.
"...Heehee."
Satisfied with my reply, Emily blushed and smiled cutely.
She then wrapped her arm gently around mine.
"I like you too, Ken."
"...Yeah, I heard that before."
"But it's something I wanted to say, so I'm gonna keep saying it."
With a mischievous grin, Emily looked at me.
Conversation like lovers, skinship like lovers.
I didn't hate it. But...
'Is this really okay...?'
Something nagged at my heart.
And I knew exactly what it was right away.
Rapne and Mary.
Their faces flickered in my mind.
Rapne had told me she liked me. And I felt the same.
Mary had told me she liked me. I felt the same about her too.
'Ugh, what a scumbag.'
Reflecting on the situation, no one was a bigger jerk than me.
Liking three girls at once.
"You don't look so good. Everything okay?"
"...Huh? Yeah?"
"You're thinking about the other two right now, even with me here. Mary and Rapne."
"Wha? How...?"
"It's obvious on your face, Ken."
Jealous perhaps, Emily draped my arm over her shoulder and wrapped her hand around my waist.
Our bodies pressed even closer.
"It's fine. Don't worry."
"How could I not worry..."
It wasn't the others I was worried about—it was how to tell them about my scummy heart.
Meeting all three without saying anything?
That'd make me a total player. I couldn't accept that.
So I had to tell Mary and Rapne about my current situation.
'...Especially Rapne.'
I was deeply concerned.
With her strong possessiveness and attachment to me.
I couldn't imagine what might happen.
"Seriously, it's okay."
Noticing my continued fretting, Emily pressed harder on my chest with her hand.
"If things go south... I'll step aside then."
"Emily... What are you..."
"Because if we're talking qualifications, I'm the least worthy."
Emily rested her head on my shoulder, bowing her head with a dark expression.
But she forced a smile.
"Don't say things like that."
"...Huh?"
I grabbed her hand firmly, showing my resolve.
"What I'm worried about is how to tell the two of them. Not who to choose."
"......"
Hearing Emily solidified my true feelings.
I wanted to be happy with all three.
I didn't want to see any of them sad.
Even if Rapne opposed it, I'd convince her with everything I had.
Mary... She might not like it, but I doubted she'd resist as fiercely as Rapne.
"You're the one who shouldn't worry weirdly. I've said it, so I'll take responsibility."
"Ken..."
Emily looked at me with teary eyes.
Blushing with emotion, her trembling gaze met mine.
She closed her eyes and brought her face to mine.
"...Mm."
Thus, Emily and I shared a kiss.
Our first since that sixth loop when we'd first kissed.
"S-sorry, suddenly... I got too happy and did it without thinking."
"N-no. ...I liked it too."
An awkward silence followed the brief kiss.
But Emily stayed in my arms, head on my shoulder, passing the time.
I held her shoulder and stared at the waves, steeling my heart.
'I'll make it work somehow.'
Fortune must truly favor me—this world allowed polygamy.
If I could just get all three to agree, we could have our happy ending.
With no one sad.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Mm..."
I opened my eyes to a familiar ceiling.
'I'm back.'
It was exactly one day after the night before I got stranded on the uninhabited island.
In other words, no real time had passed since the stranding.
Of course, the game had worked the same way, so I knew it, but experiencing it firsthand felt strange.
'It was definitely a full week on the island.'
After Enzo died and we'd sorted our feelings, Emily and I survived the island without major issues.
There were occasional monster packs or storms.
But with my crafting skills and traits, I handled them easily.
The real problem started now.
'I have to tell the other two.'
I might get called scum—hell, I definitely would.
Still, I'd made up my mind with the remaining two.
I had to convince them so we could all be together.
Toward that end, I left the dorm that morning with a tense face.
"Your sword strikes seem sharper today, Ken."
"Really?"
"Yes. Like a knight who's resolved himself."
Apparently, a scum putting real effort made strikes like a resolute knight.
Unaware of that, Siegfried looked at me proudly after training.
After our usual morning session, I headed to Rapne's tower as always.
"Keeeen━!"
Opening the door, apron-clad Rapne threw herself at me.
'Her scent—warm and familiar as ever.'
Mary and Emily's scents made my heart race, but Rapne's warmed both heart and soul.
Like returning to my nest.
"Hm? You look happier than usual today?"
"Do I?"
Maybe. It had been a week since I'd seen her, after all.
"You just missed me that much?"
"Sure, let's go with that."
"Hehe."
I stroked her head for a while as she clung to me, ate the breakfast she'd prepared, and left the tower.
"Let go, Rapne...!"
"Uuuu! You said you like me so much! Staying in the tower all day should be fine!"
Bid farewell by her usual teary clutching of my clothes, I headed to the academy.
'First, convince Mary.'
Of course, I hadn't told Rapne my true feelings yet.
Bossing the final boss right away was too risky.
I decided to tell Mary first, since she could handle the aftermath better.
I owed her a response to her confession anyway.
"Mary."
"Ah, Ken."
Arriving earlier than usual, I dropped my bag in my classroom and hurried to hers.
There sat Mary, come early as always.
Calling from the back door, her usual blank expression softened into a slight smile as she stood.
She trotted over to me quickly.
'So cute...'
Seeing that made my heart pound.
I'd usually suppressed such weak feelings, but accepting them now let affection flow freely.
"What's up?"
Mary stood before me, happy yet blushing with excitement.
"Mary, I have something to tell you. ...Any free time later?"
"......"
I got straight to the point, no beating around the bush.
But confessing at the classroom back door would spread weird rumors around the academy for sure.
I needed to make time alone and tell her carefully.
At my sudden request for a meetup, Mary widened her eyes.
Then shyly averted her gaze before answering.
"A-after academy... Anytime after that works."
"Got it. See you then. I really want to talk today."
"Y-yes...!"
Meeting her gaze with firm resolve, she flushed unusually and panicked.
She must have a rough idea what I wanted to say.
And yes, it'd be a positive response to her confession.
The problem was the shocking follow-up.
No helping it.
I was serious.
Full speed ahead.
After setting the time with Mary, I returned to my classroom with confidence.